Oral tongue cancer in public hospitals in Madrid, Spain (1990-2008).

BACKGROUND: The cancer which appears in the mobile portion of the tongue is the most common neoplasm of the oral cavity. The objective of this study was to analyse oral tongue cancer epidemiology in a population of 610 patients diagnosed between 1990 and 2008 and detailed in the Tumour Registry of the Madrid region. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis based on the following variables provided in the Tumour Registry was achieved: age, gender, histology, stage, location, treatment. Descriptive and analytic statistics with these variables, using Pearson's Chi-square test to study the relationship between the qualitative variables. RESULTS: Patients' mean age was 61.53±13.95 years, with a gender ratio of 2.09:1 (413 males vs 197 females). The lesion was mainly localized in the lateral border of tongue, with other sites (dorsal face, ventral face, lingual tonsil, contiguous sites, tongue NOS) represented at lower rates. Squamous cell carcinomas (94.9%) far outweighted other histologies (salivary gland tumours, soft tissue tumours, haematolymphoid tumours). 59% of the cases appeared in localized stages, versus 35.2% in regional and 4.8% in distant stages. Surgery was the most frequently used treatment, followed by surgery in combination with radiotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: Oral tongue cancer is a disease of the elderly, with a male predominance. It mainly appears in its lateral border, localized squamous cell carcinomas representing the great majority of lingual neoplasms.

Analysis of the expression of heat-shock protein 27 in patients with oral lichen planus.

OBJECTIVE: Heat-shock protein 27 (hsp27) has been implicated in several biological events. In this experimental study, we aimed at analysing, for the first time, the expression of hsp27 in the diverse stages of oral lichen planus (OLP) lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-six biopsy specimens of patients with OLP and 10 of healthy patients were selected. OLP specimens were divided into three groups: G1 - moderate or mildly active OLP; G2 - active or moderately active atrophic OLP; G3 - mild or inactive atrophic OLP. Hsp27 expression was analysed by immunohistochemistry (staining intensity and percentage of stained cells), and results of staining were compared between the different groups. Gender, age and anatomical location were also studied. RESULTS: In the basal layer, an increase of hsp27 expression in both G2 and G3 was observed when compared to G1 and control group. In contrast, a decrease of hsp27 expression in the superficial layer was observed in all groups when compared to control group. CONCLUSION: The increased expression of Hsp27 in the basal layer observed during the OLP evolution and the less staining in the superficial layers in all cases of OLP suggest that hsp27 may have a role in the OLP pathogenesis.

Papel de la IL-6 y TNF-alfa en la enfermedad periodontal / The role of IL-6 and TNF-alfa in periodontal disease

La periodontitis se inicia por una serie de patógenos que inducen una cascada inflamatoria que estimula la destrucción de los tejidos mediada por el huésped. Están implicados un gran número de mediadores inflamatorios, entre los que destacan IL-6, y TNF-alfa. La IL-6 es una citoquina pleiotrópica de compleja actividad biológica, cuya función principal vinculada a la periodontitis es la inducción de la reabsorción ósea. TNF-alfa es una citoquina proinflamatoria cuya función más destacada es el reclutamiento y estimulación de neutrófilos y monocitos. Su papel en la periodontitis es diverso, ya que promueve tanto la inflamación, como la pérdida ósea y la destruición del tejido conectivo, a la vez que limita la capacidad de reparación del periodonto (AU)

Periodontal disease is iniciated by several pathogens which induce an inflammatory cascade which stimulates the tisular destruction mediated by the host. Many inflammatory mediators are involved in this process. Amongst them we can remark IL-6 and TNF-alpha. IL-6 is a pleiotropic citokine of complex biological activity, which principal function linked to periodontitis is the induction of osseous resorption. TNF-alpha is a proinflammatory citokine which main function is the recruiment and stimulation of neutrophils and monocytes. Its role upon periodontitis is diverse. It gives rise to inflammation, as well as osseous resorption and connective tissue destruction, and limitates the reparative potential of periodontium (AU)