A systematic review on the guidelines for nutritional assessment for head and neck cancer patients managed by surgery

There are a number of guidelines to assess the nutrition status of cancer cases. None of these guidelines are specifically head and neck cancer related; except for the European guidelines. This article reviews the different guidelines in nutrition for cancer cases and also their drawbacks.

Dental caries prevalence among HIV adult population in India: A systematic review

Dental caries is a universal disease. Untreated dental caries adds to the existing burden of diseases. It is necessary to have national data on the same, especially in HIV cases, to understand the epidemiological aspects and formulate a treatment plan for the population. Hence, a systematic review was carried out to collectively report the dental caries prevalence among this population. A systematic search for articles was done in PubMed and Google Scholar using the keywords: Dental Caries, India, HIV, AIDS and adults from January 1990 to December 2019. All freely available full-text articles were evaluated based on the inclusion criteria. Only four articles fulfilled the criteria based on qualitative analysis. Decayed, Missing and Filled Teeth index was used to record dental caries. Risk factors related to the same were not specified by any of the authors. Studies were not from different regions of India. More epidemiological studies are needed to understand the prevalence rate and correlated to dental caries among HIV-positive population in India.

Oral Health Literacy and Oral Health Knowledge among 2,263 First-time Pregnant Urban Women: A Cross-sectional Questionnaire Study

AIM

The present study aimed to see the oral health literacy rate among first-time pregnant women across 12 corporate hospital setups in the city of Pune, India.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

For the survey, the REALD 30 questionnaires were used to assess the adult literacy rate (with 0 being least score and 30 being the highest score) and the knowledge of the participants related to oral health was assessed using a set of 6 questions. The study was carried out for a period of 1 year from January 2018 to December 2018. The total participants at the end of the study were 2,263. All the women were pregnant for the first time, in their 1st trimester of pregnancy. Written consent was taken from all the participants. Epi Info was used to carry out the statistical analysis. All the p values less than 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.

RESULTS

The mean REALD 30 score was 23.8 ± 8.34. The REALD score was higher for those with a postgraduate degree; this could be due to more number of participants in the group. There were higher percentages of women with correct answers to all the knowledge-based questions. We observed that there was a positive correlation with the REALD total scores and the correct answers provided to the questions on oral health (r = 0.76). There was a positive correlationship between the REALD scores and the oral health knowledge of the participants.

CONCLUSION

The educated pregnant women had a high oral health literacy rate. There was a positive correlation of literacy with the REALD 30 score.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Healthcare providers should focus on clearing the myths and misconceptions that are still prevalent in a small portion of the urban population.

Caralluma fimbriata and metformin protection of rat pancreas from high fat diet induced oxidative stress

A high fat diet promotes oxidative stress, which contributes to the development of pancreatic fibrosis. We compared the protective effects of a hydroalcoholic extract of Caralluma fimbriata (CFE) to metformin (Met) in the pancreas of Wistar rats fed a high fat diet. The experimental animals were divided into five groups: control (C), treated with CFE (C + CFE), treated with high fat diet (HFD), high fat diet treated with CFE (HFD + CFE), and high fat diet treated with metformin (Met) (HFD + Met). CFE was administered orally to groups C + CFE and HFD + CFE rats for 90 days. Met was given to the HFD + Met group. After 90 days, oxidative stress markers in the pancreas including reduced glutathione (GSH), lipid oxidation (LO), protein oxidation (PO), and activities of antioxidant and polyol pathway enzymes, aldose reductase (AR) and sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH) were assayed and tissue histology was examined. Establishment of oxidative stress in high fat diet fed rats was verified by elevated LO and PO, decreased GSH, decreased activities of antioxidants and increased activities of polyol pathway enzymes. Oxidative stress was prevented in HFD + CFE and HFD + Met groups. Group C + CFE exhibited improved antioxidant status compared to group C. CFE treatment prevented high fat diet induced acinar cell degeneration, necrosis, edema and hemorrhage. CFE could be used as adjuvant therapy for preventing or managing high fat diet induced pancreatic damage.

Burnout and Work Engagement Among Dental Practitioners in Bangalore City: A Cross-Sectional Study

INTRODUCTION

Burnout is a job-related stress reaction; a potential hazard for personal, professional lives of dentists. Work Engagement (WE) is the antithesis of Burnout and they can co-exist.

AIM

This study was taken up to know the prevalence of Burnout and WE among dentists in Bangalore, India.

MATREIALS AND METHODS

In a cross-sectional study, all (n=116) dentists practicing in Bangalore East Zone were randomly selected. A structured, self-administered questionnaire revealing dentists' demographics, practice characteristics, Burnout level [6-item from Maslach Burnout Inventory] and WE [4-item from Utrecht Work Engagement Scale] was used. Ethical clearance and informed consent was obtained. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 15.0.

RESULTS

With a response rate of 58.6%, high burnout was seen in 5.15% dentists. Personal Accomplishment was significantly associated with dentists in older age-group (p=0.002), married (p=0.014), MDS qualified (p=0.038), having long working hours (p=0.009) with assistants (p=0.024), more years into practice (0.007), travelling more distance from residence (p=0.021). Significance was also seen for dedication among dentists with assistants (p=0.006), emotional exhaustion among dentist with long working hours (p=0.009), and driving own vehicle (p=0.028). Finally absorption was found significant in dentists practicing solo.

CONCLUSION

Higher WE were found but still burnout persisted. Thus, burnout and WE were found to co-exist.

Prevalence and Associated Factors of Traumatic Dental Injuries Among 5- to 16-year-old Schoolchildren in Bangalore City, India

PURPOSE

To investigate the prevalence and associated factors of traumatic dental injury (TDI) among 5- to 16-year-old schoolchildren in Bangalore City, India.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, a probabilistic sample of 2,140 schoolchildren was administered a questionnaire and examined intraorally to record TDI using the Ellis classification. Descriptive statistics and regression models were used for analysis of the data.

RESULTS

The prevalence of TDI among 5- to 16-year-old schoolchildren in Bangalore City was 9.7%. Boys (12.2%) were affected more than girls (7.1%). About 85% of the injuries occurred in maxillary anterior teeth and 89% in the permanent dentition with fractures in enamel as the most common type of TDI. Unknown causes accounted for 53.6% and falls (36.7%) were the most common reported cause. Only 3.9% of children with TDI had sought treatment. Children from public schools aged less than 10 years and boys had significantly higher TDIs as compared to private schoolchildren, those over 10 years of age and girls.

CONCLUSION

The present study revealed a moderate prevalence of dental trauma. An emergent problem such as TDI should be met by public health policies that emphasise the prevention of TDI based on the knowledge of the risk factors. Children, parents and schoolteachers should be educated about the prevention and timely management of dental trauma in children.

Protective effect of ethanolic extract of Commiphora mukul gum resin against oxidative stress in the brain of streptozotocin induced diabetic Wistar male rats

The objective of the study was to investigate the possible neuroprotective effect of ethanolic extract of Commiphora mukul gum resin (EtCMGR) against oxidative stress in the brain of streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic Wistar rats. The experimental animals were divided into four groups: control (C), control treated with EtCMGR (C+CM), diabetic (D) and diabetic treated with EtCMGR (D+CM). Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of STZ (55 mg/kg body weight). Plant extract treated groups (C+CM and D+CM) were administered EtCMGR at a dose of 200 mg/kg body weight/day by gavage for 60 days. Diabetic rats showed hyperglycemia, hypoinsulinemia with impaired insulin sensitivity. EtCMGR treatment to diabetic (D+CM group) rats prevented the rise in glucose level by 96.7 %, while enhancing insulin level (77.7 %) and improving insulin sensitivity (27.3 %) compared to D group. The brain antioxidant status of D group rats showed higher levels of lipid peroxidation (77.9 %), protein glycation (100 %), and increased activities of xanthine oxidase (47.1 %) and sorbitol dehydrogenase (101.9 %) and lowered concentration of reduced glutathione (38.2 %) and decreased activities of antioxidant enzymes i.e., glutathione reductase (24 %), glutathione peroxidase (24.4 %) and superoxide dismutase (42.1 %) and increased activities of catalase (87.4 %) and glutathione-S-transferase (45.3 %) compared to control group. While EtCMGR treatment for 60 days in D+CM group prevented the observed abnormalities of antioxidant status of D group. This study demonstrates that EtCMGR is a potent neuroprotective agent against oxidative damage induced under diabetes.