Solitary keratoacanthoma involving upper lip: a diagnostic dilemma - case report and a brief review

Keratoacanthoma (KA) is a benign epithelial proliferative lesion which frequently occurs on the sun exposed areas of the skin. KA originates within the pilosebaceous apparatus of the skin and may be solitary or multiple. Solitary KA can be difficult to differentiate from squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) both clinically and microscopically. However, the clinical course of the lesion and its ability to self involute makes it a distinct clinical entity. Solitary KA appears on the vermilion border of the lower lips with some frequency. A case of keratoacanthoma involving the upper lip is reported presenting as an exophytic growth that resolved after excisional biopsy. Photo- graphic documentation of the case along with relevant management protocol is discussed. The article emphasizes the significance of recognizing such lesion and discriminating it from SCC thus carrying diagnostic and therapeutic implications. However, in case of dilemma it is prudent to assume that the lesion is SCC unless proved otherwise clinically or histologically

Sugarcane (Saccharum X officinarum): A Reference Study for the Regulation of Genetically Modified Cultivars in Brazil

Global interest in sugarcane has increased significantly in recent years due to its economic impact on sustainable energy production. Sugarcane breeding and better agronomic practices have contributed to a huge increase in sugarcane yield in the last 30 years. Additional increases in sugarcane yield are expected to result from the use of biotechnology tools in the near future. Genetically modified (GM) sugarcane that incorporates genes to increase resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses could play a major role in achieving this goal. However, to bring GM sugarcane to the market, it is necessary to follow a regulatory process that will evaluate the environmental and health impacts of this crop. The regulatory review process is usually accomplished through a comparison of the biology and composition of the GM cultivar and a non-GM counterpart. This review intends to provide information on non-GM sugarcane biology, genetics, breeding, agronomic management, processing, products and byproducts, as well as the current technologies used to develop GM sugarcane, with the aim of assisting regulators in the decision-making process regarding the commercial release of GM sugarcane cultivars

Role of dental findings in the diagnosis of idiopathic hypoparathyroidism

Idiopathic hypoparathyroidism (IHP) is a rare endocrinopathy, characterized by the disturbances in the calcium and phosphorous metabolism, owing to deficiency in parathyroid hormone, which leads to tetanic manifestations. Onset of the clinical features occurs early in the life and the seventy depends on the extent of chemical imbalance. This article describes a case of 22-year-old male patient undiagnosed for 12 years with this endocrinopathy (IHP). Overretained deciduous teeth, delayed eruption, impacted tooth and short roots probably resulting from untreated hypocalcemia during the developmental phase of dentition enabled us to unearth this endocrinopathy through a series of investigations. Thus, the article emphasizes the importance of dental findings of this endocrinopathy

Prevalence of oral mucosal lesions in dermatologically diseased patients: A cross-sectional study in Meerut

Introduction: It is a noted fact that dermatologic diseases have varied oral manifestations. By far, there have been inordinately few studies focusing on the prevalence of a wide spectrum of oral mucosal lesions (OML) in patients with dermatologic diseases. This is significant as oral lesions may be the only or the primary feature of the skin disease, which could be neglected by dentists. This study aimed to estimate the frequency and sociobehavioral correlates of OML in skin disease patients attending outpatient′s facility of Subharti Hospital, Dermatology Clinic, Meerut, India. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional hospital-based study conducted in Meerut during the period from August 2013 to October 2013. A total of 500 patients (mean age 37.2 ± 14.11 years, 41.4% females) completed an oral examination and a personal interview. OML were recorded using the World Health Organization criteria. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (version 15.0.1). Cross tabulation and Chi-square with Fisher′s exact test were used. Results: At least one kind of OML was registered in 11.8%, males (58.6%): 60.0% versus females (40.0%): 45.6%, P < 0.01) skin disease patients. Thus, a certain number of patients had more than one type of OML. Aphthae were the most frequently diagnosed OML (3.4%), followed in descending order by oral lichen planus (1.8%) and geographic tongue (1.6%). Conclusion: OML were frequently diagnosed in skin disease patients (11.80%) and varied systematically with the dermatologic disease, age, and gender. The substantial prevalence rates of OML emphasize the importance of routine examination of the oral mucosa in a dermatology clinic