Correlation and Comparison of Cheiloscopy and Dactyloscopy with Blood Groups ­ An Institutional Study

Background: The most crucial evidence that is left behind at the crime scenarios that might narrow down the suspect pool are lip prints and fingerprints. These are undoubtedly the most reliable and valuable evidence till date in the court of law. One more biological record that remains unchanged throughout the lifespan of a person is the blood group. Aim and Objectives: To study, correlate and compare cheiloscopy and dactyloscopy with blood group among dental students in the Western Maharashtra population. Materials and Methods: A total of 200 dental students with age groups ranging between 18-25 years were included in the study. Lip print pattern, fingerprint pattern and ABO blood groups were collected and compared. SPSS version 20.0 was used to analyse the data. Results: There was a statistically significant correlation between lip prints and ABO - Rh (χ2 37.56, P < 0.05) as well as between fingerprints and ABO-Rh blood groups (χ2 30.6, P < 0.05). Conclusion: Hence, this study concluded that fingerprints-ABO blood group and lip prints-ABO blood groups are valuable evidence that can be relied upon in forensic investigations for the identification of the suspect in crime.

Effect of socioeconomic status on dental caries during pregnancy.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: It is generally agreed that people with low socioeconomic status have a significantly worse oral and general health compared to people with higher socioeconomic status. The aim of the study was to find out the role of socioeconomic status of pregnant women on their oral health by evaluating the dental caries risk factor, the salivary Streptococcus mutans count and DMFT index. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 50 first time pregnant women were randomly sampled and were divided into different socioeconomic strata following the Kuppuswamy socioeconomic status scale. DMFT index and microbiological assessment of dental caries risk factor parameter, the salivary Streptococcus mutans colony forming units, were carried out during the three trimesters and postpartum period. The observations were compared with 50 non-pregnant women of same age group. RESULTS: Of the randomly sampled subjects, majority of the pregnant women (28/50) of the study group were of middle/lower middle class, 11 pregnant women were of upper middle class, and 11 were of the lower/upper lower class. When followed in their three trimesters and postpartum period, statistically significant increase in the salivary Streptococcus mutans colony forming units was noted in 2nd trimester, 3rd trimester and postpartum period (P value < 0.05) of all pregnant women. Comparison of the caries risk factor between the pregnant women of three socioeconomic strata, however, revealed that no particular class was at a higher risk for dental caries. CONCLUSION: This study gives an insight into the possible changing trends towards awareness for oral hygiene in various socioeconomic strata of pregnant women.

Salivary Human Chorionic Gonadotropin as a Novel Biomarker for Early Detection of Pregnancy: A Pilot Study.

CONTEXT: The role of saliva in detection of pregnancy has not received the due importance it deserves. AIMS: The present paper aims at determining the role of saliva in detection of pregnancy using home-based pregnancy detection kits to provide an alternative biofluid that is more user friendly, acceptable, noninvasive, rapid, and easy for home use. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: The study was conducted among 35 women visiting a gynecology clinic for confirmation of pregnancy, who gave a history of a missed menstrual cycle not more than 4 weeks. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A home-based pregnancy detection kit meant for urinary human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) detection with 20 mIU specification was used in the study for estimation of salivary hCG. Routine test that was prescribed to the patient such as laboratory-based urine hCG and/or ultrasound examination was used for confirmation of pregnancy status and correlation with the saliva-based result. RESULTS: A positive test was obtained in 74% participants, with a dark band in 43% participants and a light band in 31% participants. A negative result was noted in 26% participants. We observed that salivary hCG estimation showed a 77% accuracy and 23% false-negative results. CONCLUSIONS: An astounding 74% of participants showed a positive result with an existing pregnancy kit which indicates a strong plausibility of using salivary hCG as a biomarker for detection of pregnancy. With the findings obtained from our study, we could positively affirm that salivary hCG can be used as a potential, user friendly, and more acceptable biomarker for early detection of pregnancy.

An insight into diagnosis of a hidden entity: Impacted food material.

INTRODUCTION: Foreign bodies and tissue reactions to foreign materials are commonly encountered in the oral cavity. Exogenous materials causing foreign body reactions may be metallic (amalgam) or nonmetallic (suture materials, vegetable matter). Implantation of food particles in the oral tissues has been known to cause reactive lesions such as oral pulse granuloma. Implantation could be through extraction sockets, deep periodontal pockets, associated with tumor growth, interdental areas of teeth, unfilled root canals, and grossly decayed teeth. These get rapidly digested and altered by host responses. Cellulose persists as hyaline material and invokes chronic granulomatous response. This change may mimic other pathologies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Representative specimens from commonly consumed food groups were selected, fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin, processed, sectioned, stained with hematoxylin and eosin stain and observed under light microscope. RESULTS: Each specimen revealed unique, distinct histology of each food type. The plant materials had a characteristic appearance of rigid double cell wall while rigid regular partitions containing nutrient material were revealed in seeds and beans. Starch-contained lentils exhibited clear spaces. Following is a brief description of some of the significant histological findings of each of the specimens processed and stained. CONCLUSION: Thus, the study of histological structure of vegetables and legumes will enable their easy recognition in oral biopsy samples and help in distinguishing them from other pathologies and artifact.

Dietary habits amongst medical students: An institution-based study.

INTRODUCTION: In recent times, with the increasing burden caused by the lifestyle diseases on the health sector, there has been a renewed interest in the relationship between food and health. Research regarding nutritional status in college students in western Maharashtra, India, has been found lacking. Therefore, this study was undertaken to ascertain the dietary habits in the undergraduate students of a health institute. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This questionnaire-based study was conducted amongst 130 students from a health university regarding their dietary attitudes and lifestyle practices. The students had the option of choosing more than one answer based on the nature of the question. All the data were tabulated and relevant inferences were drawn. RESULTS: A total of 130 students comprising 74 girls and 56 boys from a health university participated in the study. Daily consumption of fruits and vegetables was only 1-2 portions for 98 (75%) of the participating students. Twenty-four (18%) participants were noted to be underweight and 11 (8%) students were either overweight or obese. CONCLUSION: Thus, the findings of the study indicate that the diet and nutritional aspects of our future medical health professionals should be researched in further details and timely interventions initiated for ensuring the knowledge and practice of the WHO principles regarding the same to be incorporated.

Evaluation of Radiation-induced Cytological Changes in Lesional Oral Cancer Cells and Adjacent Normal Mucosal Cells.

AIM: To assess various cytological changes for predicting radiosensitivity of oral squamous cell carcinoma by exfoliative cytology. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Histologically proven 30 cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma who underwent fractionated radiotherapy in a dose of 45-60 Gy in 5 fractions/week were enrolled in the study. The exfoliative cytology smear was evaluated on lesional and adjacent oral mucosa before radiotherapy, during radiotherapy (8 and 11th fraction) and post radiotherapy (4, 6 and 8 weeks). Various parameters like multinucleation, cellular enlargement, nuclear enlargement, cytoplasmic vacuolation, cytoplasmic granulation, leukocytic infiltration were evaluated. RESULTS: Statistical significant values were seen in the inter-group comparison of all the parameters when compared adjacent mucosa and normal mucosa for leukocytic infiltration in pretreatment smear. CONCLUSION: The study showed that radiation-induced cytological changes in oral squamous cell carcinoma have a significant dose-related increase. This dose-response relationship and the high intratumoral variations suggest that serial assay of these changes has potential use for radiosensitivity prediction. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Radiosensitivity prediction can be evaluated by means of cytological smears in one stop crisis centre (OSCC) individuals subjected to fractionated radiotherapy by evaluating the cytological parameters.

Estimation of DMFT, Salivary Streptococcus Mutans Count, Flow Rate, Ph, and Salivary Total Calcium Content in Pregnant and Non-Pregnant Women: A Prospective Study.

INTRODUCTION: Pregnancy, a period from conception till birth, causes changes in the functioning of the human body as a whole and specifically in the oral cavity that may favour the emergence of dental caries. Many studies have shown pregnant women at increased risk for dental caries, however, specific salivary caries risk factors and the particular period of pregnancy at heightened risk for dental caries are yet to be explored and give a scope of further research in this area. AIM: The aim of the present study was to assess the severity of dental caries in pregnant women compared to non-pregnant women by evaluating parameters like Decayed, Missing, Filled Teeth (DMFT) index, salivary Streptococcus mutans count, flow rate, pH and total calcium content. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 50 first time pregnant women in the first trimester were followed during their second trimester, third trimester and postpartum period for the evaluation of DMFT by World Health Organization (WHO) scoring criteria, salivary flow rate by drooling method, salivary pH by pH meter, salivary total calcium content by bioassay test kit and salivary Streptococcus mutans count by semiautomatic counting of colonies grown on Mitis Salivarius (MS) agar supplemented by 0.2U/ml of bacitracin and 10% sucrose. The observations of pregnant women were then compared with same parameters evaluated in the 50 non-pregnant women. Paired t-test and Wilcoxon sign rank test were performed to assess the association between the study parameters. RESULTS: Evaluation of different caries risk factors between pregnant and non-pregnant women clearly showed that pregnant women were at a higher risk for dental caries. Comparison of caries risk parameters during the three trimesters and postpartum period showed that the salivary Streptococcus mutans count had significantly increased in the second trimester, third trimester and postpartum period while the mean pH and mean salivary total calcium content decreased in the third trimester and postpartum period. These changes reflected on the DMFT score which increased in the third trimester and postpartum period. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that there is a definite correlation between pregnancy and dental caries. We conclude that the third trimester and postpartum period of pregnancy are the periods during which the pregnant women are at a higher risk for development of dental caries.

Juxtaoral organ of Chievitz: An innocuous organ to be known.

The Juxtaoral Organ of Chievitz is a normal anatomical structure located within the soft tissue in the buccotemporal fascia on the medial surface of the ascending ramus. This enigmatic vestigial structure is considered to be of neuroepithelial origin with no known function. As a matter of fact, JOOC is one of the most treacherous pitfalls in surgical pathology with respect to lesions in the head and neck area. Hence the basic aim of this short communication is to reveal the importance about this organ and enlighten the oral pathologist about this histopathological structure, thus preventing extensive and unnecessary investigations.

Trending Speculations of Tumor-Initiating Cells in Squamous Cell Cancers of Head and Neck.

Tumor-initiating cells are a diminutive subpopulation of stem cells that have ability of long term self-renewal and generation of varied traits of tumor cell population. Understanding the concept of tumor-initiating cells may have a great implicative intimation for our comprehension of cancer pathobiology and for the delineation of new therapies directed towards these stem cells. The present review is an endeavor to conceptualize the role of tumor-initiating cells in the Squamous Cell Cancers (SCC) of head and neck, their role in tumorigenesis and the possible supplementary approach in the latest treatment modalities.

Gingival squamous cell carcinoma mimicking as a desquamative lesion.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the most frequently encountered neoplasm in the oral cavity, which accounts for more than 90% of all cancers. Except for carcinoma of the lip vermilion, the most common sites of oral SCC are the tongue and floor of mouth, followed at a lower frequency by the soft palate, gingiva, and buccal mucosa. Clinically, it may be misdiagnosed because of its variable appearances. This case report presents a case of well-differentiated SCC of gingiva. A 48-year-old male patient reported to the Department of Periodontology, School of Dental Sciences, Karad, with a 1-year history of burning sensation and painful lesion on the gingiva from 35 to 37 (mandibular) regions. On clinical examination, desquamated gingival lesion was seen with no purulent exudation. Clinical characteristics and differential diagnosis indicated the lesion for an excisional biopsy. Histopathological examination confirmed the lesion to be a well-differentiated SCC. The patient was referred for the treatment consisting of surgical excision of the lesion. Since an early diagnosis and treatment was possible in this case, it resulted in a good prognosis. In these instances, dentist plays an important role in early detection of gingival SCC.

Glucose Level Estimation in Diabetes Mellitus By Saliva: A Bloodless Revolution.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus is a massive, growing, silent epidemic that has the potential to cripple health services in all parts of the world. Currently, a diagnosis of diabetes is achieved by evaluating plasma glucose levels. Saliva offers some distinctive advantages. Whole saliva can be collected non-invasively and by individuals with limited training. The present study was aimed to estimate and correlate the plasma and salivary glucose levels in diabetic and non diabetic subjects, with special reference to age. METHOD: The study population consisted of three groups: Group I consisted of diabetics with BGL>200mg/dl and Group 2 consisted of diabetics with BGL 130-200mg/dl based on their random plasma glucose levels. Group 3 consisted of healthy population as controls with BGL <130 mg/dl. 2 ml of peripheral blood was collected for the estimation of random plasma glucose levels and unstimulated saliva was collected for the estimation of salivary glucose RESULTS: The salivary glucose levels were significantly higher in group 1 and group 2 diabetics when compared with controls. The salivary glucose levels show a significant correlation with plasma glucose levels between study populations, suggesting that salivary glucose levels can be used as a monitoring tool for predicting glucose level in diabetic patients. CONCLUSION: The present study found that estimation of salivary glucose levels can be used as a noninvasive, painless technique for the measurement of diabetic status of a patient in a dental set up.

Proposing national identification number on dental prostheses as universal personal identification code - A revolution in forensic odontology.

The proper identification of a decedent is not only important for humanitarian and emotional reasons, but also for legal and administrative purposes. During the reconstructive identification process, all necessary information is gathered from the unknown body of the victim and hence that an objective reconstructed profile can be established. Denture marking systems are being used in various situations, and a number of direct and indirect methods are reported. We propose that national identification numbers be incorporated in all removable and fixed prostheses, so as to adopt a single and definitive universal personal identification code with the aim of achieving a uniform, standardized, easy, and fast identification method worldwide for forensic identification.

Solitary plasmacytoma of the mandible - a rare entity.

Plasma cell dyscrasias (multiple myeloma, solitary plasmocytoma of bone and extra medullary plasmocytoma) are cha¬racterized by a monoclonal neoplastic proliferation of plasma cells of which Solitary plasmocytoma of bone (SPB) is a localized form. SPB is most frequently seen in vertebrae and secondarily in long bones. Its presence in jaws is extremely rare. The malignant plasma cells express monotypic cytoplasmic immunoglobulins and plasma cell-associated antigens, with an absence of immature B-cell antigens. Here we report a unique case of plasmacytoma in the right side of mandible, a chronology for diagnosis of the lesion is also reviewed along with clinical, radiographic, histopathological and immunohistochemical evidence. How to cite this article: Baad R, Kapse S C, Rathod N, Sonawane K, Thete S G, Naveen M K. Solitary Plasmacytoma of the Mandible - A Rare Entity. J Int Oral Health 2013; 5(3):97-101.

Quantitative assessment of myofibroblast in severe dysplasia, microinvasion and oral squamous cell carcinoma: an immunohistochemical study.

UNLABELLED: Myofibroblast are essential for the integrity of human body by virtue of its role in wound healing and pathological organ remodeling. Myofibroblast is a universal cellular component in mammalian lesions, but not a typical component of normal untraumatized tissues. Therefore its presence in abundance in case of cancer is a matter of concern. Tumor microenvironment plays a pivotal role in tumor progression. These so called cancer associated fibroblast or myofibroblast are the major components and occur in stromal tissue during carcinogenesis processes. This study is a quantitative assessment of presence and distribution of myofibroblast in severe dysplasia, microinvasion and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). KEYWORDS: Myofibroblast, Vimentin, α-SMA, OSCC, Severe dysplasia, Microinvasion. How to cite this article: Kapse SC, Rathod N, Baad R, Mandlik J, Sharma AS, Bommanavar S. Quantitative Assessment of Myofibroblast in Severe Dysplasia, Microinvasion and Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: An Immunohistochemical Study. J Contemp Dent Pract 2013;14(1):34-38. Source of support: Nil Conflict of interest: None declared.

Comparative Study Between Two Flaps-Trapezoidal flap (TZF) and Ocshenbein-Leubke Flap (OLF) in Periapical Surgeries.

The ultimate goal in surgical endodontics is not only the eradication of periapical pathosis but also preservation of periodontal tissues using suitable surgical techniques. Treatment outcomes are no longer acceptable without considering the esthetic consequences of all involved dentoalveolar structures. It is critical that incisions and tissue elevations and reflections are performed in a way that facilitates healing by primary intention. The large variety of flaps available for periapical surgeries reflects the number of variables to be considered before choosing an appropriate flap design. In this study; Ocshenbein-Leubke (OL) and trapezoidal (TZ) flaps have been compared in terms of their efficacy and comfort. Twenty patients of ASA category I, between the age group of 12-40 years were randomly selected to undergo periapical surgery by utilizing one of two flaps. All the subjects were free of periodontal disease. Demographic variables were found to be statistically similar. OL flap was found to be better than TZ flap with respect to time of flap reflection, accessibility, duration of surgery and post-operative pain. The OL flap takes less time for reflection with nearly the same accessibility, less post-operative pain and less complication as compared to TZ flap. We conclude that OL flap gives better results when compared to TZ flap.

Effect of the presence of dental plaque on oral sugar clearance and salivary pH: an in vivo study.

BACKGROUND: Fermentable carbohydrates and microorganisms in the plaque play a significant role in the pathogenesis of dental caries. Oral clearance of sugars and salivary pH is affected by the presence of plaque. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to study the effect of the presence of plaque on the salivary clearance of sucrose and on salivary pH. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study design was of a randomized controlled parallel group clinical trial and included two groups: The control group and plaque group, as follows: Control group--subjects without plaque and plaque group--subjects with plaque. Salivary sucrose determination was done by using the anthrone technique. A digital pH meter estimated the salivary pH. The Student's t test and Mann-Whitney test was employed to compare the intergroup differences. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used for analysis. RESULTS: The salivary sucrose clearance time was increased by presence of plaque. CONCLUSION: The presence of plaque led to increased salivary sucrose concentrations and increased the salivary sucrose clearance time. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The dental caries is the dynamic relationship among the dental plaque microbiota, dietary carbohydrates, saliva and cariogenic potential of the dental plaque. Caries occur preferentially in the dentition sites characterized by high exposure to carbohydrate and diminished salivary effect.

Managing HIV/hepatitis positive patients: present approach of dental health care workers and students.

People with HIV/HBsAg in India frequently encounter discrimination while seeking and receiving health care services. The knowledge and attitudes of health care workers (HCWs) influences the willingness and ability of people with HIV/HBsAg to access care, and the quality of the care they receive. The objective of this study was to asses HIV/HBsAg-related knowledge, attitudes and risk perception among students and dental HCWs. A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 250 students and 120 dental HCWs in the form of objective questionnaire. Information was gathered regarding demographic details (age, sex, duration of employment, job category); HIV/ HBsAg-related knowledge and attitudes; risk perception; and previous experience caring for HIV-positive patients. The HCWs in this study generally had a positive attitude to care for the people with HIV/HBsAg. However, this was tempered by substantial concerns about providing care, and the fear of occupational infection with HIV/HBsAg. A continuing dental education program was conducted to resolve all the queries found interfering to provide care to HIV/HBsAg patients. But even after the queries were resolved the care providing capability was not attained. These findings show that even with advanced knowledge and facilities the attitude of dental HCWs and students require more strategic training with regards to the ethics and moral stigma associated with the dreaded infectious diseases (HIV/HBsAg).