Background Objectives: The neoplastic process remains a major health problem facing humanity. Although there are currently different therapeutic options, they raise a multitude of shortcomings related to the toxic effects associated with their administration. Methotrexate (Met) and Cetuximab (Cet) are two basic chemotherapeutics used in cancer practice, but notwithstanding despite many years of use, the mechanisms by which the multitude of side-effects occur are not yet fully understood. Thus, the present study focused on the in vitro and in ovo evaluation of the associated toxic mechanisms on keratinocytes, keys cells in the wound healing process. Materials and Methods: The two chemotherapeutics were tested in eight different concentrations to evaluate keratinocytes viability, the anti-migratory effect, and the influence on the expression of markers involved in the production of cell apoptosis. In addition, the potential irritating effect on the vascular plexus were highlighted by applying the in ovo method, chick chorioallantoic membrane (HET-CAM). Results: The results revealed that Met induced decreased cell viability as well as increased expression of pro-apoptotic genes. In the vascular plexus of the chorioallantoic membrane, Met caused vascular irritation accompanied by capillary hemorrhage and vascular stasis. Conclusions: Summarizing, Cet presents a safer toxicological profile, compared to Met, based on the results obtained from both in vitro (cell viability, wound healing, RT-PCR assays), and in ovo (HET-CAM assay) techniques.

Background/Objectives: Dental anxiety in children is a common issue that can hinder the delivery of effective dental care. Traditional approaches to managing this are often insufficient or involve pharmacological interventions. This study shows the potential of virtual reality (VR) to aid in reducing anxiety in children undergoing simple dental procedures. By immersing children in relaxing VR environments (such as beaches, forests, mountains, or underwater scenes with calm music), the objective is to assess VR’s effectiveness in calming pediatrics patients during these procedures. Methods: Children scheduled for minor dental treatments wore a wearable device that monitored pulse, perspiration, and stress levels. Each child’s baseline data was collected without the VR headset, followed by data collection during VR exposure before and during dental procedures. VR scenarios ranged from soothing nature scenes to animated cartoons, designed to foster relaxation. Results: The data collected showed a reduction in physiological indicators of stress, such as lower heart rate and reduced perspiration, when the VR headset was used. Children appeared more relaxed, with a calmer response during the procedure itself, compared to baseline levels without VR. Conclusions: This study provides preliminary evidence supporting VR as an effective tool for reducing anxiety and stress in pediatric dental patients. By offering an engaging, immersive experience, VR can serve as an alternative or complementary approach to traditional anxiety management strategies in pediatric dentistry, potentially improving patient comfort and cooperation during dental procedures. Further research could determine if VR may serve as an alternative to local anesthesia for non-intrusive pediatric dental procedures.

Background: The prevalence of dental caries has increased among children, largely due to nutritional habits or inadequate access to dental care. The present study aimed to investigate the prevalence of dental caries associated with various factors that lead to their appearance, such as food intake and body composition, among Romanian school-age children from two counties, Bistriţa Năsăud and Mureş. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 1100 children aged 6–10 years from two Romanian counties. Dental caries experience was assessed using the DMFT and dmft indices based on WHO criteria. Dietary intake and oral health behaviors were evaluated through a food frequency questionnaire completed by parents. Associations between dietary variables and dental caries were assessed using independent sample t-tests and Mann–Whitney U tests. A binary logistic regression model was used to estimate the likelihood of caries in the permanent dentition (DMFT > 0), with covariates including county, parental education, daily sugar intake, consumption of dairy products, body mass index (BMI), and waist-to-height ratio. Results: It was found that the children who daily consume cheese recorded a DMFT value lower than the children who did not consume (p < 0.05). Moreover, those who consume sugary foods recorded higher values of DMFT as compared with those who did not (p < 0.05). The body weight, BMI, and waist circumference are positively correlated with DMFT, but negatively with dmft (p < 0.05). The overall prevalence of caries was 79.8% in primary dentition and 63.6% in permanent dentition, with slightly higher rates observed in Bistriţa-Năsăud County compared to Mureş. It seems that the predictors of the caries’s presence among children include the mother’s education level, sugar intake frequency, and body fat ratio. Conclusions: Based on significant associations found, one can affirm that the dental caries of the Romanian school-age children is due to sugary food intake and body composition. In addition, the direct relationship between dental caries and childhood obesity showed through the correlation of BMI and dental health indices denotes that school-age children should reduce sugary foods and increase dairy products.

Background/Objectives: The prevalence of dental caries in Romania is significantly high, especially among children and adolescents. We aimed to assess the prevalence of dental caries and their associated factors among schoolchildren aged 6–11 years learning at urban and rural schools from Mureş County, Romania. Methods: This cross-sectional study included a sample of 1124 children, aged 6–8 years (n = 524), as well as aged 9–11 years (n = 600). Nine schools in Mureş County, Romania, were selected for screening, based on their location (4 schools from urban areas and 5 schools from rural areas). Data were collected based on children’s visual dental screenings and a self-administered questionnaire addressed to their parents to collect information about oral health behaviors, sugar consumption, and dental care history. Dental clinical examination was performed by specialists, and DMFT/dmft values were recorded. Binary logistic and negative binomial regression analyses were used to assess the factors associated with dental caries. Results: Among 6–8-year-olds, the prevalence of untreated decay was 76.5% and the prevalence of caries experience was 77.7% (mean dmft = 3.9). Among 9–11-year-olds, the prevalence of untreated decay was 43.5% and the prevalence of caries experience was 48.2% (mean DMFT = 1.9). Among the most significant factors associated with caries prevalence were school location (p = 0.04 for children aged 6–8 years, and p < 0.001 for 9–11 years); the employment status of mothers (p = 0.04 for 9–11 years); eating sweets ≥4 times/day (p = 0.04 for 6–8 years); brushing time ≥3 min (p = 0.03 for 9–11 years); as well as past dental restorative treatments or emergency (p < 0.001 for all the children examined). Conclusions: Preventive measures and innovative educational interventions are needed to mitigate the impact of dental caries prevalence on the health and education of schoolchildren.

Background and Objectives: The rate of head and neck cancer (HNC) is expected to increase by 30% by 2030. However, there are many similarities between the symptomatology of a benign and a malign diagnosis; thus, a protocol for conducting a full head and neck examination is of high importance since the absence of adenopathy does not exclude a malignant diagnosis and also a favorable prognosis. Material and methods: The current study presents a retrospective study on 515 adult patients who underwent a biopsy for possible head and neck tumor pathology. Results: The patients identified with cancer were older than the rest of the group, with a higher developing trend in men than in women. However, the top 10 symptomatology patterns were identical in the malign and benign groups, meaning that new HNC may be missed due to the common symptomatology between benign and malign outcomes. Conclusions: The importance of a full ear, nose, and throat (ENT) examination may be of significant relevance for a proper diagnosis that can improve the overall prognosis of a patient with cancer. The absence of routine screening tests and screening guidelines for oral and pharyngeal cancers represents a significant barrier to secondary HNC prevention.

Background/Objectives: Diet is a primary and modifiable determinant of gut microbiota composition, diversity, and metabolic activity, thereby shaping microbial-derived metabolites, immune and inflammatory signalling, neuroendocrine regulation, and neural communication with the central nervous system. Western dietary patterns, characterised by high intake of ultra-processed foods, saturated fats, and low dietary fibre, are consistently associated with gut dysbiosis, impaired intestinal barrier function, chronic low-grade inflammation, and increased risk of depression, anxiety, cognitive impairment, and neurodegenerative disorders. Methods: This narrative review synthesises evidence from human observational studies, randomised controlled trials, animal models, and mechanistic investigations examining interactions among diet, gut microbiota, and mental health or neurobiological outcomes. Literature searches were conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science for articles published up to December 2025. Results: The study highlights the therapeutic potential and limitations of dietary interventions, prebiotics, probiotics, and psychobiotics, and critically evaluates them. Also facilitates an improved understanding of diet–microbiome–brain interactions, which may help the development of personalised, nutrition-based strategies integrated into mental health prevention and clinical care. Conclusions: These findings support diet-based, microbiome-informed strategies as scalable adjuncts in mental health prevention and care.