Cytogenetic analysis of genetic damage in young individuals exposed to chronic mechanical irritation in the lateral border of the tongue due to sharp teeth - a novel study.

BACKGROUND: Chronic inflammation is estimated to contribute to approximately 25% of human cancers. Inflammation can be induced by chronic mechanical irritation which can lead to oral pre-cancer and oral cancer. Though many studies have been conducted to identify the genetic damage in oral cancer or dysplastic stages, no study has been conducted so far on early detection of genetic damage in healthy individuals presenting with sharp teeth in contact with the lateral border of the tongue. OBJECTIVE: The study is aimed at analyzing the genetic damage (micronuclei) in healthy individuals with sharp teeth in contact with the lateral border of the tongue causing chronic mechanical irritation. METHODS: The study group included 75 clinically healthy individuals with sharp teeth in contact with the lateral border of the tongue and 25 clinically healthy individuals with normal teeth in contact with the lateral border of the tongue as a control group. Brush samples of epithelial cells were collected, then spread over clean glass slide and fixed in 100% alcohol, stained with rapid PAP and analyzed under the light microscope. The exfoliated cells were examined to detect micronuclei. RESULTS: Micronuclei frequency was found to be increased in the study group where sharp teeth were in contact with the lateral border of the tongue of healthy individuals without deleterious habits such as usage of tobacco in smoking/smokeless form, areca nut chewing or alcohol consumption. CONCLUSIONS: Cytogenetic analysis is a simple and scantly invasive technique allowing clinicians the early detection of DNA damage in patients with sharp teeth and subsequently preventing carcinogenesis by proper treatment and follow-up.

Evaluation of gingival and periodontal status in obese and non-obese type II diabetic patients - a cross sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate gingival and periodontal status in obese and non-obese type II Diabetic Patients. METHODS: The study population comprised of 75 subjects visiting the outpatient department of our institution, divided into three different groups, group 1 (obese diabetic), group 2 (non-obese diabetic), and group 3 (obese, non-diabetic). Diabetic status was assessed with HbA1c values and obesity status was assessed by body mass index (BMI) score greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2. Gingival and periodontal status were assessed using the Gingival Index (GI) and Community Periodontal Index (CPI) respectively. RESULTS: The mean gingival index score in group 1, group 2, and group 3 were 1.58, 1.54, and 1.25, respectively. Gingival status was poor among obese and non-obese diabetic subjects (Groups 1 and 2) when compared with obese non-diabetic patients (Group 3). The periodontal status showed that periodontal pockets were increased in diabetic obese group (15.4%), followed by diabetic non obese (4.66%), and non-diabetic obese (2%) group respectively and loss of attachment was severe in diabetic obese group (60.7%), followed by diabetic non obese (45.9%) and non-diabetic obese (15.3%) respectively. CONCLUSION: Gingival and periodontal status was poor in the obese diabetic group compared to non-obese diabetic and obese non diabetic group. Hence, the risk of gingivitis and periodontitis in obese diabetic patients should be addressed earlier to prevent further complications and achieve a good oral health status.

Immunohistochemical Detection of Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) in Follicular and Plexiform Ameloblastoma - A Novel Study.

BACKGROUND: Ameloblastoma is the second most common odontogenic tumor that holds a unique position among benign tumors due to its locally destructive and invasive nature. The differed tumor biology behind follicular and plexiform ameloblastoma is always an enigma. Nerve growth factor (NGF), a neurotrophin that plays a major role during odontogenesis, could also possibly play a role in the pathogenesis of odontogenic tumors such as ameloblastoma. With this background, the study was aimed to investigate the expression of NGF in follicular and plexiform ameloblastoma. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to analyze the immunohistochemical expression pattern of NGF in ameloblastoma and to compare the immunohistochemical expression pattern of NGF among the follicular and plexiform histological types of ameloblastoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty histological sections of ameloblastomas (20 follicular and 20 plexiform) were stained immunohistochemically with anti-human NGF mouse IgG monoclonal antibody and the staining was analyzed statistically. RESULTS: Almost all the 40 ameloblastoma samples (20 follicular and 20 plexiform) showed positive immunoreactivity to NGF. Both peripheral pre-ameloblast-like tall columnar cells and central stellate-reticulum-like cells showed positive reactivity. The pattern of staining was membranous in the immunoreactive cells. The χ2 value for the immunoexpression between follicular and plexiform ameloblastoma was statistically significant with a P value <0.002. A possible mechanism has been proposed after studying the results with the downstream pathways obtained from literature. CONCLUSION: The pattern of expression of NGF is seen in both follicular and plexiform ameloblastoma. But the intensity is more in plexiform than that of follicular ameloblastoma.

Immunohistochemical detection of Tyrosine Kinase receptor (TrK) in follicular and plexiform ameloblastoma - A novel study.

OBJECTIVES: The objective is to analyze the immunohistochemical expression pattern of tyrosine kinase receptor (TrK) in ameloblastoma and to compare the immunohistochemical expression pattern of TrK among the histological types of ameloblastoma, follicular and plexiform patterns. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty ameloblastomas (20 follicular and 20 plexiform) were immunostained with anti-human TrK mouse IgG monoclonal antibody, and the pattern of staining is statistically analyzed. RESULTS: Total 20 (4 follicular and 16 plexiform) out of 40 ameloblastomas showed immunoreactivity to TrK. Only the peripheral preameloblast like tall columnar cells showed reactivity, whereas the stellate reticulum like cells is immunonegative. The staining pattern was membranous in the immunoreactive cells. The Chi-square value for the immunoexpression between follicular and plexiform ameloblastoma was statistically significant with a P < 0.005. The results were studied with the downstream pathways from the literature, and a possible mechanism has been proposed. CONCLUSION: The expression pattern of TrK is found to be more in plexiform ameloblastoma than follicular ameloblastoma.

Meta-terminology of Ameloblastoma.

One of the primary tasks of systematic biology is the development of our biological nomenclature and classifications. The key purpose for the development of a standard nomenclature for a disease is the need for a common language for the statement of diagnostic terms and for a means or system whereby diagnosis could be suitably recorded without chaos. Odontogenic tumor nomenclature and classification have confused physicians over the years. Ameloblastoma is one such entity among odontogenic tumors, which has continuously changed to be an evolution of the terms and taxonomy used in literature. In this review, we aim to provide a fundamental basis for the understanding of how the etymology and the position of ameloblastoma in odontogenic tumor classification have evolved over the years.