Congenital nasal pyriform aperture stenosis: a rare cause of neonatal nasal airway obstruction

Congenital nasal pyriform aperture stenosis (CNPAS) is a rare cause of nasal airway obstruction that clinically mimics choanal atresia in a neonate. The differentiation between the two is very important as the management of the two conditions is different. Timely recognition is important to prevent fatal outcome. CNPAS may present as an isolated condition or with associated craniofacial anomalies. Despite typical findings of CNPAS being present on cross-sectional imaging, this condition is commonly overlooked, probably because of a lack of familiarity with the normal morphological features of the nasal cavity in infants and also owing to a lack of awareness of this rare entity. Here we report a case of CNPAS with pre- and post-surgical CT images and the complication that occurred owing to nasal stenting.

High cortisol response to adrenocorticotrophic hormone identifies ewes with reduced melanocortin signalling and increased propensity to obesity

We have identified female sheep that have either high (HR) or low (LR) cortisol responses to adrenocorticotrophin. On a high-energy diet, HR have greater propensity to weight gain and obesity, although the underlying mechanisms remain to be determined. Hypothalamic appetite-regulating peptides (ARP) exert reciprocal effects on food intake and energy expenditure. We aimed to quantify the expression and function of ARP in LR and HR ewes (n = 4 per group). Gene expression for neuropeptide Y (NPY), agouti-related peptide (AgRP) pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC), melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH), orexin and the melanocortin receptors (MC3R and MC4R) was measured by in situ hybridisation. Expression of NPY, AgRP and POMC was similar in HR and LR, although expression of orexin, MCH, MC3R and MC4R was higher (P < 0.05) in LR. Intracerebroventricular infusions of a low dose (50 μg/h) of NPY, α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (αMSH), orexin and MCH were performed between 10.00 h and 16.00 h in meal-fed ewes (n = 6-7 per group). Skeletal muscle and retroperitoneal (RP) fat temperatures were recorded using dataloggers. Post-prandial thermogenesis in muscle was higher (P < 0.05) in LR. There was little effect of ARP infusion on muscle or fat temperature in either group. Infusion of these doses of NPY, MCH or orexin did not stimulate food intake in meal-fed ewes, although αMSH reduced (P < 0.01) food intake in LR only. Using 24-h ARP infusions with ad lib. feeding, NPY increased (P < 0.001) food intake in both groups but αMSH was only effective in LR (P < 0.05). In summary, we show that HR are resistant to the satiety effects of αMSH and this coincides with a reduced expression of both the MC3R and MC4R in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus. We conclude that an increased propensity to obesity in HR female sheep is associated with reduced melanocortin signalling.

Calcium carbonate crystallization in tailored constrained environments

This research shows that by tailoring the assembly of lecithin molecules it is possible to modulate the texture, polymorphism, size and shape of calcium carbonate crystals.

Evaluation of resistance of teeth subjected to fracture after endodontic treatment using different root canal sealers: an in vitro study

AIMS

The aim of this study was to compare the ex-vivo effects of different root canal sealers on the fracture resistance of endodontically treated teeth.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Seventy-five freshly extracted human mandibular premolars were used for the study. The length was standardized to 14 mm and all the teeth were biomechanically prepared and divided into five different groups based on the type of root canal sealers used. Group I:- Roeko seal + gutta percha, Group II: AH plus ® root canal sealer + gutta percha, Group III: PULPDENT root canal sealer + gutta percha, Group IV: Zinc oxide-eugenol sealer + gutta percha, Group V: Control (unobturated teeth). The teeth were embedded in acrylic resin blocks and compressive strengths were measured using universal testing machine (Instron).

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED

One-way ANOVA, unpaired t- test.

RESULTS

Data obtained were statistically evaluated using one-way ANOVA and unpaired t-test. All groups showed a statistically significant result (P < 0.05). Teeth obturated with Group I and Group II showed higher resistance to fracture than teeth obturated with other three Groups. It was seen that the teeth obturated with group III showed a better fracture resistance than Group IV and there was no statistical significance found between Group and Group V.

CONCLUSIONS

From this study, it has been concluded that both the resin based sealers that were used in this study were equally effective compared to that of the zinc oxide-based sealers and the control group. However, no significant results were obtained when the comparison was made between zinc oxide-eugenol and gutta-percha and the control group.

Oral Health Related Knowledge And Attitude Of Anganwadi of Mangalore City, India

Dental caries is a common childhood disease. Its prevalence can be reduced by integrating dental strategies into primary health care approach. Knowledge, attitude and practice of anganwadi workers in the subject of oral health is imperative in achieving this goal. This study was therefore conducted to assess the knowledge and attitude towards oral health among anganwadi workers of Mangalore city. A questionnaire study, using convenience samples was conducted among 159 angan­wadi workers of Mangalore city. A close ended questionnaire consisting of 20 questions was used. Details of age and quali­fication were recorded. The data was analyzed using SPSS 11.5. Only 45.9% of the anganwadi workers knew that dental caries was a disease, 57.2% knew that the best time to eat sweets was during meal time, 58.5% workers stated dentists as their source of oral health information. Almost all of the Anganwadi workers were positive towards the importance of oral health education and expressed their willingness to teach children how to brush properly and obliged to advise a child need­ing dental care to go to dentist. An anganwadi worker can be a vital link in the health care delivery system. There is a need to educate them on oral health in order to reach children at an early and receptive age. It is very important on the part of the health department to carry out effective programmes on oral health for anganwadi workers. Journal of Chitwan Medical College 2013; 3(4); 6-8 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jcmc.v3i4.9545