Effects of Killari earthquake on the paleo-channel of Tirna River Basin from Central India using anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility

The Killari Earthquake (Moment magnitude 6.1) of September 30, 1993, occurred in the state of Maharashtra, India, has an epicenter (18°03′ N, 76°33′ E) located at ~ 40 km SSW of Killari Town. The ~ 125 km long basin of Tirna River, close to the Killari Town, currently occupies the area that has witnessed episodic intra-cratonic earthquakes, including the Killari Earthquake, during last 800 years. The anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) study was performed on ~ 233 soft sedimentary core samples from six successions located in the upper to lower stream of the Tirna River basin in the present study in order to evaluate the effects of earthquake on the river flow dynamics and its future consequence. The AMS K_max orientations of the samples from the upper reach of the river section suggest that the sedimentation in this part of the river was controlled by a N–S to NNW–SSE fluvial regime with a low or medium flow velocity. In the middle reaches of the basin, an abrupt shift in the palaeo-flow direction occurred to W–E with low velocity flow. However, a NW–SE higher palaeo-flow regime is identified in the following central part of the basin in down-stream direction, followed by a low-velocity palaeo-flow regime at the lower reach of the Tirna basin. We attribute the sudden high flow velocity regime in the central part of the river basin to an enhanced gradient of the river that resulted from the reactivation of a NW–SE fault transecting the Tirna River basin at the Killari Town. As the NW–SE faulting in regional scale is attributed as the main cause of Killari Earthquake, the reactivation of this fault, thus, could enhance the further possibility of an earthquake in near future, and hence leading to devastating flood in the almost flat-lying downstream part of the Tirna River.

Treatment of dentinal hypersensitivity using low-level laser therapy and 5% potassium nitrate: A randomized, controlled, three arm parallel clinical study

Aim:

The present randomized study was aimed to compare the efficacy 5% potassium nitrate (KNO₃) toothpaste, low-level laser therapy (LLLT), and LLLT with 5% KNO₃ toothpaste in the treatment of dentinal hypersensitivity (DH).

Materials and Methods:

Total of 45 patients complaining of DH with visual analog scale (VAS) score being ≥2 were recruited and were divided into three groups. Group A was treated with 5% KNO₃ toothpaste, Group B using LLLT along with the application of 5% KNO₃ toothpaste, and Group C using LLLT alone. VAS scores were recorded at the baseline, 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd weeks by the examiner who is blinded toward the treatment. The sensitivity response was evaluated using air spray and tactile sensation (explorer).

Results:

A greater reduction of DH was recorded at the end of 3 weeks in Group C and Group B when compared to Group A. Better results were noted in Group C at the end of the 1^st week when compared to Group B. According to this study, there was no additional benefit of using toothpaste along with LLLT.

Conclusion:

A greater reduction of DH was recorded at the end of 3 weeks in Group C and Group B when compared to Group A. Better results were noted in Group C at the end of the 1^st week when compared to Group B. According to this study, there was no additional benefit of using toothpaste along with LLLT.

Efficacy of local use of probiotics as an adjunct to scaling and root planing in chronic periodontitis and halitosis: A randomized controlled trial

Objective:

Periodontitis is known to have multifactorial etiology, involving interplay between environmental, host and microbial factors. The current treatment approaches are aimed at reducing the pathogenic microorganisms. Administration of beneficial bacteria (probiotics) has emerged as a promising concept in the prevention and treatment of periodontitis. Thus, the aim of the present study is to evaluate the efficacy of the local use of probiotics as an adjunct to scaling and root planing (SRP) in the treatment of patients with chronic periodontitis and halitosis.

Methods:

This is a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded trial involving 32 systemically healthy chronic periodontitis patients. After SRP, the subjects were randomly assigned into the test and control groups. Test group (SRP + probiotics) received subgingival delivery of probiotics and probiotic mouthwash, and control group (SRP + placebo) received subgingival delivery of placebo and placebo mouthwash for 15 days. Plaque index (PI), modified gingival index (MGI), and bleeding index (BI) were assessed at baseline, 1 and 3 months thereafter, whereas probing depth (PD) and clinical attachment level were assessed at baseline and after 3 months. Microbial assessment using N-benzoyl-DL-arginine-naphthylamide (BANA) and halitosis assessment using organoleptic scores (ORG) was done at baseline, 1 and 3 months.

Findings:

All the clinical and microbiological parameters were significantly reduced in both groups at the end of the study. Inter-group comparison of PD reduction (PDR) and clinical attachment gain (CAG) revealed no statistical significance except for PDR in moderate pockets for the test group. Test group has shown statistically significant improvement in PI, MGI, and BI at 3 months compared to control group. Inter-group comparison revealed a significant reduction in BANA in test group at 1 month. ORG were significantly reduced in test group when compared to control group.

Conclusion:

Within the limitations of the study, the present investigation showed that the adjunctive use of probiotics offers clinical benefit in terms of pocket depth reduction in moderate pockets and reduced oral malodor parameters.

Streptoverticillium acido-carbonicum sp. nov

A new species of Streptoverticillium assignable to biverticillate series, isolated from coal mine soil, Kothagudem (A. P.) is described. It grows from pH 4.5-6.0 with an optimum at pH 5.0 and temperature 37 degrees C. Its growth characters on differential media and utilization of carbon compounds are presented.

Thermomucor indicae-seudaticae on human skin

Thermomucor indicae-seudaticae Subrahmanyam et al. was found for the first time growing as commensal associated with pityriasis versicolor on the skin of a 25-year-old man living in a small village near Pune, Maharastra, India. The clinical observations and morphological characters are presented. A small percentage of zygospores was found to germinate in situ but further stages of development could not be found.