Perineural Invasion in Aggressive Skin Carcinomas of the Head and Neck

Introduction: Perineural invasion is a well-recognized form of cancer dissemination. However, it has been reported only in few papers concerning cutaneous carcinomas ( basal cell, BCC, and squamous cell, SCC). Moreover, the incidence is considered to be very low. Niazi and Lambert [Br J Plast Surg 1993; 46: 156-157] reported only 0.18% of perineural invasion among 3,355 BCCs. It is associated with high-risk subtypes, as morphea-like, as well as with an increased risk of local recurrence. No paper was found in the literature looking for perineural invasion in very aggressive skin cancers with skull base extension, with immunohistochemical analysis. Methods: This is a retrospective review, including 35 very advanced skin carcinomas with skull base invasion (24 BCCs and 11 SCCs, operated on at a single institution from 1982 to 2000). Representative slides were immunohistochemically evaluated with antiprotein S-100, in order to enhance nerve fibers and to detect perineural invasion. The results were compared to 34 controls with tumors with a good outcome, treated in the same time frame at the same Institution. Results: Twelve (50.0%) of the BCCs with skull base invasion had proven perineural invasion, as opposed to only 1 (4.6%) of the controls, and this difference was statistically significant (p < 0.001). Regarding SCCs, 7 aggressive tumors (63.6%) showed perineural invasion compared to only 1 (10.0%) of the controls, but this difference did not reach significance (p=0.08), due to the small number of cases. Conclusions: In this series, it was demonstrated that immunohistochemically detected perineural invasion was very prevalent in advanced skin carcinomas. In addition, it was statistically associated with extremely aggressive BCCs with skull base invasion. Copyright (c) 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel

Cortactin is associated with perineural invasion in the deep invasive front area of laryngeal carcinomas

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Aspectos tomográficos da coluna cervical de equinos

Descreveu-se a anatomia da região cervical de equinos adultos, com base em imagens obtidas no exame de tomografia computadorizada helicoidal realizado em peças anatômicas de equinos adultos. A tomografia computadorizada foi o método de imagem diagnóstica de escolha e possibilita as reconstruções de imagens tridimensionais e em outros planos anatômicos, como sagital e coronal. Todas as imagens foram adquiridas e avaliadas em filtro e janela para tecido ósseo. Observaram-se diferenças anatômicas e as particularidades normais das vértebras, principalmente da região occipitoatlantoaxial, a qual apresenta maior incidência de alterações.

Noncarious Cervical Lesions and Their Association With Toothbrushing Practices: In Vivo Evaluation

Objectives: This pilot study aims to investigate the prevalence of noncarious cervical lesions (NCCLs) in a student population at the Faculty of Dentistry of Aracatuba-UNESP and to assess the potential relation between buccal hygiene habits and the presence and number of NCCLs.Methods: This study was conducted with a sample of 58 young volunteers (15 men and 43 women; mean age, 23.6 +/- 1.8 years and 22.3 +/- 2.4 years, respectively). The research was divided into three steps: 1) clinical assessment; 2) oral-hygiene practices self-report questionnaire; and 3) analysis of toothbrush filament deformations. After the clinical exam the participants were divided into two groups, a control group (without NCCLs) and a test group (NCCLs), according to NCCL presence. The data were statistically analyzed with SPSS 16.0 software, using t-test, chi(2), Fisher exact test, and Spearman correlation.Results: NCCLs were present in 53% of the subjects. The presence of NCCLs was marginally statistically associated with age (p=0.15) and proportionally more prevalent in male (80%) subjects (p=0.01). NCCLs were more concentrated in the posterior-superior quadrant (93%) in both the right (90%) and left (55%) sides of the mouth. The direct rank correlation was presented between presence of NCCLs and toothbrush firmness; and between number of NCCLs and age and force applied during toothbrushing.Conclusion: Within the limitations of this pilot study, the use of medium and hard toothbrushes and greater force applied during toothbrushing might contribute to the development and/or aggravation of NCCLs.

CLINICAL EVALUATION of THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN NONCARIOUS CERVICAL LESIONS and OCCLUSAL FORCES

Statement of problem. Noncarious cervical lesions (NCCLs) are a frequent challenge in clinical dental practice, given the variety of opinions regarding their etiology, diagnosis, and treatment.Purpose. The purpose of this study was to assess the potential relationship between occlusal forces and the occurrence of NCCLs.Material and methods. The participant population consisted of 111 volunteers (30 male and 81 female, mean age 23.6 years). General personal information was recorded, after which participants were examined for the presence and location of NCCLs, gingival recession, fracture lines, dental and restoration fractures, presence and location of tooth wear, type of occlusal guidance scheme for lateral mandibular movements, and existence of occlusal interference or premature contacts. The participants were divided according to the presence or absence of NCCLs, and data were statistically analyzed with the Independent t test, the Chi-square test, and the Fisher exact test (alpha=.05).Results. A significant association was found between the presence of NCCLs and age (P=.008), gingival recession (P<.001), occlusal trauma (P<.001), presence (P<.001) and location of tooth wear, and group function as occlusal guidance scheme in lateral excursive movements (P<.001).Conclusions. A strong relationship between the presence of NCCLs and occlusal overload was found. (J Prosthet Dent 2012;108:298-303)

Microleakage of adhesively bonded cervical amalgam restorations

Purpose: To evaluate dye penetration in adhesively bonded cervical amalgam restorations. Materials and Methods: the specimens were randomly divided into four groups and the adhesives Prime & Bond 2. 1, Prime & Bond 2.1 Dual Cure, Scotchbond Multi Purpose Plus and Amalgambond Plus were tested. After being restored and polished, the teeth were thermocycled 1,000 times at temperatures varying between 5degreesC +/- 2degreesC and 55degreesC +/- 2degreesC. Statistical analysis was carried out using the Kruskal-Wallis test and multiple comparisons. Results: Scotchbond Multi-Purpose Plus demonstrated lower levels of microleakage in enamel and dentin. The dual adhesives were more effective than the one bottle adhesive.

Implication of RNA-Binding Protein La in Proliferation, Migration and Invasion of Lymph Node-Metastasized Hypopharyngeal SCC Cells

The 5-year survival rate for oral cavity cancer is poorer than for breast, colon or prostate cancer, and has improved only slightly in the last three decades. Hence, new therapeutic strategies are urgently needed. Here we demonstrate by tissue micro array analysis for the first time that RNA-binding protein La is significantly overexpressed in oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Within this study we therefore addressed the question whether siRNA-mediated depletion of the La protein may interfere with known tumor-promoting characteristics of head and neck SCC cells. Our studies demonstrate that the La protein promotes cell proliferation, migration and invasion of lymph node-metastasized hypopharyngeal SCC cells. We also reveal that La is required for the expression of beta-catenin as well as matrix metalloproteinase type 2 (MMP-2) within these cells. Taken together these data suggest a so far unknown function of the RNA-binding protein La in promoting tumor progression of head and neck SCC.

Loss of Expression and Function of SOCS3 Is an Early Event in HNSCC: Altered Subcellular Localization as a Possible Mechanism Involved in Proliferation, Migration and Invasion

Background: Suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3) is an inducible endogenous negative regulator of signal transduction and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3). Epigenetic silencing of SOCS3 has been shown in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), which is associated with increased activation of STAT3. There is scarce information on the functional role of the reduction of SOCS3 expression and no information on altered subcellular localization of SOCS3 in HNSCC.Methodology/Principal Findings: We assessed endogenous SOCS3 expression in different HNSCC cell lines by RT-qPCR and western blot. Immunofluorescence and western blot were used to study the subcellular localization of endogenous SOCS3 induced by IL-6. Overexpression of SOCS3 by CMV-driven plasmids and siRNA-mediated inhibition of endogenous SOCS3 were used to verify the role of SOCS3 on tumor cell proliferation, viability, invasion and migration in vitro. In vivo relevance of SOCS3 expression in HNSCC was studied by quantitative immunohistochemistry of commercially-available tissue microarrays. Endogenous expression of SOCS3 was heterogeneous in four HNSCC cell lines and surprisingly preserved in most of these cell lines. Subcellular localization of endogenous SOCS3 in the HNSCC cell lines was predominantly nuclear as opposed to cytoplasmic in non-neoplasic epithelial cells. Overexpression of SOCS3 produced a relative increase of the protein in the cytoplasmic compartment and significantly inhibited proliferation, migration and invasion, whereas inhibition of endogenous nuclear SOCS3 did not affect these events. Analysis of tissue microarrays indicated that loss of SOCS3 is an early event in HNSCC and was correlated with tumor size and histological grade of dysplasia, but a considerable proportion of cases presented detectable expression of SOCS3.Conclusion: Our data support a role for SOCS3 as a tumor suppressor gene in HNSCC with relevance on proliferation and invasion processes and suggests that abnormal subcellular localization impairs SOCS3 function in HNSCC cells.

Clinical evaluation of low-level laser therapy and fluoride varnish for treating cervical dentinal hypersensitivity

The aim of this study was to evaluate in vivo the use of low-level galium-aluminium-arsenide (GaAlAs) (BDP 600) laser and sodium fluoride varnish (Duraphat((R))) in the treatment of cervical dentine hypersensitivity. Twelve patients, with at least two sensitive teeth were selected. A total of 60 teeth were included in the trial. Prior to desensitizing treatment, dentine hypersensitivity was assessed by a thermal stimulus and patients' response to the examination was considered to be a control. The GaAlAs laser (15 mW, 4 J/cm(2)) was irradiated on contact mode and fluoride varnish was applied at cervical region. The efficiency of the treatments was assessed at three examination periods: immediately after first application, 15 and 30 days after the first application. The degree of sensitivity was determined following predefined criteria. Data were submitted to analysis and no statistically significant difference was observed between fluoride varnish and laser. Considering the treatments separately, there was no significant difference for the fluoride varnish at the three examination periods, and for laser therapy, significant difference (P < 0.05) was found solely between the values obtained before the treatment and 30 days after the first application. It may be concluded that both treatments may be effective in decreasing cervical dentinal hypersensitivity. Moreover, the low-level GaAlAs laser showed improved results for treating teeth with higher degree of sensitivity.

Conquering Brazil: the invasion by the exotic gekkonid lizard Hemidactylus mabouia (Squamata) in Brazilian natural environments

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

The invasion of five alien species in the Delta do Parnaiba Environmental Protection Area, Northeastern Brazil

Marine biological invasions have been regarded as one of the major causes of native biodiversity loss, with shipping and aquaculture being the leading contributors for the introductions of alien species in aquatic ecosystems. In the present study, five aquatic alien species (one mollusk, three crustaceans and one fish species) were detected during dives, shore searches and from the fisheries on the coast of the Delta do Parnaiba Environmental Protection Area, in the States of Piaui and Maranhao, Northeastern Brazil. The species were the bicolor purse-oyster Isognomon bicolor, the whiteleg shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei, the giant river prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii, the Indo-Pacific swimming crab Charybdis hellerii and, the muzzled blenny Omobranchus punctatus. Ballast water (I. bicolor, C. hellerii, and O. punctatus) and aquaculture activities (L. vannamei and M. rosenbergii) in adjacent areas are the most likely vectors of introduction. All exotic species found have potential impact risks to the environment because they are able to compete against native species for resources (food and habitat). Isognomon bicolor share the same habitat and food items with the native bivalve species of mussels and barnacles. Litopenaeus vannamei share the same habitat and food items with the native penaeids such as the pinkspot shrimp Farfantepenaeus brasiliensis, the Southern brown shrimp Farfantepenaeus subtilis, and the Southern white shrimp Litopenaeus schmitti, and in the past few years L. vannamei was responsible for a viral epidemics in the cultivation tanks that could be transmitted to native penaeid shrimps. Charybdis hellerii is also able to cause impacts on the local fisheries as the species can decrease the populations of native portunid crabs which are commercialized in the studied region. Macrobrachium rosenbergii may be sharing natural resources with the Amazon River prawn Macrobrachium amazonicum. Omobranchus punctatus shares habit with the native redlip blenny Ophioblennius atlanticus and other fishes, such as the frillfin goby Bathigobius soporator. Some immediate remedial measures to prevent further introductions from ballast water and shrimp farm ponds should be: (i) to prevent the release of ballast water by ship/vessels in the region; (ii) to reroute all effluent waters from shrimp rearing facilities through an underground or above-ground dry well; (iii) to install adequate sand and gravel filter which will allow passage of water but not livestock; (iv) outdoor shrimp pounds located on floodable land should be diked, and; (v) to promote environmental awareness of those directly involved with ballast water (crews of ship/vessels) and shrimp farms in the region. Rev. Biol. Trop. 58 (3): 909-923. Epub 2010 September 01.

Apoptosis in tongue squamous cell carcinoma and its correlation with clinically occult cervical metastasis

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

RECK-Mediated Inhibition of Glioma Migration and Invasion

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Integrodifference model for blowfly invasion

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)