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

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

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

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

Amino acid-mPEGs: Promising excipients to stabilize human growth hormone against aggregation

Objective(s): Today, the non-covalent PEGylation methods of protein pharmaceuticals attract more attention and possess several advantages over the covalent approach. In the present study, Amino Acid-mPEGs (aa-mPEGs) were synthesized, and the human Growth Hormone (hGH) stability profile was assessed in their presence and absence.Materials and Methods: aa-mPEGs were synthesized with different amino acids (Trp, Glu, Arg, Cys, and Leu) and molecular weights of polymers (2 and 5 KDa). The aa-mPEGs were analyzed with different methods. The physical and structural stabilities of hGH were analyzed by SEC and CD spectroscopy methods. Physical stability was assayed at different temperatures within certain intervals. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation was used to realize the possible mode of interaction between protein and aa-mPEGs. The cell-based method was used to evaluate the cytotoxicity.Results: HNMR and FTIR spectroscopy indicated that aa-mPEGs were successfully synthesized. hGH as a control group is known to be stable at 4 °C; a pronounced change in monomer degradation is observed when stored at 25 °C and 37 °C. hGH:Glu-mPEG 2 kDa with a molar ratio of 1:1 to the protein solution can significantly increase the physical stability. The CD spectroscopy method showed that the secondary structure of the protein was preserved during storage. aa-mPEGs did not show any cytotoxicity activities. The results of MD simulations were in line with experimental results.Conclusion: This paper showed that aa-mPEGs are potent excipients in decreasing the aggregation of hGH. Glu-mPEG exhibited the best-stabilizing properties in a harsh environment among other aa-mPEGs

Evaluation and Variability of Flood-Oriented Health of Shiraz Darwazeh Quran Watershed from Watershed Management Structures

IntroductionCurrently, many disasters threaten the health of ecosystems. The pressures caused by extensive human interventions and the unprincipled exploitation of natural resources have led to the degradation of natural resources and the structure and functioning of ecosystems. Hence, evaluating the consequences of human intervention in nature and meeting the growing need of humans to receive diverse services has made it necessary to evaluate the performance of watershed ecosystems in providing different services. Healthy watersheds play an important role in providing a wide variety of ecosystem services. Therefore, watershed health monitoring and evaluation is vital for the conservation of ecosystems and achieving the optimal level of services. In such a way a suitable collaborative and executive approach is established between research and watershed management. In this connection, watershed health analysis can provide valuable help in achieving the goals of integrated management of watersheds and, of course, the balance between the needs of human societies and ecosystems. However, the assessment of the health and sustainability of the watershed affected by human activities has not been sufficiently documented yet.Materials and MethodsThe current pilot research has evaluated the health of the Shiraz Darwazeh Quran Watershed in Fars Province, Iran, and the effect of existing watershed management structures in the region on the health of the watershed with a focus on floods. For this purpose, 36 key criteria from a set of climatic, anthropogenic, and hydrologic factors were identified based on the conditions of the region and the analysis of the flood occurrence process in the watershed. The selected criteria were then categorized into the three indices of pressure (P), state (S), and response (R). After screening the selected criteria in exploring the conceptual approach of pressure, state, and response (PSR), the health status was evaluated in two cases with and without watershed management structures.Results and DiscussionThe results showed that the health condition without considering the watershed management structures was at average conditions with health index of 0.55. In addition, the results of the watershed health assessment verified the non-significant effects of stone and mortar structures on improving watershed health. So that, the health conditions was remained at average status with health index of 0.53. Therefore, it can be acknowledged that the existing watershed management structures, due to the limited both number and spatial coverage, have not been able to noticeably affect the improvement of the general conditions of the watershed, despite the effect on the factors affecting the health of the sub-watersheds where the structures have been constructed. The spatial changes of the calculated variables showed that the abandoned lands, time of concentration, area under military activities, surface of sensitive formations to erosion, high density of the drainage network, density of the roads, areas of regions with high potential in producing runoff and sediment, and size of the residential areas were the most important factors affecting the health situation of the Darwazeh Quran Watershed.ConclusionAccording to the results of the analysis of the indicators and criteria considered in evaluation of the health of the Shiraz Darwazeh Quran Watershed based on the PSR approach, it was found that the watershed had an average health status. Therefore, it can be acknowledged that the existing watershed management structures have not been able to impose a noticeable effect on the prosperity and improvement of watershed health conditions. In general, it can be said that abandoned lands, short concentration time, military activities, the presence of formations sensitive to erosion, high density of drainage network and road, and the potential of high runoff and sediment production, and the size of residential areas are among the most important factors affecting the declining the health of Darwazeh Quran Watershed. Therefore, it is necessary to pay further attention to the aforesaid factors by conducting periodical monitoring with more comprehensive data, in time and also analyzing the trend of relative changes of the indicators in order to explain the adaptive and intelligent management of the watershed. The necessary measures should also be taken into account simultaneously. Therefore, it is suggested to turn the weak points of the region into strong points by applying bioengineering measures and use the opportunities in the region such as the potential of tourism and ecological features in order to improve the health status of the watershed

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

Determination of LMF binding site on a HSA-PPIX complex in the presence of human holo transferrin from the viewpoint of drug loading on proteins.

Holo transferrin (TF) and the natural complex of human serum albumin and protoporphyrin IX (HSA-PPIX) are two serum carrier proteins that can interact with each other. Such an interaction may alter their binding sites. In this study, fluorescence spectroscopy, as well as zeta potential and molecular modeling techniques, have been used to compare the complexes (HSA-PPIX)-LMF and [(HSA-PPIX)-TF]-LMF. The Ka1, Ka2, values of (HSA-PPIX)-LMF and [(HSA-PPIX)-TF]-LMF were 1.1×10(5) M(-1), 9.7×10(6) M(-1), and 2.0×10(4) M(-1), 1.8×10(5) M(-1), respectively, and the n1, n2 values were respectively 1.19, 1.53 and 1.17, 1.65. The second derivative of the Trp emission scan of (HSA-PPIX)-LMF exhibited one negative band at 310 nm, whereas for the [(HSA-PPIX)-TF]-LMF system, we observed one negative band at 316 nm indicating an increase in polarity around Trp. The effect of TF on the conformation of (HSA-PPIX)-TF was analyzed using three-dimensional fluorescence spectroscopy. The phase diagram indicated that the presence of a second binding site on HSA and TF was due to the existence of intermediate structures. Zeta potential analysis showed that the presence of TF increased the positive charges of the HSA-PPIX system. Site marker experiments revealed that the binding site of LMF to HSA-PPIX changed from Sudlow's site IIA to Sudlow's site IIIB in the presence of TF. Moreover, molecular modeling studies suggested the sub-domain IIIB in HSA as the candidate place for the formation of the binding site of LMF on the (HSA-PPIX)-TF complex