Dental caries and periodontal diseases have historically been considered the most important global oral health burdens. Many chemicals and synthetic drugs have marked the side effects. Hence, there has been a paradigm shift from the use of modern drugs to the age-old herbs. Achyranthes aspera is one such important plant with various established pharmaceutical properties. The aim of this study was to assess the antibacterial activity of the A. aspera extract against Streptococcus mutans. Aqueous extract of A. aspera was prepared. Different concentrations of the root and stem extracts of A. aspera were transferred to the agar plates, which had been streaked with the bacterium S. mutans. The plates were incubated aerobically at 37°C for 24 h, and the zones of inhibition were measured using cup plate method. A. aspera extract showed statistically significant zones of inhibition. A. aspera showed marked antibacterial activity against S. mutans.
Introduction. Odontogenic cysts are distinct entities and quite a common occurrence in the jaw bones. These are individual lesions which arise from the same odontogenic apparatus but with varying pathogenesis. Cytokeratins are integral components in tooth development and are expressed across the odontogenic tissues in physiological and pathological states.
Aim. To elucidate the role of cytokeratin-7 in the pathogenesis of odontogenic cysts by immunohistochemistry
Method. Cytokeratin-7 (CK-7) was assessed in 39 cases of odontogenic lesions retrieved from the archival files which included 15 cases of Dentigerous cysts (DC), 12 cases of Odontogenic keratocysts (OKC) and 12 cases of Radicular cysts (RC) and also 8 cases of control specimens.
Statistical analysis. Results obtained were statistically analyzed using chi-square test to assess the association between different odontogenic cysts used in this study and Cytokeration-7 staining. The difference was considered to be of statistical significance if the p value was ≤ 0.05.
Results. CK7 expression was maximum in dentigerous cycts (66.66%) followed by radicular cysts (41.66%) and odontogenic keratocysts (16.6%). On evaluation of staining and expression pattern, highest positivity is shown in Dentigerous cysts and the positivity is seen in suprabasal (60%) and superficial layers (40%) whereas radicular cysts and odontogenic keratocysts showed positivity in superficial and spinous layers.
Conclusion. Cytokeratin-7 expression correlates with the degree of differentiation of the epithelium. So the cysts with a well-differentiated epithelium (RC and DC) express CK-7, while the cysts with a less well-differentiated epithelium (OKC) show slight positivity. Thus it can be useful to differentiate OKC from DC and RC.
BACKGROUND COVID 19 has been labelled as a global pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). The sudden rise in death toll and devastation associated with it has put the entire infrastructure, economy and health sector to test. The only way for the prevention and control of this infectious disease is rapid and accurate screening of masses. Public Health Authorities mainly use antibody testing in hot spots using a mix of RT-PCR and antibody testing nasopharyngeal and orpharyngeal swabs. Considering the potential risk factors, constraints of time, cost and manpower, mass screening for COVID is not possible through nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs alone. Hence, to search an alternate method to diagnose for the initial screening of patients is the need of the hour globally. Saliva can also be used as one of the diagnostic modalities for coronavirus, helping in the rapid testing of individuals at home or at hospital. The article intends to explain the evidence regarding the reliability of saliva as a diagnostic specimen in COVID-19 patients and demonstrates the association and potential of detecting novel coronavirus in saliva of patients and how its implication in future can aid in diagnosis as a non - invasive diagnostic modality. KEY WORDS COVID 19, Throat Swab, Nasopharyngeal Swab, Saliva, Diagnostic Fluid
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