Squamous cell carcinoma antigen as a tumor marker in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC] is considered the fifth most common cancer in the world. Owing to its increased incidence in the last decade and the expected further increase in the next 2 decades, HCC is arousing great interest. HCC commonly develops on cirrhotic livers and therefore, surveillance programs have been suggested to identify early HCC, at a stage suitable for surgical or interventional therapy and has a better clinical outcome. The only serologic marker used in clinical practice is alpha-fetoprotein [alpha-FP], but its sensitivity is poor. Hence, the investigation of new markers is required. To assess the clinical utility of squamous cell carcinoma antigen [SCCA] as a non invasive marker in the early diagnosis of HCC and whether the association of alpha-FP and SCCA could improves the diagnostic power. This study is conducted on 65 newly diagnosed hepatic focal lesion cases from those attending the Tropical Medicine Department, Cairo University Hospitals [Group I] as well as 20 age and sex matched healthy control subjects [Group II]. Group I was further subdivided into la [49 HCC proved untreated patients] and Ib [16 patients with Cirrhosis only] according to their histopathological findings. All patients were subjected to full history taking, clinical examination, laboratory investigations [including liver function test, hepatitis markers, alpha-FP and SCCA serum levels], triphasic abdominal CT and pathological examination. Group I included 42 males [64.7%] and 23 females [35.3%] with ages ranging between 42-70 years [60.7111.28], of them 16 patients had HBV [24.6%], 37 patients had HCV [56.9%] and 12 patients [18.4%] had mixed HBV and HCV infection. Group I was further subdivided into group la which included 49 HCC proved patients and group Ib which included 16 patients with regeneration nodules [cirrhosis only] according to their histopathologic findings. Group II [control] included 20 age and sex matched healthy subjects. Mean levels of serum alpha-FP and SCCA in group Ia was significantly higher when compared with group Ib [p<0.0005 for both of them]. At a cutoff of serum alpha-FP 200 ng/mL, the sensitivity was 35% and the specificity was 100% while at a cutoff >400ng/mL, the sensitivity decreased to 7.6%. On using the receiver operator curve [ROC], to improve the specificity and sensitivity of alpha-FP and SCCA, the cutoff value of 40ng/ml and 0.55ug/L yielded a sensitivity of 67.2% and 61.2% respectively and specificity of 100% [best cutoff]. When combined sensitivity of them was calculated at the best-chosen cutoff values, sensitivity improved to 87.7% with specificity of 100%.Combined use of alpha-FP and SCCA in the screening of patients with hepatic focal lesions may increase the chance of diagnosis of HCC patients

Prevalence of dental caries in Assir, Saudi Arabia

This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of dental caries inSaudi children and young adults, referred to Assir Dental Center, Abha inAssir, the South-West region of Saudi Arabia. The study sample included 400individuals of both sexes, with age ranging from 6-25 years, comprising ofchildren and young adults. The details of decayed, missing and filled teethwere collected from the dental records of the patients. This study revealedthe dental caries prevalence of 71.15% in children and 72.58% in young adults. Females showed a higher caries prevalence and DMFT in both groups and thesefigures were comparatively higher in adults than in children. Preventivemeasures were suggested to reduce the prevalence of dental caries inthis region

study of oral and paraoral lesions of cutaneous leishmaniasis

This study was undertaken to present the involvement of lips and paraoraltissues by cutaneous leishmaniasis among 114 patients diagnosed to have beenaffected at a center in the south west of Saudi Arabia over a period of 4months

ultrastructure study of surface enamel caries

The surface enamel of twenty - five molars treated with lactate butter at various intervals [4 hours, 8 hours, 24 hours, 7 days and 14 days] were studied by scanning electron microscopy .The results showed dissolution of the microsurface and widening of the intercryslalline spaces. With increasing time of exposure to the lactate buffer the destruction of the surface became of irregular pattern with the observation of irregular crystal arrangement

Effects of a mixture of bicarbonate, saccharin and fluoride on dental caries induction and bacterial count

The possible inhibitory effects of a mixture of sodium bicarbonate, [NaHCO3] sodium fluoride [NaF] and sodium saccharine [NaS] on dental caries and bacterial count were studied in albino rats. Thirty young male conventional albino rats were used in this study. They were divided into two equal groups [groups I and II] fed on highly cariogenic diet [diet 2000]. Topical application of a freshly prepared suspension of the mixture by a sterile cotton tipped applicator was done daily to the molar teeth of rats in group II. After two months, the dental caries was significantly inhibited in group II in comparison with that of group I. The bacterial count also showed significant reduction in group II, especially that of streptococcus mutant organisms

Comparative study for the effect of fluoride and chlorhexidine on dental caries and streptococcus mutans in rats

The effects of sodium fluoride, chlorhexidine and a mixture of both on dental caries and Streptococcus mutans in albino rats were demonstrated. Forty-eight young albino rats divided into four equal groups all fed [diet 2000] were used in this study. Topical application of sodium fluoride, chlorhexidine and a mixture of both [by means of painting with a soft brush] was done to groups II, III and IV, respectively. The results revealed that chlorhexidine alone and chlorhexidine with sodium fluoride caused marked reduction in the number of colonies of bacteria even after the stop of the treatment, and also that these agents had a great inhibitory effect on caries production