Comparative evaluation of 2% turmeric extract with nanocarrier and 1% chlorhexidine gel as an adjunct to scaling and root planing in patients with chronic periodontitis: A pilot randomized controlled clinical trial.

CONTEXT: Nanoparticles, owing to their smaller size, penetrate regions inaccessible to other delivery systems, such as periodontal pockets. Thus, the present study aimed to comparatively evaluate efficacy of 2% curcumin with nanocarrier and 1% chlorhexidine gel as a local drug delivery (LDD) in the treatment of periodontal pockets. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-five chronic periodontitis patients with pocket depth 5-7 mm in two or more teeth were selected. Full-mouth scaling and root planing (SRP) was done for all patients followed by random allocation to the three treatment groups, namely SRP group (Group 1), 2% curcumin with nanogel (Group 2), and 1% chlorhexidine gel (Group 3). Clinical parameter assessment and microbiological analysis of subgingival plaque samples for Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa), Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg), and Tannerella forsythia (Tf) was done at baseline, 21st day, and 45th day. RESULTS: The results showed that when the two LDD agents were used as an adjunct to SRP in chronic periodontitis, there was an improvement in all clinical parameters. Evaluation of microbiological parameters also showed a significant reduction in Aa, Pg, and Tf levels. Comparison of 2% turmeric extract with a nanocarrier system with 1% chlorhexidine gel showed that both the agents had a comparable antibacterial effect on the three selected periodontopathic bacteria. CONCLUSION: The present study showed that both the LDD agents showed an effective improvement of clinical and microbiologic parameters. 2% curcumin delivered with a nanocarrier system showed results comparable to chlorhexidine gel and hence shows promising future as an LDD agent in the treatment of periodontal pockets.

Biofibers and biocomposites from sabai grass: A unique renewable resource.

Natural cellulose fibers were extracted from a fast growing perennial grass Eulaliopsis binata (commonly known as Sabai) and characterized for their structure and properties. The untreated sabai grass has been used as reinforcement for polypropylene composites and properties of the composites have been investigated. Although the composition of the sabai grass is typical to other lignocellulosic sources, there is a high content of flavonoids (630 mg/g) and phenols (510 mg/g) which provides high antibacterial, and antifungal properties to the fibers and composites developed. Fiber bundles extracted from the grass had tensile strength of 493 MPa and tensile modulus of 21 GPa, similar to common natural cellulose fibers. Both tensile and flexural properties of polypropylene composites increased with increasing ratio of sabai grass. Polypropylene composites reinforced with sabai grass show high noise insulation and thermal resistance properties suggesting their suitability for automotive and building applications.

Malignant masquerade sclerosing mesenteritis: A case report and review.

Mesenteric panniculitis (MP), also known as sclerosing mesenteritis (SM), retractile mesenteritis or mesenteric lipodystrophy, is a rarely diagnosed inflammatory condition of unknown etiology that involves the mesenteric adipose tissue. We are presenting a case of sclerosing mesenteritis which presented us with features suggestive of malignant lesion and turned out to be benign one. An elderly gentleman of 68 years male presented to us with history of nonprogressive pain abdomen since 2 months associated with low grade fever and on and off constipation. On evaluation with CECT he was found to have mesenteric mass probably malignant. PET/CT showed an FDG avid lesion suggestive of malignancy, requiring surgery. He underwent radical excision of mesentery with resection of corresponding bowel. Final histopathology report showed poorly defined lesion comprised of nodular, poorly defined proliferation of bland looking fibroblast like cells, which at places are lying in fascicles, in a background of dense fibrosis and mature fat cells, with prominent focal lymphocytic infiltrate, at place forming reactive follicles, suggestive of sclerosing mesenteritis. Now patient is on follow up for further therapy.