Effect of various disinfectant solutions on the tensile strength of gutta-percha using the rapid sterilization technique.

Context: Gutta-percha (GP) gets contaminated during handling. It becomes imperative to ensure GP is sterile before placement in root canal space. Aims: The aim of the study was to evaluate and compare the tensile strength of GP treated with four different disinfectant solutions: 3% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), amla juice (AJ), Aloe vera (AV) juice, and pancha tulsi (PT). Settings and Design: The study design was an in vitro study. Materials and Methods: Fifty GP cones with a size of 30 were procured from sealed packages in five different groups. Experimental groups were disinfected for 1 min with 3% NaOCl, AJ, AV, and PT except the control group. Tensile and Brinell Testing Machine is used to measure the tensile strengths of GP. Statistical Analysis Used: Results were subjected to statistical analysis using the Kruskal-Wallis test followed by Dunn's post hoc test. Results: The mean tensile strength values for Groups A, B, C, D, and E are 9.49 Mpa, 13.33 Mpa, 12.58 Mpa, 12.69 MPa, and 13.56 MPa, respectively. In the herbal disinfectant group, such as AJ, AV, and PT, the tensile strength was not significantly altered, whereas in the 3% NaOCl group, it was reduced considerably. Conclusions: AJ, AV juice, and PT as a GP disinfectant do not alter the tensile strength of GP cones.

Exploring the Knowledge Regarding Mucormycosis and Its Management Among a Cohort of Dental Undergraduates in India: A Cross-Sectional Survey.

INTRODUCTION:  Mucormycosis is an angioinvasive fungal infection associated with a high mortality rate in both low- and middle-income countries. A dentist plays a crucial role and first line in the diagnosis and treatment of mucormycosis since the majority of the site of infection is the rhino cerebral or rhino maxillary area. The present study was designed to ascertain knowledge about mucormycosis and its management among a sample of dental undergraduates in India. MATERIALS AND METHODS:  A self-administered questionnaire covering demographic details, knowledge relating to underlying disease and risk factors (10 items), clinical features and diagnosis (8 items), and management of mucormycosis (six items) was employed. Responses were recorded on a dichotomous scale. Data analysis was done using SPSS 20 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). The mean and standard deviation for correct answers and knowledge levels were determined. RESULTS:  A total of 437 respondents were included. Classification of participants based on the level of correct knowledge demonstrated that the majority of students had good knowledge (232, 53.1%). Comparison of the same based on the college type showed significant differences for only clinical features, diagnosis (p=0.002), and management (p=0.035) whereas no significance was seen for gender. Correlation by Karl's Pearson correlation coefficient revealed a significant positive correlation between the entire knowledge scores. CONCLUSION:  The study portrays adequate knowledge among dental interns that can be used to modify preventive care measures to lessen the public health emergency. Stakeholders can take the necessary action to spread knowledge about mucormycosis through training workshops and continuing dental education programs to combat the health crisis.

Pancreatic exocrine insufficiency: Comparing fecal elastase 1 with 72-h stool for fecal fat estimation.

INTRODUCTION: Identification of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (PEI) is important in the management of chronic pancreatitis. The 72-h stool for fecal fat estimation (FFE) has long been considered a gold standard indirect test for the diagnosis of PEI. However, the test is cumbersome for both patients and laboratory personnel alike. In this study, we aimed to assess fecal elastase 1 (FE1) as an alternate to FFE for the diagnosis of PEI. METHODS: In all, 87 consecutive patients diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis were included in this study. FFE and FE1 estimation was done for all the patients. For FE1, two cutoffs (<100 and <200 µg) were selected to define pancreatic exocrine insufficiency. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values for the two cutoffs were estimated. Kappa statistics was used to assess degree of agreement between both tests. RESULTS: All patients completed the study and were included in the analysis. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive value and PABAK (prevalence and bias adjusted kappa) for FE1 <100 µg was 84.9, 47.6, 83.6, 50, and 0.52, respectively. For FE1 <200 µg, it was 90.9, 9.5, 75.95, 25, and 0.43, respectively. CONCLUSION: FE1 is a sensitive test; however, it does not have a good agreement with FFE. FE1 may be used as screening test for PEI in patients with chronic pancreatitis.

Interleukin-1beta promotes gastric atrophy through suppression of Sonic Hedgehog.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: In both human subjects and rodent models, Helicobacter infection leads to a decrease in Shh expression in the stomach. Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) is highly expressed in the gastric corpus and its loss correlates with gastric atrophy. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that proinflammatory cytokines induce gastric atrophy by inhibiting Shh expression. METHODS: Shh-LacZ reporter mice were infected with Helicobacter felis for 3 and 8 weeks. Changes in Shh expression were monitored using beta-galactosidase staining and immunohistochemistry. Gastric acidity was measured after infection, and interleukin (IL)-1beta was quantified by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Mice were injected with either IL-1beta or omeprazole before measuring Shh mRNA expression and acid secretion. Organ cultures of gastric glands from wild-type or IL-1R1 null mice were treated with IL-1beta then Shh expression was measured. Primary canine parietal or mucous cells were treated with IL-1beta. Shh protein was determined by immunoblot analysis. Changes in intracellular calcium were measured by Fura-2. RESULTS: All major cell lineages of the corpus including surface pit, mucous neck, zymogenic, and parietal cells expressed Shh. Helicobacter infection reduced gastric acidity and inhibited Shh expression in parietal cells by 3 weeks. IL-1beta produced during Helicobacter infection inhibited gastric acid, intracellular calcium, and Shh expression through the IL-1 receptor. Suppression of parietal cell Shh expression by IL-1beta and omeprazole was additive. IL-1beta did not suppress Shh expression in primary gastric mucous cells. CONCLUSIONS: IL-1beta suppresses Shh gene expression in parietal cells by inhibiting acid secretion and subsequently the release of intracellular calcium.