Mechanisms related to the potential beneficial effects of statins on cancer are mainly related to the inhibition of the mevalonate pathway. The purpose of this study was to assess the association between prior use of statins and the risk of head and neck cancer. A hospital-based case–control study was conducted at the Dentistry Hospital of the University of Barcelona, including 101 incident cases of head and neck cancer and 101 controls matched to cases by age and sex. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to assess the association between prior statin exposure and head and neck cancer risk. Of the 202 patients included in total, 28.2% had previously received prescriptions for statins. Prior use of statins was found in 25.7% of cases and 30.7% of controls. Exposure to statins was not associated with head and neck cancer risk (OR = 0.72; 95% CI 0.28–1.84; p = 0.49). There was also no time- or dose-dependent association. Similar trends were observed when analyzed by subsites of cancer and recurrence rate. Our findings do not support a beneficial effect of prior statin exposure on head and neck cancer risk. Future research relying on observational data should emulate randomized clinical trials before clinical implications for repurposing drugs can be drawn.
Burning Mouth Syndrome (BMS) presents diagnostic and therapeutic challenges due to its unclear etiology and complex symptomatology. This study, part of a doctoral research project, explores diagnostic delay, triggering factors, and psychotropic medication use in BMS patients. By retrospectively analyzing 300 clinical records, the study offers insight into patterns of diagnosis and treatment, with a focus on differences related to age and sex. The findings contribute to a better understanding of BMS and emphasize the need for timely diagnosis, particularly in older adults, to improve patient outcomes.
This prospective, single-arm post-market study aimed to evaluate the clinical safety and performance of a synthetic calcium phosphate ceramic used in alveolar bone regeneration procedures. Eighty adult patients requiring bone augmentation were treated with β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) under routine clinical indications. Surgical approaches were adapted to defect morphology. Safety outcomes included adverse events (AEs) and device deficiencies (DDs), while performance outcomes focused on two-dimensional radiographic bone assessment. Radiographic bone consolidation was defined as continuous trabecular radiopacity without radiolucent defects or clinical signs of infection. Patients were followed for six months post-surgery, with clinical and radiographic evaluations, as well as assessment of oral health-related quality of life (OHIP-14). All 80 patients (mean age: 47.2 ± 18.9 years; 51% male) completed the immediate postoperative assessment. Eleven DDs (granule loss) were observed postoperatively (13.8%) and no AEs. At six months, 71 patients (88.8%) completed follow-up. Radiographic bone repair was confirmed in all cases clinically observed and with follow-up X-ray (100%). No AEs or DDs reported (AE-free rate: 100%) at this follow-up. The median OHIP-14 score improved significantly at six months (p = 0.037), indicating better self-reported oral health. Given the observational design, absence of a control group, and partial reliance on non-radiographic follow-up, these findings should be interpreted with caution. Within these limitations, the synthetic calcium phosphate ceramic demonstrated a favorable short-term safety profile and apparent bidimensional radiographic signs of clinical performance under real-world conditions, rather than definitive evidence of effectiveness. Further controlled studies incorporating histological and volumetric analyses are warranted to confirm its regenerative potential.