Dental Research Journal最新文献

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic which is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has created a major global health crisis in recent years. Despite this, there have been few studies that have utilized reliable methods to assess changes in taste and smell perception. Therefore, our study aims at the number of fungiform papillae and objective measures of taste perception relationship among COVID-19 patients with olfactory and gustatory disorders.

Materials and methods: This was a cross-sectional analytical study in which 57 COVID-19 patients were recruited who confirmed the dysfunction of taste and smell. Objective assessment of the sense of taste was evaluated using four different standardized solution preparations, and the scores were given according to the patient's statements. Digitalized quantification of fungiform papillae was counted. The data were analyzed with the Pearson's correlation coefficient using the SPSS version. 23 [Licensed JSSAHER, Mysuru, Karnataka, India], and the level of significance was set at <0.001.

Results: In terms of altered or reduced taste and smell, male patients exhibited a higher incidence compared to females. Compared to the sour taste, a substantial number of COVID-19 patients have displayed a notable decrease in their ability to taste sweet, salty, and bitter flavors. However, a statistically significant positive correlation was observed between taste scores and fungiform papillae density (r = 0.518, P < 0.001).

Conclusion: Our Study demonstrated that the quantitative evaluation of taste perception and the count of fungiform papillae can serve as important indicators of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and could potentially help in the early detection and treatment of COVID-19 patients, as reduced taste function is a significant marker of the disease.

Background: The aim of the study was to investigate the morphometric parameters of dental pulp in open apices immature teeth in a sheep model after mechanical pulp exposure and restoration with reinforced zinc oxide-eugenol.

Materials and methods: In this experimental study, a total of 12 immature mandibular central incisors from six adult male sheep, weighing 30-40 kg and with the age of 1 year old with Merino race were examined. After anesthesia, the pulps of the teeth in the case group were mechanically exposed and then were restored with reinforced zinc oxide-eugenol and amalgam. In the control group, the teeth remained intact. The animals were sacrificed at intervals of 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks (E2, E4, E6, and E8) in the case and 2 and 8 weeks (C2 and C8) in the control groups. Then, their teeth were removed with the surrounding supporting tissues and alveolar bones. Tissue processing and staining were done, and the sections were examined under a light microscope. The Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests were used to analyze the data and compare the changes between the two groups. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: In response to mechanical exposure, reparative or tertiary dentin was formed, and its thickness increased during the time of the study. The thickness of the odontoblastic layer in the E4 group was the highest amount. The pulp chamber diameter in the C2 group was significantly larger than the other groups, and the diameter of the apical foramen in the E8 was decreased significantly compared to the controls (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: In response to mechanical exposure and restoration with reinforced zinc oxide-eugenol, some morphometric parameters of the dental pulp changed significantly in the sheep model compared to the controls.

The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate whether there are scientific evidence regarding the association between periodontitis and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in adults. An electronic search was performed on MEDLINE/PubMed for prospective and retrospective longitudinal studies, cohort studies, and case-control studies conducted in human adults affected by both OSA and periodontitis. Two reviewers extracted the data using a custom Excel spreadsheet. A methodological assessment of the quality of the studies was performed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Fourteen studies were included. All studies evaluated the association between periodontitis and OSA. None of the studies evaluated the cause-effect relationship. Eleven studies found a significant positive relationship between periodontitis and OSA, whereas three found no statistically significant association. Several study limitations were observed, such as lack of standardization of study groups, diagnosis of periodontitis and OSA, and differences in study design. Evidence of a plausible association between periodontitis and OSA was found. The possible relationship could be explained by systemic inflammation, oral breathing, and the comorbid relationship attributable to common risk factors. Observational and randomized controlled studies are needed to clarify the mechanism of interaction between the two conditions.

Background: This study aimed to compare the apical transportation and centering ability of One Curve, HyFlex EDM, and EdgeFile X1 in curved mesiobuccal and mesiolingual canals of mandibular first molars.

Materials and methods: In this in vitro experimental study, 60 mesiobuccal and mesiolingual canals of the mandibular first molars with a minimum length of 19 mm and 25°-40° curvature were randomly divided into three groups (n = 20) for root canal preparation with One Curve, HyFlex EDM, and EdgeFile X1. After access cavity preparation and confirming the glide path, the baseline micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) scans were obtained, and the root canals were instrumented with the respective systems according to the manufacturers' instructions. Apical transportation and centering ability were assessed at 1, 3, 5, and 7 mm from the apex by comparing pre- and postinstrumentation micro-CT scans. One-way ANOVA, independent t-test, and Duncan's post hoc test were used to statistically compare the groups, and data were analyzed by SPSS version 24 (alpha = 0.05).

Results: The three groups were not significantly different regarding apical transportation at 5 and 7 mm from the apex (P > 0.05). At 1 mm level, One Curve caused significantly lower apical transportation; while, at 3 mm level, HyFlex EDM resulted in significantly higher apical transportation (P < 0.05). No significant difference was noted in the centering ability of the three groups at 1, 3, and 5 mm from the apex (P > 0.05). At 7 mm level, EdgeFile X1 showed significantly lower centering ability (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: One Curve caused lower canal transportation in the apical third compared with EdgeFile and HyFlex EDM, but no significant difference was noted among the three in the coronal third of the roots.

Background: Oral cancer remains one of the most dreadful diseases in developing nations. Currently, there has been a rise in the prevalence of tongue squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), with a poor prognosis. The use of standard treatment approaches against oral cancer patients brings about several side effects. In recent years, nanomedicine has provided a versatile platform for developing new targeted therapeutic modalities. However, safety remains a concern in the synthesis of nanoparticles (NPs). Therefore, the present study aims to synthesize safer phytoconstituent-mediated gold NPs (AuNPs) utilizing leaf extracts of Annona muricata, where the biochemical components of the plant leaf act as the reducing and capping agents in the synthesis of NPs, and to evaluate its anti-cancer activity against SCC.

Materials and methods: In this in vitro experimental study, AuNPs were synthesized through an effective, simple, and ecologically sound green synthesis method. After characterization of these synthesized AuNPs, in vitro assays such as 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazole2-yl)-2, 5-biphenyl tetrazolium bromide, wound healing, and clonogenic assays were carried out to investigate the anti-cancer potential of green synthesized AuNPs in the human tongue SCC cell line (SCC-15), and the possible mechanism of action was evaluated through gene and protein expression analysis of Bax, Bcl-2, and p53 genes. The results were expressed as mean ± standard deviation using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) 20.0 software and Student's t-test was performed for experimental data. P ≤0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Results: The in vitro assays demonstrated that the synthesized AuNPs are exhibiting anti-cancer activity by apoptosis of SCC-15 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Further, it also revealed a highly significant decrease in anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 gene expression, whereas pro-apoptotic genes p53 and Bax revealed a highly significant increase, which is statistically significant compared to the control (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: Our findings demonstrated that the AuNPs synthesized from A. muricata leaf extract could act as a novel anticancer agent, particularly against SCC, after further scrutiny.