Diagnostic yield of calcofluor white in the identification of Candida albicans in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Although oral cancer is multifactorial in origin only few had evaluated the diagnostic parameters for candidal infection in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Aims: To compare and assess the accuracy of Calcofluor White (CFW) to that of conventional staining methods to identify the presence of candidal infection in OSCC. Methods: Archival collections of 43 OSCC were retrieved for this investigation. Standard staining protocol was followed for the index test (CFW) and reference standard (Periodic Acid Schiff). Two examiners were blinded for either one of the staining techniques. Diagnostic test evaluation and Kappa statistic was calculated using MedCalc software. Results: The study comprised 37 males, six females, and their mean age at the time of presentation was 51 (range 23 to 75 years). The sensitivity and specificity of CFW was 75.8% (CI 57.7 to 88.9%) and 10.0% (CI 0.2 to 44.5%). While the positive predictive and negative predictive values were 63.1% (CI - 50.6-74.0%) and 67.0% (CI - 49.2-81.0%). Conclusion: Our results show minimal agreement with PAS with a Kappa score of 0.148 (95% CI = 0.39 to 0.09). Overall detection rate was similar for both the index test and reference standard although there was considerable number of intermediate test results. Sensitivity of CFW was comparable to that of earlier studies but specificity was low and the degree of concordance was 60.4%. Although CFW staining can come with high false positive they are a useful test for ruling out candida infection when the test result is negative.

Prevalence of Undiagnosed Diabetes and Prediabetes in the Dental Setting: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: With the close link between diabetes mellitus (DM) and periodontal disease (PD), dentists have an unrealized opportunity to make a chance discovery of a patient's medical condition. Unlike in the medical setting, information on the point of care (PoC) and opportunistic screening for DM in the dental setting is limited. To make a reliable estimate on the prevalence of undiagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and prediabetes among dental patients in the dental setting and to assist healthcare planners in making an informed decision, information on the disease frequency and strategies employed to address this issue is of paramount importance. OBJECTIVES: To summarize the data on the prevalence of undiagnosed T2DM and prediabetes amongst dental patients and further explore the effectiveness of the PoC screening and its implication for use in the dental setting. METHODS: A MEDLINE-PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library search was conducted with no time specification. Information on study characteristics and diagnostic parameters was retrieved for meta-analysis. All the studies were assessed for methodological quality using the QUADAS-2 tool. Proportions were presented in tables and forest plots. All statistical analysis was performed using the MedCalc software. RESULTS: Nine studies met the inclusion criteria. The proportion of dental patients identified to be at a risk of hyperglycaemia with the PoC screening using random blood glucose (RBG) and HbA1 was 32.47% and 40.10%, whilst the estimated proportion with undiagnosed T2DM and prediabetes was identified as 11.23% and 47.38%. CONCLUSION: A significant proportion of dental patients can be identified as undiagnosed T2DM and prediabetes. Targeted opportunistic screening is a feasible approach and can help reduce the prevalence of undiagnosed T2DM and prediabetes.

Diabetes Related Knowledge, Attitudes and Practice - A Survey Among Oral Health Professionals in Victoria, Australia.

PURPOSE: Until now, little is known as to how well the evidence supporting the link between periodontal disease and diabetes is incorporated in the dental practice, in Australia. This study aims to explore Oral health Professionals (OHP) knowledge, attitudes, and practice (KAP) towards diabetes screening in the dental setting. METHODS: The survey questionnaire consisted of sociodemographic, practice characteristics and Likert scaled questions categorised in different domains of KAP and one additional domain as barriers. A Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis test was performed to determine differences in the OHP response. To predict if practice behavior was influenced by knowledge and attitudes, a multiple linear regression was conducted. RESULTS: A total of 197 respondents were included in the analysis of the results. General dentists constituted 64.6% of the response. For chairside screening of diabetes, 58% felt it was essential and 70% felt it was appropriate. More public sector OHP (79%) felt it is important to conduct chairside screening for T2DM. Patient willingness was identified as the most important and insurance coverage as the least important (43%) consideration for T2DM screening. CONCLUSION: Overall, knowledge, attitude and practice towards DM were positive, but a significant proportion of the OHP felt chairside screening may not be appropriate or important.

Chronic nail biting, orthodontic treatment and Enterobacteriaceae in the oral cavity.

BACKGROUND: Chronic nail biting is common in children and young adults. Auto inoculation of environmental pathogens can manifest as infection in distant organs. Multi-drug resistance gram negative bacteria are on the rise globally. Several of the foodborne bacteria fall within the Enterobacteriaceae family but very few studies have explored these microbes in the oral cavity of children with chronic nail-biting habit or orthodontic treatment. The study aims to investigate oral load of Enterobacteriaceae in children with chronic nail-biting habit and or those undergoing orthodontic treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 150 children (no nail-biting n=30, nail biting n=60, fixed orthodontic treatment n =30 and a combination of fixed orthodontic appliance use and nail-biting habit n =30) were assessed for culture based microbiological investigation. The concentrated oral rinse technique was used. The rinse was inoculated in MacConkey's and Blood Agar. The gram stained culture was subjected to biochemical tests for sub-species identification using Biomerieux Vitek 2 Compact Automated Microbiological Analyzer. Fisher's exact and Kruskal Wallis with post hoc analysis using Dunn method was performed to test association and difference between groups. RESULTS: Enterobacteriaceae was positive for 72% of the children. Of them, nail biting or orthodontic treatment group comprised 89%. Those with a combination of nail biting and undergoing orthodontic treatment exhibited highest CFU/ml and those without nail biting or orthodontic treatment exhibited the lowest. Three of the four organisms isolated tested positive in the orthodontic treatment group. E. coli was positive in 38% of the children while Klebsiella and E. cloacae were isolated exclusively in the orthodontic treatment group. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic nail biting or the use of fixed orthodontic appliances is associated with higher incidence of Enterobacteriaceae in the oral cavity. Oral health professionals play an important role in preventing multi drug resistance infectious diseases. Key words:Enterobacteriaceae, nail-biting, Onychophagia, orthodontic treatment.

Ear Prosthesis for Postburn Deformity.

Prosthodontics is not just confined to replacement of missing teeth but beyond one's scope. The fabrication of any extraoral maxillofacial prosthesis presents the prosthodontist with several phenomenal challenges. Psychologically, these patients are severely affected either by congenital absence or loss of ear due to trauma or burns. Replacement or reconstruction can be done by surgical or prosthetic approach. However, not all situations are favourable to surgical reconstruction. This article emphasises on the steps in fabrication of ear prosthesis for burn deformity.