A rare case report of Solid Pseudopapillary Tumor of the pancreas with portal hypertension.

INTRODUCTION: Solid Pseudopapillary Tumor of the pancreas (SPT) is a rare pancreatic tumor and represents 1-3% of all pancreatic tumors. It usually presents in young females with abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and abdominal fullness. The first case report was documented in 1959 and since then multiple case reports have been documented on the various surgical approaches for SPT. However, there are not many reported cases where surgery has been performed on SPT with portal hypertension. PRESENTATION OF CASE: In our case report, a 19 year old girl presented with a mass in the left side of the abdomen with associated dragging pain. Ultrasound Abdomen and CT (computed tomography) confirmed an SPT with portal hypertension, with the lesion involving the body and tail of pancreas. DISCUSSION: Although few reports are available on SPT with portal hypertension, ours is the first report on a benign SPT with sinistral portal hypertension treated with a distal pancreatectomy. The presence of portal hypertension made the excision of the tumor and delineation of the vessels very difficult. However, when great care is taken while handling the dilated vessels, dissection can be completed with minimal blood loss. CONCLUSION: Meticulous surgical technique along with accurate identification of vasculature will aid in the resection. Although some SPTs behave aggressively, most of them are benign and patients with SPT have an excellent prognosis.

Comparative evaluation of the antimicrobial efficacy of aloe vera tooth gel and two popular commercial toothpastes: an in vitro study.

Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis Miller) has been suggested for a wide variety of ailments but its use in dentistry is limited. This article reviews the uses of the plant and describes an in vitro investigation that compared the antimicrobial effectiveness of aloe vera tooth gel with two popular, commercially available dentifrices. The preliminary results showed that aloe vera tooth gel and the toothpastes were equally effective against Candida albicans, Streptococcus mutans, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Enterococcus faecalis, Prevotella intermedia, and Peptostreptococcus anaerobius. Aloe vera tooth gel demonstrated enhanced antibacterial effect against S. mitis.

Oral findings in newborn children in and around Mangalore, Karnataka State, India.

OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of normal findings and oral anomalies in newborn children in and around Mangalore, India, within the first week of birth. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A gloved index finger, a head torch and an extra-orally placed ruler were used to perform visual examinations in 1,038 newborn babies, who were selected by convenience sampling. The babies were examined by one of the investigators (D.G.). Normal findings like the location of upper labial midline frenum, symmetry of alveolar ridges, anteroposterior/buccolingual and vertical relationship of the alveolar ridges, and oral anomalies like white inclusion cysts that are gingival cyst of infants, Epstein's pearls and Bohn's nodules were recorded in a standard format. The findings were statistically analysed. RESULTS: Open bite was present in 102 (9.8%) children. In the anteroposterior relationship, 1,035 (99.7%) had the mandible distal to maxilla. In the buccolingual relationship, the mandible was lingual to the maxilla in 1,035 neonates (99.7%). Gingival cyst of infants was present in 143 (13.8%) of the neonates, Epstein's pearls in 365 (35.2%) and Bohn's nodules in 492 (47.4%). CONCLUSION: The present study exhibits the prevalence of normal findings and anomalies in the neonates. Longitudinal studies are required to assess any significance of the anteroposterior, buccolingual and vertical relationships of the gum pads in the neonates to the future development of occlusion.

Dentistry and homeopathy: an overview.

For the dentist who endeavours to practise as a physician of the mouth with preventive dental medicine as a part of his/her service, clinical experience has demonstrated that homeopathy can be of benefit. Many homeopathic remedies have been found to be effective for dental conditions, namely dental caries, dental abscess, oral lesions, post-extraction bleeding and even medications to treat the anxious and nervous child.