Comparison of Oral Mucosal Biopsies Done Using Scalpel and Diode Lasers: A Vivo Study.

Background: As dental lasers are becoming more popular in the branch of oral medicine for its various advantages and applications, this study was carried out to evaluate better mode of obtaining oral biopsies which is a common and inevitable procedure for providing final diagnosis in majority of conditions. Methodology: In this study, a total of 60 patients who required biopsy for final diagnosis of oral mucosal lesions as part of diagnosis in department of Oral Medicine were selected, out of which 30 were subjected to scalpel biopsies and 30 patients were subjected to diode laser biopsies. A 980 nm Zolar plus diode laser was used for the study. Out of 30 patients who were subjected to laser biopsies, 3W continuous mode settings were used for 15 patients and 3W pulsed mode was used for 15 patients. The specimens were sent to Department of Oral Pathology for histopathological evaluation to provide the final diagnosis. The time taken for each patient, volume of local anesthesia, during operative, postoperative pain scale, and co-relation of provisional and final diagnosis was noted for comparison purpose and the pathologist comments, peripheral tissue damage and artifact's for each slide were noted. Results: The study results showed the postoperative pain was comparatively less in diodlaser than scalpel, the lasers were patient friendly as the heammorage was negligible when compared to scalpel and suturing was not required. The pulsed mode in diode laser was advantageous over continuous mode when amount of thermal damage and postoperative pain score was compared. Conclusion: The results showed that oral biopsies can be made better using diode lasers, by having thorough knowledge on the device.

Protecting group free enantiospecific total syntheses of structurally diverse natural products of the tetrahydrocannabinoid family.

A simple, highly diastereoselective, Lewis acid catalyzed Friedel-Crafts coupling of a cyclic allylic alcohol with resorcinol derivatives has been developed. The method was applied for the enantiospecific total syntheses of structurally diverse natural products such as machaeriol-D, Δ(8)-THC, Δ(9)-THC, epi-perrottetinene and their analogues. Synthesis of both natural products and their enantiomers has been achieved with high atom economy, in a protecting group free manner and in less than 6 steps, the longest linear sequence, in a very good overall yield starting from R-(+) and S-(-)-limonene.

Typical radiographic findings of dentin dysplasia type 1b with dental fluorosis.

Dentin dysplasia is a rare inherited autosomal dominant disorder characterized by rootless teeth. We hereby report a case of dentin dysplasia type 1b with typical radiographic findings: short and blunt roots, pulpal obliteration, horizontal/crescent shaped radiolucencies in pulp chambers, and multiple periapical radiolucencies. However, the present case did not show the autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance and the patient also exhibited concurrent dental fluorosis, transposition of 13 and 14, and multiple cusps in maxillary first molars. Moreover, on careful review of previously documented cases of radiographs of dentin dysplasia, the horizontal/crescent shaped radiolucencies in pulp chambers are a rare finding, which is characteristically seen in the present case.

Severe cytomegalovirus infections in immunocompetent patients at admission as dengue mimic: successful treatment with intravenous ganciclovir.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is associated with adverse clinical outcomes in immunosuppressed persons. The incidence and association of CMV reactivation with adverse clinical outcomes in critically ill persons lacking evidence of immunosuppression at ICU admission has received great attention in the practice of critical care medicine. Critically ill patients in ICU who had associated risk factors such as mechanical ventilation, severe sepsis, or blood transfusion are more prone to CMV activation, which in turn led to increased mortality and morbidity in terms of increased ICU stay, longer duration of mechanical ventilation, and higher rates of nosocomial infections. However, severe CMV as initial presentation mimicking dengue infection is rare. We recently came across seven cases with positive CMV serology at ICU admission, which we discuss in the light of current literature.