Assessment of prevalence and morphology of plantaris tendon in Indian population by ultrasound.

Background: There is wide racial difference in the prevalence of the absence of the plantaris tendon. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of plantaris tendon in Indian population. Materials and methods: The presence of the plantaris tendon was determined by ultrasound in 250 healthy volunteers using the standard technique. Results: Out of 250 individuals 28 (11.2%) had absence of plantaris tendon either unilaterally or bilaterally. Unilateral absence of plantaris tendon was in 3.2%, bilateral absence in 4.8% and overall absence was in 8%. According to the hand and foot dominance the probability of finding right plantaris tendon in right dominant person was 92.3% and in left dominant is 89.7%. Height of the person also correlated significantly with tendon length. Conclusions: Plantaris tendon was absent in ∼11%, either unilaterally or bilaterally, in this cohort of Indian population.

Low-Cost Vacuum Assisted Core Needle Biopsy Technique for Breast Lumps.

BACKGROUND: Core biopsy has replaced fine needle aspiration cytology in the assessment of breast lumps to diagnose malignancy and is now standard of care in developed countries. Unfortunately, cost of core biopsy system is a major limitation in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs). This prompted us to devise and appraise a low-cost technique of core biopsy using negative pressure. METHODS: We devised and prospectively evaluated a simple model of core biopsy (vacuum assisted core needle biopsy-VACNB) using a 50 ml syringe, a 10 ml syringe and a 14G needle. RESULTS: 57 consecutive women (median age 42.66 years) with breast lumps (median diameter 5.2 cm) underwent VACNB. The sensitivity for diagnosing malignancy was 92%, specificity was 100%, and diagnostic accuracy was 92.98%. The positive predictive value of this technique was 100%, and negative predictive value was 63.64%. The cost (~ 5.5 USD) of the system was significantly less than the cost of core biopsy needle (~ 41.00 USD) and vacuum assisted breast biopsy needle (~ 341.00 USD) in India. CONCLUSION: Frugal innovations are needed to overcome cost constraints in LMICs. Our low-cost VACNB technique is easy to use and accurate.

Assessment of Pattern of Oral Prosthetic Treatment and Prevalence of Oral Diseases in Edentulous Patients in North Indian Population: A Cross-sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: The present study was undertaken for assessing the pattern of oral prosthetic treatment and prevalence of dental diseases in edentulous patients in North Indian population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A survey was carried out in North Indian population, and screening of the edentulous patients was done. Five hundred edentulous patients were enrolled. Complete oral and general examination was carried out. Pro forma was framed, and clinical details were recorded. Using mouth mirror and explorer, complete oral examination was carried out. Demographic profile was also evaluated. Prosthetic rehabilitation pattern of all the participants was also recorded. RESULTS: Complete removable denture and removable partial denture were method of rehabilitation in 28% and 31% of the participants. Dental implant-supported complete denture was used in 8% of the patients, whereas dental implant-supported overdenture was used in 33% of the participants. Ulcerative lesions were present in 5% of the patients, whereas oral leukoplakia was present in 4% of the patients. Oral lichen planus and torus were present in 2% and 1% of the patients. CONCLUSION: Majority of the geriatric patients prefer having removable denture. Furthermore, due to nutritional deficiency associated with geriatric age, oral leukoplakia and ulcerative lesions are more common in them.

Remineralization of Artificial Dentin Lesion In vitro using Dental Nanomaterials.

BACKGROUND: Teeth in the human body are the most mineralized tissue, which contain both organic and inorganic components. Demineralization and remineralization of teeth occur continuously, but demineralization causes structural loss of a tooth. AIM: This study was done to find the effect of ceramic by adding mono-n-Dodecyl phosphate to ceramic in dentin remineralization. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of sixty permanent intact tooth specimens were randomly divided into four equal groups: Group 1: control group, Group 2: dentin was etched and restored with plain ceramic restoration, Group 3: etched dentin restored with ceramic containing 2% mono-n-Dodecyl phosphate, and Group 4: etched dentin restored with ceramic containing 5% mono-n-Dodecyl phosphate. Each sample was immersed completely in simulated body fluid and was kept in an incubator at 37°C to simulate the human body environment. Knoop microhardness measurements were recorded at 10, 20, and 38 days. RESULTS: Knoop microhardness of dentin (KHN) reduced to 32.6% after dentin was etched. No significant difference was found between group 2, 3 and 4 after 10 days. KHN value was increased and showed significant changes restored with group 2 and 3, group 3 showed nonsignificant changes. CONCLUSION: Through this study, we found that Ceramic can be used as a remineralizing agent to restore marginal dentine around of the cavity and root lesions from secondary caries.

The effect of temperature on rheological properties of endodontic sealers.

AIM: The purpose of this study was to investigate temperature-dependent rheological properties of three endodontic sealers MTA Fillapex (Angelus, Brazil), AH Plus (Dentsply, Germany), and EndoREZ (Ultradent, USA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five samples of each group of endodontic sealers (n = 30) were freshly mixed and placed on the plate of a rheometer (MCR 301, AntonPaar, Physica) and examined at 25°C and 37°C temperature, respectively. Rheological properties of the sealers were calculated according to the loss modulus (G″), storage modulus (G'), loss factor (Tan δ), and complex viscosity (η*) using dynamic oscillatory shear tests. RESULTS: Statistical analysis (Wilcoxon signed-rank test) demonstrated that MTA Fillapex exhibited higher loss modulus (G″ > G') and a crossover region. AH Plus and EndoREZ had a higher storage modulus (G' > G″) at both temperatures. Loss factor (Tan δ) of MTA Fillapex was the highest compared to AH Plus, followed by EndoREZ. With a temperature change from 25°C to 37°C, MTA Fillapex exhibited a decrease while AH Plus exhibited an increase and, EndoREZ exhibited the least change, in complex viscosity (η*). CONCLUSIONS: EndoREZ exhibited better rheological properties compared to the other two test sealers.