Comparison of penetrating depth of chlorhexidine and chitosan into dentinal tubules with and without the effect of ultrasonic irrigation.

BACKGROUND: Long term success of root canal treatment depends on complete removal of micro-organisms and their by-products. This can be effectively achieved by the ability of the irrigant to penetrate into the dentinal tubules, which is limited in the conventional mechanical debridement of the root canal system. Irrigant activation technique aids in movement of irrigants into the dentinal tubules. AIM: To compare the depth of penetration of root canal irrigants into the dentinal tubules with and without ultrasonics using light microscope. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty noncarious mandibular premolars were used, all the tooth specimens were inoculated with an ATCC 29212 strain of E.faecalis and incubated under nutrient rich aerobic conditions at 37°C. Teeth were sectioned below the cementoenamel junction to obtain a standard length of 8 mm and instrumented with K-files, irrigated with 5.25% sodium hypochlorite and a final rinse of 17% EDTA. Teeth were divided into four groups of ten each. Group IA was irrigated with 2% Chlorhexidine (CHX) and agitated ultrasonically, Group IB was irrigated with 2% Chlorhexidine, Group IC was irrigated with 2% Chitosan and ultrasonically agitated, Group ID was irrigated with 2 % Chitosan. The tooth specimens were sectioned and subjected to gram staining and viewed under 100X oil immersion microscope. A micrometer grid was attached to the eyepiece to enable measurement of the depth of penetration of the irrigants. Group IA (2% Chlorhexidine with ultrasonic agitation) showed better penetration into the dentinal tubules as compared to Groups IB, IC, ID. RESULTS: Irrigation with 2% Chlorhexidine with ultrasonic agitation had depth of penetration into the dentinal tubules upto 2350 µm. 2% Chlorhexidine without ultrasonic agitation penetrated upto 1800 µm. Chitosan with ultrasonic agitation penetrated upto1250 µm and Chitosan without ultrasonic agitation penetrated upto 44.80 µm. CONCLUSION: 2% Chlorexidine as irrigant with ultrasonic agitation was found to have maximum depth of penetration into the dentinal tubules when compared with Chitosan.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices among parents and teachers about soil-transmitted helminthiasis control programs for school children in Guimaras, Philippines.

We determined the attitudes toward and practices regarding soil-transmitted helminthes (STH) control among parents and school teachers to identify reasons behind attitudes and practices that do not promote STH control. Written knowledge, attitudes and practices surveys were distributed to parents (N = 531) and teachers (N = 105) of students at 11 elementary schools in Guimaras Province, the Philippines. The survey addressed attitudes about mass drug administration (MDA), knowledge about STH control, hygienic practices, and acceptability of distributing deworming tablets among teachers. More than 90% of parents and teachers held favorable attitudes towards MDA. Sixty-nine percent of parents and 75.5% of teachers believed stool exams were necessary before MDA. Thirty-seven percent of parents stated they would not allow teachers to administer deworming tablets and 91.5% of parents feared teachers would not detect side effects of the medication. Forty-eight percent of teachers felt they could safely give deworming tablets and 81.4% of teachers were afraid of managing the side effects of deworming tablets. Forty-seven point eight percent of parents and 42.2% of teachers stated defecation in the open occured in their community. Although attitudes toward STH control were largely favorable, misconceptions about the MDA strategy, lack of support for teachers giving deworming tablets, and the practice of open defecation still exist as barriers to STH control efforts. The next step to achieve effective STH control will be to clarify misconceptions in education campaigns, to train teachers about medication administration, campaign to improve sanitation and hygiene and begin targeted mass treatment in Guimaras, the Philippines.

Safe administration of the seasonal trivalent influenza vaccine to children with severe egg allergy.

BACKGROUND: Anaphylaxis to egg or severe egg allergy has been considered a contraindication to receiving trivalent seasonal influenza vaccine (TIV). OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety of TIV among severely egg allergic children. METHODS: A 2-phase, multicenter study at 7 sites was conducted between October 2010 and March 2012. Inclusion criteria included a history of a severe reaction, including anaphylaxis, to the ingestion of egg and a positive skin test result or evidence of serum specific IgE antibody to egg. Phase 1 consisted of a randomized, prospective, double-blind, placebo controlled trial of TIV administration to egg allergic children, using a 2-step approach; group A received 0.1 mL of influenza vaccine, followed in 30 minutes if no reaction with the remainder of an age-appropriate dose, whereas group B received an injection of normal saline followed in 30 minutes if no reaction with the full 100% of the age-appropriate dose. Phase 2 was a retrospective analysis of single dose vs split-dose administration of TIV in eligible study participants who declined participation in the randomized controlled trial. RESULTS: Thirty-one study participants were prospectively evaluated in the randomized controlled trial (group A, 14; group B, 17); 45.1% had a history of anaphylaxis after egg ingestion. A total of 112 participants were retrospectively evaluated (87 with the single dose and 25 with the split dose); 77.6% of participants had a history of anaphylaxis after egg ingestion. All participants in both phases received TIV without developing an allergic reaction. CONCLUSION: TIV administration is safe even in children with histories of severe egg allergy. Use of 2-step split dosing appears unnecessary because a single dose was well tolerated.