Coconut milk and probiotic milk as storage media to maintain periodontal ligament cell viability: an in vitro study.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The viability of periodontal ligament (PDL) cells is a significant determinant of the long-term prognosis of replanted avulsed teeth. A storage medium is often required to maintain the viability of these cells during the extra-alveolar period. Many studies have been carried out to search for the most suitable storage medium for avulsed teeth, but an ideal solution has not yet been found. The purpose of the study was to compare and analyze the ability of coconut milk and probiotic milk to maintain PDL cell viability. METHODOLOGY: In an in vitro setting, 69 caries free human premolars with normal periodontium that had been extracted for orthodontic purposes were randomly divided into two experimental groups on the basis of storage media used (i.e., coconut milk or probiotic milk) and a Hanks' balanced salt solution (HBSS) control group (23 samples per group). Immediately after extraction, the teeth were stored dry for 20 min and then immersed for 30 min in one of the storage media. The teeth were then subjected to collagenase-dispase assay and labeled with 0.5% trypan blue staining solution for determination of cell viability. The number of viable cells was counted under a light microscope and statistically analyzed using anova and post hoc Tukey test (P ≤ 0.05). RESULTS: Statistical analysis demonstrated there was a significant difference (P < 0.001) between coconut milk and probiotic milk as well as HBSS in maintaining cell viability. However, there was no significant difference between probiotic milk and HBSS in ability to maintain PDL cell viability (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Coconut milk may not be suitable as an interim transport media due to poor maintenance of cell viability. However, probiotic milk was able to maintain PDL cell viability as well as HBSS.

Palatal rugae pattern: An aid for sex identification.

BACKGROUND: Palatal rugoscopy, or palatoscopy, is the process by which human identification can be obtained by inspecting the transverse palatal rugae inside the mouth. AIM: The aim of the study is to investigate the potential of using palatal rugae as an aid for sex identification in Bengaluru population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred plaster casts equally distributed between males and females belonging to age range of 4-16 years were examined for different rugae patterns. Thomas and Kotze classification was adopted for identification of these rugae patterns. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The data obtained were subjected to discriminant function analysis to determine the applicability of palatal rugae pattern as an aid for sex identification. RESULTS: Difference in unification patterns among males and females was found to be statistically significant. No significant difference was found between males and females in terms of number of rugae. Overall, wavy and curvy were the most predominant type of rugae seen. Discriminant function analysis enabled sex identification with an accuracy of 80%. CONCLUSION: This preliminary study undertaken showed the existence of a distinct pattern of distribution of palatal rugae between males and females of Bengaluru population. This study opens scope for further research with a larger sample size to establish palatal rugae as a valuable tool for sex identification for forensic purposes.