Kanupriya Gupta

Expression of cell cycle and apoptosis-related proteins in ameloblastoma and keratocystic odontogenic tumor.

Tumors arising from epithelium of the odontogenic apparatus or from its derivatives or remnants exhibit considerable histologic variation and are classified into several benign and malignant entities. A high proliferative activity of the odontogenic epithelium in ameloblastoma (AM) and keratocystic odontogenic tumor (KCOT) has been demonstrated in some studies individually. However, very few previous studies have simultaneously evaluated cell proliferation and apoptotic indexes in AM and KCOT, comparing both lesions. The aim of this study was to assess and compare cell proliferation and apoptotic rates between these two tumors. Specimens of 15 solid AM and 15 KCOT were evaluated. The proliferation index (PI) was assessed by immunohistochemical detection of Ki-67 and the apoptotic index (AI) by methyl green-pyronin stain. KCOT presented a higher PI than AM (P < .05). No statistically significant difference was found in the AI between AM and KCOT. PI and AI were higher in the peripheral cells of AM and respectively in the suprabasal and superficial layers of KCOT. In conclusion, KCOT showed a higher cell proliferation than AM and the AI was similar between these tumors. These findings reinforce the classification of KCOT as an odontogenic tumor and should contribute to its aggressive clinical behavior.

Evaluation of stromal myofibroblasts in oral leukoplakia, oral submucous fibrosis, and oral squamous cell carcinoma--an immunohistochemical study.

BACKGROUND Oral leukoplakia (OL) and oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) are the main potentially malignant disorders and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common malignancy of the oral mucosa. Myofibroblasts (MFs) secrete numerous growth factors and inflammatory mediators that stimulate epithelial cell proliferation and play an important role in tumoral invasion and use a combination of different factors in the course of neoplastic growth and development. Hence the present study was undertaken to evaluate and compare the distribution of MFs using alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in OL, OSMF, and various histopathological grades OSCC. MATERIALS AND METHODS Sixty formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue blocks consisting of histopathologically diagnosed cases of normal mucosa (n = 10), OL (n = 14) hyperkeratosis with various grades of dysplasia, OSMF (n = 11), and OSCC (n = 25) were subjected to immunohistochemistry using α-SMA antibody for detection of MFs. RESULTS MFs were not detected in normal oral mucosa. On comparison of frequency of mean scores in OL, OSMF, and OSCC the values were 0.6 ± 0.2 (0-2), 1.2 ± 0.68 (1-2), and 2.6 ± 1.34 (0-4), respectively. The results were statistically significant (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION These findings are suggestive of role of MFs with the creation of a permissive environment for tumor invasion in OSCC. Hence the presence of MF is a prognostic marker and evaluation of the frequency in the stroma can be used as therapeutic targets.

Evidences suggesting involvement of viruses in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Oral cancer is one of the most common cancers and it constitutes a major health problem particularly in developing countries. Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) represents the most frequent of all oral neoplasms. Several risk factors have been well characterized to be associated with OSCC with substantial evidences. The etiology of OSCC is complex and involves many factors. The most clearly defined potential factors are smoking and alcohol, which substantially increase the risk of OSCC. However, despite this clear association, a substantial proportion of patients develop OSCC without exposure to them, emphasizing the role of other risk factors such as genetic susceptibility and oncogenic viruses. Some viruses are strongly associated with OSCC while the association of others is less frequent and may depend on cofactors for their carcinogenic effects. Therefore, the exact role of viruses must be evaluated with care in order to improve the diagnosis and treatment of OSCC. Although a viral association within a subset of OSCC has been shown, the molecular and histopathological characteristics of these tumors have yet to be clearly defined.

XYLITOL ON DENTAL CARIES: A REVIEW

Xylitol is a pentahydroxy sugar-alcohol which exists in a very low quantity in fruits and vegetables (plums, strawberries, cauliflower, and pumpkin). On commercial scale, xylitol can be produced by chemical and biotechnological processes. Chemical production is costly and extensive in purification steps. The precursor xylose is produced from agricultural biomass by chemical and enzymatic hydrolysis and can be converted to xylitol primarily by yeast strain. Hydrolysis under acidic condition is the more commonly used practice influenced by various process parameters. Biotechnological xylitol production is an integral process of microbial species belonging to Candida genus which is influenced by various process parameters such as pH, temperature; time, nitrogen source, and yeast extract level. It is a functional sweetener as it has prebiotic effects which can reduce blood glucose, triglyceride, and cholesterol level. Dental caries is an infectious microbiologic disease of the tooth that results in localized dissolution and destruction of calcified tissues. Xylitol has been shown to reduce dental caries when mixed with food, chewing gums and milk. Dental caries are prevalent in acidic pH where Streptoccocus mutans (MS) ferment resulting in demineralization of tooth, where as Streptococcus mutans cannot ferment xylitol thus it reduces MS by altering their metabolic pathway and enhance remineralization and helps arrest dentinal caries. Reduction in caries rate is greater, when xylitol is used as the sugar substitutes. This review discusses the taste acceptability of xylitol in milk as a step towards measuring the effectiveness for the reduction of dental caries. Keywords: Xylitol, Carbohydrates, Caries, Remineralisation, Demineralization, Streptoccocus mutans

Correlation between fasting blood sugar and cytomorphometric values of diabetic patient's buccal mucosa exfoliative cytology

Objectives: Type-2 diabetes mellitus (DM) has considerable prevalence in India. A noninvasive diagnostic tool will be more appropriate in conditions like DM. In this study, we intend to find a difference in cytomophometric values, and glycogen accumulation (if any) in buccal mucosa exfoliated cells of type-2 DM patients when compared to nondiabetic healthy individuals, and establish its diagnostic role. Methodology: In the present study, 36 known DM patients with at least 1-year history (case group) and 36 healthy, age- (5 year interval) -matched patients (control group) were included in the study. Patients with any other systemic disease were excluded from the study. Buccal mucosa exfoliative cytology smears were prepared from all 72 patients and stained with Papanicolaou (PAP) stain. The cytomorphometric analysis was performed to evaluate nuclear area (NA), cytoplasmic area (CA), and cytoplasm to nuclear area ratio (CNR) of cells in the smear. The data were tabulated and statistically analyzed using Chi-square test, Students t-test, Karl Pearsons correlation coefficient and significance (two tailed) test. Results: Statistically significant difference was found in NA and CNR in exfoliative cytology of DM patient group when compared to control group. Fasting blood sugar of DM patients was significantly correlated with NA and CNR of buccal mucosa exfoliated cells. Conclusion: The cytomorphometric changes in exfoliated buccal mucosa cells of type-2 DM patients can have a diagnostic value which needs to be explored further.

Primary intraosseous squamous cell carcinoma arising from keratocystic odontogenic tumor: CK 17 evaluation

Primary intraosseous squamous cell carcinoma (PIOSCC) derived from an odontogenic keratocyst (OKC) is a rare malignant neoplasm of the jaws, which is locally aggressive, with predominantly poor prognosis. The number of well-documented cases of PIOSCC ex OKC is extremely small; thus sufficient incidence data are not available in the literature. Overall and disease-free survival is poor, with almost 50% patients failing to survive within the first 2 years of follow-up, and this can be attributed to the delayed diagnosis. Knowledge of the clinical, radiographic, and histopathologic features of primary intraosseous squamous cell carcinoma (PIOSCC) allows accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment of this rare malignancy.