Clinical Evaluation of Efficacy of Triamcinolone Acetonide with Tacrolimus in the Management of Oral Lichen Planus: A Pilot Prospective Observational Study.

Introduction: Lichen planus (LP) is a relatively common chronic, mucocutaneous disease of autoimmune origin, involves oral mucosa, skin, scalp, nails, and genital mucosa. The prevalence of oral LP (OLP) varies worldwide, commonly seen in middle-aged and elderly people. It usually presents as symmetrical and bilateral or multiple lesions with burning sensation (BS) sometimes accompanied by pain. Corticosteroids and calcineurin inhibitors have shown promising results in the treatment of OLP, but its chronic course and unpredictable exacerbations/remission continues to result in a high degree of morbidity. The study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of intralesional triamcinolone acetonide (injection TA) combined with topical application of TA orabase and Tacrolimus (TAC) ointment for symptomatic cases of OLP. Materials and Methods: The prospective study included 52 symptomatic OLP patients to receive (0.5 ml) intralesional injection of TA once a week for the first 4 weeks followed by one injection in the 6th week along with TA mucosal paste (0.1%.) and TAC ointment (0.03%) in tapering dose till 8th week. The subjective symptoms including BS and pain were assessed on a 10 cm visual analog scale (VAS) and objective signs like size and site of the lesion were scored according to criterion scale modified by Thongprasom et al. Differences were compared after 8 weeks treatment course and follow-up observations were performed at 20th week to record any recurrent lesion. Results: 41 patients (78.8%) had complete remission of disease and 11 (21%) had shown partial improvement. The VAS scores for BS and pain improved significantly. Improvement was also noted with decrease in the average size of active lesions and the number of sites with treatment. The relapse was seen in 17 patients (41%) in the 20th week. Conclusion: TA combined with TAC is a valuable therapeutic option for the treatment of symptomatic OLP. Our findings suggest that patients have shown statistically significant improvement.

Correlation of salivary glucose level with blood glucose level in diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Saliva is a unique fluid, which is important for normal functioning of the oral cavity. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a disease of absolute or relative insulin deficiency characterized by insufficient secretion of insulin by pancreatic beta-cells. The diagnosis of diabetes through blood is difficult in children, older adults, debilitated and chronically ill patients, so diagnosis by analysis of saliva can be potentially valuable as collection of saliva is noninvasive, easier and technically insensitive, unlike blood. The aim of the study was to correlate blood glucose level (BGL) and salivary glucose level (SGL) in DM patients. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 120 patients, who were categorized as 40 controlled diabetics, 40 uncontrolled diabetics and 40 healthy, age- and sex-matched individuals constituted the controls. The blood and unstimulated saliva samples were collected from the patients at the different intervals for fasting, random and postprandial levels. These samples were then subjected for analysis of glucose in blood and saliva using glucose oxidase/peroxidase reagent in HITACHI 902(R) Automatic analyzer, and the results were recorded. RESULTS: The mean SGLs were higher in uncontrolled and controlled diabetic groups than in nondiabetic group. A highly statistically significant correlation was found between fasting saliva glucose and fasting blood glucose in all the groups. CONCLUSION: With increase in BGL, increase in SGL was observed in patients with diabetes suggesting that SGL can be used for monitoring glycemic level in DM.

Comparitive efficacies of a natural fixative with a conventional fixative.

INTRODUCTION: The quest for formalin substitutes has long been going on due to its health hazards. Honey has been recognized as a safe substitute for formalin. However, we explored jaggery as a natural substitute for formalin. The aim of this study was to compare the tissue fixation abilities of jaggery syrup (30%) with that of 10% neutral-buffered formalin (NBF) and to determine the best fixative among both. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A study was conducted with 65 pathological tissues. Each specimen was divided into two equal parts. One part was fixed in 30% jaggery solution (Group A), while the other half was fixed in 10% NBF solution (Group B). 24 h tissue fixation was attained at room temperature followed by evaluation of pre- and post-fixation, tissue shrinkage, weight difference and ease of sectioning, followed by evaluation of conventional processing and staining. The histomorphological assessment for each slide was made based on evaluation of cellular outline, cytoplasmic details, nuclear details, staining quality and overall morphology under light microscopy. Each criterion was rated on a scale of 1-4. Nominal categorical data between the groups were compared using Chi-squared test. RESULTS: The preservation of tissue specimen by jaggery syrup was comparable to that of formalin and surprisingly overall nuclear detail of the tissue was better than conventional formalin fixative. CONCLUSION: Jaggery can be successfully adopted in routine histopathology laboratories in place of formalin.

Intramuscular cavernous hemangioma: a rare entity in the buccinator muscle.

Intramuscular hemangiomas are rare benign neoplasms accounting for <1% of all hemangiomas and <20% are found in head and neck area. The muscle most frequently involved is the masseter muscle and very few cases have been reported for the occurrence of these hemangiomas in the buccinator muscle. Here, we are presenting a case report of intramuscular hemangioma occurring in the buccinator muscle in a 22-year-old girl.

Peripheral ossifying fibroma.

Peripheral ossifying fibroma is a gingival growth, usually arising from interdental papilla and occurring frequently in the anterior maxilla. It represents upto 2% of all lesions that are biopsied. Other terms used to describe this lesion include peripheral ossifying fibroma, peripheral cementifying fibroma and calcified or ossified fibrous epulis. Paediatric patients with such a lesion have special management considerations as it requires early recognition and treatment. It requires proper treatment protocol with close postoperative follow-up. This case report presents a 12-year-old boy with an unusually large lesion in relation to the palatal aspect of the maxillary anterior teeth and its management.

Surgical management of multiple supernumerary teeth and an impacted maxillary permanent central incisor.

Hyperdontia is the condition of having supernumerary teeth, or teeth which appear in addition to the regular number of teeth. It is a developmental anomaly and has been argued to arise from multiple aetiologies. The most common site is the maxillary incisor region; but the prevalence of more than three teeth supernumerary tooth is less than 1%. A case of 13 year male patient is reported with a multiple impacted supernumerary tooth in maxillary anterior region hindering the eruption of right permanent central incisor. The supernumerary tooth was treated via surgical approach followed by an interim prosthesis for permanent central incisor which later on erupted in due course of time. Background Supernumerary teeth may be defined as any teeth or tooth substance in excess of the usual configuration of 20 deciduous and 32 permanent teeth. The presence of supernumerary teeth in the premaxillary region often poses unique diagnostic and managerial concerns for the practitioner. Rarely is the surplus number compensated by an absence or deficiency of other teeth. Therefore, the dysfunctional nature of supernumerary teeth and their ability to create a variety of pathological disturbances in the normal eruption and position of adjacent teeth warrants their early detection and prudent management. Approximately 76-86% of cases represent single-tooth hyperdontia, with two supernumerary teeth noted in 12-23% and three or more extra teeth noted in less than 1% of cases. Multiple supernumerary teeth are also associated with many syndromes like cleidocranial dysplasia and Gardner's syndrome etc. However, it is rare to find multiple supernumeraries in individuals with no other associated disease or syndrome. In such cases, the maxillary anterior region is the common site of occurrence. The exact aetiology is not clearly understood. The supernumerary teeth result from any disturbance in the initiation and proliferation stages of odontogenesis. There are several theories regarding the development of a supernumerary tooth-phylogenetic reversion (atavism) theory, dichotomy of tooth germ theory and hyperactivity of the dental lamina. The latter being the most accepted theory, states that the remnants of dental lamina or palatal offshoots of active dental lamina are induced to develop into an extra tooth bud, which results in the formation of a supernumerary tooth. Genetics is also considered to contribute to the development of supernumerary teeth, as these have been diagnosed in twins, siblings and sequential generations of a family. Classification of supernumerary teeth may be on the basis of position or form. Positional variations include mesiodens, paramolars, distomolars and parapremolars. Variations in form consist of conical types, tuberculate types, supplemental teeth and odontomes. Supernumerary teeth may, therefore, vary from a simple odontome, through a conical or tuberculate tooth to a supplemental tooth which closely resembles a normal tooth. Also, the site and number of supernumeraries can vary greatly. This report presents a case of a non-syndromic male patient with multiple supernumerary teeth and a permanent impacted tooth in the maxillary anterior region.

Modified intracanal post for severely mutilated primary anterior teeth.

Early childhood caries leads to early damage, discolouration and gross destruction of the maxillary anterior teeth. This leads to difficulty in speech, decreased masticatory efficiency, development of abnormal tongue thrust and subsequent malocclusion, psychological problems and problem with self-esteem, if aesthetics are compromised. Thus, restoration of severely mutilated primary anterior teeth is often considered as a special challenge, especially in an emotionally immature child. This case documents the restoration of severely mutilated incisors in a patient with early childhood caries.

Nasolabial cyst mimicking inflammatory cyst.

The nasolabial cyst is an uncommon non-odontogenic soft tissue cyst. It arises as an ectodermal developmental swelling and is classified as a fissural cyst, found outside the bone, in the region corresponding to the nasolabial furrow and alar nose. A case of nasolabial cyst with classic clinical and histopathological features, along with few features mimicking those of an inflammatory cyst in a 32-year-old woman is reported.