Clinical and radiographic characteristics of pycnodysostosis: A systematic review

Purpose

Pycnodysostosis (PYCD), an autosomal recessive syndrome, is characterized by an imbalance in bone remodeling that produces various clinical and radiographic craniofacial manifestations. This review represents a systematic examination of these manifestations, as well as oral features associated with PYCD.

Materials and Methods

A systematic review was conducted across 8 databases from February to March 2023. The search strategy focused on studies reporting cases of PYCD that examined the clinical and radiographic craniofacial and oral characteristics associated with this syndrome.

Results

The review included 84 studies, encompassing a total of 179 cases of PYCD. More than half of the patients were female (55.3%), and the mean age was 14.7 years. Parental consanguinity was reported in 51.4% of the cases. The most common craniofacial clinical manifestation was a prominent nose, observed in 57.5% of cases. Radiographically, the most frequently reported craniofacial characteristics included the presence of an obtuse mandibular angle (84.3%) and frontal cranial bosses (82.1%). Clinical and radiographic examinations revealed oral alterations, with micrognathia present in 62.6% of patients and malocclusion in 59.2%. Among dental anomalies, tooth agenesis was the most commonly reported, affecting 15.6% of patients.

Conclusion

Understanding the clinical and radiographic craniofacial features of PYCD is crucial for dental professionals. This knowledge enables these clinicians to devise effective treatment plans and improve patient quality of life.

The Anticancer Potential of Kaempferol: A Systematic Review Based on In Vitro Studies

Given the heterogeneity of different malignant processes, planning cancer treatment is challenging. According to recent studies, natural products are likely to be effective in cancer prevention and treatment. Among bioactive flavonoids found in fruits and vegetables, kaempferol (KMP) is known for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer properties. This systematic review aims to highlight the potential therapeutic effects of KMP on different types of solid malignant tumors. This review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Searches were performed in EMBASE, Medline/PubMed, Cochrane Collaboration Library, Science Direct, Scopus, and Google Scholar. After the application of study criteria, 64 studies were included. In vitro experiments demonstrated that KMP exerts antitumor effects by controlling tumor cell cycle progression, proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion, as well as by inhibiting angiogenesis. KMP was also able to inhibit important markers that regulate epithelial-mesenchymal transition and enhanced the sensitivity of cancer cells to traditional drugs used in chemotherapy, including cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil. This flavonoid is a promising therapeutic compound and its combination with current anticancer agents, including targeted drugs, may potentially produce more effective and predictable results.

Prognostic Significance of Histopathological Parameters for Salivary Gland Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a rare salivary gland tumor that accounts for approximately 1% of all head and neck cancers. Despite its initial indolent behavior, long-term survival is poor due to locoregional recurrence in approximately 40% and distant metastasis in up to 60% of patients who undergo radical treatment. The histological parameters of ACC and the combination of these parameters in histopathological grading systems provide valuable prognostic information about the clinical course of the disease. Within this context, this review aims to analyze the impact of histopathological parameters, individual or combined in histopathological grading systems of malignancy, on ACC prognosis. Individual histopathological parameters such as solid pattern, presence of tumor necrosis, high-grade transformation, dominance of the epithelial component, presence of perineural and lymphovascular invasion, and positive surgical margins have negative impacts on the survival of patients with ACC. There are currently four histopathological grading systems for ACC; however, few studies have validated these systems and most of them explored small cohorts with short follow-up. Considering that the application of grading systems has been associated with ACC prognosis, a broader validation will allow not only their use for prognostic prediction but also assist in treatment planning.

A Systematic Review of Adenoid Ameloblastoma: A Newly Recognized Entity

BACKGROUND

Recently, a new odontogenic tumor has been described, the so-called adenoid ameloblastoma (AdAM). The aim of this review was to determine the clinical and imaging features of AdAM and to describe its main histopathological findings.

METHODS

The systematic review included published cases with a diagnosis of AdAM in the gnathic bones, which had sufficient clinical, imaging, and histopathological data to confirm its diagnosis. The following histopathological diagnostic criteria were adopted: presence of ameloblastoma-like components, duct-like structures, spiral cellular condensations, and a cribriform architecture.

RESULTS

Fifteen articles, corresponding to 30 cases of AdAM, were selected. Most cases affected men (63.3%), with a slight preference for the mandible (16:14) and the posterior region of gnathic bones was the most commonly affected site. The mean age at diagnosis was 40.8 years. Clinically, the lesions usually presented as a swelling (53.3%) and, radiographically, as a well-defined radiolucency (33.4%). Surgical resection (40%) was the most frequently adopted treatment and recurrence occurred in 30% of cases. Microscopic examination showed cribriform areas in most AdAM cases (93.3%); duct-like structures and spiral cellular condensations were seen in 100% of the cases.

CONCLUSION

The small number of reported cases, the existence of erroneous diagnoses, and the adoption of initial conservative management make it difficult to determine whether AdAM has a higher risk of recurrence or more aggressive biological behavior than conventional ameloblastomas.

EGFR, VEGF, and angiogenesis promote the development of lipoma in the oral cavity

This study aimed to detect, quantify and compare the immunohistochemical expression of EGFR and VEGF and microvessel count (MVC) in oral lipomas, and to correlate the findings with clinical and morphological characteristics of the cases studied. The sample consisted of 54 oral lipomas (33 classic and 21 non-classic) and 23 normal adipose tissue specimens. Cytoplasmic and/or nuclear immunohistochemical staining of EGFR and VEGF was analyzed. The angiogenic index was determined by MVC. Cells were counted using the Image J® software. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences was used for data analysis, adopting a level of significance of 5% for all statistical tests. A statistically significant difference in EGFR immunoexpression (p=0.047), especially, between classic lipomas and normal adipose tissue. There was a significant difference in MVC between non-classic lipomas and normal adipose tissue (p=0.022). In non-classic lipomas, only VEGF immunoexpression showed a significant moderate positive correlation (r=0.607, p=0.01) with MVC. In classic lipomas, the number of EGFR-immunostained adipocytes was directly proportional to the number of VEGF-positive cells, demonstrating a significant moderate positive correlation (r=0.566, p=0.005). The results suggest that EGFR, VEGF, and angiogenesis participate in the development of oral lipomas but are not primarily involved in the growth of these tumors.

SNAIL1 is involved in the control of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition in oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of SNAIL1, E-cadherin, and N-cadherin immunoexpression in oral tongue carcinogenesis. In addition, we evaluated in vitro the impact of silencing of the nuclear transcription factor SNAIL1 on the viability, apoptosis, proliferation, migration, and invasion of SCC-9 and HSC-3 cells.

STUDY DESIGN

Immunohistochemical analysis of SNAIL1, E-cadherin, and N-cadherin was carried out in 47 samples representing oral epithelial dysplasia (OED) and 41 oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC). The suppression of SNAIL1 expression was performed using shRNA-expression vectors in HSC-3 and SCC-9 cells to investigate in vitro the impact of SNAIL1 on proliferation, apoptosis, viability, migration, and invasion of SCC-9 and HSC-3 cells.

RESULTS

Significant differences were observed in the expression of SNAIL1, E-cadherin, and N-Cadherin between OTSCC and OED. A low membrane expression of E-cadherin was strongly associated with poor overall survival in patients with OTSCC (P < .05), but the association did not withstand the Cox multivariate survival analysis. SNAIL1 silencing played a key role in the suppression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition and inhibited migration and invasion of HSC-3 cells (P < .0001, P < .01, respectively). In SCC-9 cells, SNAIL1 silencing promoted a significant reduction in the proliferation (P < .0001) and invasion (P < .0001).

CONCLUSIONS

The epithelial-mesenchymal transition is present in different stages of oral tongue carcinogenesis, and SNAIL1 plays a key role in this process, although the underlying mechanisms still need to be elucidated. Thus, SNAIL1 might be a promising therapeutic target in OTSCC.

TWIST1 regulates proliferation, migration, and invasion and is a prognostic marker for oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition is one of the main mechanisms for tumor progression and metastasis. Transcription factors such as TWIST1 are key regulators of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition and are regarded as potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of cancer. The purpose of this study was to examine TWIST1 as a possible epithelial-mesenchymal transition-related prognostic biomarker in oral epithelial dysplasia and oral tongue squamous cell carcinomas, as well as the biological behavior of TWIST1-silencing in oral tongue squamous cell carcinomas cell lines.

METHODS

Immunohistochemical analysis of TWIST1, E-cadherin, and N-cadherin was carried out in 47 samples representing oral epithelial dysplasia and 41 oral tongue squamous cell carcinomas. The suppression of TWIST1 expression was performed using shRNA-expression vectors in HSC-3 and SCC-9 cells to investigate in vitro the impact of TWIST1 on proliferation, apoptosis, viability, migration, and invasion of SCC-9 and HSC-3 cells.

RESULTS

The expression of nuclear TWIST1 was significantly higher in oral tongue squamous cell carcinomas than in oral epithelial dysplasis (p < 0.0001), whereas TWIST1 in the cytoplasm was more expressed in oral epithelial dysplasis (p = 0.012). The high cytoplasmic expression of TWIST1 was significantly associated with shortened overall survival (p < 0.05), and increased nuclear TWIST1 expression was significantly related to high risk of recurrence (p = 0.03). Knockdown of TWIST1 in oral tongue squamous cell carcinomas cells induced the expression of E-cadherin and inhibited N-cadherin, which were followed by decreased proliferation, migration, and invasion.

CONCLUSIONS

Our research suggests that TWIST1 is linked to the development of oral tongue carcinogenesis and may be used as a prognostic indicator and therapeutic target for oral tongue squamous cell carcinomas patients.

A 14-year retrospective study focusing on clinical and morphological features of oral cavity lipomas: A review of main topics

BACKGROUND

Lipomas are benign soft tissue neoplasms frequently found in the human body. Head and neck lipomas are relatively uncommon, accounting for 1 to 4% of benign lesions at this location. This 14-year retrospective study analyzed the clinical-pathological features of cases of oral cavity lipomas and their histopathological variants seen at a single oral pathology referral center.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Data on age, sex, anatomical location, clinical diagnosis, and histological subtypes were collected from all cases microscopically diagnosed as lipoma. Three previously trained oral pathologists re-evaluated hematoxylin/eosin-stained slides of all selected cases.

RESULTS

Among 7,861 oral and maxillofacial lesions diagnosed at the service, 95 (1.2%) were lipomas or their histopathological variants. There was a predominance of female patients (n = 65; 68%); the mean age at diagnosis was 58.8 years (±13.56). We found the following histological subtypes: conventional lipoma, fibrolipoma, spindle cell lipoma, sialolipoma, osteolipoma, chondrolipoma, and intramuscular lipoma. The buccal mucosa was the most affected site. Conventional lipoma and fibrolipoma were the most commonly diagnosed histological variants. Although most lipomas are asymptomatic, large lipomas can occur, reaching a diameter of 4 cm.

CONCLUSION

The present study reinforces the importance of careful clinical and histopathological examination in order to obtain an accurate diagnosis and to ensure appropriate treatment.

Inequalities in the profile of using dental services in Brazil

This study aimed to examine the influence of socioeconomic factors on inequality in the use of dental services within the Brazilian population. The methodology was based on a sectional study, using secondary data from the 2013 National Health Survey (PNS, in Portuguese). The database contains information on 60,202 individuals over 18 years of age. The dependent variables were "frequency of dental appointments" and "type of dental treatment performed in the last appointment". The independent variables were sex, age group, education, social class measured using the Brazil criterion, and geographic region. The odds-ratio of outcomes were evaluated in the multivariate analysis using a multinomial logistic regression model. It was noticed that the population subgroups comprising Blacks and those residing in the North/Northeast, with lower social class and education, had a greater chance of having irregular follow-up and never having been to the dentist. In addition, this population stratum also had a greater chance of undergoing surgical or emergency dental procedures in the last dental appointment. Data from the 2013 PNS reveal a picture of social inequality in access to dental services in Brazil.

Pindborg tumor associated with a supernumerary tooth: a case report

The calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumor is a rare benign neoplasm that accounts for approximately 1% of all odontogenic tumors. Most of the cases occur in the posterior mandible, and a few involve the maxilla. Despite their relatively indolent biological behavior, tumors in the maxilla tend to grow fast. We report the case of a 33-year-old female patient exhibiting swelling in the right maxilla. An isodense area associated with an impacted supernumerary tooth was found on imaging examination. The histopathologic diagnosis was a calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumor. The treatment of choice was surgical removal of the lesion and associated dental elements. The patient has been followed up for 11 months and shows no signs of recurrence. Besides describing this case, we reviewed the literature on the association of calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumors with supernumerary teeth and found two case reports addressing this subject.

Primary Intraosseous Squamous Cell Carcinoma Involving the Jaw Bones: A Systematic Review and Update

Primary intraosseous oral squamous cell carcinoma (PIOSCC) is a rare malignant neoplasm that affects the jaws. Despite its aggressive biological behavior, there are no studies that evaluated the clinicopathological features of this tumor and parameters associated with its prognosis. The objective of the present study was to conduct a systematic review of the available data on oral and maxillofacial PIOSCC in order to determine its clinicopathological characteristics and biological behavior. We conducted a systematic review in May 2020 in multiple databases using a specific search strategy. Cases diagnosed as PIOSCC in the oral cavity and maxillofacial complex that had sufficient histopathological data, absence of ulceration in the oral mucosa, a negative result for a distant primary tumor, and radiographic evidence of an osteolytic lesion that was entirely or mostly surrounded by the jaw bones were included. A total of 109 published articles were included in our systematic review, corresponding to 257 cases. PIOSCC showed a male predilection (69.3%) and a preference for the mandible (7:1), with the posterior region being the most commonly affected site. The mean age at diagnosis was 57.3 years. Cortical expansion, pain, and lip/facial paresthesia were the most common clinical features. Regarding histopathological features, most PIOSCC were well-differentiated and the solid subtype was the most common. Statistical analysis showed that PIOSCC located in the mandible (p = 0.03) and recurrence (p < 0.01) were significantly associated with a higher mortality rate. PIOSCC has a poor prognosis, with high rates of mortality.

Biological role of epithelial-mesenchymal-transition-inducing transcription factors in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: A systematic review

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this systematic review was to explore the biological functions and mechanisms of epithelial-mesenchymal transition-inducing transcription factors in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma-derived cell lines. In addition, we analyzed the possible usefulness of epithelial-mesenchymal transition-inducing transcription factors as a future therapeutic target.

DESIGN

An electronic search was performed in EMBASE, Medline/PubMed, Chinese BioMedical Literature Databases, and Cochrane Collaboration Library. Articles evaluating the relationship between epithelial-mesenchymal transition-inducing transcription factors and the biological behavior of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell lines were selected for this systematic review. The quality of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) criteria.

RESULTS

After application of the previously established inclusion/exclusion criteria, 23 articles were included in the qualitative synthesis. Our study showed that epithelial-mesenchymal transition-inducing transcription factors are essential components during the progression of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas and their overexpression is associated with a greater capacity of dissemination and survival of the tumor and resistance to cancer treatment. The inhibition of epithelial-mesenchymal transition-inducing transcription factors is able to reverse the epithelial-mesenchymal transition process and to increase the sensitivity of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell lines to radio/chemotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Analysis of the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition-inducing transcription factors for the prediction of prognosis and response to cancer treatment may have a significant clinical impact.