Clinical and microbiologic effects of commercially available dentifrice containing aloe vera: a randomized controlled clinical trial

Background: Certain plants used in folk medicine serve as a source of therapeutic agents that have antimicrobial and other multipotential effects. This prospective, randomized, placebo, and positively controlled clinical trial was designed to evaluate the clinical and microbiologic effects of a commercially available dentifrice containing aloe vera on the reduction of plaque and gingival inflammation in patients with gingivitis. Methods: Ninety patients diagnosed with chronic generalized gingivitis were selected and randomly divided into three groups: group 1, placebo toothpaste; group 2, toothpaste containing aloe vera; and group 3, toothpaste with polymer and fluoride containing triclosan. Clinical evaluation was undertaken using a gingival index, plaque was assessed using a modification of the Quigley‐Hein index, and microbiologic counts were assessed at baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, and 24 weeks. A subjective evaluation was also undertaken by questionnaire. Results: Toothpaste containing aloe vera showed significant improvement in gingival and plaque index scores as well as microbiologic counts compared with placebo dentifrice. These improvements were comparable to those achieved with toothpaste containing triclosan. Conclusion: Toothpaste containing aloe vera may be a useful herbal formulation for chemical plaque control agents and improvement in plaque and gingival status.     

Ethnic density,cultural congruity and mental illness in migrants

Migration is now well understood to be associated with mental illness in many parts of the world. However, the cause and effects of migration that are associated with mental illness continue to be a point of debate. The Ethnic Density concepts give a plausible explanation. On further elaboration, we conclude that a move from a sociocentric society to an egocentric one leads to more distress and more mental illness. Cultural incongruity faced by a migrant in an alien culture has a similar impact. Several theories on migratory distress have tried to explain psychiatric morbidity: high morbidity at source, individual predisposition, stress, misdiagnosis and racial discrimination. We hypothesise that the impact of ethnic density and cultural congruity occurs in a social context.     

Risk factors for posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in hypertensive pregnant women presenting with seizures

Neurological Sciences - Pregnant women developing generalised tonic–clonic seizures in the absence of a prior neurological disorder are often diagnosed as eclamptic. Posterior reversible...     

A quick glance at selected topics in this issue

“A quick glance at selected topics in this issue” aims to highlight selected articles and provide a quick review to the readers.     

Leishmania donovani-induced ceramide as the key mediator of Akt dephosphorylation in murine macrophages: role of protein kinase Czeta and phosphatase

Leishmania donovani is an intracellular protozoan parasite that impairs the host macrophage immune response to render it suitable for its survival and establishment. L. donovani-induced immunosuppression and alteration of host cell signaling is mediated by ceramide, a pleiotropic second messenger playing an important role in regulation of several kinases, including mitogen-activated protein kinase and phosphatases. We observed that the endogenous ceramide generated during leishmanial infection led to the dephosphorylation of protein kinase B (PKB) (Akt) in infected cells. The study of ceramide-mediated Akt phosphorylation revealed that Akt was dephosphorylated at both Thr308 and Ser473 sites in infected cells. Further investigation demonstrated that ceramide was also responsible for the induction of PKCzeta, an atypical Ca-independent stress kinase, as well as the ceramide-activated protein phosphatases (e.g., protein phosphatase 2A [PP2A]). We found that Akt dephosphorylation was mediated by ceramide-induced PKCzeta-Akt association and PP2A activation. In addition, treatment of L. donovani-infected macrophages with PKCzeta-specific inhibitor peptide could restore the translocation of phosphorylated Akt to the cell membrane. This study also revealed that ceramide is involved in the inhibition of proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha release by infected macrophages. These observations strongly suggest the importance of ceramide in the alteration of normal cellular functions, impairment of the kinase/phosphatase balance, and thereby establishment of leishmaniasis in the hostile macrophage environment.