Publishing your research work: Updated concepts and nuances of few metrics used to assess journal quality.

Authors have a multitude of options for journals for publishing their research. However, their choice is mostly based on academic credits required for promotion, cost of publication, timeliness of process, etc., The purpose of this narrative review is to enlighten the authors about some other journal metrics used to assess journal ranking and quality in international scenario.

A rare histopathological variant of Schwannoma with rosette-like arrangements and epithelioid cells: a case report from a histopathologist's perspective.

Schwannomas exhibit histopathological variation that leads to diagnostic dilemmas, although less frequent in the oral cavity. We describe a case with unique histopathology and no relevant clinical history that adds to the breadth of literature on the diversity presented by Schwannoma. A 60-year-old female patient presented with a small dome-shaped, asymptomatic swelling on the alveolar ridge 6 years in duration.

Oral soft-tissue myxoma.

Oral soft-tissue myxomas of the oral cavity have been sparsely cited in the medical literature worldwide. This could be due to other clinically and/or histologically similar lesions requiring accurate differential diagnosis by experienced physicians and pathologists. Although myxomas are benign and do not metastasise, they have higher rates of recurrence and deserve proper attention and to be reported as well.

An unconventional career path for an oral pathologist: Sharing personal insights from experience as a part of medical publishing industry.

Oral pathologists or dentists in general opting for alternate career paths are very common nowadays. Financial security, lesser availability of jobs and work satisfaction are the most commonly observed reasons for this openness to switch career. While there is a multitude of alternate career options available such as medical writing and pharmacovigilance in this review, we aim to give an insight specifically on opportunities available in the medical journals aspect of the publishing industry.

A crude method of DNA extraction and identification from exfoliated human buccal mucosa cells.

Background: DNA analysis has a key role in forensic dentistry. However, techniques of DNA extraction and analysis are far from the reach of majority of medical professionals owing to its expensive set up.

Aim: The present study was aimed at formulating a crude method of extracting DNA from human buccal mucosa cells using materials commonly available in the laboratory so that the medical professionals could get more exposure to molecular biology techniques.

Squamous Metaplasia in Pleomorphic Adenoma: A Diagnostic and Prognostic Enigma.

Pleomorphic adenoma (PA) is the most common benign salivary gland tumor. Histologically, squamous metaplasia has been reported in PA, but has rarely been documented as being extensive enough to cause significant misdiagnosis. Here, we present an unusual case of PA in a 50-year-old female patient presenting with swelling on the postero-lateral aspect of the palate for a week.

Evaluation and Immunolocalization of BMP4 and FGF8 in Odontogenic Cyst and Tumors.

Growth factors like bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) and fibroblast growth factor 8 (FGF8) play a major role in organogenesis and specifically in odontogenesis. They are also believed to have a role in oncogenesis. Thus, any discrepancies in their standard behavior and activity would lead to serious abnormalities including odontogenic cyst and tumors.

Micronucleus Assay: An Early Diagnostic Tool to Assess Genotoxic Changes in Patients with Tobacco Use, Oral Leukoplakia and Oral Submucous Fibrosis.

Introduction: Micronuclei (MNi) are acentric chromatid or chromosome fragments produced via genetic damage through genotoxic agents contained in tobacco and betel nut. Evidently, the various Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders (OPMDs) like oral lichen Planus, oral leukoplakia and Oral Submucous Fibrosis (OSMF) demonstrate MNi, as a substantiation of genetic damage. As these changes can be easily appreciated in oral exfoliated cells, an exfoliated cell based MNi assay might be utilized as handy and non invasive biomonitoring tool for gauging the genetic damage and hence the propensity for malignant transformation in OPMDs.

Osseous choristoma of submental region: A rare occurrence.

Osseous choristoma is a rare, benign lesion of the oral cavity. This report presents a case of osseous choristoma in the submental region of a 30-year-old female subject. Her chief complaint was a painless swelling in the submental region.

Unicystic Ameloblastoma of Mandible with an Unusual Diverse Histopathology: A Rare Case Report.

Ameloblastomas of jaws are benign odontogenic tumours with four clinical variants being solid multicystic type, unicystic type, extra osseous type and desmoplastic type. Unicystic ameloblastoma accounts for only 13% of all the known cases in the scientific literature. Follicular and plexiform patterns are the commonly seen histopathological patterns in unicystic ameloblastoma.

Stromal fibers in oral squamous cell carcinoma: A possible new prognostic indicator?

Background: Many studies have been carried out to study the role of extracellular matrix proteins, growth factors and matrix metalloproteinases on tumor invasion. However, literature related to the analysis of connective tissue fibers in varying grades of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is very limited.

Aim: To analyze the changes in collagen and elastic fibers in varying grades of (OSCC).

Bacterial Viability within Dental Calculus: An Untrodden, Inquisitive Clinico-Patho- Microbiological Research.

Introduction: Chronic inflammatory periodontal diseases i.e. gingivitis and periodontitis are one of the most common afflictions faced by human beings.

Kaleidoscope of oral artifacts: A vivid picture through light and polarizing microscope.

Background: This study is based on finding of an inexplicable artifact that was seen in the tissue received as periapical granuloma.

Aim: To observe the histological appearance of different commonly implanted food particles and easily incorporated substances from a laboratory in the oral biopsy tissues.

Materials And Methods: Various food particles such as wheat chapatti, beans, peas, pulses, and coriander leaves and substances such as a suture, cotton, and paper that can easily gain entry during biopsy and histotechnical procedures were intentionally introduced in the tissue specimens of a uterus from outside.

Architectural Analysis of Picrosirius Red Stained Collagen in Oral Epithelial Dysplasia and Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma using Polarization Microscopy.

Introduction: Collagen degradation is important both for carcinogenesis and in its progression. Research regarding the co-relation of collagen with Oral Epithelial Dysplasia (OED) and Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC) is less explored.

Aim: To elucidate the nature of collagen in Oral Epithelial Dysplasia (OED) and Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC) using Picrosirius Red Stain (PSR) under polarizing microscopy.

Age estimation in Indian children and adolescents in the NCR region of Haryana: A comparative study.

Introduction: Age estimation is a preliminary step in the identification of an individual. It is a crucial and often most critical step for forensic experts. The assessment has been standardized utilizing common dental diagnostic x-rays, but most such age-estimating systems are European population-based and their applicability has not been determined in the context of the Indian population.

Estimation of time elapsed since the death from identification of morphological and histological time-related changes in dental pulp: An observational study from porcine teeth.

Aim: Putrefaction of the human body with its rate and stages of the various changes occurring in this entire process have been explored widely by the forensic medicine experts to estimate the time elapsed since death. However, experimental data reported in literature pertaining to rates of putrefaction of the dental pulp retrieved from jaws of the dead is scarce. This study makes an attempt to find out the series of various changes which occur during the process of putrefaction of the dental pulp in a coastal environment like that of Southern India.

An unusual case report of basal cell adenoma: A Diagnostic Enchanter.

Oral lesions show a wide range of biologic behaviours. There are various lesions which may mimic others and present in such an unusual manner thus making them very difficult to diagnose clinico-pathologically. An accurate diagnosis is not only important for correct treatment planning but also for determination of prognosis.

Clinico-pathological correlation of E-cadherin expression at the invasive tumor front of Indian oral squamous cell carcinomas: An immunohistochemical study.

Background: Recent studies have indicated that although malignant cells at the invasive tumor front, bare morphological resemblance to the cells at central portion of the tumor, their molecular character differs significantly. E-cadherin is a cell-cell adhesion molecule that connects epithelial cells. This study attempts to correlate the E-cadherin expression at the invasive tumor front with tumor differentiation along with its clinico-pathological parameters.

Cytological artifacts masquerading interpretation.

Background: Cytological artifacts are important to learn because an error in routine laboratory practice can bring out an erroneous result.

Aims: The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of delayed fixation and morphological discrepancies created by deliberate addition of extraneous factors on the interpretation and/or diagnosis of an oral cytosmear.

Materials And Methods: A prospective study was carried out using papanicolaou and hematoxylin and eosin-stained oral smears, 6 each from 66 volunteer dental students with deliberate variation in fixation delay timings, with and without changes in temperature, undue pressure while smear making and intentional addition of contaminants.

Usage of betel quid, areca nut, tobacco, alcohol and level of awareness towards their adverse effects on health in a north Indian rural population.

Aim: To assess the overall prevalence of betel quid, areca nut, tobacco and alcohol use in the rural population of Muradnagar tehsil of Ghaziabad district and their awareness level towards adverse effects of these habits on general as well as oral health.

Methods: A total of 422 persons from 63 households of four (4) villages were enrolled for the participation in the study. A preformed, pretested questionnaire was used to collect the information on prevalence of risk behaviours of chewing tobacco, areca nut, betel quid, smoking and alcohol consumption.

Ghost cells: A journey in the dark….

Ghost cells have been a topic of controversy since a long time. The appearance of these cells in different lesions has given it varying terms. In lesions like that of Calcifying cystic odontogenic tumor (CCOT), these cells have been termed as 'Ghost cells' whereas similar descriptive cells have been called shadow/translucent cells in non-odontogenic lesions like Craniopharyngiomas of the pituitary gland and Pilomatricomas of skin.