Comparison of views on the need for continuing education on oral cancer between general dentists and oral medicine experts: A Delphi survey.

Objectives: The role of dental professionals in screening for oral cancer has been limited. The purpose of this study was to investigate and compare the educational priorities of oral medicine specialists, general dental practitioners, and doctors of dental surgery with regards to the diagnosis and management of oral cancers and potential malignant disorders.

Study Design: This was a longitudinal survey.

Relationship between mercury levels in blood and urine and complaints of chronic mercury toxicity from amalgam restorations.

Aim: To determine whether patients complaining of oral and medical symptoms perceived to be associated with chronic mercury toxicity have elevated mercury levels in their blood and urine.

Methods: The study group in this audit were 56 patients presenting to an oral medicine unit with complaints perceived to be related to chronic mercury toxicity. Their symptoms and co-morbidity were charted and mercury levels in blood and urine were biochemically tested by atomic absorption spectrophotometry.

Clinical, pathological, cellular and molecular lesions caused by oral smokeless tobacco--a review.

While carcinogenicity of smokeless tobacco (ST) to humans is well established the oral lesions that precede development of cancer are less well characterized. The clinical appearances of ST-associated lesions are variable. Epidemiological studies show a strong significant association of risk with chronic daily use but population differences are noted because of various commercial products in use.

Incidence of oral and oropharyngeal cancer in United Kingdom (1990-1999) -- recent trends and regional variation.

This study aimed to determine whether the incidence of oral cancer is continuing to rise in the UK and if this varies geographically. A descriptive epidemiological study of oral cancer incidence in 12 UK cancer registries (1990-1999) was undertaken. Poisson regression models were employed to assess trends.

Tobacco cessation activities of UK dentists in primary care: signs of improvement.

Objective: To investigate attitudes and opinions of the members of the British Dental Association towards implementing tobacco cessation strategies in dental practices.

Design And Method: Questions about tobacco and tobacco cessation were asked on the September 2002 BDA Omnibus survey. The survey was sent out to a random sample of 1,500 BDA members, excluding retired members, overseas members and students.

Risk factors for oral cancer in newly diagnosed patients aged 45 years and younger: a case-control study in Southern England.

Background: This case-control study aimed to identify the risk factors for oral cancer in patients aged 45 years and under.

Methods: Patients were recruited over a 3-year period between 1999 and 2001 from 14 hospitals in the southeast of England, UK.

Results: Fifty-three (80%) newly diagnosed patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the oral cavity participated.

Prevalence of oral mucosal lesions in alcohol misusers in south London.

Background: Information on alcohol-associated oral mucosal lesions (OMLs) and conditions is meagre. A prevalence survey among alcohol misusers in south London was therefore undertaken.

Methods: Six hundred and ninety-three subjects (388 alcohol misusers and 305 alcohol + substance abuse) attending several clinical care facilities in south London between 1994 and 1999 were interviewed on their alcohol and drug habits.

Comparison of cell proliferation in the centre and advancing fronts of oral squamous cell carcinomas using Ki-67 index.

The cell proliferation status of 60 oral squamous cell carcinomas from Sri Lankan subjects was examined by immunohistochemistry using the Ki-67 index. A comparison was made between the indices derived from the centre of the tumours and those derived from the invasive fronts of the same tumours. There was a positive correlation between the two indices suggesting a clonal expansion of malignant cells, but the mean index derived for the invasive fronts (29.

Multiple primary tumours following head and neck cancer in southern England during 1961-98.

Background: Successful initial treatment of oral and oro-phayngeal cancer has led to the emergence of second primary tumours (SPTs). Population data are meagre.

Methods: Occurrence of multiple primary cancers following a malignancy in a head and neck site was computed using data from a population-based cancer registry covering a population of 14 million.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity in patients aged 45 years and under: a descriptive analysis of 116 cases diagnosed in the South East of England from 1990 to 1997.

Background: there is, currently, much anecdotal and some epidemiological evidence for a rise in oral cancer rates amongst younger individuals, many of whom have had no exposure to traditional risk factors such as tobacco and heavy alcohol use, or at least not the exposure over decades usually associated with this disease. The probity of this assertion and the presence or absence of traditional risk factors needs further evidence.

Objectives: this paper describes the demography and the exposure to potential risk factors amongst a cohort aged 45 years and younger, diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity between 1990 and 1997 from the South East of England.

Mutations of the cell cycle arrest gene p21WAF1, but not the metastasis-inducing gene S100A4, are frequent in oral squamous cell carcinomas from Sudanese toombak dippers and non-snuff-dippers from the Sudan, Scandinavia, USA and UK.

PCR and direct DNA sequencing methods were used to analyse the prevalence of mutations in exon 2 of the p21waf1 gene in 14 oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs) and 8 non-malignant oral mucosal lesions from Sudanese toombak dippers. For comparison, OSCCs (14 from the Sudan, 16 from Norway, 11 from Sweden, 21 from the USA and 14 from the UK) and non-malignant oral mucosal lesions (3 from the Sudan) from non-snuff-dippers were included. The prevalence of mutations in exons 2 & 3 of the S100A4 gene were analysed in the 14 OSCCs from toombak-dippers and in 25 cases of OSCCs from the control non-snuff-dippers.

Epithelial cell proliferation in oral lichen planus.

Although the pathogenesis of oral lichen planus (OLP) is not clear, a small proportion of cases with OLP are reported to transform to cancer. We examined the epithelial cell proliferation status of OLP to relate the labelling index to microscopic features surveyed routinely in pathology. Mucosal biopsies obtained from 44 cases diagnosed with OLP with an intact oral epithelium and 10 normal control specimens from Japanese subjects were immunohistochemically stained with MIB and p53 antibodies.

Oral manifestations of an HIV positive cohort in the era of highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) in South London.

Background: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection is associated with oral manifestations of diagnostic and prognostic importance. With the advent of Highly Active Anti-retroviral Therapy (HAART) there is anecdotal evidence to suggest that the prevalence of oral lesions has declined. The number of prevalence studies, carried out in the era of HAART is, however, meagre.

Copper stimulates human oral fibroblasts in vitro: a role in the pathogenesis of oral submucous fibrosis.

Copper is implicated in the pathogenesis of several fibrotic disorders. Areca nut has been shown to have a high copper content and areca chewing is associated with oral submucous fibrosis (OSF). The effects of copper on human oral fibroblasts were investigated in vitro.

Risk factors for squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity in young people--a comprehensive literature review.

There have been several reports of a rising incidence of oral cancer from many parts of the world. Although it is well known that oral cancer increases with age, recent trends for a rising incidence particularly relates to cancer of the tongue and mouth in young males. This review critically examines 46 publications devoted to oral cancer in the young adult.

Betel quid chewing among Bangladeshi adolescents living in east London.

Objectives: Ascertain level and predictors of betel quid (pan) chewing in Bangladeshi adolescents.

Design: Cross sectional questionnaire study.

Setting: Bangladeshi cultural centres in East London.

Action on smoking--opportunities for the dental team.

In 1998, the UK government published a White Paper outlining a comprehensive range of measures to reduce smoking rates across the population. In the same year a detailed overview of the evidence base for smoking cessation activities within the NHS was published. Both these documents provide useful information for health professionals interested in developing their roles in smoking cessation and prevention.

Prevalence and incidence of oral lesions--the changing scene.

A range of oral mucosal and periodontal lesions is associated with HIV infection and HIV disease progression. These are often symptomatic and require treatment in themselves, and also have a diagnostic and prognostic role in the management of the underlying HIV disease. These lesions have been broadly divided into: (a) those strongly associated with HIV such as oral candidoses, oral hairy leukoplakia and Kaposi's sarcoma; (b) those less strongly associated such as swellings of the major salivary glands; and (c) those least commonly associated such as recurrent aphthous ulcers.

Raised tissue copper levels in oral submucous fibrosis.

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) is a well-recognised-potentially malignant condition of the oral cavity associated with areca nut chewing. Areca nut has been shown to have a high copper content compared to other commonly eaten nuts, and chewing areca nut for 5-30 min significantly increases soluble copper in whole mouth fluids. Our aims were to determine if tissue and serum concentrations of copper were raised in patients with OSF as a result of chewing areca nut.

Predictors of tobacco and alcohol consumption and their relevance to oral cancer control amongst people from minority ethnic communities in the South Thames health region, England.

The purpose of this study was to examine the determinants of the health behaviour of ethnic groups in relation to alcohol and tobacco use. A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was carried out using network sampling amongst community groups in the South Thames region of the United Kingdom. Self-classified ethnic groups were identified: Black-African; Black-Caribbean; Indian; Pakistani; Bangladeshi and Chinese/Vietnamese.

A dependency syndrome related to areca nut use: some medical and psychological aspects among areca nut users in the Gujarat community in the UK.

Use of betel nut (areca nut) and its products is widespread, particularly in the Indo-Chinese continents, being the fourth most widely used substance after tobacco, alcohol and caffeine, affecting approximately 20% of the world's population. Betel nut, with or without admixed tobacco, is widely used among UK Indo-Asian immigrants, particularly Gujurate speakers. To date most research has concentrated on oral submucous fibrosis and malignancy.

Cancer of mouth, pharynx and nasopharynx in Asian and Chinese immigrants resident in Thames regions.

Studies on migrants can generate important clues on the etiology of cancer. The purpose of the present study was to determine the relationship between ethnic origin and the incidence of oral and pharyngeal cancers among residents of the Thames regions in southern England. Records from the Thames Cancer Registry during the period 1986-91 were examined and south Asians and Chinese ethnic immigrants flagged using their place of birth and names.

An alarming lack of public awareness towards oral cancer.

Objective: To determine public awareness and knowledge of oral cancer in Great Britain.

Design: The respondents were selected according to a systematic probability sample designed to be representative of all adults in Great Britain (GB). The overall design was similar to previous omnibus surveys carried out by National Opinion Poll (NOP).

The upregulation of lysyl oxidase in oral submucous fibrosis and squamous cell carcinoma.

Lysyl oxidase (LO) takes part in the initial steps of converting soluble monomers of collagen and elastin into insoluble fibres in the extracellular matrix. We have studied the immunolocalization of LO as a marker of fibrogenesis in oral submucous fibrosis (OSF). Oral biopsies from 13 subjects with OSF, 6 with histologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) arising in OSF and 10 SCC nonrelated to OSF, were examined.

Dentists and oral cancer prevention in the UK: opinions, attitudes and practices to screening for mucosal lesions and to counselling patients on tobacco and alcohol use: baseline data from 1991.

Objective: To investigate the opinions, attitudes and practices towards oral cancer prevention among UK dentists as a baseline from which to measure the need for continuing education efforts in this area.

Design And Method: Postal questionnaire survey carried out in August 1991. A questionnaire with 13 test items was piloted at continuing education courses then distributed to all subscribers of the British Dental Journal with a postage paid return envelope.