clinical detection of helicobacter pylori in dental plaque using polymerase chain reaction

Helicobacter pylori [H.pylori] are considered to be a pathogen responsible for gastritis and peptic ulcers as well as a risk factor of gastric cancer. Recently, H.pylori has been detected in dental plaques, hence oral cavity has drawn attention to be the second site for H.pylori. However, it is not yet clear whether the oral cavity acts as a reservoir for this bacterium. The aim of this study was to clarify whether the oral cavity is the reservoir for H.pylori, and to find out any relationship between gastritis and dental plaque the infection. In this study, PCR was used for detection of Helicobacter pylori as a noninvasive method with higher sensitivity and specificity. Samples of the supragingival and sub gingival dental plaque were collected from 67 patients [44 with periodontitis, and 23 suffered from both gastritis and periodontitis]. Using sequences of different H. pylori genes, four pairs of oligonucleotide primers were designed to optimize a sensitive and specific protocol for diagnosis and detection of H.pylori. The data were analyzed using Chi Square and Fisher statistical tests. The level of significance was considered at p

Interdental subgingivalplaque removal: a comparison between hand instruments, ultrasonic sealer and air powder polishing devices with and without abrasive powder

The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of air-polishing devices [APDs] with hand instruments and ultrasonic sealers when used for interdental subgingival plaque removal. Likewise, the effectiveness of APD with and without abrasive powder was evaluated. A total of sixty single-rooted teeth were treated in fifteen periodontal patients with 4-6mm mesial probing depth [PD]. The selected procedures were hand instruments [Gracey curettes], ultra sonic scalar, APD without powder and APD with powder. Before and immediately after the treatment procedures, subgingival plaque samples were collected from the mesial aspects of these teeth. The anaerobe cultivation method was utilized to assess the mean reduction of total colony forming units [CFU] immediately after treatment. Subgingival microorganisms were significantly reduced in all methods. The mean CFU differences between before and after treatments were significant [P < 0.001] for all procedures. However, no significant difference was observed in the effectiveness of various methods. On average, all methods were able to reduce subgingival microorganisms by 92%. There was also a positive correlation between the colony counts before and after treatments [r = 0.52]. Using APD is as effective as hand instruments and ultrasonic sealers for interdental subgingival plaque removal in cases with up to 6mm probing depth. The use of abrasive powder does not enhance the effectiveness of APD in subgingival plaque removal

Clinical symptoms and complications in Iranian troops wounded by chemical weapons [Babol Shahid Yahyanejad Hospital; 2001-2003]

During the Iran-Iraq imposed war, many of Iranian troops were exposed to chemical weapons and now after years of ending the war, many of them are suffering from the outcome of this lethal agent exposure. The purpose of this study was to assess late skin lesions in these individuals. This descriptive study was performed on 198 troops wounded by chemical weapons who were referred to Yahyanejad hospital by Babol Bonyad Janbazan organization. All patients were asked to answer the questions about their diseases and then clinical examinations for skin lesions were recorded and analyzed. All patients complained of skin problems and the most common complaint was pruritus [90.3%]. In clinical examination, the erythema was the most common skin lesion and a skin lesion was seen in 89.9% of the patients. Anterior trunk was the most frequently involved site [33.8%] and the most common disease was chronic urticaria [27.2%].The results show skin lesion due to by chemical weapons may continue overtime. However these complications are not considered as a serious danger to patients' health but they need to be treated