Substance use and oral health sensations among substance users residing in rehabilitation centres in an Indian City

Background: The term substance is usually used to address psychoactive/psychotropic drugs which include both licit and illicit drugs. These substances have varied consequences, including long?term and short?term effects, which include sensations post?consumption. Aim: To determine patterns of substance use and short?term oral health effects among substance users. Materials and Methods: A self?administered questionnaire?based study was conducted on the inmates of drug deaddiction and rehabilitation centres in Bhubaneswar city. Results: All the subjects were males and majority (60.6%) were polydrug users. Alcohol (87.3%) was the most commonly used substance, followed by ganja (57%), bhang (35.3%) and brown sugar (33%). A wide range of oral health sensations like dryness of mouth, taste change, numbness in mouth, feeling like chewing something, loose teeth and stammering/difficulty in speaking were found to be significantly associated with substance use. The age of start of substance use (P < 0.0001), socioeconomic status (P = 0.026) and marital status (P < 0.0001) were significantly associated with the pattern of substance use. About 37.6% of inmates felt that they had very good oral health before starting drug use, while only 15.4% described their oral health as very good at present. Having no oral health problem was the most common reason for not visiting a dentist, followed by ignorant attitude towards oral health. Conclusion: A wide range of oral health sensations were found to be caused due to substance use. Understanding of oral health sensations can aid practitioners detect and report cases of substance use in its early phase.

Does health seeking behaviour influences on quality of life of type II diabetes patients, an untouched area in diabetes, study done in JSS Hospital, Mysore

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a multisystem disorder associated with number of complications. If patients are to contribute to the effective control of diabetes, awareness and practices can assist in reducing the incidence of its complications.Methods: A cross-sectional study of 200 type II diabetic patients at JSS Hospital, Mysuru was conducted, assessment of health seeking behaviour using semi structured questionnaire was done. Quality of life was assessed using WHO QOL-BREF Questionnaire.Results: Among 200 study participants 53.5% belongs to age group 41-60, 57.5% were males, 44.5% were having family history of diabetes, 68.5% were on oral hypoglycemic agents. 163 (81.5%) were anxious when they were diagnosed as diabetics, 123 (61.5%) were influenced by themselves to go for investigations, 68 (34%)were influenced by Doctors, 131 (65.5%) had no money as the barrier to attend hospital for check-up, 186 (93%) visit hospital once in less than 3 months, 180 (90%) of them believed oral drugs are the treatment for diabetes, 188 (94%) prefer Allopathic medicine. Association between initial response on diagnosis and interval for regular monitoring with Quality of life of diabetic patients was statically significant (p?0.05).Conclusions: Health seeking behaviour is an important determinant of controlled glycaemic status and Quality of life of people living with diabetes.

Schoolbag weight limit: should there be a cut off?

Background: School children are at a development age and it is important that they do not carry excessive loads. Heavy school bags can change the body posture and the musculoskeletal system must react appropriately in order to compensate for this stress. There is still no consensus about a guideline for weight of school bags. The objective of the present study was to asses the bag weight in school going children, Compare the bag weight with the whole-body weight of children, Percentage of bag weight to whole body weight at different age groups.Methods: 727 children (413 males and 314 girls) were examined from different schools in Davangere. Descriptive analyses and measures of central tendency were performed on the demographic data to describe the sample.Results: Overall 21.7% of children carry a bag which is >25% of their body weight, 46.5% children are carrying a bag >20% of their body weight and 74.7% of children carry a bag of >15% of their body weight. 40.9% children between 8-10 years carry bag of >25% and 39.8% of them between 11 -13 years carry bag of >20% and this is statistically significant (p = 0.000).Conclusions: The weight of schoolbags of school children were higher than the internationally acceptable standards in majority of school children. The school authorities and ministry of health should further evaluate and take the necessary steps to rectify the situation. Early intervention and good regulation can prevent long term complication.

Knowledge, Attitude And Practice Of The Dental Practitioners Towards Orthodontic Root Resorption: A Questionnaire Study.

Background: Today’s community is becoming more concern with the aesthetics and therefore orthodontics is coming into focus. With increasing numbers of patients receiving orthodontic treatment and with increased expectations, the adverse consequences of treatment should be emphasized. External apical root resorption is an iatrogenic consequence of orthodontic treatment, although it can also occur in the absence of orthodontic treatment. Thus every dental practitioner and orthodontist should know the risk factors of root resorption, so that he or she can do everything to reduce the occurrence of root resorption. Methodology: The study was consisted of 50 participants including of general dental practitioners and orthodontists. Study was carried out with the help of specially designed 12 questionnaires, which were validated by doing pilot study. Results: In the present study, 88% participants had knowledge about the fact of orthodontic root resorption and about 31% had come across such situations in their practice. Many of the participants were not having the knowledge of the etiological and other factors associated with the condition. Conclusion: Results of the present study were shown that, though root resorption induced by the orthodontic treatment is commonly seen among the community, many of them were not aware of the sufficient knowledge, attitude and practice towards this adverse situation.

Effect of extraction versus non-extraction orthodontic treatment on anterior facial height in class II division 1 malocclusion.

Background: Extraction of all 1st premolars in the orthodontic treatment of Class II div 1 malocclusion has been associated with a decrease in vertical dimension of occlusion thus predisposing the patient to TMJ disorders. Objectives: To evaluate the vertical changes occurring in patients having class II div 1 malocclusion, treated orthodontically with 1st premolar extractions & compare these changes with those occurring in patients treated orthodontically without extractions. Method: Pre-treatment & Post-treatment Lateral Cephalogram radiograph of 11 patients having CL-II div1 malocclusion treated without extraction and 16 patients treated with the extraction of all 1st premolars were analyzed and compared to observe the changes in the anterior facial height. Result: the orthodontic treatment of Cl-II div 1 malocclusion cases treated with a non-extraction approach leads to a statistically significant increase in the anterior facial height due to the downward & backward rotation of the mandible. The cases treated with the extraction of all 1st premolars also show the statically significant increase in the anterior facial height but this increase was less than that observed for the non-extraction group. Conclusion: this study does not support the theory that the first premolar extractions reduce the vertical dimension of occlusion and predispose the extraction patients to TMJ disorders.

Alloimmune and Skin Allograft Responses in 4-1BB (CD137)-deficient Mice

BACKGROUND: The costimulatory molecule 4-1BB, a member of nerve growth factor receptor/tumor necrosis factor (NGFR/TNFR) super family, is involved in cell survival and death. METHODS: In this study, female C57BL/6 (H-2(b)) mice were used as a recipient, and DBA/2 (H-2(d)) as a donor to assess a mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) and CTL response in vitro, and skin graft survival. IL-2, IFN level was measured by ELISA. RESULTS: Mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) analysis showed that 4-1BB- deficient responder cells showed enhanced cellular proliferation over littermate controls. In contrast, IL-2 production was diminished only in 4-1BB knockout cultures. The IFN expression, on the other hand, was comparable between the groups. When female C57BL/6 (H-2(b)) mice were grafted with the trunk skin of DBA/2 (H-2d) mice, the in vivo tissue destruction of 4-1BB-deficient mice was not distinct from the normal littermates. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that 4-1BB is critical for the induction of alloreactive responses in vitro but 4-1BB alone could not change the course of skin rejection in vivo.

Alloimmune and Skin Allograft Responses in 4-1BB (CD137)-deficient Mice

BACKGROUND: The costimulatory molecule 4-1BB, a member of nerve growth factor receptor/tumor necrosis factor (NGFR/TNFR) super family, is involved in cell survival and death. METHODS: In this study, female C57BL/6 (H-2(b)) mice were used as a recipient, and DBA/2 (H-2(d)) as a donor to assess a mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) and CTL response in vitro, and skin graft survival. IL-2, IFN level was measured by ELISA. RESULTS: Mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) analysis showed that 4-1BB- deficient responder cells showed enhanced cellular proliferation over littermate controls. In contrast, IL-2 production was diminished only in 4-1BB knockout cultures. The IFN expression, on the other hand, was comparable between the groups. When female C57BL/6 (H-2(b)) mice were grafted with the trunk skin of DBA/2 (H-2d) mice, the in vivo tissue destruction of 4-1BB-deficient mice was not distinct from the normal littermates. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that 4-1BB is critical for the induction of alloreactive responses in vitro but 4-1BB alone could not change the course of skin rejection in vivo.