All Ceramic Materials in Dentistry: Past, Present and Future: A Review

Fixed partial dentures (FPDs) with high-strength all-ceramicsystems are necessary for replacing missing teeth. Widerange of materials and methods are available to fabricate arestoration outside the mouth and subsequently integratewith a tooth. The traditional methods of ceramic fabricationhave been described to be time-consuming, techniquesensitive, and rather unpredictable due to the many variablespresent which affect the outcome. All-ceramic restorations,has become a segment of dentistry which has experiencedtremendous improvements in the recent years. The increasinguse of polycrystalline alumina and zirconia as frameworkmaterials and the increasing popularity and variety ofcomputer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing(CAD-CAM) systems seem to be mutually accelerating trendsover the last three decades. This article presents a review ofthe development of all-ceramic restorations, including theevolution and development of materials, technologies andhow to improve the strength of all-ceramic restorations, withrespect to survival, applications, strength, color, and aesthetics.The literature demonstrates that multiple all-ceramic materialsand systems that are currently available for clinical use andconcludes there is not a single universal material or, systemavailable to suit for all clinical situations.

Prosthetic Rehabilitation of Composite Hemi-Facial Defects – A Case Report

Introduction: Rehabilitation of severe hemi-facial defectsposes a challenge to the Prosthodontist. Defects involvingmore than one facial part with asymmetry of contra lateralside require careful planning and technical skills to providethe prostheses.Case Report: This article presents a case of of hemi-facialdefect due to chemical burn injury rehabilitated with custommade silicone prosthesis. It also highlights a technique offlasking used for the fabrication of the prosthesis combiningorbital and nasal defects.Conclusion: The technique used for the rehabilitation ofconventional silicone prostheses can be well utilized whenimplants are not feasible.

Limitations of Conventional Parameters and Role of Urinary Protein Biomarkers in the Determination of Drug Induced Acute Kidney Injury in Very Early Stage.

Drug-induced Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) constitutes an important cause of acute renal failure and chronic kidney disease in present day clinical practice. Drug-induced acute renal failure (ARF) accounted for 20% of all ARF in an Indian study. The incidence and prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) has dramatically increasing worldwide. Progression of AKI from mild or moderate to end stage may be prevented by selecting potentially effective therapies, if it is detected in very early stage. But early detection of AKI is often difficult due to paucity of early predictive noninvasive biomarkers. Development of omics technology has led to the identification of several urinary protein biomarkers and transcriptional biomarkers, which enable earlier detection of kidney injury. Urinary protein biomarkers have great benefit due to the easy or non-invasive availability of urine and many showing good predictive power. Several urinary protein biomarkers have been identified and have demonstrated superiority in detecting kidney injury in comparison to conventional parameters like serum creatinine (SCr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) etc. These promising experimental biomarker of kidney damage require further confirmation of its use in routine clinical use.

Pharmacodynamics & toxicological profile of PartySmart, a herbal preparation for alcohol hangover in Wistar rats.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: PartySmart is a herbal preparation intended for the management of alcohol hangover and other related toxic effects in clinical situation. The present study was designed to investigate the pharmacodynamics and oral toxicity of PartySmart, a herbal formulation in rats. METHODS: Effect of PartySmart on blood acetaldehyde and alcohol levels was evaluated at doses of 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg b.wt. in rats. Acute toxicity study was conducted with PartySmart at a limit test dose of 2000 mg/kg b.wt., p.o. In repeated dose 90 day study, PartySmart was administered at doses of 500 and 1000 mg/kg b.wt. once-a-day, orally throughout the study period. RESULTS: PartySmart dose-dependently decreased blood ethanol and acetaldehyde levels as compared to control. PartySmart at a dose of 500 mg/kg b.wt. significantly reduced the area under curve (AUC) of ethanol and acetaldehyde levels. It increased the hepatic alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) at 500 mg/kg b.wt. and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activities at doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg b.w. significantly. Acute toxicity study showed no clinical signs and pre-terminal deaths. The LD(50) of PartySmart was found to be greater than 2000 mg/kg b.wt. No significant differences in PartySmart-treated groups were observed on body weight, food intake, haematological and clinical chemistry, and organ weight ratios as compared to control group in the repeated dose study. Histopathological examination of all target organs showed no evidence of lesions attributing to drug toxicity. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: PartySmart enhanced acetaldehyde metabolism by increasing ADH and ALDH activity without any side effects. These findings indicate that PartySmart may exert beneficial role in the management of alcohol hangover without any toxicity.

Cutaneous cryptococcosis among HIV infected patients.

Five patients with HIV associated cutaneous cryptococcal infection are reported.

Anti-cholestatic activity of HD-03, a herbal formulation in thioacetamide (TAA)-induced experimental cholestasis.

In the present study HD-03, a herbal formulation was investigated for its anti-cholestatic activity in TAA-induced cholestasis in anaesthetized guinea pigs. Administration of TAA at a dose of 100 mg/kg body wt significantly reduced the bile flow, bile acid and bile salt excretion. Pretreatment with HD-03 at a dose of 750 mg/kg body wt per orally for 15 days in guinea pigs significantly prevented thioacetamide-induced changes in bile flow, bile acids and bile salts excretion. Thus, HD-03 can serve as a potent choleretic and anti-cholestatic agent.

Effect of Gasex on pharmacokinetic profile of ciprofloxacin in healthy male volunteers.

Effect of Gasex, a herbomineral formulation on the bioavailability of ciprofloxacin was studied in six healthy male volunteers. On day one, single dose of ciprofloxacin (500 mg) was given at fasting state and the plasma Concentrations of ciprofloxacin were estimated after 1, 2 and 4 hr. On day 8 ciprofloxacin (500 mg) was given along with 2 tablets of Gasex and the plasma concentrations of ciprofloxacin estimated at the same time points. No significant difference in the plasma ciprofloxacin levels was found in these two treatments, indicating that the bioavailability of ciprofloxacin was not affected by simultaneous treatment with Gasex.

Susceptibility status of vectors of Japanese encephalitis to insecticides in south Arcot and Tirunelveli districts of Tamil Nadu.

Villages in South Arcot and Tirunelveli districts with high incidence of Japanese Encephalitis were selected for the study of insecticidal resistance to vectors. Culex vishnui and Anopheles hyrcanus group were found to be resistant to DDT (4 per cent for 60 min. exposure) and dieldrin (0.4 per cent for 60 min. exposure) but susceptible to Malathion (5 per cent for 60 min. exposure). So far, this is perhaps the first report of Anopheles hyrcanus group resistant to DDT and dieldrin to be reported from this area. The resistance may be due to extensive use of DDT and HCH for agricultural purposes.

Control of bancroftian filariasis by diethylcarbamazine medicated common salt in Karaikal, Pondicherry, India.

A trial of diethylcarbamazine (DEC) mixed in crystal common salt at a concentration of 0.15 to 0.2 per cent was carried out for 46 months (1982 to 1986) in Karaikal town and five commune panchayats of Pondicherry for control of bancroftian filariasis. Comparison of pre and post trial surveys showed 97.6 per cent reduction of microfilaria rate. No microfilaria or disease case was found in less than 5 years age group in the post trial survey. There was about 72 per cent reduction of disease rate. In the post trial substantial reduction of disease manifestation was found in 40 years and below age groups. Vector Culex quinquefasciatus density, filaria infection and infectivity rates were monitored only in Karaikal town. Infective vector mosquitoes were found in 1982 and 1983 only but afterwards no infective mosquito was encountered.