Aims: This pilot study was conducted to see the association between dermatoglyphics and dental caries among preschool children.
Settings and Design: Cross sectional, case-control design.
Materials and Methods: One hundred, healthy preschool children aged 3-6 years attending private kindergarten participated. They were divided equally into caries active and caries free group based on the oral examination. The fingerprint patterns were collected for all the fingers of both hands of children and categorized as loop, whorl or arch for each finger of the right and left hand.
Statistical Analysis Used: Statistical analysis was performed using the Chi-square test and Independent t-test to compare the dermatoglyphics patterns between the caries-free group and the caries active group for each variable.
Results: (1) Dental caries susceptibility of an individual decreases with an increase in the incidence of loop pattern, followed by whorl pattern and arch pattern; (2) Left hand loop was found statistically significant (P = 0.03); (3) Presence of loop pattern in left hand thumb predicts significantly lower risk of caries, whereas the presence of arch pattern in left hand thumb predicts significantly high risk of early childhood caries (P = 0.01).
Conclusions: The caries free status of a preschool child increased with the presence of loop on the left thumb.
Aims: The study aims to use a hybrid tool for assessment of professionalism among dental undergraduate students.
Settings and Design: Cross-sectional design with purposive sampling.
Subjects and Methods: All final year UG dental students participated in this study. Evaluation of knowledge about professionalism was through written test. Professional behavior of each final year student in a clinical setting was assessed with a prevalidated questionnaire of multisource feedback (MSF). The scores of written test and the MSF were calculated for each student. Data were analyzed to evaluate scores of knowledge and MSF scores as per assessor category. Correlation between knowledge scores and MSF was evaluated. Student perceptions were taken toward assessment of professionalism.
Statistical Analysis Used: Statistical analysis was done using descriptive statistics. Pearson's coefficient was used to determine the correlation between average knowledge scores and the MSF scores.
Results: Knowledge scores were significantly more for female students (P < 0.05, t-test). Patients rated the students highest. Correlation between knowledge and MSF scores was found to be statistically significant (Pearson's correlation, P < 0.01). Students gave feedback that assessment of professionalism should be done from the beginning of the clinical years.
Conclusions: Evaluation revealed that knowledge toward professionalism correlated with the professional behavior implying association between knowledge and reasons for a particular action.
AIM: To investigate the potential anti-cancer activity of pomegranate peel on growth and cell death mechanisms of chronic myeloid leukemic (CML) cells, K562.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Punica granatum peels extract (PGPE) was extracted by successive ethanol extraction, 80% (v/v), freeze dried, diluted to 20 mg/mL working concentration and was subjected to phytochemical screening. K562 cell was treated with crude PGPE for 72 h. Following IC50 concentration, the apoptosis, cell cycle and protein analysis were evaluated. Cell growth inhibition assay was performed by conventional trypan blue exclusion assay. Apoptosis and cell cycle were analyzed by flow-cytometry using BD apoptosis and cell cycle kits and protein analysis by western blotting. All the results are expressed as mean ± standard error of mean of three independent experiments. Statistical analysis was performed by nonparametric Mann-Whitney U-test.
RESULTS: Results demonstrated that PGPE promotes growth inhibition of K562 cells mainly via G2/M phase arrest while still conserving apoptosis induction, but at a lower rate. Apoptosis activities were proposed by the up-regulation of caspases and cytochrome c with an elevated level of p21 and p53.
CONCLUSION: PGPE caused an inhibition in cell proliferation of CML cell mainly by cell cycle arrest.