An innovative technique for the fabrication of fixed removable guide flange prosthesis for lateral mandibular resection.

Rehabilitation of patients with a severe mandibular defect is challenging to prosthodontists. The esthetic and functional rehabilitation of patients with lateral mandibular resection is difficult due to the lack of supporting tissues for the prosthesis. The mandibular deviation furthermore results in facial asymmetry and unstable occlusion. This case report describes an innovative technique to rehabilitate a patient with lateral mandibular resection using customized access post attachment system to retain guide flange prosthesis for reducing mandibular deviation.

An in vitro evaluation of cytotoxicity of curcumin against human periodontal ligament fibroblasts.

INTRODUCTION: Curcumin, a component of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.), is a molecule of multitude of medicinal properties. Although curcumin has found a place in the treatment of gingival and periodontal diseases, there are no reported cytotoxicity studies on the cells of clinical significance (i.e., periodontal ligament [PDL] fibroblasts). AIMS: The objective of this research was to assess the in vitro cytotoxicity of curcumin against human PDL fibroblasts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Human PDL fibroblasts from premolar teeth were cultured and used for cytotoxicity tests from healthy children presented for orthodontic extractions. Test concentrations of curcumin (100%, 50%, and 25%) were prepared by diluting 95% curcumin with di­methyl­sulfoxide and added to 96­well microtiter plate (in triplicate) containing the fibroblast culture (approximately 2 × 104 cells/well). Fibroblast cells without treatment (without curcumin) acted as a control group. The viability of cells after 48 h of incubation at 37°C in a humidified atmosphere of 5% CO2 and 95% air was ascertained by the 3­(4, 5­dimethyl­thiazol­2­yl)­2, 5­diphenyl­tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The viability of PDL fibroblast cells of experimental wells was expressed relative to that of control, in terms of change in the color intensity. Absorbencies were recorded at 450 nm on a microplate reader with background subtraction at 620 nm. The cell viability at various concentrations of curcumin against the PDL fibroblasts was calculated as mean absorbance (optical density) and percentage values. RESULTS: Cell viability of PDL fibroblasts to 100%, 50%, and 25% curcumin concentration was 111.75%, 112.50%, and 114.40%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: No in vitro cytotoxicity was detected for curcumin against human PDL fibroblasts, at any of the concentrations used (100%, 50%, and 25%) by MTT assay at the end of 48 h.

An Assessment of Curve of Spee in Healthy Human Permanent Dentitions: A Cross Sectional Analytical Study in a Group of Young Indian Population.

INTRODUCTION: An awareness of the standard value of the maxillary and the mandibular curves of Spee may aid the clinician in developing occlusion in the sagittal plane and would be useful when providing prosthetic rehabilitation for patients with occlusal derangement. AIM: To assess and compare the radius and depth of curve of Spee in maxillary and mandibular arches in men and women, in a group of young Indian population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study cohort consisted of 25 men and 25 women between 19 to 24 years. Impression of maxillary and mandibular arches were made with alginate. Casts were poured in die stone. Standardized digital pictures of the right side of maxillary and mandibular dental casts were made with a digital camera and transferred to a computer. Tips of the distal cusps of molars, premolars and canines of the maxilla and mandible were located. The radius and the depth of the curve of Spee were measured from the digital photographs of dental casts, with the help of 'dimension tool' in the computer software (Corel DRAW X5). Mann-Whitney test was used to analyze the difference in the curve of Spee between men and women and the difference between maxillary and mandibular arches. RESULTS: The mean values were as follows: a) Men: Radii of curve of Spee in the maxillary and mandibular arch were 140.22±65.98 and 109.67±46.80 respectively; depths of curve of Spee in maxillary and mandibular arch were 1.65±0.67 and 1.49±0.74 respectively; b) Women: Radii of curve of Spee in the maxillary and mandibular arch were 120.58±63.91 and 98.31±63.59 respectively; depths of curve of Spee in maxillary and mandibular arch were 1.45±0.54 and 1.40±0.61 respectively. In the mandibular arch, the difference in the radii (p=0.0467) was statistically significant between men and women. In women, the difference in radii (p=0.0467) between maxillary and mandibular arches was statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The radii and depths of curve of Spee were larger in maxillary than mandibular arches in both men and women. Also, the difference in the radii of mandibular arch was statistically significant between men and women.

An In-vitro Evaluation of Retention, Colonization and Penetration of Commonly Used Denture Lining Materials By Candida albicans.

INTRODUCTION: Colonization of the surface by Candida albicans and related Candida species is one of the major concerns of denture lining materials. AIM: We evaluated retention, colonization and penetration of the four denture lining materials namely Molloplast B, Permaflex, GC Soft Liner and Ufi Gel Hard C by Candida albicans. MATERIAL AND METHODS: a) Evaluation of retention: Five test discs of each material with smooth surface on one side and rough on the other were prepared and surface roughness (Ra) was measured with profilometer. Retention of C. albicans to discs was monitored after one hour of incubation (37°C) with standardized (2.8 x 106 cfu/ml) washed cell suspension. Discs were stained with acridine orange and attached cells were counted using inverted microscope; b) Evaluation of colonization and penetration: Eight test discs of each material in sterile artificial saliva, were inoculated with C. albicans and incubated for six weeks. Two sections were cut across each test disc to provide three replicate samples. Candida cells on cut disc sections were fixed, dehydrated, air dried and viewed via fluorescence microscope; c) Evaluation of antifungal action: Two test discs of each material were placed onto diagnostic sensitivity testing the agar plate. After incubation at 37°C for 24 hours, the zone of inhibition formed around the samples were measured at four places, and the mean calculated. RESULTS: a) All rough surfaces showed higher retention of C. albicans than smooth surfaces. Among the smooth surfaces, Molloplast B and GC Soft Liner showed highest and lowest retention of C. albicans respectively (p=0.0090). Among the rough surfaces, the variation in the retention of C. albicans was not statistically significant; b) Penetration of C. albicans was observed through all three sections of the test discs of each material. There was no statistically significant difference among the test materials; c) Molloplast B and Permaflex produced a mean zone of inhibition of 16.9±4.8mm and 14.80±3.8mm respectively. CONCLUSION: a) Smoother surfaces retain fewer cells than rough surfaces; b) Denture lining materials permit infiltration of Candida through their structure; c) Denture lining materials have insignificant anti-fungal properties.

Spatial distribution of antimony and arsenic levels in Manadas Creek, an urban tributary of the Rio Grande in Laredo, Texas.

The Rio Grande and its tributaries represent a critical water source for both the human population and the ecological resources of the Rio Grande drainage basin. Manadas Creek, an urban tributary of the Rio Grande, is located in an industrialized area of Laredo, Texas, where warehouses, a major railroad, and a decommissioned antimony (Sb) smelter are located. Previous studies have found that the creek water is contaminated with heavy metals such as Sb and arsenic (As). However, data on the metal distribution in this creek are very limited. Herein, water and sediment core samples were collected from six sites along the creek in February, April, and May 2008. Samples were analyzed for dissolved and total metals in water, total metals in sediments, and available (soluble-exchangeable, surface adsorbed, and organically bound) fractions of metals associated with the sediments. Results show that concentrations of Sb in the water and sediment samples were significantly lower at the upstream control site compared to the two sites located near the decommissioned smelter. Decreasing levels of Sb were found at the sites located downstream. The As levels in the sediment remained constant at different depths, whereas Sb varied significantly. A high level, 420 mg/kg, of sediment Sb was found at the maximum sediment depth of 35.0 cm sampled. In addition, 65.7-76.9% Sb and 80.3-85.6% As were in their residual form, 15.0-22.5% Sb and 6.2-11.4% As were bound to organic matter, and the remaining As and Sb were in the soluble and surface adsorbed fractions. Pearson correlation analyses indicated that the distribution of Sb was only moderately correlated to iron and nickel in the sediment and its correlation with the sediment properties measured was insignificant. Cluster analyses only grouped the two Sb isotopes together for the sediments collected in May, indicating that sources other than natural occurrence were associated with Sb. The high level of sediment Sb observed indicates that the sediment bed of Manadas Creek was acting as a holding reservoir for Sb and a potential source for the Sb level in the stream water. Thus, the loss of the sediment Sb and the Sb level in the water column must be closely related to the mobility of the bed sediments and the fate of the sediment-associated Sb.

Assessment of organochlorine pesticide levels in Manadas Creek, an urban tributary of the Rio Grande in Laredo, Texas.

The Rio Grande is the natural boundary between the United States and Mexico from El Paso, Texas, to Brownsville, Texas. It supports about 12 million people on both sides of the border for municipal, agricultural, industrial, and recreational uses. The rapid population and economic growth along the border region has led to increased pollution in the Rio Grande, which has been linked to several border health issues associated with pesticide contamination. This project was initiated to assess the organochlorine pesticide levels in the water and sediments in Manadas Creek, an urban tributary of the Rio Grande located in north Laredo, Texas. Water and sediment samples were collected monthly during a 6-month period from July to December of 2006 and analyzed using gas chromatography with an electron capture detector after extraction via a solid-phase microextraction technique. Among the water and sediment samples collected, several organochlorine pesticides including alpha-, beta-, and gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH), heptachlor epoxide, endrin, and 4,4'-DDT were found in either the creek water or sediments. Analysis of variance results indicated that only gamma-HCH had significant variation in the creek water among the sampling periods. Comparison of results with previous findings showed the presence of higher levels of HCH isomers and much lower DDT concentrations in the present study.