Maxillary mucormycosis and concurrent osteomyelitis in a post-COVID-19 patient with new onset diabetes mellitus.

The occurrence of invasive fungal respiratory superinfections in patients with COVID-19 has gained much attention in the post-COVID era. The elucidation of invasive fungal sinusitis with osteomyelitis as a rare aggressive infection that requires prompt diagnosis and treatment to prevent fatal consequences has been noteworthy. Cone-beam computed tomography findings in those patients are central to early diagnosis and management. Here we report a case of post-COVID mucormycosis with osteomyelitis of the maxilla in a 72-year-old woman with a history of recently diagnosed diabetes mellitus.

Assessing the status of changing regimes of water bodies in Gorakhpur District, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Water bodies play a very important role in maintaining and restoring the ecological balance, but they are one of the most threatened habitats in the world. Anthropogenic intervention is changing the regimes of wetlands almost everywhere particularly in the developing countries. Gorakhpur District is dotted with many big and small flood plain-related water bodies like rivers, streams, tanks, dead arms, oxbow lakes, etc. Some of these water bodies are worst affected and are degraded by encroachment for agriculture and other economic and developmental activities. Channel migration, aggravated by human intervention, on alluvial plain is also very frequent, which has direct impact on the nature of water bodies and land use transformations of the region. In this paper, the authors have made an attempt to (a) bring current geographical and historical background of water bodies/wetlands for the district. It aims to assess long-term (1917-2018) and short-term (pre- and post-monsoon) changes in the water bodies of Gorakhpur District; (b) provide changes in the regime of water bodies/wetlands and their conversion to different types of land use/land cover classes due to human intervention and due to annual rainy season, which inundates a large extent of the area every year; (C) assess the channel characteristics and morphometric analysis of main rivers of the region during the last hundred years. Remote sensing and Geographical Information System (GIS) have been used to prepare the inventory and to perform change detection, using land use/land cover maps. The floodplain areas of water bodies have almost changed their morphological characters due to encroachment by the nearby areas. Canals, drainage channels, and lakes are the most affected water bodies in the region, which have recorded - 65.38% and 43.37% loss in their area. Even permanent rivers have recorded a decrease of - 16.96% in the area. As per the seasonal change, agriculture land suffered the greatest conversion (18.33%) due to floodwater inundation. The study provides a platform to planners to chalk out their policies and also for monitoring the water bodies. Furthermore, analysis on channel migration will help predict the future course of the main rivers.

Analysis of the positions of anterior teeth in orthodontically treated and untreated population: A proof of uniqueness.

AIM: To compare the uniqueness of human dentition in both orthodontically treated and untreated populations and evaluate the reliability of bitemark analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 1464 maxillary and mandibular casts were fabricated from orthodontically treated and nontreated population. After careful examination of the study teeth, 326 nontreated maxillary cast (Group 1), 333 nontreated mandibular cast (Group 2), 336 orthodontically treated maxillary cast (Group 3), and 320 orthodontically treated mandibular casts (Group 4) were selected for the analysis. For uniformity, the sample size of 320 was selected from each group for comparison. RESULTS: The arch width was a major cause of variance. In Group 1, only 6.87% of similarity rate was seen, whereas in Group 3, the match rate increased to 55% showing similarity. In Group 2, only 1.87% similarity and Group 4 showed 42.7% match rate. CONCLUSION: The human dentition may be unique, but it loses its uniqueness once any dental treatment is carried out.

Role of angiogenesis in oral submucous fibrosis using vascular endothelial growth factor and CD34: An immunohistochemical study.

BACKGROUND: Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) is an insidious, chronic, disabling disease, in which there is lack of perfusion due to reduced level of the vasculature and this is said to be responsible for the epithelial atrophy seen in OSF. The degree of vasculature of the affected mucosa and its effects on the epithelial thickness remains controversial till date. AIMS: This study attempts to analyze the role of angiogenesis in OSF and its progression using vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and CD34 markers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study samples for the present study comprised of 10 cases each of early OSF, moderately advanced, advanced OSF, and 10 cases of normal oral mucosa were used as controls. All the cases were subjected to immunohistochemical staining with VEGF and CD34 markers. RESULTS: Among the different grades of OSF, we did not find any noticeable difference in VEGF expression although we found a upregulation in microvessel density (CD34) in early and moderately advanced OSF followed by a downregulation in advanced OSF. CONCLUSIONS: As the disease progresses, there is an increased production of the extracellular matrix component (collagen I and II and fibronectin) and results in fibrosis. Subsequently, it leads to the reduction in the level of corium vascularity and results in hypoxia which ultimately causes reduction and constriction of the vascular channels. This sequence of events alerts us to the relevance of early disease diagnosis and management in an irreversible pathology such as OSF.

Berry's index: Adjuvant to bite marks.

INTRODUCTION: Bite-mark analysis has proven its advantage as an important forensic tool in the past but also has a few limitations to it. To enhance its utility in forensic odontology in this study we have coupled it with Berry's Index (BI) which is an index used to select anterior teeth in prosthetic practice. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: This study was attempted to analyze the applicability of BI in identifying an individual. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was directed among 300 individuals with ages ranging between 19 and 30 years. The study conducted at Institute of Dental Studies and Technology College, Kadrabad, Modinagar, Ghaziabad. Out of the total population studied, 149 were males and 151 were females. The analysis of the data obtained was done using SPSS version 19. RESULTS: The results in our study indicated that the widths of both maxillary central incisors and the bizygomatic width were found to be higher in females when compared to males. A positive correlation was observed between both the widths of upper central incisors and the bizygomatic width. CONCLUSION: BI could be successfully used as an adjuvant to bite analysis and could be an aid in determining the facial proportions of an individual from the width of the central incisors. This could further be correlated with the forensic facial reconstruction.

Index/Ring Finger Ratio, Hand and Foot Index: Gender Estimation Tools.

INTRODUCTION: Gender estimation from dismembered human body parts and skeletal remains in cases of mass disasters, explosions, and assaults cases is an imperative element of any medico-legal investigations and has been a major challenge for forensic scientists. AIM: The aim of the present study was to estimate the gender by using index and ring finger length ratio, hand and foot index along with the correlation of both the hand and foot index to determine the vital role of all the indices in establishing gender identity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was done on 300 subjects (150 males and 150 females). Various anthropometric measurements like hand length, hand breadth and hand index, Index Finger Length (IFL), Ring Finger Length (RFL) and IFL/RFL ratio as well as foot length, foot breadth and foot index were estimated in millimeters (mm) with the help of sliding-anthropometric caliper. The data was analysed using independent t-test and Pearson correlation coefficient test. A probability value (p) of ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The index and ring finger ratio was found to be higher in females as compared to males. The hand and foot index was more in males than in females. The index and ring finger length ratio, hand and foot index between males and females was found to be statistically significant for both hands and feet. A statistically significant correlation was determined between hand indexes versus foot index. CONCLUSION: This study can be useful to establish the gender of a dismembered hand or foot when subjected for medicolegal examination.

The wonderous chaperones: A highlight on therapeutics of cancer and potentially malignant disorders.

Diverse environmental and physiological factors are known to induce the transcription of a set of genes encoding special protective molecules known as "molecular chaperones" within our cells. Literature abounds in evidence regarding the varied roles; these "guides" can effectively perform in our system. Highly conserved through evolution, from the prokaryotes to the eukaryotes, these make perfect study tools for verifying their role in both the pathogenesis as well as the therapeutics of varied neurodegenerative, autoimmune and potentially malignant disorders and varied cancer states. We present a concise review of this ever dynamic molecule, highlighting the probable role in a potentially malignant disorder, oral lichen planus.

Forensic Facial Reconstruction: The Final Frontier.

Forensic facial reconstruction can be used to identify unknown human remains when other techniques fail. Through this article, we attempt to review the different methods of facial reconstruction reported in literature. There are several techniques of doing facial reconstruction, which vary from two dimensional drawings to three dimensional clay models. With the advancement in 3D technology, a rapid, efficient and cost effective computerized 3D forensic facial reconstruction method has been developed which has brought down the degree of error previously encountered. There are several methods of manual facial reconstruction but the combination Manchester method has been reported to be the best and most accurate method for the positive recognition of an individual. Recognition allows the involved government agencies to make a list of suspected victims'. This list can then be narrowed down and a positive identification may be given by the more conventional method of forensic medicine. Facial reconstruction allows visual identification by the individual's family and associates to become easy and more definite.

Altered expression of HSP70 in oral lichen planus.

BACKGROUND: Oral lichen planus (OLP), a well-known mucocutaneous lesion has been the center of debate regarding its obscure etiopathogenesis. Recent highlight has been placed on the role of autoimmunity and a sect of constitutional molecules, the native chaperones HSP70, proposed to be important in the onset and progress of disease. AIM: To substantiate a potential role of HSP70 in the pathogenesis of oral lichen planus. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: The study involved immunohistochemical (IHC) analyses in a laboratory under monitored conditions. It was a retrospective study on clinically and histopathologically confirmed specimens. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 30 samples of confirmed cases of OLP were selected and grouped on the basis of the thickness of the epithelial layer into atrophic, normal (classical) and acanthotic. An immunohistochemical analysis of the expression of HSP70 protein was done, followed by a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the stained layers. STATISTICAL ANALYSES: A Z test was performed to estimate the difference observed between two sample proportions. The statistics was given at 1% level of significance i.e. P<0.01. RESULTS: An increased expression of HSP70 was noted in the basal and suprabasal cells of the epithelium of OLP. A higher count and intensity of HSP70 expression was seen in the basal layer of the epithelium. Greater expression was noted in the epithelium of the atrophic group. CONCLUSION: The expression pattern of HSP70 positively implicates it in the pathogenesis of OLP.

HSP70: probable role in Pathogenesis and therapeutics of oral lichen planus / HSP70: provável papel na patogênese e terapêutica de líquen plano oral

Objective: To evaluate a potential role of HSP70 in the pathogenesis of oral lichen planus (OLP). Materials and methods: The study sample comprised of 30 samples of histopathologically confirmed cases of OLP, which were grouped on the basis of the thickness of the epithelial layer into atrophic, normal (classical) and acanthotic. An immunohistochemical analysis of the expression of HSP-70 protein was done, followed by a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the stained layers. The results were statistically analyzed. Results: An increased expression of HSP70 was noted in the basal and suprabasal cells of the epithelium of OLP. A higher count and intensity of HSP70 expression was seen in the basal layer of the epithelium. Greater expression was noted in the epithelium of the atrophic group. Conclusion: The expression pattern of HSP70 positively implicates it in the pathogenesis of OLP. A potential role of HSP 70 usage as therapeutic modality is suggested.

Objetivo: Avaliar o potencial papel do HSP70 na patogênese do líquen plano bucal (LPB). Materiais e métodos:A amostra foi composta de casos histologicamente confirmados de LPB, os quais foram agrupados em função da espessura da camada epitelial em atrófica, normal (clássica) e acantose. Uma análise imuno-histoquímicada expressão da proteína HSP70 foi feita, seguida por uma análise quantitativa e qualitativa dascamadas coradas. Os resultados foram analisados estatisticamente. Resultados: Um aumento da expressãode HSP70 foi observado nas células basais e suprabasais do epitélio de LPB. A maior contagem e intensidadede expressão HSP70 foi vista na camada basal do epitélio. Maior expressão foi observada no epitélio do grupoatrófica. Conclusão: O padrão de expressão de HSP70 demonstrou uma ação positiva do mesmo na patogêneseda LPB. O uso do HSP70 como modalidade terapêutica do LPB é sugerido.