AbouShousha, A., Y. Kamal, and S. Ali, "Supplementary zinc and vitamin D in management of symptomatic oral lichen planus: a three-arm randomized clinical trial.", BMC oral health, vol. 25, issue 1, pp. 872, 2025 Jun 02. Abstract

BACKGROUND: Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting the oral mucosa, with immune mediated pathogenesis. Both zinc and vitamin D are essential micronutrients implicated in OLP pathogenesis, with zinc influencing epithelial growth, wound healing, and oxidative stress mitigation, while vitamin D modulates immune cell function, cytokine activity, and keratinocyte behavior. The current trial was conducted to assess the effect of topical corticosteroid supplemented with zinc or vitamin D compared to topical corticosteroid in management of symptomatic oral lichen planus.

METHODS: Forty-two patients diagnosed with symptomatic oral lichen planus (atrophic, erosive, or bullous types) were included in the study, based on clinical examination and histopathological confirmation in accordance with the modified World Health Organization (WHO) criteria (2003). Participants were divided randomly into three parallel groups. Group I received topical corticosteroid; Group II received topical corticosteroid with systemic zinc; Group III received topical corticosteroid with systemic vitamin D. The outcome measures included pain intensity using Visual Analogue Scale and clinical improvement using Thongprasom et al. scoring system. Treatment lasted for 8 weeks; patients were clinically evaluated at baseline and on weekly basis.

RESULTS: Intergroup comparisons revealed that by Week 3, pain scores were significantly lower in Groups II and III compared to Group I. Intragroup analysis showed significant reductions in pain scores over time for all groups, with Group II showing the most pronounced decrease from baseline to Week 7. Thongprasom scores decreased significantly in all groups, with Group II showing the most significant reduction by Week 8.

CONCLUSIONS: Systemic zinc supplementation combined with topical corticosteroid can be used as an adjunct therapy for OLP management. Topical corticosteroid supplemented with vitamin D has comparable effect to topical corticosteroid alone on pain and clinical improvement in symptomatic OLP.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT04765267 (full protocol can be accessed). Date of Initial Clinical Trial Registration: 4 February 2021.

Abdelaziz, A., R. N. Shamma, H. L. Fayed, and S. Ali, "Rebamipide for management of methotrexate-induced oral ulcers: a three-arm randomized clinical trial.", Clinical oral investigations, vol. 29, issue 2, pp. 106, 2025 Feb 01. Abstract

OBJECTIVES: This RCT aimed to evaluate the effect of topical Rebamipide (regular and nanoparticulated) in comparison to topical Clobetasol propionate in the management of methotrexate-induced oral ulcers in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients were divided randomly into three parallel arms: 1% Rebamipide; 1% nanoparticulated Rebamipide, Clobetasol propionate. The outcome measures included WHO oral mucositis grading, pain (NRS), ulcer size, and healing time. The data was analyzed for any statistical significance.

RESULTS: Intragroup comparisons of mucositis grade improvement and pain reduction revealed significant differences in all the groups. All intergroup comparisons demonstrated non-significant difference, yet nanoparticulated Rebamipide was leading, and all group participants achieved complete healing earlier than the other groups.

CONCLUSION: Rebamipide, regular and nanoparticulated forms, showed comparable results to potent Corticosteroid, Clobetasol propionate in management of the oral ulcers.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Rebamipide is an efficient promising alternative modality for management of methotrexate-induced oral ulcers in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Ali, S., H. Saeed, A. AbouShousha, G. Nabil, E. Abdeldayem, Y. Kamal, A. Mahmoud, A. Abdelaziz, and S. Amr, "Self-reported oral manifestations during COVID-19 pandemic: Egyptian cohort", Special Care in Dentistry, vol. 44, issue 3, pp. 954-958, 11/2023, 2024.
Elsayed, S., W. A. Moneim, and S. Ali, "Oral Manifestations of Mucocutanous Disorders: Exploring Frequency and Oral Health-Related Quality of Life in Egyptian Cohort", Acta Scientific Dental Sciences, vol. 6, issue 12, pp. 60-72, 2023.
Ali, S., C. S. Nagieb, and H. L. Fayed, "Effect of Behcet's disease-associated oral ulcers on oral health related quality of life", Special Care in Dentistry, vol. 43, issue 4, pp. 435 - 442, 2023.
Abdeldayem, E., L. Rashed, and S. Ali, "Salivary expression of lncRNA DQ786243 and IL-17 in oral lichen planus: case–control study", BMC Oral Health, vol. 22, issue 1, pp. 240, 2022.
Nagieb, C. S., T. A. - E. H. Harhash, H. L. Fayed, and S. Ali, "Evaluation of diode laser versus topical corticosteroid in management of Behcet's disease-associated oral ulcers: a randomized clinical trial.", Clinical oral investigations, vol. 26, issue 1, pp. 697–704, 2022. Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The current trial was conducted to assess the effect of diode laser therapy compared to topical corticosteroid in management of oral ulcers of BD.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty patients were divided randomly into two parallel groups. The first group received 980 nm diode laser; the second group received topical corticosteroid (0.1% triamcinolone acetonide). The outcome measures included oral ulcer activity index (composite index), pain (VAS), number of oral ulcers, healing time, and oral health-related quality of life (OHIP-14). The collected data were analyzed for any statistical significance.

RESULTS: A statistically significant difference was detected between laser and corticosteroid groups favoring laser on comparing composite index and VAS scores on the first and third days and on comparing number of ulcers on the third and fifth days. A statistically significant difference was detected between laser and corticosteroid groups on comparing scores of the questions assessing discomfort with eating food, irritability with other people, taste worsening, unsatisfactory diet, and painful aching on the first and/or third days. No adverse effects were reported by participants of both groups.

CONCLUSIONS: Diode laser is efficient safe treatment modality for management of BD-associated oral ulcers. Diode laser was more efficient than triamcinolone acetonide in controlling pain and reducing oral ulcer activity.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Laser therapy is efficient safe modality that could spare BD patient from adding a new medication to their long list, being just one visit compared to other regular daily regimen medications.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov registration number: NCT03771768.

Ali, S., "Dental practice during the era of COVID-19 pandemic: An Egyptian experience.", Oral diseases, vol. 28, issue S2, pp. 2586 - 2587, 2022.
Ali, S., "Light Based Detection Systems in Oral Cancer Detection: Merit or Demerit", MSA 1st international Dental Conference, 21 February, 2019.
Ali, S., M. Abdelkawy, and S. Ali, "miR-21 and TAC as Salivary Biomarkers for Oral Dysplasia", CED-IADR/NOF Oral Health Research Congress, Madrid, Spain, 19 September, 2019.