As a regulator of cellular inflammation and proliferation, cytosolic phospholipase A₂ α (cPLA₂α) is a promising therapeutic target for psoriasis; indeed, the cPLA₂α inhibitor AVX001 has shown efficacy against plaque psoriasis in a phase I/IIa clinical trial. To improve our understanding of the anti-psoriatic properties of AVX001, we sought to determine how the compound modulates inflammation and keratinocyte hyperproliferation, key characteristics of the psoriatic epidermis. We measured eicosanoid release from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and immortalized keratinocytes (HaCaT) and studied proliferation in HaCaT grown as monolayers and stratified cultures. We demonstrated that inhibition of cPLA₂α using AVX001 produced a balanced reduction of prostaglandins and leukotrienes; significantly limited prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) release from both PBMC and HaCaT in response to pro-inflammatory stimuli; attenuated growth factor-induced arachidonic acid and PGE₂ release from HaCaT; and inhibited keratinocyte proliferation in the absence and presence of exogenous growth factors, as well as in stratified cultures. These data suggest that the anti-psoriatic properties of AVX001 could result from a combination of anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative effects, probably due to reduced local eicosanoid availability.

To investigate associations between a wide panel of salivary inflammatory markers and the presence of dental caries among children.In this exploratory, cross-sectional study, 176 children, aged 7–9...

Introduction: Actinic keratosis (AK) is the most common precancerous skin condition caused by long-term UV exposure. Given the high recurrence rate of 15%–53%, identifying safe and effective treatment options is warranted. AVX001, a cytosolic phospholipase A ₂ α (cPLA ₂ α) enzyme inhibitor, is a novel anti-inflammatory drug for field-directed, self-administered, topical therapy of AK. Methods and analysis: This study is a single-centre, randomised, vehicle-controlled, double-blind, parallel-group hybrid clinical trial in adults with multiple AK lesions Olsen grade 1 or 2. The hybrid design combines decentralised participant tasks and assessments with conventional in-clinic visits. Recruitment using targeted advertising on social media and eligibility prescreening are conducted via the Studies&Me online recruitment platform. Participants (n=60) are randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatment arms: AVX001 gel 1%, AVX001 gel 3% or vehicle gel. The trial consists of a 4-week treatment period with daily field-directed topical application of the gel and an 8-week follow-up period. Participants attend in-clinic visits at baseline, week 4 and week 12. The remote participant trial tasks include questionnaires and upload of smartphone-obtained photos of the treated skin area using a study-specific web-based app. Both remote and in-clinic assessments of safety and efficacy will be performed. The primary objective is to evaluate the local tolerability of daily application of AVX001 gel (1% or 3%) compared with vehicle gel. Secondary objectives include safety, efficacy, dose–response efficacy relationship, treatment satisfaction and cosmetic outcome. Exploratory objectives include evaluations of tolerability and efficacy assessed by dermatologists using smartphone photos uploaded by participants, comparisons of in-clinic and remote assessments and assessment of AK-related skin changes by non-invasive optical imaging. Ethics and dissemination: Approved by the Ethics Committee of the Capital Region of Denmark (H-21018064) and the Danish Medicines Agency (2021032485). Results will be submitted for publication in peer-reviewed scientific journals. Trial registration numbers: 2021-000934-32; NCT05164393 .

Hospitalised patients are especially vulnerable to malnutrition, which is associated with an increased risk of complications, leading to longer hospital stays, increased healthcare costs, and with a potentially negative effect on the prognosis. Poor oral health may make food intake difficult and contribute to poor nutritional status. The aim of the present cross-sectional study was to assess the occurrence of poor oral health and malnutrition in adult hospitalised patients, and further to investigate associations between oral health problems and malnutrition. The Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) determined the patients' nutritional status. The oral health condition was evaluated according to the Revised Oral Assessment Guide-Jönköping (ROAG-J) and unstimulated salivary flow rate. Clinical information was collected from medical records. The study population included 118 patients from 15 somatic and 3 psychiatric wards at a University Hospital in Norway. Nearly half the patients (46%) were categorised as malnourished and in need of symptom alleviation or nutritional intervention. Malnutrition was found in all diagnostic conditions. According to ROAG-J, at least one oral health problem was identified in 93% of the patients. Severe oral health problems were more frequent in malnourished patients. Overall, both the number and total score of oral health problems were associated with malnutrition (OR 1.57, 95% CI 1.20-2.06 and OR 1.47, 95% CI 1.17-1.83, respectively). Of specific oral health items, problems with lips and mucous membranes were significantly associated with malnutrition. One-fifth of all patients had hyposalivation, but this was not associated with malnutrition. Oral health problems and malnutrition are commonly seen in hospitalised adult patients. The association between the two calls for raised awareness of oral health issues in assessing patients' nutritional status. Further study is required to clarify whether oral health problems constitute a causal factor in malnutrition.

Background: Most studies on the prevalence of oral mucosal lesions (OMLs), including those from Norway, focus on patient populations. This study aimed to estimate the overall prevalence of OMLs and its types across different age groups and to examine their association with selected risk factors in a general adult population of Norway. Methods: This cross-sectional study included a random sample of 4,909 individuals aged 19 years and older who completed questionnaires and underwent a standardized clinical examination for OMLs in the HUNT Oral Health Survey (2017–2019). The classification of OMLs was based on the World Health Organization and NHANES III guidelines. Odds Ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using multivariable logistic regression to assess associations between OMLs and potential risk factors, adjusting for relevant confounders. Results: The overall prevalence of OMLs was 7.5%, with a higher proportion observed in individuals aged 60 and older. The most prevalent oral lesions were exophytic lesions (3.1%) and white lesions (1.5%). Notably, individuals with a low/middle level of education had higher odds of having an OMLs than those with a higher level of education (OR, 1.27, 95% CI: 1.00-1.61) in the fully adjusted model. Exploratory analyses of lesion types found a positive association between smoking status and white lesions (OR, 1.77, 95% CI:1.05–2.97), as well as between a history of cancer and red-blue lesions (OR, 2.17, 95% CI, 1.14–4.11). Conclusion: In this population-based study, 7.5% of Norwegian adults had one or more OMLs, with higher prevalence in participants aged 60 years and older. Further research is needed to confirm these findings in similar populations.

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) negatively impact health outcomes, including oral health. However, the relationship between ACEs and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) has not been thoroughly explored in adult populations. This study aimed to assess the association between ACE exposure and OHRQoL in a population-based sample of adults. The study sample was drawn from the fourth Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT4) in Norway and included 6156 adults who answered questions on ACEs and OHRQoL, assessed using the validated 14-item Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14). Six types of ACEs were evaluated: sexual, physical, and psychological abuse, bully victimization, parental divorce, and parental death. The relationship between ACE exposure and OHIP-14 was estimated using negative binomial regression models, adjusting for potential confounders, and presented as a ratio of means (RM) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). A total of 36.6% of participants reported experiencing at least one ACE. Those exposed to any ACE had worse OHRQoL, with higher mean OHIP-14 scores than those without ACE (3.46 vs. 2.28, p < 0.001). Exposure to any ACE was linked to higher mean scores across all four subdimensions: oral function, orofacial pain, orofacial appearance, and psychosocial impact. A dose-response relationship was observed, where one additional ACE was associated with an increase in mean OHIP-14 total score (RM 1.21, 95% CI 1.15–1.27). Specific ACEs, excluding parental death, were associated with a 15–58% higher mean total score, indicating a reduced OHRQoL. The findings suggest that exposure to ACEs is linked with poorer OHRQoL in adulthood. These results emphasize the long-lasting association of childhood adversity with oral health and highlight the importance of considering ACEs in the prevention and management of oral health issues among vulnerable populations.