We identified 5% somatic mutational frequency in the intronic region of the tyrosine phosphatase domain of the PTEN gene; however, mutations were found absent in the coding region. Therefore, PTEN gene mutation is not a frequent event in the pathogenesis of OSCC in the targeted Indian cohort.

Head and neck cancers together (oral cavity, pharynx and larynx) are sixth commonest worldwide and are the commonest cancers in developing countries. The Cancer Project was started in Kheda/Anand, Gujarat, a harvest land of tobacco. The objective of this programme was to indoctrinate the most vulnerable and the least tended upon; the basics of head and neck cancers via the medium of their own kins. Voluntary village health workers were educated and trained to pick up the early signs of head and neck cancers. Oral self examination was taught to them and they went to peripheral villages to screen the population. They would refer suspicious cases to tertiary healthcare centre. The population was enlightened upon the basics of preventable measures, treatment options and rehabilitation facilities for head and neck cancer patients. Knowledge, attitude and practice analysis was done in the population which showed widespread disbelief and false practices. A population of 26,10,432 was surveyed in 1862 villages of which 10,522 (1.1%) individuals successfully quit the habit. The minimally educated workers referred 3309 suspicious individuals to higher centre of which 1890 (57.11%) tested positive for cancer. A lot of resource is put in research and development of rapid diagnosis and complete cure; however such a minimally costing program may help the most in primordial, primary and secondary level of prevention. Such programs should be advocated on the global platform on lines of Breast Self Examination.

Purpose Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC)-a subset ofhead and neck cancer is the sixth most common cancer worldwide and leading disease in India. The genes involved in PI3 K/AKT (Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-Akt) pathway, such as PIK3CA (Phosphoinositide-3-kinase catalytic α) and PTEN (Phosphatase and tensin homologue) were found to be associated with OSCC. The present study was aimed to find the genetic association of various polymorphisms in intron 9 of the PIK3CA gene and intron 5 of PTEN gene with primary OSCC tumors. Methodology 50 OSCC patients for PIK3CA gene, 60 OSCC patients for PTEN gene and 72 healthy individuals were included in the study. PCR-direct sequencing analyzed the polymorphisms in intron 9 of PIK3CA and intron 5 of PTEN gene. Results and conclusion We observed rs114587137 (C>T) and rs17849071 (T>G) SNPs in intron 9 of the PIK3CA gene and rs35560700 (C>T) SNP in intron 5 of the PTEN gene. T allele of rs17849071 (T>G) was associated with the high-risk allele for developing OSCC; while G allele seemed to have the protective effect against OSCC (P = 0.02). We found an inverse association of rs17849071 (T>G) with OSCC development. Keywords OSCC · PIK3CA · PTEN · SNP · IndianAbbreviations PIK3CA Phosphoinositide-3-kinase catalytic α PTEN Phosphatase and tensin homologue OSCC Oral squamous cell carcinoma HNSCC Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas SNP Single nucleotide polymorphism

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Faciomaxillary and ocular trauma is a common entity in most emergency and trauma units. We came across a 68-year-old female patient with a history of bull horn injury over the right eye. Examination revealed an empty orbital socket with unreliable perception of light present. Imaging showed that the eye had displaced posteroinferomedially to be lying in the ethmoid air cells in the nasal cavity. Under nasal endoscopic guidance, the eye was reposited back into the orbital socket and conjunctival sutures were taken to stabilize the position. The patient had vision of counting fingers at 1.5 m on the first postoperative day which improved to 6/24 on last follow-up. Such is the rarity that never before has such a case been described in literature where traumatic displacement of eyeball into the nose has been successfully repositioned by an endonasal endoscope with appreciable regaining of vision. It also further promotes endonasal endoscopic approach in the management of orbital blow out injuries.