The areca nut chewing habit and oral squamous cell carcinoma in South African Indians

A retrospective study (1983 - 1989) of oral squamous carcinomas and concomitant oral habits was undertaken in South African Indians from Natal. Information came from hospital records and interviews with patients, famlilies and friends. There were 143 oral squamous carcinomas; these occurred in a ratio of 1:1,6 for men and women respectively. Squamous carcinomas of the cheek (buccal mucosa, alveolar sulcus and gingiva) occurred most frequently, especially in women (57/89 - 64%), while in men tongue cancer predominated (22/54 - 41-%). Ninety-three per cent of women (83/87) and 17% of men (9/54) habitually chewed the areca nut. Thirty-nine of 57 women (68%) with cheek cancer and 21/25 (84%) with tongue cancer only chewed the nut (no tobacco, snuff or smoking). Analyses confinned an association between nut chewing and cheek cancer. The odds ratio (OR) for oral cancer in women 25 years and older who only chewed the nut was 43,9 and the attributable risk (AR) 0,89 (89%). With tobacco the OR increases to 47,42 and the AR to 0,91 (91%). The data showed that the areca nut habit with or without tobacco use is important in the development of oral squamous carcinoma. Elimination of this habit can reduce the risk in these women substantially (89 - 91%) if all other factors remain the same

The areca nut chewing habit and oral squamous cell carcinoma in South African Indians. A retrospective study

CITATION: Van Wyk, C.W., Stander, L. Padayachee, A. & Grobler-Rabie, A.F. 1993. The areca nut chewing habit and oral squamous cell carcinoma in South African Indians. A retrospective study. S Afr Med J, 83(6):425-427.The original publication is available at http://www.samj.org.zaENGLISH ABSTRACT: A retrospective study (1983-1989) of oral squamous carcinomas and concomitant oral habits was undertaken in South African Indians from Natal. Information came from hospital records and interviews with patients, families and friends. There were 143 oral squamous carcinomas; these occurred in a ratio of 1:1,6 for men and women respectively. Squamous carcinomas of the cheek (buccal mucosa, alveolar sulcus and gingiva) occurred most frequently, especially in women (57/89-64%), while in men tongue cancer predominated (22/54-41-%). Ninety-three per cent of women (83/87) and 17% of men (9/54) habitually chewed the areca nut. Thirty-nine of 57 women (68%) with cheek cancer and 21/25 (84%) with tongue cancer only chewed the nut (no tobacco, snuff or smoking). Analyses confirmed an association between nut chewing and cheek cancer. The odds ratio (OR) for oral cancer in women 25 years and older who only chewed the nut was 43,9 and the attributable risk (AR) 0,89 (89%). With tobacco the OR increases to 47,42 and the AR to 0,91 (91%). The data showed that the areca nut habit with or without tobacco use is important in the development of oral squamous carcinoma. Elimination of this habit can reduce the risk in these women substantially (89-91%) if all other factors remain the same.Publisher’s versio

Two new polymorphic markers in the human proα2(1) collagen gene

Structural defects in the human type 1 collagen genes are known to be the cause of several inherited disorders of connective tissue, such as osteogenesis imperfecta. The analysis and prenatal diagnosis of these disorders would be facilitated by establishing a set of polymorphic markers at these gene loci. We have previously reported the presence of an Msp 1 restriction fragment length polymorphism in the proα2(1) collagen genes of several South African populations (Grobler-Rabie et al., in press). This report describes the detection of a Bgl II and an EcoRI polymorphism in the proα2 gene of South African Blacks.Articl

Polymorphism of DNA sequence in the human pro α2(I) collagen gene

The human pro α2(I) collagen gene was analysed for the presence of restriction fragment length polymorphisms. DNA from randomly selected unrelated persons of three Southern African populations was cleaved with one of eight different restriction enzymes, electrophoresed, blotted, and hybridised with cDNA and genomic probes specific for the pro α2(I) gene. An MspI polymorphism was detected which results from the loss of a cleavage site within the 3' half of the gene. In two of the populations studied, the polymorphism occurred at significant frequencies, and should therefore prove useful as a genetic marker for the study of inherited disorders of connective tissue involving collagen structure or biosynthesis.Articl