Application of Indian Diabetic Risk Score (IDRS) and Community Based Assessment Checklist (CBAC) as Metabolic Syndrome prediction tools.

BACKGROUND: Indian Diabetic Risk Score (IDRS) and Community Based Assessment Checklist (CBAC) are easy, inexpensive, and non-invasive tools that can be used to screen people for Metabolic Syndrome (Met S). The study aimed to explore the prediction abilities of IDRS and CBAC tools for Met S. METHODS: All the people of age ≥30 years attending the selected rural health centers were screened for Met S. We used the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria to diagnose the Met S. ROC curves were plotted by taking Met S as dependent variables, and IDRS and CBAC scores as independent/prediction variables. Sensitivity (SN), specificity (SP), Positive and Negative Predictive Value (PPV and NPV), Likelihood Ratio for positive and negative tests (LR+ and LR-), Accuracy, and Youden's index were calculated for different IDRS and CBAC scores cut-offs. Data were analyzed using SPSS v.23 and MedCalc v.20.111. RESULTS: A total of 942 participants underwent the screening process. Out of them, 59 (6.4%, 95% CI: 4.90-8.12) were found to have Met S. Area Under the Curve (AUC) for IDRS in predicting Met S was 0.73 (95%CI: 0.67-0.79), with 76.3% (64.0%-85.3%) sensitivity and 54.6% (51.2%-57.8%) specificity at the cut-off of ≥60. For the CBAC score, AUC was 0.73 (95%CI: 0.66-0.79), with 84.7% (73.5%-91.7%) sensitivity and 48.8% (45.5%-52.1%) specificity at the cut-off of ≥4 (Youden's Index, 2.1). The AUCs of both parameters (IDRS and CBAC scores) were statistically significant. There was no significant difference (p = 0.833) in the AUCs of IDRS and CBAC [Difference between AUC = 0.00571]. CONCLUSION: The current study provides scientific evidence that both IDRS and CBAC have almost 73% prediction ability for Met S. Though CBAC holds relatively greater sensitivity (84.7%) than IDRS (76.3%), the difference in prediction abilities is not statistically significant. The prediction abilities of IDRS and CBAC found in this study are inadequate to qualify as Met S screening tools.

A study of the pattern of dermatoses in adolescent patients in South India.

BACKGROUND: Adolescence describes the age group between 10 and 19 years. This is the transitional stage of physical and physiological human development generally occurring between puberty and adulthood. Hormonal changes occurring during puberty result in various physical and psychological changes, affecting their social relationship. At this stage, external appearance is of immense concern to them. As such, any dermatological condition can extremely affect their psychological status. This study was conducted to give an insight on the various dermatological conditions of the adolescent age groups and their incidence. METHODS: Study design: Descriptive study - Cross-sectional study. Three hundred patients between the ages of 10 and 19 years, attending the tertiary care center in South India, were included in the study. A detailed history, clinical examination, and appropriate laboratory investigations were carried out. RESULTS: Out of 300 patients, females (52.7%) more commonly presented with dermatoses than males (47.3%). Most of the 300 patients belonged to the age group of 17-19 years (50.33%). Infections/infestations (39%) were the most predominant dermatoses followed by acne (17.67%), eczema (9.67%), insect bite reactions (IBRs) (7%), keratinization disorders (6.67%), polymorphic light eruptions (PLEs) (4.33%), urticaria (4.33%), and pigmentary disorders (4.33%). CONCLUSION: This study gives an insight of various dermatological conditions among the adolescent age groups. Females more commonly presented with dermatoses. The most common dermatoses were infections. Since very few studies regarding dermatoses in adolescents are available in the literature, this study is distinctive in this regard.

A Pt-free graphenaceous composite as an electro-catalyst for efficient oxygen reduction reaction.

Use of Pt-based electro-catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is a major hindrance in large-scale application of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). Hence, new, cost-effective and high performance electro-catalysts are required for the commercial success of PEMFCs. In this work, a Pt-free magnesium oxide (MgO) decorated multi-layered reduced graphene oxide (MLGO) composite is tested as an electro-catalyst for the ORR. The ORR activity of MgO/MLGO in terms of diffusion-controlled current density is found to be superior (6.63 mA per cm2-geo) than that of in-house prepared Pt/rGO (5.96 mA per cm2-geo) and commercial Pt/C (5.02 mA per cm2-geo). The applicability of less expensive MgO/MLGO not only provides a new electro-catalyst but also provides a new direction in exploring metal oxide-based electro-catalysts for the ORR.

Comparison of marginal accuracy of castings fabricated by conventional casting technique and accelerated casting technique: an in vitro study.

BACKGROUND: Conventional casting technique is time consuming when compared to accelerated casting technique. In this study, marginal accuracy of castings fabricated using accelerated and conventional casting technique was compared. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 20 wax patterns were fabricated and the marginal discrepancy between the die and patterns were measured using Optical stereomicroscope. Ten wax patterns were used for Conventional casting and the rest for Accelerated casting. A Nickel-Chromium alloy was used for the casting. The castings were measured for marginal discrepancies and compared. RESULTS: Castings fabricated using Conventional casting technique showed less vertical marginal discrepancy than the castings fabricated by Accelerated casting technique. The values were statistically highly significant. CONCLUSION: Conventional casting technique produced better marginal accuracy when compared to Accelerated casting. The vertical marginal discrepancy produced by the Accelerated casting technique was well within the maximum clinical tolerance limits. CLINICAL IMPLICATION: Accelerated casting technique can be used to save lab time to fabricate clinical crowns with acceptable vertical marginal discrepancy.