Simple diagnosis of cancer by detecting CEA and CYFRA 21-1 in saliva using electronic sensors.

One way of early diagnosis of cancer is by detecting the biomarkers that get introduced into easily accessible body fluids. We report the development of portable and rapid electronic biosensors for quantitative detection of two secretive cancer biomarkers-Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and Cytokeratin fragment 19 (CYFRA 21-1). The reduced graphene oxide (rGO)/ melamine (MEL)/antibodies/ bovine serum albumin (BSA) based devices were tested for 1 pg/mL to 800 ng/mL of CEA and CYFRA 21-1. The responses of the sensors ranged from 7.14 to 59.1% and from 6.18 to 64% for 1 pg/mL to 800 ng/mL CEA and CYFRA 21-1 respectively. A read-out circuit was assembled to develop a portable prototype which was used to assess the concentrations of the two antigens present in saliva samples of 14 subjects. The prototype could accurately discriminate between 9 oral squamous cell carcinoma patients and 5 healthy controls.

Outcome of Nasolabial Flap in the Reconstruction of Head and Neck Defects.

Nasolabial flaps have been recognized as versatile flaps for a variety of defects in the face, nose, lip and the oral cavity and intraoral defects created after the excision of benign and malignant tumours. Nasolabial flaps have been utilized for covering small-to-medium size defects and usually require a second-stage procedure to divide the flap. To study the outcome of nasolabial flap in the reconstruction of head and neck defects. A prospective analysis of 25 cases was done. Of this, 24 cases were oral cancers, and one case was post-traumatic left ala loss. Oral cancers from stage I to IVa were treated with primary wide local excision, nasolabial flap reconstruction and neck dissection. Of this, 3 cases underwent bilateral nasolabial flap reconstruction. Flap release was done as a second-stage procedure after 3 weeks. Good cosmetic and functional results were obtained in almost all cases. Flap tip necrosis was noted in 2 cases, ectropion in 1 case, orocutaneous fistula in 1 case and disease recurrence in 2 cases. Pedicled nasolabial flap is a reliable flap for the reconstruction of small- and medium-sized defects in the oral cavity after excision of primary tumours and results in good overall cosmetic and functional outcome.