Oral Health and Lifestyle Factors in Rural Adults of Jharkhand, India.

Background: There is a lack of health care facilities and poor oral health awareness among the rural adult population of Jharkhand which may significantly influence oral health status and lifestyle scores. Aim: To assess the oral hygiene status, lifestyle factors, and various risk factors associated with poor lifestyle scores in the rural adult population of Jharkhand. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 400 rural adults (35-44 years) populations. Face-to-face interviews were used to collect sociodemographic data and data on oral hygiene practices. Lifestyle factors were assessed using Health Practice Index (HPI). Oral health status was assessed using the oral health assessment proforma provided by the World Health Organization (WHO). Results: A significantly higher (p value < 0.0001) prevalence of tobacco consumption was reported by males (94.0%) compared to females (4.0%). The males (54.0%) reported significantly higher (p value < 0.0001) poor lifestyle scores compared to females (38.0%). A significantly higher (p value < 0.0001) number of oromucosal lesions (13.0%) was found in males compared to females (1.0%). There was a significant difference (p value < 0.0001) in the oral hygiene status between males and females with majority of males (60.0%) having poor oral hygiene. A bivariate analysis was performed, and unadjusted odds ratio was computed. The factors that became significant were then entered into logistic regression model (enter method). The results of logistic regression analysis showed that education (OR = 0.3, p value = 0.003), systemic diseases/long-term medication (OR = 2.9, p value = 0.004), tobacco consumption (OR = 2.9, p value = 0.006), oral hygiene status (OR = 2.4, p value = 0.007), and dental caries (OR = 2.9, p value = 0.004) were significant predictors of poor lifestyle scores. Conclusion: The rural adult population in Jharkhand has poor oral hygiene status and poor lifestyle scores. It is important to raise awareness regarding good oral hygiene and the negative effects of tobacco consumption. The dental visit should be encouraged, and the concept of preventive care needs to be instilled.

A new approach against Helicobacter pylori using plants and its constituents: A review study.

Helicobacter pylori is a Gram-negative, spiral-shaped bacillus that colonizes 50% of the world population and is considered a class 1 carcinogen by the World Health Organization. This pathogen is the most common cause of infection-related cancers. Apart from cancer, it also causes several gastric and extra gastric diseases. Eradication of H. pylori using antibiotics is a global challenge because of its drug resistance. Alternative treatment options are gaining more attention to tackle drug-resistant H. pylori infections. Several medicinal plants and their isolated compounds have been reported for their antimicrobial activity against H. pylori. The mechanism of action of many of these plant extracts and plant-derived compounds is different from that of conventional antibiotics. Therefore they are shown to be effective against drug-resistant strains of H. pylori. They act by inhibiting bacterial enzymes, adhesions with gastric mucosa, suppression of nuclear factor-κB and by inhibition of oxidative stress. Extracts from Pistacia lentiscus, Brassica oleracea, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Camellia sinensis, Cinnamomum cassia, Allium sativum and Nigella sativa plants and isolated phyto-compounds such as curcumin, resveratrol, quercetin, allicin and ellagic acid demonstrated antimicrobial activity against H. pylori under in vivo conditions. The plant extracts of Zingiber officinale, Glycyrrhiza glabra; and phytochemical allicin and berberine when combined with standard treatment, result in a dramatic increase in H. pylori eradication. In this review, we highlighted the therapeutic efficacy of different plant extracts and isolated phyto compounds against H. pylori infection and described their role in tackling H. pylori resistance to antibiotics.

Candiduria: prevalence and trends in antifungal susceptibility in a tertiary care hospital of mangalore.

OBJECTIVE: The incidence of Candida has been on rise worldwide. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) as a result of Candida species are becoming, common in hospitalised patients. Clinicians face dilemma in differentiating colonization from true candiduria. The species identification of Candida is important, as non albicans Candida species are increasing in number and more resistant to antifungal drugs. The aim of the study was to find out the frequency of Candida among uropathogens, their speciation and to determine the susceptibilities to antifungal drugs of Candida species isolated from candiduria. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 2900 urine samples were analysed in a tertiary care hospital. Candida species isolated from urine samples were subjected to speciation using CHROM agar and standard yeast identification protocol. Antifungal susceptibility testing for fluconazole, voriconazole, flucytosine, amphotericin B was carried out using VITEK-2 compact system of Biomerieux. RESULT: A total of 66(2.27%) Candida species were isolated from 2900 urine samples. Among them non albicans Candida species were predominant (69.7%) compared to Candida albicans (30.3%). The Candida isolated were more susceptible to amphotericin B (91%) and flucytosine (82%) compared to voriconazole (72.72%) and fluconazole (66.66%). CONCLUSION: The present study reiterates the prevalence of Candida species among UTIs and their antifungal susceptibility pattern. Prevalence of non albicans Candida was more than Candida albicans. Non albicans Candida species are more resistant to antifungal drugs compared to C.albicans. Therefore, the species identification of Candida isolates along with their antifungal susceptibility pattern can help the clinicians in better treating the patients with candiduria.