Highlights SARS-CoV-2 interfered primarily by angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor. Depending on the viral load, SARS-COV-2 infections spread to other major organs, mainly based on ACE2 receptor expression. Cytokine storm and organ crosstalk result in systemic inflammation with multi-organ failure syndromes.

Background: Various environmental factors have been reported to play key role in the development of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). A lesser known risk factor of oral cancer in India is the uncontrolled use of areca nut chewing. In North-East India, Areca nut, locally called as “Tamol” in Assam, is raw betel nut, lime and betel leaf without tobacco, which are more effective as compared to dried which can be the important contributing factor for OSCC. Objectives: The aim of the study was to detect the association between XRCC1 polymorphisms and increased risk of OSCC in tamol chewers population in Assam, India. Methods: 50 OSCC patients, 50 tamol chewers and 50 controls were enrolled in the study. XRCC1 Arg399Gln polymorphisms were determined by using polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Results: There was a significant association for XRCC1 codon 399 (Arg/Gln+Gln/Gln) (p<0.05; OR=1.909, CI= 0.8622- 4.227) with the wild type in cancer sample as compared with control sample. Similarly, the positive association for 399G/G (p<0.05; OR =2.842, CI = 0.919-8.79) genotypes with oral carcinoma and control sample. In case of tamol chewers, the AA genotype was found to be associated with 2-fold (OR- 2.25, CI= 0.709-7.14) increase risk of developing oral cancer while GA+AA genotype was associated with one and half fold (OR-1.62, CI=0.7354- 3.568) risk of developing oral cancer. Conclusions: Based on these results, the XRCC1399G>A genotype could be used as a useful molecular biomarker to predict genetic susceptibility in tamol chewers population and its susceptibility to develop OSCC.

BACKGROUND: Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and cervical cancer remain chief health complications for women globally. Cervical cytology by Papanicolaou (Pap)-stained smears is an effective means of screening for cervical premalignant and malignant situations. This study was designed to determine and assess the prevalence and characteristics of abnormal Pap smears in this region of Sikkim, India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted in the Departments of Pathology at Multi-Specialty Hospital in Gangtok, Sikkim. All Pap smears screened during 2018 and 2020 were included in this study. Approximately 1256 Pap smears were reported based on Bethesda III System (2001). All abnormal smears patients' data were collected and evaluated accordingly. RESULTS: Most of the patients screened during the 2 years belonged to the ethnic group of Bhutias (15.45%), followed by Rai (12.90%), and the majority were aged 31–40 years (43.78%). Epithelial abnormalities categorized as atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance, atypical squamous cells-high-grade lesions, low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion, and high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion were found in 18.07%, 15.04%, 7.25%, and 4.77% of the women, respectively. The majority of the women with abnormal Pap smear were associated with inflammatory response, with moderate inflammation (33.07%), followed by severe (30.75%) and mild (24.36%) inflammation. The most common pattern was inflammatory which includes neutrophilic infiltration and reactive cellular changes with 66.6% of the case having irregular uterine bleeding (P = 0.002) followed by abnormal vaginal discharge (P = 0.3) and lower abdominal pain (P = 0.005). CONCLUSION: Prevalence of abnormal Pap smears in Sikkim, India is relatively low compared with other states of India. In contrast, the prevalence of progressive glandular anomalies with inflammation was observed to be high.

Objective: To identify potential proteomic salivary biomarker in tamol chewers and comparing it to healthy and Oral squamous cell carcinoma cases. Methods: A total of fifty unstimulated saliva samples were collected from the healthy volunteers, tamol chewers (without tobacco), and OSCC patients referred to North-East cancer Hospital, Jorabat, Assam, India. The 2-D gel analysis and western blotting were performed to analyze protein profiling. Results: The identified proteins were serum albumin, HSP (Heat shock protein) 27, gamma actin, SCC (Squamous cell carcinoma) 1, and Annexin A4. All the proteins were associated with OSCC development when their values were compared with those of normal healthy subjects. HSP27 was subjected to further validation using western blotting methods. An increase of 18.39% (Serum Albumin), 15.04% (gamma actin), 14.01% (SSC 1), and 20.22% (ANX4) were observed in Tamol chewers when compared with healthy control subjects. Conclusion: Our results revealed that the identified salivary proteins have a positive association with OSCC development. Profiling of these saliva proteomes especially HSP (Heat shock protein) 27 as a potential biomarker for OSCC detection in the high-risk population is recommended.

No abstract