A Review of Regulatory Frameworks for Biobanking in Southeast Asia.

Southeast Asian countries are at the forefront of public health pressures due to a confluence of factors such as population growth, urbanization, environmental pollution, and infectious diseases (re)emergence. Therefore, the ability to be able to conduct research addressing local and regional needs is of paramount importance. As such, biobanking activities, the standardized collection of biological samples, and associated data, developed over the past few decades supporting ongoing biomedical and clinical research, as well as surveillance are of critical importance.

Findings from a Malaysian multicentre study on oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: In addition to the conventional aetiologic agents of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) such as tobacco usage, alcohol consumption and betel quid usage, it has been established that a proportion of OPSCC are driven by persistent oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) infections. Currently, there is a lack of data on the burden of HPV- associated OPSCC in Asian countries including Malaysia.

Methods: A cross-sectional multicentre study with tissue analysis of Malaysian patients diagnosed with primary OPSCC within a five-year period, from 2015 to 2019 between 01/01/2015 to 31/12/2019 was undertaken.

Knowledge, attitude and practice of patients towards orthodontic treatment.

Background: Orthodontic treatment is a time-consuming and highly technique-sensitive clinical procedure. A patient's comprehension and compliance with oral hygiene instructions and appliance maintenance are critical to the success of orthodontic treatment. This study was performed to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of patients seen at government orthodontic clinics in the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya towards orthodontic treatment.

Transcriptional analysis highlights three distinct immune profiles of high-risk oral epithelial dysplasia.

Oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD) are precursors of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), and the presence of oral epithelial dysplasia (OED) in OPMD confers an increased risk of malignant transformation. Emerging evidence has indicated a role for the immune system in OPMD disease progression; however, the underlying immune mechanisms remain elusive. In this study, we used immune signatures established from cancer to delineate the immune profiles of moderate and severe OED, which are considered high-risk OPMD.

The clinical utility of contemporary oral epithelial dysplasia grading systems.

Introduction: Clinical management of oral potentially malignant disorders relies on accurate histopathological assessment of the presence and grade of oral epithelial dysplasia. While adjunctive laboratory tests have provided useful prognostic information, none are in widespread clinical use. This study was performed to assess the clinical utility of two contemporary oral epithelial dysplasia grading systems.

Predicting the clinical outcome of oral potentially malignant disorders using transcriptomic-based molecular pathology.

Background: This study was undertaken to develop and validate a gene expression signature that characterises oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD) with a high risk of undergoing malignant transformation.

Methods: Patients with oral epithelial dysplasia at one hospital were selected as the 'training set' (n = 56) whilst those at another hospital were selected for the 'test set' (n = 66). RNA was extracted from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) diagnostic biopsies and analysed using the NanoString nCounter platform.

Clinico-pathological study of malignant odontogenic tumours from a national referral centre.

Background: Malignant odontogenic tumours are extremely rare tumours occurring within the jaws. Our study was performed to determine the demographic and clinico-pathological features of malignant odontogenic tumours amongst a multi-ethnic Asian population.

Methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study of malignant odontogenic tumours diagnosed at the Institute for Medical Research, Malaysia, from 2009 to 2019.

Dysplasia and DNA ploidy to prognosticate clinical outcome in oral potentially malignant disorders.

Background: Oral potentially malignant disorders are a clinical conundrum as there are no reliable methods to predict their behaviour. We combine conventional oral epithelial dysplasia grading with DNA ploidy analysis to examine the validity of this approach to risk assessment in a cohort of patients with known clinical outcomes.

Methods: Sections from diagnostic biopsies were assessed for oral epithelial dysplasia using the WHO grading system, and DNA ploidy analysis was performed using established methods.

Gene expression changes associated with malignant transformation of oral potentially malignant disorders.

Background: A large number of oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs) are believed to be preceded by oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD) that have an increased likelihood of malignant transformation compared to clinically normal mucosa. This study was performed to identify differentially expressed genes between OPMDs that underwent malignant transformation (MT) and those that did not, termed "non-transforming" (NT) cases.

Methods: Total RNA was extracted from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue biopsies of 20 OPMD cases with known clinical outcomes (10 MT vs.

Monoamine oxidase A is down-regulated in EBV-associated nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a highly metastatic cancer that is consistently associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. In this study, we identify for the first time a role for monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) in NPC. MAOA is a mitochondrial enzyme that catalyzes oxidative deamination of neurotransmitters and dietary amines.

Concurrent HPV-related oropharyngeal carcinoma in four couples.

Objectives: Typically, HPV-related cancers are sexually transmitted, however, the natural history of HPV-related oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) is unclear. HPV16 transmission has been reported previously between five couples with OPSCC. We report the clinico-pathological features of a further four couples with HPV-related OPSCC and compare them with the published cases.

Robotic lateral oropharyngectomy following diagnostic tonsillectomy is oncologically safe in patients with high risk human papillomavirus related squamous cell cancer.

Purpose: Diagnostic tonsillectomy is rarely an oncologic operation owing to close or positive margins. The standard of care is for further treatment to the primary site, typically with adjuvant radiotherapy.

Methods: 14 patients with close or positive margins following a diagnostic tonsillectomy underwent transoral robotic surgery (TORS) and lateral oropharyngectomy; five patients with the longest follow-up had their excision specimens examined with a step serial sectioning technique (SSS).

Predictive factors for osteoradionecrosis of the jaws: A retrospective study.

Background: Osteoradionecrosis of the jaw (ORNJ) is a well-recognized complication of radiotherapy. The purpose of this study was to assess predictive factors for the development of ORNJ.

Methods: A retrospective study of 325 patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) treated at one institution between January 1, 1999, and December 31, 2008, was conducted.

Trigeminal neuralgia: a retrospective multicentre study of 320 Asian patients.

Objectives: This study was performed to obtain the clinicodemographic data regarding patients with trigeminal neuralgia (TN) treated at oral-maxillofacial medicine clinics, as there is a paucity of such information in the Asian setting.

Study Design: Retrospective multicenter study involving clinicodemographic information of 320 patients with TN diagnosed between 2001 and 2012 at eight regional oral-maxillofacial medicine clinics and followed up for at least 6 months. Statistical tests were performed to assess the associations among the clinicodemographic factors.

Metastatic follicular thyroid carcinoma: a case report.

Objective: A case of oral metastatic follicular thyroid carcinoma is presented.

Background: Metastatic tumours are more frequent in older individuals and can be the only sign/symptom of an undiagnosed primary malignancy.

Case Report: A 69-year-old lady presented with an enlarging mandibular swelling.