ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to assess the tissueresponse of Type 2 diabetic subjects towards non surgicalperiodontal therapy as compared with matched, nondiabeticsubjects. This was a retrospective, comparativestudy using periodontal case notes of 40 subjects attendingundergraduates’ periodontal clinics (20 diabetics, 20 nondiabetics),who were selected based on the inclusionand exclusion criteria. Response towards non surgicalperiodontal therapy was assessed through three clinicalperiodontal parameters, namely plaque score, gingivitisscore and number of periodontal pocket ≥5mm at thebaseline and after initial non surgical periodontal therapy.Data obtained was then analyzed by SPSS Version 12.Both diabetic and non-diabetic subjects showed significantimprovements (p-value = 0.021; 0.000; 0.001 and 0.010;0.014; 0.001) in all three parameters after the therapy.However, when comparison was made between the twogroups, there was no significant difference (p-value = 0.913;0.892 and 0.903) in any of the parameters. Periodontalconditions improved clinically in both diabetic and nondiabeticsubjects after non-surgical periodontal therapy.Therefore, both groups responded similarly towards thetherapy and thus it can be postulated that well-controlleddiabetic status does not have a significant effect on theoutcome of periodontal therapy.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>INTRODUCTION</b>This study aimed to describe the patterns of sedative use among terminally ill cancer patients who were referred to a hospital-based specialist palliative care service for symptom management. It also aimed to examine whether sedative use among terminally ill cancer patients during the last two days of life had any impact on their survival.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A retrospective review of case notes was carried out for patients with a diagnosis of terminal cancer, who died in a 95-bedded oncology ward between September 2006 and September 2007. Data was collected on patient characteristics, duration of palliative care, indications and doses of sedatives used at 48 hours and 24 hours before death.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 238 patients died while receiving specialist palliative care, 132 of whom (55.5%) were female. At 48 hours and 24 hours before death, 22.6% and 24.8% of patients, respectively, were on sedatives like midazolam, haloperidol or both. The median dose of midazolam was 5 mg/day while the haloperidol dose at 48 hours and 24 hours before death was 3 mg/day and 4 mg/day, respectively. The indications for midazolam were anxiety, breathlessness and stiffness, while those for haloperidol were confusion agitation and nausea. Survival analysis showed no significant difference in survival between patients who were on sedatives and those who were not. The p-value for log-rank test was 0.78.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The results showed that the doses and overall frequency of sedative use in this patient population tended to be low and that usage of sedatives had no deleterious influence on survival.</p>