Correlation of Leptin Concentration in Gingival Crevicular Fluid on the Rate of Orthodontic Tooth Movement - A Prospective Study.

BACKGROUND: The evaluation of genetic markers in the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and their connection to tooth movement can be helpful. AIM: The objective of this research is to assess the relationship involving leptin levels and orthodontic tooth movement (OTM). STUDY SETTING AND DESIGN: Thirty individuals reporting to the Department of Orthodontics participated in an observational prospective study. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Thirty orthodontic patients (15 male and 15 female) were included in the current study. The association of leptin concentration (GCF) was measured before and after orthodontic force was applied to move the mesially impacted canine distally (tooth movement distance on dental cast). STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: With the help of SPSS software version 21, the data were statistically examined using the "t" test, one-way ANOVA, and Bonferroni correction in Chicago. The average degree of tooth movement was calculated using Pearson's correlation coefficient, and it was connected to the average leptin levels. RESULTS: Average leptin levels in GCF elevated from baseline (T0, 285.315 picograms/micro litre) to 1 h after force application (T1, 384.683 pg/µL), then raised to a maximum at after 24 h (T2, 927.64 pg/µL), and decreased to the least amount after 15 days (T3, 29.26 pg/µL) and another time increase after two months (242.31 pg/µL). The degree of OTM was significantly correlated with the levels of leptin. CONCLUSION: While OTM was occurring, a biphasic fluctuation in the leptin level was noted. The amount of tooth movement was significantly correlated with the GCF leptin level.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Contrast Enhanced Computed Tomography (CECT) in Cervical Lymph Node Metastasis of Oral Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the diagnostic accuracy of Contrast Enhanced Computed Tomography (CECT) compared to conventional imaging modalities and histopathological investigation in cervical lymph node metastasis in adults through a novel meta- analysis. METHOD: The review protocol is registered under PROSPERO(CRD42021225704) and performed in accordance to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis - Diagnostic Test Accuracy (PRISMA- DTA) checklist. Databases like PubMed, Google Scholar, EBSCOhost were searched from 2000 to 2023 to identify the diagnostic potential of CECT in cervical lymph node metastasis of oral carcinoma. True-positive, false-positive, true-negative, false-negative, sensitivity, specificity values were extracted or calculated if not present for each study. Quality of selected studies was evaluated based on Quality assessment of diagnostic accuracy studies (QUADAS)- 2 tool. Meta-analysis was performed in Meta-Disc 1.4 software and Review Manager 5.3 using a bivariate model parameter for the pooled sensitivity and pooled specificity. Additional analysis was performed in terms of positive likelihood ratio (+LR), negative likelihood ratio (-LR), diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) and summary receiver operating characteristics (SROC) with Area Under Curve (AUC) and p<0.05 as statistically significant. RESULTS: Six studies were included for qualitative synthesis and as well as for meta-analysis. Two studies had high risk of bias while four studies had low risk of bias. 651 patients underwent CECT and were taken for meta-analysis. The meta-analysis revealed that CECT for diagnosing cervical lymph node metastasis had a pooled sensitivity of 71%, pooled specificity of 14% with 60% Area Under Curve (AUC). +LR of 0.84, -LR of 1.36 and DOR of 0.59. CONCLUSION: CECT has an overall fair diagnostic ability and is a valid and reliable tool in diagnosing the target condition overcoming high reliance on master specialized capacity for their execution and understanding like other conventional imaging techniques. CECT can be concluded for secondary level of prevention for cervical node metastasis of oral carcinoma under early diagnosis and prompt treatment. However, further standardized accuracy studies are indicated to improve the overall diagnostic accuracy of CECT.

Effect of Herbal Intracanal Medicaments on Microhardness of Root Dentin: An In Vitro Study.

INTRODUCTION: The use of intracanal medicaments (ICM) is crucial to reduce the microbial load in root canals. However, its application may negatively affect the physical properties of root dentine. Thus, this in vitro study was performed to investigate the effects of different herbal ICM on the microhardness of root dentin. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 100 mid-root discs were randomly divided into five groups (n = 20) and treated with Aloe vera, Aloe vera + chitosan, curcumin, curcumin + chitosan, and control for 14 days. A Vickers hardness indentation machine (Laizhou Laihua Testing Instrument Factory, Yantai, China) with a load of 200 g and a dwell time of 15 seconds was used for microhardness testing before and after treatment. The results were analyzed using Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS, version 26.0; IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Armonk, NY). Intragroup comparisons were executed using paired t-tests, while intergroup comparisons employed ANOVA, followed by post-hoc Tukey's tests. RESULTS: The Aloe vera + chitosan and curcumin + chitosan groups showed a statistically significant reduction in dentin microhardness (p < 0.05). The decrease in dentin microhardness of the Aloe vera and curcumin groups was non-significant (p > 0.05) and similar to that of the control. CONCLUSION: Aloe vera or curcumin alone as ICM did not affect the root dentin microhardness. The addition of 0.2% chitosan to either Aloe vera or curcumin negatively affected the root dentin microhardness.

The Synergistic Effect of Ozonated Oil and Desensitising Toothpaste on Dentinal Tubule Occlusion: An In Vitro Study.

Introduction Dentin hypersensitivity (DH) is the most common problem encountered by clinicians. It can be managed either by blocking neural activities or by occluding tubules. Ozonated oil facilitates the simple passage of desensitizing agents into dentinal tubules. Aim This study aimed to evaluate the effect of ozonated oil on dentinal tubule occlusion before and after the application of desensitizing toothpaste. Materials and methods The study was carried out in Kalinga Institute of Dental Sciences, KIIT (Deemed to be University), Bhubaneswar, India. The sample size of the study was 80. The first group contained specimens for control. The second group comprised specimens treated with ozonated oil. The third group comprised specimens being treated with a desensitizing agent. The fourth group contained specimens treated with both the desensitizing agent and ozonated oil. The specimens then received an acid challenge. The specimens were observed under a scanning electron microscope (SEM) before any therapy, after the application of the therapeutic agents and after the 37.5% ortho-phosphoric acid challenge. Results Inferential statistics to compare between the groups was calculated using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) statistics. Post-hoc Tukey's honestly significant difference (HSD) was performed to compare the groups. The mean scores of the partial tubular occlusion of Group 1, Group 2, Group 3 and Group 4 before the acid challenge were 0.035, 0.691, 0.564 and 0.368, respectively. The maximum score was obtained in the case of Group 2, which was statistically significant. The mean scores for partial tubule occlusion after the acid challenge for Group 1, Group 2, Group 3 and Group 4 were 0.055, 0.531, 0.733 and 0.142, respectively. There was evidence of maximum partial tubule occlusion after the acid treatment in the case of Group 3. The mean scores of Group 1, Group 2, Group 3 and Group 4 before the acid challenge were 0.019, 0.309, 0.442 and 0.609, respectively. The maximum score was obtained in the case of Group 4, implying a greater number of total tubular occlusions before the acid challenge. The mean scores of the total tubular occlusions after the acid challenge for Group 1, Group 2, Group 3 and Group 4 were 0.047, 0.465, 0.272 and 0.890, respectively. There was evidence of maximum tubule occlusion in the case of Group 4, which was statistically significant. Conclusion Overall, the application of a desensitizing toothpaste with ozonated oil holds promise as a potentially more effective treatment approach for DH. Further research and clinical studies may be needed to fully validate its efficacy and safety in dental practice.

Assessment of Biograft-HT with I-PRF Graft in Immediate Dental Implant Placement.

Objectives: This research was done to assess the efficacy of I-PRF and bone graft in immediate dental implant placement. Materials and Method: Twenty patients were selected randomly into 2 groups with 10 samples in each as Group I- using I-PRF and Group II with synthetic bone replacement alloplast (biograft-HT) after immediate implant placement. Postoperative clinical assessment after graft placement was done based on visual analog scale for pain, modified gingival index and modified plaque index at 2nd, 4th, and 6th months. A radiographic assessment of bone density was performed two and six months after the placement of the implant. Result: There was a statistically considerable variation between the change in modified plaque index and modified gingival index. There was a statistically insignificant divergence in the mean visual analog scale between the two groups at 1, 3, and 6 days. Group I demonstrated a higher change in bone density than group II, with a statistically significant difference (P = .002). Conclusion: An innovative, safe, and efficient method for controlling the healing process around immediate dental implants is provided by the use of I-PRF in conjunction with immediate dental implant placement.

Comparative Evaluation of Pimecrolimus Cream 1% and Triamcinolone Aceonide Paste in Treatment of Atrophic-Erosive Oral Lichen Planus.

Objectives: This study was done to assess the effects of pimecrolimus cream 1% and triamcinolone aceonide paste in the treatment of atrophic-erosive oral lichen planus. Materials and Methods: A total of 100 patients diagnosed both clinically and histopathologically as lichen planus were considered in the present study. Subjects were classified into two groups. Group I: Patients in this group were treated with 1% pimecrolimus cream and Group II: Patients falling under this group were treated with triamcinolone acetonide in 0.1% concentration. Results: None of the patients reported worsening clinical signs and symptoms. No significant difference in efficacy and reduction in burning sensation of either pimecrolimus or trimcinolone acetonide was present. Conclusion: Present study found no significant difference in the efficacy of both the agents studied.

Comparative Evaluation of the Mechanical Properties of a Bioactive Material Enhanced by Phytosynthesized Nanoparticles: An In vitro Study.

Aims: The aim was the study was to evaluate and compare the mechanical properties of ACTIVA Bioactive Base/Liner (ABBL) enhanced with phytosynthesized titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nTiO2) and nano-curcumin (nCur). Methodology: Thirty samples each of ABBL (Group 1), ABBL + nTiO2 (Group 2), and ABBL + nCur (Group 3) were prepared for testing the compressive strength (CS) and flexural strength (FS). Forty-five cylinders (15 per group) (6 mm × 4 mm) were fabricated for CS and 45 for three-point bending FS measurements (22 mm × 2 mm × 2 mm). They were tested in a universal testing machine at a crosshead speed of 0.5 mm/min for CS and 0.5 mm/min with 20 mm space between the two supports for FS measurements. Statistical Analysis: Intergroup comparison of CS and FS was assessed using one-way ANOVA. The level of significance was set at 0.05. Results: Intergroup comparison showed an overall significant difference (P = 0.016 for CS) and (P = 0.001 for FS), where Group 1 had the highest and Gr 3 the least strength. No significant difference was observed between Group 1 and Group 2, while Group 3 showed significantly low strength when compared to Group 1. Conclusions: ABBL + 3% nTiO2 showed nonsignificant decrease while ABBL + 7% nCur showed significant decrease in mechanical properties.

Immunoinformatics and molecular docking studies reveal a novel Multi-Epitope peptide vaccine against pneumonia infection.

Pneumonia is a major endemic disease around the world, and an effective vaccine is the need of the hour to fight against the disease. When there are no appropriate antiviral and associated therapies available, vaccine development becomes even more essential. Therefore, in the present study, a variety of immunoinformatics techniques was utilized to develop a novel multi-epitope vaccine that targets the highly immunodominant type 3 fimbrial protein of Klebsiella pneumoniae, the causal organism for pneumonia. The putative B and T cell epitopes were predicted from the protein and screened for antigenicity, toxicity, allergenicity, and cross-reactivity with human proteomes. Subsequently, the selected epitopes were joined with the help of linkers to form a robust vaccine construct. In addition, an adjuvant was applied to the N-terminal of the construct to improve the immunogenicity of the vaccine. The physicochemical properties, solubility, the secondary and tertiary structure of the final vaccine were also established. MD simulations for 100 ns were employed to assess the stability of the vaccine-TLR-2 docked complex. The final vaccine was optimized and cloned in pET28a (+) vector with His-tag to achieve maximum vaccine protein expression for ease of purification. Immune simulation results indicated the potency of this vaccine candidate as a probable therapeutic agent. In conclusion, the overall results of various immunoinformatics tools and methods employed revealed that the constructed multi-epitope vaccine exhibits a high potential for stimulating both B and T-cells immune responses against pneumonia infection. However, experimental immunological studies are required to corroborate the viability of the novel multi-epitope construct as a commercial vaccine.

Assessment of the Anterior Loop of the Mandibular Canal Using Cone-Beam Computed Tomography in Eastern India: A Record-Based Study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the presence and course of the anterior loop (AL) in an Odisha sample population using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and to accurately identify and analyze the length, height, and diameter of AL in male and females. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CBCT images from 1000 patients obtained for various clinical indications were randomly selected and evaluated to determine the presence, length, height, and diameter of the AL. The various parameters were then compared based on gender, age, and the side of the mandible. The data were analyzed using the Chi-square test, independent t-test, multiple post hoc procedure, and one-way ANOVA test. RESULTS: An AL was identified in 9.7% of the cases, and its mean length ranged from 1.8 to 4.8 mm. The loop had a greater mean length and was significantly more prevalent in males. The diameter ranged from 1 to 4 mm and height ranged from 7.8 to 15.1 mm. The AL was most commonly found in the middle-aged patients (39-48 years) which attributed to around 27.83%. CONCLUSION: In this study, a lower prevalence of the AL of the mandibular canal was found. Being an anatomical variation, an exact evaluation of the AL must be established using the imaging techniques prior to any surgical procedure.

Evaluation of Odontogenic Maxillary Sinusitis with Cone Beam Computed Tomography: A Retrospective Study with Review of Literature.

AIM AND OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to describe the radiographic characteristics of odontogenic maxillary sinusitis as seen on cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans and determine whether any tooth or any tooth root, was more frequently associated with this disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study included 500 CBCT images that included the entire maxillary sinus of both the sides in all the three planes. The modified classification of Abrahams and Glassberg was used to assess maxillary sinusitis of odontogenic origin. Furthermore, the proximity of the tooth root to the sinus floor, periapical pathology, and the septae within the maxillary sinus were also assessed. RESULTS: In the present study, 1000 hemimaxillas were analyzed. Majority of the cases (74.9%) the apex of either tooth was touching the floor of the sinus. While 16.9% were in close relationship to the sinus while 8.2% of the cases, the apices were present within the sinus. Furthermore, in the present study, 38 of the total cases had an odontogenic cause of maxillary sinusitis, whereas 273 of them had a nonodontogenic cause, 96 have an undetermined cause, and the rest 593 cases had healthy sinus. CONCLUSION: The incidence of odontogenic sinusitis is likely under-reported in the available literature. The introduction of low-dose CBCT is particularly useful to establish a definitive diagnosis to augment in the treatment of chronic maxillary sinusitis of odontogenic origin.

Estimation of Salivary and Serum Lactate Dehydrogenase in Oral Submucous Fibrosis.

AIM AND OBJECTIVES: The objective of the present study was to estimate the serum and salivary lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels in patients with oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) and to study the association between serum and salivary LDH levels and mouth opening, frequency of habit, and duration of habit in patients with OSMF. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Participants were divided into two groups: Group I - case group diagnosed with OSMF and Group II - the control group. Unstimulated whole saliva was collected from all the participants. The International Federation of Clinical Chemistry method was carried out with the help of LDH (P-L) kit (Crest Biosystems, Goa). Collection of blood sample was done under aseptic precautions and processed for LDH. The data were analyzed using SPSS software 2010 (version 19, IBM, Armonk, NY, USA). Descriptive statistics including mean, range, standard deviation, and percentage were used along with unpaired t-test and Pearson's correlation test. RESULTS: All the participants were male and were in the age range of 18-60 years, with a mean age of 28.63 ± 10.39 years. The mean salivary LDH levels in patients with OSMF were 1057.30 ± 640.12 µg/dl and in the control group were 668.25 ± 498.45 µg/dl. The mean serum LDH level in patients with OSMF was 408.35 ± 158.35 µg/dl as compared to the control group was 313.05 ± 82.69 µg/dl. The Pearson's correlation coefficient between serum LDH and frequency of habit, duration of habit, and mouth opening was found to be 0.55, 0.53, and 0.69, respectively. The Pearson's correlation coefficient between salivary LDH and frequency of habit, duration of habit, and mouth opening was found to be 0.33, 0.04, and 0.13, respectively. The Pearson's correlation coefficient between salivary LDH and serum LDH was found to be -0.18. CONCLUSIONS: There was a significant increase in the serum and salivary LDH in OSMF patients as compared to controls; the salivary LDH did not seem to correlate with frequency of the habit, duration of the habit, or mouth opening of OSMF patients. However, serum LDH was found to correlate directly with frequency of the habit and mouth opening in OSMF patients. Hence, based on the results of the present study, it can be hypothesized that serum LDH is a better biological marker than salivary LDH in the evaluation of OSMF.

Evaluation of Radiomorphometric Indices in Panoramic Radiograph - A Screening Tool.

BACKGROUND: Mandibular cortical indices, like the mandibular cortical index (MCI), panoramic mandibular index (PMI), mental index (MI), antegonial index (AI) and gonial index (GI) have been developed to assess and quantify the quality of mandibular bone mass. Aim and Objectives : The aim of this pilot study was to measure the radiomorphometric indices in a digital panoramic radiograph and find the inter-relationship of the indices with age and sex of the patients. Materials and Method : A total of 23 randomly selected patients were included in the study. Panoramic radiograph of each patient was taken and radiomorphometric indices were determined. Results : There was 69.57% agreement between MI and PMI which was significant. Similarly 78.26% agreement was seen between AI and MI which was significant. In contrast 30.43%, 52.17% and 56.52% agreement was observed while comparing GI with PMI, MI and AI respectively. Conclusion : MCI, PMI, AI and MI can be effectively measured on a panoramic radiograph, hence could be used as a screening tool for determining osteoporosis. All indices have a negative correlation with age and a significant difference between the younger and older age groups. All indices were significantly lower in females when compared to males of the same age group.

Vanishing bone disease of the mandible - a case report.

BACKGROUND: Massive osteolysis (Gorham-Stout syndrome) is a rare condition of unknown etiology that is thought to result from a localized endothelial proliferation of lymphatic vessels resulting in destruction and absorption of bone. Osteolysis of the jaws has been reported in association with infection, cysts, neoplasia, and metabolic, endocrine, or hematologic abnormalities. Rare cases of idiopathic osteolysis have also been recorded. A detailed review from various peer reviewed journals has been discussed in this article. OBJECTIVES: To discuss the demographic distribution and possibilities of pathogenesis of Gorham-Stout syndrome. MATERIALS AND METHOD: A case report of vanishing bone disease of the mandible in a 60 year old female patient has been discussed. A detail review of literature highlighting the demographic distribution and pathogenesis of vanishing bone disease has been made. RESULTS: Thirty eight percentages of these lesions appear in older individuals with a slight male predilection. 68.6% of the oro-facial massive osteolysis occurs in mandible has been reported. Variable etiopathogenesis such as vascular proliferation, increased levels of circulating cytokines and circulatory disturbances have been associated with this disease. CONCLUSION: The Gorham-Stout syndrome though rarely seen in the facial skeleton, it is important to consider it in the differential diagnosis of osteolytic lesions of the jaws.