Introduction. In most disasters, teeth are the only means of positive identification of an otherwise unrecognizable body, as there has been tremendous increase in the use of dental restorations that have different resistance to prolonged high temperature which is an important aid in identifying burned victims. Application of SEM/EDS in forensics was found useful in areas where there is a need for good imaging with high magnification combined with elemental analysis. The objective of this study was to analyze incineration effects on teeth and restorative materials using SEM/EDS. Materials and Method. 128 extracted teeth were collected, 96 were restored with silver amalgam, composite, and GIC of 32 each, and crown preparation was done in 32 teeth for which metal ceramic crowns were prepared. These teeth were subjected to 4 different temperatures (500°C, 700°C, 900°C, and 1100°C) for 20 minutes, and they were analyzed macroscopically and by using SEM for the changes subsequent to their exposure to such high temperatures. Results. All the restorations which were very difficult to identify by naked eye were identified with the help of SEM/EDS. Conclusion. Elemental analysis of the specific restorative material proves to be an essential tool for the forensic odontologist.

Context and Aim Sufficient evidence exists in the literature which indicates that patients with ischemic heart diseases (IHDs) show higher degree of pulp calcifications. The present study was, therefore, planned to estimate the prevalence of pulp stones in patients diagnosed with/or undergoing treatment for IHDs. Materials and Methods The present study, which consisted of 300 subjects within the age range of 25 to 65 years, was divided into two groups: study group comprising 150 patients (113 males and 37 females) and 150 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Pulp stones were imaged using bitewing radiographs and paralleling technique under standard conditions. Statistical Analysis Used Statistical analysis was done using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows version 21 (IBM Corp, Armonk, USA), while independent t-test and Chi-square test were done to check the prevalence of pulp stones in the study and control groups, based on gender-, arch-, region- and side-wise distribution. p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results The patients with IHDs exhibited 100% prevalence of pulp stones and the difference was found to be statistically significant, although there was a significant difference in the mean number of pulp stones observed in the study and control groups, with the study group revealing 2217 pulp stones as against 639 pulp stones observed in the control group (p < 0.001). Furthermore, maxillary arch and posterior teeth were predominantly affected in both the groups, although the difference was not found to be statistically significant. Conclusions The findings of the present study suggested a positive correlation between pulp stones and IHDs, highlighting the significance of dental radiographic examination, which may have a possibility for an early detection of IHDs.

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Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most common and serious hospital-acquired infections all over the world. The SSI can lead to an increase in morbidity, mortality, and increase in the duration of hospital stay among patients. The present systematic review was planned to find the epidemiological features, prevalence, causative organisms, and predisposing risk factors for the development of postoperative infections among surgical patients of all the six WHO regions. Initially, 281 articles were identified through specified databases. Finally, 18 articles that fulfilled all inclusions and exclusion criteria are included. For the risk factors assessment, p-values, odds ratio were considered. In general, the occurrence rate of SSI ranges from 2% to 17.8%. Regarding causative organisms, three microorganisms are commonly reported in most of the studies were Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumonia, and E.Coli. Among the different procedures reviewed, incidence and prevalence rates were higher among emergency surgical procedures and lower among obstetrics and gynecology procedures. Longer preoperative duration of stays in hospital decreased Hb and serum albumin level, comorbid conditions such as diabetes, hypertension are potential risk factors for the development of SSI. The occurrence rate of SSI among post-operative patients is very high, especially in developing countries. This leads to a double burden on the healthcare delivery settings during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is essential to include a strict infection control policy, fair usage of antibiotics practices to be implemented. It is also recommended to control comorbid conditions before planning for elective surgery.