Can dead man tooth do tell tales? Tooth prints in forensic identification.

BACKGROUND: We know that teeth trouble us a lot when we are alive, but they last longer for thousands of years even after we are dead. Teeth being the strongest and resistant structure are the most significant tool in forensic investigations. Patterns of enamel rod end on the tooth surface are known as tooth prints. AIM: This study is aimed to know whether these tooth prints can become a forensic tool in personal identification such as finger prints. A study has been targeted toward the same. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: In the present in-vivo study, acetate peel technique has been used to obtain the replica of enamel rod end patterns. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Tooth prints of upper first premolars were recorded from 80 individuals after acid etching using cellulose acetate strips. Then, digital images of the tooth prints obtained at two different intervals were subjected to biometric conversion using Verifinger standard software development kit version 6.5 software followed by the use of Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) software for comparison of the tooth prints. Similarly, each individual's finger prints were also recorded and were subjected to the same software. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Further, recordings of AFIS scores obtained from images were statistically analyzed using Cronbach's test. RESULTS: We observed that comparing two tooth prints taken from an individual at two intervals exhibited similarity in many cases, with wavy pattern tooth print being the predominant type. However, the same prints showed dissimilarity when compared with other individuals. We also found that most of the individuals with whorl pattern finger print showed wavy pattern tooth print and few loop type fingerprints showed linear pattern of tooth prints. CONCLUSIONS: Further more experiments on both tooth prints and finger prints are required in establishing an individual's identity.

Morphological analysis of collagen and elastic fibers in oral squamous cell carcinoma using special stains and comparison with Broder's and Bryne's grading systems.

OBJECTIVES: Morphologic detection of connective tissue fiber changes in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) using special stains remains less documented. The aims of the present study were to study the collagen and elastic fibers in different stages of OSCC and to correlate these changes with two grading systems - Broder's and Bryne's. STUDY DESIGN: Forty-eight cases of OSCC were studied using hematoxylin and eosin, Verhoeff's - Van Gieson stain for elastic fibers and picrosirius red stain for collagen fibers. The changes were compared with all the grades of carcinoma. Normal mucosa was taken as control. RESULTS: Statistical analysis using Chi-square and ANOVA, showed significant association between the grades of carcinoma and extracellular matrix changes. Greenish-yellow collagen fibers were found to be significantly increased in the poorly differentiated/Grade 3 cases (P< 0.0001) where as well-differentiated/Grade 1 cases showed predominantly reddish-orange and yellowish-orange birefringence of collagen fibers. Chi-square analysis showed a significant amount of fragmented pattern of elastic fibers in poorly differentiated OSCC (χ2 = 104.45, P = 0.009)/Grade 3 OSCC (χ2 = 94.81, P = 0.016). CONCLUSION: The study of the connective tissue stromal changes can be used as an adjunct to histological grading and thereby helping the surgeon to determine the amount of marginal clearance.

Morphometry As a Diagnostic Tool for Potentially Malignant Lesions.

INTRODUCTION: Though we are in 21(st) century with nano technology & tissue printing, there still exist many lacunae in the field of diagnosis. Not much is known about prognostic markers till now from literature to assess potentially malignant lesions. Lesions so called potentially malignant can be termed only after clinical & malignant changes have been developed and there are no means of predicting with certainty the risk of cancerous transformation. AIM: Our present study was undertaken to establish the morphometric parameters of the parabasal and spinous cells of normal oral epithelium with the changes occurring in cells of Oral Leukoplakia (OL), Oral Verrucous Carcinoma (OVC) and Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Total 40 patients were divided into Group I which includes patients with normal oral mucosa, group II oral leukoplakia patients, group III oral verrucous carcinoma patients and group IV includes oral squamous cell carcinoma patients. Tissue sections were taken and morphometric analysis of cell area, cell diameter, nuclear area, nuclear diameter, nuclear cytoplasmic ratio was done for parabasal and spinous layer cells. Statistical analysis was done using one-way ANOVA and T-test. RESULTS: Nuclear diameter, nuclear area, cell area, nuclear cytoplasmic ratio were significantly increased in OL, OVC, OSCC patients than normal oral mucosa, which was statistically significant. Cell diameter was decreased in OL, OVC, OSCC patients than with normal oral mucosa which was statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Cellular & nuclear parameters showed statistically significant changes in oral leukoplakia, oral verrucous carcinoma & oral squamous cell carcinoma in comparison with normal oral mucosa.

Peripheral ossifying fibroma.

Peripheral ossifying fibroma (POF) is one of the inflammatory reactive hyperplasia of gingiva. It represents a separate clinical entity rather than a transitional form of pyogenic granuloma and shares unique clinical characteristics and diverse histopathological features. We present a case of POF in a 65-year-old male patient in the posterior maxillary gingiva, the clinical presentation of which differs from the usual presentation. Differential diagnosis and some interesting facts of POF are discussed.

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.

Single use of tetracycline with and without diclofenac sodium as local drug delivery in pocket therapy: a clinico-microbiological study.

AIM: Local drug delivery is a non-surgical method in the treatment of periodontitis. Different chemotherapeutic agents are used for local drug delivery; one such agent is tetracycline, a broad-spectrum antibiotic. Recent studies have also shown that the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs reduces pro-inflammatory cytokines and acts as host modulator. Thus, an attempt was made to compare and evaluate the efficacy of tetracycline alone and in combination with diclofenac sodium as a local drug delivery. METHODS: A total of 36 sites with chronic periodontitis were divided into three groups with 12 sites each (i.e. group A, antibiotics alone; group B, antibiotics in combination with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; and group C, control group). For all the groups, the following parameters (plaque index, papillary bleeding index, probing pocket depth, and microbial analysis) were assessed and statistically analyzed. RESULTS: The antibiotic and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug combination group showed a statistically-significant improvement in clinical parameters and a shift in microbial flora when compared to the group with antibiotics alone. However, the control group failed to show any statistically-significant improvement. CONCLUSION: Antibiotics in combination with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are more efficient than using antibiotics alone as local drug delivery for the treatment of periodontal pockets.