Potential Histopathological and Immune Biomarkers in Malignant and Non-Malignant Oral Lesions.

Objectives: The presented case-control study was developed to characterize the clinical, histopathological and immunological profile of patients with traumatic injuries, benign neoplasms, potentially malignant oral disorders and malignant neoplasms of the oral cavity, in order to identify biomarkers of malignancy. Material and Methods: Clinical information was collected from dental records and several techniques were performed, including histopathological evaluation in sections stained with haematoxylin and eosin, immunohistochemistry for programmed death ligand-1 and measurement of serum levels of interferon-gamma, interleukin-6, -10 and -12. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS® Statistics software. Results: This study included 8 patients with traumatic injuries, 8 with benign neoplasms, 6 with potentially malignant oral disorders and 11 with malignant neoplasms. An association was observed between the classification of the lesion and smoking (P < 0.05), the size of the lesion (P < 0.05), the density of the inflammatory infiltrate (P < 0.001), the degree of dysplasia (P < 0.01) and programmed death ligand-1 expression (P < 0.01). Conclusions: Therefore, it is suggested that smoking, the size of the lesion, the inflammatory infiltrate and the programmed death ligand-1 expression can be considered potential biomarkers of oral malignancy.

Prenatal and pubertal exposure to 17α-ethinylestradiol disrupts folliculogenesis and promotes morphophysiological changes in ovaries of old gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus).

17α-Ethinylestradiol is an endocrine-disrupting chemical that make up most contraceptive pills and can be found in the environment. Exposure to ethinylestradiol in different development periods may promote changes in morphophysiological parameters of reproductive and endocrine organs. Considering that the effects of low doses (15 µg/kg/day) of ethinylestradiol in ovaries from 12-month-old female gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) were investigated. Four experimental groups used were control (without treatment), EE/PRE (treated from the 18th to the 22nd gestational day), EE/PUB (treated from the 42nd to the 49th day of life), and EE/PRE-PUB (treated in the both periods). The animals were euthanized at 12 months. Testosterone and 17ß-estradiol levels were measured. The ovaries were stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin, Periodic Acid Schiff, and Gomori's Trichome. The follicles, corpus luteum, interstitial gland, lipofuscin, ovarian epithelium, and tunica albuginea were analyzed. Estradiol was higher in EE/PRE and EE/PUB groups, while testosterone was higher only in EE/PUB group. The main changes in follicle count occurred in EE/PUB and EE/PRE-PUB groups, with higher primordial follicle count and lower maturation of follicles. The corpus luteum was more evident in EE/PRE group. No differences were found in atretic follicles count. A higher area occupied by interstitial gland cells and lipofuscin deposit in these cells was noted in EE/PUB and EE/PRE-PUB groups. Higher epithelium height and thicker tunic albuginea were showed in treated groups. These results suggest that exposure to doses of EE2 in prenatal and pubertal periods of the development leads to morphological changes in senile ovaries.