Somatosensory information from peripheral sensory neurons innervating the oral region is projected into the thalamus via the trigeminothalamic tract and from there to the primary somatosensory cortex. Representation of oral sensation in the human primary somatosensory cortex has been demonstrated by invasive technique (direct cortical stimulation and intracranial recording of somatosensory-evoked potentials) and non-invasive neuroimaging. The present review describes the projection pathway of the human trigeminothalamic tract and the cortical somatotopic organization of the dent-oral structure-representing area in the primary somatosensory cortex, and gives a brief introduction to non-invasive neuroimaging.

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AIM : To estimate the glycoprotein levels (Protein bound hexose, Fucose and Total sialic acid) in pre-treatment and post treatment phases with a follow up of one year, and to know the prognostic significance of glycoproteins in oral cancer patients. METHODS : 56 patients with different stages of oral cancer in accordance to AJCC TNM staging (American Joint Committee of cancer) were included along with 20 healthy individuals for the control group which were selected at random. All the patients were subjected to biochemical analysis of protein bound hexose, fucose and total sialic acid levels before treatment (S1), immediately after treatment (S2), 6 months after treatment (S3) and one year after treatment (S4) and compared with the levels of these serum glycoproteins amongst control groups. 31 patients were available for the 6 months and one year follow up. Statistical analysis methods employed were student's ‘t’ test and paired ‘t’ test. Further to this, 6 months to one year clinical follow up was also carried out. RESULTS : Significant elevation (p<0.001) was observed in levels of the serum glycoproteins in all the oral cancer patients when compared to the control group. It was seen that the increased levels correlated well with the clinical stages of malignancies. Post treatment levels were significantly decreased in all the serum glycoproteins except in total sialic acid where it increased in stage III & IV in S3 and S4 phases with the transient reductions occurring in S2 phase, in the absence of visible local disease (p<0.001). It was further noted that the levels in two recurrent cases were also decreased soon after the treatment when compared to the pre-treatment values but again started increasing in S3 and S4. CONCLUSION : The tumor markers are useful for monitoring the malignant disease. The protein bound hexose, fucose and total sialic acid level indicate tumor burden and total sialic acid levels proved to be better prognostic markers.

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The purpose of this study was to investigate the microflora and identify staphylococci in the oral cavity of cats. Oral swab samples from 20 cats were cultured on BHI-YE agar for total organisms, and selective media for staphylococci. The distribution and characterization of the isolates were studied. The predominant bacteria were gram-negative and -positive rods, accounting for approximately 53.4 and 41.9% on BHI-YE plates, respectively. Gram-negative and -positive cocci were detected at low levels on the medium. The genus Staphylococcus was identified in all examined cats, comprising 0.4-5.7% of the total cultured bacteria. The majority of isolates were identified as Staphylococcus intermedius, from 16 cats. The next most common strains were Staphylococcus simulans and Staphylococcus sciuri, from 13 and 9 cats, respectively. Minor strains, Staphylococcus xylosus, Staphylococcus saprophyticus, and Staphylococcus aureus were also detected. The co-existence of at least two staphylococcal species was noted in 18 subjects. Only isolates identified as S. sciuri had the mecA gene. However, they were sensitive to methicillin and did not possess other mec-accociated genes. Methicillin -resistant S. sciuri was obtained by several transfer cultures on methicillin (20 μg/ml)-containing medium. MICs were 128-1,024 μg/ml. They still did not induce other mec-associated genes. These results suggest that methicillin-sensitive staphylococci that have the mecA gene tend to become drug-resistant strains when repeatedly exposed to methicillin.

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The present study was conducted to explore the efficacy of group cognitive-behavioral treatment for burning mouth syndrome in patients with intractable, persistent pain. Thirty-five participants (30 women and 5 men, ages 66.0±8.0 years) were included in this study. A brief cognitive-behavioral intervention was delivered in a small group format to patients with burning mouth syndrome. Numeric rating scales were used to assess present pain intensity before and after the session. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory was also used to evaluate trait and state anxiety before and after the session. After the session, the present pain intensity was significantly reduced from 5.2±2.2 to 4.4±2.1 (P<0.01). The state anxiety inventory score was significantly reduced from 48.6±8.7 to 40.3±9.7 (P<0.01) and the trait anxiety inventory score was also significantly reduced from 46.9±8.9 to 44.3±10.1 (P<0.01). The present results suggest that a brief group cognitive-behavioral intervention is effective in managing pain and anxiety of patients with burning mouth syndrome.

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This study seeks to access the potential of a heat-killed recombinant Lactobacillus casei expressing 40-kDa outer membrane protein of Porphyromonas gingivalis (L. casei/40k-OMP) as a nasal vaccine against P. gingivalis infection. The 40-kDa outer membrane protein of P. gingivalis (40k-OMP) were expressed on the surface of L. casei using poly-γ-glutamate symthetase A (pgsA). Nasal immunization with heat-killed L. casei/40k-OMP induced significant 40k-OMP-specific serum IgG, IgA and saliva IgA antibody responses. Antibody-forming cell analysis revealed high numbers of 40k-OMP-specific IgA antibody-forming cells in the submandibular glands of mice given heat-killed L. casei/40k-OMP. Importantly, nasal administration of heat-killed L. casei/40k-OMP resulted in the significant reduction of alveolar bone loss caused by oral infection with P. gingivalis. Because L. casei is one of major probiotic bacterias, nasal administration of heat-killed L. casei/40k-OMP should be an effective and safe mucosal vaccine for humans against P. gingivalis infection and may be an important tool for prevention of chronic periodontitis.

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Papillary squamous cell carcinoma (PSCC) is a rare variant of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) having an exophytic papillary component. We report the case of a 60-year-old woman with oral PSCC of the gingiva. Histopathologically, the operative specimen was composed of exophytic papillary and invasive proliferations of atypical squamous epithelium, from which a pathological diagnosis of PSCC was made. On the Ki-67 labeling index, the exophytic area of PSCC (42.8%) was higher than the superficial area of SCC (20.7%) and papilloma (38.9%). The invasive area of PSCC (53.1%) was slightly higher than that of SCC (52.2%). The PSCC had high proliferative activity in both the exophytic and invasive areas, which reflected the PSCC characteristic features of papillary and invasive growths. Clinicians should check for the existence of PSCC in the oromaxillofacial region and provide treatment as they do for SCC.

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Lupus erythematosus (LE) may be seen in one of two well-recognized forms, systemic (acute) lupus erythematosus (SLE) and discoid (chronic) lupus erythematosus (DLE), both of which may have oral manifestations. Oral discoid lesions may be observed in patients with SLE. A number of studies have established a set of histopathologic criteria that would distinguish between oral mucosal LE and lichen planus. We report herein a case of LE that exhibited the following characteristics : patchy periodic acid-Schiff stain-positive deposits subepithelially, periodic acid-Schiff stain-positive thickening of blood vessel walls, and the presence of a severe inflammatory cell infiltrate. Several other less significant alterations were also identified. The present case report suggests that oral DLE in most cases is characteristic enough to provide a definitive diagnosis at the light microscopic level.

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During the course of a study into the tooth development of marsupials, an interesting feature concerning cusp development was revealed by micro-focus computed tomography analysis and alizarin red S staining of the dentition from 9 to 25 days after birth (as a pouch-young specimen) of the gray short-tailed opossum (Monodelphis domestica). The metacone was the first cusp to calcify on the upper first molar, which commenced calcification 13 days after birth. The paracone and protocone were the second and the third cusps to calcify respectively, followed by the external stylar cusps. This order of cusp calcification differed from the order on the upper deciduous molar and permanent molars of Didelphis virginiana belonging to the same family, in which the stylar cusps calcified earlier than the protocone.

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Oxygen is one of the most versatile and powerful agents available to the modern medical practitioner. The therapeutic use of oxygen under pressure is known as Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy(HBO) and has been used to assist wound healing for almost 40 years. HBO has several specific biological actions like hyper-oxygenation of tissue, vasoconstriction, down regulation of inflammatory cytokines, up-regulation of growth factors, antibacterial effects, potentiation of antibiotics and leukocyte effects. Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease caused by bacterial biofilms that accumulate on the teeth. The inflammation is characterized first by an acute response that, in some cases, becomes chronic leading to destruction of bone and connective tissue attachment that is associated with a complex acquired immune response to periodontal pathogens. Several studies have described the beneficial role of HBO in the treatment of various human pathologies either alone or in combination with other therapies. Very scarce data is available to analyze the effects of HBO therapy on periodontal disease. This article looks understanding the biological and physiological effects of using O₂ underpressure and its benefit against periodontal diseases.

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