Fish scale-derived hydroxyapatite for alveolar ridge preservation.

Alveolar ridge resorption following tooth extraction poses significant challenges for future dental restorations. This study investigated the efficacy of fish scale-derived hydroxyapatite (FSHA) as a socket preservation graft material to maintain alveolar bone volume and architecture. FSHA was extracted from *Labeo rohita* fish scales and characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis. In vitro, biocompatibility and osteogenic potential were assessed using Saos-2 human osteosarcoma cells. Cell viability, migration, and proliferation were evaluated using MTT and scratch assays. In vivo performance was assessed in a rat model, and FSHA was compared to a commercial xenograft (Osseograft) and ungrafted controls. Histological analysis was performed at 8-week post-implantation to quantify new bone formation. FTIR confirmed the purity and homogeneity of FSHA. In vitro, FSHA enhanced Saos-2 viability, migration, and proliferation compared to controls. In vivo, FSHA demonstrated superior bone regeneration compared to Osseograft and ungrafted sites, with balanced graft resorption and new bone formation. Histological analysis revealed an active incorporation of FSHA into new bone, with minimal gaps and ongoing remodeling. Approximately 50%-60% of FSHA was resorbed by 8 weeks, closely matching the rate of new bone deposition. FSHA stimulated more bone formation in the apical socket region than in coronal areas. In conclusion, FSHA is a promising biomaterial for alveolar ridge preservation, exhibiting excellent biocompatibility, osteogenic potential, and balanced resorption. Its ability to promote robust bone regeneration highlights its potential as an effective alternative to currently used graft materials in socket preservation procedures.

Perceptions of Indian Healthcare Practitioners Regarding the 2022 Outbreak of Monkeypox Disease.

Introduction Although only a few cases of monkeypox have been reported in India so far, it is vital for healthcare practitioners to have sufficient knowledge about its epidemiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management. Therefore, this study aimed to understand the perception of Indian healthcare practitioners regarding the 2022 outbreak of monkeypox disease. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 500 medical and dental practitioners from various regions of Kerala, India. The Chi-squared test for proportion was used to determine the significant difference in the knowledge levels of the participants. Binary logistic regression (multivariate) was used to understand the knowledge of healthcare professionals regarding the 2022 outbreak of monkeypox disease. Results A total of 424 healthcare professionals completed this survey. Overall, the level of knowledge was good in 64.9% and poor in 35.1% of the participants (p<0.01). Binary logistic regression analysis did not show any statistical significance (p > 0.05) in terms of demographic characteristics. However, in this sample, participants with 6-10 years of work experience were more likely to have improved knowledge scores (odd's ratio OR 1.764). Similarly, participants between the age of 30-40 years were also likely to have improved knowledge scores (OR: 1.065). Conclusions Indian healthcare professionals had an overall good level of knowledge regarding the 2022 outbreak of monkeypox. However, a low level of knowledge was found related to the clinical presentation and immunization of monkeypox. This may be due to the low prevalence of monkeypox in this region.

Efficacy of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy versus antiviral therapy in the treatment of herpetic gingivostomatitis among children: Aa randomized controlled clinical trial.

AIM: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) as an adjunctive treatment to topical antiviral therapy for the treatment of children having herpetic gingivostomatitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 45 individuals (age group 12-18 years) with herpetic gingivostomatitis (HG) were divided into three groups on the basis of provision of treatment. (a) Group A: topical anti-viral therapy (TAT) (n = 14, mean age = 17.0 years) (b) Group B: antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) (n = 15, mean age =17.7 years) and (c) Group C: topical anti-viral therapy + adjunctive aPDT (n = 16, mean age = 18.0 years) respectively. Pain scores [visual analogue scale (VAS) and McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ)] were assessed and HSV-1 was quantified. ENZYME LINKED IMMUNOSORBENT ASSAY (ELISA) was used to compute the pro-inflammatory cytokine including interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). The analysis of the mean values and inter group comparisons were evaluated with the Mann-Whitney test. The Friedman test was used to establish the comparison of the changes observed in HSV quantification, pain scores, and pro-inflammatory cytokines. ANOVA tests were employed for the quantification of differences observed at follow-ups. The assessments for the clinical trial were done at baseline, immediate after post-op, two, and four weeks, and three and six months respectively. RESULTS: According to the analysis of the data obtained after the clinical assessment, the three groups reported a decrease in the pain scores, HSV-1 quantification and levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines. However, Group C (TAT + aPDT) reported improvement in the observed parameters which was statistically significant in comparison to Group A (TAT) and Group B (aPDT) respectively. CONCLUSION: Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) in conjunction with topical antiviral therapy (TAT) helped in reducing the pain scores and pro-inflammatory cytokine levels in herpetic gingivostomatitis among children.

Prevalence of alcohol use and the interventions needed among adults: A community study in a rural area in South India.

BACKGROUND: The health issues and social problems associated with alcohol use are well known. This study seeks to identify the prevalence of alcohol consumption and dependence among alcohol users in a rural area of Trivandrum district. OBJECTIVES: To assess the prevalence of alcohol use among adults of Nellanad Panchayat, a rural area in Trivandrum, Kerala, to find out the interventions required among the alcohol users, and to identify persons with harmful and hazardous use of alcohol using AUDIT. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Cross-sectional study in Nellanad Panchayat, Trivandrum district, Kerala. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A cross-sectional study was carried out among 1545 residents in Nellanad Panchayat, a rural area in Kerala, by interviewing adults with the help of a questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of current alcohol use was 146 (9.5%). The prevalence among males was 143 (18.3%) and females was 3 (0.4%). ASSIST scores showed that 99 (50%) of ever users required health education, 74 (37.8%) required counseling, whereas 23 (11.7%) required de-addiction. CONCLUSIONS: Among males, the alcohol consumption is still as high as 18.3%. The most important factor affecting alcohol use is peer pressure. Health education is the most required intervention to reduce burden of alcohol use.

Novel chitosan based thin sheet nanofiltration membrane for rejection of heavy metal chromium.

In recent years, polymeric membranes holds superior position in filtration processes as it was cost effective and simple to prepare. In the present study we have synthesized a novel organic-inorganic hybrid thin sheet membrane using chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol and montmorillonite clay followed by non-solvent induced phase inversion technique. This hybrid clay-polymeric nanofiltration membrane possesses excellent overall performance, such as enhanced hydrophilic nature, and holds good rejection rate. Analytical techniques such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffractometer (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) have been employed to characterize the membrane material. Membrane characterizations such as pure water flux, membrane hydraulic resistance, water content, percentage of porosity and pore size were also evaluated. An important characteristic of membrane for long term usage "anti-biofouling activity" is investigated by determining zone of inhibition of membrane on pathogens of bacterial and fungal strains. The remediation of chromium was performed by varying the parameters such as pH, metal ion concentration, applied pressure and thickness of membrane. The rejection of chromium removal by CS/PVA/MMT membrane is confirmed by comparing the spectral images of EDAX and FT-IR taken before and after filtration.

Development of 3D scaffolds using nanochitosan/silk-fibroin/hyaluronic acid biomaterials for tissue engineering applications.

Bone tissue engineering put emphasis on fabrication three-dimensional biodegradable porous scaffolds that supporting bone regeneration and functional bone tissue formation. In the present work, we prepared novel 3D tripolymeric scaffolds of nanochitosan (NCS)/silk fibroin (SF)/hyaluronic acid (HA) ternary blends and demonstrating the synergistic effect of scaffolds and its use in tissue engineering applications. The physico-chemical characterization of the prepared scaffold was evaluated by FTIR, XRD and SEM studies. The FT-IR and XRD results confirmed the interfacial bonding interaction existing between polymers. SEM images showed good interconnected porous structure with rough surface morphology. The in vitro cytocompatibility tests carried out with osteoblast cells by the MTT assay demonstrated that the blended scaffold favors the early adhesion, growth and proliferation of preosteoblast MC3T3-E1 cells. The alizarin red assay indicated that the prepared scaffold can promote the osteogenic differentiation and facilitate the calcium mineralization of MC3T3-E1 cells. The alkaline phosphatase assay confirmed that the NCS/SF/HA scaffold provide conducive environment for osteoblast proliferation and mineral deposition. The bactericidal action of NCS/SF/HA scaffold reveals that the prepared sample has the potential to kill the microorganisms to a greater extent. Hence the overall findings concluded that the NCS/SF/HA scaffolds have better applications in tissue engineering.

A comparative study of the bone contact to zirconium and titanium implants after 8 weeks of implantation in rabbit femoral condyles.

Zirconium (Zr) has been found to have comparable characteristics to titanium with a favorable modulus of elasticity. In addition, the release of Zr-ions of a Zr implant is supposed to further increase the bone-to-implant response. Therefore, the objective of this study is to compare the bone contact to Zr and Ti implants in the femoral trabecular bone of rabbits. In addition, implants provided with a hydroxyapatite (HA) coating were included, as such a coating was proven before to enhance the secondary implant stability. A total of 32 implants consisting of 16 Zr (8 HA coated) and 16 Ti (8 HA coated) implants were installed in the femoral condyle of 16 rabbits. After 8 weeks of healing the femoral condyles including the implants were retrieved and studied histologically. The bone-to-implant contact (BIC) percentage was assessed and analyzed statistically. The BIC values of the uncoated Zr and Ti implants showed comparable BIC values (45.1 ± 14.8 vs. 45.5 ± 13.1). The BIC percentage was slightly higher for HA coated Zr and Ti implants (60.3 ± 17.1, 59.8 ± 16.4, respectively) compared to uncoated, but statistical testing indicated that this difference was not significant. It can be concluded that Zr and Ti implants show a comparable bone-implant contact after 8 weeks of implantation in the currently used rabbit model. In addition, the deposition of a sputtered HA coating on both Zr and Ti implants did not further improve their bone integration.

Size optimization and in vitro biocompatibility studies of chitosan nanoparticles.

Chitosan (CS), an amino polysaccharide has fascinating scientific applications due to its many flexible properties. The advantages of Chitosan tend to increase when it was modified. Thus, in the present research work, to improve the properties of chitosan, it was converted into chitosan nanoparticles (CS-NPs) through the ionic gelation method using sodium tripoyphosphate (TPP) and sodium hexametaphosphate (SHMP) as a crosslinker. The size optimization was done by varying the parameters such as crosslinker concentration, agitation method and rate, agitation time, temperature and drying method. The prepared samples were characterized using FTIR, TGA, XRD, SEM, TEM and DLS. Also the prepared CS-NPs with TPP and SHMP had been evaluated in vitro for determining its hemocompatibility, biodegradability, serum stability, cytotoxicity and cell viability. The results showed the significant participation of all the parameters in obtaining the nanoparticles in 20-30nm and 5-10nm for CS-NPs-TPP air dried and freeze dried samples and around 60-80nm and 20-30nm for CS-NPs-SHMP air dried and freeze dried samples. The in vitro biological studies revealed that the nanoparticles are non-toxic with a good degree of biodegradability, blood compatibility and stability.

Adsorption Studies of Lead(II) from aqueous solution onto Nanochitosan /Polyurethane /Polypropylene glycol ternary blends.

Chitosan is one of the most abundant natural biopolymer after cellulose. Nanochitosan (NCS) was prepared from chitosan by ionic gelation method with sodium tripolyphosphate. Polyurethanes (PU) find wide range of applications as good materials for the concentration and removal of both organic and inorganic pollutants because of their high efficiency for sorption of various ionic and neutral materials. Polypropylene glycol (PPG) is a family of long chain polymers attached to a glycerine backbone. The present project deals with the aims in exploiting the positive behaviour of the three polymers by preparing a ternary blends of NCS/PU/PPG(1:1:1) ratio. Batch adsorption process was carried out using prepared ternary blend of various parameters influencing the Pb(II) adsorption such as initial concentration of the metal solutions, pH, agitation time and adsorbent concentrations have been studied. The characterization of the prepared sample was carried out using FTIR, XRD, TGA, DSC and SEM studies. Langmuir, Freundlich and Tempkin isotherm parameters have been determined. Adsorption kinetic data were tested using pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order and Elovich model. The kinetics of the adsorption was found to fit the pseudo-second order model. The present work proves the suitability of the ternary blend as an effective adsorbent for Pb(II).

Removal of toxic heavy metal lead (II) using chitosan oligosaccharide-graft-maleic anhydride/polyvinyl alcohol/silk fibroin composite.

The present work was aimed to investigate the efficiency of novel chitosan oligosaccharide-graft-maleic anhydride(COS-g-MAH)/Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/silk fibroin (SF) composite for removing the toxic heavy metal lead (II) ion from aqueous solution by batch adsorption studies. Initially the chitosan oligosaccharide-graft-maleic anhydride copolymer has been prepared by utilizing ceric ammonium nitrate as an initiator and the optimised graft copolymer was then used for synthesizing COS-g-MAH/PVA/SF composite. The prepared samples were analyzed through FTIR and XRD studies. The FTIR results indicate that the grafted chitosan oligosaccharide copolymer was mixed homogeneously with silk fibroin and polyvinyl alcohol through intermolecular hydrogen bonding. The XRD results elucidate the changes in the crystalline behaviour of the prepared COS-g-MAH/PVA/silk fibroin composite. Both FTIR and XRD results revealed a strong interaction among COS-g-MAH, PVA and silk fibroin components. To evaluate the adsorption potential of the synthesized composite, the parameters such as pH, adsorbent dosage, contact time and initial Pb(II)ion concentration was investigated. The adsorption isotherms of Pb(II) could be described very well by Langmuir model and the kinetic results revealed that pseudo second order kinetics shows a better fit. This work provides a practical and high-efficient method for water treatment at moderate concentration of toxic heavy metals.

FTIR, XRD and DSC studies of nanochitosan, cellulose acetate and polyethylene glycol blend ultrafiltration membranes.

In the present work, a series of novel nanochitosan/cellulose acetate/polyethylene glycol (NCS/CA/PEG) blend flat sheet membranes were fabricated in different ratios (1:1:1, 1:1:2, 2:1:1, 2:1:2, 1:2:1, 2:2:1) in a polar solvent of N,N'-dimethylformamide (DMF) using the most popular phase inversion method. Nanochitosan was prepared by the ionotropic gelation method and its average particle size has been analyzed using Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) method. The effect of blending of the three polymers was investigated using FTIR and XRD studies. FTIR results confirmed the formation of well-blended membranes and the XRD analysis revealed enhanced amorphous nature of the membrane ratio 2:1:2. DSC study was conducted to find out the thermal behavior of the blend membranes and the results clearly indicated good thermal stability and single glass transition temperature (Tg) of all the prepared membranes. Asymmetric nature and rough surface morphology was confirmed using SEM analysis. From the results it was evident that the blending of the polymers with higher concentration of nanochitosan can alter the nature of the resulting membranes to a greater extent and thus amorphous membranes were obtained with good miscibility and compatibility.

Oral Lesions in Neonates.

Oral lesions in neonates represent a wide range of diseases often creating apprehension and anxiety among parents. Early examination and prompt diagnosis can aid in prudent management and serve as baseline against the future course of the disease. The present review aims to enlist and describe the diagnostic features of commonly encountered oral lesions in neonates. How to cite this article: Patil S, Rao RS, Majumdar B, Jafer M, Maralingannavar M, Sukumaran A. Oral Lesions in Neonates. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2016;9(2):131-138.

The Impact of Expasyl® Gingival Retraction Paste on the Bond Strength of Self-etch and Total-etch Systems.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of Expasyl® gingival retraction paste on the shear bond strength of self-etch and total-etch adhesive systems. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-four specimens of extracted, caries-free, sound human molars were used in this study. The molars were then cut vertically into halves through the buccal and lingual cusps. Forty-eight specimens were divided into four groups (total-etch, total-etch with Expasyl application, self-etch, self-etch with Expasyl application) and the shear bond strength was tested. RESULTS: Expasyl significantly reduced the shear bond strength of the self-etch and total-etch adhesive systems. The self-etch system showed relatively lower performance compared with the total-etch adhesive system. The shear bond strength values of the total-etch adhesive without Expasyl showed the highest bond strength (21.48 ± 2.89), while the self-etching group adhesive treated with Expasyl showed the lowest shear bond strength value (14.89 ± 1.81). CONCLUSION: From the observations of this in vitro study, it can be concluded that the use of Expasyl® gingival retraction system can negatively affect bond strength of adhesives. The total-etch system showed better compatibility to the Expasyl gingival retraction system than the self-etch.

Patient preferences in selecting a dentist: survey results from the urban population of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

INTRODUCTION: Awareness of gender- or nationality-driven preconceptions can help dentists to have a better interpretation of the dentist-patient relationship. It is even more noteworthy to understand these predilections in Saudi society, where women and men are usually segregated due to religion- and culture-based considerations. This study is one of the first to explore the preferences of patients when selecting a dentist with respect to gender and nationality in the city of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 445 community residents residing in Riyadh were randomly selected for a cross-sectional study. The participants completed a survey designed to assess which of two factors (gender and/or nationality) were perceived as most relevant in choosing a dentist. Statistical analysis of the data was performed using the SPSS 11.5 software. RESULTS: Female participants did not show any preference for the gender of the dentist, whereas 40% of the male participants preferred a male dentist. Participants also favored male dentists in the felds of oral surgery (78.9%), implants (74.1%), endodontics (67.5%), orthodontics (65.8%) and prosthodontics (64.2%). An exception was noted in pediatric dentistry, for which female dentists were favored by 52.8% of the participants. Additionally, most (66.1%) participants did not have any preference for the nationality of the dentist. CONCLUSION: Riyadh residents showed a general preference for a male dentist but demonstrated no preference for nationality when selecting a dentist.

The impact of polymerization method on tensile bond strength between denture base and acrylic teeth.

Failure of the bond between acrylic teeth and the denture base resin interface is one of the major concern in prosthodontics. The new generation of denture bases that utilize alternate polymerization methods are being introduced in the market. The aim of the study is to evaluate the influence of polymerization methods on bonding quality between the denture base and artificial teeth. Sixty test specimens were prepared (20 in each group) and were polymerized using heat, microwave and visible light curing. The tensile strength was recorded for each of the samples, and the results were analyzed statistically. The light-activated Eclipse™ System showed the highest tensile strength, followed by heat curing. The microwave-cured samples exhibited the least bonding to the acrylic teeth. Within the limitations of this study, it can be concluded that the new generation of light-cured denture bases showed significantly better bonding to acrylic teeth and can be used as an alternative to the conventional heat-polymerized denture base.

Study of the anesthetic efficacy of inferior alveolar nerve block using articaine in irreversible pulpitis.

AIM: The purpose of this study was to determine the anesthetic efficacy of inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB) using 4% articaine and 2% lidocaine supplemented with buccal infiltration. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty five patients, diagnosed with irreversible pulpitis of a mandibular posterior tooth were included in the study. The first group of 15 patients received 2% lidocaine with 1:200000 epinephrine, the second group 2% lidocaine with 1: 80,000 epinephrine and the third group of 15 subjects received 4% articaine with 1:100000 epinephrine. During the access cavity preparation those patients who complained of pain received an additional buccal infiltration. The percentage of subjects who got profound anesthesia and failure to achieve anesthesia were calculated and tabulated using a visual analog scale. RESULTS: The results revealed that 87% of subjects who received 4% Articaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine got satisfactory anesthesia with inferior alveolar nerve block alone. Only 2 (13%) subjects received an additional buccal infiltration and none of the patients failed to obtain complete anesthesia with articaine. In comparison only 40% of subjects got complete anesthesia with 2% lidocaine with 1:200000 and 60% with 2% lidocaine with 1:80,000. CONCLUSION: It can be concluded that 4% articaine can be used effectively for obtaining profound anesthesia for endodontic procedures in patients with irreversible pulpitis.

Pulsed laser deposition and in vitro characteristics of triphasic - HASi composition on titanium.

Pulsed laser deposition was used to deposit bioactive triphasic glass-ceramic composition (HASi) over titanium substrate using dense HASi target. Bioactive glass compositions are considered the most useful synthetic materials for immediate bone attachment because of its bioresorption, osteoconduction and osteointegration characteristics under in vivo conditions. The disadvantage of its brittleness associated with bioactive glass-ceramics has prompted its coating over metallic implants for the combination of duo mechanical and bioactive properties. The hard HASi target was able to undergo laser ablation under ambient gas pressure without bulk erosion of the target. Laser deposition was found to be efficient in depositing triphasic composition for immediate bone integration. The target and deposits were analyzed for the phase, composition and microstructural characteristics by means of X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray analysis and scanning electron microscopy. Simultaneously, the adherent nature and mechanical behaviour of deposits were confirmed by scratch test and micro-indentation methods. Further, the in vitro dissolution and bioactivity were assessed by soaking in simulated body fluid followed by elemental analysis using inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy. The deposits were found to be cell-friendly, which was indicated by the phenomenology of stem cells under in vitro conditions.

Editorial. Oral submucous fibrosis: revised hypotheses as to its cause.

Oral submucous fbrosis (OSF), being a prototype of pathological fbrosis, remains enigmatic as regards its causation. The connective tissue production is permanent and there is no reversal of the condition even after cessation of the habit of areca-nut usage; prime suspect in its causation.(1) The bulk of the connective tissue consists of type-1 collagen(2) and its formation does not appears to be caused by excessive proliferation of fbroblasts.(3) The effect of areca nut extract on in vitro fbroblasts varies on a concentration gradient, predominantly suppressing rather than stimulating the growth of the cells.(4) Based on morphological characteristics, the fbroblast population in the diseased mucosa has been classifed in to types F1, F2 and F3 with F3 cells producing signifcantly more collagen than the other two cell types. It was concluded that a change of fbroblast population has occurred in OSF and that this relative increase of F3 cells in humans, could be committed to the production of large quantities of collagen formation in OSF. It has been proposed that fbroblasts are functionally heterogeneous, the composition of any given normal or diseased connective tissue being a consequence in part of its particular mixture of fbroblast subtypes and density. Subtype deletion or amplifcation can result from selective cytotoxic or mitogenic responses induced by the binding environmental ligands.(5) Against this backdrop, we propose few de-novo attributes, hitherto unreported, and seem to be of relevance in the pathogenesis of OSF; namely the role of autophagy in basic cellular homeostatic process, important to cell fate decisions under conditions of stress and also ECM producing cells (fbroblasts, myofbroblasts and smooth muscle cells) derived from epithelial and endothelial cells through process termed epithelial and endothelial-mesenchymal transition.