Plastination - A method for preservation of oral hard and soft tissue biopsy specimen v/s the conventional method of preservation with formalin.

Context: Plastination is one of the most advanced method for preserving perishable biological specimen as well as tissue samples as for a longer period of time using polymers. Aims: To evaluate the changes in dimension of hard and soft tissue specimens after plastination procedure and compare it with the conventional method of preservation in formalin. Settings and Design: Institution-based retrospective study. Methods and Material: The study included 20 formalin-fixed soft tissue and 10 formalin-fixed hard tissue specimens. All the specimens were plastinated which involved four basic steps of fixation, dehydration and defatting, impregnation with polymer and curing of polymer followed by finishing and storage. The specimens were analysed for shrinkage and dimensional changes and changes in colour and consistency between formalin-fixed specimen and plastinated soft tissue and hard tissue specimen. Statistical Analysis Used: Descriptive statistics were used. Results: After plastination, soft tissues showed average shrinkage of 3.49%with a range of 0.80-7.90% in comparison to the original size. In case of teeth and hard tissue specimen, there was no evidence of dimensional changes or shrinkage before and after plastination. Changes in colour and consistency of the soft tissue specimens were also noted before plastination and after plastination. Conclusions: Although the plastinated specimens in the current study showed minimal shrinkage rate, they have proved to be an excellent alternative to formalin-fixed specimens as they are easy to handle and maintain, non-infectious, non-toxic, user-friendly.

Compliance with COTPA (Packaging and Labeling) Rules, 2008 and its amendments in smokeless tobacco products sold across Mangaluru taluk, Karnataka, India.

Introduction: India introduced the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) (Packaging and Labeling [P and L]) Rules in 2008. These rules utilize the tobacco package to communicate tobacco-caused harms; it also seeks to restrict the delivery of misleading information about the product on the pack. The enormous burden of tobacco-related oral cancers in India necessitates the compliance with the law regarding presentation of information in powerful and salient ways, intentionally designed to increase the awareness in target individuals. Objectives: The objectives of the study are to assess the compliance to implementation and enforcement of the COTPA (P and L) Rules, 2008 and its amendments in 2014 and 2018. Materials and Methods: Chewing tobacco products were retrieved and evaluated for compliance with the law. The specified pictorial and textual health warnings, area, clarity, rotation, and language were assessed as per the recommendations. Results and Conclusion: Even though chewing tobacco products in India have introduced pictorial and textual health warnings, majority of them do not comply with the law. The products displayed the specified health warnings on a total of 70.6% on average, failing to abide by the government-specified average of 85%. 50% of the products did not follow the rotation of pictorial and textual health warning even after completion of the interregnum period of 12 months (September 2019). To ensure consumers' right to be informed about the health risks from a product, all the details regarding the contents, health warnings and messages, and product care instructions must be mentioned as specified under the law.

Root Canal Morphology of Maxillary First Premolars Using the Clearing Technique in a South Indian Population: An In vitro Study.

BACKGROUND: The success of root canal therapy requires a good knowledge of root canal morphology. Literature review shows variations in a number of roots and canal morphology in studies done across the globe. AIM: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the root canal morphology in maxillary first premolars using the clearing technique in a South Indian population. METHODOLOGY: Two hundred and twenty-five extracted noncarious, nonfractured, sound maxillary first premolars were collected, cleaned, and were injected with India ink to stain the root canals. Teeth were then decalcified and cleared using methyl salicylate. Teeth were then viewed under a stereomicroscope to evaluate the number of roots, root canal morphology based on the Vertucci's classification, variations, and additional features such as accessory root canals, lateral canals, furcation canals, isthmus, and apical delta. RESULTS: Nearly 52.88% of maxillary first premolars were single rooted, 44.88% had two roots, and 2.22% had three roots. Vertucci's Type IV root canal configuration was the most common type in maxillary first premolars and was seen in 66.51% of cases followed by Type II in 13.4%. Type I was seen in 9.76%, Type VI in 6.51%, Type VIII in 2.32%, Type III in 0.46%, Type V in 0.46%, and Type VII in 0% of teeth. CONCLUSION: The majority of the maxillary first premolars included in our study were single rooted and Vertucci's Type IV was the most common type of root canal configuration.