Effect of xylitol candies on plaque and gingival indices in physically disabled school pupils

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of xylitol candies on plaque and gingival index scores on physically disabled school pupils in Kuwait. METHODOLOGY: Altogether 145 school pupils (105 in the xylitol group and 40 in the control group), with ages ranging from 10 to 27 years (mean age = 14.7 +/- 3.1 years), participated in this 18-month intervention program. The school health nurses distributed xylitol candies to the pupils three times during the school day. Plaque was scored according to the Silness and L?e Plaque Index, and gingivitis according to the L?e and Silness Gingival Index. RESULTS: The mean Plaque Index score decreased from 1.73 to 1.14 (p < 0.001), and the mean Gingival Index score from 1.74 to 1.16 (p < 0.001) in the study group. Significant differences were found between the xylitol and the control groups in the reduction of Plaque (p = 0.037) and Gingival Index scores (p = 0.008). There was high correlation between the individual Plaque and Gingival Index scores at baseline (r = 0.93) and at the final examinations (r = 0.95). CONCLUSION: Consuming xylitol candies three times during school days seemed to reduce both the Plaque and Gingival Index scores. This school-based delivery system offered a practical way to distribute and use xylitol candies among these disabled pupils. The regular use of xylitol candies may, therefore, support oral hygiene routines in disabled pupils.     

Altered calcium homeostasis is correlated with abnormalities of fasting serum glucose, insulin resistance, and beta-cell function in the Newfoundland population

Alteration of extracellular calcium concentration may be involved in glucose metabolism in a number of pathways. The present study was designed to investigate the relationship between total serum calcium and 1) fasting serum glucose, 2) insulin, 3) insulin resistance, and 4) beta-cell function in 1,182 healthy subjects from the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. All variables were log10 transformed, and confounding factors including age, trunk fat percentage, serum phosphorus, magnesium, 25-OH vitamin D, and parathyroid hormone were adjusted before analyses. Significant positive correlations between glucose and insulin resistance with calcium were found in both sexes, whereas an inverse correlation between beta-cell function and calcium was found only in women. Similar results were found in medication-free women and men, as well as in pre- and postmenopausal women. Subjects with low calcium levels had the lowest concentration of glucose and the least insulin resistance, whereas subjects with high calcium levels had the highest concentration of glucose and insulin resistance in women but not in men. This relationship remained after calcium was adjusted for 25-OH vitamin D and parathyroid hormone. Our results suggest that alteration of serum calcium homeostasis is significantly correlated with the abnormality of glucose level, insulin resistance, and beta-cell function.     

How is Biodegradable Scaffold Effective in Gap Non-union? Insights from an Experiment

ObjectiveTo evaluate the role of composite (Chitosan/Chondroitin sulphate/gelatin/nano-bioglass) scaffold in the union of critical size bone defect created in the rabbit’s ulna.MethodsThe composite (Chitosan/Chondroitin sulphate/gelatin/nano-bioglass) scaffold was fabricated using the freeze-drying technique under standard laboratory conditions. The scaffold was cut into the appropriate size and transferred into the defect created (critical bone size defect 1 cm) over the right ulna in the rabbit. The scaffold was not implanted on the left side thus the left side ulna served as control. Results were assessed on serial radiological examination. Rabbits were sacrificed at 20 weeks for histopathological examination (Haematoxylin–Eosin staining and Mason’s trichrome staining) and scanning electron microscope observation. Radiological scoring was done by Lane and Sandhu’s scoring.ResultsAmong 12 rabbits, 10 could complete the follow-up. Among those 10 rabbits, 8 among the test group showed good evidence of bone formation at the gap non-union scaffold implanted site. Histological evidence of new bone formation, collagen synthesis, scaffold resorption, minimal chondrogenesis was evident by 20 weeks in the test group. Two rabbits had poor bone formation.ConclusionThe chitosan-chondroitin sulphate-gelatin-nano-bioglass composite scaffold is efficient in osteoconduction and osteoinduction in the gap non-union model as it is biocompatible, bioactive, and non-immunogenic as well.     

Synthesis and in vitro antiproliferative activity of 2,5-disubstituted-1,3,4-oxadiazoles containing trifluoromethyl benzenesulfonamide moiety

A series of new 2,5-disubstituted-1,3,4-oxadiazoles 6(a–j) have been conveniently synthesized by intermolecular oxidative cyclization of (E)-2-(arylbenzylidene)-2-[(4-methoxyphenyl)amino]acetohydrazides promoted by iodobenzene diacetate as an oxidant. The synthesized compounds were characterized by elemental analyses, FT-IR, LCMS, ¹H NMR, and ¹³C NMR spectral studies. All the compounds were evaluated for their in vitro antiproliferative effect using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay method against four human cancer cell lines (K562, Colo-205, MDA-MB 231, IMR-32) for the time period of 24 h. Among the analogs, compounds 6h and 6i showed good activity on all cell lines, whereas the other compounds in the series exhibited moderate activity.     

Progeria (Hutchison-Gilford syndrome) in siblings: in an autosomal recessive pattern of inheritance

Progeria is an autosomal dominant, premature aging syndrome. Six and three year old female siblings had sclerodermatous changes over the extremities, alopecia, beaked nose, prominent veins and bird-like facies. Radiological features were consistent with features of progeria. The present case highlights rarity of progeria in siblings with a possible autosomal recessive pattern.     

Disposition of patients utilising the virtual emergency department service in southeast region of Melbourne (SERVED-1)

Objective

Supported by the state government, three health networks partnered to initiate a virtual ED (VED), as part of a broader roll-out of emergency telehealth services in Victoria. The aim of the present study (Southeast Region Virtual Emergency Department-1 [SERVED-1]) was to report the initial 5-month experience and included all patients assessed through the service over the first 5 months (1 February 2022 to 30 June 2022).

Methods

VED consults occurred after referral from paramedics in the pre-hospital setting. Electronic medical records were retrospectively reviewed for demographic, presenting complaint and outcome data. The primary outcome was the count of VED consultations. The secondary outcome was the proportion of patients where physical ED attendance was avoided within 72 h. The proportion of physical ED attendances avoided sub-grouped by primary presenting complaints were reported.

Results

There were 1748 patients who had a VED consultation, of which 1261 (72.1%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 70.0–74.2) patients had physical presentation to an ED avoided in the 72 h following the consult. There was a significant increase in consultations over the 5-month period (incidence rate ratio 1.27; 95% CI 1.23–1.31, P < 0.001) that was consistent in the three health services. The most common presenting complaints were COVID-19 and shortness of breath, and physical presentation was avoided most often among younger patients and those with COVID-19.

Conclusions

Initial experience demonstrated a significant increase in adoption of the service and an overall avoidance of physical ED attendance by a majority of patients. These results support ongoing VED consultations, complemented by follow up and health economic evaluations.