Current status of nylon teeth myth in Tanzania: a cross sectional study.

Background: Nylon teeth myth is a belief of associating infant illnesses with bulges on infants' alveolus that mark the positions of underlying developing teeth and that it is necessary to treat the condition mainly by traditional healers to prevent infant death. The traditional treatment often leads to serious complications that may lead to infant death. Although the government instituted educational campaigns against the myth in 1980s to 1990s, to date, repeated unpublished reports from different parts of the country indicate continued existence of the myth.

Cytoprotective responses in HaCaT keratinocytes exposed to high doses of curcumin.

Wound healing is a complex process that involves the well-coordinated interactions of different cell types. Topical application of high doses of curcumin, a plant-derived polyphenol, enhances both normal and diabetic cutaneous wound healing in rodents. For optimal tissue repair interactions between epidermal keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts are essential.

Third molars emergence status among 15 to 16 year-old Tanzanian youths.

Background: Adequate knowledge of timing and pattern of the third molars is essential. The molars are often used to supplement human maturity indicators for school attendance, social benefits, employment, and marriage, differentiating the juvenile from the adult's status in criminal law cases, unidentified cadavers and human remains when birth records are not adequate or not available. BROAD OBJECTIVE: The study was carried out to investigate the emergence status of the third molar tooth among 15 to 16 year-old Tanzanian adolescents.

Curcumin induces differential expression of cytoprotective enzymes but similar apoptotic responses in fibroblasts and myofibroblasts.

Excessive extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition and tissue contraction after injury can lead to esthetic and functional problems. Fibroblasts and myofibroblasts activated by transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 play a key role in these processes. The persistence of (myo)fibroblasts and their excessive ECM production and continuous wound contraction have been linked to pathological scarring.

Risk factors for injuries to maxillary permanent incisors and upper lip among schoolchildren in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Background: Dental trauma is common among children, and the maxillary permanent central incisors are the most often affected teeth.

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the risk factors for injury to maxillary permanent incisors and the upper lip among Tanzanian schoolchildren aged 8-14 years.

Design: A cross-sectional study involving 1119 children.