A series of routinely processed, paraffin‐embedded biopsies from 73 surgically treated oral precancerous lesions (OPL) (22 cases), and oral squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) (51 cases), was first screened using an in situ DNA hybridization technique with a human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA probe cocktail containing the 35S‐labelled DNA of HPV types 6, 11, 13, 16, 18 and 30. The specific HPV types in lesions shown to contain HPV DNA in this procedure were further analysed by using in situ hybridization and the 6 HPV DNA probes separately. A total of 12/73 (16.4%) of the lesions proved to contain HPV DNA; 6/51 (11.8%) carcinomas and 6/21 (28.6%) dysplasias. The most frequent sites of HPV DNA‐positive lesions were palate (4/7; 57%), followed by the floor of the mouth (2/8; 25%), the tongue and gingiva (11.8%). HPV 13 or HPV 30 were not found in any of the lesions studied. HPV 11 DNA was demonstrated in 2 mild dysplasia lesions, but not in carcinomas. One additional mild dysplasia proved to contain HPV 6 DNA. HPV 16 DNA was present in 5 biopsies; 3 carcinomas and 2 dysplasias. In one of the HPV 16‐positive carcinomas, HPV 18 DNA was simultaneously present. HPV 18 alone was found in 3 additional carcinomas and in one moderate dysplasia lesion. The results confirm the recently reported evidence on HPV involvement in OPL and oral cancer. The implications of these findings are discussed in terms of the possible HPV etiology of oral SCC. The use of the in situ DNA hybridization as a powerful tool (enabling the localization of specific HPV DNA sequences and the proper classification of the lesion at the same site) in the study of routinely processed oral biopsies is strongly advocated.

Over-expression of topo IIalpha is significantly associated with progression from CIN2 to CIN3, being a late marker of cell proliferation. Its close association with HR-HPV is plausibly explained by the fact that E7 oncoproteins of these HR-HPV (but not LR-HPV) block the normal pRb-mediated inhibition of topo IIalpha by degrading the wild-type Rb.

In Scandinavia, as in many European countries, most patients consult their general dentist once a year or more. This gives the dentist a unique opportunity and an obligation to make an early diagnosis of oral diseases, which is beneficial for both the patient and the society. Thus, the dentist must have knowledge of clinical symptoms, local and systemic signs and clinical differential diagnoses to make an accurate diagnosis. The dentist must be competent in selecting appropriate diagnostic tests, for example, tissue biopsy and microbiological samples, and conducting them correctly, as well as in interpreting test results and taking appropriate action accordingly. Furthermore, the dentist must be aware of diseases demanding multidisciplinary cooperation and be able to recognise his/her professional limitation, and to refer to other specialists when required. The dental curriculum changes over time as new approaches, treatments and diagnostic possibilities develop. Likewise, the role of the dentist in the community changes and may vary in different countries. As members of the Scandinavian Fellowship for Oral Pathology and Oral Medicine and subject representatives of oral pathology and oral medicine, we feel obliged to contribute to the discussion of how the guidelines of the dental curriculum support the highest possible standards of dental education. This article is meant to delineate a reasonable standard of oral pathology and oral medicine in the European dental curriculum and to guide subject representatives in curriculum development and planning. We have created an advisory topic list in oral pathology and oral medicine.

Certain HPV types have been linked to the genesis and development of premalignant and malignant skin diseases. There have been several contradictory reports on the role of HPV infections in the development of keratoacanthomas (KAs). To further study the involvement of HPVs in the aetiology of KAs, we investigated paraffin-embedded specimens of 80 biopsies of KAs for the presence of HPV 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 26, 37, 38, 47 and 59 DNA by in situ hybridization (ISH) with biotinylated probes under high stringency conditions (Tm-10 degrees C). Every fourth biopsy specimens was also examined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with consensus primers targeting the HPV E1 and L1 regions. The positive cases were further studied by direct DNA sequencing. All specimens proved to be negative for all HPV DNAs studied by ISH. Three out of 20 cases produced in positive PCR amplifications when consensus primers targeting the L1 region were used. However, the same samples remained negative with general primers targeting the E1 region. The DNA sequence analysis of the PCR-positive products showed a 76% homology with HPV type 17. Our results suggest that the known HPV types are unlikely to have any role in the aetiology of KAs.

OBJECTIVES: The popularity of snuff especially among adolescents is rising. The association between long‐term snuff use and oral cancer discovered in epidemiological studies has prompted a variety of preventive measures to be taken to reduce snuff use and prevent adoption of the habit. In this study, the effect of a recent (I March, 1995) snuff sales ban introduced in Finland was investigated. Further, the rates of smoking, snuff use, alcohol use and drug experimenting were investigated before the introduction of the ban to characterize the study population. DESIGN AND SUBJECTS: Two questionnaire studies were carried out. The first was carried out 3 months prior to the ban in 1994 and the second 9 months after the ban in 1995 in a senior high school population in southwestern Finland. The participants were 793 students (aged 15–22 years) in the first survey and 545 students (aged 16–23) in the second. Associations between variables were analyzed using cross‐tabulation and stepwise logistic regression. The effects of the ban were determined on the basis of direct questions in the second questionnaire relating to the snuff sales ban. RESULTS: Snuff was used by 9% of the students participating in the first study. The results of the second questionnaire indicate that the implementation of the snuff sales ban reduced the rate of snuff use by 1% in the study population. The majority of the snuff users (76%) reported that they had maintained their snuff habit. Of those reporting that they were snuff users before implementation of the snuff sales ban, 12% had switched to smoking and 5% to drugs. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study suggest that the snuff sales ban in this population with a high rate of snuff use had little effect on snuff use rates and may have some short‐term negative consequences as some snuff users switch to other substitutes, such as smoking, with known adverse health effects.