Oral Mucormycosis: An Inevitable Complication of COVID-19.

Individuals who have shown recovery from coronavirus disease (COVID-19) are increasingly getting diagnosed with Mucormycosis or "Black fungus." It is a difficult condition to diagnose as it has symptoms that are common among a variety of diseases. Hence, it is important to identify the presenting signs and understand the underlying pathogenesis of COVID-19 associated Mucormycosis. The incidence of these mycotic infections has shown a substantial increase in current times owing to an increase in the prevalence of immunocompromised subjects, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Any suspected case of mucormycosis requires rapid diagnosis and management due to its rapid progression as well as the destructive course of infection. This article reviews the taxonomy, pathogenesis, and clinical signs along with laboratory investigations that may play a vital role in the timely diagnosis of this condition as it is mostly fatal.

Reliability of cheiloscopy and dermatoglyphics in hypertension and diabetes. A comparative study.

Background: Both dermatoglyphic and cheiloscopic patterns are genetically determined. These patterns are known to be associated with type II diabetes or diabetes mellitus and hypertension which are also considered to have genetic influence due to their familial occurrence. Hence, the aim of this study was to compare reliability of both cheiloscopy and dermatoglyphics with hypertension and type II diabetes. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective study conducted on 300 study participants. Both cheiloscopic and dermatoglyphic patterns were recorded using validated techniques. Obtained patterns were analyzed and assessed for statistical analysis using the SPSS version 21.0 statistical software. The Chi-square test was used for analyzing the obtained data. Results: In the present study, no statistical correlation was obtained between either dermatoglyphic or cheiloscopic patterns and type II diabetes or hypertension. Conclusion: The present study showed that cheiloscopy or dermatoglyphics cannot be used as a predictive tool for assessing a subject's risk of developing type II diabetes or hypertension. These are contradictory findings, thus emphasizing more research in this area so that these noninvasive techniques can be used as predictive tools for developing essential hypertension or type II diabetes.

Résumé Contexte: Les modèles dermatoglyphiques et cheiloscopiques sont génétiquement déterminés. Ces modèles sont connus pour être associés au diabète de type II ou au diabète sucré et à l'hypertension qui sont également considérés comme ayant une influence génétique en raison de leur occurrence familiale.Par conséquent, le but de cette étude était de comparer la fiabilité de la cheiloscopie et des dermatoglyphes avec l'hypertension et le diabète de type II. Matériaux et méthodes: Il s'agissait d'une étude prospective menée auprès de 300 participants à l'étude.Les modèles cheiloscopiques et dermatoglyphiques ont été enregistrés utilisant des techniques validées.Les modèles obtenus ont été analysés et évalués pour analyse statistique à l'aide du logiciel statistique SPSS version 21.0.Le test Chi-square a été utilisé pour analyser les données obtenues. Résultats: Dans la présente étude, aucune corrélation statistique n'a été obtenue entre les modèles dermatoglyphiques ou cheiloscopiques et le diabète ou l'hypertension de type II. Conclusion: La présente étude a montré que la chéiloscopie ou les dermatoglyphes ne peuvent pas être utilisés comme outil prédictif pour évaluer le risque de développer le diabète ou l'hypertension de type II d'un sujet.Ce sont des résultats contradictoires, mettant ainsi l'accent sur plus de recherche dans ce domaine afin que ces techniques non invasives puissent être utilisées comme outils prédictifs pour développer l'hypertension essentielle ou le diabète de type II. Mots clés: Dermatoglyphes, hypertension, empreintes de lèvres, diabète de type II.

Evaluation of surface changes of stainless steel miniplates and screws following retrieval from maxillofacial trauma and orthognathic surgery patients: A comparative study.

BACKGROUND: Metal implants have the potential to degrade body fluids. Corrosive degradation has been demonstrated in laboratory tests, both under simulated clinical conditions and by electrochemical methods, as well as in studies of retrieved metal implants. The clinical importance of degradation of metal implants is evidenced by particulate corrosion and wear products in tissue surrounding the implant, which may ultimately lead to bone loss. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study is to evaluate the surface changes such as corrosion, surface roughness, and microfractures and for the tensile strength of 18 stainless steel miniplates and 18 stainless steel screws which were used as rigid internal fixation in the management of maxillofacial fractures and orthognathic surgeries. RESULTS: In this study, surface roughness and microfractures were found in all the miniplates and screws that is 100%. Corrosion degradation was found in 12 of 18 plates that is 66.66%. CONCLUSION: Our results through scanning electron microscopy and stereo electron microscopy showed surface roughness, microfractures, and corrosion. However, tensile strength was not affected when the plates were in situ. Through our study, we recommend their retrieval after the purposes of rigid fixation have been fulfilled.

Collaborative Regulation of LRG1 by TGF-ß1 and PPAR-ß/δ Modulates Chronic Pressure Overload-Induced Cardiac Fibrosis.

BACKGROUND: Despite its established significance in fibrotic cardiac remodeling, clinical benefits of global inhibition of TGF (transforming growth factor)-ß1 signaling remain controversial. LRG1 (leucine-rich-α2 glycoprotein 1) is known to regulate endothelial TGFß signaling. This study evaluated the role of LRG1 in cardiac fibrosis and its transcriptional regulatory network in cardiac fibroblasts. METHODS: Pressure overload-induced heart failure was established by transverse aortic constriction. Western blot, quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, immunofluorescence, and immunohistochemistry were used to evaluate the expression level and pattern of interested targets or pathology during fibrotic cardiac remodeling. Cardiac function was assessed by pressure-volume loop analysis. RESULTS: LRG1 expression was significantly suppressed in left ventricle of mice with transverse aortic constriction-induced fibrotic cardiac remodeling (mean difference, -0.00085 [95% CI, -0.0013 to -0.00043]; P=0.005) and of patients with end-stage ischemic-dilated cardiomyopathy (mean difference, 0.13 [95% CI, 0.012-0.25]; P=0.032). More profound cardiac fibrosis (mean difference, -0.014% [95% CI, -0.029% to -0.00012%]; P=0.048 for interstitial fibrosis; mean difference, -1.3 [95% CI, -2.5 to -0.2]; P=0.016 for perivascular fibrosis), worse cardiac dysfunction (mean difference, -2.5 ms [95% CI, -4.5 to -0.4 ms]; P=0.016 for Tau-g; mean difference, 13% [95% CI, 2%-24%]; P=0.016 for ejection fraction), and hyperactive TGFß signaling in transverse aortic constriction-operated Lrg1-deficient mice (mean difference, -0.27 [95% CI, -0.47 to -0.07]; P<0.001), which could be reversed by cardiac-specific Lrg1 delivery mediated by adeno-associated virus 9. Mechanistically, LRG1 inhibits cardiac fibroblast activation by competing with TGFß1 for receptor binding, while PPAR (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor)-ß/δ and TGFß1 collaboratively regulate LRG1 expression via SMRT (silencing mediator for retinoid and thyroid hormone receptor). We further demonstrated functional interactions between LRG1 and PPARß/δ in cardiac fibroblast activation. CONCLUSIONS: Our results established a highly complex molecular network involving LRG1, TGFß1, PPARß/δ, and SMRT in regulating cardiac fibroblast activation and cardiac fibrosis. Targeting LRG1 or PPARß/δ represents a promising strategy to control pathological cardiac remodeling in response to chronic pressure overload.