Resistin and Plasma-reactive Oxygen Metabolite Levels in Obese and Non-obese Individuals with Chronic Periodontitis in Response to Non-surgical Periodontal Therapy.

AIM: To assess and compare the impact of non-surgical periodontal therapy on plasma reactive oxygen metabolites and resistin values in chronic periodontitis obese and non-obese patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Total 200 subjects were included in the present study and were broadly divided into two study groups with 100 patients in each group as follows: group A: Obese patients with chronic periodontitis, group B: Non-obese, normal weight patients with chronic periodontitis. Various following periodontal parameter were calculated at the baseline time and two months after the non-surgical periodontal therapy. Plasma reactive oxygen metabolite (RM) and serum and GCF resistin levelswere evaluated. Assessment of all the results was done by Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software. RESULTS: Significant results were obtained while doing an inter-group comparison of clinical attachment levels between two study groups. Significant results were obtained while comparing the clinical attachment levels in both the study groups at different time intervals. Significant 9 reduction in the RM was seen in Group B subjects in comparison to Group A subjects 2 months after non-surgical periodontal therapy. CONCLUSION: In patients with chronic periodontitis, obesity can be considered as an important factor in the alteration of resistin levels. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Obese patients should be motivated for reducing weight so that periodontal therapy and other treatment modalities could be carried out more effectively.

Gutkha Addiction: Nicotine Dependence or a Conditioned Reflex?

BACKGROUND: A pre-packaged mixture of areca nut, tobacco, slaked lime, catechu, and flavoring agents is popularly known as Gutkha. Aim of study is to analyze the addiction biology of Gutkha chewing and to assess efficacy of a cessation program based on nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patterns of addiction of 400 Gutkha chewers were analyzed with a questionnaire-based survey. Urine cotinine levels of 60 subjects undergoing NRT were periodically estimated using gas chromatography. RESULTS: Mean urine cotinine levels of relapse and relapse-free cases were 5800.38 µg/g of creatine and 5622.16 µg/g of creatine. The difference was not found to be statistically significant. A 83.3% of the subjects associated their chewing habit with day to day activities. Overall relapse rate was found to be 79%. The most common reported reason for relapse was unacceptable taste and form of nicotine chewing gums. CONCLUSION: Repetitive coexistence in time of an indifferent act and the act of chewing Gutkha where, the act of chewing is almost always preceded by the indifferent act sets in a conditioned reflex. Gutkha addiction can be considered as a form of conditioned reflex, rather than actual craving for nicotine.

Sex hormones in gender-specific risk for head and neck cancer: A review.

Despite the fact that numerous researches have been carried out to prevent head and neck cancer (HNC) and treat those patients, there is no reduction in morbidity rate because the underlying molecular pathogenesis is still poorly understood. Endocrine microenvironment is another vital factor besides other traditional risk factors like tobacco smoking, infections, and alcohol. It has been proven that sex hormone receptors are also expressed in larynx and lungs, in addition to sex organs. Sex hormones play a vital role in gene expression involved in the plethora of biological and neoplastic processes. The role of sex hormones in HNC is still divisive and very few researches have been conducted to describe their role. So, this article is an effort to attract the attention of researchers, endocrinologists, pathologists, and clinicians toward the impending role of sex hormones, with special emphasis on progesterone, estrogen, and prolactin in HNC onset and progression, along with their therapeutic role.

A rare case report of clear cell variant of oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Clear cell squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is an extremely rare heterogenous group of malignant tumour with incompletely understood aetiology. We, hereby present a case of clear cell variant of squamous carcinoma on buccal mucosa in 52-year-old male patient. Histopathology showed sheets of squamous cells with clear cell differentiation and malignant features. Histochemical findings showed negative staining for Periodic Acid-Schiff (PAS), mucicarmine and Oil Red O. Immunohistochemical investigations revealed positive staining for CK 8-18 and negative for S-100. We conclude by emphasizing on the need of careful analysis of all the histopathological and IHC investigations. To predict the exact prognosis of this rare variant more number of case reports are expected to be published in future.

Assessment of morphological changes and DNA quantification: An in vitro study on acid-immersed teeth.

CONTEXT: Acid immersion of victim's body is one of the methods employed to subvert identification of the victim, and hence of the perpetrator. Being hardest and chemically the most stable tissue in the body, teeth can be an important forensic investigative medium in both living and nonliving populations. Teeth are also good reservoirs of both cellular and mitochondrial DNA; however, the quality and quantity of DNA obtained varies according to the environment the tooth has been subjected to. DNA extraction from acid-treated teeth has seldom been reported. AIMS: The objectives of the present study were to assess the morphological changes along with DNA recovery from acid-immersed teeth. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Concentrated hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, and sulfuric acid were employed for tooth decalcification. DNA was extracted on an hourly basis using phenol-chloroform method. Quantification of extracted DNA was done using a spectrophotometer. RESULTS: Results showed that hydrochloric acid had more destructive capacity compared to other acids. CONCLUSION: Sufficient quantity of DNA was obtainable till the first 2 hours of acid immersion and there was an inverse proportional relation between mean absorbance ratio and quantity of obtained DNA on an hourly basis.