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Background: The global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, now in its second year, has resulted in a large corpus of literature in a number of disciplines, particularly virology and epidemiology. In contrast, scholarly inquiry in other areas of the health sciences, particularly in media representations and public health communication, is still emerging. Aim: As an integral stakeholder in communication during a pandemic, this descriptive study sought to delineate the media frames of the COVID-19 pandemic in online news headlines in the first month that the COVID-19 was declared a pandemic. Setting: Online news headlines in three global hotspots, namely Italy, the USA and South Africa, during the month of March 2020, were analysed. Methods: Thematic content analysis and epidemic framing typology. Results: The findings indicate that COVID-19 has been internationally portrayed as a lethal pandemic that destroys and disrupts human life. Discursive frames of consequences monopolised its coverage, whilst discursive frames of reassurance were rare, despite the high survival rate. One of the unique findings of this study is that the COVID-19 pandemic coverage included the naming of positive patients, who were thereby made known to the public. Conclusion: Internationally, COVID-19 pandemic coverage used consequence frames that dramatized loss of life instead of deploying frames of reassurance that foreground the high survival rate of this disease. Contribution: Results of the study may help inform public health communication of the COVID-19 pandemic, by offering a detailed description of the frames that journalists use in news headlines, all of which possibly influence public perception of the pandemic. Theoretically, the article has also contributed to the application of epidemic framing typology and has contributed to knowledge in the field of public health communication and the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Newspaper Article , Pandemics , Health Information Management , COVID-19 , Communications Media , Mass MediaABSTRACT
Currently, the search of novel phytochemicals with unique biological potentialities is a pre-requisite for the designing ideal drugs for the human kind. Sea weeds are bioresources with a broad spectrum of medicinal properties with minimal side effects. Kerala, the Southern state of India reported high incidence of Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infections in the last several tears. No specific virucidal therapy or effective vaccines are available. This emphasizes the need of searching for phytochemicals as drugs with less cost and more effective. Therefore, an attempt was made in screening purified terpenoid extracts of selected sea weeds as anti-CHIKV potential. In this study the terpenoids composition from the red algae Hypnea musciformis, Kappaphycus alvarezii and Gracillaria dura were identified and analyzed by thin layer chromatography and Gas chromatography- Mass spectrum. The methanolic extract of seaweeds was purified by column chromatography and each fraction was eluted by using petroleum ether and ethyl acetate as solvent combination. The analysis of the purified fraction of H. musciformis and K. alvarezii revealed the presence of 8 terpenoid fractions, and G. dura showed only 4 major components respectively. Vero cell lines were employed in the antiviral assays, infected to CHIKV, and treated with varied doses of purified terpenoid extracts. In the antiviral activity, terpenoid extracts of G. dura showed remarkable and promising EC50 inhibitory effect at 1.25 μg/ml. Further, the terpenoid extracts displayed efficient virucidal activity against CHIKV (inhibit around 90%) with 5 μg/ml dosage. As the last phase, terpenoid extracts added at time intervals of 0, 1, 2, 3 post-infection periods still maintained a significant inhibitory potential against CHIKV viral replication. Thus, the overall study suggests that the terpenoid extracts of G. dura may be effectively used in the prevention and treatment of CHIKV infections. Clinical studies may be warranted for designing a promising new anti-CHIKV drug.
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@#secondary medical impairment following spinal cord injury(SCI). Ultrasound (US) of the kidneys, ureters and bladder(KUB) has been recommended as a useful, non-invasivesurveillance method with good diagnostic sensitivity. Thisstudy aims to understand US diagnosed NB complicationsand identify its associated factors.Methods: We enrolled all patients referred for SCIrehabilitation from 2012 to 2015 that fulfilled our studycriteria. Data that were retrospectively reviewed includeddemographic and clinical characteristic data; and US KUBsurveillance studies.Results: Out of 136 electronic medical records reviewed, 110fulfilled the study criteria. The prevalence of NB in our studypopulation was 80.9%. We found 22(20%) of the patientsshowed evidence of US diagnosed NB complications withthe mean detection of 9.61±7.91 months following initial SCI.The reported NB complications were specific morphologicalchanges in the bladder wall 8(36.4%); followed byunilateral/bilateral hydronephrosis 7(31.8%); bladder and/orrenal calculi 5(22.7%); and mixed complication 2(9.1%)respectively. Half of the patients with NB complications hadurodynamic diagnosis of neurogenic detrusor overactivitywith/without evidence of detrusor sphincter dyssynergia.We found co-existing neurogenic bowel, presence ofspasticity and mode of bladder management weresignificantly associated factors with US diagnosed NBcomplications (p<0.05), while spasticity was its predictorwith adjusted Odds Ratio value of 3.93 (1.14, 13.56).Conclusion: NB is a common secondary medical impairmentin our SCI population. A proportion of them had USdiagnosed NB complications. Co-existing neurogenic bowel,presence of spasticity and mode of bladder managementwere its associated factors; while spasticity was itspredictor.
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Background: Balance is the component which is majorly altered in older adults with approximately 21.5% of the population over 65 years of age having some balance dysfunction, particularly in functional tasks like ambulation and climbing stairs. Impaired balance and functional mobility are major risk factors for falls. Aims and objective: The aim of the study was to study the effect of low intensity body weight training on balance in older adults. Procedure: 60 older adults between the age group 65 to 80 with the BBS score between 46-51 were included in this study. The outcome measures used to assess the balance were the Bergs balance scale (BBS) and Performance oriented mobility assessment scale (POMA). The intervention program consisting of low intensity bodyweight training was carried out for 4 days a week for 6 weeks. Results: The results after period of 6 weeks showed statistically significant post scores of BBS and POMA (p<0.05) respectively. Conclusion: Hence the author concluded that low intensity body weight training for a period of as less as 6 weeks can result in improvement of balance in older adults.
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Background: Tuberculosis is fundamentally a disease of the lungs, however, it can influence any organ in the body. Objectives: Primary objective was to improve the patient compliance or medication adherence and to identify, detect, monitor ADRs induced by anti-tubercular drugs and report them. A secondary objective was to prevent the emergence of drug resistance and treatment of prolongation/failure in TB patients. Methods: A prospective, observational, cohort study was carried out for 6-months in tertiary care hospital. There were 60 patients included in the study. The data were evaluated for patients’ demographic profile, type of TB, medication adherence and occurrence of ADRs. Adverse drug reactions were observed and recorded. The causality of ADRs was assessed using WHO-causality assessment scale and Naranjo causality assessment scale. The severity of ADRs was determined using Hartwig’s severity assessment scale. Results and Discussion: Total of 60 patients were included in the study. Results showed that among 60 patients included in the study, 44 patients experienced ADRs. Among all age groups, the highest numbers of ADRs were seen in the age group 19-30 (43.1%) years. The occurrence of ADRs was noticed more in females (77.7%). The majority of ADRs occurred in patients was general (28.4%), and gastrointestinal effects (23.8%). Conclusion and Scope of the Study: Adherence to treatment is crucial for the cure of individual patients, controlling the spread of infection, minimizing the development of drug resistance and to reduce the chances of re-infection. Proper therapeutic monitoring of regimen, dose management, and pharmacovigilance activities are necessary. Such approaches will not only improve the treatment outcomes but also minimizes the chances of treatment prolongation/failure. All the health care professionals should interpret their responsibility in this domain of the health care profession.
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Introduction: The blasts in the peripheral blood is usuallyassociated with a haematological disorder. Study aimed tosee if a single blast seen in a peripheral blood film of healthyindividuals and patients of non-neoplastic haematologicaldisorders and non-hematological neoplasms/disorders didhave any clinical significance.Material and Methods: The period of study was from 2014to 2018 conducted at a tertiary care hospital. The study wasdone exclusively on Peripheral Blood Films. The films werestained with Leishman stain. An occasional blast was detectedin some healthy subjects and patients of non-neoplastichaematological disorders and non-hematological neoplasms/disorders.Result: The routine smears were analyzed with caution afterthe first case of a patient of Iron Deficiency Anemia revealeda clear-cut Blast. In the period of 4 years from 2014 to 2018,a total of 23 cases of apparently normal individuals or patientswith non neoplastic haematological disorders and nonhematological neoplasms/disorders showed at least 1% on oneseparate occasion.Conclusion: A careful morphological examination in theperipheral smears of few normal individuals and individualswith non neoplastic haematological disorders and nonhematological neoplasms/disorders showed at least 1%Blast on one separate occasion. The cells were clear cutblasts with a large size, fine nuclear chromatin, one to twonucleoli with round to slightly irregular nuclear contours anda mild amount of pale agranular cytoplasm. On thoroughinvestigations of these individuals there was no evidence ofa neoplastic haematological disorder. Therefore a single blastin a peripheral blood seen in a healthy individuals or patientswith benign haematological disorder and non-neoplasticneoplasms/disorders may not always indicate a neoplasticprocess.
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Ethanol is an alternative fuel derived from renewable biological resources. It's a good substitute for gasoline in spark ignition engines. In this study, the sugar cane bagasse was chemically pretreated with 1% NaOH at room temperature for 2 hours. Dilute acid H2SO4 and Aspergillus niger was used to hydrolyse the biomass to sucrose. Fermentation of the hydrolysed sample was done using Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The fermented product was purified by distillation process at 78oC, and the fraction was collected, and the ethanol was determined by measuring the specific gravity. The production of ethanol from sugar cane bagasse with Saccharomyces cerevisiae was determined after the inoculation into sample A1, A2 and B1 and B2 and highest ethanol produced were from B1 with 0.090 followed B2 0.074, A2 with 0.069% and D 0.116. The use of Saccharomyces cerevisiae gives a better yield. The result of this study can be of a better application in the large production of biofuel from sugar cane bagasse which is renewable and highly abundant, it is saving costs by recycling of wastes, and it also helps to alleviate environmental problem such as an excessive release of greenhouse gases from combustion of non-renewable fossil fuel. From the chromatograph, when the peaks spectrum wave analysed by mass spectrometer of the three volatile organic compounds, two were common to both samples, A contains the abundance of Acetic acid 22.37%, Ethyl alcohol 13.55% isobutene 64.08%. While that of Sample B contains the abundance Acetic acid 17.43%, Ethyl alcohol 7.12% and Propane 75.4.according to Pasteur this is due to Microbial oxidation of ethanol to acetic acid that decreases metabolic toxicity to the yeast cells. This study has proven the efficiency of Saccharomyces cerevisiae for the production of bioethanol.
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Background: Pancytopenia refers to combination of anaemia, leukopenia and thrombocytopenia. It may be a manifestation of a wide variety of disorders, which primarily or secondarily affect the bone marrow. However, aetiology of pancytopenia varies from one geographical region to another. Bone marrow aspiration plays an important role in identifying the cause of pancytopenia. This study was carried to identify the causes of pancytopenia and to find out the bone marrow morphology in cases of pancytopenia.Methods: This study was conducted in the department of haematology in a tertiary care center in Kashmir valley for a period of 3 years. Inclusion criteria: cases with hemoglobin less than 10 gm/dl, total leucocyte count of less than 4000/mm3 and platelet count less than 100,000/mm3 were included in the study.Exclusion criteria: Patients receiving chemotherapy/radiotherapy were excluded from the study. Bone marrow aspiration (BMA) was performed from posterior iliac crest of the patients. Bone marrow aspiration smears were stained with Leishman stain for microscopy.Results: A total of 334 cases were studied during a period of 3 years. Age of patients ranged from 1 year to 85 years with mean of 43.59 years.180 cases were male, and 154 cases were female with male:female ratio of 1.2 :1. The commonest cause of pancytopenia was megaloblastic anemia seen in 103 cases (30.8%) followed by dual deficiency anemia seen in 69 cases (20.7%).37 cases (11%) were of acute leukaemia. Aplastic anemia was seen in 35 cases(10.5%). Other causes of pancytopenia were myelodysplastic syndrome, multiple myeloma, iron deficiency anemia and hypersplenism.Conclusions: Bone marrow aspiration in patients of pancytopenia helps in the identification of the underlying cause in most of the cases. BMA is helpful for understanding the disease process; and in planning further investigations and management of cytopenia patients.
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Background: Damage to hepatocytes, e.g., necrosis, inflammation and degenerative disease causes release of liver enzymes into the circulation and they are measured both for diagnosis and prognosis of disease. The objective of this study was to see the protective effect of turmeric powder on liver enzymes against Nimesulide-induced hepatic injury in rat model
Methods: Forty [40] male albino Wistar rats were divided into four groups. In group A, normal diet was given for 9 days while in group B, Nimesulide was given for 9 days followed by turmeric powder for next 9 days; while turmeric powder for 9 days followed by Nimesulide for next 9 days was used in group C. Group D received Nimesulide in adjunct with Turmeric powder for 9 days. After 24 hours of feeding, Blood samples from groups A and D were taken for biochemical analysis of serum levels of ALT, AST, Alkaline Phosphatase and γ-GT at days 0 and 9. For groups B and C blood samples were collected at day 1, day 9 and day 18. The results were statistically analyzed by using SPSS-21 and Statistix 8.1
Results: In control group A, the results were found almost same on day 1 and 9. The group B shows a high value on day 9 in comparison to day 1, but after treatment with turmeric there is a marked reduction towards normal in all parameters on day 18. The group C show initially reduction in the values of all parameter on day 9 after taking the turmeric powder but there is an incline after taking Nimesulide. The group D received Nimesulide in adjunct with Turmeric powder for 9 days show slight increase in the results from day 1 in all parameters. The results were found significant [p<0.05] in the three treated groups
Conclusion: Turmeric has hepatoprotective properties against hepatotoxicity produced by Nimesulide
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Objective: To determine the effect of Intravitreal injection of Bevacizumab on IOP in eyes of different axial lengths. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at AFIO Rawalpindi, from Sep 2013 to Jan 2014
Material and Methods: In this study 55 patients scheduled for intravitreal injection of bevacizumab for the treatment of diabetic macular edema were enrolled. An informed written consent was taken from all the patients. All patients underwent clinical ophthalmic examination including uncorrected distance visual acuity, corrected distance visual acuity, slit lamp bio-microscopy and fundus examination with 90 diopter lens. Axial length was measured before IVB using IOL master. Intra Ocular Pressure [IOP] was measured before and after 1 minute of administration of Intravitreal Bevacizumab [IVB] using Tono-Pen
Result: The mean age of patients was 54.51 +/- 7.53 years with minimum age of 43 years and maximum age of 70 years. There were 26 [47.3%] male and 29 [52.7%] female patients. The mean axial length of the examined eyes was 21.12 +/- 1.80 with range of 6 mm. Mean IOP before IVB was 13.09 +/- 1.62 mmHg. After 1 minute of IVB, mean IOP was 32.8 +/- 6.19 mmHg. A good correlation was observed between the axial length and intraocular pressure rise after 1 min i.e. Pearson correlation [r.] = -0.914 [p-value <0.001] with R2 = 0.835
Conclusion: There is significant rise in IOP after intravitreal injection of bevacizumab in patients with short axial length as compared to long axial length
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Objective: To compare the corneal endothelial cell density in patients of Pseudoexfoliation syndrome [PXS] with normal healthy controls. Study Design: Cross sectional comparative. Place and Duration of Study: This study was carried out at Armed Forces Institute of Ophthalmology, Rawalpindi from Mar 2016 to Jan 2017
Patients and Methods: Patients of PXS and healthy subjects of both genders between ages of 40 and 50 years, with best corrected visual acuity of 6/6 on snellen visual acuity chart were included in the study. All the participants including controls and PXS patients were subjected to ophthalmic clinical examination including corrected distance visual acuity, slit lamp examination by the single trainee researcher to exclude bias. Participants in both groups were evaluated for corneal endothelial cell density [ECD] by using non-contact, TOPCON SP 3000P Specular microscope. Sampling bias was eliminated by analyzing 100 cells in the center of each specular microscope photograph and mean of three readings was analyzed
Results: Both the groups were similar with respect to gender and age. In our study sample there were 29 [58%] males in PXS group and 24 [48%] males in control group with no statistical significant [p-value > 0.05] difference between gender distributions of both groups. The mean age of the PXS group was 46.34 +/- 2.932 years, and in control group was 45.54 +/- 2.887 years [p-value >0.05]. The mean value of ECD was found to be 2021.548 +/- 528.142 cells/mm2 in PXS patients and the mean value of ECD in healthy subjects was noted to be 2772.692 +/- 383.395 cells/mm2, showing significantly lower ECD in PXS cases. Similarly, significantly higher number of cases 22 [44%] had CED <2000 in PXS as compared to normal healthy subjects
Conclusion: Corneal endothelial cell density decreases in patients of pseudoexfoliation syndrome and this must be considered while planning any intraocular surgery including cataract extraction
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Objective: Evaluating the effects of Povidone- Iodine against the surgical site infection in post- appendectomy wound infection
Study design: Randomized clinical trial
Place and duration: Department of Surgery, Isra University Hospital Hyderabad from January 2016 to December 2017
Subjects and Methods: Patients of acute appendicitis with classical clinical presentation were selected according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. 60 patients were those in which wound was irrigated with 1% povidone-iodine solution versus 60 patients in whom wound not irrigated with it before skin closure. Data was analyzed on SPSS 22.0 using Student t-test and Chi- square test respectively. Data was analyzed at 95% confidence interval [P=0.05]. P-value of =0.05 was taken statistically
Results: Mean +/- SD age of control and cases was noted as 22.5 +/- 7.5 and 23.5 +/- 6.5 years respectively [P=0.86]. Male and female population in control and cases were noted as 45 [75%] and 15 [25%] and 47 [78.33%] and 13 [21.66%] respectively [P >0.05]. Grade 4 pus discharging wound infection was noted in 3.33% in control compared to 1.66% in cases [P= 0.87]. Normal wound healing [grad 0] was noted in 37 [61.6%] and 43 [71.6%] of control and cases respectively. In control grade 1-4 lesions were noted in 38.4% compared to 28.4% in cases [P < 0.05]
Conclusion: Simple irrigation of appendectomy wound with 1% povidone- iodine significantly prevents against the surgical site infection and pus formation
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Objectives: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of CT scan in staging of colorectal carcinoma among biopsy proven patients of colorectal carcinoma by taking histopathological finding as gold standard
Study Design: Cross-sectional validation study
Place and Duration of Study: Combined Military Hospital Rawalpindi, Six months, from Jul 2015 to Dec 2015
Material and Methods: A total of 176 cases of 15-70 years of age, diagnosed of colorectal carcinoma oncolonoscopic biopsy, were included in the study. Patients with previous malignancies other than colorectal carcinoma, allergy to the contrast agent and pregnant patients were excluded from the study. All the patients then underwent CT scan for detection of the stage of cancer. After surgery, histopathology of the resected specimen was compared with the findings on CT scan
Results: Mean age was 50.27 +/- 14.50 years. Out of these 176 patients, 113 [64.20 percent] were male and 63 [35.80 percent] were females with ratio of 1.8:1. Among CT positive, 80 were true positive while 11 were false positive. Among, CT negative patients, 12 were false negative while 73 were true negative. Overall sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and diagnostic accuracy of CT in staging colorectal carcinoma taking histopathology as gold standard was 87.91 percent, 85.88 percent, 86.96 percent, 86.90 percent and 86.93 percent respectively
Conclusion: This study concluded that CT scan is a highly sensitive and accurate modality for pre-operative detection of stage of colorectal carcinoma
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Objective: To assess the diagnostic accuracy of CT scan in detecting paranasal sinus fungal infections
Study Design: Cross-sectional, observational study
Place and Duration of Study: Department of Radiology, Ziauddin University Hospital, Karachi, from April to September 2014
Methodology: Patients with clinical suspicion of fungal sinusitis were included in this study. Patients with already diagnosed or history of recurrent fungal infections were excluded. All these patients underwent CT scan examination of paranasal sinuses. Findings were recorded. Final diagnosis was based on smear analysis for fungal culture. Accuracy analysis was conducted for CT diagnosis using smear analysis as the gold standard. Kappa analysis was conducted to determine agreement
Results: Out of the 120 patients, 71 [59%] were male. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of CT were 96.19%, 93.33%, 99.01%, 77.77%, respectively. The diagnostic accuracy was 95.83%. Kappa statistics showed 82% agreement beyond chance
Conclusion: CT scan is highly accurate in diagnosing and characterizing fungal infection of paranasal sinuses. It also determines the extent of disease which eventually aids in deciding the surgical approach to be used
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Objective: To compare the efficacy of tacrolimus plus narrowband ultraviolet B [NB-UVB] phototherapy versus NB-UVB phototherapy alone in the treatment of vitiligo
Methods: A total of 94 patients were randomized into two equal groups A and B. Patients in group A were managed with combined treatment i.e. NB-UVB three times a week plus topical tacrolimus 0.1% once daily application while patients in group B will be subjected to NB-UVB alone three times a week alone for three months. The efficacy was determined in term of repigmentation by measuring vitiligo area severity score
Results: 41 [87.2%] patients in group A achieved efficacy while group B showed efficacy in 32 [68.1%] patients [p=0.022]. Efficacy was unrelated to age, sex, severity and duration of vitiligo
Conclusion: Combination therapy is more effective than monotherapy in the treatment of vitiligo
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Background: Due to considerable lack of knowledge among working class women and housewives [with no/low literacy level] about the prime sources of dietary iron and the use for their own health during child bearing age is a dilemma that affects the entire family system resulting in decreased haemoglobin level and consequent anaemia during and after pregnancy and its effect on quality of breast milk due to which the child suffers
Objective: To assess the lactoferrin levels in breast milk with haemoglobin percentage among lactating women of low and high socio-economic status and to compare both the groups for the same
Methodology: A total of 60 lactating mothers were involved in this study. Among them 30 belonged to the population of high socioeconomic status [H group] and 30 belongs to the population of low socioeconomic status [L group]. The demographic data was compiled on a questionnaire proforma. 2 ml of blood was collected in EDTA bottles in each case and sent to clinical laboratory for the estimation of haemoglobin%. 5-10 ml of breast milk was collected with breast pump into sterile bottle. The assistance of nurses on duty was employed to aseptically collect the samples. The mother's consent was also obtained before collection. The samples were transported on dry ice to the clinical laboratory for estimation of the lactoferrin levels using ELISA Method
Results: The mean haemoglobin saturation in whole blood was calculated, in L group was 52.9% as compared to 63.6% in H group. These findings were found statistically significant [p<0.05] in each group and also when comparing both groups. The mean lactoferrin level in L group was 2.472 mg/ml as compared to 3.56 mg/ml in H group. These findings were found statistically significant [p<0.05] in each group and also when comparing both groups. The results of lactoferrin level were also found significant in all age groups
Conclusion: The current study highlights the importance of health of lactating women in order to improve the quality of milk for their babies. The data extracted shows significant difference in the lactoferrin levels of milk between low and high socioeconomic population which significantly correlates with percentage of haemoglobin, and also in different age groups of both classes indicated by the level of the lactoferrin in their milk
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Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension [IIH] is a disorder of increased intracranial pressure without any identifiable etiology. It is defined by elevated intracranial pressure [ICP] with normal neuroimaging and normal cerebrospinal fluid [CSF] contents. IIH typically affects young obese women and produces symptoms and signs related to high ICP. Headache and blurred vision are the most common symptoms, and papilledema is the major clinical sign. In this review we examine the epidemiology and demographic features of IIH in Middle Eastern countries and compare and contrast them with the published IIH literature from Western countries. The incidence of IIH in several Middle East countries has been estimated at 2.02-2.2/100,000 in the general population, which is higher than the Western rate. Obesity is a major risk factor globally and it is associated with an increased risk of severe vision loss due to IIH. There has been an increase in obesity prevalence in the Middle East countries mainly affecting the Gulf Council Countries [GCC], which parallels increased industrial development. This rise may be contributing to the increasing incidence of IIH in these countries. Other risk factors may also be contributing to IIH in Middle East countries and the differences and similarities to Western IIH merit further study
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Humans , Headache , Papilledema , ObesityABSTRACT
The aim of the study was to access the oral health maintenance behavior patterns among dentists. Questionnaire based cross sectional study. The study was conducted in the community dentistry department of Islamic International Dental College, Islamabad from March2013 to August 2013. A total of 65 dentists from Islamabad were included in this study. The dentists were sampled conveniently from Islamabad. Descriptive data was described for the reported frequencies of dentists' attitudes and practices related to oral health. Out of 65,61 dentists had shown positive attitude in responding close-ended questionnaires. Most of the dentists reported brushing their teeth twice a day [n= 40,65.5%].A total of 34 [55.7%] dentists reported carrying out brushing for about 2-4minutes. The self-reported Decayed Missing Filled Teeth [DMFT] score for 21 [34%] dentists was zero. The majority of dentists [n=48,78.7%] did not consider themselves to be having any dental problems, while 42 [68.9%] dentists perceived their oral health as being very good. Although most of the dentists reported as having good oral health, a large number of the participants did not maintain their oral health adequately. Dentists follow ROSC [Recommended oral self-care] recommendations to improve their oral health status
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The objective of this study was to evaluate the applicability of Tanaka and Johnston method in predicting the size of unerupted permanent canines and premolars in a section of Peshawar Population. Convenience sampling technique was utilized for collection of data from 100 patient's casts on printed proforma. The teeth were measured using an electronic digital caliper with an accuracy of +/- 0.01 mm. The predictions of the width of the canines and the first and second premolars in both arches were made with the Tanaka-Johnston analysis. For the maxillary arch, 11 mm was added to half of the total value of the mesiodistal widths of the four mandibular incisors, whereas 10.5 mm was added to half of the total value of the four mandibular incisors regarding to the mandibular arch. Both genders in both occlusal arches showed high level of applicability of Tanaka and Johnston mixed dentition analysis with p<0.05
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Increased bacterial resistance towards commonly used antibiotics has become a debated issue all over the world in a last few decades. Due to this, consumer demand towards natural anti-microbial agents is increasing day by day
Natural anti-microbial agents have gained enormous attention as an alternative therapeutic agent in pharmaceutical industry
Current study is an effort to explore and identify a bactericidal potential of various solvent extracts of Calotropis procera flower
Flowers of C. procera were extracted with hexane, butanol, ethyl acetate and aqua to evaluate the antibacterial activity by agar well diffusion method against the various human pathogens. The microorganisms used in this study includes Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coll [O157:H7], Micrococcus luteus KJBGE-IB20 [Gen Bank accession: JQ250612] and methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus [MRSA] KIBGE-IB23 [Gen Bank accession: KC465400]
Zones of inhibition were observed against all four pathogenic strains. Fraction soluble in hexane showed broad spectrum of inhibition against all the studied pathogens. However, fractions soluble in ethyl acetate inhibited the growth of E. coll, MRSA, and M. luteus. In case of butanol and aqueous extracts only growth of M. luteus was inhibited. Results revealed that the flower extracts of C. procera have a potential to be used as an antibacterial agent against these pathogenic organisms