Comparative Evaluation of the Relationship Between Airway Inadequacy, Head Posture, and Craniofacial Morphology in Mouth-Breathing and Nasal-Breathing Patients: A Cephalometric Observational Study.

BACKGROUND: The process of respiration is the primary factor of the posture of the jaws and tongue. Thus, a changed respiratory form like mouth breathing can change the posture of the head, jaw, and tongue. This, in turn, could change the equilibrium of pressure on the jaws and teeth thus affecting jaw growth and teeth positions. The influence of nasorespiratory function on craniofacial growth has stimulated interest and debate for more than a century. Mouth breathing is the reason for numerous orthodontic glitches such as a mouth breather's face evolving aberrantly because of of functional disruptions triggered by chronic airway obstruction. The relationship between nasorespiratory function and dentofacial development remains controversial despite the long-standing clinical concern of orthodontists, so there was a need to evaluate and compare the relationship between head posture, airway inadequacy, and craniofacial morphology in mouth breathers and nasal breathers. METHODOLOGY: Forty patients were selected and divided equally into two groups: mouth breathers and nasal breathers. Patients were diagnosed as mouth breathers based on physical examination and a history of chronic allergic rhinitis, adenoid, and tonsil enlargement. Lateral cephalograms were taken for all patients in the natural head position (NHP) with the Planmeca Proline XC Dimax3 x-ray machine (Planmeca, Helsinki-Uusimaa, Finland). All lateral cephalograms were traced and analysis was done to check airway, head posture, and craniofacial morphology. Descriptive statistics were performed to obtain the means and standard deviation of all the sample sizes. Unpaired t test was performed between nasal breathers and mouth breathers to check and evaluate the relationship. RESULT: Mouth-breathing patients varied from nasal-breathing patients in airway adequacy and craniofacial morphology. A little, but not statistically significant, difference was seen in head posture between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Early interception of mouth breathing in patients could be very helpful, as the postural changes in the mouth-breathing patients, if continued for a longer period of time, could be the reason for severe skeletal deformities as well as dental malocclusion.

Metastasis: To and fro.

Cancer is one of the most life threatening diseases afflicting mankind. Oral carcinogenesis is a multifactorial process involving numerous genetic events that alter normal functions of oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes. These changes lead to a cell phenotype with increased cell proliferation, with loss of cell cohesion, and infiltration of adjacent tissue thus causing distant metastasis. The fact that cancer patients might develop metastasis after years or even decades from diagnosis of the primary tumor makes the metastatic process even more complex and the disease more deadly. The promise of this article is to enhance the understanding on molecular mechanisms underlying metastasis and provide a better approach towards development of novel therapeutic treatment modalities.

Levels of salivary thiocyanate and its relation with occurrence of micronuclei using exfoliative cytology in smokers and nonsmokers.

AIMS: To evaluate the levels of salivary thiocyanate and its relation with the occurrence of micronuclei (MN) using exfoliative cytology in smokers and nonsmokers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and twenty patients were divided into 3 groups: nonsmoker group 1 (control), smokers group 2, and smokers group 3. Their saliva was collected and analyzed for thiocyanate levels, and exfoliative cytology was evaluated for the presence of MN. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Fisher's exact test and ANOVA test were used. RESULTS: It was seen that as the grade of smoking increased, the levels of salivary thiocyanate and occurrence of MN increased. CONCLUSIONS: Detection and quantification of "biomarkers" such as salivary thiocyanate and MN in noninvasive and painless procedures such as oral exfoliative cytology can be an upcoming research domain in the field of cancer prevention and therapeutics.

Prevalence of fungal hyphae in potentially malignant lesions and conditions-does its occurrence play a role in epithelial dysplasia?

BACKGROUND: Oral cancer is a major public health problem in India. A key factor that has led to lack of improvement in prognosis of oral cancer over the years, is delay in diagnosis and treatment. In many instances, a significant proportion of oral squamous cell carcinomas develop from premalignant lesions and conditions. Identification of such lesions and conditions is very important in order to prevent malignant transformation. The role of fungal infections has been studied and holds promise as an indicator to predict malignant transformation. So we designed a study to analyze the prevalence of fungal hyphae in biopsies of patients with clinically diagnosed cases of premalignant lesions and conditions. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To determine and compare the prevalence of fungal hyphae in biopsies of patients with clinically diagnosed cases of potentially malignant lesions and conditions and to assess the possible association between the degree of epithelial dysplasia and presence or absence of fungal hyphae. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinically suspected and histopathologically diagnosed 70 cases of potentially malignant lesions and conditions (29 leukoplakia, 16 submucous fibrosis and 25 lichen planus) made up the study group. Three tissue sections (5µm) of each were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H and E), periodic acid-Schiff's reagent (PAS) and Grocott's methenamine silver (GMS) and evaluated for fungal hyphae. The data collected was statistically analyzed by using Chi-square test and Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software. RESULTS: The estimated prevalence of fungal hyphae in cases with or without dysplasia in leukoplakia was 41.4%, lichen planus 36% and submucous fibrosis 25%. There was a significant association between degree of epithelial dysplasia with presence or absence of fungal hyphae in all the study groups. CONCLUSION: Presence of fungal hyphae in potentially malignant lesions and conditions may prove to be a useful indicator in predicting malignant transformation.

Prevelance of Haller's Cells: A Panoramic Radiographic Study.

BACKGROUND: Infraorbital ethmoid cells, also known as Haller's cells can be seen on panoramic radiographs. These help in identification of various pathologies and patient symptoms. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevelance and characteristic of Haller's cells on panoramic radiographs. Infraorbital ethmoid cells are extensions of ethmoid air cells into areas of orbit and maxillary sinus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study comprised of 1000 panoramic radiographs of healthy adults of the age 18-80 years. Each radiograph was interpreted for the presence of haller's cells. The data collected were then tabulated and subjected to descriptive statistics and chi-square test. RESULTS: Haller's cells were observed in 19.2% patients. Majority of cells were present unilaterally (176 cells) while only 15 were seen bilaterally. Maximum cells were oval in shape, unilocular and single in number. CONCLUSION: Presence of haller's cells helps in enumerating the differential diagnosis for orofacial pain and in avoiding surgical complications in endonasal procedures.