High-Power Lasers (HPLs) are capable of creating a plume containing tissue debris, vapor, and viruses (HPV, HIV, etc. ) which is liberated into the surrounding environment and may have a potential role in infection transmission. The employment of these dental lasers is an equivocal concern during the new Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. Since many oral tissues are highly potential reservoirs of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), this study was conducted to scrutinize the possibility of dissemination of this virus through the plume in dental laser treatments during the COVID-19 pandemic. The current evidence shows while the employment of laser is an effective and comfortable tool for dental treatments, it holds some inherent hazards such as producing airborne contaminants. With HPV, HIV, and other viruses already detected in laser plume and considering the presence of ACE2 receptors in the oral cavity, there is a potential risk in laser treatments to produce infectious plume, which may possibly contain SARS-CoV-2. The SARS-CoV-2 virus can potentially be liberated in the plume during dental application of HPLs in suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19. While the amount of aerosol may be different from other routine dental instruments, this modality should be used with crucial care during the COVID-19 outbreak. In this regard, safety precautions in laser application should be rigorously maintained during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Background & Objective: Although the concordance between immunohistochemistry (IHC) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is generally high for HER2 scores of 3+ and 1+, discrepancies remain in cases scored as IHC 2+. This study aimed to evaluate HER2/neu gene amplification using FISH in breast cancer patients with IHC 2+ and to examine associated clinicopathological characteristics.Methods: This retrospective study included tissue samples from 369 women diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast and an equivocal HER2 IHC score (2+). These samples were further assessed for HER2 gene amplification using FISH. Demographic and clinicopathological data were collected and analyzed.Results: The mean age of patients was 51.6 ± 2.6 years. FISH analysis revealed no HER2 amplification in 72.6% of IHC 2+ cases, while 27.4% demonstrated amplification. HER2 amplification was significantly associated with younger age, higher histological grade, lymph node involvement, larger tumor size, and reduced survival rate. No significant association was observed between HER2 amplification and margin involvement.Conclusion: HER2 amplification is a significant predictor of aggressive tumor behavior and may necessitate targeted therapy. In cases with IHC 2+, both FISH results and relevant clinicopathological features should be considered prior to initiating trastuzumab treatment.

Background: Human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2) is known to be an important prognostic factor in breast cancer. Numerous studies have shown HER2+ breast cancers have reduced overall survival and recovery time, as well as the efficacy of anti-HER2 therapies along with chemotherapy in improving disease outcomes. For this reason, it is recommended that all patients with breast cancer should be evaluated for HER2 status. This study aimed to assess the HER2 gene amplification by the CISH method in evaluating the HER2 status in patients with immunohistochemistry (IHC) 2+ (equivocal) results. Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study examined HER2 status based on the Chromogenic in situ hybridization (CISH) method in 280 breast carcinoma samples with an initial 2+ (equivocal) score in IHC. The relationship between HER2 amplification and hormone receptors (estrogen and progesterone) and Ki67 level was also investigated. Results: In sixty samples (21. 4%), the HER2 gene was amplified based on the CISH method. The majority (215, 76. 8%) of the samples were negative and 5 (1. 8%) samples were indeterminate. No significant relationship was observed between HER2 amplification, estrogen receptor (p=0. 143), and Ki-67 protein level (p=0. 977). There was a significant inverse relationship between HER2 amplification and progesterone receptor positivity (p=0. 007). Conclusion: These results demonstrate that CISH is a helpful method to assess HER2 status in equivocal breast cancer and is positive (amplified) in about 21. 4% of them.