Enhancement of calcyclin gene RNA expression in squamous cell carcinoma of the oral mucosa, but not in benign lesions.

Oral cancer is a neoplasm with some known causes. Proliferation genes are significant among its few pathogenetic and prognostic factors. Calcyclin is a cell-cycle-related gene, the function of which is still unclear. Its expression and that of Haras and histone-H3 have been investigated in an assessment of their pathogenetic role in squamous cell carcinoma. RNA extracted from the pathological and normal mucosa of patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and benign lesions was reverse transcribed and amplified by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The expression of all three genes in the pathological mucosa was enhanced in SCC only. This suggests that they may be involved in its pathogenesis and provides another parameter for the differentiation of malignant and benign lesions.

[Oral lichen planus and liver pathology. I. The prevalence of liver damage in a case load of 96 patients with oral lichen planus]. / Lichen planus orale e patologia epatica. Parte I.--Prevalenza di danno epatico in una casistica di 96 pazienti portatori di lichen planus orale.

In order to evaluate if oral lichen planus (OLP) may be regarded as a marker of even unknown liver disease, 96 incident OLP cases were screened through anamnestic, laboratory, instrumental investigations and gastroenterology consultation. The frequency of hepatopathies was 23/96 (24%): 7 had cirrhosis, 3 had chronic active hepatitis, 2 had chronic persistent hepatitis, 10 steatosis and 1 had undetermined liver disease. Eleven of these 23 patients (48%) had unknown hepatopathies, although five of them had severe liver disorders (cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis). Forty-four of 73 patients without definite liver disorders (60%) had at least one abnormal liver parameter. This results confirm frequent association of OLP with hepatic damage and moreover it shown that OLP may be an important clinical sign of symptomless hepatopathies.

[Oral lichen planus and liver pathology. II. The clinico-statistical correlations between oral manifestations and liver damage]. / Lichen planus orale e patologia epatica. Parte II.--Correlazioni clinico-statistiche tra manifestazioni orali e danno epatico.

To characterize with more precision the association between oral lichen planus (OLP) and hepatopathies, 96 patients with OLP were separated in two groups ordered by presence or absence of liver diseases comparing some variables (age, sex, presence of pain, clinical variety, presence of skin lesions, alcohol consumption and exposure to drugs inducing hepatic injury) and evaluating the statistical significance. Factors associated with increased frequency of liver diseases were erosive variety of OLP (p = 0.024) and presence of pain (p = 0.026) (chi square test with Yates correction). It's confirmed that OLP patients with higher risk of liver disease are those that have erosive lesions with severe symptoms and often diffused in the entire oral cavity; furthermore, it's highlighted that the probability to find liver disease associated with reticular and plaque-like form of OLP is low, but not negligible.

[Ionofluor + laser = prevention]. / Jonofluor + laser = prevenzione.

On the basis of experience gained in previous research, an original technique for fixing fluoride on the enamel of healthy teeth for preventive purposes is described. An apparatus of ionophoresis with which it was possible to contain fluoride in the ionic state, and later a low power laser system with double red and infrared emission mixed in optic fibre were used to achieve this result. The proposed technique is not only extremely effective, offering as it does protection for at least 3 years, but is is very simple, practical and economical.