Behavioral therapy and pharmacotherapy: A case report on right approach for tobacco cessation.

Tobacco is one of the leading causes of various types of cancer, and more than five million people die globally from its ill-effects every year. It is reported that by the year 2040, tobacco-related deaths will exceed ten million annually. Smoking cessation programs are considered very useful in helping tobacco users to quit, but it is a very difficult addiction to break; thus effective approaches are required. The authors present a case of an 84-year-old male patient who was a chronic smoker and used to smoke 35-40 bidis per day. He started to notice the physical addiction and withdrawal symptoms due to which he was not able to quit tobacco on his own. After expert counselling, his habit of smoking gradually decreased and after a few months, he was able to quit tobacco completely with the help of behavioral modification and pharmacotherapy.

Assessment of validity and reliability of Kvaal's method for age estimation among a population sample - A retrospective study.

OBJECTIVES: The present research was carried out with an aim to estimate and correlate chronological age and estimated age by Kvaal's Method in North Indian population using digital panoramic radiography. Further, the study was an attempt to evaluate the reliability of Kvaal's method for age estimation and to arrive at a population-specific regression equation. MATERIALS AND METHOD: One hundred digital orthopantomograms of participants aged between 20 and 70 years of age were selected. The evaluation of 6 teeth according to Kvaal's method was carried out using measure tool of Sidexis Software (provided by the manufacturer). Correlation coefficient was carried out between chronological age and estimated age and further regression analysis was carried out for obtaining a population specific regression equation. RESULTS: It was observed that coefficient of determination (R2) is highest (0.223) for mandibular canine which indicates that age can be better estimated with this particular tooth. CONCLUSION: It was observed that large variations between the chronological and estimated age were not found. Also, Kvaal's formula proved accurate for estimating age using all the six selected teeth. Thus, it was concluded that mandibular canine would be the better tooth for age estimation, followed by maxillary second premolar and maxillary three teeth taken together.

Women and Tobacco Use: Discrepancy in the Knowledge, Belief and Behavior towards Tobacco Consumption among Urban and Rural Women in Chhattisgarh, Central India.

BACKGROUND: Tobacco consumption has become pandemic, and is estimated to have killed 100 million people in the 20th century worldwide. Some 700,000 out of 5.4 million deaths due to tobacco use were from India. The era of global modernization has led to an increase in the involvement of women in tobacco consumption in the low income and middle-income countries. Tobacco consumption by females is known to have grave consequences. OBJECTIVES: To assess: (1) the tobacco use among urban and rural women; (2) the discrepancy in the knowledge, belief and behavior towards tobacco consumption among urban and rural women in Durg-Bhilai Metropolitan, Chhattisgarh, Central India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study population consisted of 2,000 18-25 year old young women from Durg-Bhilai Metropolitan, Chhattisgarh, Central India, from both urban and rural areas. Data were collected using a pretested, anonymous, extensive face to face interview by a female investigator to assess the tobacco use among women and the discrepancy in the knowledge, belief and behavior towards tobacco consumption among urban and rural individuals. RESULTS: The prevalence of tobacco use was found to be 47.2%. Tobacco consumption among rural women was 54.4% and in urban women was 40%. The majority of the women from urban areas (62.8%) were smokers whilst rural women (77.4%) showed preponderance toward smokeless tobacco use. Urban women had a better knowledge and attitude towards harms from tobacco and its use than the rural women. Women in rural areas had higher odds (1.335) of developing tobacco habit than the urban women. CONCLUSIONS: Increased tobacco use by women poses very severe hazards to their health, maternal and child health, and their family health and economic well-being. Due to the remarkably complex Indian picture of female tobacco use, an immediate and compulsory implementation of tobacco control policies laid down by the WHO FCTC is the need of the hour.