Dental phobia among orthodontic patients

A Phobia is an intense, unpleasant feeling which may prohibit patients from orthodontic treatment. To evaluate different types of dental phobia in patients undergoing orthodontic treatment. Descriptive cross- sectional study. Peshawar Dental College Hospital, Peshawar. Duration of study was from August, 2014 to February, 2015. Both males and females reporting for orthodontic treatment that consented to participate in the study were included. All patients were interviewed regarding their fears about the said treatment using structured questionnaire. The information was classified into 3 groups as strongly phobic, moderate phobic and not phobic. A total of 110 patients were selected for the study. Strong phobia was observed in 56%, moderate in 18% whereas 26% were not having phobia. Besides, dental phobia was same at different stages of treatment, higher in the adolescent age and more in females as compared to males. Confidence to ask questions from the dentists was observed in 20% patients. Eighty percent patients were satisfied from the attitude and way of treatment of the orthodontists. Orthodontists should recognize the existence of dental phobia in patients coming for treatment. To reduce phobia, they need to develop skill to communicate effectively with the patients before undertaking any treatment

Pattern of cigarette smoking among college students of Mardan

Cigarette smoking habit is mostly acquired during college and later it becomes an addiction leading to high morbidity and premature death. To determine the pattern of cigarette smoking among college students of Mardan and factors that encourages its use. Cross-sectional study, done in 2014 in seven colleges of Mardan over 3 months period. All students were encouraged to participate and fill the questionnaire. The data on smoking pattern, contributing factors to the habit, peak time/ places of smoking, sources of hazards awareness, and number of cigarettes smoked per day, reasons for smoking, not smoking and quitting were collected through a pre-tested questionnaire. The data were entered in the computer and analyzed using means and percentages. A total of 954 students returned the filled questionnaire. Their ages ranged between 17 and 24 years with male to female ratio of 5:1. Out of the total, 31.2% were smokers, 2.2% ex-smokers and 66.6% non-smokers. The habit was found more common in students whose fathers or brothers were smokers and many students acquired this habit for charm and relaxation. Most smokers consumed less than 10 cigarettes per day. No female student was a smoker or ex- smoker. Significantly less smoking [p < 0.05] was observed in one institute as compared to other six institutes because of strict discipline. Most of the smokers started smoking after entry in the college life. Smoking was more in boarding students, those whose mothers were working and those living in the urban areas. Non-smokers and ex-smokers avoided cigarettes either due to family pressure, religion or its adverse effects on health. Females had significantly [p < 0.05] more knowledge about tobacco hazards as compared to males and most students mentioned that doctors were their main source of awareness. Ahnost 31.2% students in various colleges of Mardan were smokers. Smoking was not seen in female students. Most boys [68%] started smoking when they entered the college [first year]. Health awareness, family support, religious knowledge and strict discipline in the colleges were the main reasons to not to smoke or quit smoking

Immunological study of type 2 diabetic patients with periodontal disease

To evaluate the IgA, IgG and IgM levels in the serum samples of type 2 diabetic and Periodontal patients of the Peshawar area having different life style set up. Case control study. This study was carried out on subjects who fulfilled our criteria and agreed to participate in the study were included. They were residents of Peshawar area and visited OPDs of Khyber College of dentistry, Peshawar during July, 2012 to June, 2013. Among 120 participants, 30 were healthy, 30 were with periodontitis, 30 had diabetes and the remaining 30 had both diabetes and periodontitis. All of them had at least 20 natural teeth. Diabetic patients had the disease history minimum of five years while the periodontal patients had clinically confirmed the disease. Blood samples were collected from each of the participant and immunoglobulins A, G and M were measured. The observed data were analyzed accordingly through standard statistical methods. Male patients were found more as compared to females [ratio 1: 0.87] in the two diseases. The age range was 35 to 54 years with the mean 44 +/- 5. As per HBA1C results; 40% had good control of diabetes, 26% moderate while in 34% control was poor. Immunoglobulin A and G levels were found significantly higher [p < 0.05] in the three disease groups as compared to control group. Whereas the concentration of IgM was not changed by the said diseases. Besides, the gender has no influence on the levels of the three immunoglobulins. The IgG levels increased with the increase in severity of the Periodontitis disease. While IgA showed slight decrease with the increase in clinical grades of the Diabetes disease. The result of the current study indicates the role of humoral immune response in the two mentioned diseases. The higher levels of immunoglobins particularly IgA and IgG might be due to protective mechanism against the weak immune response and the increased bacterial challenge in diabetes and periodontitis

Miscellaneous liver diseases in infancy and childhood in several hospitals

Most of the liver diseases are different in pediatric age group, as compared to those in adult in many respects. Beside inflammatory, neoplastic and metabolic liver diseases; pediatric liver diseases also exhibit specific features of genetic predisposition, as well as environmental or other acquired diseases. In congenital diseases choledochal cyst, biliary atresia and cholestasis are included. While in environmental or acquired/nutritional diseases, fatty change liver and Kawashiorkor are found. A study is done to overview the miscellaneous congenital and acquired liver diseases in infancy and childhood which are important but less common as compare to inflammatory, metabolic and other liver diseases. Retrospective Study. This study was conducted at Department of Pathology, Basic Medical Science Institute [BMSI], Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center, Karachi from 1995 to 2004. Slides / paraffin blocks of liver biopsies were taken from patients under 15 years of age. The cases were retrospective. The distribution of 100 cases of miscellaneous liver diseases in infancy and childhood were according to age and sex. Total 48 [48%] cases were encountered in the youngest of 0-5 year's age group, 36 [36%] cases in 6-10 years and only 16 [16%] cases in 11-15 years age group. It is observed that the tendency of miscellaneous liver diseases are higher up till 5 years of age and sexual differentiation showing male predominance with male to female ratio of 3:2. The miscellaneous liver diseases in younger children, may be congenital like biliary atresia, intra hepatic biliary hypoplasia and cholestasis or acquired; like tuberculosis and the Kawashiorkor [malnutrition].These are well known in third world countries and in Pakistan

Pattern of cigarette smoking among college students of Quetta

Cigarette smoking habit is developed more at the young age, hazardous to health and causes premature mortality. To determine the pattern of cigarette smoking and factors contributing to the said habit among college students of Quetta. Randomized study. This study was conducted at the Bolan Medical College, Quetta during the academic year 2010-2011. a total of 850 students from different colleges of Quetta were randomly selected during the academic year 2010-2011. Prevalence and influence of factors associated with the cigarette smoking were recorded on a predesigned questionnaire. The collected data was analyzed with the help of statistical procedures. Out of the total, 122 students were smokers, 23 ex-smokers and 705 non-smokers. Smokers had the habit for charm and relaxation. While non-smokers and ex-smokers avoided cigarettes use due to family blame, religion and its adverse effect on health. Besides, the habit was found more common among students whose fathers and brothers were smokers. Majority of them knew the hazards and very little number was smoking in the public places. Young age and transition period from school to college is a critical time to adopt the habit of cigarette smoking, hence needs an immense attention of the authority designing tobacco control policies. Healthy recreational activities, awareness programs related to its hazards, non-smoking home environment, increased tax and ban on its advertisements are the essential measures, which can minimize the habit. In addition, the present basic work would serve as a template to conduct further advanced studies on this line