Dear editor: In parallel with the efforts of the global scientific community toward investigating the pathophysiology, prevention, and treatment of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), all medical specialties that deal with frontline care have readapted their care protocols to better treat patients and protect their teams when fighting against the pandemic. […] Potential mouth rinses and nasal sprays that reduce SARS-CoV-2 viral load: What we know so far? Dear editor: In parallel with the efforts of the global scientific community toward investigating the pathophysiology, prevention, and treatment of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), all medical specialties that deal with frontline care have readapted their care protocols to better treat patients and protect their teams when fighting against the pandemic. […] Potential mouth rinses and nasal sprays that reduce SARS-CoV-2 viral load: What we know so far?
To establish the profile of patients who developed antiangiogenic agent-related osteonecrosis of the jaws, and identify the treatments currently used in dental management. We searched the PubMed®/Medline® and Scopus databases using the words "osteonecrosis AND antiangiogenic therapy", with the following inclusion criteria: articles published in English, case reports, available online, and for an unlimited period. Of the 209 articles retrieved, 18 were selected, for a total of 19 case reports, since one article included two cases that met the inclusion criteria for this study. Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaws is characterized by exposure of necrotic bone in the oral cavity that does not heal over a period of 8 weeks in patients with no previous history of radiation therapy. Antiangiogenic drugs are indicated in the treatment of certain tumors, since they stop the formation of new blood vessels, controlling tumor growth and the chance of metastasis. Dental prevention is essential in patients who will be put on antiangiogenic agents, to minimize the risk for osteonecrosis.
Halitosis, commonly known as bad breath, is a highly prevalent condition often associated with volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) produced by oral anaerobic bacteria. While intraoral halitosis is the most frequent type, its psychosocial impact remains underexplored in terms of its correlation with objective diagnostic markers. This study investigated the association between VSC concentrations and halitosis-related quality of life using the Halitosis Associated Life-Quality Test (HALT). In this cross-sectional study, 40 adults self-reporting halitosis were assessed using OralChroma™, a portable gas chromatograph that quantifies hydrogen sulfide, methyl mercaptan, and dimethyl sulfide. Breath samples were collected at baseline and after an L-cysteine oral rinse challenge. Participants completed the HALT questionnaire to assess emotional, social, and functional impacts. Statistical analyses included descriptive metrics, Pearson’s correlation, and multiple linear regression. Model assumptions were tested for validity. At baseline, 25% of participants had VSC levels above diagnostic thresholds; after L-cysteine administration, this proportion increased to 87.5%, indicating the presence of latent halitosis. Methyl mercaptan concentration before the challenge showed a significant correlation with HALT scores (r = 0.353; p = 0.025) and was the only significant predictor in the final regression model (β = 1.03; p = 0.025; R² = 0.125). Elevated HALT scores were also observed in participants without clinically confirmed halitosis, suggesting that self-perception and emotional distress play a central role in patient experience. These findings highlight the relevance of combining objective VSC measurements with validated, condition-specific quality-of-life instruments to better understand and manage halitosis. Methyl mercaptan may serve as a biochemical marker of halitosis severity and also as a potential mediator of its psychosocial consequences.