Psychosocial factors influence the development, exacerbation, or aggravation of some oral diseases. However, the possible relationship between personality traits, affective disorders, and psychological stress in oral diseases, and their impact on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL), has not been fully clarified. The aim of the present study was to determine the association of neuroticism and stress with the presence of oral lichen planus (OLP), and to discover whether or not these factors impact OHRQoL. This is a case-control study matched for age and sex. The case group (OLP group) was composed of 20 patients diagnosed with OLP, while 20 people with a diagnosis of lesions not associated with stress formed the control group. Three instruments were used: the Holmes–Rahe Social Readjustment Scale, the Five Factor Personality Model, and the OHIP-49. Neuroticism obtained a score of 25.5 (±5.4) in the OLP group, which was higher than the control group value (21.7) (±5.1) (p = 0.03). The OLP group showed a worse quality of life (p < 0.05); the most affected dimensions were psychological discomfort and physical disability. It is important to include a psychological profile to establish a comprehensive treatment for these patients. We propose the recognition of a new area of clinical oral medicine: psycho-stomatology.

Approximately 39 million people worldwide live with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and antiretroviral therapy (ART) has improved life expectancy for these individuals, with quality of life (QoL) being a crucial aspect. However, there is limited information on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) for institutionalized patients with HIV. This study used a cross-sectional design and included 43 residents of a non-governmental institution who had a confirmed HIV diagnosis and a history of intravenous drug use. The Spanish version of the Oral Health Index Profile-14 (OHIPsp) was used to assess the OHRQoL, with the 50th percentile serving as the cutoff for good or poor quality of life. All 43 patients had one or more oral lesions, with 44.1% having AIDS-related oral lesions (AROLs). Over half of the participants (48.8%) reported a poor OHRQoL, and females experienced worse quality of life in all dimensions compared to males. Subjects with AROLs were three times more likely to have poor OHRQoL than those without AROLs (p = 0.03; OR = 3.1 _{IC 1.04–9.6}). These results highlight the need for a comprehensive treatment plan for patients with HIV that includes oral health, particularly for women living in precarious conditions or who are institutionalized. Improving oral health can significantly enhance quality of life.

Background/Objectives. Oral epithelial dysplasia exhibits unpredictable behavior, prompting research to identify biomarkers that may help predict its progression to malignancy. This study aimed to ascertain the prognostic value of biomarkers indicative of the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) process using immunohistochemistry. Methods. A systematic review was conducted using PubMed data from 1978 to June 2026. Articles that employed immunohistochemistry to identify cells exhibiting epithelial–mesenchymal transition changes in oral epithelial dysplasia were included. Exclusion criteria included in vivo studies, book chapters, reviews, conference abstracts, and studies lacking population descriptions. The risk of bias was assessed using the “JBI Checklist for Critical Appraisal of Case Series”. Results. A total of 21 articles were included, analyzing 57 biomarkers: 34 epithelial, 19 mesenchymal, two cell-proliferation biomarkers, and two tumor-suppressor biomarkers. The sample sizes varied significantly between the studies. Most articles employed semiquantitative assessment, cell percentage, and immunostaining intensity, with 12 demonstrating low risk of bias. Conclusions. Studies with conclusive results and a low risk of bias suggest that E-cadherin and Vimentin are valuable biomarkers for identifying early EMT in OED. However, the lack of statistical support means that this assertion should be viewed with caution.

El carcinoma oral de células escamosas (COCE) es un problema de salud pública, constituye la neoplasia maligna predominante de la cavidad oral. El cáncer oral se asocia con altas tasas de mortalidad y una morbilidad considerable, lo que afecta profundamente la calidad de vida de los pacientes. La identificación y el uso de biomarcadores fiables, como α-SMA, E-cadherina, N-cadherina, CEA, EGF, CK19 o p53, se han vuelto cruciales para la detección precoz, el diagnóstico preciso y la vigilancia eficaz de la progresión y la recurrencia de la enfermedad. Por lo tanto, la presente revisión tiene como objetivo proporcionar un análisis exhaustivo de los biomarcadores utilizados en el diagnóstico del COCE, abarcando sus diversas aplicaciones, tipos, mecanismos de acción y su uso en la investigación relacionada con el COCE. Se realizó una búsqueda sistemática en bases de datos electrónicas MEDLINE (PubMed), y Web of Science abarcando el periodo del 1 de enero de 2015 al 30 de diciembre de 2024. La estrategia de investigación fue la siguiente (α-SMA) AND ((epidermoid carcinoma) OR ((Oral cancer) AND (oral squamous cell carcinoma))); para cada uno de los biomarcadores seleccionados (actina alfa del músculo liso, E-cadherina, N-cadherina, antígeno carcinoembrionario, receptor del factor de crecimiento epidérmico, citoqueratina 19, p53, Ki-67). El uso simultáneo de múltiples biomarcadores podría proporcionar una comprensión más completa de la enfermedad, lo que permitiría un diagnóstico, un pronóstico y un tratamiento más precisos y específicos, mejorando, en última instancia, los resultados de los pacientes y el manejo clínico del COCE. Este enfoque puede ayudar a los médicos e investigadores a comprender mejor la complejidad del COCE, lo que les permitirá desarrollar estrategias más eficaces para la detección precoz, la monitorización de la enfermedad y las intervenciones terapéuticas personalizadas

Head and neck cancer (HNC) is the sixth most common malignancy worldwide, with high morbidity and mortality rates mainly due to delayed diagnosis. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are involved in HNC progression and treatment response, carrying important therapeutic and prognostic implications. CD44, a transmembrane glycoprotein linked to cartilage, has been proposed as a CSC biomarker and is associated with cancer progression and poor survival. CSCs may also play a role in oral carcinogenesis among young individuals. This retrospective cross-sectional study aimed to identify CD44+ cells in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) across two age groups. Thirty-six OSCC cases from a teaching service for oral histopathological diagnosis were identified between January 2005 and December 2019. Cases were divided into two groups: young group (17 patients aged ≤ 40 years) and adult/elderly group (19 patients aged ≥ 41 years). Histological slides were obtained and stained using the hematoxylin and eosin technique and the immunohistochemical technique with anti-CD44 antibodies. In the young group, males predominated (70%) with the gingiva as the main site (9 cases), while the adult/elderly group had more females (52.5%), with eight cases on the tongue. Both groups primarily showed well-differentiated OSCC. In both groups, islands of CD44+ cells, characterized by large, basophilic nuclei and scant cytoplasm, were identified in the stroma. No significant association was found between CD44 immunoreactivity and age, sex, location, or differentiation degree (P > 0.05). The identification of CD44+ could contribute to improving the diagnosis and prognosis of oral cancer, and eventually offer targeted therapies.