European journal of oral sciences
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By critically appraising the literature on the oral health effects of race-based oppression, this focus article makes four recommendations that may both facilitate more nuanced research on the topic and mitigate racial/ethnic inequities in (oral) health. The first is recognizing that science itself may perpetuate racial/ethnic injustice, such that adopting a 'neutral' position must be replaced with actively fostering anti-racist narratives. The second is to not imply that racial oppression is bad because it harms oral health. ⋯ The fourth and final recommendation is taking race-based oppression as a multi-level system that operates on three inter-related conceptual levels - intra-personal, inter-personal, and structural. The extent to which scholars, practitioners, and policymakers are willing to follow these recommendations may determine how successful attempts to eradicate (oral) health inequities might be. Learning from, and avoiding mistakes made in, previous publications is one ethical pathway towards this end.
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The P2Y12 receptor expressed in satellite cells of the trigeminal ganglion is thought to contribute to neuropathic pain. The functional interaction between neurons and satellite cells via P2Y12 receptors and phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (pERK1/2) underlying neuropathic pain in the tongue was evaluated in this study. Expression of P2Y12 receptor was enhanced in pERK1/2-immunoreactive cells encircling trigeminal ganglion neurons after lingual nerve crush. ⋯ Co-administration of 2-MeSADP + MRS2395 to naïve rats did not result in hypersensitivity of the tongue. The relative number of CGRP-immunoreactive neurons increased following this co-administration, but to a lesser degree than observed in 2-MeSADP-administrated naïve rats, and the relative number of neurons encircled by pERK1/2-immunoreactive cells did not change. These results suggest that the interaction between activated satellite cells and CGRP-immunoreactive neurons via P2Y12 receptors contributes to neuropathic pain in the tongue associated with lingual nerve injury.
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Comparative Study
Higher expression of WNT5A protein in oral squamous cell carcinoma compared with dysplasia and oral mucosa with a normal appearance.
WNT5A is a secreted signaling protein that promotes migration and invasion of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cells through activation of non-canonical WNT signaling. Here, we examined expression of WNT5A, β-catenin, and E-cadherin by immunohistochemistry in 21 human diagnostic incision biopsies that each had regions of oral mucosa with a normal appearance adjacent to the affected tissue, dysplasia, and OSCC. We also investigated the effect of recombinant WNT5A (rWNT5A) on expression of the cell-adhesion proteins E-cadherin and β-catenin by western blot analysis. ⋯ Furthermore, treatment of OSCC cells with rWNT5A had no effect on the expression of β-catenin or E-cadherin. Taken together with previous results, we conclude that WNT5A influences the progression of OSCC without affecting the canonical WNT/β-catenin pathway and without down-regulating E-cadherin. WNT5A may have potential as a biological marker for malignant transformation of dysplasia to OSCC.
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Patients with cardiac implantable electrical devices should take special precautions when exposed to electromagnetic fields. Proximity to equipment used in clinical dentistry may cause interference. This study evaluated in vitro the risks associated with different types/makes of cardiac devices and types of dental equipment. ⋯ The risk was lowest with the electronic apex locator. Pacemakers presented a lower risk of light to moderate interference (PR = 0.63). However, the risk of severe electromagnetic interference was 3.5 times higher with pacemakers than with implantable cardioverter defibrillators (PR = 3.47).
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Pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) have been shown to be useful measures of mechanical pain sensitivity in deep tissues. However, clinical methods for measuring mechanical allodynia or hyperalgesia in teeth have not been reported. The aim of this study was to assess the reliability of PPTs in periodontal ligament of healthy Chinese participants. ⋯ The PPTs had excellent reliability with high intraclass coefficients (ICCs) across different sessions (ICC: 0.871-0.956), days (ICC: 0.879-0.951), and examiners (ICC: 0.845-0.950). Pressure pain thresholds applied to the teeth have excellent intra- and inter-examiner agreement in healthy participants. This method may be proposed as an easy and reliable technique to assess mechanical pain sensitivity (e.g. mechanical allodynia and hyperalgesia) in the periodontal ligament, which is associated with endodontic or periodontal conditions.