Intracoronal esthetic restorative materials in pediatric dentistry: concepts revisited

A plethora of restorative materials currently exist to repair carious teeth in children, and numerous options are available for restoring primary and young permanent incisors and molars esthetically. Intracoronal esthetic restorations most commonly used for primary and young permanent dentition include direct restorative materials mainly as composite resins, glass ionomer cement, their modifications, and indirect restorative materials like laboratory-processed inlays, onlays, overlays, and endo-crown prostheses. A pediatric dentist needs to be aware of the composition, indications, advantages, and limitations associated with these restorative materials to employ them judiciously in children. However, the clinical data is insufficient to suggest the most superior type of restoration to be used in pediatric patients. Through this platform; the authors discuss esthetic restorative treatment alternatives along with established recommendations and directions for future developments, familiarizing clinicians with evidence for and against the use of appropriate materials for pediatric restorative dentistry.

Physical rehabilitation of the visually impaired and its implications for tactile modelling

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of tactile models in improving the health of visually impaired people. The main objective of the intervention is to improve mobility, muscle strength, flexibility and physical fitness. Longitudinal study, this study was approved by the research ethics committee “Naraina Medical College and Research Centre (NMCRC)” Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. Convenience sampling was conducted over a three-week period from December 2021 to January 2022. The physical rehabilitation of the visually impaired (PP-PVI) process includes physical assessment, language selection, design structure and visually impaired language. A longitudinal study was conducted with youth and young adults with visual impairment. They received treatment twice a week for 12 months and their quality of life was assessed before and after treatment. Quality of life was assessed using the 30-item short form health questionnaire (SF-30). Mean scores improved in all domains except the quality of life questionnaire after PP-PVI. PP-PVI has proven to be a valuable, easy-to-understand, and reliable clinical tool. This product is for people with visual impairment. Implications for Professionals: PP-PVI exercise improves many aspects of your body and performance. This plays an important role in ensuring independence for people with low vision. Physical therapy is effective in improving visual and tactile motor skills. Physical therapists can help improve the overall function and quality of life of people with these problems through targeted exercises and activities.

Diabetes and the retinal changes in the eye: a threat to the sight

This article discusses the importance of diabetic retinopathy, an eye disease associated with diabetes, which is a systemic disease. The research question addresses the impact of diabetes on the retina of the eye through infection and clinical features. This approach is designed to improve the relationship between early diagnosis and treatment of disease, including laser surgery, corticosteroid injections, and vitrectomy. This article focuses on chronic diabetic retinopathy and eye examination recommendations in the United States and the United Kingdom. To prevent and manage diabetic retinopathy, it is recommended that diabetic patients have regular eye examinations. The results of this study include the importance of good glycaemic control, injections, photocoagulation, and vitrectomy as treatment options. Intravitreal long-acting steroids may also temporarily improve visual acuity by reducing macular oedema. However, long-term use of the drug may cause side effects and may lead to cataracts, steroid glaucoma, and endophthalmitis. It may cause reasons. A recent study of the disease in India shows that the incidence of high blood sugar and its effects on the eye is mainly diabetic retinopathy, including cataracts, neovascular glaucoma and even retinal detachment, which are very dangerous for eye health. Therefore, it is important to inform patients about this disease and perform timely screening because patients need to be informed carefully.

Evaluation of the incidence and risk factors of ocular disorder in primary school children: a cross-section analysis

Background: School health is an essential part of any public health program. Poor vision in childhood can affect school performance and affect children later in life. Pupils can be affected by various eye diseases such as refractive errors, strabismus, color blindness, eyelid problems and cataracts. The aim of this study is to determine the incidence and risk factors of eye diseases in children aged 6-12 years. Methods: This school-based cross-sectional study selected children aged 6-12 years from December 2018 to March 2019 from 09 primary schools in the Kanpur district. The institutional ethical clearance and appropriate permissions from the school authorities were obtained through the medical officer of Kalyanpur PHC and consent 51 from parents. Results: A total of 2,100 students from 09 different schools, 1,070 boys and 1,030 girls, were tested. The most common eye diseases are myopic astigmatism with 16.6% (348 people), myopic astigmatism with 78.2% (272 people), 192 were against the rule astigmatisms, 80 were with the rule astigmatism astigmatisms, followed by simple myopic with 15.2% (53 people) and hypermetropic astigmatism with 1.7% (6 people). The next most common disease is allergic disease with 1.6% (34). The 1.4% (30) of children have strabismus. Blindness 0.26% (5), colour blindness 0.2% (4); eyelid and adnexal disease 0.13% (3) and cataract 0.03% (1) Conclusions: Eye diseases in school-aged children can be easily detected by regular eye examinations; this research shows that vision deficiency is likely to be affected.

The relationship between intraocular pressure and random blood glucose levels with open angle glaucoma

Background: Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is a multifactorial chronic optic neuropathy, characterized by progressive loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGC), leading to structural damage to the optic nerve head (ONH), retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL), with visual field defects. This study was carried out at the department of optometry GSVM Medical College, Kanpur, UP from December 2015 to September 2017. Objectives were determination of the relationship between intraocular pressure and blood glucose levels in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma. Methods: A total of 74 subjects, 28 males and 46 females were used for the study. The Accu-Chek glucometer was used to measure the random blood glucose level and the intraocular pressure was measured using the Perkins applanation tonometer. Results: The mean intraocular pressure was 16.57±3.97 while the mean random blood glucose level was 168.43±108.48. Analysis of the SPSS version 23 data using the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient at a significance level of 0.05 and a 95% confidence interval revealed no correlation between IOP and random blood glucose (p and gt; 0.05). People with primary open-angle glaucoma are advised to have their blood sugar levels monitored frequently. Conclusions: This study showed that there was no significant correlation between intraocular pressure and random blood glucose levels in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma. This would suggest that diabetics should be monitored regularly for intraocular pressure to detect an early onset of glaucoma.

Evaluation the effect of posterior sub-capsular cataract on the refractive state of eye

Background: Cataract refractive errors are caused by cataracts. It can go up to several dioptres (D). Correction of expected refractive errors during cataract surgery by altering the axial length measurement. Determine the effect of posterior sub-capsular cataracts on the eye's refractive status. Methods: 112 patients with posterior sub-capsular cataracts participated in the study. The most common refractive error found in PSC was astigmatism, followed by myopia. The study was conducted at Angel Eye Institute of Ophthalmology; Kanpur U.P. The refractive status of eyes with posterior sub-capsular cataracts was determined using retinoscopy and subjective refraction. Biometry is done by A-scan and keratometer. Results: A total of 112 patients were included in this study. Of these, 27 (26.5%) were males and 75 (73.5%) were females. The Patient’s age was about 60 years. The results showed that the refractive errors caused by posterior sub-capsular cataracts were mainly myopic astigmatism (97. 1%) and spherical myopia (2.9%), 0.16SD. The mean value of myopic astigmatism in patients with PSC was (1.7D, 15.7%), 0.93 SD and the mean value of spherical myopia was (0.1 D, 2.9%), 0.67 SD. Mean uncorrected visual acuity was 1 log MAR and 1.6 SD. The mean corrected visual acuity was 0.3 log MAR and 1.2 SD. Conclusions: The most significant refractive error in PSC was astigmatism, followed by myopia. These findings may help clarify the type of refractive error in patients with PSC and the prediction of ocular vision outcome.

A review of the treatment of drug induced presbyopia

Presbyopia is characterized by accommodative loss that leads to negative effects on vision-targeted health-related quality of life. It occurs in people who gradually lose the ability to adapt after the age of 40. Accommodation depends on the contraction of the ciliary muscle and the iris, the change and the convergence of the lens. The parasympathetic nervous system regulates the degree of contraction of the ciliary muscle and the iris necessary to alter the shape and position of the lens, and its stimulation is effective by activating the muscarinic receptors present in both structures. The hypothesis presented here suggests that patients with emmetropic presbyopia correct accommodation with pharmacotherapy that includes a combination of cholinergic drugs and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Topical treatment deals with drug combinations to modify one or more factors involved in the accommodative process and have been proposed to be instilled either monocular/ binocularly. Result shows para-sympathomimetic stimulation of parasympathetic innervation (accommodation) and NSAID: Prolonging the effect of the para-sympathomimetic action and modulates the accommodation. The drug combination restores near vision without affecting distance vision. It is important to note that the drug form used has no inflammatory effects or other side effects. Despite the lack of a completely well understood mechanism, pharmacological control of presbyopia seems to be a possible and very attractive alternative for presbyopia patients. The studies mentioned in this review are to be considered pilot investigations as they involve either a small number of subjects or are single case series.

A non-surgical conservative management of congenital dacryostenosis

Background: Congenital canaliculus stenosis often occurs in about 25-30% of all new born. In many cases, a narrowing of the Nasolacrimal duct can be seen due to a persistent of Hasner membrane. Conservative treatment begins with lacrimal sac massage in the first month of life. This study was conducted to determine non-surgical conservative treatment for congenital lacrimal stenosis in infants and young children. Study design: prospective observational study. The settings are the “Satya eye hospital and research institute”, Kanpur UP from December 2015 to October 2017. Methods: Nasal sac massage (Crigler massage) with or without topical antibiotics was recommended for 281 children less than 10 months of age diagnosed with congenital canaliculus stenosis. Resolution of lacrimal stenosis was assessed at 4 and 7 months and was defined as the absence of any clinical signs of NLDO. At 7 months, at visits, 244 eyes (83%) of 281 patients showed conservative treatment. Results: Conservative treatment of CNLD with Crigler massage was successful in most cases treated in 281 (84%) of 335 eyes with congenital canaliculus stenosis. The remaining 54 (16%) eyes were examined. Age (p=0.001) and unilaterality (p=0.001) were found to be associated with the loss of clinical signs. Conclusions: In this study, we conclude that nonsurgical conservative treatment has a high overall success rate for congenital canaliculus stenosis and that this form of treatment can be considered one of the best options in infants and young children.

Assessment of dry eye in pediatric population along with ocular surface disorder and visual display terminal

Background: Dry eye is a disease condition wherein the ocular surface is either not uniformly or not completely lubricated by tear film. Dry eye is less prevalent in children, but if observed it may be a manifestation of conditions like Steven Jonson syndrome, Sjogren’s syndrome, blepharitis, MGD or VKC. Therefore, evaluation of dry eye may aid in effective and timely treatment of other life-threatening diseases in children. Aim of current study was determination of dry eye in pediatrics and to investigate its association with ocular surface disorders like MGD, VKC and VDT. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted on 400 patients. All patients were screened for OSDI and patients having index score >11 were investigated for dry eye disease, based on inter blink interval and tear-film breakup time determined using slit lamp and through Schirmer’s test. Dry eye patients were further investigated to determine type and causative factors for dry eye. Results: 25 patients exhibited bilateral dry eye with >12 score. Children of age group 7-18 years were commonly affected. Diseases commonly observed to be associated with dry eye in children were VKC, MGD, or visual display terminal caused due to over use of smart phone and digital screen. Conclusions: The evaporative dry eye due to MGD and VDT is more common in pediatric age group in comparison to aqueous deficiency dry eye. Overuse of smart phones, tablets or computers increases the prevalence of dry eye which inturn affect their outdoor activity, studies and over all development of children.

Comparative Efficacy of PercollTM Discontinuous Density Gradient Centrifugation and Glass Wool Filtration Techniques for Spermatozoa Selection in Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)

Dead and damaged spermatozoa cells present universally in the ejaculates of all eutherian mammals exert toxic effect on contemporary healthy cells mostly through generation of excessive free radicals. This is much more evident during extended period of processing, resulting in poor ejaculate quality. The solution lies in depletion of dead/damaged spermatozoa from the neat ejaculates itself. Thus the objective of the study was to evaluate the efficiency of the protocols such as discontinuous PercollTM density gradient centrifugation (PDGC) and glass wool filtration (GWF) for depletion of dead/damaged spermatozoa from fresh semen in buffalo. Random ejaculates (n=6) of Murrah buffalo bulls were divided into two aliquots after quality assessment: PDGC and GWF protocols (Group I and II, respectively). At the end of the purification protocol, efficiency of the protocols in depleting dead/damaged spermatozoa as reflected by certain quality parameters were evaluated. The mean efficiency (%) of purification protocols based on recovery of spermatozoa was 44.68 and 40.02% for PDGC and GWF, respectively. Moreover significantly (p<0.05) greater values for quality parameters was observed in the Group II (26.4+6.8 vs 68.8+4.4 for acrosome integrity (%); 12.68+6.6 vs 57.7+7.5 for functional plasma membrane integrity (%); 20.3+5.8 vs 80.75+6.7 for viability (%) in Group I and II, respectively). It was concluded that GWF is a better technique than PGDC to filter out dead/damaged spermatozoa from fresh semen with improvement in semen quality and can be a valuable tool in assisted reproductive technology

Nasal carriage of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus among health-care workers at a tertiary care hospital in Northern India

Background: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is resistant to all beta-lactam antibiotics, including penicillins, cephalosporins, carbapenems, and betalactamase inhibitors. MRSA remains a public health problem globally. MRSA infection increases morbidity, risk of mortality, increased financial burden, and loss of productivity. A major source of MRSA in the hospital environment can be asymptomatically colonized health-care workers (HCWs). Objectives: The aim of the study is to screen nasal swabs collected from HCWs of our hospital for colonization with S. aureus and detect methicillin resistance among them. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, consenting HCWs were consecutively enrolled. Nasal swabs were collected aseptically from study participants and processed using standard microbiological protocols for the recovery of S. aureus and MRSA. Methicillin resistance was detected by cefoxitin disc diffusion method according to the CLSI guidelines. Results: Out of a total of 184 HCWs studied, the prevalence of S. aureus carriage in anterior nares was 14.6%. The overall MRSA prevalence was 3.8%. Highest carriage rates for MRSA were found in laboratory technicians (7.1%) followed by nursing staff (4.4%). The ophthalmology department had the highest MRSA carriage rate of 22%. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that nasal carriage of MRSA among HCWs is relatively low in this study compared to other Indian studies done in tertiary care centres. Further studies are needed to evaluate the incidence of infections due to MRSA in this population.

A comparative study of blood groups with relation to academic achievements among medical students in North India

Background: The purpose of present study was to know the relation between the four blood groups (A, B, AB, and O) and high academic scores among students of Government medical colleges of North India. Materials and methods: Study was conducted in Department of Physiology, Dr BSA Medical College, Delhi and UCMS, Delhi on 247 medical students both males and females of age group 18-20 years. Blood groups were collected from past medical records during the time of admission and Confirmation was done during the blood grouping practical classes. Blood group, completion test marks, internal assessment marks (theory, practical and viva-voce) in percentage were tabulated. Statistical analysis was done by SPSS 16.0 software. Results: Out of 247 students 98 students were B group, 76 students were O group, 57 students were A group and 16 students were AB group. Total number of Blood group B students (N=22) who scored high marks were more than the other blood group students. While the %age of students of A blood group (29.8%) were more than other blood groups. Conclusion: Though our study showed that there was a variation in the academic scores between the blood groups A, B, O and AB, there was no significant association (p < 0.05) found between any blood group and academic scores. So, the conclusion of our study was that there was no real correlation between blood groups and academic scoring

Homology Modeling of DNA polymerases of Herpesviridae family and structure-based virtual screening for inhibitor identification.

Human herpes viruses are responsible for the several transmitted infections in human. It is known that the DNA polymerase enzyme is one of the putative targets for herpes. Therefore, it is of interest to model all known DNA polymerases of Herpesviridae family. Here, all the DNA polymerases of Herpesviridae without any crystal structure were modeled using HHV-1 DNA polymerase as a template. Modeled structures were screened by ramachandran plot and Descrete Optimization of Protein Energy (DOPE) score. To find out multi-target inhibitor for Herpesviridae, 21 natural antiviral compounds were selected from literature and screened using Lipinski’s rule of five. Binding pose of acyclovir with HHV-1 DNA polymerase was taken for the comparative docking study. Comparative binding analysis was done after settling of 120 and eight partial mono flexible protein-ligand docking sets for natural compounds and acyclovir, respectively. From the study it is found that alliin and gallic acid exhibit good binding affinity than acyclovir and other natural compounds. So, here we purpose that these two compounds can be potential candidates to inhibit Herpesviridae family.

Se-acquisition and reactive oxygen species role in growth, photosynthesis, photosynthetic pigments, and biochemical changes in essential oil(s) monoterpene of geranium ( pelargonium graveolens L.HER.’ EX. AIT.).

Se is an essential element required for various metabolic pathways and act as an antioxidant in the various redox-reactions of primary and secondary plant production of – biomolecules. Geranium is an important essential monoterpene oil(s) bearing plant. Culturing the plant at different doses of Se from 0-1.0 mg Se ml-1 revealed that Se plays an important role as an in antioxidant promoter, apart from its micronutrient essentiality. 0.25 mg Se ml-1 is the critical concentrations for maximum content of (0.21%) total essential monoterpene oil(s). At concentration below and above 0.25 mg Se ml-1, the CO2 assimilation rate, photosynthetic pigments content and ultimately the accumulation of essential monoterpene oil(s) are affected. The maximum peroxidase and SOD activities were obtained at 0.25 mg Se ml-1, with the production of biomolecule geraniol. Results revealed an oxidoreducable reaction of Se in the formation of monoterpene essential oil(s) and possibly for the major constituents Geraniol.

Cr-acquisition and reactive oxygen species role in growth, photosynthesis, photosynthetic pigments, and biochemical changes in essential oil(s) monoterpene of geranium (pelargonium graveolens L.HER.’ EX. AIT.)

Cr is an essential element required for various metabolic pathways and act as an antioxidant in the various redox-reactions of primary and secondary plant production of – biomolecules. Geranium is an important essential monoterpene oil(s) bearing plant. Culturing the plant at different doses of Cr from 0-1.0 g Cr ml-1 revealed that Cr plays an important role as an in antioxidant promoter, apart from its micronutrient essentiality. 0.25 m g Cr ml-1 is the critical concentrations for maximum content of (0.21%) total essential monoterpene oil(s). At concentration below and above 0.25 g Cr ml-1, the CO2 assimilation rate, photosynthetic pigments content and ultimately the accumulation of essential monoterpene oil(s) are affected. The maximum peroxidase and SOD activities were obtained at 0.25 g Cr ml-1, with the production of biomolecule geraniol. Results revealed an oxido-reducable reaction of Cr in the formation of monoterpene essential oil(s) and possibly for the major constituents Geraniol.

Various methods of caries removal in children: a comparative clinical study.

An in vivo study comparing the different methods of caries removal was done in children of age group 6-9 years. Among these patients a total number of 150 carious deciduous teeth were selected. Caries removal was done by hand instruments, airotor and carisolv. The efficacy, time taken and pain experienced by the patient during caries removal was evaluated. The results showed that airotor was the most efficient method (mean value 0.38), while carisolv was the least painful (mean value 0.080) and the most time consuming method (534.8 seconds).

Index for measuring child feeding practices.

OBJECTIVE: The present investigation was undertaken with the objective of creating an Infant and Child Feeding Index (ICFI) from a set of complementary feeding (CF) practices and to determine its association with growth of infants and young children (6-23 months). METHODS: A semi-structured interview schedule was used to collect information for 204 children from one large slum (n=104) and two private pediatric clinics (n=100) of urban Vadodara. RESULTS: Results revealed that about half (50.5%) of the children were stunted Ht for Age Z score (HAZ<-2SD), nearly one-fourth (25.5%) were underweight Wt for Age Z score (WAZ<-2SD), but wasting (WHZ Wt for Ht Z score<-2SD) was low (3%). Significant associations were revealed between almost all positive CF practices and nutritional status of the children as measured by HAZ and WAZ (p<0.01), but not with WHZ. Good associations were revealed between ICFI and HAZ and WAZ, but not with WHZ. On multivariate analysis of factors affecting the HAZ, WAZ and WHZ scores, ICFI was not found to be significant whereas maternal education was the most significant factor, which was also found to be associated significantly with ICFI. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that the composite index in its present form can reflect the CF practices more holistically than just one or few behaviors studied separately. More research is needed in the direction of constituting a composite index which can then be used for research, monitoring, evaluation and much needed advocacy for complementary feeding.

Impact of a comprehensive telephone-based disease management programme on quality-of-life in patients with heart failure.

BACKGROUND: Disease management programmes for patients with heart failure have improving the quality-of-life (QOL) of patients with heart failure. METHODS: Patients attending the heart failure clinic were randomized into 2 groups of 25 patients each. The control group was managed in the heart failure clinic and the intervention group underwent the following additional interventions: (i) interactive sessions with the patient and spouse informing them about the disease, drugs, and self-management of fluid intake and diuretic dose; (ii) a telephonic helpline was established and regular telephone calls made to reinforce the information and modify drug dosages. The QOL was assessed using the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy questionnaire. Functional capacity was assessed by the 6-minute walk test. Continuous variables were compared with the Student t-test (paired or unpaired). RESULTS: There was significant improvement in the QOL and functional capacity of patients in the intervention group compared with controls over a 6-month period. The mean (SD) QOL scores in the intervention group improved from 60.0 (23.6) to 76.3 (17.3) but did not change significantly in the control group (62.2 [22.6] to 63.4 [21.9]). There was a similar improvement in the functional capacity measured by the 6-minute walk test in the intervention group (from 202.2 [81.5] to 238.1 [100.9] metres, p < 0.05) but not in the control group (193.8 [81.5] to 179.7 [112.0] metres). In the intervention group, the use of beta-blockers and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors was similar but in the intervention group patients were placed on higher doses. There was no significant difference in the number of emergency room visits or admissions in either group. For every 20 patients in the intervention group, 14 patients improved by 1 functional class while in the control group this was observed in only 3 patients for every 20 treated. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that in the setting of a developing country, improvement in QOL by intensive management of heart failure patients through a heart failure programme with telephonic reinforcement and a helpline is greater than that usually achieved with drug therapy in a routine heart failure clinic.

Infant and child feeding index.

Traditional indicators of child feeding practices are widely used and appear to be useful, although the validity and reliability of those related to complementary feeding have not been established. Composite child feeding indices have the potential to address some of the methodological constraints related to the quantitative measurement of child feeding practices. They can address the multi-dimensionality of child feeding practices i.e. the need to consider the type, quality, texture, nutrient density of food, frequency of feeding and diversity of the diet; the age-specificity of child feeding practices; and the fact that feeding practices tend to cluster. The main advantage of creating a composite index is that it allows construction of one variable representing various dimensions of feeding or care practices. This variable, in turn, can be used to illustrate graphically the importance of child feeding or care for child outcomes or to model their determinants. This can be invaluable for advocacy, apart from being an indispensable tool for the purposes of research, monitoring and evaluation. Experience with creation of composite child feeding indices with the studies in Accra and DHS data sets from Latin America and Ethiopia has been encouraging and suggests that this is a promising area for future development and program applications.

Profile of non communicable disease risk factors in an industrial setting.

AIM: The profile of non communicable diseases (NCD) risk factors was identified in an industry by pre tested WHO's STEPS questionnaire. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: A cross-sectional survey of all employment categories of an Industry (2000 employees) was done after randomly selecting subjects (220) from worker (52%) and non worker categories (47.4%), after informed consent. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Information was collected on behavioural risk factors (STEP I), followed by anthropometric and blood pressure measurements by a trained investigator (STEP II). STEP III constituted biochemical assessment of "at risk" subjects (> 3 risk factors). STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Percentage of subjects having NCD risk factors and the odds ratios were calculated. RESULTS: Overall risk factor profile of the study subjects revealed universal prevalence of 3 risk factors) with prevalence of hypercholesterolemia, hypertension and diabetes of 40.5, 38.2 and 19.1% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: A high prevalence of NCD risk factors in industrial setting was seen; therefore public health approaches are required at workplace settings to curtail the rising epidemic in the productive populations.