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Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in woman of developing countries. Wnt/ß-catenin self-renewal pathway is important for cervical cancer initiation and progression. Plumbagin, Pongapin and Karanjin are three plant polyphenols with known anticancer activities. Thus, this study aims to analyze the effects of these compounds on Wnt/ß-catenin pathway in cervical cancer cells (HeLa), due to their high sensitivity in this cell line. The compounds significantly downregulated the co-receptor LRP6 (low density lipoprotein receptor related protein 6) expression (mRNA/protein) in HeLa cells without any change in the expression of receptor FZD7 (Frizzled class receptor 7). The low membrane expression of LRP6 seen in the immunocytochemical analysis might be due to upregulation of its antagonist Dickkopf 1 (DKK1) protein. The compounds could also increase the expression of FZD7 antagonists, SFRP1/2 (mRNA/protein) in HeLa cells. The upregulation of SFRPs (secreted frizzled-related protein) was due to their promoter hypomethylation through downregulation of DNMT1 (DNA methyltransferase 1) protein by the compounds. As a result, there was downregulation of effector protein ß-catenin and activated phospho-ß-catenin (Y654) of the pathway in HeLa cells by these compounds. Thus, the polyphenols differentially inhibit the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway to restrict cervical cancer proliferation, suggesting their therapeutic importance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A buccal fat pad (BFP) as a flap for reconstruction of defects in the oral cavity has been described for a variety of benign conditions. We describe the indications, advantages, and complications of the BFP flap and report our clinical experience with the flap for intraoral reconstruction after tumor removal. From 2005 to 2008, we analyzed 29 patients in the age range of 32 to 82 years old who underwent a pedicled BFP flap reconstruction for oral defects after intraoral tumor removal. Postoperative wound healing and complications including any recurrence was followed-up prospectively. Most of the patients had an uneventful immediate postoperative period with signs of buccal fat pad epithelialization by the end of the first week and complete epithelialization at the end of the first month. On continued follow-up, a linear band of fibrous tissue under the epithelialized mucosa replaced the once reconstructed buccal fat pad. Three patients had varying degrees of hemorrhage: one of them had hematoma that healed with severe fibrosis and of the remaining two, one had a partial flap loss and one had a complete flap loss. Judicious use of buccal fat pad reconstruction offers a simple, convenient, and reliable way to reconstruct small to medium defects of the oral cavity with low morbidity, even in older patients who would not be able to tolerate time-consuming flap reconstruction procedures.

Aim: To evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of switching to a self-sampling based screening as compared to ongoing provider-collection based screening using HPV DNA test and assess the compliance of HPV positive women for further treatment during the COVID 19 pandemic., Method: The study participants were women aged 30-60 years from rural and semi-urban communities around Kolkata, who underwent screening followed by HPV testing by Hybrid Capture II test. In the pre pandemic era, the women who attended the health centres where trained health workers that collected cervical samples. Following lockdown, the health workers distributed the self-sampling device to the women during home visits and counselled them to collect their samples by themselves. Thereafter the self collected screened positive women were brought to the hospital for further treatment instead of community clinics., Results: From April 2018 to March 2020, 12,718 women underwent screening using either HPV DNA test or visual inspection with acetic acid. HPV samples were either provider collected (62.7%) or self-collected (37.2%). The HPV positivity and CIN2+ detection rate were 5.4% and 2%. From April 2020 to February 2022, 10,792 women underwent screening using self-sampling only. The HPV positivity rate and CIN2+ detection rate were found to be 5.1% and 1.9 % ., Conclusion: Cervical cancer screening by HPV self-sampling advocates participation of more women especially in rural areas, while accelerating progress towards elimination of cervical cancer.