From Simple Mouth Cavities to Complex Oral Mucosal Disorders-Curcuminoids as a Promising Therapeutic Approach.

Oral diseases are among the most common encountered health issues worldwide, which are usually associated with anomalies of the oral cavity, jaws, and salivary glands. Despite the availability of numerous treatment modalities for oral disorders, a limited clinical response has been observed because of the inefficacy of the drugs and countless adverse side effects. Therefore, the development of safe, efficacious, and wide-spectrum therapeutics is imperative in the battle against oral diseases.

White, red, and mixed lesions of oral mucosa: A clinicopathologic approach to diagnosis.

A wide range of conditions could present as persistent white or red, or mixed white and red patches on the oral mucosa. Discussed here are some common conditions encountered in clinical practice that appear as white or red patches, together with some rare, but clinically significant, conditions. Based on pathognomonic features, major diagnostic criteria are outlined to help with the differential diagnosis, while some require further investigation (eg, biopsy and/or microbiologic or hematologic investigation) to confirm the provisional clinical diagnosis.

Defining a global research and policy agenda for betel quid and areca nut.

Betel quid and areca nut are known risk factors for many oral and oesophageal cancers, and their use is highly prevalent in the Asia-Pacific region. Additionally, betel quid and areca nut are associated with health effects on the cardiovascular, nervous, gastrointestinal, metabolic, respiratory, and reproductive systems. Unlike tobacco, for which the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control provides evidence-based policies for reducing tobacco use, no global policy exists for the control of betel quid and areca nut use.

Cancer-associated toll-like receptor modulation and insinuation in infection susceptibility: association or coincidence?

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are key players in maintaining protection against any invading pathogen. These molecules are microbial sensing proteins which detect pathogen-associated molecular patterns and induce the body's innate immune system to elicit a response against invading pathogens. In addition to their role in pathogen recognition and elimination, these proteins are highly important in cancer biology and also play a variety of roles in normal to cancerous transformation or its prevention.

Is there a relationship between periodontal disease and oral cancer? A systematic review of currently available evidence.

Unlabelled: Oral cancer (OC) is known to have a multi-factorial etiology; tobacco, alcohol and betel quid being the major risk factors. Tooth loss and periodontal disease (PD) have been implicated to increase the risk of developing various cancers. The aim of this systematic review was to assess any possible association between PD and OC.

Efficacy of photodynamic therapy in the management of oral premalignant lesions. A systematic review.

Objective: The aim was to systematically review the efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT) in the management of oral premalignant lesions.

Methods: The addressed focused question was "Is PDT effective in the management of oral premalignant lesions?" PubMed/Medline, Google-Scholar, EMBASE and ISI Web of Knowledge databases were searched from 1984 till June 2014 using different combinations of the following keywords: photodynamic therapy; oral premalignant lesions; leukoplakia; erythroplakia; erythro-leukoplakia; verrucous hyperplasia; and submucous fibrosis. Review articles, experimental studies, case-reports, commentaries, letters to the Editor, unpublished articles and articles published in languages other than English were not sought.

Profiling of chromosomal changes in potentially malignant and malignant oral mucosal lesions from South and South-East Asia using array-comparative genomic hybridization.

Background/aim: Using array-CGH, the present study aimed to explore genome-wide profiles of chromosomal aberrations in samples of oral cancer (OC), oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) and their corresponding normal oral mucosa from Indian (n=18) and OC from Sri Lankan (n=12) patients with history of BQ use, and correlate the findings to other clinicopathological parameters. A second aim was to verify the results from the array-CGH by selecting a candidate gene, S100A14, and examine its expression and genetic polymorphisms by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) using samples from both populations and from multi-national archival DNA and paraffin-embedded samples of OC.

Results: In OC and OSF samples, 80 chromosomal regions (harboring 349 genes) were found as deleted or amplified.

Factors predicting malignant transformation in oral potentially malignant disorders among patients accrued over a 10-year period in South East England.

Objective:  The aims of the study were to determine how frequently oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) transform to cancer and to identify clinical and histological factors determining the rates of transformation.

Methods:  The study included 1357 patients with biopsy-confirmed OPMDs seen at Guy's Hospital between 1990 and 1999 and followed up until 2005. The patients' details (name, date of birth, gender and any other relevant information) were matched to the Thames Cancer Registry (TCR) database and Office for National Statistics (ONS) to identify patients who subsequently developed oral cancer (ICD-10 C00-C06).

Oral health risks of tobacco use and effects of cessation.

The purpose of this paper is to review the epidemiologic evidence for the effects of tobacco use and tobacco use cessation on a variety of oral diseases and conditions. Exposures considered include cigarette and bidi smoking, pipe and cigar smoking, and smokeless tobacco use. Oral diseases and disorders considered include oral cancer and precancer, periodontal disease, caries and tooth loss, gingival recession and other benign mucosal disorders as well as implant failure.

Causes of oral cancer--an appraisal of controversies.

Major risk factors for oral cancer are cigarette smoking and alcohol misuse. Among Asian populations, regular use of betel quid (with or without added tobacco) increases oral cancer risks. Dentists should be aware of some emerging risk factors for oral, and particularly oropharyngeal cancer such as the role of the human papillomavirus infection (HPV).

Demonstration of ethanol-induced protein adducts in oral leukoplakia (pre-cancer) and cancer.

Background: Excessive alcohol consumption is a common cause for upper gastrointestinal tract cancers. However, the primary mechanisms of alcohol-induced carcinogenesis have remained poorly defined.

Method: We examined the generation and subcellular distribution of protein adducts with acetaldehyde (AA), the first metabolite of ethanol, and end products of lipid peroxidation, malondialdehyde (MDA) and 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE), from oral biopsy specimens obtained from 36 subjects (11 British, 25 Japanese) reporting alcohol misuse.

Oral cancer survival in young people in South East England.

The incidence rate of oral cancer among young people in the UK has been increasing since 1970s. The objective of this study was to compare relative survival of young people (under 45 years of age) diagnosed with oral cancer with that of older people (45 years and older) resident in South East England. Between 1986 and 2002, 5 year relative survival was higher among young people compared with the older group, suggesting age was a strong independent predictor of survival.

Clinical, pathological, cellular and molecular lesions caused by oral smokeless tobacco--a review.

While carcinogenicity of smokeless tobacco (ST) to humans is well established the oral lesions that precede development of cancer are less well characterized. The clinical appearances of ST-associated lesions are variable. Epidemiological studies show a strong significant association of risk with chronic daily use but population differences are noted because of various commercial products in use.

The two-week wait cancer initiative on oral cancer; the predictive value of urgent referrals to an oral medicine unit.

Background: The two-week wait cancer initiative was designed to speed up referral of patients suspected of having cancer. The National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) has issued guidelines for head and neck cancers warranting urgent referral.

Objective: To look at the appropriate use of the two-week wait/urgent referrals by measuring the proportion of urgent referrals found to have cancer, to assess the sensitivity of the clinical guidelines and to explore how practitioners used them in primary care.

Effective management of smoking in an oral dysplasia clinic in London.

Background: Precancerous lesions precede the development of oral cancer; of several clinical types the most common is leukoplakia. The risk factors include tobacco and excess alcohol use and diets low in antioxidants. Studies concerning the management of risk factors related to oral precancer are meager.

Tobacco, oral cancer, and treatment of dependence.

Tobacco dependence is recognised as a life-threatening disorder with serious oral health consequences which responds to treatment in the form of behavioural support and medication. While cigarette smoking is the most hazardous and prevalent form of tobacco use in the west, consideration also needs to be given to other forms such as bidi smoking in India, reverse smoking by several rural populations and use of snuff and chewing tobacco. The evidence that the use of tobacco is the major risk factor for oral cancer and potentially malignant lesions of the mouth is clear.

Risk factors for oral cancer in newly diagnosed patients aged 45 years and younger: a case-control study in Southern England.

Background: This case-control study aimed to identify the risk factors for oral cancer in patients aged 45 years and under.

Methods: Patients were recruited over a 3-year period between 1999 and 2001 from 14 hospitals in the southeast of England, UK.

Results: Fifty-three (80%) newly diagnosed patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the oral cavity participated.

Factors associated with delay in presentation among younger patients with oral cancer.

Despite the reported increase in the incidence of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) in under 45-year-olds, little is known regarding the pattern and reasons for delay in presentation in this younger age group. The aim of this study was to investigate factors predictive of patient (primary) delay in a sample of 53 newly diagnosed patients under the age of 45 years. Multiple logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for primary delay (> or = 21 days between patient first noticing signs or symptoms and seeking professional advice).

Prevalence of oral mucosal lesions in alcohol misusers in south London.

Background: Information on alcohol-associated oral mucosal lesions (OMLs) and conditions is meagre. A prevalence survey among alcohol misusers in south London was therefore undertaken.

Methods: Six hundred and ninety-three subjects (388 alcohol misusers and 305 alcohol + substance abuse) attending several clinical care facilities in south London between 1994 and 1999 were interviewed on their alcohol and drug habits.

An analysis of risk factors for oral cancer in young people: a case-control study.

The incidence of oral cancer amongst young adults is increasing in many European and high incidence countries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the major risk factors for oral cancer in young adults using a case-control design. A sample of 116 patients aged 45 years and younger, diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity between 1990 and 1997 from the south east of England were included.

The role of the dental team in tobacco cessation.

The dental team can play an effective role in the creation of tobacco-free communities and individuals through participation in community and political action and in counselling their patients to quit. Maintaining a smoke-free environment is important. There are well-tried and cost effective methods for brief interventions in dental clinical settings, and team-work, to which both clinical and reception/administrative staff must contribute, is fundamental.

Multiple primary tumours following head and neck cancer in southern England during 1961-98.

Background: Successful initial treatment of oral and oro-phayngeal cancer has led to the emergence of second primary tumours (SPTs). Population data are meagre.

Methods: Occurrence of multiple primary cancers following a malignancy in a head and neck site was computed using data from a population-based cancer registry covering a population of 14 million.

Effectiveness of tobacco counseling in the dental office.

This article describes the results of studies among dental care providers regarding tobacco cessation in the past two decades. In the early period, surveys described what dentists were doing in their own practices. The results suggested that they were not adequately communicating to their patients the importance of quitting.

Areca nut use following migration and its consequences.

Areca nut use is widespread in the Oriental countries, affecting approximately 20% of the world's population. The combined use of areca nut and smokeless tobacco (ST) is practiced particularly in the Indo-Chinese continents. While there is considerable global variation in the use of these products, migrant studies relevant to areca nut use is of considerable interest to epidemiologists in suggesting the extent to which these environment exposures are important in the aetiology of different cancers and other health-related consequences.