Dentinal translucency and width of cementum: predicting the age over 55 years in South Indian adults using extracted sectioned teeth.

The main intention of this article was to evaluate the reliability of root dentine translucency (RDT) and the width of cementum (CW) in indicating the age over 55 years in forensic and criminal investigations. 600 non-restored, single rooted teeth (300 males and 300 females) which were extracted for periodontal or orthodontic reasons were collected. Each tooth was sectioned longitudinally until the desired thickness (250 µm) was obtained. Both the length of the RDT and CW were measured from these unstained ground sections of teeth using ImageJ computer software. Pearson's correlation coefficient indicated a very strong and positive correlation for RDW and CW with age in both sexes. Cut-off values of RDT= 7.07 and CW= 52.06 were obtained using the maximum Youden's index. The value for the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.987 for RDT and 0.910 for CW was seen as indicating a very high discrimination. The performance of these cut-off values was tested in a separate sample of sectioned teeth (n= 300) and was analyzed using contingency tables in both sexes. The sensitivity was 88.2% and 92.3%, while specificity was 98.9% for RDT in males and females. For CW, the sensitivity was 96.1% and 90.3%, and specificity was 76.7% and 74.4% in males and females, respectively. Bayes post-test probability was 98.9% for RDT in both sexes, while 80.5% in males and 78% in females, for CW. Based on our study findings, it can be concluded that both variables have performed well in predicting the age over 55 years. Further research concerning the radiographic study of secondary dentine deposition to predict legal age thresholds would be a great benefit for living adults who require age estimation in civil proceedings.

Isolation, Characterization, and Drug Sensitivity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Captive Sloth Bears (Melursus ursinus): Unnatural Habitat With Human Environment May Predispose Sloth Bears to Tuberculosis.

We describe the isolation, molecular characterization, and drug sensitivity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis recovered from lung tissues of four rescued captive sloth bears (Melursus ursinus) at Bannerghatta Biological Park (BBP), Bangalore, India. These bears had lived most of their life with humans in circus companies. They were rescued and housed in the Bear Rescue Center (BRC) of BBP. Upon rescue, they showed signs of unthriftiness, chronic debility, and failed to respond to symptomatic treatments. Over the period of the next 12-14 months, the four sloth bears died and the post-mortem examination revealed nodular lesions in the lungs that showed the presence of acid-fast bacilli. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR), culture, and nucleotide sequencing confirmed the bacilli as Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Histopathology of the lungs revealed characteristic granulomatous reaction with caseation. We determined the sensitivity of these isolates to rifampicin and isoniazid drugs by a WHO approved test, Line Probe Assay (LPA) using Genotype MTBDRplus VER 2.0. We discuss the role of unnatural habitat with the human environment in predisposing captive sloth bears for tuberculosis (TB). In the absence of any other reliable ante-mortem diagnostic test, this study recommends the use of LPA for early detection of TB in captive wild animals, which will help in taking necessary steps to prevent its further spread to animal caretakers and other susceptible animals in captivity.

IHC expression of AKT in different grades of epithelial dysplasia: An in vitro study.

Introduction: Akt, also known as protein kinase B, is a serine/threonine-specific protein-kinase which plays a key role in multiple cellular processes such as glucose metabolism, apoptosis, transcription and cell migration. The activation of Akt is one of the most frequent alterations observed in human cancer and tumour cells. Akt regulates cellular survival and metabolism by binding and regulating many downstream effectors, e.g., Nuclear Factor-kB, murine double minute 2(MDM2). Aims: To evaluate and compare immunohistochemical expression of Akt in normal epithelium and different histological grades of epithelial dysplasias. Materials and Methodology: Forty paraffin-embedded tissue sections were used for the immunohistochemical study of which 10 cases of normal epithelium, 10 cases of each mild, moderate and severe epithelial dysplasia which were diagnosed by haematoxylin and eosin procedures. The tissue sections were immunohistochemically analysed for expression of Akt in different grades of epithelial dysplasia by using anti-Akt-1 monoclonal antibody. Statistical analysis was carried out using statistical package for social science (SPSS, V 10.5). The data were analysed using Chi-square test and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results and Conclusion: An overall significant difference was observed when normal tissues were compared with epithelial dysplasia with a Chi-square value of 21.04, but there was no statistical significance between the three grades of epithelial dysplasias. In conclusion, this study suggests that Akt-1 overexpression can be one of the useful diagnostic markers for predicting the potential behaviour of oral dysplasias transforming into oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

An Ultrastructural Study on the Effect of High Temperatures on Teeth and Restorative Materials That Aids in the Identification of Human Remains.

INTRODUCTION: In most disasters, teeth are the only means of positive identification of an otherwise unrecognizable body, as there has been tremendous increase in the use of dental restorations that have different resistance to prolonged high temperature which is an important aid in identifying burned victims. Application of SEM/EDS in forensics was found useful in areas where there is a need for good imaging with high magnification combined with elemental analysis. The objective of this study was to analyze incineration effects on teeth and restorative materials using SEM/EDS. Materials and Method. 128 extracted teeth were collected, 96 were restored with silver amalgam, composite, and GIC of 32 each, and crown preparation was done in 32 teeth for which metal ceramic crowns were prepared. These teeth were subjected to 4 different temperatures (500°C, 700°C, 900°C, and 1100°C) for 20 minutes, and they were analyzed macroscopically and by using SEM for the changes subsequent to their exposure to such high temperatures. RESULTS: All the restorations which were very difficult to identify by naked eye were identified with the help of SEM/EDS. CONCLUSION: Elemental analysis of the specific restorative material proves to be an essential tool for the forensic odontologist.

Immunohistochemical evaluation of myofibroblasts in odontogenic keratocyst, dentigerous cyst and different clinical variants of ameloblastoma: A comparative study.

BACKGROUND: Odontogenic cysts and tumors exhibit varying degrees of aggressiveness in their biological behavior. Odontogenic keratocyst (OKC), dentigerous cyst (DC), ameloblastoma are most common odontogenic cysts and tumors to occur in the oral cavity. Myofibroblasts (MFs) in the connective tissue stroma participate in the matrix degradation process by secreting matrix metalloproteinase 2, transforming growth factor beta1 and may contribute to variation in their biological behavior. Its activity is identified by alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) marker. With this background, the present study aims to evaluate the frequency of MFs using α-SMA to determine the biological behavior of OKC, DC, and different clinical variants of ameloblastoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was carried out with total of 60 samples which include 10 cases each of OKC, DC, 30 cases of different clinical variants of ameloblastomas and 10 normal mucosa taken as controls. All are stained immunohistochemically using α-SMA and were analyzed for the same. Comparison between more than 2 groups done by one way analysis of variance test with the level of significance of P ≤ 0.0001, i.e., <0.05. RESULTS: Statistically significant difference in the mean number of MFs observed between certain groups, with higher mean number in solid ameloblastoma (SA) (32.45) followed by OKC (28.79), unicystic ameloblastoma (24.53), desmoplastic ameloblastoma (7.44), and DC (1.72). CONCLUSION: Higher frequency of MFs noticed in SA, OKC which are key cells for connective tissue remodeling by interacting with epithelial cells and other connective tissue cells to facilitate progression of cysts and tumors thereby contributing to their biological behavior.

Multiple Cutaneous Reticulohistiocytoma.

Multicentric reticulohistiocytosis is a rare non-Langerhans cell histiocytosis characterized in its full form by severe destructive arthritis, cutaneous nodules, and systemic manifestations. Cutaneous lesions may precede, accompany, or more commonly develop later than other features in this disease. We describe a case of multiple cutaneous reticulohistiocytoma without any systemic associations after thorough investigations.

Nasopalatine duct cyst: report of a case with review of literature.

The nasopalatine duct cyst is the most common non-odontogenic developmental cysts. Nasopalatine duct cyst also termed as incisive canal cyst, arises from embryologic remnants of nasopalatine duct. Most of these cysts develop in the midline of anterior maxilla near the incisive foramen. This article reports a case and review of literature with respect to epidemiology, etiology, clinical presentation, radiographic and pathological findings, treatment and recurrence rates.

Phytochemical screening and antimicrobial activities of plant extract of Lantana camara.

Natural products continue to play an important role in the discovery and development of new pharmaceuticals. Several chemical compounds have been extracted and identified from its species known as Lantana camara (L .camara). The present study was designed for phytochemical analysis of L. camara and extraction of bioactive compound by HPLC. This also included the antimicrobial activity of the bioactive compound obtained by crude extract and the column extract. The study showed the presence of the bioactive component parthenin extracted from the HPLC analysis at a peak height of 10.3807 and it was showing antimicrobial activity against E. coli, P. aeruginosa, B. subtilis and E. fecalis, crude (6.8 to 8.1 mm ) and column (4.0 to 6.2 mm) zone of inhibition.

Overexpression of MDM2 protein in ameloblastomas as compared to adenomatoid odontogenic tumor.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies on odontogenic tumors have identified various molecular alterations responsible for their development, and determination of epithelial proliferation is a useful means of investigating the differences in biologic behavior of these tumors. One such specific marker to identify proliferative activity and tumor aggressiveness by immunohistochemistry (IHC) is MDM2, 90-95 kDa protein. OBJECTIVE: This immunohistochemical study using MDM2 expression was undertaken to understand better the diverse biological activity of two groups of odontogenic tumors namely ameloblastoma and adenomatoid odontogenic tumor (AOT) based on their cell proliferation activity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 50 cases, comprising of 36 ameloblastoma samples and 14 AOT samples, were subjected to heat-induced antigen retrieval method using citrate buffer in a pressure cooker. Consequently, the sections were stained with MDM2 monoclonal antibody and visualized using an LSAB+ kit. RESULTS: In ameloblastomas, statistically significant association was seen between plexiform ameloblastomas, follicular ameloblastomas with granular cell changes, desmoplastic and unicystic variants. The predominant nuclear staining by MDM2 revealed overexpression in ameloblastomas as compared to AOT. CONCLUSION: The MDM2 overexpression noticed in plexiform ameloblastoma, follicular ameloblastoma with granular cell changes and acanthomatous ameloblastoma when compared to simple unicystic and desmoplastic ameloblastoma suggest a relatively enhanced proliferative phenotype of these solid multicystic variants of ameloblastomas. On overall comparison, higher expression was noted in ameloblastomas when compared to AOT. This indicates differences in the aggressive nature between these two groups of odontogenic tumors favoring the perception of a greater aggressive nature of ameloblastomas.

Ru (III) catalyzed oxidation of aliphatic ketones by N-bromosuccinimide in aqueous acetic acid: a kinetic study.

Kinetics of Ru (III) catalyzed oxidation of aliphatic ketones such as acetone, ethyl methyl ketone, diethyl ketone, iso-butylmethyl ketone by N-bromosuccinimide in the presence of Hg(II) acetate have been studied in aqueous acid medium. The order of [N-bromosuccinimide] was found to be zero both in catalyzed as well as uncatalyzed reactions. However, the order of [ketone] changed from unity to a fractional one in the presence of Ru (III). On the basis of kinetic features, the probable mechanisms are discussed and individual rate parameters evaluated.

Hydrogen-bonded sheets in 2-(2-aminophenyl)-1H-benzimidazol-3-ium dihydrogen phosphate.

The title salt, C(13)H(12)N(3)(+).H(2)PO(4)(-), contains a nonplanar 2-(2-aminophenyl)-1H-benzimidazol-3-ium cation and two different dihydrogen phosphate anions, both situated on twofold rotation axes in the space group C2. The anions are linked by O-H...O hydrogen bonds into chains of R(2)(2)(8) rings. The anion chains are linked by the cations, via hydrogen-bonding complementarities and electrostatic interactions, giving rise to a sheet structure with alternating rows of organic cations and inorganic anions. Comparison of this structure with that of the pure amine reveals that the two compounds generate characteristically different sheet structures. The anion-anion chain serves as a template for the assembly of the cations, suggesting a possible application in the design of solid-state materials.