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Prion diseases were first discovered by Stanley B. Prusiner who defined prions as infectious, transmissible proteinaceous particles that lack nucleic acid and are composed exclusively of a modified isoform of the noninfectious cellular prion protein (PrPC). These are incurable neurodegenerative conditions affecting both animals and humans. They may be sporadic, infectious or inherited in origin. Human prion diseases include Creutzfeldt–Jakob desease (CJD), Gerstmann– Straussler–Scheinker disease, Kuru and Fatal familial insomnia. Prions resist the conventional sterilization procedures and hence the dentists must be aware of such diseases so as to opt standard methods of infection control and decontamination for such infectious agents. This review article divulge the dentists with a brief overview of the characteristics of prions, the risk of transmission and the implications for infection control in dentist.

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The present work is aimed to determine the chemical constituents in Baliospermum montanum methanolic extracts. An in vitro regenerated procedure was developed for the induction of callus from stem explant cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium fortified with various concentration and permutations of 2, 4-dichloro phenoxy acetic acid, 1-naphthalene acetic acid, 6-benzyl amino purine and gibberellic acid. FTIR & GC-MS analysis was done according to standard procedure. The quantitative estimation of β-sitosterol was done by HPLC method. Maximum fresh and dry weight of callus was estimated in the combination of GA3 (0.5 mg/L) + NAA (2 mg/L) compared to other concentration. The FTIR analysis showed various functional compounds with different characteristic peak values in the extracts. Major bioactive constituents were recognized in the GC-MS analysis. Root extract revealed the existence of 1-hexadecanol, pentanoic acid, 2-(aminooxy)- and 1-hexacosanol. Leaf extract showed the presence of propanoic acid, 2-oxo-, trimethylsilyl ester, 9,12-octadecadienoic acid (z,z)-, trimethylsilyl ester, docosane, 1,22-dibromo- and pentatriacontane. Stem and stem derived callus exhibit the presence of 1,6,3,4-dihydro-2-deoxy-beta-d-lyxo-hexopyranose, n-hexadecanoic acid and pentanoic acid, 2-(aminooxy). The methanolic extract of leaf exhibited 0.2149 % of β-sitosterol content. There were no peaks observed in the root, stem and stem derived callus. Further studies are necessary for the isolation and characterization of bioactive compounds from B. montanum.

Carbonated beverages have side effects on oral health and general health. Flexural strength is a prime mechanical property of restorative material. The aim of this study is to know the effect of carbonated beverages on the flexural strength of composite restorative material. Two types of composites (Ivoclar and Restofill) were used as samples for comparative evaluation of flexural strength. The sample size is 10 where 5 of each type of composites are included. The obtained samples were immersed in carbonated beverages. One sample of each type was used as a control. After 24 h, the flexural strength of all the 10 samples was evaluated using the formula (3FL/2bd2), and the values were tabulated. Average values and graphs were done using SPSS software. The results showed the changes in flexural strength of both Ivoclar and Restofill materials when immersed in carbonated beverages. The mean value of all the samples was taken, and the standard deviation was calculated. After immersion in carbonated liquids, the mean value of Ivoclar and Restofill samples is 58.9 and 35.01, respectively. P = 0.718 (>0.05), which was not statistically significant. After immersion in Coke, the Restofill group exhibits more flexural strength than the Ivoclar group composite; however, the strength reduces when immersed in Sprite as compared to the Ivoclar group composite.