Elements in normal oral mucosa were determined by Particle Induced X-ray. Emission (PIXE) method. The samples were taken from 62 healthy persons (32 male and 32 female) ranging 11 to 77 years old with a mean age of 33.3 years. According to the age of donors, the samples were divided into 4 groups: group I (under 19 years old), group II (20 to 39 years old), group III (40 to 59 years old), and group IV (over 60 years old). Thirty-five elements were detected in normal oral mucosa. Submajor elements were in all samples. Trace elements such as Si, Mn, Fe, Cu and Zn were detected in over 90% samples, in which Si, Fe and Zn showed high concentration. Ultratrace elements such as Br and Rb were detected in over 90% samples. Eleven contaminated elements were detected and especially Al and Pb were in all samples. In the mean value of Se and Pb, male showed higher value than the female. In the mean value of Sb, female showed higher value than the male. In the three elements (Mg, P, S), significant differences were observed by age groups. In the mean values of all the elements, there were no significant differences between two sample groups from persons with metallic prosthetic restorations and without.

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In order to clarify the epithelial intercellular junctions in oral lichen planus (OLP), we investigated immunolocalization of desmosomal cadherins, including desmoglein 1, 2 (Dsg1 and Dsg2) and desmocollin 1, 3 (Dsc1 and Dsc3) that are adhesion molecules in desmosomes. The sections of the tissues obtained from 15 cases of OLP were examined by immunohistochemistry. Immunolocalization of Dsg1 has been shown in the basal and spinous layers, and has remarkably decreased in the cases with moderate liquefaction degeneration in the basal cell layers or the inflammatory cells infiltration in the lamina propria. Dsg2 were present in the basal cell layers, Dsc1 in the spinous upper layers irregularly in the hyperkeratinized lesions, and Dsc3 in the basal and spinous layers. These results suggest that localization of Dsg1 decrease in the spinous layers due to liquefaction degeneration in the basal cell layers and inflammatory cells infiltration in the lamina propia, while localization of Dsg2, Dsc1, and Dsc3 increase in hyperkeratinized tissues. Thus, the change of desmosomal cadherin in OLP might lead to the change of cell-to-cell adhesion.

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More than 70 human papillomavirus (HPV) species have been isolated, and some of them are closely associated with benign or malignant human epithelial tumors. Specific types of HPV, especially HPV types 16 and 18, have been studied as a possible etiologic agent of cervical cancers. We report a case of aggressive papilloma and carcinoma in situ associated with high lisk type HPV. DNA was extracted from paraffinembedded tissue of aggressive papilloma and carcinoma in situ. PCR and Southern hybridization were used for the detection of HPV with consensus primers. High lisk type HPV was detected in both aggressive papilloma and carcinoma in situ. These results indicate that the occurence of aggressive papilloma and carcinoma in situ is associated with high lisk type HPV.

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The correlation of epithelial dysplasia with the expression of TGF-α and p53 protein was studied in oral leukoplakia with epithelial dysplasia. For this purpose, TGF-α and p53 protein were examined immunohistochemically in 48 cases of oral leukoplakia. Then the correlation of WHO's items for epithelial dysplasia with the expression of TGF-α and p53 protein was evaluated.
The results revealed that the expression of TGF-α and p53 protein became strong with increasing number of WHO's items. In the case with high positivity of TGF-α and p53 protein, the WHO's items 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 and the WHO's items 3, 4, 6 and 7 were observed more frequency than in the cases with low positivity of TGF-α and p53 protein, respectively. These results suggest that of TGF-α and p53 protein may play a role in proliferation of epithelial cells, because these irems are thought to be related to cell division or proliferation.

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We report a case of squamous cell carcinoma originating in the oral floor of a 53-year-old female patient after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation for chronic myeloblastic leukemia. The patient had been treated with immunosuppressants for chronic graft-versus-host disease. A residual lichenoid lesion of oral floor had transformed to squamous cell carcinoma during 6 years.
It is emphasized that chronic graft-versus-host disease after bone marrow transplantation is strongly linked with an excess risk of squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity. Careful long-term follow-up of oral lesions after bone marrow transplantation is essential in order to detect second tumors at early stage.

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