Zinc has an important role in skin health and its deficiency reduces immunity to evaluate levels of zinc in Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and basal cell carcinoma (BCC) of skin, we studied 44 BCC and 38 SCC cases together with 33 controls. Blood samples were taken and after separation of serum, levels of zinc, albumin and total protein were measured by atomic absorption albumin kit and reflectometer consecutively. Serum globulin levels were estimated by subtracting albumin from total protein levels. Zinc levels were significantly lower in cancer cases than control (P<0.001). Mean serum albumin of BCC cases was significantly more than controls (P<0.01), but in BCC cases was not significantly different. Significant correlations were seen between levels of serum zinc and albumin of SCC (r=0.507, P<0.01) and BCC(r=0.43, P<0.01) patients and controls(r=0.35,P<0.01). Mean globulin levels in cancer cases were significantly lower than control group (P<0.01).We concluded that serum zinc and globulin levels decrease in BCC and SCC of skin.

Since the mid 1970s, several studies have shown that the incidence of Squamous Cell Carcinoma of oral mocusa has been rising steadily. While oral cancer remains Longley a disease associated with older age groups, the increasing incidence has been particularly evident amongst younger adults. Because of severe illness and disability related to the disease and in order to determine the risk factors related to oral cancer type S.C.C. (Squamous Cell Carcinoma), a matched cas-control study was conducted. Data was collected from several centers and in all 52 patients and 104controls were included in the study. Cases and controls were matched according to sex and age (±4 years). Seventy three percent of lesions were in tongue. The ratio cases in women were more than men, but because of matching on sex, The significant test was not performed. There was no significant difference in the frequency of S.C.C type oral cancer between cases and controls with regard to smoking, average of cigarette used in the last year of smoking and over the years of smoking. Other risk factors that showed significant relationship in this study were: using denture, history of oral candidiasis and oral health status. People who had used meat and candies, showed higher probability of caseness more frequently than others. The study findings are in line with already published data.  

Introduction: Oral cancer is a prevalent malignant tumor among head and neck cancers, and Oral Squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) accounts for 90% of oral cancers. Early Diagnosis and treatment is the most important factor in reducing the mortality of OSCC, the purpose of this study is to investigate the level of awareness of final year dental students at Isfahan Azad University about the methods used to diagnose OSCC lesions. Materials and methods: In this cross-sectional descriptive study, which was conducted in the academic year of 2021-2022 among 82 final year students from the Faculty of Dentistry at Isfahan Azad University, a research questionnaire was distributed among the students. Data analysis was done in two descriptive and inferential sections. The collected data were analyzed using non-parametric Mann-Whitney test and Spearman correlation coefficient at the error level of 0.05% (p value < 0.05). Results: The findings of the current research indicate that 47.9% of female students and 52.1% of male students; 80.5% of students were single, 19.5% were married, 74.4% were native and 25.6% were non-native. The average knowledge score was above average (3.48 out of 6), and there were no significant differences in the average knowledge scores between male and female students, single and married, and native and non-native (p value > 0.05). Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that the level of knowledge and awareness among final year dental students of Isfahan Islamic Azad University in relation to the Diagnosis of OSCC lesions is average and far from the ideal level.

Objective: Since colposcopy biopsy test plays a significant role in the evaluation of cervix, especially in patients with an abnormal result of Pap smear test, therefore, this research study was conducted to compare the results of Pap smear and colposcopy directed punch biopsy tests at Firoozgar and Akbarabady hospitals from 2001 to 2003. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 80 convenientlysampled women at different ages with an abnormal result of Pap smear test. In this respect, colposcopy directed biopsy was taken from suspicious areas of these patients. Results: A positive predictive value equal to 67.5% was found in patients with an abnormal result of Pap smear and colposcopy directed biopsy tests which confirmed the reliability of the study. Conclusion: These findings strongly suggest the necessity to obtain cervicovaginal smears from all sexually active women and for this purpose colposcopy directed biopsy is the best choice for evaluation of patients with an abnormal result of Pap smear test.

Background and Aim: Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) constitutes 94% of oral malignancies. In recent decade many molecular and genetic changes have been known to affect tumoral behavior which might be good targets for new drug production. It is known that expression of EGF is correlated with poor prognosis and expression of laminin- 5 can lead to the development of premalignant lesions to in situ or invasive malignancies. The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between the expression of EGFR and laminin- 5 with clinical stage and microscopic grade of oral see.Materials & Methods: Forty two paraffin blocks with Diagnosis of see were collected from oral pathology department of Shahid Beheshti dental school. Immunohistochemical staining was performed with antibodies against EGFR and laminin -5. Two pathologists counted the number of stained cells under light microscope and expression of these two markers was compared by Kendal test.Results: No significant correlation was found between expression of EGFR and tumoral stage and grade. But a significant correlation was found between the expression of laminin-5 with tumoral grade and stage was found (p<0.01).Conclusion: It is concluded that laminin-5 is a marker with a significant effect in developing of a higher tumoral stage and grade but more precise researches are needed to identifying the role of EGFR.

Statement of the Problem: Squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) and premalignant disorders such as leukoplakia are common oral cavity lesions. Although these lesions are Epithelial in nature, they are also associated with juxta-Epithelial chronic inflammation. Mast cells play a significant role in inflammation initiation and propagation.Purpose: Previous studies have yielded conflicting results in this field. Therefore, this research aimed to assess the number of mast cells in oral SCC and dysplastic leukoplakia and explore their possible role in these lesions.Materials and Method: In this retrospective cross-sectional study, sixty-three archival cases, including 22 OSCCs, 28 dysplastic leukoplakias as Epithelial dysplasia (ED), and 13 normal oral mucosal tissues, were examined for mast cells, using toluidine blue staining. Hotspot areas were identified at 10× magnification and mast cells were counted in 5 fields at 40× magnification. The average cell numbers were calculated, and the severity of inflammation was scored. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS statistical software 20, including One-way ANOVA, Two-way ANOVA, paired-t test, and independent t-test. p Value < 0.05 was considered significant.Results: Among the 51 pathologic lesions, 54.9% were males and 45.1% were females, with a mean age of 56.34±15.35 years. The most common locations were the tongue and buccal mucosa. The mast cell count was significantly lower in SCC compared to ED (p= 0.009). There was no correlation between mast cell count and inflammation score (p= 0.345).Conclusion: In this study, the mast cell count was higher in ED compared to OSCC, sugg-esting an increase in these cells during the pre-malignant stages. However, the number of mast cells decreased after connective tissue invasion and microenvironmental changes occurred.

Background and purpose: Mast cells as the multi-functional and complex cells play a key role in tumor progression. Due to the higher malignant potential of Oral Squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) compared with cutaneous Squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC), the purpose of this study was to compare the mast cells count in Squamous cell carcinoma of the skin and oral cavity and evaluate their correlation with the degree of differentiation of these tumors.Materials and methods: In this retrospective study, 30 cases of OSCC and 30 cases of cSCC were investigated. Toluidine blue staining was used to identify the number of mast cells in samples. Data was analyzed in SPSS (V.21) applying Mann-Whitney, Kruskal Wallis and Pearson correlation coefficient tests.Results: The mean count of mast cells in OSCC and cSCC were 46±29.68 and 63.66±40.85, respectively, indicating a significant difference (P=0.012). The mean counts of mast cells in grade I OSCC and grade III of cSCC were higher than those of other grades but the differences were not statistically significant (P>0.05).Conclusion: The average number of mast cells in oral Squamous cell carcinoma was less than that in cutaneous Squamous cell carcinoma. It seems that other factors such as cytokines and chemokines released from tumor cells and inflammatory cells other than mast cells are effective in the progression of oral Squamous cell carcinoma.