Background: High-risk human papilloma viruses (HPV) are reported to be significant independent risk factors for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The prevalence of HPV in OSCC in a South African population sample was evaluated comparing three different HPV detection methods.

No abstract

Mutations in the p53 gene have been reported in head and neck carcinomas. We determined the p53 mutation profile in 55 oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs) from a black African population sample. DNA from all the patients were investigated using PCR amplification of the p53 gene (exons 5–9), followed by heteroduplex single‐stranded conformational polymorphism (HEX‐SSCP) analysis on the PCR products. Direct sequencing was performed on cases where mutations were identified. The results showed mutations in 13 of 55 (23.6%) tumours. Eleven of 13 (85%) were single base pair substitutions (9 transitions and 2 transversions), and 2 were deletions. Two novel mutations were identified: a large 63‐base pair deletion, and a single base pair substitution. The mutations in our study occurred outside the head and neck tumour hot spot region (codons 238–248). Hum Mutat 11:39–44, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

STATEMENT OF CLINICAL RELEVANCEEBV-positive mucocutaneous ulcer should be considered in the differential diagnosis of HIVassociated oral ulceration. Its unique clinical, histomorphological and immunophenotypic features should allow for its distinction in this setting, the diagnosis of which necessitates a conservative immune modulating therapeutic approach.3

One hundred and eight ameloblastomas diagnosed in a rural black Africa population were analysed for clinicopathologic findings other than those classically described. One patient had a polycystic ameloblastoma adjacent to an ameloblastic fibroma. Two other polycystic ameloblastomas showed aneurysmal bone cyst formation and one mandibular tumour was diagnosed as a keratoameloblastoma. Microscopic changes resembling an adenomatoid odontogenic tumour were present in association with two unicystic ameloblastomas and a HPV18-positive verrucous lesion occurred in the lining of a cystic space of a polycystic ameloblastoma. Two ameloblastomas contained eosinophilic granules in all tumor cells and melanocytes were diffusely present in another. One case exhibited a focus of mucous cell metaplasia. Two polycystic ameloblastomas showed diffuse interstitial ossification. One mandibular tumor was diagnosed as a desmoplastic ameloblastoma and another as an odontoameloblastoma. This study demonstrated that although ameloblastomas are regarded as a fairly homogeneous group of neoplasms, detailed investigations prove clinicopathologic diversity in a significant number of lesions.

Background:To evaluate the prevalence of human papilloma virus (HPV) infection and types in the oral and cervix mucosa of treatment-naïve HIV-1-positive women with CD4 counts less than 300 cells per ml with no HPV-associated oral lesions. Methods:Oral epithelium was harvested from the buccal mucosa and lateral borders of the tongue and cervical samples were collected from the endocervical area of 30 women, 22-64 years old. Cytobrush Plus cell collectors were used for sampling both anatomical areas. Genital pathology, obstetric and gynaecological history, co-morbid disease, hormone therapy, sexual behavior and smoking history were assessed via physical examination and clinical interviews. Special investigations included cervical Papanicolau smears, CD4 counts and HIV-1 viral loads. The linear array HPV test was used to determine HPV genotypes present in the specimens. Results:Oral HPV were identified in 20% (n = 6) of the patients, of which two had infection with two HPV types. Genital HPV was found in 96.7% (n = 29) of the women, of which only 14 had cytological abnormalities on Papanicolau smear. Infection with multiple HPV types were present in 93.1% (n = 27) of the patients, with an average of four HPV types per individual.Conclusions: South African HIV-positive women with CD4 counts less than 300 cells per ml have a significant risk of cervical HPV strains and multiple strain infection of the cervix. The prevalence of HPV in normal oral mucosa was low but high-risk types were present. Limited correlation between oral HPV types and those identified in the cervical mucosa was found.

No abstract

Abstract:The high number of murder, rape, and child abuse cases in South Africa has led to increased numbers of bite mark cases being heard in high courts. Objective analysis to match perpetrators to bite marks at crime scenes must be able to withstand vigorous crossexamination to be of value in conviction of perpetrators. An analysis technique is described in four stages, namely determination of the mark to be a human bite mark, pattern association analysis, metric analysis and comparison with the population data, and illustrated by a real case study. New and accepted techniques are combined to determine the likelihood ratio of guilt expressed as one of a range of conclusions described in the paper. Each stage of the analysis adds to the confirmation (or rejection) of concordance between the dental features present on the victim and the dentition of the suspect. The results illustrate identification to a high degree of certainty.