Aim: This study was undertaken to investigate and analyze the significance of dermatoglyphics in predicting the susceptibility of individuals to develop dental caries. Materials and methods: This case-control study was conducted on 1250 children in the age group of 5 to 12 years from Chennai Corporation School, Vadapalani, Chennai. Out of 1250 subjects, 625 subjects were in the study group and the remaining 625 subjects were the control group. The study group included children with dental caries in 5 or more teeth based on the DMFT index performed and control group consisted of normal, healthy children without any dental caries. The finger and palmar prints of both hands were taken using a stamp pad. The fingertip patterns were analyzed according to the classical method and configurational types were classified according to the topological method. Statistical analysis was performed using nonparametric tests and t-test to compare the dermatoglyphic pattern changes between the study group and the control group and was applied for each variable, to compare the proportions, and p-value. Results: (1) Dental caries susceptibility of an individual increases with an increase in the incidence of whorl pattern (83% correlation). (2) All the variables show statistically significant value, with a degree of divergence of specific dermatoglyphic patterns among study and control group. (3) The dermatoglyphic patterns are efficient and can predict in assessing the risk of susceptibility to dental caries in study group. Conclusion: The dental caries susceptibility of an individual increased with incidence of whorl pattern and it decreased with incidence of loop pattern. Clinical significance: The dermatoglyphic patterns may be utilized effectively to study the genetic basis of dental caries. In a developing country like India, it might prove to be a noninvasive, inexpensive and effective tool for screening.

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Background: Corrosive substances are common household substances that can be ingested either accidentally or intentionally with suicidal intent. The present study was conducted to analyse the clinical profile of 50 cases of corrosive injury of GI tract and to analyse the outcome of 50 cases of corrosive injury of GI tract.Methods: The Cross-sectional study was conducted on 50 cases admitted in the toxicology ward in Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, madras medical college, Chennai over a period of six months. Patients with history of corrosive ingestion presenting within 24 hours of ingestion subjected to Upper GI endoscopy within 24 hours of admission. Patients presenting after 24 hours, with respiratory distress, suspected perforation either radiologically clinically and normal findings in Upper GI endoscopy were excluded. The patients were serially followed and were subjected for a re-look upper GI endoscopy after 6 weeks and the findings were compared.Results: Corrosive ingestion was more common in the age group 20-30 years and more common in males. Acid ingestion was almost twice as common as alkali ingestion. Suicidal ingestion was the most common circumstance of consumption and associated with higher grade of injury. Patients with ingestion of more than 50 ml had higher grades of injury and also were at higher risk of strictures. The spectrum of injury to the GI tract revealed esophageal injury of grade II b to be the most common finding with the duodenum being spared in majority of the cases.Conclusions: In our study, Patients with ingestion of more than 50ml had higher grades of injury and also were at higher risk of strictures. While the lesser grade injuries (0, I, IIa) were associated with complete recovery with no sequelae, the more severe grades (IIb and IIIa) were associated with higher incidence of strictures especially the circumferential lesions.  Oesophageal strictures are commonly associated with suicidal corrosive ingestion. All patients with corrosive ingestion should be subjected to early UGIE and after 6 weeks to identify stricture formation.

Dentures are accidentally ingested foreign bodies, especially in the geriatric population. They get frequently lodged in the esophagus because of their larger size, rigidity, and pointed edges. But, it is unusual for a denture to remain asymptomatic in the esophagus for a decade. We report a case of 45-year-old female who presented with the complaints of progressive dysphagia for six months. Endoscopy revealed an impacted denture in the mid-esophagus. The patient recollected that she lost her denture 13 years back and was unaware that she swallowed it. Right thoracotomy and esophagotomy were done to remove the impacted denture. The esophagotomy site was buttressed with vascularised intercostal muscle flap.

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