Cancer is a major global health concern, and is one of the leading causes of mortality in many developed countries including Australia. Most of the morbidity and mortality associated with cancer can be linked to the process of metastasis, whereby malignant cancerous cells move from their primary site to establish secondary tumours at a distant location. The capacity of cells to migrate through a tissue depends on their ability to degrade the extracellular matrix. Matrix metalloproteinases are the main protease enzymes involved in the degradation of the extracellular matrix. The release of these enzymes is important, not just for normal immune and inflammatory processes, but also for cancer.

Cancer is a chronic global problem, and is the leading cause of mortality in Australia. Metastasis is a key characteristic of malignant tumors, enabling the cancer cells to move from their primary site to a secondary location. This process of translocation of cancer cells and transmigration through the blood vessels is similar to what is seen with immune cells during the inflammatory process. Substance P (SP) is known to be a significant mediator in the development and progression of inflammation, and it has been suggested that it may play a similar role in relation to metastatic tumor development via tachykinin NK1 and NK2 receptors. Therefore, the development of antagonist molecules for the NK1 receptor presents an important opportunity for exploiting these molecules as novel therapeutic agents for the treatment of cancer.

Maxillofacial injury, also called facial trauma, is a major public health problem, representing a group of injuries in which there is an external force that traumatically injures the face. They comprise hard tissue as well as soft tissue injuries that exhibit different patterns of clinical features based on the severity and mechanism of the trauma. Traumatic maxillofacial injuries not only are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Queensland, Australia, but also have negative effects on quality of life, functional status, and social functioning. Further, they have a range of economic impacts, including on health care costs, employability, productivity, and insurability. Thus, control, minimization, and prevention of traumatic maxillofacial injuries have immediate health effectiveness, and considerable economic benefits.

IntroductionHead and facial injuries in paediatric patients are a major public health problem in Queensland, Australia, where control, minimisation, or prevention play key roles. Although many studies have been reported, few can be found concerning the epidemiology of paediatric maxillofacial injuries in Queensland, Australia. The aim of this study was to retrospectively assess and report the aetiology, patterns, distribution, and associated factors of head and facial injuries in children in Queensland, Australia.Material and methodsData were obtained from Queensland injury Surveillance Unit (QISU). A retrospective study included 10,723 injured children (from less than 1 year old to 12 years old) in the years 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016. The analyses involved descriptive statistics and 2 test.ResultsThe number of patients injured varied among age groups. The nature and mechanism of injuries were different among age groups as well. Boys were more prone to maxillofacial injuries compared to females. The highest rate of injuries was in the 1–2-year age group for both genders. Contact with a static object was the main aetiology of maxillofacial injuries during leisure activity (playing). The home was the main site where the injuries occurred.ConclusionsPreventive measures should be strengthened both indoors and outdoors to reduce the incidence and severity of paediatric injuries in Queensland, Australia. In addition, children in the growing phase should be monitored periodically. Furthermore, increasing awareness can be attained by increasing safety education.