Semilunar Vestibular Incision Technique for Treatment of Multiple Gingival Recession in Maxillary Teeth - An Evaluative Study

Background: Recession is a mucogingival condition affecting teeth causing hypersensitivity. Although many techniques are there for recession coverage, semilunar vestibular incision technique (SVIT) is a novel procedure for management of multiple gingival recession in maxillary teeth. Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of root coverage in maxillary teeth with multiple gingival recession using SVIT. Methodology: Twenty systemically healthy patients were recruited with Miller’s class I and II gingival recessions in maxillary teeth. Parameters such as recession height (RH), recession weight (RW), avascular surface area (ASA), width of keratinized gingiva (WKG), width of attached gingiva (WAG), and clinical attachment level (CAL) were measured at baseline three and six months post?surgery. Results: The outcome measures were statistically significant at baseline, three and six months. A reduction of 86% was achieved in terms of RH and RW. Gain in WKG and WAG as achieved at six?month follow?up was 31.5% and 55%, respectively. An 87% decrease in ASA was obtained and reduction in CAL was 82.4%. Between three and six months there was a significant increase in WAG. Conclusion: SVIT results in improved measures of attached gingiva on six?month follow?up.

Performance evaluation of gated volumetric modulated arc therapy

Background: Aim of this study is to evaluate the accuracy of the gated volumetric modulated arc therapy [VMAT/RapidArc] using 2D planar dosimetry, DynaLog files and COMPASS 3D dosimetry system. Materials and Methods: Pre-treatment quality assurance of 10 gated VMAT plans was verified using 2D array and COMPASS 3D dosimetry system. Advantage of COMPASS over 2D planar is that it provides the clinical consequence of error in treatment delivery. Measurements were performed for non-gated and different phase gating window level [80%, 50%, 30% and 20%] to know the impact of gating in VMAT dose delivery. Results: In 2D planar dosimetry, gamma agreement index [GAI] for all measurements were more than 95%. DynaLog file analysis shows the average deviations between actual and expected positions of monitor units, gantry and multi-leaf collimator. The STDVs MU and gantry position were less than 0.10 MU and 0.33[degree sign] respectively. Root mean square [RMS] of the deviations of all leaves were less than 0.58 mm. The results from COMPASS show that 3D dose volume parameters for ten patients measured for different phase gating window level were within the tolerance level of +/-5%. Average 3D gamma of PTV and OAR's for different window level was less than 0.6. Conclusion: The results from this study show that gated VMAT delivery provided dose distributions equivalent to non-gated delivery to within clinically acceptable limits and COMPASS along with Matrix[Evolution] can be effectively used for pretreatment verification of gated VMAT plans

Renal humoral modulation of skeletal muscle tone in mice: implications for 'the pulmonary-renal cascade'.

The pulmonary-renal cascade may regulate the respiration and skeletal muscle contractility. To evaluate this working hypothetical model, we conducted experiments to ascertain the skeletal muscle tone of the Swiss mice (20-35 g). The animals were evaluated for their skeletal muscle tone via several techniques i.e. inclined plane test, grip strength test and swim test. Groups of mice (n=6) were pre-treated with mefenamic acid (60 mg/kg, i.p), carbenoxolone (100 mg/kg i.p) or vehicle only 15 minutes before the treatment with heparin (500 U/kg, i.v), urokinase (5500 U/kg, i.v) and erythropoietin (150 U/kg, i.v). Heparin potentiated the loss of skeletal muscle tone induced by mefenamic acid and carbenoxolone while urokinase & erythropoietin significantly enhanced the skeletal muscle tone as evaluated by all or one of the tests. Other groups of mice (n=6) were pretreated with mefenamic acid (1 mg i.c.v), carbenoxolone (160 microg i.c.v) or minoxidil (30 microg i.c.v) and the effects of heparin & urokinase and erythropoietin on skeletal muscle tone were evaluated. To study the effects of heparin and urokinase on nerve regeneration, two groups of mice underwent a sham and sciatic nerve crush procedure. The mice treated with urokinase recovered much faster as compared to those treated with heparin or saline. These experimental results suggest that gap junction blockers and potassium channel openers interact with heparin, urokinase and erythropoietin to control the skeletal muscle tone.