Comparative evaluation of efficacy of 10% povidone iodine gel with 2% metronidazole and 1% ornidazole with 0.25% chlorhexidine gel as local drug delivery system in adjunt to nonsurgical periodontal therapy in chronic periodontitis: A randomized, single blind, split-mouth study

Background: Periodontitis is a multi-factorial chronic inflammatory disease of attachment apparatus of teeth with microorganisms playing a major role. To address periodontal disease various strategies have been adopted to target these periodonto-pathogens. Various antimicrobial drugs (systemic as well as local) are effectively used to control the disease. However due to various side effects ofsystemic administration of the drugs like gastro intestinal disturbances, development of resistant organisms, high dosage of the drug required, local delivery of the drug is a better option as the drug is directly delivered at the site of infection with minimum dosage and maximum response achieved thus eliminating all the undesired effects of the drug. Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of 10% povidone iodine with 2% metronidazole and 1% ornidazole with 0.25% chlorhexidine gel as local delivery systems for the reduction in the pocket depth, changes in CAL, gingival inflammation. Materials and methods: A total of 20 patients diagnosed with mild- moderate chronic periodontitis were divided into two groups in a split-mouth study design - Group I and Group II with each group containing 20 sites with probing depth of >5 mm, CAL ?3 mm. In Group I, 10% povidine-iodine gel with 2% metronidazole was delivered inside the pocket and Group II, 1% ornidazole with 0.25% chlorhexidine was used as a local delivery system in adjunct to scaling and root planning. In both groups, medications were delivered at weekly interval for a period of 4 weeks. Baseline and 4 weeks measurements were done and compared for probing pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment levels (CAL) and gingival inflammation. Results: The results obtained were statistically analyzed. Both groups showed statistically significant improvements in terms of clinical parameters. However, there was statistically insignificant difference when compared between the two groups. The results clearly demonstrate that both povidone iodine with metronidazole and ornidazole with chlorhexidine are also useful in controlling the acute phase of the periodontal disease in adjunct to scaling and root planning (SRP). Conclusion: Both drugs when used as an adjunct to scaling and root planning enhances probing pocket depth reduction, change in clinical attachment levels and gingival inflammation in mild- moderate chronic periodontitis cases.

Imaging In A Case Of Lhermitte Duclos Disease - Dysplastic Cerebellar Gangliocytoma.

"Lhermitte-Duclos disease (LDD) is a rare cerebellar lesion of uncertain origin. It is linked to an autosomal- dominant phakomatosis known as Cowden's disease in 40% of patients. The MRI features of LDD are almost unique and can be considered diagnostic. (1) We report on a case of 48 year old female patient who presented to us with history of seizures and bilateral lower limb weakness with the typical MRI features of the above disease. We also discuss the pathology and genetics of this rare disease"

Discovery of an Indirubin Derivative as a Novel c-Met Kinase Inhibitor with In Vitro Anti-Tumor Effects

The c-Met protein is a receptor tyrosine kinase involved in cell growth, proliferation, survival, and angiogenesis of several human tumors. Overexpression of c-Met has been found in gastric cancers and correlated with a poor prognosis. Indirubin is the active component of Danggui Longhui Wan, which is a traditional Chinese antileukemic recipe. In the present study, we tested the anti-cancer effects of an indirubin derivative, LDD-1937, on human gastric cancer cells SNU-638. When we performed the in vitro kinase assay against the c-Met activity, LDD-1937 inhibited the activity of c-Met. This result was confirmed by immunoblot and immunofluorescence of phosphorylated c-Met. Immunoblot analysis showed that LDD-1937 decreased the expression of the Erk1/2, STAT3, STAT5, and Akt, downstream proteins of c-Met. In addition, LDD-1937 reduced the cell viability and suppressed colony formation and migration of SNU-638 cells. Furthermore, LDD-1937 induced G2/M phase arrest in the SNU-638 cells by decreasing the expression levels of cyclin B1 and CDC2. Cleaved-PARP, an apoptosis-related protein, was up-regulated in cells treated with LDD-1937. Overall, this study suggests that LDD-1937 may be a novel small-molecule with therapeutic potential for selectively inhibiting c-Met and c-Met downstream pathways in human gastric cancers overexpressing c-Met.

Intracellular calcium-dependent regulation of the sperm-specific calcium-activated potassium channel, hSlo3, by the BK(Ca) activator LDD175

Plasma membrane hyperpolarization associated with activation of Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ channels plays an important role in sperm capacitation during fertilization. Although Slo3 (slowpoke homologue 3), together with the auxiliary γ2-subunit, LRRC52 (leucine-rich-repeat–containing 52), is known to mediate the pH-sensitive, sperm-specific K⁺ current KSper in mice, the molecular identity of this channel in human sperm remains controversial. In this study, we tested the classical BK(Ca) activators, NS1619 and LDD175, on human Slo3, heterologously expressed in HEK293 cells together with its functional interacting γ2 subunit, hLRRC52. As previously reported, Slo3 K⁺ current was unaffected by iberiotoxin or 4-aminopyridine, but was inhibited by ~50% by 20 mM TEA. Extracellular alkalinization potentiated hSlo3 K⁺ current, and internal alkalinization and Ca²⁺ elevation induced a leftward shift its activation voltage. NS1619, which acts intracellularly to modulate hSlo1 gating, attenuated hSlo3 K⁺ currents, whereas LDD175 increased this current and induced membrane potential hyperpolarization. LDD175-induced potentiation was not associated with a change in the half-activation voltage at different intracellular pHs (pH 7.3 and pH 8.0) in the absence of intracellular Ca²⁺. In contrast, elevation of intracellular Ca²⁺ dramatically enhanced the LDD175-induced leftward shift in the half-activation potential of hSlo3. Therefore, the mechanism of action does not involve pH-dependent modulation of hSlo3 gating; instead, LDD175 may modulate Ca²⁺-dependent activation of hSlo3. Thus, LDD175 potentially activates native KSper and may induce membrane hyperpolarization-associated hyperactivation in human sperm.