Tobacco Cessation Behavior Among Smoking and Smokeless Form Tobacco Users in the Indigenous Population of Ernakulam, India.

PURPOSE: Tobacco usage is the leading preventable cause of death in the world today. The tribes in Kuttampuzha region are the aboriginal tribal community found predominantly in the south Indian state of Kerala, India, and this study was conducted to identify tobacco cessation behavior in smoking and smokeless form of tobacco users among them. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional design survey was conducted among 516 indigenous community people of Kuttampuzha area of Kerala, India, for the outcome of quit attempts made by the current tobacco users. The sociodemographic variables and tobacco user data collected were subjected to statistical analysis using Open Source R Software. RESULTS: When considered the quit attempts among current smoking and smokeless form of tobacco users, a statistically significant difference was found in subjects who had quit attempts of 1 day or longer in the previous year (P = 0.01) than who were in groups of quit attempts more than 30 days or more than 6 months. Smokers had higher probability predicted of attempting quitting in comparison to smokeless form of tobacco users (odds ratio [OR] = 1.24, confidence interval [CI] = 1.09-1.39). The probability of doing a quit attempt was higher among users of tobacco who were having a comparatively higher socioeconomic status (OR = 1.30, CI = 1.12-1.48). CONCLUSION: This study provides useful insights into different determinants for quit attempts of tobacco users in South India, exploring the sociodemographic features of attempts to quit. International prevention and cessation initiatives will need to be customized to the social-cultural context of these primitive tribal areas of Kuttampuzha, Kerala, to help in prevention and cessation of tobacco usage.

Effectiveness of xylitol and polyol chewing gum on salivary streptococcus mutans in children: A randomized controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Dental caries is a multi-factorial, infectious disease, the prevention of which is based on multifaceted approaches. Chewing sugar-free gum has potential beneficial effects on dental health. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to assess and compare the effectiveness of xylitol and polyol chewing gums on salivary Streptococcus mutans in 12-15 years old schoolchildren residing in hostels in Belgaum city. The acceptability of the two chewing gums was also assessed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty children of 12-15 year age groups from three hostels, who fulfilled all the inclusion criteria, were included in this triple blind randomized controlled field trial. They were then randomly allocated into one of the three groups using lottery method. Xylitol chewing gum, polyol chewing gum and control group (no chewing gum). Patients were instructed to chew one pellet two times a day after meals for 5 min each for 30 days. Salivary samples were collected at baseline, 30 days after chewing gum use and 30 days after discontinuation, for microbiological analysis. The data were subjected to statistical analysis using SPSS software version 18. RESULTS: Chewing 100% xylitol chewing gum 2 times a day for 5 min for 30 days can successfully reduce salivary S. mutans counts. The xylitol gum has shown a maximum benefit against salivary S. mutans when compared to polyol gum and control group. CONCLUSION: Xylitol-containing chewing gums can be used as an adjunct to regular home care preventive procedures to prevent dental caries.

Assessment of Total Antioxidant Capacity and Antimicrobial Activity of Glycyrrhiza glabra in Saliva of HIV-Infected Patients.

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to evaluate the antimicrobial activity and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of licorice in Saliva of HIV/AIDS patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Saliva specimens were collected from 20 people living with HIV infection, with CD4 count <500 cells/mm3 from people infected with HIV/AIDS in Mangalore city, India. A combination of amoxicillin-clavulanic acid and nystatin was taken as the positive control and normal saline as negative control. Results were compared using one-way analysis of variance followed by Tukey's post hoc analysis in SPSS 19. RESULTS: The TAC was evaluated spectrophotometrically at 695nm using the phosphomolybdenum method. Glycyrrhiza glabra showed a statistically significant reduction (P < 0.05) in total Candida count. The TAC of G. glabra was found to be 4.467 mM/L. CONCLUSIONS: G. glabra extracts showed good anticandidal activity and also high antioxidant property which reduces the oxidative stress of HIV-infected people.

Screening in Public Health and Clinical Care: Similarities and Differences in Definitions, Types, and Aims - A Systematic Review.

INTRODUCTION: The concept of screening can be many times misleading to many people. This may be partly due to the way screening is described and explained in textbooks and journal articles. AIM: To review prominent public health and epidemiology textbooks, dictionaries, and relevant journal publications for definitions and examples of screening, with the aim of identifying common usages and concepts, as well as sources of potential confusion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Commonly available epidemiology and public health textbooks and peer reviewed journals were searched for definitions and examples of screening. The search located seven journal articles, 10 textbooks, and one dictionary. The search platforms used were Pubmed, BIOSIS, EMBASE, Medline-OVID and Scopus under the Epidemiology and Biostatics subject head listed with Life Sciences. RESULTS: Descriptions of screening give varying emphasis to whether it is a test or a program, the aims of screening, the setting in which it is conducted, eligibility criteria, who initiates and who is intended to benefit and whether the condition being screened is an infectious or chronic disease or a risk-elevated state. Four essentially different 'types' of screening are described, using seven terms and occasionally contradictory examples. The detection of asymptomatic infectious cases is gradually changing from screening to surveillance as part of infection control. CONCLUSION: Voluntary screening programs rely on high participation to be effective and support and trust of the public are essential for the continued success of the public health profession. Consistent terminology is important for patients, providers and policymakers to understand what screening is and is not. Clear definitions are needed if we are to evaluate and communicate the risks and benefits of screening in public health.

Association between Body Mass Index and Dental Caries among Anganwadi Children of Belgaum City, India.

INTRODUCTION: Body mass index (BMI) is an index that measures height for weight, which is commonly used to categorize underweight, overweight, and obese individuals. Deviation from normal weight results from an imbalance between caloric consumption and energy expenditure. Childhood obesity and childhood dental caries are coincidental in many populations, probably due to common confounding risk factors, such as intake frequency, cariogenic diet, and poor oral hygiene. So the aim of the present study was to assess the BMI status and to corelate between dental caries and BMI among the Anganwadi children of Belgaum city, Karnataka, India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four hundred and thirty three children from 20 Anganwadi's belonging to the age group of 2 to 6 years of both sexes were measured for BMI and dental caries status. The caries index was measured as the number of decayed (d) and filled (f) teeth (t) (dft). The BMI in units of kg/m2 was determined and children were categorized according to age-and gender-specific criteria as underweight (<5th percentile), normal (5th-85th percentile), at risk for overweight (85th- 95th percentile), and overweight (>95th percentile). The data were subjected to statistical analysis using Student's t-test, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Karl Pearson's correlation coefficient test with the help of Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 18.0. RESULTS: The proportion of subjects in Centre for Disease Control (CDC) weight categories was: 5% underweight, 79% normal, 9% under the risk for overweight, and 6% overweight. CONCLUSION: A significant association was found between children with normal BMI and those who were underweight, overweight, and under the risk for overweight. Children with overweight/obese or underweight/malnourished children had higher decayed and filled surfaces compared to children with normal weight. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Nutritional status has a profound effect on dental caries. Both underweight/malnutrition and overweight/ obesity have significant adverse implications for health. Childhood obesity and childhood dental caries are coincidental in many populations.

Occlusion calculator.

Start with end in mind' is a popular cliché in orthodontics. This aptly applies to the therapeutic occlusion the orthodontist strives to achieve. Predicting the post treatment occlusion is an essential component of treatment planning. When no extractions or symmetric extractions are done predicting the final occlusion is somewhat easy. Prediction is challenging when we do unconventional and/or asymmetric extractions. To aid this decision Kesling proposed the 'Kesling Setup'. Though it serves the purpose acceptably; it is time, energy and money consuming. We have developed a model which can help us visualize the final occlusion in matter of seconds. Although this model is primarily intended for orthodontic postgraduate teaching, it can be of considerable use even to a seasoned orthodontist. The regular use of "Orthodontic Calculator" in our department is a testimony to its usefulness.