Comparison of Immunohistochemistry and DNA Sequencing for BRAF V600E Mutation Detection in Mandibular Ameloblastomas.

This study aimed to investigate the presence of BRAF V600E mutation in mandibular ameloblastoma by comparing the results of molecular detection and immunohistochemical analysis. A 128 cases of mandibular ameloblastoma and 30 cases of dentigerous cyst (control group) were selected for analysis. Detection of BRAF V600E mutation was performed with immunohistochemistry (IHC) and polymerase chain reaction techniques. Clinico-pathologic data were collected in order to investigate possible associations with the mutation. Of the 128 cases submitted to IHC, 81.2% (108 cases) showed positivity for anti-BRAF V600E antibody, whereas 24 were negative (18.8%). Molecular analysis of the BRAF V600E mutation by polymerase chain reaction was possible in 116 cases due to DNA quality. Of these cases, 96 were positive (82.8%) and 20 negative (17.2%). All cases of dentigerous cyst were negative for BRAF V600E mutation in both techniques. Considering the sequencing as a gold standard method, the receiver operating characteristics curve analysis showed sensitivity of 0.99 and specificity of 1 (area under the curve=0.995, standard error=0.006; P<0.001; 95% confidence interval=0.983 to 1). We also tested the agreement between the techniques by using the Cohen's κ coefficient, with κ being 0.97 (P<0.001). IHC is a reliable test for identifying the BRAF V600E mutation in ameloblastomas, presenting advantages such as being more frequently used in surgical pathology laboratories and requiring fewer critical steps for paraffin-embedded tissue compared with molecular biology techniques.

Periodontal disease and detection of human herpesviruses in saliva and gingival crevicular fluid of chronic kidney disease patients.

BACKGROUND: Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have inability to maintain the normal levels of protein metabolism products, blood pressure and hematocrit. Periodontal disease involves an inflammatory destructive process. Identification of opportunistic viruses is extremely important as they are associated with co-morbidities. The objective of this study was to analyse the presence of human herpesviruses in saliva and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) from patients with CKD. METHODS: One hundred and thirty one individuals were divided depending on the stage of CKD: Group 1 (clearance of creatinine > 75 mL/min) patients with no renal disease (n = 24); Group 2 (clearance of creatinine of 11-75 mL/min) patients with renal disease (n = 67); Group 3 (clearance of creatinine < 10 mL/min) patients on hemodialysis (n = 40). The parameters of periodontal disease were evaluated. The viral detection was assessed by PCR. RESULTS: considering the three groups, the prevalence of herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) were 9% in saliva and 5% in GCF; Epstein-Barr virus 36% in saliva and 39% in GCF; human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) 11% in GCF; varicella zoster virus 6% in saliva and 3% in GCF; of human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) 6% in saliva and 2% in GCF; and HHV-7 44% in saliva and 8% in GCF. Of these patients, 46.48% presented with severe periodontitis. A statistically significant association between HSV-1 and HCMV was found in hemodialysis patients and severe periodontitis was also more frequent among them. CONCLUSION: These findings show the importance of evaluating the periodontal disease and detecting herpesviruses in patients with CKD as the inflammatory process observed in these clinical conditions may worsen the course of both periodontal disease and CKD.