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Biomedical subjects

S R Porter

Publications and source records attributed to S R Porter.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Behçet's disease: a review.

Behçet's disease (BD) is a multi-system inflammatory disorder dominated clinically by recurrent oral and genital ulceration, uveitis, and erythema nodosum. Behçet's disease runs a chronic course, with unpredictable exacerbations and remissions whose frequency and severity may diminish with time. Behçet's disease typically arises in young adults, although childhood-onset BD has also been reported. The disease can affect both genders and has a worldwide distribution, although it is more prevalent in countries of the ancient Silk Route. The cause of BD remains unknown, although an autoimmune reaction triggered by an infectious agent in a genetically predisposed individual has been suggested. The treatment of BD is symptomatic and empirical, but generally specific to the clinical features of each patient. The majority of affected individuals do not have life-threatening disease, although mortality can be associated with vascular-thrombotic and neurological disease.

Adult↗

An audit of the efficacy of the oral brush biopsy technique in a specialist Oral Medicine unit.

The diagnosis of oral epithelial dysplasia has traditionally been based upon histopathological evaluation of a full thickness biopsy specimen from lesional tissue. It has recently been proposed that cytological examination of "brush biopsy" samples is a non-invasive method of determining the presence of cellular atypia, and hence the likelihood of oral epithelial dysplasia. The present audit determined, retrospectively the sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values of the oral brush biopsy technique in the diagnosis of potentially malignant disease in a group of 112 patients attending a specialist Oral Medicine unit. The sensitivity of detection of oral epithelial dysplasia or squamous cell carcinoma of the oral brush biopsy system was 71.4% while the specificity was 32%. The positive predictive value of an abnormal brush biopsy result (positive or atypical) was 44.1%, while the negative predictive value was 60%. It is concluded that not all potentially malignant disease is detected with this non-invasive investigative procedure.

Adult↗

An update of the etiology and management of xerostomia.

Salivary gland disease gives rise to salivary gland enlargement, pain, and prolonged xerostomia (dry mouth). Xerostomia is the most common long-standing problem for the majority of affected patients. There are many causes of dry mouth, with long-standing xerostomia being a particular problem in Sjögren's syndrome and after radiation to the head and neck region. Xerostomia is usually managed with saliva substitutes, but a large number of potential systemic therapies of long-standing xerostomia now exist. Some-particularly immunosuppressants-are of fundamental interest for the potential reduction of gland damage in Sjögren's syndrome but as yet are of limited clinical usefulness. Others, particularly pilocarpine and cevimeline, are, or have the potential to be, clinically useful in stimulating salivation by virtue of their action on cholinergic receptors.

Cholinergic Agents↗

The histopathology of syphilis of the oral mucosa.

BACKGROUND: Reported cases of syphilis in the United States, Europe and elsewhere are increasing in number. Clinical manifestations are protean, and oral biopsies may be taken where the diagnosis is unsuspected, but data on the histopathology of oral mucosal syphilis are sparse. METHODS: The histopathology of five oral lesions in patients with serologically proven syphilis was reviewed. RESULTS: There were two cases of primary syphilis, one secondary and two tertiary. Epithelial hyperplasia was present in three cases, and was pseudocarcinomatous in one case of primary syphilis, and psoriasiform in the secondary lesion, where heaped-up epithelium surrounded a defined crater covered by flatter epithelium. Plasma cell (primary and secondary disease) and granulomatous (tertiary) infiltrates were prominent. Other features observed were endarteritis (5/5), plasma cell neuritis (3/5) and spirochetes (4/5). CONCLUSIONS: Although no single microscopic feature is specific, a diagnosis of syphilis should be considered where there is unusual epithelial hyperplasia, granulomatous or plasma cell-predominant chronic inflammation, endarteritis and neuritis.

Adult↗

Update on diabetes mellitus and related oral diseases.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a group of complex multisystem metabolic disorders characterized by a relative or absolute insufficiency of insulin secretion and/or concomitant resistance to the metabolic action of insulin on target tissues. The chronic hyperglycaemia of diabetes is associated with long-term systemic dysfunction. The present article summarizes current knowledge of DM and details the oral and dental implications of this common endocrine disorder.

Diabetes Complications↗

Low frequency of anti-endomysial antibodies in recurrent aphthous stomatitis.

INTRODUCTION: The aetiology of recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) remains unknown. An association between RAS and coeliac diseases (CD) has previously been suggested, but the supporting evidence remains equivocal. The aim of the present study was to determine the likely frequency of CD in a large cohort of patients with well-defined RAS, by detailed haematological and serological analysis, including the detection of anti-endomysium and anti-reticulin antibodies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study comprised 87 patients with minor RAS. Full blood counts and the presence of IgA anti-endomysial and IgA anti-reticulin antibodies were estimated in all patients. RESULTS: The frequency of anti-endomysium and anti-reticulin antibodies was not elevated in patients with RAS and no patients with RAS had other serological features of CD. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that there is little significant aetiological link between RAS and CD, and that screening RAS patients for key serological markers of CD is of little clinical value.

Adolescent↗

Multiple human herpesvirus-8 infection.

In Malawian patients with Kaposi sarcoma (KS) and their relatives, we investigated nucleotide-sequence variation in human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) subgenomic DNA, amplified from oral and blood samples by use of polymerase chain reaction. Twenty-four people had amplifiable HHV-8 DNA in >1 sample; 9 (38%) were seropositive for human immunodeficiency virus type 1, 21 (88%) were anti-HHV-8-seropositive, and 7 (29%) had KS. Sequence variation was sought in 3 loci of the HHV-8 genome: the internal repeat domain of open-reading frame (ORF) 73, the KS330 segment of ORF 26, and variable region 1 of ORF K1. Significant intraperson/intersample and intrasample sequence polymorphisms were observed in 14 people (60%). For 3 patients with KS, intraperson genotypic differences, arising from nucleotide sequence variations in ORFs 26 and K1, were found in blood and oral samples. For 2 other patients with KS and for 9 people without KS, intraperson genotypic and subgenotypic differences, originating predominantly from ORF K1, were found in oral samples; for the 2 patients with KS and for 4 individuals without KS, intrasample carriage of distinct ORF K1 sequences also were discernible. Our findings imply HHV-8 superinfection.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

Oral epithelial dysplasia: clinical characteristics of western European residents.

To detail the clinical presentation of oral epithelial dysplasia in a large cohort of residents in western Europe. Descriptive statistical analysis of the data were calculated using chi-square and Fisher's exact tests. Oral epithelial dysplasia manifested typically as a white or mixed red and white lesion on the tongue, buccal mucosa or floor of mouth. The peak age of presentation of oral epithelial dysplasia was the 6th decade. Most clinically detected lesions had only mild oral epithelial dysplasia. Although uncommon, lesions with severe dysplasia were most likely to arise on the floor of mouth or lateral border of tongue. Oral epithelial dysplasia is likely to manifest as a solitary white patch, but it is not possible to accurately predict the likely degree of dysplasia from the clinical features of such lesions.

Adult↗

Lack of association between hepatitis C virus and oral epithelial dysplasia in British patients.

Oral lichen planus may be a premalignant condition. An association between hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and oral lichen planus has been described in Southern European and Japanese patients, and recently an association between HCV and oral squamous cell carcinoma was suggested from a study of Japanese patients. The present study investigated the frequency of chronic liver disease and HCV infection in UK patients with oral epithelial dysplasia (OED), a known premalignant disorder. Subjects included 75 patients with histologically proven OED and 110 healthy controls. Liver function and IgG antibodies to HCV were examined serologically. No patient with OED or control subject had serological evidence of hepatic disease, and anti-HCV antibodies were detected in only two (2.6%) of the 75 patients with OED, none of the controls being HCV seropositive. It is concluded that in the UK there is no association between HCV infection and OED.

Adult↗

Patient-centred outcome measures for oral mucosal disease are sensitive to treatment.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity of two patient-centred outcome measures to the topical application of a corticosteroid (betamethasone) in the treatment of oral lichen planus (OLP). Forty-eight patients with clinical and histological features of OLP were recruited to take part in a 6-week study of the effectiveness of topical betamethasone for the treatment of symptomatic OLP. Participants completed a questionnaire incorporating the 16-item UK Oral Health Related Quality Of Life measure (OHQOL) and the 14-item Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14), rated their pain on 'global' and visual analogue scales (VAS) and underwent an oral examination, at the start and end of the trial. Four (8\%) patients failed to complete the study. The clinical signs of OLP had improved for half (22) of the patients following treatment. Twenty-nine (66%) reported that their oral pain had reduced ('global' scale). More objectively, there were significant differences in VAS ratings of pain (P =0.005), OHIP-14 scores (P =0.036) and OHQOL scores (P =0.003) between the start and end of the trial. In conclusion, both OHQOL and OHIP-14, patient-centred outcome measures are sensitive to the clinical effects of topical betamethasone in the treatment of oral lichen planus.

Betamethasone↗

Tracking familial transmission of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus using restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of latent nuclear antigen.

Intra-familial transmission of Kaposi's sarcoma associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is likely to occur in geographical regions where KSHV infection is highly endemic. Transmission has been studied previously indirectly using serological techniques, however direct documentation of specific transmission routes has yet to be reported. The internal repeat domain (IRD) of the KSHV opening reading frame (ORF) 73 was shown previously to exhibit restriction-fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). Analysis of such polymorphism was undertaken using nested ORF 73 IRD PCR products derived from the blood and mouth rinse samples of individuals in Malawian family groups. The resulting RFLP patterns were unique to an individual and could be compared between family members. In three of eight families studied, identical RFLP patterns were recovered from family members; in the remaining five families, dissimilar RFLP patterns were revealed. Results from RFLP analysis were compared to sequencing data recovered from family members for the first variable region of the hypervariable KSHV ORF K1. Patterns of intra- and extra-familial transmission inferred from ORF K1 sequencing data were corroborated mainly using ORF 73 IRD RFLP analysis.

Adolescent↗

Oral yeast carriage correlates with presence of oral epithelial dysplasia.

Previous studies have suggested a link between the presence of Candida albicans and the development of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The aim of the present study was to assess the presence and level of colonisation of oral yeast in patients undergoing an incisional oral mucosal biopsy in order to assess whether the amount of oral yeast present correlated with the presence and degree of oral epithelial dysplastic or neoplastic change. Two hundred and twenty-three patients who were undergoing an incisional biopsy for the diagnosis of an oral mucosal lesion were enrolled in this study. Mouth swills were obtained from each patient for the presence and amount of oral yeast present. Some of the patients (44.6%) had a histopathological diagnosis of either oral epithelial dysplasia (OED) or OSCC and the frequency of oral yeast carriage was significantly greater (P<0.001) in these patients than those without histopathologically detected dysplastic or neoplastic oral lesions. Furthermore, significantly (P<0.001) more patients with OED or OSCC had a higher number of yeast (over 1000 cfu/ml) in their oral cavity than patients without any evidence of epithelial dysplasia or neoplasia histopathologically. The degree of epithelial dysplasia present in these patients also correlated with higher amounts of yeast in the oral cavity (P=0.017). The results of the present study reveal that there is an interaction between oral carriage of yeast and oral epithelial dysplasia, however it remains unclear how yeast infection influences the development and progression of dysplasia.

Adult↗

Thalidomide: a role in oral oncology?

Thalidomide is having increasing application in the management of a wide spectrum of immunologically-mediated and infectious disorders. It is also suggested that this agent may also have be of importance in the treatment of solid and non-solid malignancies. The present article reviews the role of thalidomide in the management of malignancy and outlines its possible potential in the treatment of malignancy of the mouth.

Angiogenesis Inhibitors↗

The isolation, identification and molecular analysis of Candida spp. isolated from the oral cavities of patients with diabetes mellitus.

Previous studies have shown a high incidence (77%) of isolation of Candida spp. from the oral cavities of patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus. The aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence of yeast in the oral cavities of patients suffering from type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus. The patients were classified according to the level of diabetic control (HbA1c), and further stratified on the presence or absence of dental prosthesis. Oral rinse samples were assessed for the growth of yeast and the degree of colonization. Oral isolates were defined to the species level by both phenotypic and novel molecular methods. The overall proportion (60%) of diabetic patients who had Candida spp. isolated from the oral cavity was similar to that previously reported. Local oral factors, such as the presence of dentures, seemed to have a greater influence than diabetic status on the amount and species of Candida isolated from the oral cavities of diabetic patients. Diabetic patients with dentures had more non-albicans Candida isolated from their mouths than dentate diabetic patients. Candida dubliniensis was isolated from diabetic patients and may have a predilection for dentate patients.

Adult↗

Clinical and microbiological studies of periodontal disease in Sjögren syndrome patients.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the periodontal status of patients with Sjögren's Syndrome (SS), a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease characterized by xerophthalmia and xerostomia. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether the periodontal status of SS patients, in terms of clinical and microbiological parameters, differs from systemically healthy age- and gender-matched controls. METHODS: 8 primary SS and 10 secondary SS patients were examined in comparison with 11 control subjects. All patients were diagnosed by the European Community Criteria. Control subjects were systemically healthy and not undergoing periodontal treatment. The comparison of clinical status was made in terms of mean periodontal parameters (plaque index, gingival index, gingival recession, probing pocket depth, probing attachment level and bleeding on probing) as well as the frequency distribution of probing pocket depth and probing attachment level measurements. Microbiological assays of the subgingival dental plaque samples were carried out by both a chairside enzyme test (Periocheck) for the detection of peptidase activity (PA) and a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis for 9 selected periodontal micro-organisms (Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Prevotella intermedia, Treponema denticola, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Eikenella corrodens, Campylobacter rectus, Bacteroides forsythus, Streptococcus oralis). RESULTS: The occurrence, severity and extent of periodontal lesions were not significantly different between the 3 patient groups for all periodontal parameters examined. No significant differences in the sub-gingival plaque samples from control, primary or secondary SS patients for the PA test, frequency or type of periodontal micro-organisms observed. CONCLUSION: No significant differences could be detected in either clinical or microbiological parameters of primary or secondary SS patients compared with that of control subjects. The results of the present study thus support the notion that the periodontal status of patients with SS do not differ from systemically healthy age- and gender-matched controls.

Adult↗