Background:Palatal rugae comprises three to seven ridges radiating out tangentially from the incisive papilla on the anterior part of the palate. These rugae patterns are studied for various reasons, mainly in the fields of anthropology, genetics, orthodontics, prosthodontics, and forensic science.Objective:To compare the palatal rugae pattern in two different populations (Manipuri and Kerala), and to assess the predominant pattern if any in the selected groups.Materials and Methods:Sixty maxillary study models (30 from each group including males and females) were examined in the age group ranging from 17 to 23 years. Palatal rugae pattern were analyzed on the right and left sides of the palate for total number, length, shape, direction, and unification.Results:After analyzing the rugae patterns in both the groups and between the two sides of the palate, the wavy pattern was found to be predominant followed by curved, straight, and circular in overall population. Manipuri population showed predominant curved shape than the Kerala population and was statistically significant. Females in general had slightly more rugae than males and the left side of the palate showed comparatively more number of rugae than on the right side.Conclusion:A statistically significant association between the shape of the rugae and population exists although, subtle. Parameters like direction and unification need more attention for better understanding.

Background:Dental records, fingerprint, and DNA comparisons are probably the most common techniques used for a person's identification, allowing fast and secure identification processes. However, sometimes it is necessary to apply different and less known techniques such as lip prints. The potential of lip prints to determine sex has been well exhibited and documented. However, very few studies have been conducted using lip prints for population identification.Objective:To determine the predominant lip print patterns in males and females in relation to Kerala and Manipuri population and also to compare the lip print patterns between these populations.Materials and Methods:The sample comprised of 60 subjects, which included 30 each from Kerala and Manipuri. Lipstick was applied evenly, and the lip print was obtained by dabbing a strip of cellophane. The classification scheme proposed by Tsuchihashi was used to classify the lip print patterns and the data were statistically analyzed using the z-test for proportions.Results:Type 4 and Type 5 lip print patterns were predominant in males, whereas in females it was Type 1 and Type 1’. Type 1 pattern was most common in both the populations, with an incidence of 28.33%. Furthermore, Type 1 pattern was found to be more in Kerala females and Manipuri males when compared to their counterparts. Type 1 was most common in upper right, upper left, and lower left quadrants whereas in lower right quadrant, Type 1’ and Type 4 were predominant in Kerala and Type 5 in Manipuri population.Conclusion:Difference between the lip print patterns in two populations exists, although subtle. However, larger sample size is necessary to derive concrete conclusions.

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Introduction:Cheiloscopy is the study of the furrows or grooves present on the red part or vermilion border of the human lips. The present study aims to classify the characteristics of lip prints and to know the most common morphological pattern specific to Mangalorean people of Southern India. For the first time, this study also assesses the association between gender and different lip segments within a population.Materials and Methods:A total of 200 residents of Mangalore (100 males and 100 females) were included of age ranging from 18 years to 60 years. Materials used to take the impression of lips included red lipstick, A4 size white bond paper and cellophane tape. The prints obtained were scanned using a Canon Image Scanner and stored in a folder on a personal computer. The images were cropped and inverted in gray scale using Adobe Photoshop software. Each lip print was divided into eight segments and was examined. Suzuki and Tsuchihashi's classification (1970) was used to classify the types of grooves, and the results were statistically analyzed. Six types of grooves were recorded in the Mangalorean's lips.Statistical Analysis:Association between gender and different lip segments was tested using Chi-square analysis in the given population.Results:In males, the groove Type I' was the highest recorded followed by Type III, Type II, Type I, Type IV and Type V in descending order. In females, Type I' was the highest recorded followed by Type II, Type III, Type IV, Type I and Type V in descending order.Conclusion:Males and females displayed statistically significant differences in lip print patterns for different lip sites: lower medial lip, as well as upper and lower lateral segments. Only the upper medial lip segment displayed no statistically significant difference in lip print pattern between males and females. This shows that the distribution of lip prints is generally dissimilar for males and females, with varying predominance according to lip segment.

Background:Fixation is the most imperative step in the practice of diagnostic histopathology, which is intimately linked to 10% formalin. As a result of increasing concerns about the potential carcinogenicity of the formaldehyde, attempt to find safer alternatives is necessary. Honey has been shown to possess antimicrobial, antiviral and antimutagenic properties. Many studies have reported that honey possesses dehydrating and preserving effects also.Aims and Objectives:To study the fixative properties of processed and unprocessed honey in oral tissues followed by comparision with formalin.Materials and Methods:The study group comprised 12 different tissues. Each tissue was cut into 3 segments and were immediately fixed in bottles containing 10% unprocessed honey, 10% processed honey and 10% formalin, respectively, for 24 h at room temperature. After fixation, tissues were processed using the routine standard processing protocol followed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Data were statistically analyzed using descriptive statistics such as mean, standard deviation and percentage. Kruskal–Wallis test followed by post hoc Dunn's multiple comparisons test and Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test for small sample size. A P < 0.05 was considered as significant. Data analysis was done by using software Minitab v14.0.Results:When all the stained sections were assessed for the parameters, there was no statistically significant difference between tissues fixed in processed and unprocessed honey compared to formalin (P = 0.004). The tissue morphology and staining adequacy for diagnosis in honey fixed tissue was at par with formalin fixed tissue. Hence, our results suggest that both processed honey and unprocessed honey can be used as a safe alternative for formalin.