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Background: The prognosis of hyperproliferative skin lesions, such as psoriasis, basal cell carcinoma, and non‐melanoma skin cancers, is significantly benefited from the levels of tazarotene‐induced gene‐1 (TIG3) expression and subsequent treatment with tazarotene. Such observations suggest that TIG3 could be used as a biomarker for apoptosis, differentiation, and proliferation. The current study aimed to evaluate the expression of TIG3 in normal oral mucosa (NOM) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) compared with normal skin (NS) and skin squamous cell carcinoma (SSCC) using immunohistochemistry. Methods: Seventeen cases each of SSCC, OSCC, NOM, and NS were evaluated. Each section was immunohistochemically stained with a rabbit polyclonal TIG3 antibody. The entire procedure was blinded and evaluated by 5 observers. Statistical analysis was performed using the chi‐square test. Results: There was a significant decrease in TIG3 protein expression in OSCC and SSCC compared with that in NOM and NS (P = 0.008). The progressive loss of expression was observed as the grade of both malignancies increased. However, there was no significant difference in the expression among the normal tissue groups and within SCC groups of similar grades. Conclusion: The present study suggests that the loss of TIG3 is an important event in carcinogenesis. TIG3 acts as a regulator of keratinocyte proliferation and terminal differentiation. Therefore, TIG3 could be a potential biomarker to differentiate aggressive and non‐aggressive neoplasms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dengue, a mosquito-transmitted viral infection presents variable symptoms, including death. Due to their increasing incidences, early detection and improved diagnoses of severe cases are of prime importance. Currently, viral antigens and antibodies are detected by traditional serological tests. However, the introduction of oral fluid as an alternative, has led to many researches. Hence, this prompted us to carry out a pilot study to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of saliva in detecting dengue antibody by using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Aim and objectives: To evaluate the presence of Dengue antibody in saliva and its sensitivity and specificity through ELISA. Methodology and Results: Twenty seropositive patients and twenty seronegative patients of Dengue were considered individually. Saliva samples collected from these patients were subjected to ELISA test for detection of Dengue antibody. A sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 100% were obtained for making a diagnosis of Dengue infection. Conclusion: Many studies have been conducted by utilizing saliva as a diagnostic tool, especially in western population. Its advantages over venipuncture are many, especially as it is less invasive, safe, less expensive and as it allows large numbers of samples to be collected easily for screening and epidemiological purposes. In a developing tropical country like India, such a diagnostic tool has to be encouraged. Further research necessitates the implementation of saliva as a diagnostic tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common cancer of the head and neck. It accounts for more than 90% of all malignancies Which occur in the head and neck region. The high incidence and mortality rate of oral cancer stimulates continuation of research on finding new diagnostic tools or markers for it. Aim: To evaluate the possible role of serum β-carotene as a biochemical parameter in the diagnosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma. Materials and Methods: The serum β-carotene levels in 40 patients with clinically diagnosed and histopathologically confirmed oral squamous cell carcinoma were estimated and the levels were compared with those of 40 healthy controls. The serum β-carotene levels were estimated by using a spectrophotometer. The data which was obtained was analyzed statistically by using unpaired t-test. Results: Subjects with oral squamous cell carcinoma showed significantly lower levels of mean serum β-carotene (149.95 ± 61.29) as compared to those seen in controls (278.19 ± 90.12). Conclusion: The results of the present study are encouraging and they suggest that the estimation of the low levels of β-carotene in the patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma may be a useful diagnostic tool for making the diagnosis of oral squamous Cell carcinoma and thereby improving the prognosis of this dreaded disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case study of a 24-year-old healthy male having pain in lower right back teeth region since 4-5 days. It is mentioned that the other entire oral tissues appeared to be normal on intraoral examination with moderately inflamed soft tissues which covered 3/4th of occlusal surfaces. It is stated that after obtaining the patient's consent, both the distomolars were planned to be surgically removed.