Oral health knowledge and practices among primary healthcare workers in Shimla District, Himachal Pradesh, India

Primary healthcare workers being grassroot workers in rural areas can be effective in oral health promotion in these areas. Aim: To assess oral health knowledge and practices among primary healthcare workers in Shimla district in Himachal Pradesh. Setting and Design: A cross-sectional study. Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess oral health knowledge and practices of primary healthcare workers in Shimla using a self-administered questionnaire. Statistical Analysis Used: Data were analyzed using SPSS package version 16. The tests used were t-test and Fisher's exact test. A P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Of 130 subjects, there were 60 (46.2%) males and 70 (53.8%) females. The mean age of the population was 48.4 ± 5.9 with a range of 25–57. The mean knowledge score percent of the population was 51.9 ± 18.2. It was higher for males (52.3 ± 15.0) when compared with females (51.5 ± 20.7). The mean knowledge score percent was positively associated with education and negatively associated with age. Tooth brush was used by 97.7% and tooth paste by 121 (93.1%). The frequency of brushing twice was reported by 79 (60.8%). Conclusion: Though the overall knowledge about oral health is good among primary healthcare workers, the understanding about various aspects is lacking. Therefore, it is recommended that health workers should be given education to enhance knowledge and practices toward oral healthcare and to increase their screening capacity for common dental problem which will serve the community in long way.

Vegetarian Diets: Health Benefits and Associated Risks.

Recently, vegetarian diets have experienced an increase in popularity. A growing body of scientific evidence indicates that wholesome vegetarian diets offer distinct advantages compared to diets containing meat and other foods of animal origin. A vegetarian diet may be adopted for various reasons that can include ecological, economic, religious, ethical, and health considerations. In the latter case they arise from the desire to lose weight, in tackling obesity, improving physical fitness and/or in reducing the risk of acquiring certain diseases. It has been shown that properly applied vegetarian diet is the most effective way of reducing body mass (expressed as BMI), improving the plasma lipid profile and in decreasing the incidence of high arterial blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, stroke, metabolic syndrome and arteriosclerosis. In addition, improved insulin sensitivity together with lower rates of diabetes and cancer has been observed. Some studies have however found that a vegetarian diet may result in changes adversely affecting the body. These include: hyperhomocysteinemia, protein deficiency anemia, decreased creatinine content in muscles and menstrual disruption in women who undertake increased physical activity. Some of these changes may decrease the ability for performing activities that require physical effort. Nevertheless, on balance it can be reasonably concluded that the beneficial effects of a vegetarian diet significantly, by far, outweigh the adverse ones. It should also be noted that the term ‘vegetarian diet’ is not always clearly defined in the literature and it may include many dietary variations.

Cranial Index In North Indian Crania (Predominantly Haryanavi).

Shape of crania is seen by measuring cranial index in 150 (115 male and 35 female) crania. Crania were obtained from the department of Anatomy, Pt. B.D. Sharma PGIMS Rohtak. In males, 91.07 % crania were found dolichocephalic while in females 97.14% crania were dolichocephalic. Few crania were found mesocephalic (6.25% in males and 2.85% in females) in both sexes. None of female crania was seen as brachycephalic. Percentage obtained in present study is quite different from any other population studied as most of the crania were dolichocephalic. So it can be used as a tool to identify crania of this region.

Influence of behavioral determinants on deviation of body mass index among 12-15 years old school children of Panchkula / 한국역학회지

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the body mass index (BMI) and factors related to BMI in 12-15 years old adolescents attending school in the Panchkula district of Haryana, India. METHODS: Our multistage sampling method enrolled 810 adolescents. Demographic data and dietary history data over 5 days were recorded. Height and weight were measured to calculate BMI, which was further categorized according to the World Health Organization classification system. Diet was analysed using the Nizel criteria and socioeconomic status (SES) was assessed using Prasad's socioeconomic classification. The chi-squared test and analysis of variance test were performed, and a multinomial regression analysis was performed to find significant correlates with BMI. RESULTS: The prevalences of underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obesity were 13.6, 58.4, 22.7, and 5.3%, respectively. The prevalence of both overweight and obesity was higher among males than that among females. The overall food group, nutrient, sweet, and oral health diet scores were higher among overweight and obese adolescents. Adolescents attending public school were 2.62 times more likely than private school adolescents were to be underweight. Private school adolescents were 2.08 times more likely than public school adolescents were to be overweight. Those with a high SES, vegetarians, and those aged 15 years were highly likely to be obese. CONCLUSIONS: We found 41.6% of these adolescents to have a BMI that deviated from the norm. Important factors related with BMI were age, gender, socioeconomic score, mean daily diet score, and the type of school.

Ascorbic Acid Contents From Some Exotic Tree Species Growing in Rajasthan Desert.

Ascorbic acid contents of stems, leaves and fruits from four selected exotic tree species like Colophospermum mopane, Holoptelea integrifolia, Kigelia pinnata and Putranjiva roxburghii have been analysed. Maximum ascorbic acid contents were found in the fruits of Colophospermum mopane (42.10mg/100g.d.w.) while, minimum in the stems of Kigelia plnnata (22.15mg/100g.d.w).

Flavonoid Contents From Some Exotic Tree Species Growing In Rajasthan Desert.

Evaluation of flavonoid contents from four selected exotic tree species like Colophospermum mopane, Holoptelea integrifolia, Kigelia pinnata and Putranjiva roxburghii growing in Rajasthan Desert was carried out. The leaves of selected trees were analysed for flavonoid contents i.e. Quercetin and Kaempferol. Flavonoid contents like Quercetin and Kaempferol were isolated and identified. The maximum total flavonoid contents (17.10mg./gdw) was found in leaves of Putranjiva roxburghii while minimum (9.20mg./gdw) in leaves of Holoptelea integrifolia.

Antimicrobial Screening of Some Exotic Tree Species of Rajasthan Desert.

Antimicrobial screening of ethyl ether and alcoholic extracts of leaves of four selected exotic tree species growing in Rajasthan Desert was carried out. Colophospermum mopane, Holoptelea integrifolia, Kigelia pinnata and Putranjiva roxburghii showed positive reactions against bacterial pathogens i.e. Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and a fungal pathogen Candida albicans.