Prevalence of Zygomatic Air Cell Defect using Orthopantomogram.

AIM: To determine the prevalence, radiographic appearance, variations, characteristics and establishing dominant location and type of zygomatic air cell defect (ZACD) among the North Indian population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The panoramic radiographs of 2500 dental clinic outpatients were examined for the presence of ZACD for estimating the prevalence and characteristics of the ZACD. RESULTS: ZACD was found in 63 patients with a prevalence of 2.5% with male predominance. Unilateral (70%) and unilocular appearance (78%) of ZACD were the dominant patterns. Patients with ZACD had a mean age of 37.4 years and a range of 19-78 years. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of ZACD among the Indian population is in accordance with the other studies carried out in other populations of the world. So it is important for surgeons to assess location of ZACD before planning any surgical procedure in order to avoid intraoperative complications.

Ameloblastic Carcinoma: A Case Report.

Ameloblastic carcinoma is a rare malignant lesion with characteristic histologic features and behavior that dictates more aggressive surgical approach than that of a simple ameloblastoma. Here we present a case of ameloblastic carcinoma of the mandible in a 30-year-old male patient with a clinical course of typical aggressiveness and extensive local destruction.

Estimation of serum lipids in patients with Oral Submucous Fibrosis in India.

OBJECTIVES: Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) is the most prevalent precancerous condition in India. Low levels of lipids serves as a marker and prognostic indicator in the early detection of oral precancerous and cancerous states. In spite of the high prevalence and its potential to undergo malignant transformation, this condition has not widely been investigated with respect to the serum lipid levels. In the present study, an attempt was made to analyze the complete serum lipid profile, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol in OSMF and controls. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was conducted in 45 clinically and histopathologically diagnosed cases of OSMF and 45 age and sex matched controls. The complete lipid profile including TC, TG, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and VLDL cholesterol was analyzed. RESULTS: The serum lipid levels were significantly lower in the patients with OSMF than in the controls. When the values were compared between different disease stages, the maximum reduction of lipids was evident for stage 3 OSMF. From the present results, it is evident that the level of serum lipids decreases with progression of the disease. CONCLUSIONS: From these findings, it appears that the decrease in the lipid levels may be considered as a useful marker in the early diagnosis of oral premalignant condition like OSMF. Key words:Oral submucous fibrosis, lipids, premalignant condition.

Evidence based dental care: integrating clinical expertise with systematic research.

Clinical dentistry is becoming increasingly complex and our patients more knowledgeable. Evidence-based care is now regarded as the "gold standard" in health care delivery worldwide. The basis of evidence based dentistry is the published reports of research projects. They are, brought together and analyzed systematically in meta analysis, the source for evidence based decisions. Activities in the field of evidence-based dentistry has increased tremendously in the 21(st) century, more and more practitioners are joining the train, more education on the subject is being provided to elucidate the knotty areas and there is increasing advocacy for the emergence of the field into a specialty discipline. Evidence-Based Dentistry (EBD), if endorsed by the dental profession, including the research community, may well- influence the extent to which society values dental research. Hence, dental researchers should understand the precepts of EBD, and should also recognize the challenges it presents to the research community to strengthen the available evidence and improve the processes of summarizing the evidence and translating it into practice This paper examines the concept of evidence-based dentistry (EBD), including some of the barriers and will discuss about clinical practice guidelines.

Hypohidrotic Ectodermal Dysplasia (ED): A Case Series.

ECTODERMAL DYSPLASIA (ED) IS A RARE DISORDER WITH DEFECTS IN TWO OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING STRUCTURES: the teeth and the skin and its appendages including hair, nails, eccrine, and sebaceous glands. Dental manifestations include hypodontia, complete anodontia or malformed teeth. The most common form of the ED syndrome is hypohidrotic ED and is usually inherited as an X-linked recessive trait. Female carriers may have a variable degree of clinical manifestations. The condition is thought to occur in approximately 1 in every 100,000 live births. Dental treatment for these patients varies on an individual basis. Children with ED are often treated dentally with conventional adult appearing prosthesis which are focused only on the oral manifestations of the syndrome. We are here reporting two classical cases of hypohidrotic ED with a review of the literature.

Oral diagnostics: an integral component to geriatric health care.

Aging is inevitable, every day we live we age. The mouth is referred to as a mirror of overall health, reinforcing that oral health is an integral part of general health. Oral health reflects overall well being for the elderly population. Compromised oral health may be a risk factor for systemic diseases commonly occurring in age. Diagnosis and proper treatment is essential for healthy aging. Timely diagnosis, appropriate treatment and regular follow-up of both oral and systemic diseases are a prerequisite for active aging. Oral diagnostics is a revolutionary development with high potential to replace other investigative modalities. Changing demographics, including the increase in life expectancy and the growing numbers of elderly, has focused attention on the need for dental research activities to be expanded for geriatric dentistry. This paper is aimed to shed light on the growing elderly population and their ailments. It also aims to create awareness among health care providers about oral diagnostics and their application in geriatrics.

Recurrent bimaxillary radiopacities: A rare case report.

Cemento-ossifying fibroma (COF) is considered a benign osseous tumor. Herewith, we present a case of multiple central ossifying fibroma in a 35-yeaold woman. Intraorally, there was swelling in the left upper posterior teeth region and another diffused swelling in the fourth quadrant. Radiographs revealed the presence of well-defined mixed radiolucent-radiopaque area having thin radiolucent rim followed by thick sclerotic margin. No genetic correlation could be established. As bilateral COF is a rare entity, we present such a case with different radiographic appearance, using various radiographic techniques.

Mechanism of Wound-Healing Activity of Hippophae rhamnoides L. Leaf Extract in Experimental Burns.

The present investigation was undertaken to evaluate the healing efficacy of lyophilized aqueous leaf extract of Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L., family Elaeagnaceae) (SBT) and to explore its possible mechanism of action on experimental burn wounds in rats. The SBT extract, at various concentrations, was applied topically, twice daily for 7 days. Treatment with silver sulfadiazine (SSD) ointment was used as reference control. The most effective concentration of the extract was found to be 5.0% (w/w) for burn wound healing and this was further used for detailed study. The SBT-treated group showed faster reduction in wound area in comparison with control and SSD-treated groups. The topical application of SBT increased collagen synthesis and stabilization at the wound site, as evidenced by increase in hydroxyproline, hexosamine levels and up-regulated expression of collagen type-III. The histological examinations and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2 and -9) expression also confirmed the healing efficacy of SBT leaf extract. Furthermore, there was significant increase in levels of endogenous enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants and decrease in lipid peroxide levels in SBT-treated burn wound granulation tissue. The SBT also promoted angiogenesis as evidenced by an in vitro chick chorioallantoic membrane model and in vivo up-regulated vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression. The SBT leaf extract had no cytotoxic effect on BHK-21 cell line. In conclusion, SBT aqueous leaf extract possesses significant healing potential in burn wounds and has a positive influence on the different phases of wound repair.

Antioxidant, cytoprotective and antibacterial effects of Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) leaves.

The present study was carried out to investigate the antioxidant, cytoprotective and antibacterial effects of aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts of Hippophae rhamnoides L. (Sea buckthorn) (SBT) leaves by using various in vitro systems and analysis of marker compounds by reverse phase-high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). The chemical composition of the leaf extracts was quantified by colorimetric reaction in terms of total phenol and flavonoids contents. Further, some of its bioactive phenolic constituents, such as quercetin-3-O-galactoside, quercetin-3-O-glucoside, kaempferol and isorhamnetin were also quantified in both SBT leaf extracts by RP-HPLC. The SBT leaf extracts exhibited potent antioxidant activity determined by 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. Further, both extracts were observed to have cytoprotective activity against hydrogen peroxide and hypoxanthine-xanthine oxidase induced damage to BHK-21 cell line. The SBT leaf extracts showed growth inhibiting effect against Bacillus cereus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis. These observations suggest that aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts of Sea buckthorn leaves have marked antioxidant, cytoprotective and antibacterial activities.

A poly-herbal formulation accelerates normal and impaired diabetic wound healing.

In the present study, a poly-herbal formulation (PHF) was prepared by combining the aqueous lyophilized leaf extracts of Hippophae rhamnoides L. and Aloe vera L. and the ethanol rhizome extract of Curcuma longa L., in an optimized ratio (1 : 7 : 1). The efficacy of PHF treatment was studied in normal and impaired diabetic rats using a full-thickness cutaneous wound model. Topical PHF treatment increased cellular proliferation and collagen synthesis at the wound site in normal rats, as evidenced by the significant increase in DNA, total protein, hydroxyproline, and hexosamine contents in comparison with a positive control treated with a povidone-iodine ointment. The histological examinations and matrix metalloproteinases expression also correlated well with the biochemical findings, confirming the efficacy of PHF in normal wounds. In the streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats, PHF treatment increased hydroxyproline and hexosamine content. A faster wound contraction was also observed in PHF-treated normal and diabetic rats. The PHF also promoted angiogenesis as evidenced by an in vitro chick chorioallantoic membrane model and in vivo up-regulated vascular endothelial growth factor expression. The results suggest that PHF possesses significant wound healing potential in both normal as well as chronic diabetic wounds.

Effects of Rhodiola imbricata on dermal wound healing.

Rhodiola imbricata (Crassulaceae) is a perennial herb growing at high-altitude (4000 - 5000 m) in the western Himalayas. The present study was aimed at investigating the healing efficacy of R. imbricata rhizome ethanol extract using a rat excision wound model. The extract was found to be rich in polyphenols. The extract treated wounds were found to heal much faster as indicated by the improved rate of wound contraction and decreased time taken for epithelialization (11.33 vs. 18.33 days in the untreated group). The extract treatment increased cellular proliferation and collagen synthesis at the wound site, as evidenced by the increases in DNA, protein, hydroxyproline and hexosamine contents in comparison to a positive control treated with povidone-iodine ointment. These results were also supported by histological examinations. Furthermore, the treatment also caused an increase in antioxidant and a decrease in lipid peroxide levels in the granulation tissue. The results suggest that R. imbricata rhizome ethanol extract possesses a significant wound healing activity.