Invasive cervical resorption: a case report

Invasive cervical resorption (ICR) is a relatively uncommon form of external resorption, which may occur in any tooth in the permanent dentition. Characterized by its cervical location and invasive nature, this resorptive process leads to progressive and usually destructive loss of the tooth structure, the clinical features of which often resemble internal resorption ("pink tooth"). This article describes a case report of ICR and its management. The salient features were a large resorptive defect and localized fibrous in-growth located almost wholly on the cervicolabial aspect of the maxillary incisor crown involving the enamel and dentin.     

Evaluation of fracture resistance in simulated immature teeth using resilon and ribbond as root reinforcements – An in vitro study

Abstract – Background/Aim: To compare the reinforcement and strengthening ability of resilon, gutta‐percha, and ribbond in endodontically treated roots of immature teeth. Material and Methods: Sixty five freshly extracted human maxillary anterior teeth were prepared with a Peeso no. 6 to simulate immature teeth (Cvek’s stage 3 root development). After instrumentation, each root was irrigated with sodium hypochlorite and with ethylene diamino tetra acetic acid to remove the smear layer. To simulate single visit apexification technique a 4–5 mm white Pro Root mineral trioxide aggregate plug was placed apically using schilder carrier. The teeth were divided into three experimental groups and one control group. Group I – control group (root canals instrumented but not filled); Group II – backfilled with thermoplastisized gutta‐percha using AH plus sealer; Group III – reinforced with Resilon using epiphany sealer; Group IV – reinforced with Ribbond fibers using Panavia F luting cement. A Universal Testing Machine was used to apply a load, at the level of the lingual cementoenamel junction with a chisel‐shaped tip The peak load to fracture was recorded and statistical analysis was completed using student’s t‐test. Results: Values of peak load to fracture were 1320.8, 1604.88, 1620, and 1851newtons for Group I to Group IV respectively. The results of student’s t‐test, revealed no significant difference (P > 0.05,) between Group II and Group III. Comparison between Group IV and Group III and between Group IV and Group II revealed highly significant difference (P > 0.001). Conclusions: Teeth reinforced with Ribbond fibers using Panavia F luting cement showed the highest resistance to fracture. Resilon could not strengthen the roots and showed no statistically significant difference when compared with thermopasticised gutta‐percha in reinforcing immature tooth when tested with universal testing machine in an experimental model of immature tooth.     

Prosopis cineraria: A potential nootropic agent

Context: Prosopis cineraria (L.) Druce (Leguminosae), a plant of the Thar Desert of India and Pakistan is used traditionally by local people for the treatment of memory disorders and to arrest wandering of the mind. Objective: The study includes scientific validation of P. cineraria for nootropic activity. To elucidate the possible mechanism, the anticholinesterase activity was also investigated in different parts of the brain. Materials and methods: Methanol extract of P. cineraria stem bark (200, 400 and 600 mg/kg body weight p.o.) was administered once in a day for 7 days to rats and these rats were then subjected to Morris water-maze (MWM) test for spatial reference memory (SRM) and spatial working memory (SWM) versions of memory testing. The inhibitory effect of the extract on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in discrete rat brain regions (prefrontal cortex [PFC], hippocampus [HIP] and amygdala [AMY]) was also investigated using acetyl thiocholine iodide and dithiobisnitrobenzoic acid reagent. Results and discussion: The oral administrations of methanol extract of P. cineraria in all doses tested, significantly (p < 0.05) improved both spatial reference and working memories in the MWM test in terms of decrease in escape latency during SRM and increase in time spent in the target quadrant during SWM probe trial. A ceiling effect was observed at 400 mg/kg. Pre-treatment for 7 days significantly inhibited the activity of AChE in the HIP, PFC and AMY. Conclusion: The extract exerted significant nootropic activity in the MWM test which may be attributed to the inhibition of brain AChE.     

Pedalium murex Linn.: an overview of its phytopharmacological aspects

Pedalium murex Linn (family: Pedaliaceae) (P. murex) commonly known as Large Caltrops and Gokhru (India) is a shrub found in the Southern part, Deccan region of India and in some parts of Ceylon. Different parts of the plant are used to treat various ailments like, cough, cold and as an antiseptic. Interestingly, P. murex is reported traditionally to have an excellent cure in patients with reproductive disorders which are mainly impotency in men, nocturnal emissions, gonorrhoea as well as leucorrhoea in women. The plant has also benifited in complications like urinary track disorder as well as gastro intestinal tract disorders. Phytochemically the plant is popular for the presence of a considerable amount of diosgenin and vanillin which are regarded as an important source and useful starting materials for synthesizing steroidal contraceptive drugs and isatin alkaloids. Other phytochemicals reported in the plant includes quercetin, ursolic acid, caffeic acid, amino acids (glycine, histidine, tyrosine, threonine, aspartic acid and glutamic acid) and various classes of fatty acids (triacontanoic acid, nonacosane, tritriacontane, tetratriacontanyl and heptatriacontan-4-one). Pharmacologically, the plant have been investigated for antiulcerogenic, nephroprotective, hypolipidemic, aphrodisiac, antioxidant, antimicrobial and insecticidal activities. From all these reports it can be concluded that the plant were found to have a better profile with potential natural source for the treatment of various range of either acute or chronic disease. The overall database of our review article was collected from the scientific sources in regards with all the information of the research article for P. murex published so far.     

Cleidocranial dysplasia: a case report

Cleidocranial dysplasias is an autosomal dominant disorder that presents with skeletal dysplasia. The dental manifestations are mainly delayed exfoliation of primary teeth and delayed eruption of permanent teeth, with multiple impacted supernumeraries. This report addresses the complex nature of the treatment modalities. In our patient, surgical exposure of unerupted teeth was done with orthodontic traction. Post-surgical follow-up was uneventful.     

Dental service utilization of disabled children

This study examines factors influencing the use of dental services by disabled children. A total of 322 disabled children, aged 6 to 18 years, attending nine special schools were randomly selected for a clinical examination. Their parents or guardians were interviewed to determine the child's pattern of dental service use, parental perception of the child's dental needs, and special problems encountered with seeking care. It was found that 68.3% of the children had never visited a dentist within the previous year. The most common reason given for no care was an assumption that "nothing was wrong." The results indicated a low rate of dental service use among the disabled children. A lack of parental dental awareness appeared to be a major contributory factor.     

Severe transplant‐associated thrombotic microangiopathy in patients with hemoglobinopathies

Incidence and severity of transplant‐associated thrombotic microangiopathy (TA‐TMA) in patients with hemoglobinopathies receiving hematopoietic cell transplant is unknown. We report the outcomes for two patients with TA‐TMA who received eculizumab. A 2.5‐year‐old male with sickle cell disease developed TA‐TMA‐associated pericardial tamponade, severe hypertension, and acute kidney injury 2 months after transplant. A 7‐year‐old female with β‐thalassemia major developed TA‐TMA‐related acute kidney injury, severe hypertension, and seizures at 6 months after transplant. Both patients progressed to chronic kidney disease (CKD). In patients with hemoglobinopathies, preexisting endothelial dysfunction may place them at a greater risk for TA‐TMA and subsequent CKD.     

Biochemical characterization of Plasmodium falciparum Sir2, a NAD+-dependent deacetylase

In Plasmodium falciparum, the causative agent of cerebral malaria, silent information regulator 2 (Sir2) has been implicated in pathogenesis through its role in var gene silencing. P. falciparum Sir2 (PfSir2) in addition to the catalytic core, has a 13 residue N-terminal and 4 residue C-terminal extension over the shorter Archaeoglobus fulgidus Sir2. In this paper, we highlight our studies aimed at understanding the kinetic mechanism of PfSir2 and the role of N- and C-terminal extensions in protein function and oligomerization. Bisubstrate kinetic analysis showed that PfSir2 exhibits a rapid equilibrium ordered sequential mechanism, with peptide binding preceding NAD(+). This study also reports on surfactin as a novel Sir2 inhibitor exhibiting competitive inhibition with respect to NAD(+) and uncompetitive inhibition with acetylated peptide. This inhibition pattern with surfactin provides further support for ordered binding of substrates. Surfactin was also found to be a potent inhibitor of intra-erythrocytic growth of P. falciparum with 50% inhibitory concentration in the low micromolar range. PfSir2, like the yeast homologs (yHst2 and Sir2p), is a trimer in solution. However, dissociation of trimer to monomers in the presence of NAD(+) is characteristic of the parasite enzyme. Oligomerization studies on N- and/or C-terminal deletion constructs of PfSir2 highlight the role of C-terminus of the protein in mediating homotrimerization. N-terminal deletion resulted in reduced catalytic efficiency although substrate affinity was not altered in the constructs. Interestingly, deletion of both the ends relaxed NAD(+) specificity.     

Effectiveness of vaginal tablets containing lactobacilli versus pH tablets on vaginal health and inflammatory cytokines: a randomized, double-blind study

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of lactobacilli on vaginal health and proinflammatory cytokines. Sixty-seven patients with bacterial vaginosis (BV), 50 with intermediate flora and 42 with normal vaginal flora were enrolled in this double-blind study. The subjects were randomized to receive probiotic lactobacilli vaginal tablets (L. brevis CD2, L. salivarius subsp. salicinius, L. plantarum) or the vaginal pH tablet (active comparator). Cervico-vaginal lavage was collected to measure the concentrations of IL-1β, TNFα and IL-6 by ELISA. Neutral sphingomyelinase activity was also quantified in both arms before and after treatment. The probiotic vaginal tablet was well tolerated and no side effects were reported. The study demonstrated a cure rate of nearly 80?%; i.e., 32?% of the women could restore normal vaginal flora and 47?% had improved Nugent score, whereas 20?% of the subjects did not clear BV in the first follow-up (after 8?days treatment). The pH tablet containing pH lowering compounds induced resolution of BV and restoration of normal vaginal flora in 74 % and 26?%, respectively. The lactobacilli tablet was found to be better than the pH tablet in preventing BV in healthy subjects. A significant reduction in IL-1β and IL-6 vaginal cytokines was observed after treatment with lactobacilli, while the active comparator did not have any effect on local proinflammatory cytokines. Vaginal neutral sphingomyelinase activity was not modified in either group. Vaginal tablets containing lactobacilli can cure BV and reduce vaginal inflammatory response.