Knowledge of the monkeypox 2022 outbreak among dental hygienists and students in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to assess the knowledge of monkeypox infection among dental hygiene professionals and students in Saudi Arabia.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted among a convenience sample of dental hygiene professionals (n = 259). The questionnaire was developed based on previous literature, and descriptive analysis and a Chi-square test were performed.

RESULTS

A total of 159 dental hygienists responded to the questionnaire. Results indicated that only 1.7% had good knowledge, 7.7% had moderate knowledge and 90.6% had low knowledge of the monkeypox outbreak. The mean knowledge scores varied among dental hygiene students, practitioners and faculty members. Significant group differences were observed for some questions (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Our study concludes that dental hygienists had moderate to low level of knowledge of the monkeypox infection and its implications for oral health and patient care, indicating a need for more education on the subject.

Chitosan bioactive glass scaffolds for in vivo subcutaneous implantation, toxicity assessment, and diabetic wound healing upon animal model

This study aims to develop chitosan-bioactive glass (BG) scaffolds for diabetic wound healing, toxicity valuation, and subcutaneous implantation in animals for biocompatibility assessment. The scaffolds were prepared by lyophilization technique. In specific BG without sodium (Na), composited with chitosan for better biological activities. The equipped scaffolds were studied for their physiochemical, biological, in vitro and in vivo performances. The chitosan and chitosan-BG (Na free) scaffolds show reliable biocompatibility, cytocompatibility, anti-oxidant, and tissue regeneration. The biocompatibility, toxicity assessments, and diabetic skin wound healing experiments were examined through in vivo studies using Sprague Dawley rats. The extracted tissue samples were analyzed using hematoxylin-eosin- (H and E) and Masson's trichrome staining. Further, tissue excised after scaffold implantation declared non-toxic, non-allergic, and anti-inflammatory nature of chitosan scaffolds. Moreover, the total ribonucleic acid (RNA) expression levels were measured using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for the scaffolds against vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and collagen type one (Col-1) primers. Admirably, the scaffolds achieved the best level of skin wound healing via tissue regeneration by increasing epithetical cell formation and collagen deposition. Thus, the biocompatibility, non-toxicity, anti-inflammatory, and wound healing efficiency proved that the chitosan-BG (Na free) scaffold can be readily substantial for wound healing.

Gymnemic acid-conjugated gelatin scaffold for enhanced bone regeneration: A novel insight to tissue engineering

Bone tissue engineering deals with the design of bone scaffolds. The selection of porous scaffold for osteoblast attachment and suppression of microbial infections are the major challenges that were addressed by designing gelatin scaffolds conjugated with gymnemic acid. Gelatin scaffold was prepared by loading gymnemic acid and morphological characterization, porosity, water absorption behavior, and biocompatibility of the scaffold were studied. The scaffold was introduced to the rat calvarial bone defect (BD) and analyzed the serum C reactive protein, alkaline phosphatase activity, and histology for 1 month to study the reconstruction. Adult Sprague-Dawley rats were used as sham operated control, animal with BD, and animal with BD which was implanted with scaffold (BDMB). The scanning electron micrograph revealed porous nature of scaffold. There was no significant difference in water absorption ability of scaffold. The C reactive protein was not observed in the serum collected on the 5th day postsurgery, supported the biocompatibility. The alkaline phosphatase activity in BDMB was increased when compared with BD on 15th and 20th day and then decreased. New bone tissue formation was detected with hematoxylin-eosin staining. The scaffold is effective in enhancing bone regeneration, which will have therapeutic significance in orthopedics and dentistry.

Prevalence of oral, skin, and oral and skin lesions of lichen planus in patients visiting a dental school in southern India

Background:

Lichen planus (LP) is a mucocutaneous disease that is relatively common among adult population. LP can present as skin and oral lesions. This study highlights the prevalence of oral, skin, and oral and skin lesions of LP.

Aims:

The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of oral, skin, and oral and skin lesions of LP from a population of patients attending the Department of Oral Medicine and Radiodiagnosis, Pushpagiri College of Dental Sciences, Tiruvalla, Kerala, India.

Materials and Methods:

A cross-sectional study was designed to evaluate the prevalence of oral, skin, and oral and skin lesions of LP. This is a ongoing prospective study with results of 2 years being reported. LP was diagnosed on the basis of clinical presentation and histopathological analysis of mucosal and skin biopsy done for all patients suspected of having LP. Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS (Statistical package for social sciences) software version 14. To test the statistical significance, chi-square test was used.

Results:

Out of 18,306 patients screened, 8,040 were males and 10,266 females. LP was seen in 118 cases (0.64%). Increased prevalence of LP was observed in middle age adults (40–60 years age group) with lowest age of 12 years and highest age of 65 years. No statistically significant differences were observed between the genders in skin LP group (P=0.12) and in oral and skin LP groups (P=0.06); however, a strong female predilection was seen in oral LP group (P=0.000036). The prevalence of cutaneous LP in oral LP patients was 0.06%.

Conclusion:

This study showed an increased prevalence of oral LP than skin LP, and oral and skin LP with a female predominance.

Fabrication and anti-microbial evaluation of drug loaded polylactide space filler intended for ridge preservation following tooth extraction

Background:

The preservation or reduction of alveolar ridge resorption following tooth extraction is important in patients especially for those intended for implants at a later stage. One way to achieve this is by using membranes, graft materials, and biodegradable space fillers to prevent alveolar bone resorption and promote regeneration. A major attraction for using biodegradable and biocompatible polymers as space fillers for ridge preservation is their safety profile in comparison to xenograft materials like lyophilized bone and collagen.

Materials and Methods:

Biocompatible polylactide space fillers were fabricated by fusing porous polylactide particles. The sponges were loaded with drugs by placing them in the respective solutions. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was isolated from a chronic periodontitis patient and in vitro anti-microbial evaluation was done with the drug loaded sponges.

Results:

Chlorhexidine loaded space filler showed significant anti microbial effect against multiple drug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from a patient with chronic periodontitis.

Conclusion:

The results of this study indicate that biodegradable drug releasing polylactide space fillers has the potential to be used for ridge preservation following tooth extraction. Release of drugs in the socket may prove useful in preventing development of alveolar osteitis post extraction which can interfere with normal healing of the socket. Synthetic biodegradable polymers also exhibit a controlled degradation rate to achieve complete resorption within the intended time.

Visual evoked potentials, reaction times and eye dominance in cricketers

AIM

Few studies have examined the physiology of cricket, including the difference in ability between batsmen to make controlled contact with a ball bowled at high speed.

METHODS

We therefore measured visual evoked potentials and choice reaction times with dominant eyes, non-dominant eyes, and both eyes together, in 15 elite batsmen and 10 elite bowlers (aged 20.9 SD 1.9 years) and 9 control subjects (aged 20.2 SD 1.5 years). The latency and amplitude of waves N70, P100 and N145 were determined for each visual evoked potential (VEP). In addition interpeak latencies and peak to peak amplitudes were measured. The subjects also completed a choice reaction test to a visual stimulus.

RESULTS

We found that cricketers were not more likely to have crossed dominance (dominant eye contralateral to dominant hand) than controls. Cricketers had a faster latency for VEP wave N70 than controls (p=0.03). However reaction time was not different between cricketers and the control group. Across all subjects, in comparison to monocular testing, binocular testing led to a faster choice reaction time (p=0.02) and larger amplitudes of VEP wave N70 (p=0.01).

CONCLUSION

Visual processing during the first 100(-1)50 ms of the balls flight together with binocular vision facilitates retinal activation in talented cricketers.

Somatosensory-evoked potentials in athletes

We measured somatosensory-evoked potentials in athletes to determine whether there were differences in somatosensory pathways related to sports performance or training. Seven sedentary subjects, 10 endurance runners, and seven elite gymnasts of similar height and weight were investigated. Peak latencies and amplitudes were measured of P9, P11, P13/14, N20, P25, and N30 waves, following electrical stimulation of the median nerve at the wrist. Central and peripheral conduction speeds of the sensory pathway were calculated. The subjects also completed a simple reaction test to a visual stimulus. There were no significant differences between the groups in any of the attributes we measured. The was a positive correlation between years of training undergone and the amplitude of N20, a negative correlation between the amplitudes of P11 and P13/14 and the number of hours of training undertaken per week, and a positive correlation between the amplitude of N30 and the simple visual reaction time. We conclude that the gymnasts, runners and sedentary subjects had no differences in somatosensory pathways, as measured using standard clinical procedures for evaluating somatosensory-evoked potentials.

Children of addicted mothers: effects of the 'crack epidemic' on the caregiving environment and the development of preschoolers

Comparison of 25 addicted mothers and 25 nonaddicted controls revealed a high incidence of emotional and physical neglect among the addict group, as well as greater tendency toward depression and more chaotic child-rearing environments. A separate study compared the cognitive, language, and emotional development of 20 cocaine-exposed preschool children and 24 nonexposed children. Although few differences in cognitive and language development were found, group differences in emotional and behavioral status, assessed through maternal report, were significant. Directions for future research are suggested.