Immunohistochemical expression of MMP-2 and MMP-8 in oral squamous cell carcinoma

Background: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are endopeptidases that can degrade extracellular matrix components and affect invasiveness and aggressiveness of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The aim of this study was to examine the immunohistochemical expression of MMP-2 and MMP-8 in OSCCs in patients presenting at the Tertiary Health facility in Nigeria Materials and Methods: Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) OSCC samples diagnosed between the years 2010 and 2012 were used for his study. The FFPE were processed for MMP-2 and MMP-8 using the specifications of the manufacturer. Two investigators reviewed the slides scoring the pattern and intensity of staining as negative (0), weakly positive (+1), moderately positive (+2) and strongly positive (+3). The data were analysed using version 20 of the SPSS. The level of significance was set at P < 0.05. Results: Twenty-five OSCC consisting of 14 (56%) males and 11 females (44%) were used. The mean age was 54.6 ± 17.9 years. A higher proportion (100%) of poorly differentiated OSCC strongly expressed MMP-2 compared with the well differentiated and moderately differentiated OSSC. There was no significant difference in the expression of MMP-2 amongst the three grades of OSCC (X2 = 2.87; p = 0.17). Only 5 (20%) OSCC cases positively expressed MMP-8. Moderate expression of MMP-8 was only seen in well-differentiated OSCCs. Conclusions: This study showed that a higher proportion of poorly differentiated OSSC strongly expressed MMP-2. Eighty percent of cases that express MMP-8 were females and moderate expression of MMP-8 was seen only in well differentiated OSCC

Dental anxiety among patients visiting a University Dental Centre

Objective: Fearful individuals often avoid care despite extensive dental needs and anxious patients feel more pain and of longer duration than less anxious patients. This study was designed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with dental anxiety among patients visiting a University Dental Centre in Nigeria. Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted using an anonymous structured questionnaire randomly administered to patients attending the University College Hospital Dental Centre, Ibadan. The questionnaire requested for socio-demographic data, dental visit behaviour, history of traumatic dental treatment and level of apprehension when anticipating a visit to the dentist and physician. The level of dental anxiety was determined using the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS). An MDAS score of 19 and above indicated high dental anxiety. Upon examination, DMFT of each patient was determined. Result: A total of 471 respondents of which 262 (55.6%) were females participated in the study. Only 7.43% of the participants had MDAS score ≥19. About 10% of the females had high dental anxiety compared with 4.94% recorded for the males (p=0.01). Dental anxiety was more common among the younger age group, irregular oral health care seekers and among those with history of traumatic dental treatment. The respondents were more relaxed when anticipating a visit to a physician. Only gender could be used to predict high dental anxiety. Female gender significantly displayed high dental anxiety (odd ratio=3.05 and p=0.04) . The mean DMFT score for the patients was 2.48±3.30. Conclusion: The prevalence of dental anxiety among the respondents in this study was 7.43% and only gender could be used to predict dental anxiety

A review of 413 salivary gland tumours in the head and neck region.

Objectives: Salivary gland tumours (SGTs) are a group of heterogeneous lesions with complex clinico-pathological characteristics and distinct biological behaviours. Previous studies have reported geographic variations in site distribution, incidence and histological types of SGTs. The aim of this study was to describe the demography of SGTs seen at a tertiary health centre and compare findings with previous studies. Study design: Data on SGTs from archives of the Department of Oral Pathology and the Department of Pathology, University College Hospital Ibadan were retrieved. Information about histological types, age, sex and location were analyzed using SPSS for Window (version 20.0; SPSS Inc. Chicago, IL). Reactive and tumor-like lesions such as sialometaplasia, benign lymphoepithelial lesion, lymphoepithelial cyst, mucocele, mucous extravasation phenomenon, ranula, and sialosis were excluded from the study. Results: 413 SGTs consisting of 221 (53.5%) malignant and 192 (46.5%) benign lesions were seen. SGTs occurred more in females (50.6%) than males (49.4%) with a mean age of 43.7 (±16.9) years and peak age in the fifth decade of life. The parotid with 171 (41.4%) cases was the commonest site, followed by palate with 89 (21.5%) cases, while only 7(1.7%) cases were seen in sublingual gland. Pleomorphic adenoma with 169 (40.9%) was the most frequent SGT followed by adenoid cystic carcinoma with 93 (22.5%) cases which also was the most frequent malignant SGT while only 3 (0.7%) cases of Warthin's tumour were seen. Conclusion: This report is one of few that showed a higher occurrence of malignant SGTs compared to their benign counterparts. The findings were essentially similar to findings in Africa but showed SGTs to be more common in females. The reason(s) for high occurrence of malignant SGTs in minor salivary glands and the rarity of Warthins tumour in this study and other African series compared to those from America needs further investigation

Clinico-pathological profile of head and neck malignancies at University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>This retrospective study analysed head and neck malignancies seen over a 19-year period at the University College Hospital, Ibadan.</p> <p>Methodology</p> <p>One thousand, one hundred and ninety two patients with head and neck malignancies were analysed according to age, gender, topography and histology.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>There was an annual hospital frequency of 62 cases per year. The overall mean age for these malignancies was 43.9 (SD ± 19.3) years. The lesions from the respiratory tract were the most frequent (43.2%) of all cases. The palate was the most frequent intra-oral site (13.8%). Epithelial malignancies constituted 73.4% of all cases with a male: female ratio of 2:1, a mean age of 48.1 (SD ± 17.5) years and were mostly located in the larynx (19.7%). Lymphomas constituted 17.5% of all head and neck cancers with a male: female ratio of 1.6:1, a mean age of 35.1 (SD ± 20.6) years and nodal involvement (39.7%) was most common. Sarcomas constituted 8.9% of all malignancies with a male: female ratio of 1.5:1, mean age of 27.1 (SD ± 16.7) years and the maxillofacial bones (42.5%) were most commonly involved. Neuroendocrine malignancies accounted for 0.2% of head and neck malignancies with a male: female ratio of 1:1, a mean age of 28.5 (SD ± 6.4) years and both cases involved the nose.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study has further confirmed that carcinomas remain the most frequent cancers of the head and neck region in south-western Nigeria.</p

Risk Factors for Malnutrition Among Under-Five-Year olds in an Inner City Community inIbadan: A Case-Control Study

Background:Morbidity and mortality rates associated with malnutrition in the under-five-year olds are high especially among children from the low socio-economic class, yet not all children from this deprived environment develop malnutrition. Objectives: To identify risk factors associated with the development of malnutrition in the under-five-year olds in a homogeneous inner city community. Design: A community-based, case-control study. Materials and Methods: One hundred and thirty eight children (subjects and controls) aged less than five years living in the traditional area of Idikan, Ibadan, participated in the study. All households with children under five years were listed and visited over a period of three months. All children in these households were examined and those with weight-for-age less than 2 standard deviations of the NCHS median value were enrolled as subjects. A control, who was not malnourished, was selected for every subject identified; they were matched 1:1 by age and sex from the same compound or adjacent compounds. Results: The youngest malnourished child was two months old while the mean age of the subjects was 22.5 ± 14.1 months. A significantly higher proportion of subjects than controls had primary caretakers who were not their parents (16.9 percent vs 6.2 percent; p0.05). In the case-control analysis, low paternal education (incomplete primary school education and less)(

Periodontitis and systemic diseases: A literature review

Studies have revealed possible link between periodontitis and different systemic diseases. There is need to review this interesting subject. The aims are: to provide a comprehensive literature that can easily be consulted, on the subject; to draw the attention of health practitioners to the impact of oral health on the general well-being; and to emphasize the need for a deeper interaction between medical and dental training. The Medline database was searched for relevant literature by combining each of the following terms, "oral health," "oral infection," "periodontitis," with "systemic diseases." Manual library search and review of bibliographies of published literature were also conducted. Periodontitis is a constant potential source of infection and has been considered as a separate risk factor for some cardiovascular, respiratory, endocrine, musculoskeletal, and reproductive system related abnormalities. Oral health impacts on the general well-being, and if comprehensive health care is ever to be achieved, oral health should not be seen as a separate, distant, and less important area of health, which is totally unrelated to lifespan and its quality