A review on point of care tests in parasitology.

BACKGROUND: Infectious diseases can be of serious public concerns because of its transmissibility. The parasitic infectious diseases in particular are often seen as neglected diseases of poverty. The diagnostic tests for parasitic diseases barring malaria are not easily available specially in low resources settings where they are needed most. The conventional mode of diagnosis based on centralized laboratory is time consuming and resource intensive. The modern-day medicine has shifted the focus to patient care. The use of point of care tests (POCT) has increased worldwide because they provide rapid diagnosis within the consultation time that too near patient care areas. This is very useful for starting initial treatment. These POCT provide excellent solution for rural and hard to reach areas where parasitic diseases are most prevalent. Despite the high demand, a relatively limited number of validated rapid diagnostics are commercially available for parasitic infections. OBJECTIVES AND CONTENT: This review aims to discuss various POCT available for these neglected parasitic diseases. Accurate detection of parasitic infection underpins a holistic approach to its control and management. The POCT can also be used to screen mass population to detect asymptomatic reservoirs and monitor interventions planned for elimination programs for many parasitic diseases. Recently focus is on integrated platforms and analysis of multiple analytes from single sample. Researchers are striving to produce POCT based on innovative technology such as lab-on-chip that can be made more affordable and suitable for low resource settings.

Influence of plant extracts mixed with endodontic sealers on the growth of oral pathogens in root canal: An in vitro study.

INTRODUCTION: Microbes are considered as the primary etiological agents in endodontic diseases. Ways of reducing these agents are root canal debridement and antibacterial filling materials. One of the factors in determining the success of endodontic treatment previously was sealing root canals with materials possessing potent bactericidal effect. Due to cytotoxic reactions of sealers and their inability to eliminate bacteria completely from dentinal tubules, trend to use natural plants extracts have been introduced. AIM: To compare antimicrobial activity of endodontic sealers added to herbal extracts. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Three sealers mixed with three herbal extracts were evaluated against seven strains of bacteria at various time intervals using Agar Diffusion Test. The mean zones of inhibition were measured. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: All statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS 15 statistical software version, Chicago. Intergroup comparison was evaluated using Kruskal Walls test along with Mann Whitney U test. The Intragroup comparison was evaluatd using Friedman test along with Wilcoxon test. RESULTS: Statistically significant zones of bacterial growth inhibition were observed largest with Zinc Oxide Eugenol based sealer when mixed with Glycyrrhiza glabra (Licorice) followed in descending order by zinc oxide eugenol based sealer mixed with Tinospora cordifolia (Guduchi) and Mimusops elengi (Bakul) respectively. CONCLUSION: Zinc Oxide Eugenol based sealer with herbal extracts produced largest inhibitory zones followed in descending order by Resin based sealer and Calcium hydroxide along with three herbal extracts respectively.

Evaluation of the Antimicrobial Efficacy of Herbal Extracts Added to Root Canal Sealers of Different Bases: An In Vitro Study.

AIM: This study aimed to evaluate and compare the antimicrobial efficacy of root canal sealers of different bases when mixed with herbal extracts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An evaluation of three sealers (Endomethasone, AH plus, Apexit plus) mixed with three herbal extracts [Emblica officinalis (Amla), Myristica fragrans (Nutmeg) and Salvadora persica (Miswak)] was done against nine strains of bacteria at various time intervals using the agar diffusion test. Moreover, measurement of the mean zones of inhibition was done. RESULTS: The largest zones of bacterial growth inhibition were observed with Endomethasone mixed with Myristica fragrans (Nutmeg) followed in the descending order by AH plus mixed with Salvadora persica (Miswak) and Apexit plus mixed with Salvadora persica (Miswak) respectively. The differences between zones of inhibition among different groups were found to be statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Zinc-oxide-eugenol-based sealer (Endomethasone) mixed with herbal extracts produced the largest inhibitory zones followed in the descending order by resin-based sealer (AH plus) and calcium-hydroxide-based sealer (Apexit plus), respectively. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Herbal plants such as [Emblica officinalis (Amla), Myristica fragrans (Nutmeg) and Salvadora persica (Miswak)] are rich sources of bioactive compounds that possess antimicrobial properties. Mixing their extracts with endodontic sealers can produce additive antimicrobial effect against microbes found in inflamed pulp. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Devi MT, Saha S, Tripathi AM, et al. Evaluation of the Antimicrobial Efficacy of Herbal Extracts Added to Root Canal Sealers of Different Bases: An In Vitro Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2019;12(5):398-404.

Gastric adenocarcinoma in a patient re-infected with H. pylori after regression of MALT lymphoma with successful anti-H. pylori therapy and gastric resection: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) has been etiologically linked with primary gastric lymphoma (PGL) and gastric carcinoma (GC). There are a few reports of occurrence of both diseases in the same patients with H. pylori infection. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a patient with PGL in whom the tumor regressed after surgical resection combined with eradication of H. pylori infection. However, he developed GC on follow up; this was temporally associated with recrudescence/re-infection of H. pylori. This is perhaps first report of such occurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Possible cause and effect relationship between H. pylori infection and both PGL and GC is discussed. This case also documents a unique problem in management of PGL in tropical countries where re-infection with H. pylori is supposed to be high.