Analysis of aspartate aminotransferase in gingival crevicular fluid: A study with initial therapy

Background and Objectives: Conventional diagnostic indicators cannot distinguish between disease activity and inactivity but can detect the past tissue destruction. A proper and true periodontal diagnosis is essential in order to have a rational treatment and preventive strategy and to identify sites at risk. The present longitudinal study was designed with an aim to examine the relationship between gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and periodontal disease progression and to analyze the level of AST in GCF before and after the initial therapy in chronic periodontitis patients and determine the relationship between AST and conventional measures of periodontal status. Materials and Methods: A total of 20 patients with chronic periodontitis were randomly selected. Two diseased sites and one healthy site were selected in each patient. The periodontal status and GCF-AST levels were recorded at baseline and 3 months post-initial therapy and statistically analyzed. Results: There was a statistically significant difference in AST levels between diseased periodontal sites and healthy sites (P<0.05), and between baseline and post-initial therapy (P<0.05). Improvements in clinical status were noted following periodontal therapy and there was a corresponding decrease in AST levels. Interpretation and Conclusion: In conclusion, it is suggested that AST levels may be a useful adjunct in the clinical assessment of periodontal disease sites since AST level decreases when periodontal status improves

Lip reposition surgery: A new call in periodontics

"Gummy smile" is a major concern for a large number of patients visiting the dentist. Esthetics has now become an integral part of periodontal treatment plan. This article presents a case of a gummy smile in which esthetic correction was achieved through periodontal plastic surgical procedure wherein a 10-12 mm of partial-thickness flap was dissected apical to mucogingival junction followed by approximation of the flaps. This novel technique gave excellent post-operative results with enormous patient satisfaction. This surgical chair-side procedure being one of its kinds with outstanding results is very rarely performed by Periodontists. Thus, a lot of clinical work and literature review with this surgical technique is required. To make it a routine surgical procedure this technique can be incorporated as a part of periodontal plastic surgery in the text. Hence, we have put forward experience of a case with critical analysis of the surgical technique including the limitations of the technique

Comparative potency of formulations of mometasone furoate in terms of inhibition of 'PIRHR' in the forearm skin of normal human subjects measured with laser doppler velocimetry

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Topical glucocorticoid formulations are widely used for effective treatment and control of a variety of dermatoses. Mometasone furoate is a newer corticoid that has high potency but low systemic toxicity. Pharmaceutical factors are known to significantly influence potency and systemic absorption of topically applied glucocorticoids. We studied the potency of "Elocon", a topical formulation of mometasone furoate, compared with two other branded formulations of the same corticoid. METHODS: Corticoid potency was measured by employing a pharmacodynamic parameter of an inhibitory effect of the corticoid on post-ischemic-reactive-hyperemic-response (PIRHR) in human forearm skin under occlusive dressing. The PIRHR was expressed in terms of % increase in the skin blood flow (SBF) as measured with laser doppler velocimetry (LDV). RESULTS : All three active branded formulations of mometasone furoate produced significant inhibition of PIRHR. The AUC (0-2min) of PIRHR was ( Mean ± SEM ), Control = 213.52 ± 11.80, Placebo = 209.77 ± 19.31, Formulation A = 119.83 ± 13.71, Formulation C = 53.67 ± 4.85 and Formulation D = 111.46 ± 22.87. Formulation "C" exhibited significantly higher topical anti-inflammatory potency than formulations "A" or "D". CONCLUSIONS: Thus, branded formulations of the same glucocorticoid, mometasone furoate significantly differed in their topical anti-inflammatory potency. "Elocon" was significantly more potent than the two other branded formulations studied