A retrospective study was undertaken to assess causes of maxillofacial fractures in Helsinki in 1981 and 1997. Hospital records of 725 patients were analyzed according to several factors including age, sex, cause of fracture and time of the injury. The time intervals between the accident and hospital examination were also evaluated. Number of maxillofacial fractures was 318 in 1981 and 407 in 1997 (27.9% increase) and most patients were men. The male to female ratio was 2.8:1 in 1981, 3:1 in 1997. In 1981, most affected patients were in the age group of 31-40 years (33.2% of men, 28.9% of women). Sixteen years later the most affected age group was 41-50 years (23.3% of men, 30.4% of women). Assault was the cause of the injury in 42% of patients followed by traffic accidents (26%) and fall (17%). During the study period violence had become more severe in nature. Kicking as the cause of maxillofacial fracture increased by 7.3% and use of a weapon by 5.7% between the years studied. Bicycle accidents increased by 19.3% but motor vehicle accidents decreased by 31.6% between the years. Falls, and bicycle and pedestrian accidents were the causes that accounted for most of the increase in maxillofacial fracture. In 1997, maxillofacial fractures were slightly more common from June to August and from Friday to Sunday than at other times (45.2 and 50%, respectively).

The loosening of dental implants is associated with peri-implant vertical bone loss. The mechanisms and mediators of this bone destruction are not known. To test the hypothesis that collagenase-2 and collagenase-3 might be markers or maybe even mediators in this process, we measured collagenase-2 (time-resolved immunofluorometric assay) and collagenase-3 (quantitative immunoblot) in peri-implant sulcus fluid in 49 implant sites in 13 patients. Vertical bone loss was graded as being < 1 mm, from 1 to 3 mm, or > 3 mm. The severity of inflammation, as rated according to Gingival Index, did not correlate with the category of bone loss (p > 0.05). Collagenase-2 and collagenase-3 were higher (p < 0.05) in the group which had lost > 3 mm of bone than in the two other groups. Gingival Index is not a clinically important marker for bone loss, but collagenase-2 and collagenase-3 in peri-implant sulcus fluid are. They might participate in peri-implant osteolysis.

Oral hairy leukoplakia (HL) has been regarded as an early sign of HIV infection, and its clinical importance related to the poor outcome of the patients has been emphasized. Initially, HL was observed exclusively among male homosexuals, but subsequently demonstrated in all risk groups of HIV infection. The patient described in this article suggests that oral HL is not specific for HIV infection per se, but may be associated with immunosuppression also due to other causes. We describe an HIV-seronegative, heterosexual man suffering from an acute myeloblastic leukemia, who developed clinically and histologically typical HL while on cytostatics. Biopsy showed areas with characteristic ballooning cells, and hyphae of yeasts were demonstrated with PAS-stain. Using the in situ hybridization technique, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA with high copy numbers was disclosed in the superficial and intermediate cells, whereas human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA (types 6, 11, 16, 18) was not present.

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