Faculty of Health Sciences
School of Dentistry
Department of Oral Pathology and Oral Biology
Selected Highlights from Research Findings
The second aspect of the study evaluating the molecular profile of oral Plasmablastic lymphomas was done in collaboration with the Somatic Cell Genetics Unit Department of Haematology and Molecular Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand (WITS) and completed successfully. Only a single case report on the cytogenetic features of these neoplasms has been described in the literature. Through cytogenetic analysis we confirmed the high grade nature of these lymphomas and explained it by its frequent association with EBV-infection and complex genetic rearrangement of MYC either as a single event or as part of a complex karyotype. The Burkitt’s lymphoma translocation, t(8;14) represents the most frequently encountered genetic rearrangement in PBL and the increased copy numbers of CCND1 encountered in this study also explain it aggressive clinical course and high proliferation index. The manuscript prepared from this work was published in 2011 in a high impact journal: Oral Oncology 47: 883-887, 2011. This work formed part of the PhD degree which was conferred to Prof Sonja Boy during the Spring 2011 graduation ceremony.
Prof Herman Bernitz received international recognition given to his 15 years of bite mark research. His work was acknowledged in the latest textbook " Bitemark evidence, a color atlas and text by Robert B.J.Dorion, 2011. He was also invited by the International Association of Forensic Sciences and the Commonwealth Dental Association to give workshops and keynote addresses on his research related to all aspects of bitemark analysis in Madeira and Barbados respectively. A research project which tested the reliability of Demirjian's age estimation technique on our black population was successfully completed. The research showed that correction factors were indeed necessary if the standard Demirjian analysis was used on our local black population. The research culminated in the completion of a MSc degree for Dr Andre Uys.
A publication emanating from the MSc work of Dr Sulette Nel was published Veterinary Pathology in January 2011. an image from this article was used as the cover of this journal.
Prof van Heerden was co-author of a chapter in a book together with Prof James Ker of the Department of Physiology. His work various aspects of oral cancer wa larely responsible for the drive for the Dental Association of South Africa to identify oral cancer as their main oral health theme for 2011-2012. Articles for the general practitioner have appeared in scientific journals and in the press. This initiative is coordinated by Prof Andre van Zyl, Head of the Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine and a PhD student of Prof van Heerden.
Contact person: Prof H Bernitz.
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