AIMS: This study assessed the antimicrobial activities of Tinospora cordifolia and Ocimum tenuiflorum against Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans to conventional medications such as chlorhexidine and nystatin.
METHODOLOGY: The S. mutans and C. albicans were grown and maintained on Columbia agar plates and yeast malt extract agar respectively. An ethanolic extract was made and subjected to rotary evaporation to remove the ethanol. The antimicrobial activity of plant extracts was determined using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. The standard drugs, 10 μg/disc nystatin and 0.12% chlorhexidine, were used as a positive control. The zone of inhibition was measured after 24 hours.
RESULTS: At a concentration of 3 mgs., the zone of inhibition of 25.6 mm was found with T. cordifolia, followed by 15.8 mm with O. tenuiflorum against S. mutans, and 0.12% chlorhexidine, at 21.7 ± 0.43 mm. A zone of inhibition of 23 mm and 22.9 mm was observed in both T. cordifolia and O. tenuiflorum against C. albicans, respectively. Positive control of nystatin showed 26.1 ± 0.46 mm.
CONCLUSION: Tinospora cordifolia has better antimicrobial activity against S. mutans compared to Ocimum tenuiflorum. Whereas at higher concentrations, both extracts were effective against C. albicans.
Subjects and Methods: Immunohistochemical analysis of FHIT was done in ameloblastoma, odontogenic keratocyst, dentigerous cyst and dental follicle. Interpretation of the stained slides were done using standard scoring criteria by two pathologist. The results were subjected for statistical analysis.
Results: Expression of FHIT varied among the groups, with highest negative expression in ameloblastoma 44.4% followed by odontogenic keratocyst 14% and 100%positive expression was seen in dentigerous cyst. The expression levels between the groups were statistically insignificant.
Conclusion: The varied expression or negative expression of FHIT could be considered as an indicator for aggressive behavior and transformation of preneoplastic/cystic epithelium.
Aims: To assess the OCT4 stemness factor in oral leukoplakia for its potential risk to malignant transformation.
Settings and Design: 20 cases of oral leukoplakia were obtained from archives at Oral Cancer Research & Coordinating center (OCRCC) Malaysia Subjects and Methods: 20 cases of oral leukoplakia were assessed by OCT4 immunohistochemically. Oral squamous cell carcinoma was used as a control.
Result: no expression of OCT 4 was observed in any cases of oral leukoplakia.
Conclusion: The molecular mechanisms of Oct4 regulation and in particular of its switch on and off in tissues depends upon its microenvironment, which makes it challenging in fundamental and applied research fields of regenerative medicine and cancer therapy. It's better that patients should undergo multiple biopsies for the early detection of malignant transformation with close follow-up during the first two to three years, a large amount of work remains to be done with multi-marker panel investigation, as cure rates have remained constant over three decades.
METHODOLOGY: A comparative, cross-sectional study was designed among 180 mother-child pairs attending various Anganwadi centers. Demographic, dietary, oral hygiene practices and other necessary information were collected from mothers using a structured questionnaire. Caries status and amount of plaque were recorded through clinical examination. Nonstimulated saliva from mothers was cultured for mutans streptococci (MS). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 17. Chi-square, Student's t-test, and logistic regression were used. A P ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
RESULTS: In the study group, 73.3% of mothers had caries as compared to only 53.3% mothers in control group. While mean DMFT and mean DMFS of mothers in the study group was 3.78 ± 3.91 and 8.37 ± 12.2, respectively, the same for the mothers in the control group was 2.66 ± 3.01 and 5.8 ± 5.3. Sixty (66.7%) out of ninety mothers in the study group had a high MS count as compared to only 40 (44.4%) mothers in control group (P = 0.003).
CONCLUSION: The present study showed that high salivary MS count and decay in mothers could be important risk indicators for the development of caries in their children.