Validation of a noninvasive aMMP-8 point-of-care diagnostic methodology in COVID-19 patients with periodontal disease

Objectives: The aim of this study was to validate an active matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-8) point-of-care diagnostic tool in COVID-19 patients with periodontal disease. Subjects, Materials, and Methods: Seventy-two COVID-19-positive and 30 COVID-19-negative subjects were enrolled in the study. Demographic data were recorded, periodontal examination carried out, and chairside tests run for evaluating the expression of active MMP-8 (aMMP-8) in the site with maximum periodontal breakdown via gingival crevicular fluid sampling as well as via a mouth rinse-based kit for general disease activity. In COVID-19-positive patients, the kits were run again once the patients turned COVID-19 negative. Results: The overall (n = 102) sensitivity/specificity of the mouthrinse-based kits to detect periodontal disease was 79.41%136.76% and that of site-specific kits was 64.71%/55.88% while adjusting for age, gender, and smoking status increased the sensitivity and specificity (82.35%/76.47% and 73.53%/88.24, respectively). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis for the adjusted model revealed very good area under the ROC curve 0.746-0.869 (p < .001) and 0.740-0.872 (p < .001) (the aMMP-8 mouth rinse and site-specific kits, respectively). No statistically significant difference was observed in the distribution of results of aMMP-8 mouth rinse test (p = .302) and aMMP-8 site-specific test (p = .189) once the subjects recovered from COVID-19. Conclusions: The findings of the present study support the aMMP-8 point-of-care testing (PoCT) kits as screening tools for periodontitis in COVID-19 patients. The overall screening accuracy can be further increased by utilizing adjunctively risk factors of periodontitis. The reported noninvasive, user-friendly, and objective PoCT diagnostic methodology may provide a way of stratifying risk groups, deciding upon referrals, and in the institution of diligent oral hygiene regimens.Peer reviewe

Modified closed cap splint: Conservative method for minimally displaced pediatric mandibular fracture

Mandibular fracture in younger children is the most common facial fracture among all the facial fracture in the sequence of condyles followed by symphysis/parasymphysis and body of the mandible. Symphysis/Parasymphysis fracture of mandible can be minimally displaced or severely displaced depending upon the severity of the injury. This case report highlights the simple, reliable method of minimally displaced fracture i.e. modified closed cap splint for stability of the fracture segments in pediatric patients. Keywords: Symphysis fracture, Cap splint, Modified splint, Facial fracture, Parasymphysi

Brachman de Lange syndrome

Brachman de Lange syndrome or Cornelia de Lange syndrome (CdLS) is a genetic disorder which can lead to severe developmental anomalies. It affects both the physical and intellectual development of a child. It is characterized by skeletal, craniofacial deformities, gastrointestinal and cardiac malformations. This syndrome is of rare occurrence and affects between 1/10,000 and 1/60,000 neonates. Diagnosis is based on the characteristic phenotype, in particular, a striking facial appearance, prenatal and postnatal growth retardation, various skeletal abnormalities, hypertrichosis, and developmental delay. Here, we present the case of a 13-year-old patient, with micrognathia, delayed eruption, multiple carious teeth, missing teeth and periodontal problems together, which had never been reported before. The father was also found to have the same missing teeth as the girl child

Congenital granular cell tumor of the newborn – Spontaneous regression or early surgical intervention

Congenital granular cell tumor of the newborn is a benign, relatively innocuous hamartomatous lesion arising from the alveolar ridge. Large lesions often warrant prompt surgical removal owing to the associated difficulty in breastfeeding and respiration of the infant. However, for medium-sized lesions, another approach could be observed for spontaneous regression. The present case report highlights the use of a combination approach for management of tumor in a 2-day-old female child presenting with a large protruding mass from the mouth associated with difficulty in breastfeeding. A combination of observation for regression in size followed by electrosurgical removal of the tumor was done. The infant was followed up regularly over a long period of 3 years to assess any adverse effects of surgical intervention on the maxillary primary anterior dentition of which none were recorded

A community-based pragmatic, controlled trial for preventing and reducing oral diseases among 1-6-year-old children visiting Anganwadi centers, under the Integrated Child Development Scheme, India

Background: Early childhood caries (ECC) has reached epidemic proportions affecting millions of children worldwide. Its prevention becomes imperative owing to the significant morbidity and financial implications involved with its treatment. The Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS), launched in India to provide mid-day meals, pre-school education and primary healthcare to children, can be utilised to counsel and deliver oral health education to mothers. The purpose of the study is to compare the effect of an oral health care package (OHCP) with usual care on the change in dental disease status among 1 to 3-year-old children at Anganwadi centres (AWC) in periurban areas of Chandigarh and rural areas of Cuttack, Orissa over a follow-up period of three years. Methods: Two geographically distant ICDS blocks would be selected at each of the two study sites and would be randomly allocated to intervention and control group. Closely located AWCs under each of the selected blocks shall constitute the study setting. OHCP would be delivered to the mothers of the 1-6-year-old children enrolled in the AWCs of the experimental group whereas mothers under control group would receive usual care advice available at the AWCs. Discussion: ECC prevention had conventionally focused upon testing effectiveness of programs targeting behaviour change among the caregivers and children, but surprisingly minimal efforts have been made to seek translation of these efforts into reduction of ECC at the community level. The present study has two components; testing effect of altering maternal and child behavioral aspects on ECC incidence through cohort follow up of 1-3-year-old children for three consecutive years and cross-sectional follow up of all available 1-6-year old children at the selected AWCs at regular intervals to look for change in prevalence of ECC at community level. In other regions of the world surveys of ECC prevalence before and after the intensive educational programs have shown a significant reduction in ECC prevalence. A similar decline can be anticipated through this program. Trial registration: This trial has been prospectively registered at Clinical Trials Registry, India (CTRI/2019/02/017556, 08 February 2019)

Toothbrush as a sampling methodology for detection of SARS-CoV-2

Non peer reviewe