Connotation of Oro-Dental disorders with food and social customs

Objective: To evaluate the existing correlation between Oro-Dental disease occurrences with dietary and social habits among the local dental patients

Methodology:This 30-day cross sectional study was conducted at Baqai Dental College Hospital Outpatient Clinic, Karachi, using pre- designed questionnaires. During the study, age, gender, types of oral disorders [identified by calibrated dental professional], and dietary preferences were looked. After informed consent and ethical approval, prospective and consecutive data of 115 subjects was collected and 15 were excluded because of inconclusive pathological oro-dental condition

Results: Oral lesions were reported as dental pain with bleeding, dental pain with swelling, dental pain only or dental pain with both swelling and bleeding. Only 32% participants admitted to consume Naswar/ Chalia and smoking. 21% patients admitted to consume all types of foods. 67% were suffering from tooth decay. Naswar/ chalia eaters and smokers presented with pain alone, and pain with swelling. Surprisingly those who claimed vegetable consumption were noted to have more dental decay as well as pain

Conclusions: This study suggested that in the absence of dominant abnormal social habits and food, suffering from Oro-Dental disorders may be related to poor quality of vegetables, water, host.s characteristics or activated HPA

axis in the development of pathogenic dental process.

Over prescription of antibiotics by Karachi dentists working in public and private sector

Study was conducted to assess the over prescription of antibiotics by Karachi dentists working in public and private sector. The sample size of the study was 500. A questionnaire was developed and distributed among the Registered Dental Practitioners. This study was spread over 6 months. Data entry and analysis was done on SPSS software version 20. Descriptive statistics were generated. The present study provides evidence of over prescription of antibiotics by dentists of Karachi, Pakistan. Therefore, appropriate guidelines should be provided by regulatory bodies. Local measures should be prioritized by removing the cause. It is necessary to take educational initiatives to encourage rational and correct use of antibiotics

Decompressive craniotomy and duraplasty in patients of traumatic bifrontal contusions

To find the outcome of bifrontal decompression craniotomy [DC] for the treatment of traumatic bifrontal contusions. Descriptive case series. Department of Neurosurgery Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center [JPMC] Karachi, from January 2011 to March 2014. This study included patients with bifrontal contusions secondary to trauma admitted through A and E department, aged between 14 year to 60 year with confirmation on CT scan having Glasgow Coma Scale [GCS] scores between 6-12. Patients who were unfit for surgery or anesthesia and those with coagulation disorders, were excluded. Patients underwent bifrontal DC with evacuation of contusions followed by duraplasty. The age, gender, preoperative size of the contusion, GCS on admission, postoperative complications and Glasgow Outcome Scale [GOS] score after 6 months of surgery were recorded. This study was conducted on 50 patients. Trauma was the commonest type of injury in 43 [86%] cases. Mostly patients were males [84%]. Majority of patients were between 21 year and 40 year of age. The GCS score before surgery in these patients was 9 in 13 [26%] patients, 10 in 16 [32%] patients, 11 in 11 [22%] patients, 12 in 6 [12%] and 13 in 4 [8%] patients. The most common size of contusions was 4 and 5 cms, both on right and left side. Of these, none of the patients required reoperation. Three died after aspiration within the postoperative time span of day 5-7. Good recovery was seen in 40 [80%] patients, moderate disability in 6[12%], severe disability in 1 [2%], persistent vegetative state in 2 [4%] and death in 1 [2%] patient. This study showed feasibility and efficacy of DC in bifrontal brain contusions secondary to traumatic brain injury [TBI] with good outcome

Effect of Grewia asiatica fruit on Glycemic index and phagocytosis tested in healthy human subjects

The Grewia asiatica [commonly known as Phalsa or Fasla] is a shrub or small tree found in southern Asia. It produces purple to black color fruit when ripe. In folk medicine the edible Grewia asiatica fruit is used in a number of pathological conditions. The current study described the effects of Grewia asiatica fruit on glycemic index [GI] and phagocytosis in healthy non-diabetic human subjects. The results showed that Grewia asiatica fruit has low GI value of 5.34 with modest hypoglycemic activity. Luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence assay was carried out to determine the production of reactive oxygen species [ROS] in the oxidative burst activity of whole blood. ROS production was found to be significantly affected, having the 78.3, 58.6 and 30.8% when the subjects were fed with D-glucose, mixture of D-glucose and Grewia asiatica fruit and Grewia asiatica fruit alone respectively as compared to the control. The aqueous, methanolic and butanolic extracts of Grewia asiatica fruits were found to produce a stimulatory effect on ROS production however; the chloroform, hexane and ethanol-acetate extracted exerted significant inhibitory effect. These results demonstrated that Grewia asiatica fruit has desirable effects on blood glucose metabolism manifested as low glycemic response and modulation of ROS production

Effect of wet cupping therapy on virulent cellulitis secondary to honey bee sting - a case report

Cellulitis is clinical condition that is caused by the inflammation of sub-cutaneous tissue. Conventional treatment of cellulites is based on the use of antimicrobials. Treatment by Cupping is one of the oldest ways of healing for more than 5000 years; now remerging in this modern age and is being practice in many countries such as USA, UK, Germany and China. This is the first reported case in which, twice a healthy subject was stung by honeybee and was effectively treated by cupping therapy. In the first attack of honeybee sting, a virulent cellulites developed on the ventral surface of the right forearm. The subject was treated with antimicrobials with no response. Later as an adjunctive treatment, cupping therapy was applied at the site of cellulitis with remarkable and immediate clinical recovery. Interestingly, 45 days later, same individual was applied; that gave quick relief and no inflammation developed. Cupping therapy may be an effective measure in the treatment of honey bee sting induced cellulitis

Partial evaluation of technique used in cupping therapy

Cupping is an ancient mode of therapy for various ailments, practiced and recommended by ancient healers. Current study was aimed to scientifically evaluate the efficacy of the technique used in cupping, i.e. suction and removal of blood after giving superficial incisions on skin at various specific points on the body. Since the treatment lies simply in removal of blood from specific areas, and no medication is involved, hence the study was designed to evaluate the significance of alone removal of blood by comparing and analyzing the difference between the compositions of blood samples, obtained through cupping technique versus blood drawn intravenously. 25 healthy male individuals were selected randomly between ages 21-30. Blood samples were collected from vein and cupping site of each individual for the analysis of hematological and biochemical parameters. There was a significant change in almost all parameters tested as compared to the venous blood samples; the quantity of blood drawn through both method was same i.e. 5 ml, yet significant difference in the composition of all cupping blood samples was observed. On the basis of result we can assume that there might be some unknown substance present in the blood which is drawn and discarded through cupping and removal of which might be creating a favorable balance between various vital parameters

Effect of natural honey on human platelets and blood coagulation proteins

Present study was conducted to determine the effects of honey on blood hemostasis, in-vitro effect of honey was observed on platelet aggregation and blood coagulation employing, activated partial prothrombin time [aPTT], prothrombin time [PT], thrombin time [TT] and fibrinogen levels in blood. Honey samples showed moderate inhibition of platelet aggregation with IC[50] 5-7.5%. The coagulation assays showed that at higher concentrations [>/= 15%] honey samples increased whole blood clotting time. When assayed in platelet poor plasma [PPP], honey samples significantly [P >/= 0.005] prolonged aPTT, PT, and TT. The honey samples [at 3.75% and 7.5% concentrations] cause mean increment of aPTT = 19 +/- 10% and 62 +/- 10%; PT 6 +/- 5% and 40 +/- 5%; TT 35 +/- 15% and 112 +/- 30% respectively. Moreover, PPP isolated from whole blood pre-incubated with honey samples [9.0% for 10 minutes] showed mean prolongation of aPTT, PT and TT of 45 +/- 21%, 26 +/- 9% and 105 +/- 24% respectively. Interestingly, incubation of honey at 6.25% and 11.75% concentrations in PPP considerably [P >/= 0.005] reduced fibrinogen levels i.e. 13 +/- 4% and 86 +/- 30% respectively. The present study outlines the inhibitory effect of natural honey on platelet aggregation and blood coagulation. These observations provide first line data for modulatory role [s] of honey on process of hemostasis