Search

One of the primary tasks of systematic biology is the development of our biological nomenclature and classifications. The key purpose for the development of a standard nomenclature for a disease is the need for a common language for the statement of diagnostic terms and for a means or system whereby diagnosis could be suitably recorded without chaos. Odontogenic tumor nomenclature and classification have confused physicians over the years. Ameloblastoma is one such entity among odontogenic tumors, which has continuously changed to be an evolution of the terms and taxonomy used in literature. In this review, we aim to provide a fundamental basis for the understanding of how the etymology and the position of ameloblastoma in odontogenic tumor classification have evolved over the years.

Background: Ameloblastoma among benign tumors holds a unique position by its locally destructive and invasive nature. Tumors that originate from the odontogenic apparatus or its remnants in the jaws show diverse clinical presentations, behavior and histologic patterns. The differed biological behavior behind follicular and plexiform ameloblastomas has never attained completeness because of the lack of rhythmic correlation regarding the exact mechanism. Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathways play a crucial role in survival, death and differentiation during physiologic and pathologic conditions. With this background, the study has been aimed to investigate the expression of NF-κB in follicular and plexiform ameloblastomas. Objective: The objective of this study was to analyze the immunohistochemical expression pattern of NF-κB in ameloblastoma and to compare the immunohistochemical expression pattern of NF-κB among the histological types of ameloblastoma, follicular and plexiform patterns. Methodology: Total 20 ameloblastomas (10 follicular, 10 plexiform) were immunostained with antihuman NF-κB p65 mouse IgG monoclonal antibody, and the pattern of staining is statistically analyzed using Chi-square test with the level of significance (P < 0.05). Results: Twelve (3 follicular, 9 plexiform) out of 20 ameloblastomas showed immunoreactivity to NF-κB p65. In ameloblastoma, only the peripheral preameloblast-like tall columnar cells showed reactivity, whereas the stellate reticulum-like cells are immunonegative. The staining pattern was membranous in the immunoreactive cells. The results were studied with the associated and inducing pathways from the literature, and a possible mechanism has been proposed. Conclusion: The expression pattern of NF-κB was found to be higher in plexiform ameloblastoma than follicular ameloblastoma.

Early detection is very crucial for successful management of oral cancer or any disease as such. Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) accounts for nearly 90% of malignancy of oral cavity. In the field of cancer research, there is always an ongoing quest for newer methods to lower the morbidity and mortality associated with OSCC. Saliva, a readily available noninvasive biofluid with constant contact with oral cancer lesion, offers an appealing alternative to serum and tissue testing. This review throws light on incorporation of newer technologies for harnessing the saliva to its fullest potential with increased specificity and sensitivity toward identification of cancer-specific molecular signatures for the development of point-of-care applications that could be used at the clinical setting.

Background: Ameloblastoma is the second most common odontogenic tumor that holds a unique position among benign tumors due to its locally destructive and invasive nature. The differed tumor biology behind follicular and plexiform ameloblastoma is always an enigma. Nerve growth factor (NGF), a neurotrophin that plays a major role during odontogenesis, could also possibly play a role in the pathogenesis of odontogenic tumors such as ameloblastoma. With this background, the study was aimed to investigate the expression of NGF in follicular and plexiform ameloblastoma. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to analyze the immunohistochemical expression pattern of NGF in ameloblastoma and to compare the immunohistochemical expression pattern of NGF among the follicular and plexiform histological types of ameloblastoma. Materials and Methods: Forty histological sections of ameloblastomas (20 follicular and 20 plexiform) were stained immunohistochemically with anti-human NGF mouse IgG monoclonal antibody and the staining was analyzed statistically. Results: Almost all the 40 ameloblastoma samples (20 follicular and 20 plexiform) showed positive immunoreactivity to NGF. Both peripheral pre-ameloblast-like tall columnar cells and central stellate-reticulum-like cells showed positive reactivity. The pattern of staining was membranous in the immunoreactive cells. The χ2 value for the immunoexpression between follicular and plexiform ameloblastoma was statistically significant with a P value

Cells of the human biological system emerge from various concerted processes of cell growth, differentiation, repair, and regeneration to a degree. Neurotrophins (NTs) and Neurotrophin Receptors (NTRs) have robust effects on proliferation, differentiation, migration, survival, and synapse formation through physiologic regulatory signals. Dysregulation of such neurotrophic factors not only results in various age-related degenerative conditions but also paves the way to oncogenesis in neuronal and non-neuronal tissues. This review aims to highlight the emerging role of neurotrophins (NTs) and Neurotrophin Receptors (NTRs) in Oral Health and Disease and its molecular signaling pathway in physiologic and pathologic conditions. The electronic databases PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched for available data in the present review. A database search yielded more than 100 articles out of which 45 were included based on the core data. The role of NTs and NTRs in dental diseases is less explored and this was the very first attempt to collect the literature data of NTs and NTRs pertaining to head and neck tumors. The results and subsequent conclusions were extracted and reviewed. Expression of NTs and NTRs in neuronal and non-neuronal tissue is a spatial and time-bound event like odontogenesis. Recently NTs and NTRs expressions were detected in a few head and neck tumors. Unraveling the molecular signaling pathway of NTs and NTRs in head and neck tumors will help in elucidating the molecular pathogenesis and the prognosis, therefore, paving a path to expand our knowledge to understand and develop therapies for many pathologic conditions.

Objectives: The objective is to analyze the immunohistochemical expression pattern of tyrosine kinase receptor (TrK) in ameloblastoma and to compare the immunohistochemical expression pattern of TrK among the histological types of ameloblastoma, follicular and plexiform patterns. Materials and Methods: Forty ameloblastomas (20 follicular and 20 plexiform) were immunostained with anti-human TrK mouse IgG monoclonal antibody, and the pattern of staining is statistically analyzed. Results: Total 20 (4 follicular and 16 plexiform) out of 40 ameloblastomas showed immunoreactivity to TrK. Only the peripheral preameloblast like tall columnar cells showed reactivity, whereas the stellate reticulum like cells is immunonegative. The staining pattern was membranous in the immunoreactive cells. The Chi-square value for the immunoexpression between follicular and plexiform ameloblastoma was statistically significant with a P < 0.005. The results were studied with the downstream pathways from the literature, and a possible mechanism has been proposed. Conclusion: The expression pattern of TrK is found to be more in plexiform ameloblastoma than follicular ameloblastoma.

Nanochemoprevention has been introduced recently as a novel approach for improving phytochemicals bioavailability and anti-tumor effect. The present study is designed to evaluate the chemopreventive efficacy of prepared naringenin-loaded nanoparticles (NARNPs) relative to efficacy of free naringenin (NAR) against 7,12-dimethyl benz(a)anthracene (DMBA)-induced oral carcinogenesis by evaluating the status of lipid peroxidation, antioxidants and immunoexpression patterns of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and p53 proteins. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) investigations have confirmed a narrow size distribution of the prepared nanoparticles (40–90 nm) with ~88 % encapsulation efficiency. Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) was developed in the buccal pouch of golden Syrian hamsters by painting with 0.5 % DMBA in liquid paraffin three times a week for 14 weeks. DMBA painted animals revealed the morphological changes, hyperplasia, dysplasia and well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. Moreover, the status of lipid peroxidation, antioxidants and immunoexpression of PCNA and p53 were significantly altered during DMBA-induced oral carcinogenesis. Oral administration of NARNPs (50 mg NAR/kg body weight/day) to DMBA-treated animals completely prevented the tumor formation as compared to the free NAR and significantly reduced the degree of histological lesions, in addition to restoration of the status of biochemical and molecular markers during oral carcinogenesis. In addition, NARNPs have more potent anti-lipid peroxidative, antiproliferative effect and antioxidant potentials compared to free NAR in DMBA-induced oral carcinogenesis. In conclusion, the present study suggests that NARNPs could be a potentially useful drug carrier system for targeted delivery of naringenin for cancer chemoprevention.

Proteomics is the study of structure and function of proteins in a large scale. For any living organism, preteins are considered to be the vital part because of its role in metabolic pathways of cells. These proteins not only play a role in physiological condition of the cell but also in altered manner during pathologic conditions. These altered proteins in diseased conditions are called as biomarkers. Several such biomarkers were identified in oral diseaes. This review is a brief note on proteins involved in odontogenesis and list of altered proteins proteins identified in various dental and oral diseases. The knowledge about the role of proteomics in dentistry and the importance of proteomic studies in early diagnosis and prognostic part of oral diseases helps in appliction of precised and sucessful treatment.