Anshi Jain

Assessment of palatal rugae pattern and their reproducibility for application in forensic analysis

Background: Rugae are the anatomical folds that are located on the anterior third of palate behind the incisive papillae. They are also known as “Plica palatine,” and the study of these patterns is called palatoscopy. It can be used in various fields such as sex determination, orthodontics and forensic odontology. Objective: To investigate palatal rugae patterns in females and males and to evaluate the stability of these patterns in pre- and post-operative orthodontic cases. Materials and Methods: Fifty patients were selected for this study (25 males and 25 females). From the above sample, 10 males and 10 females had undergone orthodontic treatment and their casts were retrieved for sex determination analysis and stability of rugae patterns pre- and post-treatment. Results: Changes occur in bony structures during fixed orthodontic treatment but rugae patterns remain stable. Kappa stats and Chi square test were used to analyze agreement between the two evaluators, and 95% correct matches were achieved. Conclusion: Palatal rugae are unique to every individual and can be used as an indicator in forensic odontology.

Stature and gender determination and their correlation using odontometry and skull anthropometry.

Background: When the body has been mutilated, it is common to have the extremities or head amputated from the trunk. In concern with forensic odontology, an estimate must have been made based on the correlation of osteometry along with odontometry in determining sex, race and stature. Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate and correlate height and gender from odontometry and anthropometric data of the skull. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology and Microbiology, I.T.S Center for Dental studies and Research, Muradnagar, Ghaziabad (UP) with the representative study subjects of 60 patients as 30 males and 30 females in the age group of 15-25 years. The selected parameters were measured and then correlated to investigate stature and gender from odontometry and anthropometric data of the skull. Results: On linear regression analysis, the selected parameters were found to be statistically significant predictor of height. It was also established by Karl Pearsons coefficient correlation that the left mandibular canine index for female was statistically significant to show sexual dimorphism. Conclusion: In the emerging field of forensic odontology, skull anthropometry, odontometry exhibits stature determination and strong sexual dimorphism.

A call for a new speciality: Forensic odontology as a subject

Background: Forensic science is defined as a discipline concerned with the application of science and technology to the detection and investigation of crime and administration of justice, requiring the coordinated efforts of a multidisciplinary team. Dental identification remains one of the most reliable and frequently applied methods of identification. Hence, it can be defined as the science that deals with evidence from the dental and oral structures and is a specialty in itself. Objectives: To analyze the level of awareness of Forensic Odontology amongst the individuals from the field of dentistry with the help of a survey. Materials and Methods: A questionnaire was prepared and a survey was conducted with a sample size of 200 divided in four groups. Results: Revealed inadequate knowledge, poor attitude, and lack of practice of forensic odontology prevailing among the dentists. Conclusion: Our study reflects the current situation of our country in the field of forensic odontology, which could be improved by introducing forensic odontology as a subject in the dental curriculum at both the undergraduate and the post-graduate levels.

Characterization and localization of c-kit and epidermal growth factor receptor in different patterns of adenoid cystic carcinoma

INTRODUCTION Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is malignant neoplasm of the salivary glands. It accounts for most cases of minor salivary gland malignancies and a substantial proportion of parotid and submandibular gland malignancies. ACC is associated with a high mortality rate, and it often recurs after prolonged periods of time, and this occurs even when radical excision has been performed. AIMS The present study was aimed to determine the localization of dual cell population and to analyze the potency of using a system of dual markers (c-kit and epidermal growth factor receptor [EGFR]) in enhancing the characterization of ACC. SUBJECT AND METHOD Three micrometer thin sections of adenoid cystic carcinoma were obtained. One set of slides was stained by hematoxylin and eosin for reconfirmation of histological diagnosis while the other two sets were stained for c-kit and EGFR using immunohistochemical method. Statistical Analysis Used and Results: Show c-kit expression to be limited to the inner ductal epithelial cells and the EGFR expression mainly to the outer myoepithelial cells in the majority of tubular and cribriform patterns. In solid ACC, c-kit was uniformly positive while EGFR was consistently negative. CONCLUSIONS C-kit and EGFR biomarkers can be used to enhance the characterization of ACC and to determine the localization of dual cell population which could suggest the dual origin of ACC and provides evidence for the new therapeutic strategy in ACC.

Orthokeratinized odontogenic cyst masquerading as dentigerous cyst

The orthokeratinized odontogenic cyst (OOC) is a rare developmental odontogenic cyst that has been considered as a variant of the keratocystic odontogenic tumor until Wright (1981) defined it as a different entity. Recognition of OOC as a unique entity has long been due, yet its inexplicable clinical, radiographic presentation resembling dentigerous cyst due to its association to an impacted tooth, and its histological features makes it rather perplexing. This is the report of a case of OOC in relation to an impacted maxillary canine and its immunohistochemical analysis with Ki-67.

Exfoliative cytology: A possible tool in age estimation in forensic odontology.

Introduction: Age determination of unknown human bodies is important in the setting of a crime investigation or a mass disaster because the age at death, birth date, and year of death as well as gender can guide investigators to the correct identity among a large number of possible matches. Objective: The study was undertaken with an aim to estimate the age of an individual from their buccal smears by comparing the average cell size using image analysis morphometric software. Materials and Methods: Buccal smears were collected from 100 apparently healthy individuals. After fixation in 95% alcohol, the smears were stained using standard Papanicolaou laboratory procedure. The average cell size was measured using Dewinters image analysis software version 4.3. Statistical analysis of the data was done using one-way ANOVA, Bonferroni procedures. Results: The results showed significant decrease in average cell size of individual with increase in age. The difference was highly significant in age group of above 60 years. Conclusion: Age-related alterations are observed in buccal smears.

E‐cadherin‐mediated impairment increases anti‐apoptotic mechanism through upregulation of Bcl‐2: An immunohistochemical study in various patterns of invasion of oral squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND Bcl-2 and E-cadherin proteins are known to be involved in the control of apoptotic cell death and invasive potential, respectively, which is an important hallmark of tumor regulation that influences their biologic behavior. AIM This study investigates the relationship of Bcl-2 and E-cadherin immunoexpression in various Brynes patterns of invasion. MATERIAL AND METHODS Immunohistochemical analyses for Bcl-2 and E-cadherin were performed on paraffin-embedded tissue sections on 40 cases (32 cases of Oral squamous cell carcinoma and eight cases of controls) and were scored using qualitative and quantitative (percentage positive) analysis. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS The resulting data were analyzed using SPSS software version 19. Correlation between patterns of invasion and qualitative scores of Bcl-2 and E-cadherin was calculated using Spearman rho correlation. Difference of mean percentage of positive cells of Bcl-2 and E-cadherin in different patterns of invasion was tested by ANOVA followed by Tukey HSD test. RESULTS Bcl-2 and E-cadherin immunoreactivity was positively correlated with Brynes pattern of invasion (P value<.05). An inverse relation was found between Bcl-2 and E-cadherin expression with Brynes patterns 1-5 of invasion. CONCLUSIONS The results pointed to the antagonistic role of E-cadherin and Bcl-2 and thus provide the opportunity for cell survival along with increased invasive potential.

Molecular Characterization of Clear Cell Lesions of Head and Neck

The salivary glands, oral mucosa and jaws constitute a group of lesions which are heterogeneous in nature and are odontogenic, salivary or metastatic in origin. This group of tumours is termed as Clear Cell Tumours. Fixation artifacts are one of the most important reasons for the cell to appear clear but clearing of cells may also result from cytoplasmic accumulation of water, presence of glycogen within the cell, intermediate filaments, immature zymogen granules, or a paucity of cellular organelles. Clear cell Odontogenic neoplasms predominantly include odontogenic carcinoma, ameloblastoma and calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumour. Clear cell tumours of salivary gland origin are almost invariably malignant in nature but they do include two benign lesions. Very frequently, surgical pathologist encounters clear cells in many malignant neoplasms, the nature and sources of which are undetermined on the basis of conventional histopathology. This review will selectively discuss the clinicopathological features of neoplasms which at times may pose a diagnostic challenge and dilemma due to clear cell changes.

To analyze the concomitant expression of human papillomavirus-16 in the pathogenetic model of p53-dependant pathway in oral squamous cell carcinoma

Background: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) accounts for 90% of all primary oral malignancies. Association between human papillomavirus (HPV) as a risk factor of cervical cancer is well known; there is a need to widen the knowledge for its role in oral cancer development. The viral E6 protein of HPV binds to p53 making it nonfunctional. Aims and Objective: To study mutated/wild type p53 expression using immunohistochemistry and detect HPV-16 presence using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), in OSCC and correlating their expression. Materials and Methods: Immunohistochemical staining for p53 molecule in 24 sections of OSCC followed by DNA extraction of the cases using qiagen extraction kit and subsequent HPV-16 detection using PCR technique. Statistical Analysis: The data were analysed using SPSS software version 19. Results: Out of 24 cases of OSCC, twenty cases were positive for P 53 expression and four cases were negative for P 53 expression. Out of the four negative cases, one case was detected positive for HPV-16. Conclusion: HPV infection along with p53 expression helps in understanding its exact pathogenesis which further helps in expanding our spectrum of therapeutic modalities