The Geospatial Analysis of Patients Seeking Dental Care at a Private Dental Institution in Chennai, India

Background and aim Assessing the priority of the patient towards dental needs while considering the distance traveled by them is important to improve a dental service. The purpose of this study was to rank the patients' felt needs for dental care in the private dental institution in order of importance. The objective is to count the number of patients with various major complaints and compare how far patients traveled for various treatment plans tailored to their individual needs in a private dental institution. Material and methods The sample consisted of all new patients who sought dental care at Saveetha Dental College and Hospital, Chennai, India, between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2022. Retrospective data from the dental information archive system was gathered on their primary chief complaint and residential address. Frequency distribution of patients with different chief complaints was found. The mean and standard deviation of distance traveled by patients for different treatment plans was done using descriptive statistics using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 22 (Released 2013; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, United States). Results The priority order of the felt need by the patients was dental pain in which n=1299 (15.4%) > missing teeth with n=1224 (14.59%) > deposit/stains/halitosis n=1149 (13.6%) > shaking tooth n=936 (11.15%) > irregularly placed/proclined teeth n=852 (10.15%) > dislodged crown/restoration n=843 (10.05%) > tooth decay/discoloration n=759 (9%) > general checkup n=723 (8.6%) > swelling/ulcer/wound n=246 (2.93%) > painful jaw/facial pain/difficult mouth opening n=198 (2.26%). In 2022, most patients requiring caries preventive measure (0.8%) located at the mean distance of 10.75±2.2 km, while patients requiring scaling (16.9%), dental filling (10.9%), endodontic management (18.6%), extraction (23.7%), prosthetic replacement (13.9%), orthodontic management (10.9%), and facial pain management (2.2%) were located at the mean distance of 14.49±8.2 km, 10.28±6.25 km, 18.43±13.9 km, 14.29±6.6 km, 23.49±11.8 km, 11.76±8.13 km, and 45.32±17.35 km, respectively. Conclusion More number of patients traveled long distances even more than 50 km for painful tooth decay. Also, lots of patients were found to seek replacement of their missing teeth next to pain. Thus, dental pain and missing teeth form a major priority of the patient's felt dental need. Also, the patient had traveled a lot for facial pain management compared to other treatment needs which shows the lack of facial pain management practice by dental care centers near their local residence.

Anti-inflammatory and Antioxidant Activity of Ocimum tenuiflorum- and Stevia rebaudiana-Mediated Silver Nanoparticles: An In Vitro Study

BACKGROUND

Nanotechnology, a field bridging material science and biology, explores various applications. Silver nanoparticles, ranging from 1 nm to 100 nm, are commonly labeled as "silver," although some contain a substantial quantity of silver oxide owing to the heightened ratio of silver atoms on the surface compared to the bulk. This characteristic establishes silver as a prominent nanoparticulate material. Stevia, valued for its leaf's sweetness and purported therapeutic qualities, has been utilized for centuries in South America functioning both as a natural sweetener and in traditional health remedies. The objective of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity of Ocimum tenuiflorum- and Stevia rebaudiana-mediated silver nanoparticles.

METHODS

The methods employed involved evaluating the anti-inflammatory effects using the bovine serum albumin (BSA) assay and antioxidant effects using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, with varying concentrations (10 µL, 20 µL, 30 µL, 40 µL, and 50 µL) of the nanoparticles.

RESULTS

The results indicated that the anti-inflammatory properties of the nanoparticles surpassed standard values at concentrations of 10 µL, 20 µL, and 30 µL, while the antioxidant properties were also notably surpassing standard values at equivalent concentrations. The maximum inhibition percentage was noted with 10 µL (72.5%).

CONCLUSION

The silver nanoparticles, fortified with extracts from Ocimum tenuiflorum and Stevia rebaudiana, exhibited a promising potential as effective anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agents, suggesting their viability as alternatives to commercially available products.

Assessment of Oral Health Status and Treatment Needs of Institutionalized Children With Special Needs in Poonamallee, Chennai: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background Dental caries represents a pervasive chronic pediatric ailment that significantly hinders normal patterns of nutrition intake, speech articulation, and daily activities. Notably, children with special needs emerge as a particularly susceptible demographic concerning dental afflictions, specifically in the context of dental caries and periodontal diseases. The objective of this study was to assess the oral health status of children with special needs in Poonamallee, Chennai, India. Methodology This cross-sectional survey involved a total of 1,114 children with special needs, classified into two groups, namely, intellectually disabled and physically challenged. The assessment of various oral health parameters in the study population was performed using the World Health Organization's Oral Health Assessment Form for Children 2013. For quantitative variables, mean and standard deviations were considered. The significance of the difference between quantitative variables was tested using an independent t-test. Statistical significance was set at p-values ≤0.05. Results Of the 1,114 children, 552 were females and 562 were males. Overall dental trauma was noted in 21%. The average decayed missing filled teeth (DMFT) value was 0.74, with intellectually disabled children exhibiting a higher mean compared to the physically challenged group with a mean value of 0.72. Additionally, when assessing gingival conditions, children with intellectual disabilities displayed more unfavorable outcomes compared to their physically challenged counterparts. A need for dental intervention was observed in 97.3% of the pediatric population. A statistically significant difference was found for missing teeth (M) in the DMFT index between the intellectually disabled and physically challenged groups. Conclusions The results of this study emphasize the less-than-ideal oral health condition among children with special needs, highlighting the urgent necessity for the creation of a comprehensive dental healthcare program tailored to their specific needs.

Identification of Pathogenic Missense Mutations in the CHRNA5 Gene: A Computational Approach

Aim The CHRNA5/A3/B4 gene locus is closely related to nicotine dependence and other smoking-related disorders. Coupling genetic and clinical studies of nicotine dependence and smoking behaviors may open new avenues for medication development. The aim of this study is to investigate the functional missense mutations in the CHRNA5 gene. Methodology The Ensembl database was used to gather data on missense mutations of the human CHRNA5 gene. Computational tools viz. SIFT (Sorting Intolerant From Tolerant), PolyPhen (Polymorphism Phenotyping), PROVEAN (Protein Variation Effect Analyzer), I-Mutant, and MutPred were used to uncover the pathogenic mutations in the gene under investigation.  Results Among 161 missense variants reported inthe CHRNA5 gene, 94 variants were found to be highly pathogenic. Moreover, 20 were pathogenic and 4 were not pathogenic. Conclusion The computational analysis disclosed harmful mutations in the CHRNA5 gene which could be potentially associated with smoking-related traits.

Evaluation of the Anti-inflammatory, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, and Cytotoxic Effects of Chitosan Thiocolchicoside-Lauric Acid Nanogel

AIM

The present study explored the anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and cytotoxic effects of a combination of chitosan thiocolchicoside and lauric acid (CTLA) nanogel.  Materials and methods: A nanogel formulation of thiocolchicoside and lauric acid was developed and tested for potential applications. The antimicrobial activity was assessed using the well diffusion method, while the antioxidant activity was evaluated using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) antioxidant assay methods. The anti-inflammatory activity was determined through the egg albumin denaturation method, the bovine serum albumin denaturation method, and the membrane stabilization assay. A brine shrimp lethality assay was used to study the cytotoxic effect of the nanogel.

RESULTS

We identified significant positive outcomes for the CTLA nanogel. The results showed a percentage of inhibition of 81% at 50μg/mL, which showed the nanogel's significant anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting bovine serum albumin denaturation. The anti-inflammatory properties of the nanogel were comparable to the standard diclofenac sodium at all tested concentrations. The egg albumin denaturation assay results revealed a percentage inhibition of 76% at 50 μg/mL. In the membrane stabilization assay, a percentage inhibition of 86% was obtained at a concentration of 50 μg/mL against 89% for the standard drug. The nanogel exhibited a zone of inhibition of 20 mm against Streptococcus mutans and 22 mm with a dilution of 100 µg/mL of CTLA nanogel against Staphylococcus aureus. The antioxidant activity was studied by using the DPPH method, 50 μg/ml has an 89% inhibition, which was similar to the standard. The inhibitory activity of CTLA nanogel at 50 μg/ml was 81.6% in the hydroxyl free radical scavenging assay, which was comparable to the standard drug. At 5 μg/mL concentration of CTLA nanogel, approximately 90% of the nauplii remained alive after 48 hours.

CONCLUSION

The CTLA nanogel showed excellent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties suggesting its potential for managing inflammatory conditions and oxidative stress-related disorders.

Association Between Perceived Stress and Salivary Biomarkers of Allostatic Load Among Gender Minorities in Chennai: An Observational Cross-Sectional Study

Background Transgender individuals in India experience immense psychosocial stressors, stigma, and violence. In response to stress, the body exhibits adaptive responses that necessitate the production of organic chemicals ensuing in the detection of blood serum and saliva. There are currently no laboratory tests that are confirmatory for the diagnosis of stress and facilitate necessary treatment to be carried out in a timely manner. Thus, potential salivary biomarkers could be a helpful tool in overseeing the efficacy of pharmacological treatment prescribed by a psychiatrist. Aim This study aimed to assess the correlation between perceived stress and salivary stress biomarker levels in transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) individuals in Chennai, India. Methodology Twenty-two TGNC individuals and 22 age-matched controls in Chennai were administered the Perceived Stress Scale-10 questionnaire. Following this, their saliva samples were collected using the passive drool technique and subjected to sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique for measuring salivary cortisol, salivary tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and salivary C-reactive protein (CRP). Independent t-test was used to compare salivary stress biomarker levels between the TGNC and age-matched control groups. Pearson's correlation test was done to correlate perceived stress and salivary stress biomarker levels in the TGNC group. Results Significant difference was seen between the TGNC and control groups with respect to salivary cortisol and salivary TNF-alpha levels, with the levels being higher in the TGNC group. A significant positive correlation was seen between perceived stress and salivary cortisol and between perceived stress and salivary TNF-alpha levels. Conclusion There is a significant correlation between perceived stress and salivary biomarkers of stress among TGNC people in Chennai.

Cytocompatibility and Wound Healing Activity of Chitosan Thiocolchicoside Lauric Acid Nanogel in Human Gingival Fibroblast Cells

AIM

To investigate the cytocompatibility effect and wound healing activity of chitosan thiocolchicoside lauric acid (CTL) nanogel using human gingival fibroblast (hGF) cells.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

hGF cells were established from gingival tissue as per the standard cell isolation protocol. The cytocompatibility effect was assessed using an MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay. A scratch wound healing assay was performed to assess the wound-healing potential of CTL nanogel. For the nuclear morphological changes analysis, acridine orange staining was used in gingival fibroblast cells. The stained nuclei were viewed under a fluorescent microscope. ANOVA with posthoc analysis was performed using GraphPad Prism 5 software (Dotmatics, Boston, Massachusetts). The significance level (p-value) was expressed as <0.05.  Results: CTL nanogel did not show any significant cytotoxicity at concentrations 10-80 µl/ml (p<0.05). CTL nanogel at a concentration of 40µl/ml has a cytocompatibility effect on hGF cells and increases cell viability. In vitro scratch wound healing assay resulted in faster wound healing and cell migration with CTL nanogel when compared to the control group.

CONCLUSION

CTL nanogel has a significant effect on cell proliferation at various concentrations, which suggests its use as a safe and effective drug delivery system.

Emerging technologies and potential applications of algae in dentistry - A critical review

Algae are effective predecessors of nutrient foods and preventive drugs, gaining global attraction in recent years. It exhibits potent antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-glycemic, and cholesterol-lowering properties due to their richness in highly valuable secondary metabolites. Nevertheless, algae produce valuable bioproducts, its application in dentistry is in its primitive stage. This review focuses on the emergence and emerging role of micro/macroalgae as a natural source of therapeutic, preventive, and biocompatible agents in dentistry. Several studies unveiled that Cyanobacteria, Spirulina, and Chlorella species offer high oral antibacterial and antifungal properties compared to gold standard agents. The characteristic of algae to scavenge superoxide and hydroxyl free radicals, fabricate them as an anti-oxidative and anti-cancer agent. Either alone or by synergism with pinnacle therapies they are found to produce promising curative actions against periodontitis by embattling proinflammatory cytokines. Technologies extend the functions of microalgae as a detoxifying agent, potent drug delivery system, and adjunct regenerative material in chronic periodontitis. Its application as thickening, binding, anticariogenic agent in toothpaste, antibacterial agent in mouthwash, and biocompatible agent in dental impression materials remains very primitive. Low-cost and eco-friendly technologies are needed for the production of oral hygiene products using algal biomass.