Thioctic acid in oral submucous fibrosis (India's disease) - A better tomorrow.

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF), because of its common occurrence in Indian population is known as India's disease. Regardless of diagnostic and therapeutic developments, oral potentially malignant disorders (PMD) and cancers are disseminating at a distressing rate. There is this prerequisite for unrelenting determination to find out apt treatment options so that malignant transformation may be prevented and more so the prevailing morbidity and mortality. Considering the frequency with which oral submucous fibrosis undergoes malignant transformation with free radicals playing a major part, the role of antioxidants in general and thioctic acid also known as alpha lipoic acid (ALA) in particular need to be studied in these individuals. Previous few studies indicated the use of alpha lipoic acid in oral submucous fibrosis patients leading to improvement in signs and symptoms. So, it led us to set forth and propose probable role of thioctic acid in improving symptoms in these patients. As oral submucous fibrosis poses as a threat with its various signs and symptoms and as a potentially malignant disorder as well as considering the role of free radicals in malignant transformation, we proposed the possible mechanisms behind the commonest signs and symptoms in oral submucous fibrosis and role of alpha lipoic acid in managing these signs and symptoms.

Combined effect of plate pulsation parameters and phenol concentrations on the phenol removal efficiency of a pulsed plate bioreactor with immobilized cells.

Continuous aerobic biodegradation of phenol in synthetic wastewater with phenol at different concentrations (200, 300, 500, 800 and 900 ppm) was carried out in a pulsed plate column, which is used as a bioreactor with immobilised cells of Nocardia hydrocarbonoxydans (NCIM 2386) at a dilution rate of 0.4094 h(-1) and amplitude of 4.7 cm at various frequencies of pulsation (0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1 s(-1)). The effect of frequency of pulsation on the steady state performance of the bioreactor for phenol biodegradation at different influent concentrations was studied. Percentage degradations were observed to be a combined effect of volumetric phenol loading, reactor residence time, mass transfer limitations and phenol inhibition effect. At 500 ppm influent phenol concentration the effect of frequencies of pulsation on the steady state percentage degradation at different amplitudes was studied. The percentage degradation increased with increase in frequency and almost 100% degradation was achieved at 0.75 s(-1), 0.5 s(-1) or 0.25 s(-1), with 3.3, 4.7 or 6.0 cm amplitudes respectively and hence the vibrational velocity (amplitude*frequency) was found to influence the steady state performance of the reactor. It was found that optimum vibrational velocities need to be fixed for maximum removal efficiency of the bioreactor depending on the influent phenol concentration.

Lack of evidence for local immune activity in oral hairy leukoplakia and oral wart lesions.

BACKGROUND: Oral warts, caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), and oral hairy leukoplakia (OHL) caused by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), are common oral manifestations in HIV-infected persons. Although both conditions occur most often with reduced blood CD4+ T-cell numbers, oral warts and OHL rarely occur simultaneously, suggesting that dysfunctions in other secondary local immune parameters are also involved. The present study evaluated tissue-associated proinflammatory and T-helper cytokine and chemokine mRNA expression and the presence of T cells in each lesion. METHODS: Biopsies were taken from lesion-positive and adjacent lesion-negative sites of HIV+ persons with oral warts or OHL and lesion-negative sites from HIV+ persons who were oral HPV or EBV DNA-positive (matched controls). Cytokine/chemokine mRNA expression was quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction. CD3, CD4, and CD8 cells were identified by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: No differences were detected in tissue-associated cytokine/chemokine mRNA expression in warts or OHL when compared to lesion-negative sites. Immunohistochemical analysis of T cells showed CD8+ cells exclusively, but few cells were present in either lesion. No differences were detected between lesion-positive and -negative control sites of each pathologic condition. CONCLUSION: Little evidence was found for local immune reactivity to either oral warts and OHL, suggesting that CD4+ T cells are a primary host defense against both oral warts and OHL, but with nonimmune factors potentially responsible for the divergent prevalence of each.

Knowledge, attitudes and beliefs of adult South Asians living in London regarding risk factors and signs for oral cancer.

BACKGROUND: South Asian communities in the UK are thought to be a high-risk group for oral cancer, primarily because of betel-quid (pan) chewing habits. However there has been little research on the communities' perception of oral cancer. AIM: This investigation was undertaken to assess the knowledge, attitudes and beliefs of South Asian adults (n = 367) regarding the risk factors and signs for oral cancer. DESIGN AND SETTING: The information was obtained by means of a self-administered questionnaire and structured interviews at six Asian community centres and three general medical practices in north west London. PARTICIPANTS: Subjects ranged in age from 16 to 80 years and came from diverse socio-economic and cultural backgrounds. RESULTS: Tobacco use was the only risk factor correctly identified by most adults (82%). A significant difference (P < 0.001) was seen in betel-quid chewing habit among the age groups with 42.2% of adults in the 50-80 year age group practising this habit as compared to only 5.3% in the 16-29 year age group. Another finding was that the traditional method of betel-quid chewing is being replaced with readily available processed areca nut and tobacco products. CONCLUSIONS: There is extensive misinformation and a general lack of awareness about the risk factors and signs of oral cancer among the South Asian communities irrespective of age, gender, South Asian subgroup and social class. It is clear that betel-quid chewing is a common habit among the population and especially in the elderly population. It is recommended that health promotion advice be targeted to this population and their carers.

Microleakage of composite-ionomer laminate restorations: an in vitro evaluation.

The in-vitro study undertaken on sixty teeth, 30 each of second primary molars and first premolars to evaluate the effectiveness of sealing property of composite-ionomer laminate restorations given on buccal aspects of these teeth after either Dycal base, ionomer base not etched and ionomer base etched indicated significantly more microleakage in dycal base composite resin restorations than composite ionomer. No difference in microleakage was seen in etched and unetched composite ionomer laminate restorations. Though microleakage was observed more in primary teeth than permanent teeth it was not found to be statistically significant.

In vitro evaluation of tensile bond strength of composite to glass ionomer cement.

An in vitro study conducted on 30 primary second deciduous molars and 30 second premolars to evaluate the tensile bond strength of composite ionomer restorations revealed that (i) glass ionomer cement base was superior than Dycal under composite restorations; (ii) etched glass ionomer base provided optimal bond strength in both primary and permanent teeth; (iii) tensile bond strength was high in permanent than in the primary teeth; and (iv) composite ionomer laminate can be considered as a material of choice for restoration of primary teeth.