Effect of TENS on stimulation of saliva in postmenopausal women with or without oral dryness - An interventional study.

BACKGROUND: Decreased estrogen levels in postmenopausal women may cause an increase in oral symptoms including dry mouth, burning sensation of the mouth, and taste alterations. Management of salivary gland hypofunction by various modalities had been tried with variable results and associated side effects or discomfort. AIM: To evaluate the effects of transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS) on whole salivary flow rate in postmenopausal females with and without oral dryness. METHODS: Fifty postmenopausal women, based on their response to Xerostomia Inventory, were divided into 2 groups of 25 each; group 1 were postmenopausal women with oral dryness (PMD + OD) and group 2 were postmenopausal women without oral dryness (PMD - OD). Unstimulated whole saliva collection was done by low forced spitting method. External salivary stimulation of parotid gland by electrodes of TENS unit was done and sialometry was repeated. The salivary flow rates were compared within both groups before and after stimulation and between the two groups. RESULTS: The mean salivary flow rates at baseline were statistically significantly lower in the PMD + OD group than the PMD - OD group. There was a mean increase of 0.33 ml and 0.46 ml with TENS stimulation in PMD + OD and PMD - OD groups, respectively. CONCLUSION: Postmenopausal women with perception of oral dryness had lower salivary flow rates. 90% of the subjects, irrespective of oral dryness status, responded to TENS therapy. TENS stimulation resulted in a statistically significant increase in the quantity of whole saliva flow rate in postmenopausal women with or without oral dryness.

Efficacy of ozonized olive oil in the management of oral lesions and conditions: A clinical trial.

UNLABELLED: The oral cavity is an open ecosystem that shows a dynamic balance between the entrance of microorganisms (bacterial, viral or fungal), colonization modalities, nutritional balance, and host defenses against their removal. The oral lesions including aphthous ulcerations, herpes labialis, oral candidiasis, oral lichen planus, and angular cheilitis some of the common entities encountered in the clinical practice. A variety of treatment options is available in the literature for all of these lesions and conditions. Topical ozone therapy is a minimally invasive technique that can be used for these conditions without any side effects. AIM AND OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy of ozonized olive oil in the treatment of oral lesions and conditions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A longitudinal study was carried out on 50 patients (aphthous ulcerations, herpes labialis, oral candidiasis, oral lichen planus, and angular cheilitis). The ozonized olive oil was applied twice daily until the lesion regresses for a maximum of 6 months. RESULTS: All the lesions regress in patients with aphthous ulcerations, herpes labialis, oral candidiasis and angular cheilitis or showed improvement in the signs and symptoms in oral lichen planus patients. No toxicity or side effect was observed in any of the patients. CONCLUSION: Ozone therapy though requires a gaseous form to be more effective, but topical form can also bring out the positive results without any toxicity or side effect. Hence, it can be considered as a minimally invasive therapy for the oral infective and immunological conditions.

An atypical metastasis of renal clear cell carcinoma to the upper lip: a case report.

Metastatic lesions of the oral cavity are extremely rare, accounting for approximately 1% of all malignant oral tumors. Renal clear cell carcinoma (RCCC) constitutes about 3% of the solid tumors in adults. It is the third most frequent neoplasm to metastasize to the head and neck region, preceded by breast and lung carcinoma. Because of the silent growth of this neoplasm, most patients are asymptomatic and are diagnosed in an advanced stage, frequently with metastases. We report an unusual case of a 60-year-old male patient with an ulcerated nodule on the upper lip mimicking a keratoacanthoma. He was treated for left-sided RCCC 5 months earlier. The lesion was excised, and the histopathologic findings were suggestive of metastatic RCCC. The clinical features, prognosis, and treatment modalities for metastatic lesions are reviewed in our report. This case is a rarity because only 3 cases of metastatic RCCC of the upper lip have been reported in the literature.

Neurofibromatosis and fibrous dysplasia manifesting in the same patient: a rare case report.

Neurofibromatosis and fibrous dysplasia show the presence of café-au-lait spots, bone lesions, and endocrinopathies. There has been speculation whether neurofibromatosis and fibrous dysplasia are different manifestations of the same disease or if these conditions are in some way related. We provide a case of whether neurofibromatosis and fibrous dysplasia complicated by hyperparathyroidism and osteoporosis.

Age estimation by measuring open apices of lower erupted teeth in 12-16 years olds by radiographic evaluation.

The purpose of this study was to estimate chronological age from panoramic radiographs by measuring open apices of seven right or left mandibular teeth in children of South Indian origin. A total of 101 male and female patients aged between 12 and 16 years were selected. The panoramic radiographs of the patient were indirectly digitised. The variables N0, x3, x4, x5, x6, x7 and s were measured using a computer-aided drafting program. Statistical analysis was performed to derive a regression equation for estimation of age. Two variables x3 and x7 contributed significantly to the fit, yielding the following linear regression formula: Age = 16.025-9.445 (x7) + 1.620 (x3). Statistical analysis indicated that the regression equation explained 97.5% of total variance (R(2) = 0.975). The median of the residuals was -0.0348 years with an interquartile range (IQR) of 0.2520 years. The derived regression equations from these variables can serve as an invaluable tool in estimating the age of children between 12 and 16 years of South Indian origin.