Prophylactic use of antibiotics to prevent flare-up in endodontic treatment

The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of giving antibiotics during root canal treatment to reduce pain. Sixty patients with asymptomatic necrotic teeth were included in the study, which was carried out at the Department of Operative Dentistry, Altamash Institute of Dental Medicine, Karachi and was spread over one year. Two groups, A and B, were formed. Thirty patients in group A were given prophylactic antibiotics. Patients in group B formed the study group. Postoperative flare-up pain recorded at 4, 12, 24 and 48 hours was not statistically significant between the two groups. It was concluded that there was no statistical significance of giving prophylactic antibiotics to prevent inter-appointment flare-up. The risk of inappropriate use of antibiotics and widespread antibiotic resistance appear to be far more important than any possible perceived benefits

Incidence of endodontic flare-ups using either calcium hydroxide or creosote as intracanal medicament in symptomatic teeth

To enhance our knowledge about the superior intracanal medicament available for reducing the interappointmentpain in endodontic treatment. Hundred symptomatic teeth presenting to the Department of Operative Dentistry, Khyber College of Dentistry were included in this study. All teeth underwent conventional root canal treatment. The canals were dried and one of the following two medicaments was inserted into the canal in random sequence: Group 1: Calcium Hydroxide paste; Group 2: Creosote. Before dismissal, the preoperative pain experienced on the previous night was recorded using a visual analogue pain scale. Patients were instructed to record the degree of pain experienced 4 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours and 48 hours after the treatment. Patients who received Calcium hydroxide have a lower incidence of flare-up when compared to Creosote. Based on this study, Calcium Hydroxide is the superior intracanal medicament in terms of postoperative pain

Serum adiponectin levels in patients with coronary artery disease

Adiponectin is an adipocytokine secreted from white adipose tissue. Serum level of adiponectin has been shown to be reduced in several disease states like obesity and diabetes. Hypoadiponectinemia has also been included in the list of newer risk factors for Coronary Artery Disease [CAD]. In this analytical cross-sectional study serum adiponectin level was measured by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbant Assay [ELISA] in 60 cases of coronary artery disease [CAD] [both sexes, aged 40-60 yrs] and 60 healthy controls. Low levels of adiponectin were seen in CAD patients as well as controls. These levels were lower as compared to western standards. Our study conforms to the previous observation of lower serum adiponectin levels in South Asians compared to the western standards. Serum adiponectin level should be considered in the laboratory work-up of CAD patients