Discuss the arguments for and against the use of toluidine blue Essay

Discuss the arguments for and against the use of toluidine blue staining as a screening method for oral cancer in dental practic - Essay Example This paper elucidates on the arguments for and against the use of toluidine in screening for oral cancer. The use of toluidine blue in uterine and oral cancer screening was pioneered by Richart in 1962. A 1% aqueous solution of toluidine blue is painted over the target area for ten seconds followed by a rinse of 1% solution of acetic acid. The toluidine blue binds to the DNA on surface cells, causing the surface to take on a bluish hue. The amount of DNA material present may be used as an indication of suspected dysplasia or neoplasia (Richart 1962). 2.0. Arguments for toluidine screening Jones and Rankin (2008) consider toluidine blue staining as a diagnostic aid for the dental professional in the evaluation of the possible malignancy of oral lesions. The potency of staining with toluidine blue has been likened to that of brush biopsy in terms of early detection, speeding up of biopsy and subsequent diagnosis of oral cancer. Application of aqueous toluidine blue to a lesion followed by a rinsing of 1% acetic acid results in selective binding with dysplastic and malignant cells accurately. The blue stain also marks a good site to extract for biopsy. Extreme care should, however, be practiced to ensure that the dye is neither mutagenic nor carcinogenic for best results. Patton, Epstein and Kerr (2008) performed a systematic review of literature related to several adjunctive techniques used in the early detection of oral premalignant and malignant lesions or OPML, such as toluidine blue. A total of 23 articles were reviewed wherein the majority focused on the use of toluidine blue. Results of the review revealed the effectiveness of toluidine blue in diagnosing oral premalignant and malignant lesions in high-risk populations and suspected mucosal lesions. However, clinicians are advised not rely much on diagnostic adjuncts alone. A complete oral mucosal examination is recommended together with specialty referrals or tissue biopsy to correctly diagnose OPML. Epste in, Silverman, Epstein, Lonky and Bride (2008) evaluated the effects of ViziLite, a chemiluminiscent light source in conjunction with toluidine blue in the process of verifying lesions identified by oral soft tissue examinations. Lesion assessment by chemiluminiscense combined with toluidine blue staining was compared with conventional visual examination. Subsequently, the suspected lesions were subjected to biopsy and diagnosed through conventional histopathological methods. Moreover, toluidine staining was performed on lesions related to severe dysplasia, carcinoma in situ, and squamous cell carcinoma. Results of the assessment show an improvement in the brightness and sharpness of margin in 60 out of 97 identified lesions that underwent the chemiluminiscent exam. Meanwhile, toluidine staining exhibited a false positive rate of 55.26% while maintaining a 100% negative predictive value (Epstein, Silverman, Epstein, Lonky and Bride 2008). Fedele (2009) described toluidine blue as an indispensable tool in identifying the area damaged by a malignant lesion due to its ability to stain nucleic acids. This effect makes it easier to remove malignant lesions since toluidin blue clearly marks the boundaries of the lesion, thus allowing precise excision. Recent studies on the use of toluidine blue were rather limited due to the dearth of research efforts in relation to randomized controlled trials, histological diagnosis

Plato's design systems that reduce the apparent irregularities in the Essay - 2

Plato's design systems that reduce the apparent irregularities in the motions of the planets to regular motions in perfectly regular cicles - Essay Example But it is very difficult to let go of traditional beliefs and very often people cannot recognize anything that is not correct scientifically or morally. â€Å"In The Sleepwalkers, Koestler traced what he thought to be the mainstream of the development of science through exquisitely researched and written biographies of some of sciences leading figures.† (Adler) Plato writes in his book ‘Republic’ that stars form a section of the ‘visible world’ which it not real or actual world. While being very beautiful they are a ‘copy of the real world’. For Plato real world is the ‘world of ideas’. He would rather study the stars in abstract than find about their rotation and revolution. Only by paying full attention to the intellectual can we in actual understand and capture the essence of astronomy. Plato was a very prominent scientist till the last years of twelfth century. But he lost to Aristotle for two hundred years. Plato did make a comeback but both these scientists complemented each other. For Plato change goes hand in hand with deterioration and he describes the creation as â€Å" story of the successiveemergence ofeven lower and less worth forms of life†¦Ã¢â‚¬ the ladder which he climbs down starts from god to ‘the world of reality’ which is made up of ‘perfect form and ideas’. Then comes ‘the world of appearance’ that is a pale reproduction of the real world. Plato believes in the philosophy of decline and devolution rather than that of growth by ascent. To judge whether Platois sarcastic or is to be believed word for word or symbolically is very difficult. Plato hated change and looked down upon the idea of evolution and changeability. The middle ages echoed this along with its simultaneous desire for everlasting and unchanging flawlessness. The author is very critical of Plato and his view seems like a tunnel vision phenomena, but he feels that this is ‘what he came to mean to a long row of future generations- the one sided