The Knowledge and Practice of Space Management among Dental Practitioners of Central India

Premature loss of primary teeth can result in the space loss leading to malocclusion. Space maintenance forms an integral part of preventive and interceptive orthodontics. Early interception and prevention of malocclusion in deciduous and early mixed dentition prevents the space loss, thereby, reducing or eliminating the need for later orthodontic treatment. Therefore, the present study was conducted to find out the knowledge and practice of space management among dental practitioners of Central India. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among practicing dentist of Central India to find out their knowledge and practice of space management over the time period of 6 months. Ethical approval was obtained from the Ethical Committee. The questionnaire consisted of questions assessing four main categories; (a) Demographic data, (b) knowledge regarding space management, (c) practice of space maintainers. The demographic data included age, gender, educational level. Data were processed and analyzed using Excel (Microsoft Excel, Version 2013) and SPSS version 21.0 programs. Results: In our study total practicing dentist were 320 in which 190(59.37%) were male dentist and 130(40.62%) were female dentist. Participating dentist were of age <25 were 125(39.06%) and of age group 25-40 were 93(29.06%) and of age group 41-60 were 102(31.87%). 210 (65.62%) participating dentist were BDS and 110 (34.37%) participating dentist were MDS. 290(90.62%) participating dentist know when space maintainers were used. 320(100%) participating dentist know that space maintainers require special care wih brushing. 230 (71.87%) participating dentist know what type of food should be avoided when having space maintainers. 180(56.25%) dentist know how often space maintainers will be taken out. 175(54.68%) dentist know if the space maintainer was lost or broken what time is best to go to the dentist. 175(54.68%) dentist practice space management. Conclusion: Our study concluded that maximum number of practicing dentist have knowledge about space management and more than half the dentists who participated in this study practice space management in their practice.

Functional estimation of mannose binding lectin associated serine protease (MBL-MASPs) in human serum.

Background & objectives: Mannose binding lectin (MBL), a C-type or Ca2+ dependent lectin, plays a major role in lectin pathway of complement activation. MBL deficiency/insufficiency is associated with susceptibility to many infections. It is important to know the association of functional lectin levels with disease condition. Therefore, we carried out this study to develop a simple assay to estimate the functional MBL-associated serine proteases (MBL-MASPs) levels in human serum samples. Methods: A novel method was developed based on direct haemolysis of mannan coated human erythrocytes in autologous human serum for functional estimation of MBL and associated serine proteases (MBLMASPs complex). Functional MBL-MASPs serum levels in 75 healthy individuals was estimated. Results were compared with those obtained by ELISA based assay. Results: Lysis of mannan coated human RBC in autologous serum was highly specific and mediated by MBL-MASPs lectin complement pathway. Concentration of MBL-MASPs in serum of normal healthy individuals (n=75) was found to be 1.579 μg/ml (median= 1.149 μg/ml) by the haemolytic assay which was comparable to the values obtained by ELISA method. Interpretation & conclusions: Our findings showed that the method developed for the estimation of functional MBL-MASPs levels in human serum is simple, cost-effective and comparable with existing ELISA method.

Disease associations of mannose-binding lectin & potential of replacement therapy.

Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) is an important component of the immune defence able to bind to repeating mannose based structural patterns typical of microbial surface (bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites) leading to opsonization and phagocytosis, and activation of the complement pathway resulting in lysis of the pathogen. MBL thus plays a very important role in the first line of host immune response. MBL deficiency has been implicated in susceptibility and modulating the severity in viral, bacterial, fungal, and protozoan infections. High MBL levels, on the contrary might be helpful to intracellular organisms, which take the advantage of C3 opsonization and C3 receptor on monocytes/macrophages to enter their host. MBL replacement therapy to help patients with MBL deficiency has undergone phase I clinical trials. Phase II and III trials and production of recombinant MBL for replacement therapy are currently underway.