Barium titanate microparticles as potential carrier platform for lanthanide radionuclides for their use in the treatment of arthritis.

Since the inception of radiation synovectomy, a host of radioactive colloids and microparticles incorporating suitable therapeutic radionuclides have been proposed for the treatment of arthritis. The present article reports the synthesis and evaluation of barium titanate microparticles as an innovative and effective carrier platform for lanthanide radionuclides in the preparation of therapeutic agents for treatment of arthritis. The material was synthesized by mechanochemical route and characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, surface area, and particle size distribution analyses. Loading of lanthanide radionuclides (166 Ho, 153 Sm, 177 Lu, and 169 Er) on the microparticles was achieved in high yield (> 95%) resulting in the formulation of loaded particulates with excellent radiochemical purities (> 99%). Radiolanthanide-loaded microparticles exhibited excellent in vitro stability in human serum. In vitro diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid challenge study indicated fairly strong chemical association of lanthanides with barium titanate microparticles. Long-term biodistribution studies carried out after administration of 177 Lu-loaded microparticles into one of the knee joints of normal Wistar rats revealed near-complete retention of the formulation (> 96% of the administered radioactivity) within the joint cavity even 14 days post-administration. The excellent localization of the loaded microparticles was further confirmed by sequential whole-body radio-luminescence imaging studies carried out using 166 Ho-loaded microparticles.

Fluoride - an adjunctive therapeutic agent for periodontal disease?Evidence from a cross-sectional study

Objective: To assess the influence of the water fluoride level on periodontal status, by determining the periodontalhealth status of subjects residing in low, optimum and high fluoride areas. Study design: A cross sectional surveywas carried out on 967 adults aged 35-44 years old, from the Udaipur district of India. A stratified cluster randomsampling technique was implemented in order to collect a representative sample from low (<0.6 ppm), optimum(0.6 - 1.2 ppm) and high fluoride (>3ppm) areas, based on the fluoride concentration in drinking water. Periodontalstatus was assessed in accordance to WHO criteria. The Chi-square test was used to compare proportions, andlogistic regression analysis was used to determine the contribution of water fluoride levels to periodontal disease.Results: Those residing in areas of low fluoride levels were more likely to present periodontal pockets than thoseliving in high fluoride areas 1.3 (95 % CI 1.11±1.86). Subjects living in areas of low fluoride were noted to have ahigher risk of periodontal attachment loss of more than 8mm (OR = 1.94, 95% CI 1.67±3.85). The risk for presenceof periodontal pockets and attachment loss of more than 8mm increased by 1.17 (95 % CI 1.02±1.69) and1.59 (95 % CI 1.27±3.29) respectively for those residing in areas of optimum fluoride levels. Deep periodontalpockets were more prevalent (6.3%) among those residing in areas of low fluoride, followed by optimum (5.2%)and high (3.1%). Conclusions: As the fluoride concentrations increased, the prevalence of shallow and deep periodontalpockets decreased. The severity of periodontal disease was significantly associated with fluoride levels,with cases of loss of attachment gradually decreasing when moving from low fluoride areas to high fluoride areas.It appears that longitudinal studies (..) (AU)

Fluoride - an adjunctive therapeutic agent for periodontal disease? Evidence from a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the influence of the water fluoride level on periodontal status, by determining the periodontal health status of subjects residing in low, optimum and high fluoride areas. STUDY DESIGN: A cross sectional survey was carried out on 967 adults aged 35-44 years old, from the Udaipur district of India. A stratified cluster random sampling technique was implemented in order to collect a representative sample from low (<0.6 ppm), optimum (0.6 - 1.2 ppm) and high fluoride (>3 ppm) areas, based on the fluoride concentration in drinking water. Periodontal status was assessed in accordance to WHO criteria. The Chi-square test was used to compare proportions, and logistic regression analysis was used to determine the contribution of water fluoride levels to periodontal disease. RESULTS: Those residing in areas of low fluoride levels were more likely to present periodontal pockets than those living in high fluoride areas 1.3 (95 % CI 1.11+/-1.86). Subjects living in areas of low fluoride were noted to have a higher risk of periodontal attachment loss of more than 8mm (OR = 1.94, 95% CI 1.67+/-3.85). The risk for presence of periodontal pockets and attachment loss of more than 8mm increased by 1.17 (95 % CI 1.02+/-1.69) and 1.59 (95 % CI 1.27+/-3.29) respectively for those residing in areas of optimum fluoride levels. Deep periodontal pockets were more prevalent (6.3%) among those residing in areas of low fluoride, followed by optimum (5.2%) and high (3.1%). CONCLUSIONS: As the fluoride concentrations increased, the prevalence of shallow and deep periodontal pockets decreased. The severity of periodontal disease was significantly associated with fluoride levels, with cases of loss of attachment gradually decreasing when moving from low fluoride areas to high fluoride areas. It appears that longitudinal studies need to be conducted in order to ascertain the benefits; and microbiological analysis of dental plaque and periodontium should be carried out in order to confirm the effects of fluoride on periodontal conditions.

Infection control practices among undergraduate students from a private dental school in India / Práticas de controle de infecção entre estudantes de Odontologia de uma instituição privada na Índia

Purpose: To investigate compliance with recommended infection control procedures among junior and senior dental students from a private dental school in India. Methods: The study sample comprised 142 (76 males and 66 females) junior and senior dental students from a private dental institution located in Udaipur city, India. A self applied, closed ended questionnaire (response as "yes" or "no") was used to collect data. The questionnaire consisted of 15 items related to medical history taking, vaccination status, barrier techniques, and infection control practices. Results: Only one tenth of the subjects (9.9%) reported adherence to all infection control procedures. Barely one tenth of the population surveyed used plastic wrappings for sterilized instruments, and approximately three fourths of the subjects were vaccinated against Hepatitis B. Changing of face masks and handpieces between patients was reported by 21.7% and 24.6% of senior students, respectively, in contrast to 1.4% and 8.3% of the junior students. Conclusion: The undergraduate students at this private dental institution in India exhibited poor infection control practices. These findings show the need to change organizational and administrative procedures to enable dental students to follow a strict infection control protocol.

Objetivo: Investigar a adoção de procedimentos de controle de infecção por estudantes de Odontologia de uma faculdade privada na Índia. Metodologia: A amostra constituiu-se de 142 (76 homens e 66 mulheres) alunos de Odontologia do terceiro ano e do último ano de uma faculdade privada na cidade de Udaipur, Índia. Um questionário autoaplicado com respostas fechadas (respostas "sim" ou "não") foi utilizado para coletar os dados. O questionário consistiu de 15 perguntas relacionadas à obtenção da história médica, estado de vacinação, técnicas para barreiras e práticas de controle de infecção. Resultados: Apenas um décimo dos sujeitos (9,9%) aderiu a todos os procedimentos de controle de infecção. Quase 10% relataram uso de envoltórios plásticos para instrumentos esterilizados e aproximadamente três quartos dos sujeitos foram vacinados contra hepatite B. Troca de máscaras e de peças de mão esterilizadas entre pacientes foi relatada por 21,7% e 24,6% de estudantes do último ano da faculdade, respectivamente, em contraste com 1,4% e 8.3% dos alunos do terceiro ano. Conclusão: Os alunos de Odontologia desta faculdade privada na Índia exibiram deficiência de práticas de controle de infecção. Estes resultados mostram a necessidade de mudar os procedimentos organizacionais e administrativos para possibilitar que os estudantes de Odontologia sigam um protocolo rigoroso de controle de infecção.

Primary oral myiasis: a case report.

Myiasis is the infestation of live human and vertebrate animal with dipterous larvae which feed on the host's dead or living tissue. A case of oral myiasis in the maxillary anterior region in a 42-year-old female with neurologic deficit caused by the larvae (maggots) of Musca Nebulo (Family Diptera) is reported. The treatment consisted of manual removal of the larvae by topical application of turpentine oil, oral therapy with ivermectin and surgical debridement of the oral wound.

Primary oral myiasis: A case report

Myiasis is the infestation of live human and vertebrate animal with dipterous larvae which feed on the host’s dead or livingtissue. A case of oral myiasis in the maxillary anterior region in a 42-year-old female with neurologic deficit caused by thelarvae (maggots) of Musca Nebulo (Family Diptera) is reported. The treatment consisted of manual removal of the larvaeby topical application of turpentine oil, oral therapy with ivermectin and surgical debridement of the oral wound (AU)