Efficacy Of Licopene In Management Of Oral Submucous Fibrosis

Background And Objective: OSMF is an avancing premalignant condition for which a reliable treatment modality has not yet evolved. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of newer anti-oxidant - Lycopene in the treatment of OSMF.

Material And Methods: The study group included 50 patients with OSMF. The diagnosis of OSMF was established thrugh a composite of clinical and histopathologic characteristics. Out of 50 patients, 25 were given licopene (8 mg Lycored/ day in divided doses of 4 mg each for a period of 3 months. Remaining patients recieved placeo tablets twice a day. Patients were examined for changes in mouth opening and oter symptoms of OSMF during 3 months and were followed for the next 2 months.

Results: Lycopene was found to be significantly effeficaious in the amelioration of signs and symptoms of OSMF. It was also effective in reducing the objective signs of OSMF as demonstrated by the improved maximal mouth opening, ercentage of which was 69.56 (p<0.05).

Conclusion: Reactive oxygen compounds or free radicals have been implicated as one of the major harmful sector for premalignant and malignant conditions. Our study concludes that lycopene appears to be very promising drug in the management of OSMF.

Author Dr. Rajeev Sharma (standing left)

Co-Author Dr. Durgesh Bailoor (standing left)

The Effect Of Anti-Retroviral Therapy On The Prevalence Of Oral Manifestation In HIV Sero Positive Patients

Background & Objectives: Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a highly lethal, progressively epidemic viral infection characterized by profound impairment of the immune system. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) new classification system, clinical AIDS is defined by a CD4 count of less than 200 (<200) and / or a CD4 percentage of less than 14. The main objective of the current study was to determine the prevalence of oral manifestation of HIV patients on Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) and to compare these with the prevalence of those who were not on (HAART) therapy.
 Methods: Patients were selected from the out patient department of P.M.N.M dental college and hospital Bagalkot and patients from NGOs centers working for HIV/AIDS, Karnataka. A cross sectional was conducted amongst 100 patients diagnosed as HIV sero positive. Information regarding, date of birth, CD4 cell count were obtained from the medical records. Oral examination was done using universal precautions recommended by (CDC). Findings were recorded by using internationally accepted presumptive clinical criteria. Chi-square statistical test were conducted to describe the relationship between the prevalence of Oral manifestation and HAART therapy
Results: The detection of oral manifestation was significantly decreased in subjects on HAART therapy (32%) compared to those who were not on HAART therapy (56%), (P<0.05).
Interpretation & Conclusion:  Compared to non-HAART group, subjects on HAART group had significantly fewer HIV related oral manifestations-probably as a result of an expression of their reconstituted immune system.
By: Dr. Neelkant Patil

What Does This Radiograph Reveal ?

A 37 year old, male patients reported to Department Of OMR, JDC, with the complaint of pain in back region of the jaw. History revealed that he did not use the affected side of the jaws for more than 4 years. It was clinically found that the pain is because of chronic pulpitis in his third molar. A radiograph was also taken.
The radiograph shows an extra radio-opaque mass attached to the distal surface of the crown of third molar.
The question here is to make the most probable diagnosis about the radiopaque mass.
Please write down your answers in the comments section.

Latest About HPV, HIV And Serum Cholesterol

Is HPV - 16 Responsile For Periodontal Breakdown ?

HPV - 16 is associated with a number of oral diseases for e.g. squamous cell carcinoma, condyloma acuminatum, verruca vulgaris, focal epithelial hyperplasia. Earlier it was hypothesised that it has a role in periodontal breakdown as well. A recent case control study by Verônica V. Horewicz et al.  found that HPV - 16 has no role in periodontal breakdown and periodontal tissues are not the reservoirs of HPV - 16 in the population examined.

Relation Between Mode Of HIV Transmission And Probability Of Oral Lesions

Journal of Oral Pathology and Medicine reports that the mode of HIV transmission is related to the probability of Oral Lesions. Two groups one with heterosexual HIV patients and the other with IV Drug abuser HIV patiens were seleced for the study. The examination revealed that the chances of oral lesions in heterosexual HIV patients is 75% while those in IV Drug Abusers is 46%. Along with this it was also found that candidiasis was the most common lesion affecting the oral cavity of HIV patients.

Serum Cholesterol Level And Oral Carcinoma

Serum cholesterol level is used in various anlysis to predict various diseases. In a study by Vidya K. Lohe published in Journal of Oral Pathology and Medicine it was found that oral carcinoma is associated with low total cholesterol, HDL And LDL, while oral precancers were associated with low total cholesterol and HDL.

By: Dr. Hamid Raihan
Jaipur Dental College
Jaipur.