Background Determining the potential for malignant transformation of oral lichen planus (OLP) is complicated by difficulties in diagnosis, differentiation from oral lichenoid lesions (OLLs) and the phenomenon of premalignant lesions' exhibiting lichenoid characteristics. The authors of this systematic review evaluated evidence regarding malignant transformation of OLP and characterized transformation prevalence, clinical characteristics of OLP lesions developing into squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and time to transformation. Types of Studies Reviewed The authors searched PubMed, Embase and Thomson Reuters Web of Science in a systematic approach. They evaluated observational English-language studies involving human participants published in peer-reviewed journals. Inclusion required patients to have the diagnosis of OLP or OLL as confirmed with biopsy results on initial enrollment. They excluded all patients who had dysplasia on initial biopsy of OLP or OLL lesions. Results Sixteen studies were eligible. Among 7,806 patients with OLP, 85 developed SCC. Among 125 patients with OLL, four developed SCC. The rate of transformation in individual studies ranged from 0 to 3.5 percent. The overall rate of transformation was 1.09 percent for OLP; in the solitary study in which investigators evaluated OLL, the rate of transformation was 3.2 percent. Patients' average age at onset of SCC was 60.8 years. The authors noted a slight predominance of female patients among those who experienced malignant transformation. The most common subsite of malignant transformation was the tongue. The average time from diagnosis of OLP or OLL to transformation was 51.4 months. Practical Implications A small subset of patients with a diagnosis of OLP eventually developed SCC. The most common demographic characteristics of patients in this subset were similar to the most common demographic characteristics associated with OLP in general (that is, being female, being older and being affected in areas common to this condition). It is prudent for clinicians to pursue continued regular observation and follow-up in patients with these conditions, even in patients who do not fit a traditional high-risk category for oral SCC.

https://jada.ada.org/article/S0002-8177(14)60269-5/pdf

The malignant transformation of oral lichen planus and oral lichenoid lesions: A systematic review

The carnivorous habit in flowering plants represents a grade of structural organization. Different morphological features associated with the attraction, trapping, and digestion of prey characterize a diversity of specialized forms, including the familiar pitcher and flypaper traps. Phylogenetic analysis of nucleotide sequence data from the plastic rbcL gene indicates that both carnivory and stereotyped trap forms have arisen independently in different lineages of angiosperms. Furthermore, these results demonstrate that flypaper traps share close common ancestry with all other trap forms. Recognition of these patterns of diversification may provide ideal, naturally occurring systems for studies of developmental processes underlying macromorphological evolution in angiosperms.

Carnivorous plants: Phylogeny and structural evolution

Aphids: Their Biology, Natural Enemies and Control Edited by A. K. Minks and P. Harrewijin. pp. 312. In World Crop Pests, vol. 2C. Series Editor-in-Chief W. Helle. xvi + 312 pp. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 1989. Hard cover ISBN 0-444-42799-6

Objective The objective was to provide a literature review on perceptibility and acceptability thresholds in dentistry and corresponding recommendations. Overview A literature review on visual thresholds included findings on the judgments of the color and appearance of tooth-, gingiva- and skin-colored restorative dental materials. Discrepancies in study design contributed to inconsistencies in the research findings of some studies. These differences are related to (a) number of observers and inclusion criteria, (b) specimen number and size, (c) color measurement instrument and the setup and formulas used, (d) psychophysical experiment, (e) data processing (fitting method), and (f) % perceptibility or % acceptability values. A straightforward, consistent and practical model for the clinical and research application and interpretation of visual thresholds and recommended protocols for threshold research were provided. Conclusions Visual thresholds are of paramount importance as a quality control tool and guide the evaluation and selection of dental materials and their clinical performance. Although clinical shade matching conditions and method are rarely controlled, research on visual thresholds, especially when aiming to set standards for the profession, must be carefully planned and executed. Clinical significance Perceptibility and acceptability thresholds define visual match or mismatch of color, translucency, and whiteness in dentistry. Clinical and research findings cannot be fully interpreted in terms of real-life relevance without comparison with perceptibility and acceptability tolerances.

Acceptability and perceptibility thresholds in dentistry: A comprehensive review of clinical and research applications.

Importance Potentially malignant disorders of the oral cavity (OPMD) are a heterogeneous group of lesions associated with a variable risk of malignant transformation (MT) to invasive cancer. Leukoplakia (LE), lichen planus (LP), oral lichenoid lesions (OLL), oral erythroplakia (OE), oral submucous fibrosis (OSF), and proliferative verrucous leukoplakia (PVL) are among the most common of these lesions. Oral dysplasia is a mucosal area characterized by cellular and architectural derangement, which may be associated with OPMDs or not. Objective To define the MT rate of OPMDs and the risk of development into cancer of mild vs moderate/severe oral dysplasia. This in order to implement adequate follow-up strategies and treatment decisions. Study design We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis on studies reporting the MT rates of OPMDs and oral dysplasia. Ninety-two studies were included for the analysis. Cumulative rates were reported for OPMDs overall and as a subgroup, a comparison was made of mild vs moderate/severe dysplasia. Meta-regression on OPMD and year of publication was also performed. Main outcome and measures Overall MT rates of OPMDs and odds ratio of MT of mild vs moderate/severe dysplasia. Results Overall MT rate across all OPMD groups was 7.9% (99% confidence interval [CI] 4.9%-11.5%). MT rates of the specific OPMD subgroups were as follows: LP 1.4% (99% CI 0.9%-1.9%), LE 9.5 (5.9%-14.00%), OLL 3.8% (99% CI 1.6%-7.00%), OSF 5.2% (99% CI 2.9%-8.00%), OE 33.1% (99% CI 13.6%-56.1%), and PVL 49.5% (99% CI 26.7%-72.4%). Regarding the dysplasia grades comparison, the meta-analysis showed that moderate/severe dysplasia is meaningfully associated to a much greater risk of MT compared to mild dysplasia with an odds ratio of 2.4 (95% CI 1.5-3.8) [Correction added on 27 December 2019, after first online publication: CI updated from 99% to 95%.]. Heterogeneity was not significant. Annual MT rates were approximated based on the average follow-up as reported in the various subgroups. Lichen planus had an annual MT of 0.28%, OLL of 0.57%, leukoplakia of 1.56%, PVL of 9.3%, and OSF of 0.98%. Mild dysplasia had an annual MT of 1.7%, while severe dysplasia of 3.57%. Meta-regression showed a significant negative correlation of PVL MT rate and year of the study (P value Conclusions and relevance OPMDs and oral dysplasia are relatively common conditions that general practitioners, head and neck, and oral medicine specialists, face in their everyday practice. Our analysis confirms the significant risk of MT of these lesions, although variable among the subgroups. Moderate/severe dysplasia bears a much higher risk of cancer evolution than mild dysplasia. It is important to raise public health awareness on the MT rates of these conditions, at the same time efficacious communication with the patient is of utmost importance. This, coupled with strict follow-up measures and optimal treatment strategies, would help in reducing the transformation of these oral conditions into invasive cancer.

Potentially malignant disorders of the oral cavity and oral dysplasia: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of malignant transformation rate by subtype

Morphological and biomechanical features of the temporomandibular joint disc: an overview of recent findings.

Objectives

To evaluate the influence of education and training on quality of tooth color matching.



Material and Methods

Dental students (N = 174), matched the color of eight shade tabs in a viewing booth, using VITA Linearguide 3D-Master shade guide. The experimental group had color education and training between the before and after session. The control group did not have any additional information in between two sessions. Color differences between the task tabs and selected tabs were calculated using CIE formulas. The score for the best match (smallest color difference) was 10 points, the 2nd best match 9 points, down to 1 point for the 10th best match. Means and standard deviations were calculated. Differences were analyzed using the Student t-test.



Results

Shade matching scores in the experimental group were significantly better after education and training (p < 0.001), with a mean score before and after shade matching sessions of 7.06 (1.19) and 8.43 (0.92), respectively. The percentage of students in the experimental group that selected one of three best matches increased 24.3%. The control group exhibited no significant improvement in the after session.



Conclusions

Within the limitations of the study, education and training improved students’ shade matching skills.



Clinical Significance

While the vast majority of dental restorations and practically all restorations in the esthetic zone are tooth colored, the profession as a whole is far from perfect when it comes to accurate shade matching. Education and training can improve shade matching ability: enhanced esthetics of dental restorations, increased patient satisfaction, and a reduced number of color corrections are some of the notable benefits and rewards. (J Esthet Restor Dent 00:000–000, 2016)

Influence of Color Education and Training on Shade Matching Skills

Background/Aim. Lichen planus is a chronic, immunologic, mucocutaneous disease with a wide range of clinical manifestations. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the most common forms of oral lichen planus (OLP) and its symptoms and to describe treatment responses in patients during 10-year period. Methods. The study was conduced on 163 OLP patients who came in the Department of Oral medicine and Periodontology between 1997 and September 2007. Each case was classified into one of four clinical subtypes: reticular, atrophic, erosive-ulcerative, bullous. Results. There was no significant difference in patients age. Women were found to be significantly more likely to have OLP (p < 0.001). Corticosteroids were effective in reducing symptoms, erythema and healing ulcers. Improvement was shown over a long term in 61.35% patients. Over the long term 38.65% patients maintained the same type of OLP or it became a more severe type. Two patients (1.22%) developed oral carcinoma during the follow-up period. Conclusion. The response of patients with erosive OLP to a short course of systemic corticosteroids often was quite remarkable. However, symptoms and signs tended to recur after this treatment. Periodic examinations, patient education, medical treatment, monitoring of side-effects as well as follow-up biopsies are necessary for management of OLP patients.

/pdf/incidence-and-treatment-outcome-of-oral-lichen-planus-in-3cpzdxddrg.pdf

Incidence and treatment outcome of oral lichen planus in southeast Serbia in a 10-year period (1997-2007).

A three-year trial (2003-2005) was conducted under agro ecological conditions
 of Timocka Krajina (the experiment farm of Technological Research Center in
 Zajecar). Research object were six malting barley genotypes, which were
 top-dressed with the following amounts of nitrogen in the course of growing
 season: 40, 60, 80 and 100 kg ha-1. A non-fertilized variant served as a
 control. The obtained results indicated that the tested genotypes reacted to
 increased amounts of nitrogen by changing their morphological and biological
 characteristics as well as the technological values of grain. The
 effectiveness of the applied nitrogen depended significantly on the
 distribution of rainfall in periods of highest water uptake by malting
 barley.

/pdf/genotype-specificity-in-nitrogen-nutrition-of-malting-barley-4hzw6ku3v8.pdf

Sasa Stankovic

Papers

Morphological and biomechanical features of the temporomandibular joint disc: an overview of recent findings.

Influence of Color Education and Training on Shade Matching Skills

Incidence and treatment outcome of oral lichen planus in southeast Serbia in a 10-year period (1997-2007).

Genotype specificity in nitrogen nutrition of malting barley

Evolutionary relationships of wing venation and wing size and shape in Aphidiinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)