Cortical suspensory endobutton versus aperture interference screw fixation for arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using hamstring graft: a prospective study

Background: Anterior cruciate ligament injury is a common injury which occurs in sports with an annual incidence of 68.6% per 100,000 population. Anatomic arthroscopic reconstruction remains the main stay treatment of ACL injury. Fixation of graft is classified as direct and indirect. To compare the stability of knee joint, complications in arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction by aperture interference screw fixation versus suspensory device fixation in femur. Methods: The randomized control study was conducted in department of orthopedics, The Oxford Medical College Hospital and RC from 2020-2021. 30 knees were operated, Ethical clearance taken and patient is followed up for six months. Results: The preoperative Tegner Lysholm knee score was poor in both groups. Post-op in interference screw group, 12 patients 80% had excellent functional outcome, 3 patients 20% had good outcome. In the Endbutton group, 11 patients (73%) had excellent outcome while 4 patients (27%) had good outcome. Conclusions: Suspensory device fixation gives equivalent results when compared to aperture screw fixation. complications of screw fixation were graft rupture cyst formation; complications of suspensory devices were loosening of graft and bungee cord effect. Hence, Both the techniques showed no statistical difference in post operative outcome.

Cortical suspensory endobutton versus aperture interference screw fixation for arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using hamstring graft: a prospective study

Background: Anterior cruciate ligament injury is a common injury which occurs in sports with an annual incidence of 68.6% per 100,000 population. Anatomic arthroscopic reconstruction remains the main stay treatment of ACL injury. Fixation of graft is classified as direct and indirect. To compare the stability of knee joint, complications in arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction by aperture interference screw fixation versus suspensory device fixation in femur. Methods: The randomized control study was conducted in department of orthopedics, The Oxford Medical College Hospital and RC from 2020-2021. 30 knees were operated, Ethical clearance taken and patient is followed up for six months. Results: The preoperative Tegner Lysholm knee score was poor in both groups. Post-op in interference screw group, 12 patients 80% had excellent functional outcome, 3 patients 20% had good outcome. In the Endbutton group, 11 patients (73%) had excellent outcome while 4 patients (27%) had good outcome. Conclusions: Suspensory device fixation gives equivalent results when compared to aperture screw fixation. complications of screw fixation were graft rupture cyst formation; complications of suspensory devices were loosening of graft and bungee cord effect. Hence, Both the techniques showed no statistical difference in post operative outcome.

Evaluation of certain important biochemical parameters of four tropical earthworms in response to soil moisture and temperature variations

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the variation in certain biochemical parameters of the earthworms, Drawida willsi (Sp1), Glyphidrilus tuberosus (Sp2), Lampito mauritii (Sp3) and Perionyx excavates (Sp4) in response to seasonal soil moisture and temperature alterations.Methodology: Soil moisture and temperatures were measured by digital moisture meter and thermometers, respectively. The sampling of earthworms was done following quadrat method during dry and wet seasons from three agro-climatic zones (Balasore (Z1), Sambalpur (Z2) and Nayagarh (Z3) of Odisha, India. Tissue protein, LPX level, catalase, acetylcholinesterase and lactate dehydrogenase activities were estimated spectrophotometrically. Results: Significant variation (P< 0.05) in soil moisture and temperature were noticed between dry and wet seasons in all the agro-climatic zones. All the earthworm species indicated lower protein level, acetylcholinesterase activity, higher lipid peroxidation, LDH and catalase activity in dry season relative to wet seasons. Soil moisture indicated significant positive correlation (P< 0.05) with tissue protein of Sp1 (r=0.59), Sp2 (r=0.64), and Sp4 (r=0.55) of Z1, Sp2 (r=0.63) and Sp4 (r=0.67) of Z2 and Sp2 (r=0.58) and Sp3 (r=0.65) of Z3. Soil temperature showed significant negative correlation (P< 0.05) with tissue protein of Sp3 (r= -0.51) of Z1, Sp2 (r= -0.56) and Sp4 (r= -0.69) of Z2 and Sp1(r= -0.54) of Z 3. Interpretation: Enhanced physiological stress level caused due to moisture deprivation could influence synthesis and storage of protein with enzyme activities.

Evaluating the effect of monocrotophos and glyphosate on microbial population and certain important exoenzyme activities in soil

Aim: The study aimed to evaluate the effects of various concentrations of organophosphate agrochemicals, namely monocrotophos and glyphosate on soil chemical parameters, microbial population and activities of certain vital exoenzymes e.g. invertase, amylase, cellulase, dehydrogenase and protease at 7 days interval over an incubation period of 84 days. Methodology: Three concentrations of monocrotophos (1.0 g kg-1 soil-low T1, 2.0 g kg-1 soil-medium T2, 3.0 g kg-1 soil-high T3) and glyphosate (0.1 g kg-1 soil-low T1, 0.15 g kg-1 soil-medium T2, 0.2 g kg-1 soil-high T3) were applied to soil. Soil pH, electrical conductivity, organic carbon (OC), available nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium (NPK) were assessed. Bacterial and fungal population along with activities of exoenzymes were also studied. Data were analysed using two way ANOVA and Duncan's multiple range test (DMRT). Results: Significant variations (p<0.05) of chemical parameters, except P and K, in treated soil between concentrations and time over the incubation period were observed. Microbial population and exoenzymes showed significant variations (p<0.05) in response to agrochemical treatments. Invariably, lower microbial load and enzyme activities were noticed in treated soil relative to control. Interpretation: The study indicated that monocrotophos and glyphosate at recommended and elevated concentrations in soil could adversely impact microbial growth. Inhibited microbial population culminated in lower exoenzyme activity

A systematic analysis on possibility of water fluoridation causing hypothyroidism

Community water fluoridation is widely used worldwide and its role in preventive dental health care is well established. However, there is sufficient evidence of the ill effects of excessive fluoride content in water, causing skeletal and dental fluorosis. Alongside, there was also extraskeletal and dental manifestations of excessive fluorides reported. They include the effect on thyroid function, but the literature regarding this is sparse. Aim: The present systematic review aims to analyze the data from controlled studies about the effect of fluoride on thyroid function. Materials and Methods: A systematic literature search was performed using PUBMED, MEDLINE, EMBASE, COCHRANE Library, EBSCO search, and the internet search, with language restriction to English. The search included published studies which dealt with the association of fluorine with hypothyroidism, from January 1981 to November 2015. Literature search was done using keywords: fluoride and hypothyroidism, dental fluorosis and thyroid disorders, systemic fluorosis and thyroid disease, excessive water fluoridation and hypothyroidism, thyroid and fluoride, fluorosis and its adverse effects. Results: Out of 166 publications, related to search strategy, 37 full articles which were related with the association of fluoride and hypothyroidism were acquired for further inspection. Out of the 37 articles, 10 articles met the inclusion criteria. The data were extracted and placed in an excel sheet and were analyzed. The analysis suggested a positive correlation of excess fluoride and hypothyroidism. Conclusion: The present systematic review suggests a positive correlation between excess fluoride and hypothyroidism. This calls the need for further well-controlled studies in this otherwise emerging alarming issue. It also calls for considerable community network through health informatics for problem sensitization.

Role of Tumor Markers in Oral Cancer: An Overview.

The oral mucosa represents the first part of the digestive tract and is exposed to various exogenous toxins. Exposure for longer duration can lead to changes that lead to potentially malignant diseases or cancers / Tumors. Eventually these can be diagnosed by routine histopathology, but few of them are difficult to diagnose by this method alone. There arises the role of tumor markers in distinguishing different pathologies is well established. A marker can be described as some inconspicuous object used to distinguish or mark certain things. Mostly tumor markers are proteins and these markers may be detected within exfoliated or distributed cells, or as circulating agents within the peripheral blood or plasma. In the recent years, there is a renewed interest about tumor markers, providing window of opportunity for management of cancer patients by enhancing the efficiency in detection and treatment plan. Recent technological advancement has enabled the examination of many potential markers. This paper focuses on the tumor markers in the head and neck neoplasm.

Basic life support knowledge of first-year university students from Brazil

We aimed to evaluate knowledge of first aid among new undergraduates and whether it is affected by their chosen course. A questionnaire was developed to assess knowledge of how to activate the Mobile Emergency Attendance Service - MEAS (Serviço de Atendimento Móvel de Urgência; SAMU), recognize a pre-hospital emergency situation and the first aid required for cardiac arrest. The students were also asked about enrolling in a first aid course. Responses were received from 1038 of 1365 (76.04%) new undergraduates. The questionnaires were completed in a 2-week period 1 month after the beginning of classes. Of the 1038 respondents (59.5% studying biological sciences, 11.6% physical sciences, and 28.6% humanities), 58.5% knew how to activate the MEAS/SAMU (54.3% non-biological vs 61.4% biological, P=0.02), with an odds ratio (OR)=1.39 (95%CI=1.07-1.81) regardless of age, sex, origin, having a previous degree or having a relative with cardiac disease. The majority could distinguish emergency from non-emergency situations. When faced with a possible cardiac arrest, 17.7% of the students would perform chest compressions (15.5% non-biological vs 19.1% biological first-year university students, P=0.16) and 65.2% would enroll in a first aid course (51.1% non-biological vs 74.7% biological, P<0.01), with an OR=2.61 (95%CI=1.98-3.44) adjusted for the same confounders. Even though a high percentage of the students recognized emergency situations, a significant proportion did not know the MEAS/SAMU number and only a minority had sufficient basic life support skills to help with cardiac arrest. A significant proportion would not enroll in a first aid course. Biological first-year university students were more prone to enroll in a basic life support course.

Effect of phosphogypsum amendment on soil physico-chemical properties, microbial load and enzyme activities.

Phosphogypsum (PG) is produced as a solid waste from phosphatic fertilizer plants. The waste slurry is disposed off in settling ponds or in heaps .This solid waste is now increasingly being used as a calcium supplement in agriculture. This study reports the effect of PG amendment on soil physico chemical properties, bacterial and fungal count and activities of soil enzymes such as invertase, cellulase and amylase over an incubation period of 28 days. The highest mean percent carbon loss (55.98%) was recorded in 15% PG amended soil followed by (55.28%) in 10% PG amended soil and the minimum (1.68%) in control soil. The highest number of bacterial colonies (47.4 CFU g-1 soil), fungal count (17.8 CFU g-1 soil), highest amylase activity (38.4 ?g g-1 soil hr-1) and cellulase activity (38.37 ?g g-1 soil hr-1) were recorded in 10% amended soil . Statistically significant difference (p<0.05) has been recorded in the activities of amylase and cellulase over the period of incubation irrespective of amendments. Considering the bacterial and fungal growth and the activities of the three soil enzymes in the control and amended sets, it appears that 10% PG amendment is optimal for microbial growth and soil enzyme activities.

Lycopene in the management of oral lichen planus: A placebo-controlled study.

Context: Oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathogenesis of lichen planus, and a lower level of lycopene has been reported in erosive and atrophic oral lichen planus (OLP) patients. However, its efficacy in the management of OLP has not been reported. Aim: This study was designed to assess the efficacy of systemic lycopene in the management of OLP. Settings and Design: This prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was done in the Oral Medicine Department of a postgraduate teaching dental hospital in India. Materials and Methods: Thirty symptomatic OLP patients, randomly divided into two groups of 15 each, were administered lycopene 8 mg/day and an identical placebo, respectively, for 8 consecutive weeks. Burning sensation using visual analogue scale and overall treatment response using Tel Aviv-San Francisco scale were recorded at every visit. The data obtained were analyzed statistically using Wilcoxon Rank test, Mann-Whitney and Fischer's Exact test. Results: A higher (84%) reduction in burning sensation was seen in lycopene than in the placebo group (67%). All 15 (100%) patients in the lycopene group showed 50% or more benefit and 11 (73.3%) patients showed 70-100% benefit, while this number was only 10 and 4 (26.7%), respectively, in the placebo group. Conclusion: Lycopene was very effective in the management of OLP, and oxidative stress may have a role in disease pathogenesis.