W.F.P. Van Heerden

Adenoid dysplasia of the oral mucosa

OBJECTIVE To describe an unusual variant of oral epithelial dysplasia and to provide an appraisal of its immunohistochemical profile. STUDY DESIGN An unusual form of epithelial dysplasia, which we have termed adenoid dysplasia, was evaluated for staining of cytokeratins AE1/AE3, vimentin, E-cadherin, and β-catenin. The immunohistochemical results were compared with those observed in moderate epithelial dysplasia, moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma, and acantholytic squamous cell carcinoma. RESULTS The immunoprofile of adenoid dysplasia was similar to that of acantholytic squamous cell carcinoma. Cytokeratin positivity within the acantholytic dysplastic cells confirmed their epithelial nature, and upregulation of vimentin was suggestive of epithelial-mesenchymal transition. The most distinctive finding was a loss of E-cadherin expression within the discohesive cells, accompanied by increased cytosolic expression of β-catenin. CONCLUSIONS This report presents the histomorphologic features of a unique form of oral epithelial dysplasia, termed adenoid dysplasia.

Mixed adenoneuroendocrine carcinoma of the tongue arising within a congenital enteric cyst

Primary intestinal‐type adenocarcinoma of the tongue is rare. This represents the first reported case of a primary mixed adenoneuroendocrine carcinoma (MANEC) of the tongue arising within a congenital enteric cyst.

Mouthwash: A review for South African health care workers

AbstractMany conditions within the oral cavity require the use of a mouthwash. This can vary from breath fresheners to treatment of life threatening secondary infections such as oral mucositis in patients undergoing bone marrow transplant therapy. The use of mouthwashes requires a correct diagnosis of the oral condition and a thorough knowledge of the product in question to achieve effective treatment. It is the objective of this review to help health care workers in South Africa make the correct choice of treatment when dealing with diverse conditions of the oral cavity.Abstract Many conditions within the oral cavity require the use of a mouthwash. This can vary from breath fresheners to treatment of life threatening secondary infections such as oral mucositis in patients undergoing bone marrow transplant therapy. The use of mouthwashes requires a correct diagnosis of the oral condition and a thorough knowledge of the product in question to achieve effective treatment. It is the objective of this review to help health care workers in South Africa make the correct choice of treatment when dealing with diverse conditions of the oral cavity.

The Role of Bone Remodelling in Maintaining and Restoring Bone Health: an Overview

Autocrine, paracrine and endocrine signals regulate the activities of cells involved in skeletal remodelling. Mapping of the metabolic pathways of bone cells and characterization of their chemical mediators have prompted the pharmaceutical industry to develop patented drugs and auto-antibodies which modulate the anabolic and catabolic activities in bone. This overview provides insight into the metabolic pathways which govern bone cells involved in bone metabolism as a framework for understanding the progress made in the pharmaceutical manipulation of skeletal health.