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Aims: To evaluate cytological alterations, inflammation, and microbial charge of the oral mucosa epithelium in crack users in in terms of the amount and duration of use. Methods: Two hundred thirty four crack users (case group) and 120 non-users (control group) participated in this study. Clinically healthy epithelial cells were collected from the posterior mouth floor, using the conventional exfoliative cytology. Some of the aspects evaluated were as follows: Papanicolaou classification, nuclear area (NA), cytoplasmic area (CA), nuclear/cytoplasmic area ratio (NA/CA), inflammation, microbial charge, keratinization, enucleated superficial cells, and binucleation. Results: The average time of crack consumption was 9.8 years (±7.1) and the average quantity of use was 13.97 g/week (±18.5). The average NA values and NA/CA ratio were increased and CA values were decreased in the case group compared to those in the controls (p < 0.05). Papanicolaou class II, intense inflammation, and intense microbial charge were more prevalent in the case group than in the controls (p < 0.05). There was a significant association between high quantity of smoked crack rocks per week and increased CA values, absence of keratinization, and presence of enucleated superficial cells (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Crack use seemed to induce inflammatory alterations and early indicators of malignant transformation on the oral mucosa epithelium.

Aim: The aim of this review was to evaluate the scientific literature regarding the cytogenetic damage in oral exfoliated cells of adult patients submitted to panoramic X-ray. Materials and Methods: An extensive search of the literature was conducted on PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science databases for all studies published until April 2021 using combinations of the following keywords: "panoramic X-ray," "DNA damage," "genetic damage", "genotoxicity", "mutagenicity", cytotoxicity", "buccal cells", "oral mucosa", "tongue", "gingiva", "micronucleus assay", according to the PRISMA guidelines. All clinical studies in English language were included in the study. A total of 10 studies were identified. Results: As expected, the results regarding the cytogenetic damage induced by panoramic X-ray are conflicting. Some authors have demonstrated that panoramic X-ray induces mutagenesis in oral cells, whereas others did not. After reviewing the 10 studies, two were classified as strong, four were considered moderate, and four were considered weak, according to the quality assessment components of the Effective Public Health Practice Project (EPHPP). Meta-analysis data revealed a negative response related to mutagenicity in oral cells by panoramic X-ray. Conclusion: Taken together, this review failed to demonstrate the association between micronucleus frequency and panoramic X-ray.

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Background/Aim: The aim of the present study was to investigate the biological effects of subacute crack cocaine exposure in rat liver. Material and Methods: A total of 32 rats were distributed into four groups (n=8): Experimental group 1 (G1) and Experimental group 2 (G2): rats received 18 mg/kg of body weight (b.w) of crack cocaine for 5 days, once a day, group G2 remained 72 h without exposure after the experimental period (5 days)(abstinence); Experimental group 3 (G3): rats received 36 mg/kg of body weight (b.w) of crack cocaine for 5 days, once a day; Control Group (CTRL): rats received only the vehicle (DMSO) administered by the intraperitoneal (i.p) route for 5 days, once a day. Results: All groups exposed to crack cocaine had an increase in the number of micronucleated hepatocytes and binucleated cells only in the highest tested dose (36 mg/kg). Karyolysis had an increase in the 18 mg/kg dose, in the abstinence group (G2), and 36 mg/kg group (G3); whereas pyknotic nuclei had an increase in the G2 group. The group exposed to 18 mg/kg of crack cocaine also showed high 8 OHdG expression. The p-NF-ĸB p65 protein decreased in the groups exposed to crack cocaine at doses of 18 and 36 mg/kg, as well as in the abstinence group. MyD88 was also found decreased in the group exposed to crack cocaine at 18 mg/kg. Conclusion: Crack cocaine inhibited toll like signaling pathway whilst being associated with genomic instability in rat liver cells.

The aim of this review was to evaluate if micronucleus assay in oral exfoliated cells is a suitable tool for biomonitoring children exposed to environmental pollutants. Through the electronic databases PubMed/Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science, all published studies until April 2021 that examined the relationship between exposure to environmental pollutants and micronucleus frequency in oral cells were searched. All relevant articles using a combination of the following keywords-"children," "micronucleus," "oral cells," and "environmental pollution"-were considered. A total of 20 papers met the criteria for inclusion in the systematic review. The results regarding the cytogenetic damage induced by environmental pollutants are conflicting. Some authors have demonstrated that environmental pollution induces mutagenesis in oral cells while others did not. Following the parameters of the Project for Effective Public Health Practices (EPHPP) and after extensive reading of all the articles included, a total of 12 articles had moderate and strong scores and 8 had a classification considered weak. Taken together, this review was able to demonstrate the association between micronucleus frequency and exposure to environmental pollutants in oral exfoliated cells of children.

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