Effect of levamisole on treatment of recurrent aphthous stomatitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The aim of this study was to systematically analyze the effect of levamisole on treatment of recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS). METHODS: An electronic search was executed in PubMed, Cochrane, and Scopus after determining the research question using the appropriate Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) term covering the period from 1975 to 2015. Additional publications from hand searching and the reference section of each relevant article enriched the article list. Finally, 9 articles that have assessed the effect of levamisole on the treatment of RAS and had suitable qualifications for the accomplishment of systematic review and meta-analysis were included. RESULTS: The results showed that the chance of improvement in patients taking levamisole was 6 [odds ratio (OR) = 5.67, 95% confidence interval (CI)] times more than in patients not taking this drug. CONCLUSION: It appears that levamisole is an effective drug for the treatment of RAS, but further appropriate studies should carryout in this context. KEYWORDS: Levamisole; Treatment; Aphthous; Recurrent; Stomatiti

Epidemiology of oral and pharyngeal cancers: A retrospective study in Kermanshah, Iran

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The aim of this study was to determine the incidence and relative frequency of oral and pharyngeal cancers in Kermanshah, Iran, from March 1993 until March 2006. METHODS: The data used in this epidemiologic study were extracted directly from pathology records registered in 12 (all) public and private pathology centers of Kermanshah province during the 13-year study period. The medical data of 13,323 cases of cancer were studied. RESULTS: During the 13-year period of this study, 350 new malignant cases occurred in the oral cavity and pharynx. 247 (70%) were men and 103 (30%) were women. The mean age for oral and pharyngeal cancers was 57 [standard deviation (SD) = 17.09] with male to female ratio 2.39:1. The most common oral and pharyngeal cancers were squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) with 283 patients. 211 (74.6%) of the patients were men and 72 (25.4%) of them were women; the mean age of SCC was 60 (SD = 16) with male to female ratio 2.93:1. The two most common sites of involvement were lips [166 (47.5%)] and tongue [25 (7.14%)]. The overall incidence rate of oral and pharyngeal cancers was 1.47 per 100000 populations. CONCLUSION: In summary, the incidence risk of oral and pharyngeal cancers in people living in Kermanshah province is similar to the most other provinces of Iran. However, this study showed that the rank of oral and pharyngeal cancers among males (9th most common cancer) is low when compared to other regions of Iran and other countries such as India, Australia, and France. KEYWORDS: Epidemiology; Oral Cancer; Pharyngeal Cancer; Ira

Oral and dental health in hospitalized psychiatric patients: a cross-sectional and comparative study in Kerman, Iran

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to assess oral and dental health of hospitalized psychiatric patients.Methods: This cross-sectional study which included 193 psychiatric patients was conducted in two psychiatric hospitals (Shahid Beheshti and Bahman) in Kerman, Iran. According to the duration of the hospital stay, patients were categorized into two groups of acute and chronic. The oral and dental health of the patients was assessed using Decay, Missing, Filling Teeth (DMF-T) index and Oral Assessment Guide for Psychiatric Care (OAG-PC). High score for these two scales indicated a worse oral and dental health.Results: Mean (±SD) DMFT and OAG-PC scores of the patients were 19.74 (±7.88) and 20.77, respectively. Univariate analysis showed that patients in chronic group had higher OAG-PC (P = 0.014), but the difference of DMF-T scores was not statistically significant between the two groups (P = 0.57). After controlling confounding variables, the differences of the DMF-T and OAG-PC scores were not statistically significant between the two groups (P values of 0.88 and 0.64, respectively).Conclusion: Oral and dental health in the studied psychiatric patients was poor. It is vital to improve the oral and dental health status of psychiatric patients

Effect of levamisole on treatment of recurrent aphthous stomatitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The aim of this study was to systematically analyze the effect of levamisole on treatment of recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS). METHODS: An electronic search was executed in PubMed, Cochrane, and Scopus after determining the research question using the appropriate Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) term covering the period from 1975 to 2015. Additional publications from hand searching and the reference section of each relevant article enriched the article list. Finally, 9 articles that have assessed the effect of levamisole on the treatment of RAS and had suitable qualifications for the accomplishment of systematic review and meta-analysis were included. RESULTS: The results showed that the chance of improvement in patients taking levamisole was 6 [odds ratio (OR) = 5.67, 95% confidence interval (CI)] times more than in patients not taking this drug. CONCLUSION: It appears that levamisole is an effective drug for the treatment of RAS, but further appropriate studies should carryout in this context

Assessment of systemic effects of ginger on salivation in patients with post-radiotherapy xerostomia

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Our aim was to assess the clinical efficacy of ginger capsule (Zintoma herbal capsule) in the relief of symptoms in patients with post-radiotherapy xerostomia. METHODS: This study was a randomized double-blind, parallel clinical trial of ginger usage in patients with post-radiotherapy xerostomia. Sixty-one subjects were selected from patients with xerostomia of Imam Khomeini Cancer Institute, Tehran, Iran. Subject-based dry mouth scores derived from 100 mm visual analogue scales (VAS) were recorded at baseline. Patients also completed a questionnaire on the first visit regarding the symptoms of xerostomia. The patients received ginger capsule (30 persons) or placebo (31 persons) three times daily over a 2-weeks period. At the end of day 14, dry mouth scores derived from VAS were recorded again and patients responded to the additional variables regarding dry mouth symptoms and quality of life issues. P < 0.05 was considered significant. Data were analyzed using SPSS. RESULTS: The mean treatment effect on day 14 was 33.7 ± 20.9 mm in the ginger group and 23.6 ± 17.3 mm in the placebo group. The analysis indicated marginally significant improvement of xerostomia with ginger prescription (P = 0.057). At the end of intervention there was no significant difference between the two groups regarding improvement of quality of life or dry mouth symptoms. CONCLUSION: It seems that ginger could be helpful in the treatment of xerostomia. Since ginger is considered a safe herbal medicine with only few and insignificant adverse/side effects further studies in larger group of patients are recommended to provide the effect of ginger on different complaints of xerostomia. KEYWORDS: Ginger, Radiation, Xerostomi

Clinical characteristics of peripheral ossifying fibroma: A series of 20 cases

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Peripheral ossifying fibroma (POF) is a reactive chronic localized hyperplastic gingival lesion. The present case-series was undertaken to determine the clinical variations in a series of different cases of oral POF. METHODS: Demographic and clinical data including age, gender, location, color, clinical diagnosis, size, consistency and radiographic view of the lesions were studied among clinical records at school of dentistry in Kerman, Iran, from 1998 to 2012. RESULTS: A total of 20 POF cases was subjected to clinical analyses, in equal numbers of men and women. The total frequency of POF was 2.5%, and 11 cases (55%) had occurred in the maxilla. POF showed a greater frequency of pink color (60%), anterior location (55%), firm consistency (85%) and a size of 1-1.5 cm (60%). Bone resorption and calcification were found in 35% and 25% of cases, respectively. CONCLUSION: In comparison with previous studies, despite investigation of similar clinical features of POF in the present study, findings also showed that characteristics such as age, gender and location cannot help in the differential diagnosis of POF from pyogenic granuloma. KEYWORDS: Peripheral Ossifying Fibroma, Fibroma, Gingiva, Oral Cavit

Survey of prevalence of xerostomia in a population of Kerman, Iran, attending medical and dental clinics

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The effects of xerostomia on oral health have been studied for decades; however, the prevalence of this disorder in the general population remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of xerostomia in the population of Kerman, Iran. METHODS: A total of 1010 subjects participated in this cross-sectional study. Study volunteers completed a standardized questionnaire regarding demographic data, history of systemic disease, use of medication, cigarette smoking, and etcetera. The Fox questionnaire was also completed to diagnose xerostomia. RESULTS: The prevalence of xerostomia in this study was 55% (59.9% among men and 49.9% among women). The mean age of the study population was 34.7 ± 12.1. 21.5% of cases had a systemic disease and 19% reported taking medication. Moreover, 25.9% of the participants (30% men and 4.6% women) smoked cigarettes or other tobacco products. Systemic disease, medication, and the use of tobacco products and opiates were found to be significant risk factors for xerostomia. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of xerostomia in our study was higher than that reported in other populations. Smoking and medication were significant risk factors for xerostomia. KEYWORDS: Epidemiology, Prevalence, Xerostomia, Dry Mout

Evaluation of Effects of Zingiber officinale on Salivation in Rats

There are some herbal plants in Iranian traditional system of medicine which are believed to be excellent remedies to alleviate the symptoms of xerostomia. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of systemic administration of seven different herbal extracts on the rate of salivation in rats. The extracts of 7 herbs; Zingiber officinale Roscoe (Zingiberaceae), Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck (Rutaceae), Artemisia absinthium L. (Asteraceae), Cichorium intybus L. (Asteraceae), Pimpinella anisum L.(Apiaceae), Portulaca oleracea L.(Portulacaceae), Tribulus terrestris L. (Zygophyllaceae) were prepared. Nine groups of animals (including negative and positive control groups) were used and seven rats were tested in each group. After the injection of extracts, saliva volume was measured gravimetrically in four continuous seven-minute intervals. The results showed that after injection of ginger extracts salivation was significantly higher as compared to the negative control group and other herbal extracts in all of the four intervals (P<0.01). The peak action of the ginger was during the first 7-minute interval and following this, salivation decreased to some extent. The present study suggests that the extract of Zingiber offiicianle can increase the rate of salivation significantly in animal model. Further investigations on different constituents of ginger seem to be essential to identify the responsible constituent for stimulation of saliva secretion

Survey of prevalence of xerostomia in a population of Kerman, Iran, attending medical and dental clinics

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The effects of xerostomia on oral health have been studied for decades; however, the prevalence of this disorder in the general population remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of xerostomia in the population of Kerman, Iran. METHODS: A total of 1010 subjects participated in this cross-sectional study. Study volunteers completed a standardized questionnaire regarding demographic data, history of systemic disease, use of medication, cigarette smoking, and etcetera. The Fox questionnaire was also completed to diagnose xerostomia. RESULTS: The prevalence of xerostomia in this study was 55% (59.9% among men and 49.9% among women). The mean age of the study population was 34.7 ± 12.1. 21.5% of cases had a systemic disease and 19% reported taking medication. Moreover, 25.9% of the participants (30% men and 4.6% women) smoked cigarettes or other tobacco products. Systemic disease, medication, and the use of tobacco products and opiates were found to be significant risk factors for xerostomia. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of xerostomia in our study was higher than that reported in other populations. Smoking and medication were significant risk factors for xerostomia

Temporomandibular treatments are significantly efficient in improving otologic symptoms

Abstract Symptoms of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) could be present as otologic symptoms like earache and dizziness in some patients. In most cases, these symptoms are not recognized because otolaryngologists fail to diagnose TMD as a source of the problem. This investigation was conducted to evaluate the effect of TMD treatments on the otologic symptoms which after taking history and clinical examinations seemed to be related to TMD. In the present study, the patients who were complaining of otalgia, ear fullness, tinnitus, hearing loss, and dizziness were evaluated by an ear fellow. Forty patients who had no known otologic or other primary causes to explain their symptoms, were referred to the orofacial pain clinic with the possible diagnosis of TMD. If the diagnosis was confirmed by an orofacial pain specialist, a combination of TMD treatments was administered to each case and the patients were followed up. The results showed that following implementation of treatment protocols for TMD, more than 50% of the patients reported complete or partial recovery in the second follow-up (p < 0.05). The most common otologic symptom of the referred cases was earache, and the most common associated complaint was neck pain. All the patients had one or more parafunctional habits. This study showed that TMD treatments were significantly efficient in improving otologic symptoms partially or completely and the authors concluded that for the patients with otolaryngologic unexplained symptoms, an overhaul examination is needed to assess TMD as a possible cause of the patient complaint. It is recommended that in cases with unexplained otologic symptoms, otolaryngologists care more about the neck trigger points (TP) and ask about the patient’s parafunctional habits. Otolaryngologists and dentists need to be aware of the risk of developing otologic symptoms caused by these habits or cervical TPs