Collagen is the unique, triple helical protein molecule which forms the major part of the extracellular matrix. It is the most abundant protein in the human body, representing 30% of its dry weight and is important to health because it characterizes the structure of skin, connective tissues, tendons, bones and cartilage. As collagen forms building block of body structures, any defect in collagen results in disorders, such as osteogenesis imperfecta, Ehlers-Dalnos syndrome, scurvy, systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, Stickler syndrome, oral submucous fibrosis, Marfan syndrome, epidermolysis bullosa, Alport syndrome. This review discusses the role of collagen in health as well as disease.

Diabetes mellitus is a group of complex multisystem metabolic disorders characterized by relative or absolute insufficiency of insulin secretion and/or concomitant resistance to the metabolic action of insulin on target tissues. 1 The worldwide explosion of this chronic ailment is a major health care burden. The number of people globally with diabetes are projected to rise to 439 million (7.7%) by 2030. 2 Currently, India has 41 million diabetics, and this number is expected to increase to 70 million by 2025. The increased number of diabetics in India is likely due to unprecedented rates of urbanization and lifestyle changes. 3 The increased morbidity and mortality of diabetic patients is mostly attributed to complications of the disease. Hyperglycemia is the immediate metabolic consequence of diabetes, and chronic hyperglycemia leads to several events that promote structural changes in tissues. 1,4 A high prevalence of wide spectrum oral alterations associated with diabetes has been described in literature. To minimize the risk of complications associated with this disease, it is necessary to regularly monitor the glucose levels of diabetic patients. The important aspect in glycemic control is the frequent monitoring of blood glucose levels. 5 Various biofluids that are used to monitor glucose levels include blood and urine. The choice of blood as a diagnostic fluid for clinical testing is clear-cut considering its close relationship to the homeostasis of the body. Because blood circulates throughout all organs, its chemical makeup is a composite of nearly all metabolic processes occurring in the 552673D STXXX10.

Background:Lip prints are unique to each individual and can be used for personal identification. The lip prints show differences according to the race and the ethnic origins of a person.Aim:The objective of the study was to determine the predominant lip print type in a Punjabi population.Materials and Methods:The study was conducted on 106 students of our institution and comprised 56 males and 50 females in the age group of 18-25 years. The middle part of the lower lip was taken as study area. Analysis of lip print pattern was done according to Tsuchihashi Classification.Results:No two lip prints matched with each other. Type 1 pattern (vertical grooves that run across the entire lip) was found to be predominant in both males (51.02%) and females (43.47%) and there was no statistically observed difference between males and females in individual lip print types.Conclusion:In our study, lip prints did not match with each other, hence lip prints are unique and further studies with larger samples are required to obtain statistical significance.

Background: Extracted human teeth are regularly used for practice and educational purposes in dental institutions at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Different materials and methods are used for sterilizing extracted teeth to avoid infection from them.

Introduction:Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by bilateral white striations or plaques on the buccal mucosa, tongue or gingiva that has a multifactorial etiology, where the psychogenic factors seem to play an important role.Purpose:The aim of this study was to determine the existing relation between the OLP and psychological alterations of the patient, such as stress, anxiety, and depression.Materials and Methods:Hospital anxiety and depression scale was applied for psychometric analysis.Results:The study indicates a definitive relationship between a stressful life event and onset and progression of OLP.Conclusion:Stress management and bereavement counseling should be a part of management protocol of OLP.

Adenomatoid odontogenic tumor (AOT) is an uncommon tumor of odontogenic origin composed of odontogenic epithelium in a variety of histoarchitectural patterns. Most cases are in females and have a striking tendency to occur in the anterior maxilla. However, AOT of the maxillary antrum is extremely rare. A 25-year-old female presented with a large radiolucent lesion associated with the crown of an unerupted canine located in the maxillary antrum, which was clinically diagnosed as dentigerous cyst. The microscopic examination revealed the presence of AOT in the fibrous capsule of a dentigerous cyst. Very few cases of AOT associated with dentigerous cyst have been reported till date. A case of gigantic AOT that occupied the maxillary sinus and associated with dentigerous cyst is described. Also, an attempt has been made to determine whether the AOT derived from the dentigerous cyst could represent a distinct hybrid variety.

Fibrous dysplasia (FD) of bone is a congenital non-heritable disorder that was first reliably reported by von Recklinghausen, when he described patients with pathologic condition of bone characterized by deformity and fibrotic changes that he termed as osteitis fibrosa generalisata. FD may involve one bone (monostotic) or multiple bones (polyostotic) and occurs throughout the skeleton with predilection for long bones, ribs, and cranio-facial bones. Seventy percent of the lesions are monostotic and asymptomatic, and identified incidentally. The polyostotic form of disease is often deforming and devastating, with multiple skeletal complications like repeated fractures, limb length discrepancies, and bone pains. The bone lesion of unknown origin is characterized by slow progressive replacement of normal bone by abnormal proliferative, isomorphic fibrous tissue. This case report documents a 40-year-old male with severe polyostotic FD that involved most of the skeleton, including long bones of all extremities, pelvis, facial bones, and skull base. Initial evaluation consisted of physical examination, plain radiographs, which was followed by computed tomography scan, Single-photon emission computed tomography scan, and biochemical and hematological examination. This paper stresses on the clinical implications and management of this rare debilitating disease.

Focal cemento-osseous dysplasia (FCOD) is a benign fibroosseous condition that can be seen in dentulous and edentulous patients. It is an asymptomatic lesion and needs no treatment; however, follow-up is essential due to the possibility that it can progress to a condition called florid cemento-osseous dysplasia. We report a case of FCOD of mandible in a 25-year-old female. Clinically, the lesion resembled periapical pathosis of odontogenic origin. An attempt has been made to discuss the clinical and histopathologic features along with differential diagnosis of cemento-osseous dysplasia.