Prevalence of self medication among dental patients

Self- medication is a common practice in developing countries but little is known about its determinants. Self-medication leads to drug resistant pathogens and serious health hazards. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and factors associated with self-medication among dental patients. A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 400 outdoor patients. The objective was to determine the extent and pattern of Self medication, to identify their knowledge and practice against purchased drugs and to assess factors associated with it. Data were collected by interviewed based questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS. Among 430 outdoor patients, 400 participated [response rate 93%] in this survey. The Self mediators were reported 66.6%, p<0.001] as compared to adults [57.8%, non Self medicated were 42.2%]. Female patients were more prone towards Self medication [66.4%] as compared to male patients [45.4%]. Among various reasons, cost and expenditure is in lower class, Laziness and Lack of time in middle while Dental phobia in upper class in the main reasons of Self Medications. The self motivators were Graduates [32.7%, p=0.002] while patients who consider dental phobia as a reason of SM has completed high school/ intermediate education [32.3%]. A need was felt to focus on counseling and create awareness about negative aspect of self-medication. Though self-medication is hard to eliminate, drug law enforcement and educating the public at large is vital

Obesity: an independent risk factor for systemic oxidative stress

The role of obesity in diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, colon cancer, sudden death and other cardiovascular diseases has confirmed in many recent research studies. In present study, it is hypothesized that obesity can serve as an independent risk factor for the decreased activities of cytoprotective antioxidants in humans and for the associated systemic oxidative stress. 150 age matched, female subjects with no history of smoking or biochemical evidence of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, renal or liver disease or cancer were included in the study and were divided into different grades of obesity according to their body mass index [BMI]. Hemoglobin and erythrocyte glutathione [GSH] concentrations were measured for each subject. The study suggests that increase BMI was found to be associated with a significant decrease in erythrocyte glutathione concentration. From these observations it is concluded that obesity even in the absence of smoking, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, renal or liver diseases can decrease the activities of body's protective antioxidants, and can enhance the systemic oxidative stress and should therefore receive the same attention as obesity with complications