Evaluation of Distortion in the Posterior Palatal Seal Area of Maxillary Cast by Different Adaptation Techniques of Denture Bases.

Aim: To evaluate and compare the amount of distortion in the posterior palatal seal area in V-shaped and U-shaped palatal form of maxillary cast by different adaptation techniques of maxillary denture bases. Materials and Methods: A total of 60 stone casts were made, out of which 30 identical stone casts of U-shaped palatal form and 30 identical stone casts of V-shaped palatal form of maxillary casts were prepared. The 30 stone casts of U-shaped palatal form and 30 stone casts of V-shaped palatal forms were divided into three groups for measurements to be done. Data were statistically analyzed by using two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) without replication. Results: Discrepancies of fit of dentures on U-shaped casts and V-shaped casts of Groups 1, 2, and 3 in transverse and sagittal sections were measured, and comparative statistical analysis between Group 1&2, Group 1&3, and Group 2&3 was done for statistical significant values. Conclusion: Discrepancy in the central region was maximum, and the anchoring methods Group 2 and Group 3 produced a significantly better adaptation than the conventional method (Group 1). The adaptations for V-shaped palate were better when compared with U-shaped palate in the central region.

"Now What?" to "So What!": Journey with Perinatally HIV Infected Adolescents Transitioning to Adulthood.

Adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) struggle with questions pertaining to their future; contemplating "Now what?" The authors, a nongovernmental organization from India, designed residential workshops for ALHIV to provide them the space to share concerns and draw support from peers. This increased their self-belief and agency, induced voluntarism, and resulted in formation of a support group, "So What!" The members volunteered in planning a similar workshop for their peers and also shared their experiences of disclosure in the form of a booklet. Active involvement of ALHIV could be a key strategy to address the needs of ALHIV.

HIV testing among pregnant women living with HIV in India: are private healthcare providers routinely violating women's human rights?

BACKGROUND: In India, approximately 49,000 women living with HIV become pregnant and deliver each year. While the government of India has made progress increasing the availability of prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) services, only about one quarter of pregnant women received an HIV test in 2010, and about one-in-five that were found positive for HIV received interventions to prevent vertical transmission of HIV. METHODS: Between February 2012 to March 2013, 14 HIV-positive women who had recently delivered a baby were recruited from HIV positive women support groups, Government of India Integrated Counseling and Testing Centers, and nongovernmental organizations in Mysore and Pune, India. In-depth interviews were conducted to examine their general experiences with antenatal healthcare; specific experiences around HIV counseling and testing; and perceptions about their care and follow-up treatment. Data were analyzed thematically using the human rights framework for HIV testing adopted by the United Nations and India's National AIDS Control Organization. RESULTS: While all of the HIV-positive women in the study received HIV and PMTCT services at a government hospital or antiretroviral therapy center, almost all reported attending a private clinic or hospital at some point in their pregnancy. According to the participants, HIV testing often occurred without consent; there was little privacy; breaches of confidentiality were commonplace; and denial of medical treatment occurred routinely. Among women living with HIV in this study, violations of their human rights occurred more commonly in private rather than public healthcare settings. CONCLUSIONS: There is an urgent need for capacity building among private healthcare providers to improve standards of practice with regard to informed consent process, HIV testing, patient confidentiality, treatment, and referral of pregnant women living with HIV.

Cone beam computed tomography: third eye in diagnosis and treatment planning.

Orthodontic treatment of adult patients with complex dental problems is done in interdisciplinary teams where different specialists of dental medicine have to manage a vast quantity of data. In such complicated cases good diagnostic tools and easy communication are essential Computer science has an increasing impact in almost every aspect of the orthodontic practice, research and education. Within the past decade, technology termed "cone beam computed tomography" (CBCT) has evolved that allows 3-D visualization of the oral and maxillofacial complex from any plane. With the development of Cone Beam Computed Tomography, there has been a drastic reduction in radiation exposure to the patient, which allows its use for safely obtaining three dimensional images of the craniofacial structures. This should allow the clinician to visualize the hard and soft tissues of the craniofacial region from multiple perspectives, which could have far-reaching implications for treatment planning in orthodontics and orthognathic surgery. This paper shall discuss in detail the principles of the cone beam computed tomography and its applications in the field of orthodontics.