Background:Owing to its stimulatory effect on angiogenesis and epithelialization, platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) is an excellent material for enhancing wound healing. The use of PRF dressings may be a simple and effective method of reducing the morbidity associated with donor sites of autogenous free gingival grafts (FGGs). The purpose of this case series is to document the beneficial role of PRF in the healing of FGG donor sites.Materials and Methods:A total of 18 patients treated with FGGs could be classified into two groups. PRF was prepared, compressed and used to dress the palatal wound followed by a periodontal pack in one group (10 patients) and only a periodontal pack was used in the other group (8 patients). Post-operative healing was assessed clinically at 7, 14 and 21 days and the morbidity was assessed qualitatively by an interview.Results:Sites where PRF was used showed complete wound closure by 14 days and these patients reported lesser post-operative morbidity than patients in whom PRF was not used.Conclusions:PRF as a dressing is an effective method of enhancing the healing of the palatal donor site and consequently reducing the post-operative morbidity.

Most of the limnological studies in India have focussed on a few taxa of large, permanent water bodies, and pond ecosystems, and related temporary water bodies are neglected. We present here a faunal inventory, with representative photographs, for a single, small temporary pond, reporting over 125 species of strictly aquatic fauna and 25 species of associated fauna, even though we did not identify some groups such as Protozoa, Diptera and nymphs of Odonata, etc. The identified species belong to seven taxa of vertebrates and invertebrates together. Arthropoda and Rotifera were the most species rich groups, observed with 83 and 45 representatives, respectively. Coleoptera were the most numerous in terms of species number. Such a small water body holds some endemics as well as otherwise very rare animals and so deserves better attention. We also highlight the potential and importance of such habitats for research and conservation.

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Bleeding from the palatal donor site is a worrisome complication of palatal soft tissue harvesting procedures and leads to considerable stress to both the patient and the surgeon. Several methods to control palatal hemorrhage have been suggested in literature, including a palatal suture, but a precise protocol has not been suggested. The present case report aims to suggest a protocol for the greater palatine compression suture (GPCS). Five patients who experienced profuse bleeding from the palatal free gingival graft donor site were treated with the GPCS. The palatal midline was used as a landmark and the location of the greater palatine foramen was estimated. The suture was placed anterior to the estimated location of the foramen and was passed deep into the palatal tissue with the aim of looping and compressing the vascular bundle. In all the patients, an immediate reduction and arrest of bleeding from the palatal wound was observed with blanching of the soft tissues around the suture. The proposed technique is a predictable method to control palatal hemorrhage and can be used if other less invasive techniques fail to stem the blood flow from an injured palatal vessel.

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