Does Fractal Analysis Have a Role in Diagnosis of Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis?

PURPOSE: Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) of the jaws is a rare disease and is often diagnosed at an advanced stage. This study aims to assess the trabecular pattern of jaws via fractal analysis (FA) on initial panoramic radiographs (OPG) of the patients with LCH to facilitate interpretation of the radiographic changes. METHODS: A case-control study investigated LCH cases with jaw involvement retrieved from the databases of Istanbul and Kocaeli Universities between 2010 and 2021. Initial OPGs of LCH cases and OPGs of healthy sex- and age-matched controls were investigated with FA. All images were assessed using ImageJ software. On each OPG, a total of 6 regions of interest (ROIs) located on the mandible were investigated bilaterally. The independent variables were the trabecular patterns of jaws of LCH cases and their control matches. The outcome variables were the fractal dimension (FD) values obtained from the ROIs on OPGs. Data were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test and Student's t test. RESULTS: Fifteen LCH-control pairs were investigated. In one ROI located in the supracortical area above the left mandibular angle, FD values of LCH cases (1.273 ± 112.8) were significantly lower than controls (1.308 ± 85.3; P < .05). Lower FD values were also calculated for some of the remaining ROIs, but there was no significant difference between groups (P > .05). CONCLUSIONS: Regarding our results, FA was not a useful parameter to discern radiographical trabecular changes between LCH cases and controls. Multicenter studies with larger populations are needed to investigate the potential of FA in the identification of this rare disease.

A clinicopathologic analysis of 135 cases of cemento-osseous dysplasia: To operate or not to operate?

PURPOSE: The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the characteristics of cemento-osseous dysplasia (COD) lesions for devising a clinical algorithm to help management decisions, specifically discussing the need for a possible surgical intervention versus solely follow-up. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred thirty-five subjects were thus identified having previously diagnosed and treated for COD from the archives of the pathology in between 2005-2015. These were then re-evaluated. Demographic features, radiographic and histopathologic findings were assessed. RESULTS: The most frequent variant was the focal type (n=83), and the mandible (n=131) was predominantly affected jaw bone. Female predilection was evident for all subtypes. Almost half of the lesions (n=72) presented with mixed radiolucent and radiopaque appearances in radiography at the time of the biopsy. Cementicles/psammoma body-like calcifications and trabecular pattern were the most common hard tissue appearances. CONCLUSION: COD lesions are non-neoplastic fibro-osseous lesions which can exhibit similar histopathologic and radiologic features with other bone lesions. Ideally, these lesions should be clinically identified and followed-up. Considering the possible complications, a thorough knowledge of these lesions and their differentials is essential in order to avoid unnecessary surgical interventions.

New World Health Organization classification of odontogenic tumours: impact on the prevalence of odontogenic tumours and analysis of 1231 cases from Turkey.

The aims of this study were to describe the frequency of odontogenic tumours (OT) based on the World Health Organization (WHO) 4th edition of Head and Neck Tumours in Turkey, to compare the results with other regions and to assess the frequency changes of OT worldwide after the new WHO classification. OT were selected from the pathology department's files between 1971-2018. In a total of 1231 OT, 1215 (98.7%) were benign, whereas malignant OT were only 16 cases (1.3%). The three most common tumours were ameloblastoma (n=366, 29.7%), odontoma (n=335, 27.2% both complex and compound types), and odontogenic myxoma (n=190, 15.4%), respectively. After the 2017 classification, the decrease of OT frequency was found among 20%-42% in the selected epidemiological series because of re-classification of some lesions. The pattern of incidence in the Turkish population is similar to that in other populations. However, there are some differences in the frequency of the tumour types. It is obvious that the relative frequency of odontogenic tumours worldwide will change based on the new classification. It should be kept in mind that this is not a real decrease of OT cases. These marked changes in the frequency and prevalence of OT is just related to reclassification of some entities.

Beneficial effects of carnosine and carnosine plus vitamin E treatments on doxorubicin-induced oxidative stress and cardiac, hepatic, and renal toxicity in rats.

OBJECTIVE: Oxidative stress plays an important role in doxorubicin (DOX)-induced toxicity. Carnosine (CAR) is a dipeptide with antioxidant properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the decreasing or preventive effect of CAR alone or combination with vitamin E (CAR + Vit E) on DOX-induced toxicity in heart, liver, and brain of rats. METHODS: Rats were treated with CAR (250 mg kg(-1) day(-1); intraperitoneally (i.p.)) or CAR + Vit E (equals 200 mg kg(-1) α-tocopherol; once every 3 days; intramuscularly) for 12 consecutive days. On the 8th day of treatment, rats were injected with a single dose of DOX (30 mg kg(-1), i.p.). Serum cardiac troponin I (cTnI), urea, and creatinine levels; alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities; and oxidative stress parameters in tissues were measured. We also determined thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, diene conjugate, protein carbonyl (PC), and glutathione levels and antioxidant enzyme activities. RESULTS: DOX resulted in increased serum cTnI, ALT, AST, urea, and creatinine levels and increased lipid peroxide and PC levels in tissues. CAR or CAR + Vit E treatments led to decreases in serum cTnI levels and ALT and AST activities. These treatments reduced prooxidant status and ameloriated histopathologic findings in the examined tissues. CONCLUSION: Our results may indicate that CAR alone, especially in combination with Vit E, protect against DOX-induced toxicity in heart, liver, and kidney tissues of rats. This was evidenced by improved cardiac, hepatic, and renal markers and restoration of the prooxidant state and amelioration of histopathologic changes.