Socio-demographic characteristics are related to the advanced clinical stage of oral cancer

Social determinants may be associated with the onset and progression of the clinical stage of oral cancer. Aim: To evaluate the impact of socio-demographic characteristics on the prevalence of advanced clinical stage of oral cancer. Information about 51,116 cases of oral cancer, from all Brazilian states, between 2000 and 2012, was obtained from the Cancer Registry Information System. The clinical stage of oral cancer (dependent variable) was classified as initial (stages I and II) or advanced (stages III and IV). The relationship between the clinical stage of oral cancer and the following independent variables was analyzed: sex, age, schooling, marital status, family history of cancer, and origin of referral. Analyses on frequency distribution and multivariate binary logistic regression model were performed (?<0.05). Compared to individuals with no schooling, those who attended elementary to high school (OR=2.461) and college education (OR = 3.050) had a higher prevalence of advanced cases of oral cancer. Individuals without a partner (OR = 14,209) demonstrated a higher prevalence compared to married individuals. Subjects aged 20-44 years (OR = 4.081) and 45-64 years (OR = 14.875) had a higher prevalence compared to those aged 15-19 years. The variables gender, family history of cancer and origin of referral integrated the binary model of logistic regression, but did not present statistical significance. Socioeconomic factors may be related to the advanced clinical stage of oral cancer

Red propolis hydroalcoholic extract inhibits the formation of Candida albicans biofilms on denture surface

To evaluate the antifungal activity of the red propolis hydroalcoholic extract (RPHE) against Candida albicans biofilms. The minimum inhibitory and fungicidal concentrations (MIC and MFC) of the RPHE were determined by the microdilution technique. C. albicans biofilms were formed on the surface of resin specimens preconditioned with artificial saliva (1h). The specimens (N=48) were equally divided according to the four solutions used for anti-biofilm evaluation (n=12 per group). After overnight incubation, biofilms were daily exposed (2x/day for 15 min) along 3 days with 3% RPHE, 0.12% chlorhexidine (CHX), 50,000 IU/mL nystatin (NYS) or saline (0.9% NaCl). Biofilms were analyzed regarding the number of viable microorganisms (CFU/mL), the metabolic activity (MTT assay) and the proportion of hyphae (optical microscopy). The MIC and MFC of RPHE were respectively 0.29 mg/mL (0.03%) and 1.17 mg/mL (0.12%). There was no difference in the microorganisms? viability (CFU/mL) among groups treated with RPHE (4.92×103), CHX (3.33×102) or NYS (6.8×104), being all of them different from NaCl (3.93×107) (p0.05). All experimental groups had a mean proportion of hyphae <10%, lower than NaCl (70%). RPHE has antifungal activity against C. albicans biofilms, suggesting its use for the biofilm control on denture surfaces

Impact of the anatomical location, alcoholism and smoking on the prevalence of advanced oral cancer in Brazil

To evaluate the prevalence of oral cancer in Brazil according to the clinical stage, anatomical location, alcoholism and smoking. Data referring to 31,217 cases of oral cancer, from 2000 to 2010, were obtained from the Integrator Module of the Hospital Registry of Cancer. Inconsistent data (?non-classified? cases) was eliminated and 21,160 cases were analyzed. The frequency distribution according to clinical stage, anatomical location, alcoholism and smoking was analyzed descriptively and through a binary logistic regression model (?<0.05). The clinical stage (dependent variable) was dichotomized in early stage (I and II) or advanced stage (III and IV). The year of diagnosis, anatomical location and deleterious habits (alcoholism and smoking) were considered independent variables. The most frequent characteristics were: oropharynx location (n=3856, 18.41%), clinical stage IV (n=11924, 56.09%) and combined use of alcohol and tobacco (n=19226; 61.59%). The year 2009 (p<0.01, PR = 1.162, CI-95%=1.053-1.283) and location at the base of tongue (p<0.01, PR = 2.485, CI-95% = 2.182-2.807) presented a higher prevalence ratio for advanced stage oral cancer. The combined use of alcohol and tobacco showed a higher prevalence rate for the advanced clinical stage of cancer (p<0.01, PR =1.449, CI-95%=1.382-1.520) if compared to individuals without habits, or just alcoholics. Higher prevalence of advanced stage of oral cancer is related to the localization at the base of the tongue and to the concomitant use of alcohol and tobacco. Therefore, it can be suggested that all these characteristics lead to a worse prognosis of oral cancer

The influence of leprosy-related clinical and epidemiological variables in the occurrence and severity of COVID-19 : a prospective realworld cohort study

Background Protective effects of Bacillus Calmette–Gue´rin (BCG) vaccination and clofazimine and dapsone treatment against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection have been reported. Patients at risk for leprosy represent an interesting model for assessing the effects of these therapies on the occurrence and severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We assessed the influence of leprosy-related variables in the occurrence and severity of COVID-19. Methodology/Principal findings We performed a 14-month prospective real-world cohort study in which the main risk factor was 2 previous vaccinations with BCG and the main outcome was COVID-19 detection by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). A Cox proportional hazards model was used. Among the 406 included patients, 113 were diagnosed with leprosy. During follow-up, 69 (16.99%) patients contracted COVID-19. Survival analysis showed that leprosy was associated with COVID-19 (p<0.001), but multivariate analysis showed that only COVID-19-positive household contacts (hazard ratio (HR) = 8.04; 95% CI = 4.93– 13.11) and diabetes mellitus (HR = 2.06; 95% CI = 1.04–4.06) were significant risk factors for COVID-19. Conclusions/Significance Leprosy patients are vulnerable to COVID-19 because they have more frequent contact with SARS-CoV-2-infected patients, possibly due to social and economic limitations. Our model showed that the use of corticosteroids, thalidomide, pentoxifylline, clofazimine, or dapsone or BCG vaccination did not affect the occurrence or severity of COVID-19