Takahiro Miyasaka

Quantitative Detection of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) RNA in Saliva and Gingival Crevicular Fluid of HCV-Infected Patients

ABSTRACT The search for hepatitis C virus (HCV) in body fluids other than blood is important when assessing possible nonparenteral routes of viral transmission. However, the role of oral fluids in HCV transmission remains controversial. Here we quantitatively determined HCV RNA in saliva and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) of anti-HCV-positive patients. Most patients (14 of 18; 78%) whose saliva specimens were negative had HCV RNA in their GCF. Most patients (20 of 26; 77%) had higher HCV RNA levels in their GCF than in their saliva. Although there was not a statistically significant correlation between the serum viral load and HCV level in saliva or GCF, patients with low serum HCV loads were less likely to have detectable HCV in their saliva. These findings have important implications for medical personnel and suggest that epidemiological studies designed to understand the significance of the oral route of transmission of HCV are warranted.

Pathological analysis of the Candida albicans-infected tongue tissues of a murine oral candidiasis model in the early infection stage.

OBJECTIVE The early pathological process of Candida infection and immunological responses in tongues of the mice with experimental oral candidiasis was analysed. METHODS CD-1 mice, pretreated by prednisolone were orally inoculated with Candida albicans. Symptoms were monitored by measuring the area of white tongue coating and number of viable Candida cells in oral cavity. The histopathological analysis was carried by PAS-stain and immunofluorescent staining. IL-4, IL-12p70, IFN-γ, TNF-α in recovered from the homogenates of the tongues were measured by ELISA. RESULTS The fungus invaded the tongue surface of the mice and white patches developed within 24h after inoculation. Histopathological examination indicated the presence of local acute inflammation in superficial tissues of tongues covered by mycelium of C. albicans. Pathological exacerbation was observed from 24 to 48 h after the inoculation and from then the symptoms of oral candidiasis appeared to move into the recovery phase. Inflammatory cells mainly consisting of neutrophils was accumulated and located under the lesions covered by Candida-hyphae. An increase in IL-12p70 and IFN-γ in tongue homogenates was observed at 48 h after inoculation. CONCLUSIONS The worst condition in the pathological process in experimental oral candidiasis was found 48 h after C. albicans inoculation. When the surface of the Candida-inoculated tongues was covered with Candida-hyphae, a dense accumulation of neutrophils was observed under the lesions and homogenates of the tongues contained increased levels of IL-12p70 and IFN-γ. These suggested that local pathological condition of Candida-infected tongues may be affected by neutrophils accumulation and increased levels of some cytokines.

A case of lipoma of the buccal mucosa

Lipoma is generally regarded as a benign nonepithelial tumor consisting of mature adipose cells. Although lipoma is said to develop everywhere adipose tissues physiologically exist, it frequently develops in the subcutaneous tissues of extremities and trunk. Therefore the incidence of lipoma of mouth is relatively low. The author experienced a case of lipoma which developed in the buccal mucosa and reported the treatment course. The patient was a 70-year-old female who presented herself in the department of oral surgery with a chief complaint of a mass in the right buccal mucosa. She was treated in the outpatient clinic and underwent tumorectomy under local anesthesia. According to the histopathological findings, the lipoma was a subepithelial tumor with well-defined margins comprising uncapsulated mature fat particles. The connective tissue components were interspersed with part of the lipoma. In view of these findings, the author made a diagnosis of simple lipoma. The patient showed no signs of recurrence and made steady progress after the surgery.