Oral health impacts and quality of life in an urban homeless population.

Background: Homeless people experience a much higher burden of general health conditions and have much poorer oral health than the rest of the population. The aim of this study was to determine the oral health impacts and general quality of life of an urban homeless population.

Methods: A convenience sample of 58 adults (dentate n = 56) experiencing homelessness were assessed using a survey which included the 14-item Oral Health Impact Profile and the 26-item World Health Organization's Quality of Life - short version.

A retrospective analysis of oral and maxillofacial pathology in an Australian paediatric population.

Background: The prevalence of oral and maxillofacial pathology has not previously been reported in the Australian paediatric population. This study aimed to audit a large pathology service to provide insight into the prevalence of oral and maxillofacial pathology.

Methods: Written records of a major Australian oral pathology service were imported into an electronic database.

A retrospective analysis of oral and maxillofacial pathology in an Australian adult population.

Background: The prevalence of oral and maxillofacial pathology has not previously been reported in the Australian adult population. This study aimed to audit a large pathology service to provide insight into the prevalence of head and neck pathologies.

Methods: Written records of a major Australian oral pathology service were imported into an electronic database.

Informed consent for biobanking research: cancer patient recruitment from rural communities in Maine.

Biobanking research seeks to improve the diversity, availability, and quality of human specimens critical for translational research, including biospecimen collections from disadvantaged minorities. American rural whites are seldom represented in such initiatives as geographic isolation makes obtaining informed consent challenging. We report a case series of 83 newly diagnosed cancer patients, attending a rural community medical center, who consented to participate in cancer research.

Transcriptional control of regulatory T cells.

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) constitute unique T cell lineage that plays a key role for immunological tolerance. Tregs are characterized by the expression of the forkhead box transcription factor Foxp3, which acts as a lineage-specifying factor by determining the unique suppression profile of these immune cells. Here, we summarize the recent progress in understanding how Foxp3 expression itself is epigenetically and transcriptionally controlled, how the Treg-specific signature is achieved and how unique properties of Treg subsets are defined by other transcription factors.

[Acquired pediatric cholesteatoma: predictive factors of recurrence. A retrospective study of 11 years].

Aim Of The Study: To define the predictive factors of recurrence of the pediatric acquired cholesteatoma in order to improve the long-term results, to restore a good hearing function and to prevent the complications.

Patients And Methods: A retrospective study concerning all cases of pediatric acquired cholesteatoma, treated during the period 1997-2008 in our center, and followed up for at least one year. A description of the parameters concerning the patients, disease and treatment as well as a univariate analysis were undertaken in order to determine the recurrence predictors.

Efficacy of narrow band imaging for detection and surveillance of potentially malignant and malignant lesions in the oral cavity and oropharynx: a systematic review.

Objective: Narrow band imaging (NBI) is an endoscopic technique that enhances the mucosal surface texture, and mucosal and submucosal vascular morphology. This paper systematically reviews the available literature regarding the efficacy of NBI for the detection and monitoring of potentially malignant and malignant lesions in the oral cavity and oropharynx.

Methods: Databases searched included PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science and Scopus (to September 2013).

The post-transcriptional regulator rsmA/csrA activates T3SS by stabilizing the 5' UTR of hrpG, the master regulator of hrp/hrc genes, in Xanthomonas.

The RsmA/CsrA family of the post-transcriptional regulators of bacteria is involved in the regulation of many cellular processes, including pathogenesis. In this study, we demonstrated that rsmA not only is required for the full virulence of the phytopathogenic bacterium Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri (XCC) but also contributes to triggering the hypersensitive response (HR) in non-host plants.

Harnessing massively parallel sequencing in personalized head and neck oncology.

Advances in the management of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) have not significantly changed the prognosis of this tumor over the past five decades. Molecular heterogeneity of HNSCC and its association with HPV, in addition to the increase in the number of cancers arising in traditionally low-risk patients, are among some of the obstacles to the successful management of this group of tumors. Massively parallel sequencing, otherwise known as next-generation sequencing (NGS), is rapidly changing conventional patient management by providing detailed information about each patient's genome and transcriptome.

The Treg-specific demethylated region stabilizes Foxp3 expression independently of NF-κB signaling.

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) obtain immunosuppressive capacity by the upregulation of forkhead box protein 3 (Foxp3), and persistent expression of this transcription factor is required to maintain their immune regulatory function and ensure immune homeostasis. Stable Foxp3 expression is achieved through epigenetic modification of the Treg-specific demethylated region (TSDR), an evolutionarily conserved non-coding element within the Foxp3 gene locus. Here, we present molecular data suggesting that TSDR enhancer activity is restricted to T cells and cannot be induced in other immune cells such as macrophages or B cells.

Oral mucosal lesions: findings from the Australian National Survey of Adult Oral Health.

Background: The prevalence of oral mucosal lesions (OMLs) and factors associated with these has not previously been reported in the Australian population. This study aimed to report on the prevalence of OMLs in Australian adults and to evaluate their association with socio-demographic factors.

Methods: This study utilized data from the Australian National Survey of Adult Oral Health 2004-06, which employs a multi-stage, stratified random sample selection procedure.

Next generation sequencing and its application in deciphering head and neck cancer.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are a group of heterogeneous tumours mainly attributable to tobacco use, alcohol consumption and infection with human papillomavirus. Based on the stage of cancer at the time of diagnosis, patients are managed by surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy or a combination of these. Early diagnosis usually improves patient prognosis.

Expression of ABCG2 and Bmi-1 in oral potentially malignant lesions and oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Early diagnosis is vital for effective treatment of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The optimal time for clinical intervention is prior to malignancy when patients present with oral potentially malignant lesions such as leukoplakia or erythroplakia. Transformation rates for oral dysplasia vary greatly and more rigorous methods are needed to predict the malignant potential of oral lesions.

Malignant transformation of oral epithelial dysplasia: a real-world evaluation of histopathologic grading.

Objective: This study describes the predictive value of oral epithelial dysplasia (OED) grading as an indicator for malignant transformation and progression.

Study Design: The records of an Australian-based pathology laboratory were searched for oral mucosal biopsies with a dysplastic or malignant diagnosis. Examination for an association with progression and malignant transformation without reinterpretation was performed.

T4a laryngeal cancer survival: retrospective institutional analysis and systematic review.

Objectives/hypothesis: To assess the survival outcomes of a homogeneous group of pT4a laryngeal cancer patients treated at our institution by primary total laryngectomy and neck dissection with adjuvant therapy when indicated, and to systematically review studies reporting overall survival outcomes in T4a laryngeal cancer.

Study Design: Systematic review of PubMed and Embase databases.

Methods: Records of 108 laryngeal cancer patients treated by total laryngectomy were reviewed.

Frequency of oral habits, dysfunctions, and personality traits in bruxing and nonbruxing children: a comparative study.

The aim of the current study was to compare personality traits, presence of oral myofunctional dysfunctions, and other parafunctional habits in bruxing and nonbruxing children. Fifty-four patients aged 10 to 15 years were seen at the Comprehensive Pediatric Dental Clinic and examined by dentists using the RDC/TMD; speech therapists and psychologists were included in the study. Patients were divided into two groups: bruxing (A) and nonbruxing (B).

MicroRNAs in Head and Neck Cancer.

microRNAs (miRs) are small noncoding single-stranded RNAs, about 19-25 nucleotides long. They have been shown to be capable of altering mRNA expression; thus some are oncogenic or tumour suppressive in nature and are regulated by cellular and epigenetic factors. The molecular pathogenic pathway of many cancers has been modified since the discovery of miRs.

Gene expression profiling for the purposes of biomarker discovery in oral potentially malignant lesions: a systematic review.

Early and accurate diagnosis of oral potentially malignant lesions (OPML) is of critical importance in preventing malignant transformation. Although histopathological interpretation of the degree of epithelial dysplasia is considered the gold standard for diagnosis, this method is subjective and lacks sensitivity. Therefore, many attempts have been made to identify objective molecular biomarkers to improve diagnosis.

"I have quality of life…but…": Exploring support needs important to quality of life in head and neck cancer.

Purpose Of Research: Head and neck cancer (HNC) treatment disrupts quality of life and is associated with individualised supportive care needs. This study aimed to describe the support needs that affected the QoL of HNC patients, and to describe how patients coped with unmet support needs.

Methods: Qualitative, semi-structured interviews were held with 8 participants previously treated for HNC.

Can immunohistochemistry serve as an alternative to subjective histopathological diagnosis of oral epithelial dysplasia?

Many attempts have been made to identify objective molecular biomarkers to diagnose and prognosticate oral epithelial dysplasia (OED) because histopathological interpretation is subjective and lacks sensitivity. The majority of these efforts describe changes in gene expression at protein level in OED as determined by immunohistochemistry (IHC). However, the literature on these putative markers of oral cancer progression is vast and varied.

Dictyostelium, a microbial model for brain disease.

Background: Most neurodegenerative diseases are associated with mitochondrial dysfunction. In humans, mutations in mitochondrial genes result in a range of phenotypic outcomes which do not correlate well with the underlying genetic cause. Other neurodegenerative diseases are caused by mutations that affect the function and trafficking of lysosomes, endosomes and autophagosomes.

Health-related quality of life of patients treated with primary chemoradiotherapy for oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma: a comparison with surgery.

Our aim was to document the health-related quality of life (QoL) of patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the oral cavity who were treated with chemoradiotherapy, and to compare it with that of patients treated with conventional surgery with or without adjuvant treatment. All patients who presented with SCC of the oral cavity treated with chemoradiotherapy alone at the Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital between 2000 and 2011 and who were alive without disease were included. Health-related QoL was assessed by the University of Washington QoL questionnaire version 4, and the European Organisation for the Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QoL questionnaires C30 and HN35.

A retrospective analysis of clinical features of oral malignant and potentially malignant disorders with and without oral epithelial dysplasia.

Objective: Clinical identification of underlying histopathology of oral mucosal lesions (OMLs) remains difficult. The study aims to identify clinical indicators of underlying histopathology of oral malignant and potentially malignant disorders.

Study Design: All clinical patient records of an oral medicine and pathology clinic over a 12-year period were manually searched.

Exercise-induced cardioprotection: a role for eNOS uncoupling and NO metabolites.

Exercise is an efficient strategy for myocardial protection against ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury. Although endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) is phosphorylated and activated during exercise, its role in exercise-induced cardioprotection remains unknown. This study investigated whether modulation of eNOS activation during IR could participate in the exercise-induced cardioprotection against IR injury.

Advances in optical adjunctive AIDS for visualisation and detection of oral malignant and potentially malignant lesions.

Traditional methods of screening for oral potentially malignant disorders and oral malignancies involve a conventional oral examination with digital palpation. Evidence indicates that conventional examination is a poor discriminator of oral mucosal lesions. A number of optical aids have been developed to assist the clinician to detect oral mucosal abnormalities and to differentiate benign lesions from sinister pathology.