Salivary Antioxidant Status in Patients with Oral Lichen Planus: Correlation with Clinical Signs and Evolution during Treatment with Chamaemelum nobile

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic inflammatory mucocutaneous disease, which manifests as a succession of outbreaks. OLP was associated with salivary oxidative stress. Randomized, double blind, parallel-group study was performed. The sample consisted of 55 clinically and histopathologically diagnosed OLP patients. Twenty-six patients were treated with 2% Chamaemelum nobile gel and 29 with a placebo. Nonstimulated (basal) saliva was collected on the first day of the study and 4 weeks later. Salivary total antioxidant status (TAS) was evaluated by four different methods: two TAC (6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid) equivalent antioxidant capacity methods (TAC1 and TAC2), cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC), and ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP). At baseline (T1), no statistically significant differences were detected in any of the TAS analytes between the two groups of patients. After four weeks of treatment, a statistically significant increase was detected in FRAP in the placebo group (0.323 [0.090-0.467] versus 0.406 [0.197-0.848] mmol/g⁎10^-3) (P < 0.05). Significant correlations were observed between pain and drainage and TAC1, CUPRAC, and FRAP and between xerostomia and the TAC1, TAC2, CUPRAC, and FRAP. The results of the present study showed that in patients with OLP increases of TAS in saliva are associated with increase in pain and xerostomia and decrease in drainage, suggesting a worsening condition of the patient. The use of Chamaemelum nobile gel would be recommended for disease stabilization.

Efficacy of preemptive lornoxicam on postoperative analgesia after surgical removal of mandibular third molars

OBJECTIVE

Pain is the most encountered complication following third molar surgery. Although nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are often used for pain control, the effect of preemptive lornoxicam has not been detailed. We compare the analgesic efficacy of preemptive lornoxicam versus postoperative lornoxicam.

STUDY DESIGN

Forty-three participants aged 18 to 33 years who had bilateral, symmetrical third molars were included in this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. All participants took part in each of the 2 groups for a 1-month interval (crossover design). Group Pre received lornoxicam 8 mg intravenously 25 minutes before surgery and 2 mL serum saline postoperatively. Group Post was given the opposite protocol. Pain was evaluated by visual analog scale in the first 12 hours.

RESULTS

We observed statistically significant differences in the reduction of the pain level in group Pre (P < .05). These participants felt less pain in the first 5 postoperative hours and needed fewer analgesics in the first 12 postoperative hours.

CONCLUSIONS

Preemptive lornoxicam is effective for postoperative pain control.