BCL-X expression in oral cancer: Comparison between oral squamous cell carcinoma and verrucous carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Verrucous carcinoma (VC) should be considered a distinct clinicopathologic entity different from the more common oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) because of its unique biological behavior. Best way to understand the behavior of these carcinomas is to study them by means of molecular methods, especially in tumor progression tests and Bcl-X is an important antiapoptotic member of the Bcl-2 family and is one of the newest and most useful markers to determine the aggressiveness of many carcinomas. The relationship between this Bcl-X protein and carcinomatous behavior toward it is not studied extensively, which we attempted to evaluate using immunohistochemical analysis in selected carcinomas of the head and neck region. METHOD: We studied Bcl-X protein expression in sections of thirty OSCC and ten VC samples and correlated this with tumor differentiation. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in cytoplasmic staining of Bcl-X expression with statistical analysis (P < 0.005) for VC and OSCC when compared as a group. No significance was seen among the different histological grades of OSCC and when compared with VC individually. CONCLUSION: The significant result between OSCC and VC suggests that their biologic course is comparable and can be helpful in differentiating them with each other for establishment of a better treatment protocol.

Characterization and Antibiotic Sensitivity Profile of Bacteria in Orofacial Abscesses of Odontogenic Origin.

BACKGROUND: Odontogenic infections range from peripheral abscess to superficial and deep infections leading to severe infections in head and neck region. This study was aimed to assess bacterial isolates responsible for orofacial infection of odontogenic origin and their drug susceptibility patterns so as to provide better perceptive for the management of odontogenic infections. METHODS: The study was made in a selected cohort of patients, irrespective of age and gender having moderate and severe orofacial infections of odontogenic origin admitted to Yenepoya University Hospital. Pus samples were collected and identification of bacteria was performed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed by Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. RESULT: A total of 37 study subjects were included, with bacterial isolation rate of 31 (83.7 %). The mean age presented of all patients was 40.62. Of all, 24 (64.9 %) were males. Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter claocae subsp. dissolvens, Klebsiella quasipneumoniae subsp. similipneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus subsp. anaerobius and Klebsiella pneumoniae subsp. ozaenae were the most prevalent isolates. Result showed that 58.6 % of the isolates were resistant to gentamicin, 52.5 % for ampicillin, 51.3 % for piperacillin; least resistant being 18.9 % for azithromycin. CONCLUSION: High prevalence of bacterial isolates was found, Staphylococcus aureus being the dominant. Most of the bacteria were resistant to different classes of antibiotics. Appropriate antibiotics should be given based on the bacterial isolates, culture sensitivity and clinical course of the disease.

Study of Distracted Bone in Maxilla: A Comparative Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Anterior maxillary distraction is one of the accepted modalities to treat hypoplastic maxilla. The study was undertaken to assess the maturation of the bone formed, which is measured by analyzing the amount of mineralization of the bone. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For the study 29 patients were chosen, who were divided into three groups. First group consist of patients who had undergone distraction osteogenesis. Second group has cleft patients and third group is the control group. A bone biopsy using trephine drill is obtained from the subjects. This sample is subjected to Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). RESULTS: From  the results a mineral to matrix ratio is obtained which is then compared between the three groups. There is a statistically significant difference between the mineralization of the three groups. The distracted bone shows the lowest mineralization while mineralization of the cleft bone is also less than the normal bone. CONCLUSION: The study conclusively establishes that the distracted bone is not as mineralized as the normal bone. Although functionally the distracted bone is as good as the native bone and grafted bone as proved by the success rate of the implants placed. The study also highlights the use of FTIR for assessing the bone quality.

Comparative immunohistochemical study of Bcl-X in ameloblastoma, keratocystic odontogenic tumor and adenomatoid odontogenic tumor.

OBJECTIVES: Since its recognition as a physiologic process associated with tumor, among molecular mechanisms involved in tumor progression, defects in regulation of apoptosis have generated an accelerating volume of research that has sought to elucidate the role of programed cell death in pathogenesis and treatment of various tumors. Therefore, this study was performed to understand better the diverse biological profile of epithelial odontogenic tumors with the help of immunohistochemical expression of Bcl-X protein. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied Bcl-X protein expression in 45 cases of epithelial odontogenic tumors which included 15 cases each of ameloblastomas, keratocystic odontogenic tumor (KCOT) and adenomatoid odontogenic tumor (AOT) and correlated the expression with their growth pattern. RESULTS: Cytoplasmic staining of Bcl-X revealed overexpression in ameloblastoma when compared to KCOT and AOT. Percentage of positive cells showed a statistically significant difference, P = 0.007 between ameloblastoma and KCOT, whereas P < 0.001 between ameloblastoma and AOT. However, no significance was observed between KCOT and AOT (P = 0.132). CONCLUSION: The present study supports the fact that epithelial odontogenic tumors show diverse growth profiles. An increased Bcl-X expression was seen in ameloblastoma compared to KCOT and least expression in case of AOT which could be indicative of more aggressive biological behavior and increased cell survival activity of ameloblastoma than KCOT and AOT. This signifies the diagnostic relevance of this biomarker and also could be a possible regulator of the proliferative compartment by contributing in tumor progression and cytodifferentiation of epithelial odontogenic tumors.

Comparative distribution of Lysyl Oxidase (G473A) and NQO1 (C609T) polymorphism among tea-garden workers (habitual chewers of betel quid) of Darjeeling district and Kolkata city of West Bengal.

CONTEXT: Chewing of processed arecanut products with tobacco and betel quid has been attributed to many oral pathological conditions. These products are very popular among the youngsters of lower economic groups. Genetic predisposition has been now identified as a major risk factor for increasing the susceptibility toward the disease among these chewers. AIMS: Our study mainly aims to find out the predisposition of LOX (G473A) and NQO1 (C609T) polymorphisms and present a comparison between the population (habitually exposed to processed arecanut and smokeless tobacco products) of a metro-city Kolkata and the tea-garden workers of Darjeeling district of West Bengal. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Subjects for the study was recruited from various oral health check-up camps organized in the tea-gardens of Darjeeling district and Kolkata city. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Genotyping analysis was done through a Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP)-based approach. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: A two-way contingency table analysis software (JAVASTAT: http://statpages.org/ctab2 × 2.html) using 95% confidence interval was used to study the distribution of genotypes among the populations. A P < 0.05 was considered to be significant. RESULTS: The results indicates both the heterozygous and homozygous carriers of NQO1 C > T (609) was found to be significantly higher among the north Bengal tea-garden workers [OR 0.480 (0.280-0.82) P = 0.01; 0.218 (0.091-0.524) P = 0.0001], respectively. Interestingly CT (21% in both) and TT (8% and 7%, respectively) were found to be equally distributed in the two populations. For LOX G > A (473) a significantly higher number of Kolkata individuals were found to carry the heterozygous GA allele in individuals aged <30 years [OR 3.779 (1.684-6.547) P = 0.001]. However, none were carrier of heterozygous GA allele of Kolkata population as compared with 29% north Bengal tea-garden workers aged above 31 years. CONCLUSIONS: A close observation of occurrence of oral diseases over time among such a population will be helpful to identify risk genotypes responsible for betel quid-induced oral diseases.

Association between selected socio demographic variables and musculoskeletal symptoms experienced by dentists in a southern Karnataka district.

BACKGROUND: The majority of working dentists experience some type of musculoskeletal discomfort during the course of their professional career. The prevalence and location of musculoskeletal symptoms are influenced by work habits, postures adopted by dentists while performing their professional work and socio demographic variables. OBJECTIVES: The current study was carried out to find the association between musculoskeletal symptoms experienced by dentists and selected socio demographic variables in a southern Karnataka district. METHODS: For this study 300 dentists were selected by using convenience sampling method among post graduate dental students, faculty members and private practitioners with more than one year of experience from in and around Mangalore city. In order to find the association, a pre-tested, self-administered questionnaire - Musculoskeletal Disorder Rating Scale was used. RESULTS: The study showed that there was statistically significant association between frequency of pain and average patient(s) treated per day. The association between intensity of pain and average patient(s) treated per day was highly significant. Further there was a significant association between intensity of pain and field of dental practice. With regard to the field of dental practice, frequency of stiffness was significantly associated with the age. The association between frequency of stiffness and no. of year(s) in profession was highly significant. CONCLUSION: The study revealed a significant association between musculoskeletal symptoms experienced by the dentists and socio demographic variables like; age, field of dental practice, no. of years in profession and average patients treated per day.

Potential for osseous regeneration of platelet rich plasma: a comparitive study in mandibular third molar sockets.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of autologous platelet-rich plasma in soft tissue healing & bone regeneration in mandibular third molar extraction socket. METHODS: The study was conducted in 10 patients visiting the outpatient Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, requiring extraction of bilateral mandibular third molars. Following extraction, autologous Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) was placed in one extraction socket, the other socket was studied as the control site with no PRP. The patients were assessed for postoperative pain, soft tissue healing, bone blending and trabecular formation. Radiological assessment of the extraction site was done for a period of 4 months to evaluate the change in bone density. RESULTS: Pain was less in the study site compared to control site, soft tissue healing was better in study site. Evaluation for bone blending and trabecular bone formation started earlier in PRP site compared to control, non PRP site. The evaluation of bone density by radiological assessment showed the grey level values calculated after 4 months at the PRP site were comparatively higher than the average baseline value of bone density at extraction site in control site. CONCLUSION: The study showed that autologous PRP is biocompatible and has significantly improved soft tissue healing, bone regeneration and increase in bone density in extraction sockets. However a more elaborate study with a larger number of clinical cases is essential to be more conclusive regarding its efficacy.

Osteosarcoma of facial bones.

Osteosarcoma, involving mandible and zygoma in 3 patients is presented and discussed; their clinical, radiological and treatment results are detailed. As this disease is uncommon in these bones, the difficulty in the management merits attention.