An insight into the mental health needs of the common public of Tamil Nadu, India, subjected to COVID-19 lockdown, a rare unprecedented crisis.

Purpose: COVID-19, a major "Public Health Emergencies of International Concern", had sought greater attention among researchers to study its pathogenesis, associated complications and management. However, there are only few studies that had studied its potential impact on mental health of general public, who are subjected to social distancing, community lockdown and restrictions in their routine activities. Objectives: The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence of psychological distress and mental health needs among general public in Tamil Nadu subjected to lockdown, social distancing amidst COVID-19 crisis. Tamil Nadu is one of the worst affected states of southern India. Methods: A self-administered, web-based application study using "WHO-Self Reported Questionnaire-20", in bilingual version, both English and Tamil, is used to screen the public for the level of distress. The study is done while the state is under extended lockdown and restricted movement. Key findings: A total of 918 respondents participated in the survey and it is found that about more than one third of the respondents (∼35%) are under psychological distress. A significant association between younger age group, female gender, unmarried, people with children are found to be under distress. The lockdown had increased the frequency of smoking and quantity of cigarettes among smokers, also has increased the frequency of drinking among alcohol consumers. Of the SRQ-20 items recorded, stress related neurotic symptoms (> 70%) was observed more than the depressive mood. About 33% of those scored > 7, had suicidal tendency. The districts declared red zones had significantly reported a greater number of respondents under distress. Conclusion: Besides effectively mitigating the COVID-19 crisis, in terms of prevention, control and treatment strategies, it is prerogative to effectively manage fear, distress due to the COVID-19 and associated anxiety and depression among the public.

But: Le COVID-19, une importante « Urgence de santé publique de portée internationale ¼, a demandé une plus grande attention des chercheurs pour étudier sa pathogenèse, les complications associées et la prise en charge. Cependant, rares sont les études qui ont étudié son impact potentiel sur la santé de la population, qui est soumise à l'éloignement social, au confinement communautaire et à des restrictions dans ses activités courantes. Objectifs: Le but de cette étude est d'évaluer la prévalence de la détresse psychologique et des besoins de santé mentale dans la population du Tamil Nadu soumise au confinement, à la distanciation sociale au milieu de la crise du COVID-19. Le Tamil Nadu est l'un des États les plus touchés du sud de l'Inde. Méthodes: Une étude d'application auto-administrée en ligne utilisant le « WHO-Self Reported Questionnaire-20 ¼, en version bilingue, en anglais et en tamoul, est utilisée pour dépister le niveau de détresse. L'étude est effectuée alors que l'État est sous confinement prolongé et mouvements restreints. Principales conclusions: Sur les 918 répondants qui ont participé à l'enquête, on constate qu'environ plus d'un tiers des répondants (∼35%) sont en détresse psychologique. Les plus jeunes, les femmes, les célibataires, les personnes avec enfants se trouvent en situation de détresse de façon significative. Le confinement a augmenté la fréquence du tabagisme et la quantité de cigarettes chez les fumeurs, a également augmenté la fréquence de consommation d'alcool chez les consommateurs d'alcool. Parmi les items SRQ-20 enregistrés, les symptômes névrotiques liés au stress (> 70 %) ont été plus observés que l'humeur dépressive. Environ 33 % des sujets, ayant obtenu un score supérieur à 7, avaient une tendance suicidaire. Les districts déclarés zone rouge avaient notablement signalé un plus grand nombre de répondants en détresse. Conclusion: En plus d'atténuer efficacement la pandémie du COVID-19, en termes de stratégies de prévention, de contrôle et de traitement, il est capital de gérer efficacement la peur, la détresse due au COVID-19, l'anxiété et la dépression associées et d'étendre le soutien psychosocial au public.

Dental Caries Profile and Associated Risk Factors Among Adolescent School Children in an Urban South-Indian City.

PURPOSE: To study the dental caries experience among adolescent school children in Chennai city using the ICDAS-II scoring system. The secondary objective was to identify associated risk factors to different thresholds of dental caries defined by ICDAS. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Two hundred and thirty-seven children (13-17 years) from five schools across Chennai city were included using simple random sampling. After obtaining assent to participate in the study and satisfying the selection criteria, 200 children were screened for dental caries using ICDAS-II. The population was assessed for the following risk factors: sociodemographic status, habits, diet, plaque and salivary parameters. Prevalence of dental caries was estimated at the following thresholds: normal (ICDAS-0/1), mild caries (ICDAS-2), moderate caries (ICDAS-3/4) and extensive caries (ICDAS-5/6). Backward logistic regression analysis was performed to identify risk factors at different thresholds and crude odds ratio was calculated for statistically significant risk factors. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of dental caries (ICDAS 3-6) was 57.5% (95% CI 48-62%). The proportions of children at different caries thresholds were: ICDAS-2 - 55% (95% CI:48-62%), ICDAS-3/4 - 51% (95% CI:44-58%) and ICDAS-5/6 - 25% (95% CI:19-31%). Reduced pH was statistically significant for moderate and extensive caries (OR 6.24, 95% CI 1.18-32.78 and 1.73, 95% CI 1.18-1.92, respectively) and the quantity of saliva was statistically significant for mild and moderate caries (OR 4.48, 95% CI 2.94-8.23 and 3.97, 95% CI 2.65-7.03, respectively). Low buffering capacity was associated with mild caries OR 5.71, 95% CI 2.82-18.2). Interobserver correlation was 0.91. A non-statistically significant value using Hosmer-Lemeshow Goodness of Fit test indicated that all three models predict the true estimate of the population. CONCLUSION: The proportions of children with mild and moderate caries were high considering their age group. The risk factors associated with mild caries were different from those associated with moderate and extensive caries.

Age estimation using radicular dentine transparency: A new innovative approach.

AIM: To estimate the age of the individual from radicular dentine transparency and to derive a formula suitable for age estimation in the Indian population, using radicular dentine transparency. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy teeth samples of known age were collected from patients belonging to different age groups ranging from 11 to 80 years whose teeth were extracted for various therapeutic purposes. The samples were grouped from A to G according to their age, each group consisting of 10 teeth samples. Buccolingual sections of 100 µm thickness were obtained using hard tissue microtome. The sections were scanned using a flat-bed scanner. The scanning base of the scanner was pasted with a graph sheet and the teeth samples pasted on to the graph sheet were scanned with a resolution of 600 dpi, and the images were stored in a computer. The graph sheet was clearly visible in the area of transparent dentine, and the length of transparent dentine (i.e., the number of millimeters on the graph) was measured from the scanned images, stored in the computer. RESULTS: A strong positive correlation between age and transparency of dentin was noted. The age was estimated with an accuracy of ± 5 years (61.4%) and ± 10 years (12.9%). The present study had a level of agreement of 71.4% with that of Bang and Ramm. CONCLUSION: Thus, transparency level of the radicular dentin increases with age, and it can be used as a single reliable parameter for age estimation.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms in cytokine/chemokine genes are associated with severe infection, ulcer grade and amputation in diabetic foot ulcer.

Compared to other complications the genetics of diabetic foot ulcer is poorly studied. The Interleukin (IL)-6 (-174G > C/rs1800795), Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)-α (-308G > A/rs1800629) and (-238G > A/rs361525) and Stromal cell Derived Factor (SDF)-1 (+801G > A/rs1801157) are well characterized single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) which were previously shown to be associated with Diabetic Foot Ulcer (DFU). In the present study, we looked at the association of these SNPs with foot microbial infection, Wagner's ulcer grade and treatment procedure, along with serum levels of these cytokines (intermediate phenotype) and other serum biomarkers (adiponectin, leptin, CRP and HOMA-IR) in subjects with DFU. Subjects with DFU (n = 270) were genotyped by PCR-RFLP and the serum levels of IL-6, TNF-α and SDF-1 were determined by ELISA. Microbial infections were determined by standard microbiological methods. Ulcer grade and treatment procedures were recorded. IL-6 (-174G > C), TNF-α (-308G > A) and SDF-1 (+801G > A) SNPs were associated with severe microbial infections. TNF-α (-308G > A) and (-238G > A) SNPs were associated with severe ulcer grades. SDF-1 (+801G > A) SNP was associated with major amputation even after adjusting for confounding variables. Identification of these SNPs in DFU subjects would help in identifying high risk individuals who need better treatment care.