Photodynamic therapy-a promising treatment of oral mucosal infections

The treatment of oral mucosal infections is increasingly challenging owing to antibiotic resistance. Therefore, alternative antimicrobial strategies are urgently required. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has attracted attention for the treatment of oral mucosal infections because of its ability to effectively inactivate drug-resistant bacteria, completely heal clinical infectious lesions and usually offers only mild adverse reactions. This review briefly summarizes relevant scientific data and published papers and discusses the potential mechanism and application of PDT in the treatment of oral mucosal infections.     

Methanol-induced monoamine changes in hypothalamus and striatum of albino rats

This paper suggests that like ethanol, methanol also produces certain changes in the steady state level of monoamines in hypothalamus and striatum of albino rats. Though, the toxic manifestations of methanol are attributed to the metabolic end product of methanol viz. formic acid by several workers, we report here that the methanol-induced brain monoamine changes, at least, could be attributed to the direct action of methanol rather than to its metabolic end products like formaldehyde or formate. Studies in the steady state level of rat brain monoamines have shown that after methanol administration (3 g/kg), there is severe depletion of dopamine level in striatum but a significant increase in the level of dopamine, serotonin and 5-hydroxy indole acetic acid in hypothalamus. At the same time, norepinephrine and epinephrine levels are reduced in hypothalamus as well as in striatum. These effects do not seem to be induced by metabolic acidosis. The changes in monoamine levels are very well correlated with the blood and brain level of methanol as evidenced by maintaining a higher methanol level either by simultaneous administration of ethanol or by blocking methanol metabolism by pretreatment with 4-methyl pyrazole and 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole. It is thus postulated that monoamine changes induced by methanol appear to be the direct effect of methanol per se on the monoaminergic neuronal membranes.     

Crown augmentation using modified bilayered restoration for anchorage: A case report

An ankylosed tooth can be suitable for obtaining orthodontic anchorage. However, if such a tooth lacks adequate clinical crown height, the anchorage will not be effective. In those situations surgical luxation or restorative crown augmentation is suggested. This case report is about the restorative treatment of an ankylosed, infraoccluded tooth to enhance the anchorage for forced orthodontic eruption of impacted maxillary canines. A crown augmentation in the form of a modified bilayered (sandwich) restoration using GIC, Composite resin and Silver amalgam on left maxillary first molar (26) was successful in sustaining the anchorage for forced eruption and alignment of impacted canines.     

Assessment of Seasonal Variability of Cytochemical Responses to Contaminant Exposure in the Blue Mussel <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mytilus edulis</Emphasis> (Complex)

A selected suite of cytochemical parameters in Mytilus edulis are altered in response to field and laboratory exposure to chemical contaminants. These biomarkers include lysosomal stability, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)–ferrihemoprotein reductase activity, liposfuscin deposition, and accumulation of lysosomal and cytoplasmic unsaturated neutral lipid. Normal variations in physiological processes (influenced by exogenous seasonal changes in temperature, salinity, food availability, etc.) may alter the sensitivity of these biomarkers to contaminant exposure. To address this issue, M. edulis (complex) were sampled monthly from a reference nonurban site (Coupeville, Penn Cove) and a polluted urban site (Seacrest, Elliott Bay) in Puget Sound, WA, for a period of 15 months. Physiological measurements including total length, total weight, somatic and mantle weights (an indication of gonadal development and reproductive status), condition index, and the presence or absence of hemic neoplasia (HN, or leukemia) were recorded. Significant differences in lysosomal stability, lysosomal and cytoplasmic unsaturated neutral lipids, lipofuscin deposition, and NADPH–ferrihemoprotein reductase activity in cells of the digestive gland or digestive tubules were generally found in mussels taken throughout the year from Seacrest compared to mussels sampled from Coupeville, consistent with exposure to chemical contaminants. No seasonally influenced suppression of the entire suite of parameters as measures of contaminant exposure was evident. Therefore these biomarkers can be used to evaluate contaminant exposure in mussels throughout the entire year. Received: 16 December 2001/Accepted: 30 May 2002     

FNAC diagnosis of tuberculosis--an eight years study at Mangalore

1. FNAC is a very useful adjunct in the diagnosis of tuberculosis: 2. Diagnosis of tuberculosis can be made by the demonstration of epithelioid granulomas with or without caseation even in the absence of AFB. 3. Necrotic features whether acellular or accompanied by neutrophilic infiltrate are usually misdiagnosed as suppurative abscesses. Such smears however show high AFB positivity and thus the diagnosis of tuberculosis is still possible even in the absence of epithelioid granulomas. 4. Therefore all smears obtained by FNAC of suspected tuberculous lesions should be subjected to ZN staining for AFB.     

Leukoerythrophagocytosis by sinus histiocytes: case report

Leukoerythrophagocytosis by sinus histiocytes in the lymph nodes is a rare cytological observation. Though often seen in lymph nodes draining malignancies, one may occasionally encounter them in vascular lesions. We report a case of leukoerythrophagocytosis by sinus histiocytes of the right supraclavicular lymph nodes in a 35-yr-old male. He presented with a painful soft tissue mass in the right anterior region of the chest wall extending into the axilla of 6 mo duration. Bilateral radial pulsations were absent. The patient had received treatment for pulmonary tuberculosis 1 yr ago. FNAC of the soft tissue mass revealed only blood. Radiological evaluation revealed a vascular lesion, with smooth borders, extending into the upper zone of right lung and displacing the second rib inferiorly. Doppler evaluation confirmed it to be a right subclavian aneurysm with arteritis.     

Malignant fibrous histocytoma of bone in neurofibromatosis--a case report

Multiorgan neoplasms are encountered frequently in patients with neurofibromatosis, which is a genetic disorder. Though skeletal abnormalities are common in these patients, the occurrence of primary bone sarcomas is very rare. We hereby report a case of post-radiation malignant fibrous-histiocytoma of bone developing in an elderly patient with neurofibromatosis.