Individuals with oral cancer are colonized with greater number of bacteria and yeast

Changes in the microbial flora on the oral mucosa after cancerous alteration may lead to both local and systemic infections. Researchers from India assessed the microbial flora associated with the surfaces of oral squamous cell carcinoma and compared the oral microbial contents with healthy mucosa. They also assessed the microbial flora from the saliva culture in subjects with oral squamous cell carcinoma and healthy controls.

The study included 30 subjects with oral squamous cell carcinoma and 30 healthy matched controls. The investigators found that oral squamous cell carcinoma sites harbor significantly more bacteria and yeasts compared to the control group. 

The study clearly indicates that the subjects with oral squamous cell carcinoma harbor significantly more microbial flora. The study's implications are that emphasis has to be made to prevent changes in the microbial flora of the oral cavity. This can be achieved by reducing sugar intake, using probiotics when indicated, avoiding unnecessary use of antibiotics, and maintaining good dental and oral hygiene. 

Microscopic view of oral bacteria and yeast 

New tests may Increase detection of oral cancer

Oral cancer has a poor survival rate linked to late detection. Only 60 percent of patients live beyond five years after diagnosis. Among black males, the survival rate is less than 38 percent. Scientists in Taiwan have already developed a new test to measure the amount of carcinogens attached to our DNA just by testing our spit. Researchers at the University of Texas have developed a new portable probe that could be used to diagnose oral cancer. The probe creates three dimensional images of areas within a tissue surface by illuminating the area with a laser. By taking numerous images and layering them on top of one another, it can deliver a large field of view. 

A study of a potential saliva test for oral cancer is also going to be performed at the Michigan StateUniversity College of Human Medicine's Department of Surgery. It is to be done with collaboration with the Delta Dental of Michigan's Research and Data Institute. The study plan to create a simple, cost-effective saliva test to detect oral cancer. 

The study plans to enroll 100-120 patients with white lesions or growths in their mouths and tonsil areas to test. The researchers will be looking for specific biomarkers that were previously identified by researchers at UCLA. These particular biomarkers have been shown in studies to confirm the presence of oral cancer. 

If the clinical trial is successful in helping create a saliva test to detect the biomarker’s presence, doctors and dentists would have a better idea of which patients actually need  biopsies. The test also has the potential to accelerate health care savings, he added, since the number of biopsies can be dramatically reduced.

A probe to collect saliva and detect oral cancer

A woman recovers her voice after 35 years following larynx surgeries

Jan Christian had a traumatic car accident that fractured her windpipe and voice box at the age of seventeen years. Doctors performed surgery to repair her windpipe and larynx enough to let her breathe and swallow, but they couldn't fix her voice. After that she was unable to speak above a muted whisper. Thirty five years later Christian is finally rediscovering what it feels like to be heard after a series of restorative surgeries that used aerospace engineering theories gave her back the gift of speech. The surgeries were performed by Dr. Khosla, the director of the Voice and Swallowing Center at the University of Cincinnati in Ohio. Dr. Khosla rebuilt Christian's windpipe and larynx. Using laser he had to re-break the cartilage and, replace parts of it. He also had to reconstruct the missing vocal cord, using muscle, tissue and fat tissues from other parts of her body. The vocal cord had to be re-built in order to produce sound.

An interview of Christian and Dr. Khosla can be watched.