Application of Willems Method as an Age Estimator in Early Adolescents of Bangalore Population.

INTRODUCTION: Dental age (DA) assessment is a reliable method for chronological age (CA) estimation used for criminal, forensic, and anthropologic purposes. Age estimation also provides valuable information when the birth date is unavailable, as in case of migrants. Furthermore, the CA of living people is important for employment and marriage purpose. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study is to check the reliability of the Willems method in the population of Bangalore. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted on 205 (109 boys and 96 girls) participants by their radiographic records in the department of forensic odontology using modified Demirjian's method by Willem et al. RESULTS: A total of 205 subjects were selected for the study, among which 109 (53.2%) were boys and 96 (46.8%) were girls. The mean CA was 12.23 ± 1.75 and the mean DA was 12.20 ± 1.99. Willems method seems to be reliable in estimating DA in Bangalore populations. CONCLUSION: This study showed that the Willems method gave near precise estimation of the CA.

Quantitative analysis of tumor-associated tissue eosinophilia in different histological grades of oral squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the 8 th most common aggressive epithelial malignant neoplasm worldwide today. The eosinophil may be a "multifaceted cell" that can be associated with wound-healing processes, as well as to tissue damage which has increased the speculations around tumor-associated tissue eosinophilia in malignant tumors. The aim of this study was to detect the role and quantitative analysis of tumor-associated tissue eosinophils in different histological grades of OSCC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was carried out in sixty cases of histopathologically graded OSCCs. Tissue sections of 4 µ thickness were made from paraffin-embedded tissue blocks and were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Eosinophils were counted under randomly selected twenty high-power (×40) fields. Data were subjected to statistical analysis using ANOVA test. RESULTS: Higher mean eosinophils were recorded in well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma (WDSCC) followed by moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma (MDSCC) and poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma (PDSCC) groups, respectively. The difference in mean eosinophils was found to be statistically significant between WDSCC and MDSCC (P < 0.001), as well as between WDSCC and PDSCC (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Tumor-associated tissue eosinophil count is higher in WDSCC as compared to moderate and PDSCC.

Evaluation of Efficacy of Three Different Materials Used in Cheiloscopy -A Comparative Study.

INTRODUCTION: The imprint produced by the lip is termed as 'lip print' and the name given to the examination of lip print is referred to as cheiloscopy. AIM: The present study was done to compare the efficacy of three different materials used in cheiloscopy - Sudan III, Indigo and Aluminium powder. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 60 individuals belonging to the age group of 18-25 years were included in this study. Visible and latent lip prints were reproduced on white cotton fabric, white satin fabric and white clay cup. The results were statistically analysed using chi square test. RESULTS: Sudan III dye and Aluminium powder showed significant results when used for the development of visible lip prints (p<0.05), but didn't give any significant results for development of latent lip prints. Indigo dye gave significant results for development of both visible and latent lip prints (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The study reveals the usefulness of visible and latent lip print in individual identification.

Comparison of culture and polymerase chain reaction techniques in the identification of Tannerella forsythia in periodontal health and disease, an in vitro study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Various bacterial species from subgingival biofilm have demonstrated aetiological relevance in the initiation and progression of periodontitis. The aim of this study was to detect the presence of Tannerella forsythia (Tf) in subgingival plaque of periodontally healthy subjects and chronic periodontitis patients by using both culture and PCR technique and compare the two techniques. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pooled subgingival plaque samples were taken using sterile curettes from predetermined sites in 50 periodontally healthy subjects and from 50 periodontitis subjects. Samples were analyzed for the presence of T. forsythia using both techniques. Statistical analysis of the results was done using Chi-square test, sensitivity, and specificity tests. RESULTS: Both techniques could detect T. forsythia in subgingival plaque samples from healthy and periodontitis subjects. Periodontally healthy individuals and individuals with chronic periodontitis using the culture technique showed the presence of T. forsythia in 14 and 34%, respectively. PCR technique showed the presence of T. forsythia in 20% healthy and 40% chronic periodontitis patients. T. forsythia detection in the periodontitis group was statistically significantly higher when compared to the healthy group by both culture and PCR technique (P = 0.019 and P = 0.029). PCR demonstrated high sensitivity and low specificity when compared to the culture technique. CONCLUSION: The results indicated that T. forsythia was more prevalent in periodontitis patients when compared with healthy subjects. The PCR was found to be more sensitive than culture technique for detection of T. forsythia from the subgingival plaque samples.