Background. Glossodynia or burning mouth syndrome has been suggested to be a multifunctional disorder. Etiologic factors that have been reported include hematologic or vitamin deficiencies, denture factors, the climacteric, infections or endocrinological disorders. On the other hand psychological factors, such as anxiety, depression and phobias have been reported to play a significant role at the beginning of this nosological entity. It seems therefore that there are two main categories of glossodynia, one with a detectable organic etiology and another with a psychologic origin. The purpose of this study was to provide further information concerning the personality characteristics and the incidence of psychopathology in patients suffering from glossodynia without an organic etiology. Methods. Twenty-five patients suffering from glossodynia and 25 control subjects, matched for sex and age, participated in the study. Patients and controls were assessed concerning their psychosomatic morbidity. Both groups were given psychometric instruments (SRSD, STAI, EPQ, HDHQ, SSPS) for the assessment of personality characteristics and psychopathological symptoms. Results. Patients were significantly differentiated from controls with respect to all factors of HDHQ; they exhibited more hostility, either introverted or extroverted, than control subjects. The patients also had significantly higher values in the N (neuroticism) and the L (lie) factors of the EPQ. Concerning the other psychometric measurements there were no significant differences. Patients also had significantly higher rates of psychosomatic morbidity than controls. Conclusions. Our findings indicate that hostility – especially introverted hostility – neuroticism and possibly depression are important components of the psychological profile of patients suffering from glossodynia.

Plasmablastic lymphoma is an aggressive subtype of diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma that is mainly observed in patients with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, and it tends to arise in the oral cavity. We present a case of an HIV‐infected patient with plasmablastic lymphoma with prolonged survival. The 30‐yr‐old woman was found to have an oral lesion at the time of the diagnosis of HIV infection. Histological and immunochemical examination of biopsy of the oral lesion showed plasmablastic lymphoma (CD138+). She received two cycles of cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin, and prednisolone (CHOP) that started 10 weeks after the initiation of antiretroviral therapy. The continuing pancytopenia and an adenoviral febrile infection did not permit further antineoplastic treatment. A gradual decrease of the oral lesion was noted after the second cycle of chemotherapy that led to the disappearance of the lesion 7 months later. The patient remains in complete remission 61 months after the diagnosis of plasmablastic lymphoma. Am. J. Hematol., 2007. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

Aim:  Topoisomerases represent a class of nucleic enzymes involved in the DNA replication, transcription and also chromosome topological formation. Topoisomerase IIa (Topo Iia – gene location 17q21) inhibition promotes cell death and for this reason, it is a target for specific chemotherapy (anthracyclines, podophyllotoxines). Our aim was to investigate the potential prognostic significance of its protein expression in squamous cell carcinomas of the tongue (TSCCs) based on a quantitative, digital image analysis method. Materials and methods:  We analysed immunohistochemically eighty‐seven (n = 87) archival, primary TSCCs using a monoclonal anti‐Topo IIa antibody. A computerised image analysis assay was applied for the evaluation of the results [nuclear labelling index (NLI)]. Survival analysis was also performed. Results:  Topo IIa protein was overexpressed in 48/87 (55.1%) cases. High NLI values were detected in 17/48 (35.4%), whereas moderate levels of expression were detected in 31/48 (64.6%) cases. Statistical significance was not assessed correlating overall protein expression to grade or stage of the examined tumours (P = 0.88, P = 0.73, respectively), but only to the anatomical region (P = 0.04). Cox regression analysis showed that Topo IIa and also the size of the tumours were strongly associated to the survival of the patients (P = 0.01, P = 0.02, respectively). Conclusions:  Topo IIa protein overexpression is a frequent event in TSCCs. Topo IIa may be used as a prognostic factor and also as a basis for targeted chemotherapy strategies in TSCCs. Furthermore, digital image analysis improves the quantification of immunohistochemical stains in an accurate and fast way.