Correlation of lipid profile of infertile men with abnormal semen parameters

Background: Male’s inability to impregnate a fertile female is referred as male factor infertility. It accounts for 40-50% of infertile couples and affects almost 7% of all men. Male comorbidities and conditions, which negatively affect men’s health, have been repeatedly associated with impaired reproductive functioning. Cholesterol is the main substrate for steroid synthesis and it plays crucial role in formation of sperm plasma membrane and thus in spermatogenesis, highlighting the role of serum lipids in male fecundity. Purpose of the study is to evaluate correlation lipid profile of male partners with abnormal semen parameters in infertile couples. Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out in the infertility clinic of a tertiary care hospital for over 18 months and 151 infertile men with abnormal semen parameters (as per WHO 2010 criteria) were enrolled. Evaluation of lipid profile was done and its relationship with abnormal semen parameters was analyzed. Results: Significant positive correlation was seen between LDL and Triglyceride with sperm concentration and total sperm count. However, significant negative correlation was seen between Triglyceride and sperm motility and TMSC. Total and progressive motility was found to be significantly associated with total cholesterol (p<0.05). Infertile men having higher total cholesterol were found to have better total and progressive motility compared to men with less total cholesterol. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrated that lipid profile has significant correlation with semen parameters, specifically sperm concentration, count and motility

Evaluation of antimicrobial activity of orange peel extract against oral biofilm forming organisms: an in vitro microbial study and scanning electron microscopic assessment

Background: To evaluate in vitro antimicrobial activity of orange peel extract, 0.2% chlorhexidine (CHX) and saline against dental biofilm-forming bacteria and their effect on plaque structure under SEM.Methods: Present study included 3 groups; Group A: Orange peel extract; Group B: 0.2% CHX and Group C: Saline.  MIC of each group was determined by broth and well diffusion method. Reference strains of Porphyromonas gingivalis (P.g.), Prevotella intermedia (P.i.) and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (A.a.) were selected as being colonizers in dental biofilm. For SEM analysis, plaque retained orthodontic e-chains were subjected to each group for 60s and studied under SEM.Results: The MIC of Group A by broth diffusion method is 66.66 µg/ml for P. intermedia, 75 µg/ml for P. gingivalis and 33.33 µg/ml for A.a. MIC of Group B was 14.58 µg/ml for P.i., 7.29 µg/ml for P.g. and 20.83 µg/ml for A.a. MIC of Group C was 83.33 µg/ml for A.a. while P.i. and P.g. showed resistance to Group C. The determination of MIC by well diffusion showed increase in clear zone diameter with increasing concentrations.  Greater zone of inhibition was seen in Group B with statistical significance for all 3 microorganisms. Morphologic changes in the SEM study showed maximum change in the surface characteristics and loss of adhesion of the clusters of microorganisms subjected to Group B.Conclusions: CHX and orange peel extract exhibited notable anti-microbial activity against biofilm organisms, but at varying concentrations. The plaque samples subjected to orange peel extract showed slightly shrunken and coarse form indicating its ability to disrupt the plaque biofilm

Canagliflozin and renal outcomes in type 2 diabetes and nephropathy

BACKGROUND Type 2 diabetes mellitus is the leading cause of kidney failure worldwide, but few effective long-term treatments are available. In cardiovascular trials of inhibitors of sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2), exploratory results have suggested that such drugs may improve renal outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS In this double-blind, randomized trial, we assigned patients with type 2 diabetes and albuminuric chronic kidney disease to receive canagliflozin, an oral SGLT2 inhibitor, at a dose of 100 mg daily or placebo. All the patients had an estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of 30 to <90 ml per minute per 1.73 m2 of body-surface area and albuminuria (ratio of albumin [mg] to creatinine [g], >300 to 5000) and were treated with renin–angiotensin system blockade. The primary outcome was a composite of end-stage kidney disease (dialysis, transplantation, or a sustained estimated GFR of <15 ml per minute per 1.73 m2), a doubling of the serum creatinine level, or death from renal or cardiovascular causes. Prespecified secondary outcomes were tested hierarchically. RESULTS The trial was stopped early after a planned interim analysis on the recommendation of the data and safety monitoring committee. At that time, 4401 patients had undergone randomization, with a median follow-up of 2.62 years. The relative risk of the primary outcome was 30% lower in the canagliflozin group than in the placebo group, with event rates of 43.2 and 61.2 per 1000 patient-years, respectively (hazard ratio, 0.70; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.59 to 0.82; P=0.00001). The relative risk of the renal-specific composite of end-stage kidney disease, a doubling of the creatinine level, or death from renal causes was lower by 34% (hazard ratio, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.53 to 0.81; P<0.001), and the relative risk of end-stage kidney disease was lower by 32% (hazard ratio, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.54 to 0.86; P=0.002). The canagliflozin group also had a lower risk of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke (hazard ratio, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.67 to 0.95; P=0.01) and hospitalization for heart failure (hazard ratio, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.47 to 0.80; P<0.001). There were no significant differences in rates of amputation or fracture. CONCLUSIONS In patients with type 2 diabetes and kidney disease, the risk of kidney failure and cardiovascular events was lower in the canagliflozin group than in the placebo group at a median follow-up of 2.62 years

Stem cell therapy: A challenge to periodontist

Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease which manifests clinically as loss of supporting periodontal tissues including periodontal ligament, cementum, and alveolar bone, and periodontal therapy is aimed at achieving complete regeneration of these structures. To date, this goal has been tried to accomplish using various bone grafts, growth factors, and barrier membranes. Stem cells are the most fascinating area of biology today and have been used clinically in the field of medicine to treat many incurable diseases. Various human and animal studies have confirmed the presence of stem cells in dental tissues including periodontal ligament. This has opened new avenues aiming toward complete periodontal regeneration using cell-based therapies. This review provides an overview of various types of stem cells in medicine and dentistry and their potential uses especially pertaining to periodontal regeneration

A radiographic comparison of mandibular bone quality in pre- and post-menopausal women in Indian population

Aim and Objectives: The main objective of the study is to assess mandibular bone changes in pre and post-menopausal women with chronic generalized periodontitis using different radiomorphometric indices, mandibular cortical index (MCI), mental index (MI), and panoramic mandibular index (PMI) in Indian population. Materials and Methods: Panoramic radiographs of 60 patients visiting the Department of Periodontology were taken and divided in two groups - pre and post-menopausal. Detailed medical and menopausal history was recorded for each patient. All the radiographs were assessed for PMI, MI and MCI and presence of periodontitis. The destructive periodontitis was assessed as distance from the cementoenamel junction to the alveolar crest greater than 2mm. Statistical Analysis: Student-t test was applied to compare mean values of MI and PMI. Intra and inter group comparison of MCI were made using chi-square test. Correlation of age and MI and PMI was found by Pearson′s correlation coefficient. Results: MCI, PMI and MI were related to the menopausal status. Patients with C3 category were seen only in post-menopausal group after 54 years of age. Higher mean values for both MI (p<0.05) and PMI (p<0.05) were observed in pre-menopausal group with statistically significant differences. MI showed negative correlation with age in both the groups; however PMI was positively correlated with age. Conclusions: Radiomorphometric indices could be used by general dentists after a little training to detect post-menopausal women at higher risk of osteoporosis

Choosing Periodontology for Specialty Specialization: Perspective of Dental Undergraduate Students

Background: The attitudes of dental students to study a particular specialty of dentistry in post-graduation are of great importance as these facilitate workforce planning in the dental sector. Aim and Objective: To assess the attitude of dental students towards choosing periodontology as their future career and to explore demographic variables that affect their choice. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey based on a questionnaire was conducted, including students of the third and fourth years and interns of the dental college. Twenty-seven questions, graded on a Likert scale (5-point) were included in the questionnaire, and the responses were categorised via three attitudes: negative (score 0–21), neutral (score 22–44) and positive (score 45–64). The Chi-square test for proportions was used to examine the differences between groups. Results: Among 114 participants, 53 (46.5%) were males and 61 (53.5%) were females. One-third of the respondents had a positive attitude towards selecting periodontology as their future career, and the majority had a neutral perspective, with a few students having a negative attitude (20.2%). Out of the total, 34.2% of respondents had a positive attitude, and 45.6% showed a neutral attitude or perspective. Conclusion: Efforts should be intensified, and undergraduate (UG) students should be motivated by broadening the scope of the field in the UG curriculum by the dental council so that the students show considerable interest in pursuing the field as their future career