ABSTRACT
Variations of the arterial pattern in the upper limb are quite common in humans. In the present study, we describe two cases of high bifurcation of the brachial artery. In the first cadaver both branches run superficially along the arm and were also located superficially at the antecubita fossa. In the second cadaver the branch that continues as the radial artery in the forearm run superficially and was located also superficially at the antecubita fossa, while the second branch had a more or less normal distribution. The embryological basis and clinical significance are discussed.
Subject(s)
Brachial Artery/abnormalities , Upper Extremity/blood supply , Vascular Malformations/pathology , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Cadaver , Female , Humans , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a relatively common inflammatory disease. Several reports of oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC) developing in the ground of previous OLP lesions exist in the current medical literature. Hence, there is a debate concerning the possible premalignant nature of OLP. The studies that examined the malignant potential of OLP for many years were mainly observational and were seeking to detect the percentage of OLP patients that developed OSCC. The results of these studies varied significantly with reported percents of malignant transformation of OLP ranging from 0 to 12.5%. In recent years the number of OLP studies that investigate molecular biomarkers identified in cancer is on the rise. This article is an update of the molecular pathways identified in OLP that could be suggestive of a malignant potential of this condition.
Subject(s)
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/pathology , Cell Transformation, Neoplastic/pathology , Lichen Planus, Oral/pathology , Mouth Neoplasms/pathology , Precancerous Conditions/pathology , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/genetics , Cell Transformation, Neoplastic/genetics , Female , Humans , Lichen Planus, Oral/genetics , Male , Mouth Neoplasms/genetics , Precancerous Conditions/genetics , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
Squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC-Ag) is a glycoprotein secreted by non-small cell lung tumours (NSCLC). This study investigated the diagnostic and prognostic significance of SCC-Ag in NSCLC. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to test the diagnostic performance of the SCC-Ag and determine the optimal threshold value in a group of 100 NSCLC patients undergoing surgery and 50 age matched healthy controls. This threshold was then prospectively validated in a group of 53 patients and 49 healthy controls. The prognostic significance of the preoperative SCC-Ag level and its postoperative decrease were tested using univariate and multivariate proportional hazard models. The area under the ROC curve was 0.71+/-0.04, and the best cutoff value was 1.4 ng/ml. This discriminated patients in the validation group, with a sensitivity of 0.55 and a specificity of 1.0. The hazard ratio was 0.144 (95% CI 0.074-0.281) for the postoperative decrease in the SCC Ag, and 5.823 (3.299-10.278) for the preoperative SCC Ag level. Multivariate analysis revealed that only disease stage and patients' age are strong prognostic factors for survival. In conclusion, the SCC-Ag serum level has moderate diagnostic role in NSCLC. Both the preoperative SCC-Ag level and its postoperative decrease have prognostic significance, yet inferior to the disease stage and the patient's age.
