Merkel cell: Friend or felon.

Merkel cells are perceived as tactile receptors within skin and oral mucosa containing abundant intermediate filaments but lacking characteristic condensation of tonofilaments, hence are also referred to as non-keratinocytes. Merkel cell carcinomas (MCCs) are primary aggressive neuroendocrine neoplasms occurring in elderly individuals. Toker in 1972 reported MCC of skin pointing towards sweat glands as the source of origin which was later rectified by Tang with the aid of ultrastructural studies as Merkel cells to be a lineage of such tumours.

Decoding lymphangiogenesis in oral squamous cell carcinoma: Emphasis on clinical and histopathological determinants of regional metastasis.

Purpose: The growth and metastasis of solid epithelial tumors is lymphangiogenesis dependent. The most important lymphangiogenic inducers facilitating this progression is Vascular endothelial Growth Factor C (VEGF-C). The recent D2-40 (Podoplanin) antibody is specific for lymphatic epithelium and allows its objective assessment.

Neuroectodermal influence in odontogenic cyst and tumor: evidence through CD56 immunoexpression.

Background And Objectives: CD56, associated with neuroectodermal differentiation of the embryonal cells, is often considered a marker of neural lineage. Odontogenic keratocysts (OKCs) are of particular interest because of their characteristic histopathologic features, high recurrence rate, and aggressive behavior. CD56 immunoreactivity in these lesions has been reported with very high frequency.

Proliferative potential of impacted tooth lesions using Ki67 labelling index-A clinicopathological insight.

Tooth impaction is a frequent phenomenon, and the prevalence and distribution of this entity in different regions of the jaws may vary considerably. The third molars, maxillary canines, maxillary and mandibular premolars, and maxillary central incisors are the most commonly affected teeth. Impacted teeth in children and adolescents are rarely associated with pathological changes, but the prevalence of problems has been found to increase in later decades.

Histomorphometric and molecular characterization of stromal and mineralized components in fibro-osseous lesions.

Background: Indistinct and analogous histopathological features of various fibro-osseous lesions make establishing a definitive diagnosis a challenge. There is a need for additional molecular and histochemical tools to support and differentiate these lesions in order to establish a concrete diagnosis.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective analysis of biopsied lesions in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded sections (10 cases each of fibrous dysplasia, ossifying fibroma, and cement-osseous dysplasia) retrieved from the archives was studied for immunoexpression of osteocalcin (quantitative analysis in osteocytes), collagen characterization using Azan, Picrosirus, and Toluidine blue stain for evaluating intensity and localization of collagen fibers, and morphometric analysis of vasculature (for evaluating mean vessel density as square microns).

Research Landscape of Lymphovascular Invasion in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Bibliometric Analysis From 1994 to 2023.

The primary factor affecting tumor biology is neo-lymphangiogenesis in solid epithelial malignancies like oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Determining the impact of lymphovascular invasion is critical in order to determine OSCC's locoregional and global dissemination. Bibliometric landscapes are vital to learning about the most recent advancements in the aforementioned topic because the ongoing research in OSCC is multifaceted.

Pathogenetic model of survivin-dependent molecular signalling pathways in tumorigenesis of oral cancer and precursor lesions.

Background: p53 tumour suppressor gene limits unchecked cellular growth in response to DNA damage, by causing G1 arrest and the activation of apoptosis. Inhibitors of apoptosis include survivin which acts by inhibition of caspases. Survivin has a significant role as a cell cycle modulator and is only minimally present in mature tissues.

Diagnostic utility of special stains in defining the spectrum of maxillofacial pathologies.

Background: The Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is considered as a valuable and distinguished diagnostic test in the initial assessment of the patients presenting with a mass in the head and neck region or when a recurrence is suspected after previous treatment.

Aims: This study was therefore designed to elucidate the efficacy of FNAC as an alternate diagnostic tool to histopathology in head and neck swellings and evaluation of staining efficacy of PAP and MGG stain over Haematoxylin and eosin (H and E) in routine cytopathological smears.

Settings And Design: The study was conducted in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, where FNAC samples were collected from 150 patients with head and neck swellings.

Case series of head-and-neck adenosquamous carcinoma: Role of histogenetic model in immunotherapy as a future perspective for nonconventional squamous cell carcinoma.

Adenosquamous carcinoma (ASC) is not only a rare variant of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) but it is also an aggressive and highly infiltrating neoplasm with distinct histomorphology. Histogenetic concept in the pathogenesis of the tumor would eradicate controversies regarding the resemblance of ASC with mucoepidermoid carcinoma and adenoid SCC. Hence, we intend to present a case series of four cases of ASC in the head-and-neck region reported in a single institution in the past 10 years.

Markers of cytotoxicity and oxidative DNA damage in Diabesity: A new age illness.

Background: The oral mucous membrane is particularly sensitive to certain types of systemic disorders such as anemia, vitamin deficiencies, infectious diseases, hormonal disturbances and can be objectively reproduced through definite measurements using cytomorphometry.

Objectives: The objective of the study is to evaluate the quantitative and qualitative changes in cytological buccal smears of obese individuals with type II diabetes (Group 1 = 20), obese individuals without type II diabetes (Group 2 = 20), individuals with type II diabetes without obesity (Group 3 = 20) by comparing with controls (individuals without obesity and without type II diabetes) (Group 4 = 20).

Materials And Methods: Buccal mucosal cells were scraped from study participants and were subjected to morphometric analysis (Magnus Pro software).

Embryological Basis of Cystic Hygroma: A Case Report.

Aim: We intend to present a cystic hygroma (CH) case in a 2-year-old baby in the anterior cervical triangle, which is a rare site, as the most common site for the occurrence of CH is the supraclavicular fossa of the posterior cervical triangle.

Background: Among developmental abnormalities in the lymphoid system, CH are usually seen in the posterior neck. Lymphatic malformations are generally exhibited either at birth or before the age of 2 years.

Evaluation of EGFR in prognostic characterization in histopathological variants of oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Aim Of The Study: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a tyrosine kinase receptor of the Erb B family contributing to proliferation, invasion, and metastasis. EGFR overexpression is frequently associated with poor clinical outcome in malignant neoplasms.• To evaluate and compare immunoexpression of EGFR in histopathological variants of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

Histopathological prognosticators and their clinicopathological correlation in oral squamous cell carcinomas of the tongue.

Background: Tongue carcinomas account for 25%-40% of intraoral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs). Although TNM staging systems is an international standard for cancer reporting, prognosis evaluation, and treatment planning, multiple histopathological risk assessment predictors such as tumor thickness (TT), tumor shape, tumor growth pattern, and invasive malignancy grading scoring systems have been studied and should form a basis for prediction and prognostication of such aggressive carcinomas.

Aim: To evaluate and characterize the histomorphological prognostic indicators in OSCCs of tongue and compare it with OSCCs of other anatomic sites within the oral cavity.

Correlation of caries occurrence in primary teeth using human leukocyte antigen typing and maternal and physiochemical factors.

Background: Dental caries being the leading health issue worldwide has no specific cure due to its multifactorial etiology and genetic susceptibility. Hence, this paper attempted to correlate the clinical and hereditary factors between mother and child, to predict the caries occurrence in child in future, and thereby implement early preventive measures.

Aim: The aim of the study was to look for an association between maternal and child's human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR4 levels and relate it with other physiochemical factors to assess caries susceptibility in children.

CD44 related stemness maneuvers oral squamous cell carcinoma biology.

Introduction: Despite the commendable advancements in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) diagnostics and therapeutics, it remains a considerable medical challenge. Recent evidence suggests that small populations of stem-like cancer cells are responsible for tumor initiation, progression and metastasis. These cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been identified and characterized in various types of cancers, including OSCCs.

"Neuroectodermal influence of CD 99 immunoexpression correlates with the clinical behavior of odontogenic cysts and tumors".

Background: Odontogenic tumors show a variety of characteristic features that are dependent on the tumor cell origin and the stage of tumor cell differentiation. Odontogenic cysts arise from the enamel organ or remnants of dental epithelium which influences their pathogenetic model and further clinical behavior of these lesions.

Aim: The study aims at assessment of CD 99 immunoexpression in odontogenic keratocyst (OKC) and ameloblastoma (in tooth bearing [anterior to third molar] and nontooth bearing areas [molar ramus area]) to postulate neural influence in their pathogenesis and the clinical behavior.

MCM3 proliferative index is worthier over Ki-67 in the characterization of salivary gland tumors.

Background: Salivary gland tumors bear uncanny characteristics of being different based on their morphological aspects rather than the presence of clear demarcation. This ambiguity in the spectrum from benign to malignant salivary gland neoplasms while categorizing the neoplasm is having inherent pitfalls. The present study was, therefore, designed to characterize benign and malignant salivary gland tumors based on their proliferative indices.

Comparison of demineralization around orthodontic brackets cured by conventional method and transillumination technique-an evaluation.

Objective: To compare demineralization around orthodontic brackets cured by conventional method and transillumination method.

Materials And Method: Sixty freshly extracted human premolar teeth were divided into four groups. Group 1: Brackets bonded with conventional method of bonding by curing labially for 40 sec.

A histological continuum between dentinogenesis imperfecta and dentin dysplasia: A case report with literature review.

Dentinogenesis Imperfecta and dentin dysplasia are genetic oral diseases inherited in a simple autosomal dominant mode, with high penetrance and a low mutation rate. Both of them are present with bulbous crowns, marked cervical constrictions, severe attritions, few periapical radiolucencies, and premature tooth loss. The diagnosis is based on family history, and detailed clinical examination, while genetic diagnosis may become useful in the future once sufficient disease-causing mutations have been discovered.

Superoxide Dismutase response: physiological plasticity in tobacco users.

Background: Free radicals (FRs) are active chemical substances having unpaired electron(s) which participate in the causation of precancerous lesions or cancer in tobacco habituates. Alterations in the antioxidant levels are reflected throughout the antioxidant enzyme activities in blood, wherein erythrocytes are considered highly sensitive to those enzymes. Our study was therefore aimed to assess the effects of tobacco consumption on erythrocyte antioxidant enzyme- Superoxide dismutase (E-SOD) and evaluate its defensive action.

Expression of E-cadherin and B-cell lymphoma 2 in oral cancer: A ratio-based planning for targeted therapy.

Background: Oral cancer is known to be governed by the antiapototic and loss of cell adhesion properties which dictate its progression.

Aim: To study the immunexpression of E-cadherin and Bcl-2 in varying TNM stages and histopathological grades of OSCC.

Materials And Methods: 11 cases of well differentiated, 10 cases of moderately differentiated and 11 cases of poorly differentiated OSCC were studied immunohistochemically using archival paraffin embedded tissue specimens.