ABO Blood Grouping and Rhesus Factor Determination From Dental Pulp Tissue: A Forensic Research.

Introduction Collection of blood samples from mass disaster victims and blood grouping is a challenging task. This can be attributed to various reasons. From the forensic odontology perspective, teeth and bones are one of the noteworthy remains that can be derived from such sites. Aims and objectives The aim of our study is to detect ABO blood groups and Rhesus (Rh) factor from extirpated pulp tissue of the extracted teeth at zero, three, and six months' time interval by absorption-elution technique. Materials and methods The study consisted of 90 freshly extracted teeth as suggested by a biostatistician. Thirty teeth were analyzed immediately and 60 teeth were stored in vials without any preservative at room temperature. The pulp tissue was extirpated and studied at zero months, three months, and six months to determine blood groups and Rh factors. The extraction socket blood was tested to identify the blood group of that patient and used as a control reference. The blood grouping was done at respective time periods through the absorption-elution method and matched with the control. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 24 software (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). The chi-square test and Kruskal-Wallis test were done. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Pulp showed the highest sensitivity for blood groups at zero months but it could be identified up to six months, although the sensitivity and specificity gradually decreased. ABO blood grouping showed higher sensitivity than the Rh factor as time progressed. Conclusion In cases where teeth are the only remains in a forensic condition, the dental pulp can be an authentic source for blood group detection.

COVID-19 and Mucormycosis of Orofacial Region: A Scoping Review.

During the second wave of coronavirus disease, or COVID-19, infection due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus in the year 2021 around the globe, there is a surge in the number of cases of mucormycosis or "Black Fungus" that is directly/indirectly associated with COVID-19. In this review article, mucormycosis of the orofacial region has gained importance from the maximum published literature (45 articles) from various databases like PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase. Rhino-orbital cerebral mucormycosis (ROCM) is a fatal condition associated with COVID-19 among categories of mucormycosis such as pulmonary, oral, gastrointestinal, cutaneous, and disseminated. ROCM targets the maxillary sinus, also involving teeth of the maxilla, orbits, and ethmoidal sinus. These are of particular interest to dentists and oral pathologists for proper diagnosis and identification. Co-morbid conditions, especially diabetes mellitus type II, have to be monitored carefully in COVID-19 patients as they have a higher risk of developing mucormycosis. In this review article, various presentations of COVID-19-linked mucormycosis are mentioned having particular emphasis on pathogenesis, signs and symptoms, clinical presentation, various diagnostic modalities including histopathology, radiology like CT and MRI, serology, tissue culture, various laboratory investigations, treatment protocols, management with prognosis, and so on. Any suspected case of mucormycosis needs quick detection and treatment since it progresses quickly due to the destructive course of infection. Long-term follow-up along with proper care is a must to detect any kind of recurrence.

Intraosseous Lipoma Mimicking Periapical Lesion: A Rare Presentation.

Lipoma is one of the benign soft-tissue tumors in the adipose tissue. Oral lipomas comprise 1%-5% of benign oral tumors. They are slow-growing, soft, asymptomatic, solitary tumors. In this case report, a 45-year-old female patient having swelling on the upper right arch for 2 months has been reported. Clinically, the right upper second premolar and first molar were grossly carious, with diffuse swelling on the adjacent vestibule. A provisional diagnosis of the periapical abscess was rendered. Radiological evaluation and routine blood tests were performed. After the tissue was obtained, following teeth extraction and socket curettage, it was sent for histopathological evaluation, and findings suggested intraoral intraosseous lipoma. Clinically, they are asymptomatic, and therefore, if it was not curetted and histopathologic evaluation not done, and only thought to be just a swelling or a periapical abscess, proper treatment could not have been established. This paper will surely bring out the importance of histopathology in routine dentistry and the role of histopathological evaluation of periapical soft tissues.