Macrophages are present in healthy oral mucosa and their numbers increase dramatically during disease. They can exhibit a diverse range of phenotypes characterised as a functional spectrum from pro-inflammatory to anti-inflammatory (regulatory) subsets. This review illustrates the role of these subsets in the oral inflammatory disease lichen planus, and the immunosuppressive disease oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). We conclude that the role of macrophages in driving progression in oral disease identifies them as potential therapeutic targets for a range of oral pathologies.

The tick responsible for Lyme disease is common in areas inhabited by deer. This should theoretically put military personnel at increased risk. A history of tick bite is uncommon and the characteristic skin rash often absent. Two examples of servicemen with neurological Lyme disease without cutaneous manifestations are discussed, and six other cases referred to the RAF Institute of Pathology and Tropical Medicine since 1987 briefly reviewed. Five of the cases contracted the disease in Germany and four were dependents. Lyme disease is under-recognised and under-reported, so that the scale of the problem cannot be determined. It is recommended that wooded areas inhabited by deer should not be frequented without adequate clothing, particularly in the early summer months when tick activity is at its greatest.

A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of Symmetrel for five months in Parkinson's Disease was performed. Using a daily living ability rating scale, a significant improvement amongst the less severely affected patients and a highly significant improvement of the severely affected patients receiving the drug was observed. The improvement of both groups was maintained for the duration of the study.