RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Telocytes are interstitial cells widely distributed in the extracellular matrix of numerous tissues distinguished by their long, thin, and moniliform projections. Telocytes have a role in the stimulation of angiogenesis and contribute to the development and progression of fibrosis. AIM: The current study aimed to assess and compare the telocyte distribution in normal mucosa, oral submucous fibrosis (OSF), and OSCC associated with OSF (OSCCOSF). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissue blocks of 30 OSF cases, 15 OSCCOSF cases, and 15 normal oral mucosae were obtained. Immunohistochemical staining was done with antibodies to CD34 to assess the vasculature and telocytes. The mean vascular density (MVD) and mean telocyte density were compared between the groups using the Kruskal-Walli test. RESULTS: A statistically significant high MVD (3.4 ± 1.22) and mean telocyte density (3.8 ± 1.35) was observed in OSCCOSF cases while it was lowest in advanced OSF cases. MVD was higher in early OSF cases than in normal mucosa. CONCLUSION: This study showed a decrease in CD34-positive telocytes in OSF, indicating that telocyte loss promotes the development of fibrosis.Increased angiogenesis coexisted with an increase in telocytes in OSCCOSF.
RESUMEN
Sex determination in forensic medicine is considered one of the first and foremost steps in personal identification. The need for identifying the exact sex of the individual arises when deciding whether a person can exercise certain civil rights reserved for one particular sex, for competing in sex-specific athletic and sports events, legitimacy, divorce, paternity disputes and also to some criminal offenses. Nuclear sexing by Barr body examination can be done using buccal smears to establish the sex of the individual when routine methods fail to disclose the exact gender of the individual. Aim: To determine and compare the Barr bodies present in exfoliated buccal epithelial cells in males, females and transgender populations using light and fluorescence microscopy. Materials and Methods: A total of 90 patients were recruited for the study. Group I consisted of 30 female patients. Group II consisted of 30 male patients and group III consisted of 30 transgender patients. The buccal mucosa was then scraped using a wooden spatula and the cells obtained were fixed in 95% ethanol. Two smears per individual were made and stained. One smear was stained with papanicolaou (PAP) stain and the other with Acridine orange and viewed under light microscopy and fluorescent microscopy, respectively. Results: When PAP stained slides were examined, the percentage of Barr-bodies in females ranged from 3% to 5% and in males it was 0% and in transgenders, it ranged from 0% to 5%. In Acridine orange stained smears, the percentage of Barr bodies in females ranged from 1% to 3% and in males it was 0% and in transgenders, it was 0%. Kruskal-Wallis test to study the relation of Barr body percentage in females, males and transgender subjects demonstrated significant differences between the groups (P < 0.001). Wilcoxon signed rank test was done for pairwise comparison, which showed that the distribution of percentage of positive cells in females are statistically significant from males and transgenders (P < 0. 001). Conclusion: Nuclear sexing using Barr bodies offers a simple yet effective method for determining the sex of transgender patients which could help them in understanding their gender identity better and diagnose any underlying chromosomal aberration.