Efficacy of curcumin in the treatment of denture stomatitis: A randomized double-blind study.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of denture stomatitis has been shown to vary from 15% to 65% in complete denture wearers. In recent years, a number of studies across the globe have investigated the various biological effects of curcumin, curcumin, a polyphenolic compound derived from dietary spice turmeric, possesses diverse pharmacologic effects including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiproliferative and antiangiogenic activities. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of curcumin local application with common antifungal agent clotrimazole for the treatment of denture stomatitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A randomised double-blind clinical trial with approval of institutional ethical committee consisting fifty participants divided into two groups (17 men-33 women) with the clinical signs and symptoms of oral candidiasis. The diagnosis was supported by microbiological cultures. Group A patients were prescribed the clotrimazole and Group B patients were prescribed the curcumin ointment which was dispensed in similar amber coloured bottles. Data were analyzed using Chi-squared tests, Wilcoxon's signed rank sum test and Mann-Whitney test. RESULTS: The mean candidal colony counts before treatment in Groups A and Group B were 63.960 and 37.080, respectively. The mean candida colony counts after treatment in both the groups were 14.080 and 3.720, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups when mean candida colony counts were calculated before and after treatment. However, intergroup comparison between the two groups considering the mycological eradication showed that there was no statistically significant difference with P = 0.404. CONCLUSION: Topical application of curcumin as a natural ingredient could be an effective agent for the treatment of denture stomatitis as an alternative to regular clotrimazole therapy.

The use of an in-house biotin-avidin linked immunosorbent assay to detect Aspergillus antigens in sera of immunocompromised patients.

A biotin-avidin-linked immunosorbent assay was developed to detect Aspergillus antigens in sera of immunocompromised patients. The assay was based on a double antibody sandwich ELISA using polyclonal antibodies raised against water-soluble antigens of Aspergillus fumigatus. Aspergillus antigens were positive in sera of 9 of 16 (56%) patients who were studied prospectively and in 13 of 73 (19%) patients studied retrospectively. The 9 prospectively studied patients who were antigen positive were febrile neutropenic hematological malignancy patients who exhibited a high risk of acquiring invasive aspergillosis.

Computed tomography and ultrasonography: a comparative study in the diagnosis of analgesic nephropathy.

Computed tomography (CT) and ultrasonography (US) were performed in 40 patients who had consumed excessive quantities of analgesics (> 1 kg) to compare their value in the diagnosis of analgesic nephropathy (AN). The computed tomography and sonographic features were renal papillary calcifications. Renal papillary necrosis (RPN) was documented in 20 of 40 patients by US and in 14 of 40 patients by CT. In 11 patients, both US and CT were positive. In 9 patients, US was positive whilst CT was negative. In 3 patients, CT was positive whilst US was negative. Prevalence of RPN was 50% using US and 35% using CT. Using US as a gold standard, sensitivity of CT was 55%, specificity 85%, positive predictive value 78.6% and negative predictive value 34.6%. Percent agreement with CT and US was 70%. Cohen's kappa statistic adjusting for chance agreement was 40%. Based on these results, it is found that US yielded a higher percentage of positive cases of RPN.

Invasive aspergillosis--a rabbit model.

An invasive aspergillosis model in rabbits was attempted using 3 concentrations of A. fumigatus conidia. Conidia concentrations of 1 x 10(6), 1 x 10(7) and 1 x 10(8) were inoculated intravenously into rabbits. The severity of infection was directly proportional to the inoculum size of the conidia. Aspergillus fumigatus was isolated from livers, kidneys, spleens, hearts and lungs of infected rabbits at a rate of 82%, 75%, 57%, 54% and 32% respectively. Cultures of urine specimens taken by bladder tap were positive for A. fumigatus in 30% of the rabbits tested. Blood cultures using the Bactec Fungal System (Becton Dickinson Corp., USA) failed to isolate A. fumigatus in 20 rabbits with biopsy-proven invasive apergillosis. Active infection with high fungal tissue burden occurred between 2-4 days after infection in rabbits inoculated with 1 x 10(7) conidia.

Computed tomography (CT) of orbital pseudotumour.

Orbital pseudotumour is a non-specific inflammatory disease. Its highly variable clinical and radiographic presentation makes specific diagnosis difficult. This study on 31 proven cases of pseudotumour shows that unilateral involvement, retroorbital fat infiltration and enlargement of multiple extraocular muscles with involvement of the tendinous insertions are key computed tomography CT features which help to establish the diagnosis of orbital pseudotumour.

Sensitivity of yeasts to amphotericin B and 5-fluorocytosine.

One hundred and forty-four clinical yeast isolates were tested for antifungal susceptibility to Amphotericin B (AMB) and 5-Fluorocytosine (5FC). 61% (88 of 144) of the total yeast isolates were C. albicans. Yeasts were most frequently isolated from high vaginal swabs. High vaginal swabs constituted 64% (92 of 144) of the total number of specimens. Antifungal susceptibility testing of yeasts was conducted by employing an agar dilution technique. 76% (67 of 88) of C. albicans demonstrated MIC values of less than or equal to 1.0 ug/ml to 5FC. All yeasts tested against AMB demonstrated MICs of less than or equal to 0.25 ug/ml. Resistance to 5FC and AMB was defined as any isolate demonstrating an MIC of greater than 16 ug/ml and MIC greater than or equal to 2 ug/ml respectively. Based on this definition approximately 6% of total yeasts and 8% of C. albicans were resistant to 5FC. All yeasts tested were sensitive to AMB.

Type 1 choledochal cysts: preoperative evaluation by ultrasound.

Type I choledochal cysts were diagnosed on ultrasonography in 14 patients. The cysts were seen as oval or fusiform anechoic structures located in the subhepatic space and separate from the gallbladder. The continuity of the cyst with the bile duct in the porta hepatis was a specific feature for correct diagnosis of the condition.