GSTM1 null polymorphism prevalence in tobacco users, oral leukoplakia and oral squamous cell carcinoma patients in South Indian population: A polymerase chain reaction study.

Context: Tobacco abuse is a well‑known risk factor for potentially malignant disorders as well as oral squamous cell carcinoma. Factors that influence tobacco‑exposed individuals developing a malignancy may include the combination of total tobacco exposure and genetic susceptibility. Aim: This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of the glutathione S‑transferase M1 (GSTM1) null polymorphism in oral leukoplakia and oral squamous cell carcinoma patients in South Indian population. Settings and Design: This case–control study was conducted in hospital setting on South Indian population. Materials and Methods: About 280 subjects with history of tobacco use, oral leukoplakia, oral squamous cell carcinoma were included in this study. Three milliliter of blood was collected and transported under cold cycle and taken for evaluation of GSTM1 null polymorphism using multiplex polymerase chain reaction. Results and Discussion: On comparing the prevalence of GSTM1 null polymorphism among the group with subjects with habits and no oral lesions, oral leukoplakia, and oral squamous cell carcinoma, it was observed that there was a statistically significant association between GSTM1 null polymorphism and the different groups (P < 0.01). Conclusion: The lack of GSTM1 activity would make the oral tissues more susceptible to action of tobacco carcinogens and to the development of a high‑grade level of dysplasia in oral leukoplakia and thereby increases the susceptibility of lesion to undergo malignant changes.

Feasibility of measuring superior mesenteric artery blood flow during cardiac surgery under hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass using transesophageal echocardiography: An observational study.

Background: Abdominal complications being rare but results in high mortality, commonly due to splanchnic organ hypoperfusion during the perioperative period of cardiac surgery. There are no feasible methods to monitor intraoperative superior mesenteric artery blood flow (SMABF). Hence, the aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and to measure SMABF using transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) during cardiac surgery under hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Methodology: Thirty‑five patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery under CPB were enrolled. Heart rate, mean arterial pressure (MAP), cardiac output (CO), SMABF, superior mesenteric artery (SMA) diameter, superior mesentric artery blood flow over cardiac output (SMA/CO) ratio and arterial blood lactates were recorded at three time intervals. T0: before sternotomy, T1: 30 min after initiation of CPB and T2: after sternal closure. Results: SMA was demonstrated in 32 patients. SMABF, SMA diameter, SMA/CO, MAP and CO-decreased significantly (P < 0.0001) between T0 and T1, increased significantly (P ≤ 0.001) between T1 and T2 and no significant change (P > 0.05) between T0 and T2. Lactates increased progressively from T0 to T2. Conclusion: Study shows that there is decrease in SMABF during CPB and returns to baseline after CPB. Hence, it is feasible to measure SMABF using TEE in patients undergoing cardiac surgery under hypothermic CPB. TEE can be a promising tool in detecting and preventing splanchnic hypoperfusion during perioperative period.

Blood Urea & Salivary Urea levels in End Stage Renal Failure.

Elevation of Blood Urea Nitrogen in renal diseases results concomitant increase in Salivary Urea levels. Aims : Determine if there was any correlation between the Salivary Urea levels with that of Blood Urea levels. Material & Methods : samples of blood and saliva were taken from Hemodialysis and control groups to assess the Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) and Salivary Urea (SU) levels respectively under strict aseptic precautions. Informed consent was taken from patients and ethical committee approval taken. Results : showed no statistically significant difference between Blood Urea and Salivary Urea in the Hemodialysis group (p>0.05). There was a statistically significant difference between Hemodialysis group and Control group with respect to Blood Urea and Salivary Urea levels. (p<0.001). Conclusion : saliva can be used as a noninvasive diagnostic marker tool.

Perceived sources of stress amongst final year dental under graduate students in a dental teaching institution at Bangalore, India: A cross sectional study.

Background: Dental schools are known to be highly demanding and stressful learning environments. Dentistry involves an acquisition of required academic, clinical and interpersonal skills during the course of learning. Practicing dentistry requires clinical skills and patient management skills, which also add to the stress perceived by the students. Identifying sources of stress represents the crucial first step towards advocating policy changes and strategies to alleviate the stressors and enhance students' stress coping skills. The aim of this study was to identify self-reported sources of the stress among the final year [4 th year] dental undergraduate students in a Dental Teaching Institution in Bangalore, India. Materials and Methods: A 38 items, 4-point Likert Scale item modified Dental Environmental Stress (DES) questionnaire, addressing 5 stressor domains (living accommodation, interpersonal relationships, academics, clinical skills and miscellaneous) was administered to all final year undergraduate dental students of the Institution. Items and domains were considered to be perceived as "stressful", when students classified them as 'slightly', 'moderately' or 'severely stressful'. Descriptive and bivariate analyzes based on chi square tests were performed. Results: Out of the 38 items, 19 items were reported to be "stressful" by >70% of the students. Of these, examinations, difficulty in managing difficult cases, lack of patient co-operation, difficulty and amount of course work and completing clinical requirements were reported to be "stressful" by >85% of the students. Personal physical health, difficulty in making friends, staying with roommates, narcotic substance dependencies were least commonly reported to be "stressful". Discussion and Conclusion: The stress provoking factors among >70% of the students are quite similar to those reported by the researchers' worldwide. Curricular changes, student support mechanisms at departmental/institutional level with appropriate policy changes need to be considered to assist the students in coping with identified stressors.

Comparative study between cervical vertebrae and hand-wrist maturation for the assessment of skeletal age / Estudo comparativo entre maturação de vértebras cervicais e da mão e punho para a determinação da idade esqueletal

Objectives: The aim of the study was to compare the cervical vertebrae maturity, using a lateral cephalogram,which is routinely taken before orthodontic treatment and is included as a part of the patient’srecord, with hand-wrist maturation method. Materials and methods: The study group comprised ofsixty subjects of Bangalore, Indian, origin, aged between 9-18 years. Hand wrist radiograph and lateralcephalograms were taken for these subjects. Assessment of skeletal maturation was done using SkeletalMaturity Indicators (SMI’s) from hand-wrist radiograph and Cervical Vertebrae Maturity Indicators(CVMI’s) from lateral cephalogram. A pair wise comparison for skeletal age assessment stages was doneusing Wilcoxon sign rank test and proportions was compared using Chi-Square test for statistical analysis.Results: Skeletal maturity assessed using the cervical vertebrae maturation index (CVMI) method andhand-wrist skeletal maturational index (SMI) method showed no statistical signifi cant difference for malesand females. However, females showed maturation at an early age as compared to males. Conclusions:Since properly utilized cervical vertebrae assessment provided a reliable assessment of pubertal growthspurt, it would be benefi cial to use a lateral cephalogram for skeletal maturity assessment and thereby eliminate the need for an additional radiograph (hand-wrist radiograph). This is cost effective and will alsoreduce the radiation exposure to the patient.

Objetivos: O objetivo do presente estudo foi comparar a maturidade das vértebras cervicais, por meio de umcefalograma lateral, que é rotineiramente obtido antes de tratamentos ortodônticos, com um método de medição dematuração de mão e punho. Materiais e métodos: O grupo estudado consistiu de sessenta indivíduos da região deBangalore, Índia, com idades entre 9 e 18 anos, de ambos os sexos. Radiografi as de mão e punho e cefalogramas emnorma lateral foram obtidos. A determinação da maturação esquelética foi determinada com o uso de Indicadoresde Maturidade Esquelética para radiografi as de mão e punho e Indicadores de Maturidade de Vértebras Cervicaispara cefalogramas em norma lateral. A comparação por pareamento para determinação da idade esqueletal foi feitautilizando o teste de ranqueamento de Wilcoxon e as proporções comparadas pelo teste Qui-Quadrado para análiseestatística. Resultados: A maturidade esquelética determinada pelo índice de maturação esquelética não mostroudiferença estatística signifi cante para homens e mulheres. Entretanto, em mulheres a maturação ocorreu em idademais precoce quando comparadas com os homens. Conclusões: Uma vez utilizado adequadamente, o método dedeterminação da maturidade das vértebras cervicais proporciona um indicativo confi ável do crescimento no estirãoda puberdade, o qual pode ser útil no estabelecimento da maturidade esqueletal por meio de cefalogramas laterais,eliminando assim a necessidade de radiografi as adicionais de mão e punho. Essa eliminação das radiografi as de mãoe punho é custo-efetiva e igualmente reduz a exposição do paciente à radiação ionizante.

Oral health-related KAP among 11- to 12-year-old school children in a government-aided missionary school of Bangalore city.

BACKGROUND: To organize community-oriented oral health promotion programs systematic analysis of the oral health situation would be needed, including information on oral health knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP). AIM: The aim of this study was to assess knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) toward oral health among 11 to 12-year-old school children in a government-aided missionary school of Bangalore city. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study group comprised of 212 children (Male: 108; Female; 104) who were in the age group of 11-12 years studying in a government-aided missionary school of Bangalore city. Data on oral health KAP were collected by means of a self-administered questionnaire. Statistical significance was determined by Chi-square test. RESULTS: This survey found that only 38.5% of the children brush their teeth two or more times a day. Pain and discomfort from teeth (35.1%) were common while dental visits were infrequent. Fear of the dentist was the main cause of irregular visit in 46.1% of study participants. High proportion of study participants reported having hidden sugar at least once a day: soft drinks (32.1%), milk with sugar (65.9%), and tea with sugar (56.1%). It was found that 5.4% and 3.9% of study participants smoke and chew tobacco, respectively. CONCLUSION: Results of this study suggest that oral health KAP of study participants are poor and needs to be improved. Systematic community-oriented oral health promotion programs are needed to improve oral health KAP of school children.