Grub in the mouth: an unusual case with review of literature.

Oral myiasis is a rare disease, identified primarily in non-industrialised nations. It is caused fundamentally by the attack of larvae from Dipteran flies on the human tissues. Predisposing factors for oral myiasis are extraction wounds, destitute oral cleanliness, meagreness, mouth breathing amid rest, suppurative injuries, necrotic tissues, diabetes and perivascular infections primarily within the elderly, extreme halitosis, alcohol addiction, cerebral paralysis and components that favour prolonged mouth opening. Myiasis may have predilection to patients with mental challenges, cerebral palsy and hemiplegia due to unfortunate physical agility. The present case reports an oral myiasis in a 25-year-old woman who was mentally challenged. This condition was treated by topical application of turpentine oil with manual expulsion of hatchlings, taken after by surgical debridement and wide range antimicrobials.

Comparison of topical capsaicin and topical turpentine Oil for treatment of painful diabetic neuropathy.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes Mellitus is a pandemic of the modern era owing to our rapidly deteriorating lifestyle. Painful diabetic neuropathy is one of the costliest and disabling complications of diabetes mellitus. No single treatment exists to prevent or reverse neuropathic changes or to provide total pain relief. Topical Capsaicin and Turpentine Oil are found to be effective in treatment of painful diabetic neuropathy. METHODS: Patients of either gender with ages between 18 and 70 years having painful diabetic neuropathy already taking one oral drug for painful neuropathy and treatment for diabetes mellitus and an HbA1C less than 8.5% were included while Pregnant or lactating mothers, patients with chronic liver disease and patients with renal insufficiency (creatinine >3.0 mg/dl) and peripheral arterial disease were excluded from study. Patients were randomly divided into two groups (A & B) using computer generated random number table. Group A was given topical application of capsaicin while Group B was given topical application of commercially available turpentine oil over painful site on feet. RESULTS: 300 patients were equally divided in two groups. The patients in group A had a Visual Analog Pain Score of 7.91±5.10 at baseline and 5.10±1.343 after 3 months of treatment (p-value 0.0001). The patients in group B had a Visual Analog Pain Score of 7.83±1.012 at baseline and 5.20±1.187 after 3 months of treatment (p-value 0.0001). Chi Square test was applied to compare efficacy of both groups. It was noted that 71 (53%) had efficacy in group A and 63 (47%) had efficacy in the group B but the difference was not statistically significant. (p-value=0.399). CONCLUSIONS: It has been concluded that turpentine oil is effective in managing diabetic neuropathic pain similar to capsaicin cream.

Actividad insecticida de aceite de trementina modificado en Culex quinquefasciatus y Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) / Insecticidal activity of modified turpentine oil in Culex quinquefasciatus and Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae)

Introducción: el estudio de alternativas naturales para el control vectorial es de gran importancia debido a los fenómenos de resistencia a insecticidas sintéticos encontrados en diversas especies de mosquitos. Objetivo: evaluar la actividad insecticida de aceite de trementina modificado en Culex quinquefasciatus y Aedes albopictus. Métodos: se evaluó la actividad larvicida, adulticida e inhibidora del desarrollo de este aceite, según metodologías estandarizadas. Se utilizó para el estudio una cepa de Cx. quinque fasciatus (Regla 2013) y una de Ae. albopictus (Fraga 2012). Resultados: el aceite de trementina modificado mostró actividad larvicida para Cx. quinquefasciatus y Ae. albopictus lo que se evidenció por los valores bajos de concentraciones letales que causaron el 90 por ciento de mortalidad (CL90 = 0,0054 por ciento y CL90 = 0,00115 por ciento), en orden. Al evaluar la actividad adulticida se obtuvo el 100 por ciento de derribo a los 30 minutos de los individuos expuestos de ambas cepas a la concentración de 60 mg/mL. Al exponer larvas a sus respectivas CL90 del aceite de trementina modificado, se observó en Cx. quinque fasciatus una mortalidad 2 veces mayor en la fase de larva que en la fase de pupa. Durante los primeros 5 días la mortalidad fue mayor en los estadios pupa y adulto en Ae. Albopictus.Sin embargo, los resultados difieren con Cx. quinque fasciatus en el mismo período. El sexo femenino fue prevaleciente en la mortalidad pupal. La mayor mortalidad en adultos se observó en machos, por lo que ocurrió una desproporción en los sexos de los sobrevivientes. Conclusiones: los resultados encontrados avalan y permiten recomendar el aceite de trementina modificado como un insecticida de origen natural para el control de Ae. albopictus y Cx. quinque fasciatus(AU)

[The combined application of yellow turpentine bathtubs and bronchodilators inhalations for the treatment of the patients presenting with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].

This paper was designed to report the results of comparative clinical and functional studies involving 89 patients who presented with moderately severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and were given the combined treatment with yellow turpentine bathtubs and bronchodilators inhalations with the use of a nebulizer. The patients comprising group 1 (n=29) were treated with yellow turpentine bathtubs and bronchodilators inhalations, those making up group 2 (n=30) received monotherapy with yellow turpentine bathtubs alone, and the patients included in group 3 (n=3) served as controls treated with the use of therapeutic physical exercises and symptomatic medications analogous to those given to the patients of the two former groups. The results of the study give evidence of the advantages of the rehabilitative complex including yellow turpentine bathtubs and atrovent inhalations over two alternative therapeutic modalities attributable to its pronounced anti-inflammatory and immune-corrective activity that resulted in the generalized improvement of bronchial patency, reduction of lung hypertension, and enhancement of physical tolerance; taken together, these effects ensured the best clinical results.

Oral myiasis--a case report.

Myiasis, a term introduced by William Hope in 1840, refers to the invasion of tissues and organs of animals and human wounds and certain body cavities by the dipteran larvae, which manifests as subcutaneous furunculoid or boil-like lesions. Oral myiasis is a rare pathology and a risk to the patient's life. A higher incidence is seen in rural areas, affecting the tropical and subtropical zones of Africa and America. It can be secondary to medical or anatomic conditions, such as cancrum oris, neglected mandibular fracture, cerebral palsy, mouth breathing, anterior open bite, incompetent lips, and use of mechanical ventilation. Myiasis also has been described after tooth extraction. All these conditions more easily allow the infestation of human tissues. Myiasis affecting the orodental complex is rare. This case report describes oral myiasis in a 25-year-old male patient who was a gardener by profession. The lesion was treated with turpentine oil, which forced the larvae out, and irrigated with normal saline solution.

Flies blown disease--oral myiasis.

Myiasis, a term first introduced by Hope (1840), refers to the invasion of tissues and organs of animals and human wounds and certain body cavities by the dipteran larvae which manifests as subcutaneous furunculoid or boillike lesions. Oral myiasis is a rare pathology and a risk to the patient's life. Higher incidence is seen in rural areas affecting the tropical and sub-tropical zones of Africa and America. Myiasis affecting the oro-dental complex is rare. Here is a case report of oral myiasis in an 18-year-old male patient who is mentally challenged with anterior open bite, incompetent lips, and periodontal disease. The lesion was treated with turpentine oil, which forced larvae out and irrigated with normal saline solution. Follow-up examination revealed complete remission and healing of the lesion.

[Use of white turpentine bath emulsion and yellow turpentine solution for the treatment of chronic prostatitis complicated by excretory pathospermia].

The paper reports a review of up-to-date methods for the use of white turpentine bath emulsion and yellow turpentine solution in the treatment of chronic prostatitis complicated by excretory pathospermia. The results of bath therapy are presented. It is shown that the efficiency of white turpentine bath emulsion amounted to 69.7% compared with 88.3% in patients treated with the use of yellow turpentine solution.

How reliable an indicator of inflammation is myeloperoxidase activity?

BACKGROUND: Myeloperoxidase (MPO) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) are often used as markers of inflammation. The aim of this study was to ascertain whether MPO activity is as reliable as IL-6 as an indicator of inflammation. METHODS: Inflammation was induced in mice, using either turpentine or indomethacin. Duodenal tissue was removed from these animals at various time periods ranging from 6 h to 7 days later. Concentrations of IL-6 and MPO activity were estimated in the tissue. Histopathological examination was also carried out at some of the time periods to determine the presence of neutrophil infiltration in turpentine-treated mice. RESULTS: Concentrations of IL-6 and MPO activity were significantly higher in tissue that had been treated with the agents used, at all the time periods studied, when compared with corresponding control tissue. Fold-increases in MPO activity were higher than fold-increases in IL-6. Concentrations of the 2 parameters showed significant positive correlation. Histopathological examination did not show significantly higher numbers of neutrophils infiltrating the tissue in response to turpentine, at the time periods studied. CONCLUSIONS: Estimation of MPO activity is a reliable indicator of inflammation, being more sensitive than histopathological examination of tissue and as good as measurement of IL-6 concentrations.

[Turpentine baths in rehabilitation of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].

We have investigated effects of turpentine baths with white emultion, yellow solution and mixed on the course of inflammation, immunocompetent system, external respiration function, pulmonary cardiohemodynamics, physical performance in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. We developed differential indications for each bath variant depending on the features of a clinical picture of the disease, comorbid pathology and revealed contraindications to their administration.

[Turpentined vapour baths with coniferous oil]. / Des bains de vapeurs térébenthinés aux pastilles de Pin mugho.

This article presents the history of turpentined vapour baths used to treat rheumatismes. In the same time appeared patent medicines made with coniferous oil, sold by chemist near those baths establishments.

[Application of yellow turpentine baths in patients with chronic prostatitis complicated by sexual dysfunctions].

Patients with chronic prostatitis complicated by sexual dysfunction took turpentine baths with yellow solution in concentration rising from 5 to 55 ml solution per 200 l water, temperature 35-40 degrees C, duration 5-16 min, daily, 12-15 procedures. Yellow turpentine baths raise efficacy of treatment of patients with copulative dysfunction to 64% due to intensive arterial blood inflow to the sexual organs including the cavernous bodies of the penis.

Effect of aromatics on lung mucociliary clearance in patients with chronic airways obstruction.

BACKGROUND: Complementary and alternative medicine have become an increasingly topical theme in respiratory medicine. Aromatics are a commonly used ingredient in a number of proprietary medicines. It is well established that lung mucus clearance is impaired in patients with chronic airways obstruction. This study investigated whether aromatics delivered by inunction could be objectively shown to enhance lung clearance. METHODS: We studied 12 patients with chronic bronchitic with a mean standard error (SE) age of 67 (2) years (mean [SE] tobacco consumption history of 64 [12] pack-years). We used a randomized, single-blinded, placebo-controlled crossover trial within patient design assessing the effect of 7.5 g of aromatics inunction (compared to a "no-treatment baseline" and to a petrolatum "placebo") on lung mucus clearance measured by a standard radioaerosol technique. RESULTS: Aromatic treatment significantly enhanced clearance at two time points 30 (p < 0.05) and 60 (p < 0.02) minutes postradioaerosol inhalation but had no demonstrable further effect over the following 5 hours despite further application of the inunction. The clearance improvement (relative to a baseline) observed during the first hour of testing was significantly correlated (p < 0.01) with the concentration level of aromatics. CONCLUSION: Our data, thus, provide objective evidence of a positive effect of aromatics inunction on mucus clearance in chronic airways obstruction.

Larvicidal effects of mineral turpentine, low aromatic white spirits, aqueous extracts of Cassia alata, and aqueous extracts, ethanolic extracts and essential oil of betel leaf (Piper betle) on Chrysomya megacephala.

BACKGROUND: Many methods have been employed, with variable success, in the treatment of cutaneous myiasis caused by Chrysomya species. AIMS: Experiment 1: to assess the larvicidal effect of mineral turpentine (MT) and the main ingredient of MT, low aromatic white spirits (LAWS), on Chrysomya megacephala larvae in vitro. Experiment 2: to assess the larvicidal effects of aqueous extracts of winged senna (Cassia alata), and aqueous extracts, ethanolic extracts and essential oil of betel leaf (Piper betle). METHODS: In experiment 1, two samples of LAWS were obtained from two industrialists (samples 1 and 2). Adult flies of C. megacephala were bred in the insectory of the Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo. Petri dishes were prepared with pads of cotton wool. These cotton pads were soaked separately in MT, LAWS samples 1 and 2, and normal saline as a control. Ten larvae were placed in each Petri dish. The activity of the larvae was observed and recorded half-hourly. MT and the two samples of LAWS were analyzed by chromatography. In experiment 2, volatile essential oil of betel was prepared using a standard steam distillation process. An ethanolic extract of betel was obtained after boiling the crushed leaf with water, and mixing the stock with ethanol. Betel oil dilutions of 1-4% were prepared using 1% Tween 80 (v/v aq) as a solvent, with 0.05 g/100 mL sodium lauryl sulphate (as stabilizer) and 0.01 g/100 mL methyl paraben (as a preservative). Cotton wool swabs soaked in 1, 2, 3 and 4% essential oil of betel in 1% Tween 80 (v/v aq) prepared as above, 1, 2, 3 and 4% ethanolic extract of betel, 50 and 25% aqueous extract of C. alata, and 50 and 25% aqueous extract of betel were placed in separate Petri dishes. Ten larvae were placed in each Petri dish. 1% Tween 80 solvent with the stabilizer and the preservative, but without betel essential oil, was used as a negative control and MT was used as a positive control. Larval motility was assessed as before. RESULTS: MT and the two LAWS samples killed the larvae in vitro within 4 h. Chromatography showed more unidentified constituents in MT than in pure LAWS, indicating additional substances in MT. The 4 and 3% preparations of the essential oil of betel were effective in killing 100% of the larvae of Chrysomya within 3 h 30 min. The 2% extract of betel essential oil killed 96.7% of larvae in 4 h. Ethanolic and aqueous extracts of betel, the aqueous extract of C. alata, normal saline and the Tween 80 solvent were not larvicidal. CONCLUSIONS: MT and LAWS, the main ingredient of MT, were effective in killing Chrysomya larvae. Essential oil obtained from betel leaves also showed a dose-dependent larvicidal effect on Chrysomya larvae. This natural product may be effective in the treatment of wound myiasis.

A study of cutaneous myiasis in Sri Lanka.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Cutaneous myiasis (CM) due to Diptera fly larvae shows different patterns in different regions. Many modalities of treatment have been described. The objectives of our study were to identify the species causing CM in Sri Lanka, the common sites of infestation, and the contributory factors, and to assess some treatment modalities, in particular mineral turpentine and certain herbal preparations. METHODS: All patients with CM admitted or referred to the Dermatology Unit at the General Hospital, Kalutara, over 18 months starting from July 1997, and all patients with CM from the orthopedic and surgical wards of the National Hospital of Sri Lanka in Colombo over 6 months from July 1997, were studied. Details of the history and examination were recorded on specially designed forms. Maggots extracted were identified at the Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo. The modalities of treatment employed in the patients were recorded. In the Department of Parasitology, a colony of Chrysomya megacephala was maintained. Homogenized leaf extracts of Azadirachta indica (neem) and Pongamia pinnata (Indian beech) and mineral turpentine (active ingredient--low aromatic white spirits) were tested for efficacy in killing C. megacephala larvae in vitro. Leaf extracts were not used directly on patients. RESULTS: There were 16 patients (10 males and five females; the sex of one patient was not recorded). The mean age was 58.5 years (range, 11-94 years). Identification of larvae revealed C. bezziana in 14 (87.5%) and C. megacephala in two (12.5%) patients. The foot was affected in 15 (93. 7%) and the scalp in one patient. The immediate predisposing factor for CM in dermatology patients was infected dermatitis. The other relevant associated factors were: diabetes mellitus, psychiatric illness, leprosy, and mental subnormality. Turpentine was a useful adjunct in the removal of maggots manually. There were no side-effects to turpentine. In the in vitro testing, turpentine was 100% effective in killing maggots. Some patients required surgical removal under anesthesia. Indian beech and neem leaf extracts were not effective against Chrysomya larvae in vitro. CONCLUSIONS: All cases of CM were due to larvae of Chrysomya species. The commonest was C. bezziana. C. megacephala larvae causing CM have been reported for the first time in Sri Lanka. The foot was the site of predilection. Dermatitis, psychiatric illness, leprosy, diabetes, and mental subnormality were some contributory factors. Topically instilled mineral turpentine, followed by manual removal of maggots, was effective in most cases. The plant extracts tested in vitro were ineffective. As C. bezziana is an obligatory parasite capable of penetrating deeply, the importance of preventive measures is emphasized.

Neonatal myiasis.

This case involves an orphan female neonate-abandoned in a dustbin in Poona, India-who was infected by the larval forms of the blowfly. The blowfly causing this infestation belonged to the family Calliphoridae and genus Calliphora. The fly of this genus is of importance in Indian veterinary science and is found abundantly around decaying matter in Poona. The larvae occurring in carrion, flesh, etc, usually infest open wounds of animals and rarely infest humans.

[The use of white and yellow turpentine baths with diabetic patients]. / Primenenie belykh i zheltykh skipidarnykh vann u bol'nykh sakharnym diabetom.

In patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus while and yellow turpentine baths produced a positive effect on carbohydrate metabolism. White baths were more effective in respect to lipid metabolism, blood viscosity, produced a good effect on plasmic hemocoagulation factors. Both while and yellow turpentine baths were beneficial for capillary blood flow: initially high distal blood flow in patients with prevailing distal polyneuropathy decreased while in patients with macroangiopathy initially subnormal blood flow increased. Both white and yellow turpentine baths promoted better pulse blood filling of the lower limbs and weaker peripheral resistance of large vessels. In patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus white and yellow turpentine baths contributed to normalization of carbohydrate metabolism. Yellow baths were more effective in lowering lipids. White baths induced inhibition of platelet aggregation but had no effect on coagulation, yellow baths promoted a reduction of fibrinogen but had no effect on platelet aggregation. Yellow baths produced more pronounced effect than white ones on blood viscosity and microcirculation. Both yellow and white baths stimulated pulse blood filling, corrected peripheral resistance of large and small vessels of the lower limbs.

[Naloxone does not modify the anti-inflammatory effect of counter-irritation with turpentine]. / La naloxone ne modifie pas l'effet anti-inflammatoire de la contre-irritation par térébenthine.

In the rat, previous injection of turpentine reduced carrageenan-induced oedema. Naloxone and nalorphine did not modify the anti-inflammatory effect of this kind of counter-irritation. Morphine had no influence on carrageenan oedema. These results suggest that endogenous endorphins take no part to the anti-inflammatory effect of counter-irritation by turpentine.