Background: Micronuclei are chromatin masses that arise from chromosomal fragments or whole chromosome that lack behind at the anaphase stage of cell division. Their presence in cells means the number of chromosomal aberrations arising during mitosis. Cigarette smoke contains over 4000 chemical carcinogens, with 200 known carcinogens that show significant genotoxic effects in human cells. Chronic high levels of glucose during Diabetes Mellitus are thought to increase oxidative stress and the formation of free radicals that in turn damage cells. Reactive oxygen species chemically attack cellular components altering metabolism, inflammatory mediators, and antioxidant defense mechanisms, overall favoring the pathogenesis of the disease and the persistence of genetic damage. Scoring of micronuclei is considered a DNA damage biomarker for chromosomal damage and instability. Aim: Considering this, we decided to evaluate & compare the frequency of micronuclei in oral epithelial cells in smokers & in diabetics. Materials & Methods: A total number of eligible 150 individuals were included in the study; 50 smokers without diabetes, 50 smokers with diabetes & 50 age and sex matched non smoker healthy individuals group as controls. Oral epithelial cells were taken from buccal smears and subjected to PAP stain. Mean micronuclei were taken from all the subjects. Results: Least number of micronuclei was found in non smoker, non diabetic group & highest numbers were found in smoker, Diabetic group. Conclusion: Micronuclei assay is non-invasive technique that offers a very simple method for obtaining information on status of the epithelial cells, particularly DNA damage, proliferative potential of basal cells and cell death.

Background: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common oral malignancy, representing up to 80–90% of all malignant neoplasms of the oral cavity. The increasing cases of oral cancer are the most important concern for community health. Defects of mitosis result in various nuclear abnormalities namely micronuclei, binucleation, broken egg appearance, pyknotic nuclei, and increased numbers of mitotic figures. The rationale for mitotic counting is that it is frequently used for classification and grading of tumors, prediction of prognosis of tumors and even advocated as a decision point for treatment. Reproducibility of the mitotic counting is paramount for the assessment of malignancy on a histologic scale. Considering this, we decided to assess the inter-observer variability in mitotic figure counting in various grades of oral squamous cell carcinoma. Material Methods: A retrospective study was carried out on 48 formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissue blocks of the confirmed cases of Oral squamous cell carcinoma in the archives of department of oral pathology, Govt. Dental College Hospital, Srinagar. Mitotic figure counting was done by two independent, mutually blind observers. The data was assessed for inter-observer variability in counting of figures. Results: Least difference was seen in cases of WDSCC up to the maximum difference of 3 mitoses. MDSCC showed modest differences in observations, with a maximum difference of 4 mitoses. PDSCC cases had the highest inter-observer variability, with a maximum difference of 5 mitoses. Conclusion: Mitosis counting has been shown most convincingly to provide independent prognostic value and is the most well established component of the histological grading systems of OSCC. Reproducibility of the mitotic counting is paramount for the assessment of malignancy on a histologic scale.

Background: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a commonly occurring head and neck cancer. It has a high prevalence, and is associated with a high mortality rate. OSCC occurs due to many etiological factors, but smoking and alcohol remain the most common risk factors. The histological grading of tumors has been used to predict the clinical behaviour of OSCC. Broder’s initiated quantitative grading in cancer. Anneroth’s and Hansen developed another grading system for grading of OSCC’s. With this background, a study was undertaken to compare between Anneroth’s Broder’s grading systems in oral squamous cell carcinoma in relation to histopathological prognostic factors. Material Methods: A retrospective study was carried out on 50 formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissue blocks of the confirmed cases of Oral squamous cell carcinoma in the archives of department of oral pathology, Govt. Dental College Hospital, Srinagar. The cases were evaluated on the basis of Broder’s Anneroth’s grading systems for OSCC the comparison of the systems was made pertaining to histopathological prognostic parameters. Results: In our study according to Anneroth’s system maximum cases comes under grade III while in Broder’s system maximum cases are in grade I II. Conclusion: Anneroth’s classification provides us a detailed analysis of grading the cases according to scoring of each parameter. Thus, it is more informative than Broder’s grading system.