RESUMO
Background: The Hall technique is a new technique aimed at depriving bacteria of any substrate, thereby limiting the progression of caries. Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) and diode laser are documented to have an antibacterial effect on carious enamel and dentin by eradicating bacteria such as Streptococcus mutans. Aim: The current study aimed to increase the success rate of the Hall technique in carious primary molars by eradicating bacteria present in carious lesions using SDF or diode laser in combination with the Hall technique. Materials and methods: A total of 159 children aged 4-8 years were randomly divided into three equal groups: Group I, application of the Hall technique; Group II, SDF with Hall technique; Group III, diode laser with Hall technique. Children were recalled at regular intervals over a year. Results: At the end of the follow-up period, Group III showed the highest clinical success rate (94.3 %), followed by Group II (96.2 %), while Group I showed the lowest clinical and radiographic success rates (88.7 % and 86.8 %, respectively); however, these differences were statistically non-significant. Conclusion: Treatment of carious lesions using SDF or Diode Laser increased the success rate of the Hall technique in primary teeth.
RESUMO
The effect of intestinal helminthes (IH) and Toxoplasma gondii (Tox) co-infection on anti-mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) immunity in patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis was studied in 96 patients of 4 groups. Thirteen patients had TB+IH+Tox (G1), 15 had TB+IH (G2), 21 had TB+Tox (G3) and 47 had TB (G4). The mean diameter of tuberculin and toxoplasmin tests was measured to assess cell mediated immunity. Anti-Toxoplasma IgG1 & IgG4 antibodies were sought in toxoplasmic patients by ELISA for Thelper1 (Th1) and Th2 cytokine responses respectively. All patients were treated by 6 months anti-MTB therapy. Specific anti-IH therapies were given for patients with concomitant IH. Sputum examination for acid fast bacilli was done 2 weeks post-treatment and duration of sputum clearance was recorded. The results showed that IH co-infection had significant negative effect on mean diameter of tuberculin test compared to G4 (5.87 +/- 0.08 vs 8.65 +/- 0.05 mm; P < 0.01). Concurrent Tox with TB significantly increased tuberculin test mean diameter (10.89 +/- 0.11 vs 8.65 +/- 0.05 mm; P < 0.05). Mean level of anti-Tox IgG1 among G3 was significantly higher than in G1 (0.88 +/- 0.05 vs 0.55 +/- 0.02; P < 0.001), but vice versa was with IgG4. Mean tuberculin diameter increased significantly post-treatment in all Gs except G3. Anti-Tox IgGC1 showed significant increase (0.55 +/- 0.02 to 0.82 +/- 0.03; P < 0.001) but IgG4 showed significant decrease (0.62 +/- 0.07 to 0.45 +/- 0.06, P < 0.01) post-treatment in G1, but G3 was insignificantly affected. The duration of sputum clearance was significantly longer in patients with IH co-infection compared to G4 (29 +/- 1 vs 21.8 +/- 4.6 days; P < 0.001).
