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Acanthamoeba spp. are free living amoeba (FLA) which are widely distributed in nature. They are opportunistic parasites and can cause severe infections to the eye, skin and central nervous system. The advances in drug discovery and modifications in the chemotherapeutic agents have shown little improvement in morbidity and mortality rates associated with Acanthamoeba infections. The mechanism-based process of drug discovery depends on the molecular drug targets present in the signaling pathways in the genome. Synthetic libraries provide a platform for broad spectrum of activities due to their desired structural modifications. Azoles, originally a class of synthetic anti-fungal drugs, disrupt the fungal cell membrane by inhibiting the biosynthesis of ergosterol through the inhibition of cytochrome P450 dependent 14α-lanosterol, a key step of the sterol pathway. Acanthamoeba and fungi share the presence of similar sterol intermediate, as ergosterol is also the major end-product in the sterol biosynthesis in Acanthamoeba. Sterols present in the eukaryotic cell membrane are one of the most essential lipids and exhibit important structural and signaling functions. Therefore, in this review we highlight the importance of specific targeting of ergosterol present in Acanthamoebic membrane by azole compounds for amoebicidal activity. Previously, azoles have also been repurposed to report antimicrobial, antiparasitic and antibacterial properties. Moreover, by loading the azoles into nanoparticles through advanced techniques in nanotechnology, such as physical encapsulation, adsorption, or chemical conjugation, the pharmacokinetics and therapeutic index of the drugs can be significantly improved. The current review proposes an important strategy to target Acanthamoeba using synthetic libraries of azoles and their conjugated nanoparticles for the first time., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

A 19-yr-old female presented with three root canals and dens formation in a maxillary right lateral incisor. This rare condition was treated with conventional endodontic therapy.

Removal of foreign objects from the root canal is often a very difficult procedure. The procedure is even more complicated if the foreign body is unusual. To cases are presented in which the foreign objects were removed with minimal loss to the intracanal space.

A case is presented in which a nasopalatine duct cyst was misdiagnosed. Its subsequent mismanagement was further compounded with improper endodontic therapy. It was finally managed by corrective endodontic and surgical therapy.

The procedure that uses the response of subcutaneous connective tissue to screen dental materials and drugs will continue to be favored because of its simplicity, economy, reliability, and usefulness. The techniques of subcutaneous injection and of implantation of capsules by surgical means have many disadvantages. A modified technique is suggested; it has the ease of injection and the precision of implantation and it overcomes the difficulties inherent in both techniques.