RESUMEN
Background: Oral health is a primary division of overall health. Oral health knowledge is considered to be crucial for developing healthy behaviors, and it has been shown that there is an association between increased knowledge and better oral health. Optimum health related practices are more likely to be taken up if an individual feels a sense of better control over their health with better understanding of diseases and their etiology. Aim: Therefore, the present study aimed at assessing the level of oral health knowledge, attitude and practices of secondary school students in district Kulgam, Jammu & Kashmir UT. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 384 secondary school students of Kulgam district J&K. The participants were presented with a standardized pre-tested closed ended questionnaire based on WHO oral health questionnaire for children. It was a multiple choice questionnaire where the participants were asked to select the most relevant answer. Results: This study showed that knowledge and attitude towards oral health hygiene was good among the students. Attitude towards oral health was also found to be comparatively good. Oral hygiene practices were not up to the mark. There is a need to teach the significance of routine dental checkup, appropriate tooth brushing technique and material used for tooth brushing.Conclusion: School age is the right time when the behavior can still be molded, secondary level students would be the appropriate target group to receive the first organized intervention leading towards correct knowledge along with a positive attitude which is essential to bring about a change in their oral health behavior.
RESUMEN
Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder among women of reproductive age. A convergent association between polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and periodontal disease, in particular chronic periodontitis (CP), has recently been proposed. The underlying molecular mechanisms of this association are not fully understood, though it is thought that chronic inflammation is responsible. Aim: To assess the awareness of periodontal health status and systemic inflammation of women receiving medical treatment for PCOS and women newly diagnosed with PCOS. Materials and methods: A total of 500 PCOS diagnosed women were recruited based on convenience sampling and completed a survey containing questions related to demography, lifestyle preferences, PCOS awareness and periodontal awareness. Results: Lack of awareness of oral hygiene and its importance on overall treatment of PCOS was observed. Conclusion: There is a dire need of generating oral hygiene awareness via health centres, internet, media etc. and providing full information about the association of PCOS with Oral hygiene, so that many symptoms of PCOS can be overcome after strictly following oral hygiene measures.
RESUMEN
An originally isolated baculovirus, Spodoptera litura multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (SpltMNPV) was serially passed through the S. litura larvae for upto four generations to determine the mean number of occlusion bodies (OBs) harvested per larva and their efficacy in terms of infectivity, feeding cessation and speed of kill of host larvae. The results revealed that the mean number of OBs harvested per larva increased significantly with increase in the dose of SpltMNPV at each passage and the yield was significantly lower in original stock wild-type SpltMNPV (P0) as compared to serially passed SpltMNPV (P1, P2, P3 and P4). Laboratory bioassays indicate that median lethal doses (LD50), median times to feeding cessation (FT50) and median survival times (ST50) of P0, P1, P2, P3 and P4 were significantly different from each other. The OBs of each passage when tested for their cross-infectivity against Spodoptera exigua and Spilarctia obliqua revealed significant reduction in their mortality. These results indicate that serially passed SpltMNPV is more host specific and more effective biocontrol agent than the original stock wild-type virus and can be adopted for mass production as a viral pesticide for control of the S. litura.