Intraocular Pressure Changes While Reading Smartphone Digital Text Versus Printed Text in Healthy Individuals and those with Glaucoma.

PRCIS: Reading results in a rise in intraocular pressure (IOP) which is greater while using smartphones compared with printed text among healthy and individuals with medically controlled primary open angle glaucoma (POAG). PURPOSE: To compare the effect of reading for 30 minutes using smartphone and printed text on IOP. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty healthy volunteers and 22 patients with medically controlled POAG were asked to perform reading tasks using printed text followed by digital (smartphone) text under standardized conditions. IOP assessment was done using a rebound tonometer at baseline and subsequently at 10, 20, and 30 minutes of reading and 10 and 20 minutes post completion of reading tasks. IOP variations from baseline were measured and compared. Paired and independent ' T ' test analysis was performed to study IOP variations, and a P -value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The mean baseline IOP among volunteers and patients withPOAG was 14.58 (±2.91) and 15.02 (±2.18) mmHg, respectively. There was a rise in IOP in all participants with reading using either of the modalities, which normalized after 20 minutes of cessation. There was a statistically significant difference in rise in IOP from baseline between the 2 modalities (printed text reading and smartphone reading) at 20 minutes {+0.78 & +2.01 ( P =0.002)} and 30 minutes {+0.64 & +1.72 ( P =0.004)} among healthy volunteers and at 20 minutes {+0.78 & +2.01 ( P =0.002)} among POAG patients. CONCLUSION: Reading is associated with the rise in IOP in both healthy volunteers and POAG individuals. The IOP rise is more marked with smartphone compared with printed text reading.

Influence of plant extracts mixed with endodontic sealers on the growth of oral pathogens in root canal: An in vitro study.

INTRODUCTION: Microbes are considered as the primary etiological agents in endodontic diseases. Ways of reducing these agents are root canal debridement and antibacterial filling materials. One of the factors in determining the success of endodontic treatment previously was sealing root canals with materials possessing potent bactericidal effect. Due to cytotoxic reactions of sealers and their inability to eliminate bacteria completely from dentinal tubules, trend to use natural plants extracts have been introduced. AIM: To compare antimicrobial activity of endodontic sealers added to herbal extracts. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Three sealers mixed with three herbal extracts were evaluated against seven strains of bacteria at various time intervals using Agar Diffusion Test. The mean zones of inhibition were measured. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: All statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS 15 statistical software version, Chicago. Intergroup comparison was evaluated using Kruskal Walls test along with Mann Whitney U test. The Intragroup comparison was evaluatd using Friedman test along with Wilcoxon test. RESULTS: Statistically significant zones of bacterial growth inhibition were observed largest with Zinc Oxide Eugenol based sealer when mixed with Glycyrrhiza glabra (Licorice) followed in descending order by zinc oxide eugenol based sealer mixed with Tinospora cordifolia (Guduchi) and Mimusops elengi (Bakul) respectively. CONCLUSION: Zinc Oxide Eugenol based sealer with herbal extracts produced largest inhibitory zones followed in descending order by Resin based sealer and Calcium hydroxide along with three herbal extracts respectively.