Knowledge and Experience About Medical Emergencies among Dental Interns In Bangalore City

INTRODUCTION: Medical emergencies are very frequent in dental setting. It is imperative to  judiciously manage these situation in clinical setting.  Having correct knowledge about the medical emergencies and the management methods are crucial successful clinical practice. AIM: To assess the knowledge and experience about medical Emergencies among Dental interns in Bangalore City. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross sectional study was conducted among 350 dental  Interns from sixteen dental colleges in Bangalore City using a structured questionnaire consisting of 14 item questions. RESULTS: Syncope being the  most commonly encountered medical emergency (79.14%), followed by hypoglycaemia(17.14%). About 49.71% respondents considered medical emergency training was moderate. 98% of them think that medical emergencies training is important. Knowledge of the presence of drugs and equipments in the emergency drug kit and the confidence with regard to using them was not satisfactory. CONCLUSION: Dental graduates had a superficial knowledge of management of medical emergencies and use of drugs and equipments

PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECT OF YOGA ON DIFFERENT BODY SYSTEMS

The life style of men changed due to technological modernization and advancement of science. Increased standard of living has brought a great comfort to mankind but they are worried about health. Everyone is sick having either physical or mental problem. Yogasanas are one of the important parts of yogic exercises which contribute to physical as well as mental health. Yoga is a mind body practice that combines stretching exercises, controlled breathing and relaxation. It is considered a mind body type of complementary and alternative medicine practice. The health benefits of Yoga with a regular practice of Yoga poses, breathing exercise and meditation is grouped into three kinds: physiological, psychological and biochemical effects. Yogasanas have an equal balancing effect on all organs simultaneously without making an effort to think about different parts and internal organs of the body. Yogasanas have a combined effect on all the systems simultaneously. Chiefly Yogasanas cause positive effects on digestive system like Padmasana, Vajrasana, Gomukhasana etc. If we talk about respiratory system, a regular practice of deep Pranayama and Shavasana help to regulate inspiration and expiration. In endocrine system, Yogasanas regulate and control the secretion of hormones from all glands in the body. Regular practice of Yogasanas promotes purification and circulation of blood in different systems of the body. Likewise here are some physiological benefits of Yoga that can get through a regular Yoga practice

STUDIES ON ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITIES OF SIX CULTIVARS OF PIPER BETLE LINN

Objective: To study the existence of difference or similarity on total phenolic content, flavonoid content and antioxidant properties among different cultivars of Piper betle L. Methods: The methanolic extracts of six different cultivars, i. e. Banarasi, Bangla, Calcutta, Kammar, Kumbakonam and Vellai were evaluated for total phenolic content (Folin-Ciocalteu method), total flavonoid content (Aluminium chloride method), total antioxidants (Phospho-molybdenum method) and other antioxidant properties (TBA assay, Ferric thiocyanate assay, FRAP assay and ABTS assay). Results: Total phenolic content of the cultivars ranges from 12.5 to 13.9 mg TAE/g DW. Higher flavonoid content was observed in Kumbakonam (24.14 µg QE/g DW) while Bangla possessed the lowest (8.25 µg QE/g DW). The total antioxidants of Vellai accounted to 58.82 mg TAE/g DW while the lowest was recorded in Kumbakonam (39.34 mg TAE/g DW). Maximum % inhibition was observed in the cultivar Vellai for Ferric thiocyanate (FTC), Kumbakonam for Thiobarbituric acid (TBA) and Banarasi for Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP). However, no significant difference was exhibited among the cultivars for ABTS assay. Conclusion: The study amply demonstrates the existence of difference in total phenolic content, total flavonoids and antioxidant property. Thus, proper selection of cultivar of Piper betle for specific use in the pharmaceutical industry is recommended

QUALITY ASSESSMENT FOR THE PRESENCE OF HEAVY METALS IN HERBAL MATERIALS FROM THE MARKETS OF CHENNAI, INDIA

Objective: To assess the quality of herbal materials for the presence of heavy metals. Methods: Herbal materials of around 49 samples from Chennai markets were procured and analysed for the presence of metals like Copper (Cu), Calcium (Ca), Cobalt (Co), Sodium (Na), Nickel (Ni), Magnesium (Mg), Manganese (Mn), Iron (Fe), Chromium (Cr) and Lead (Pb) using AAS, Shimadzu, AA 7000, Japan. Results: The raw materials of the commercial herbal products were found to contain Manganese, Calcium and Magnesium at greater concentrations, when compared with the other elements analyzed. Conclusion: The presence of the metals analyzed were found to be within permissible limits in accordance to the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) and WHO standards. Although the study implies consumption of herbal materials are safe, periodical monitoring of the quality of the herbal materials is recommended

Oral Health Literacy among Caregivers in Bangalore City, India

Purpose: To assess caregiver’s oral health literacy of children aged 3-6 years in Bangalore city. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 635 child/caregiver dyads from a sample of children aged 3-6 years who were selected from anganwadis and preschools in Bangalore city. Demographic details were collected using structured questionnaire. Caregiver literacy was measured using the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Dentistry (REALD-30). Results: Among 635 child/caregiver dyads, caregiver’s and children’s mean ages were 33.45 years(SD = 3.36) and 5.28 years (SD =0.67), respectively. The mean literacy score was 14.25 (SD= 7.67). The results also indicated that there was an association between socio-demographic variables such as age, education, income, occupation, socioeconomic status and caregivers’ oral health literacy. Conclusion: Caregiver’s oral health literacy is influenced by sociodemographic factors. Oral health literacy is potential determinant and as impact on oral health outcomes in young children

ANTIOXIDATIVE AND FREE RADICAL SCAVENGING POTENTIALS OF CYCLOSORUS INTERRUPTUS (WILLD.) H. ITÔ AND PRONEPHRIUM NUDATUM (ROXB. EX GRIFF.) HOLTTUM

Objectives: The work aims to screen the antioxidative potentials of different crude extracts of the fronds of two medicinally important pteridophytes of Southern Assam, India, namely, Cyclosorus interruptus (Willd.) H. Itô and Pronephrium nudatum (Roxb. ex Griff.) Holttum. Methods: Frond extracts of the pteridophytes were prepared by Soxhlet hot extraction method. Total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) of the hexane, ethyl acetate, acetone, and methanol extracts of the fronds of the plants were done by following standard protocol. In vitro assessment of the antioxidative behavior of the extracts was performed using standard 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl scavenging assay, reducing power assay, metal chelating assay, hydroxyl, superoxide, and 2,2’- azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline - 6 – sulfonic acid) radical scavenging methods in different in vitro systems. Results: Preliminary phytochemical analysis implicated the presence of phenolic and flavonoid compounds in all the frond extracts. The methanol extract of the fronds of both the plants showed maximum phenolic and flavonoid contents in comparison to the other extracts, however, that of C. interruptus was found to be higher than P. nudatum. Antioxidative potentials of the said extracts were also found to be impressive and noteworthy. The decreasing order of the antioxidative efficacies of the extracts was found to be same as that of TPC and TFC of the extracts. Conclusion: It is pertinent to comment that the methanol extract of the fronds of both the plants may be treated as a potential source of natural antioxidants

ANTIOXIDANT, FREE RADICAL SCAVENGING ACTIVITY AND GC-MS STUDIES ON PEDILANTHUS TITHYMALOIDES (L.) POIT

Objective: To evaluate the methanolic extract of the leaves of Pedilanthus tithymaloides for total phenol, total flavonoid, total antioxidant and free radical scavenging ability and detect the phytoconstituents using GC-MS. Methods: The total phenols were quantified using Folin-Ciocalteu method. Aluminium chloride method and Phosphomolybdenum method were used to quantify total flavonoid and total antioxidant contentrespectively. In addition to the above, Ferric thiocyanate assay, the thiobarbituric acid assay,Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power assay and ABTS assay were performed to know the antioxidant potency of the methanolic extract of leaves of Pedilanthus tithymaloides. The phytoconstituents was detected using GC-MS. Results: The leaves of Pedilanthus tithymaloides recorded a phenolic content of 10.98±0.08 mg TAE/g DW, flavonoid content of 11.49±0.15 µg QE/g DW and total antioxidant content of 6.64±0.05 mg TAE/g DW. The study also revealed significant free radical scavenging ability of the plant leaves as assessed by FTC, TBA, FRAP and ABTS assays. The structural elucidation by GC-MS analysis revealed five different compounds, includingthree esters, an amine and an alkaloid. Conclusion: The study proves the anticipative potential ability of Pedilanthus tithymaloides, suggesting its exploitation in pharmaceutical applications

In vitro investigation of phytochemicals, Antioxidant and Hepatoprotective activity of Selaginella bryopteris

The present study investigated the total phenolic content, free radical scavenging activity and hepatoprotective effect of Selaginella bryopteris (SB) against acetaminophen (APAP) and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced hepatotoxicity on HepG2 cell lines. The preliminary phytochemicals screening of SB aqueous and ethanolic extract confirmed the presence of phytochemical constituents and total phenolic contents. Both extracts exhibited radical scavenging activities in dose dependent manner (100-500 μg/mL). The maximum concentration (500 μg/mL) showed highest DPPH, ABTS and H2O2 free radical scavenging activity in ethanolic extract of SB followed by aqueous extract. Hepatoprotective activity was assessed by MTT assay which confirmed that SB extracts at three doses (25μg/mL, 50μg/mL and 100μg/mL) appeared to have considerable cellular protection (72- 88%) against CCl4 and APAP induced toxicity in HepG2 cell line in dose-dependent manner. At 100μg/mL, the cell viability rate was found to be higher in SB ethanolic extract compared to the aqueous extract. No adverse effect was observed in the SB treated HepG2 cell line. LDH leakage assay also confirmed that SB extract significantly reduced the level of cellular LDH leakage into the cell culture medium. The results indicate that Selaginella bryopteris extract has significant hepatoprotective activity against APAP and CCL4-inducedtoxicity which might be due to its free radical scavenging activity

Effect of essentiale in diabetic subjects with non-alcoholic fatty liver

Nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) has been reported to be common among subjects with diabetes. However, there are not much therapeutic options for NAFL. In this open labeled clinical trial we studied the effect of Essentiale in diabetic subjects with NAFL. Twenty-eight type 2 diabetic patients attending the out-patient division of M.V. Diabetes Specialities Centre, Chennai and satisfying the inclusion criteria were recruited for the study. High resolution B mode ultrasonography was carried out for diagnosis of NAFL. Liver function markers [Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and Gamma Glutamyl transferase (GGT)] were measured. 22 out of the 28 patients (78.5%) were available for follow up. The mean age of the study subjects was 41±8 years and 50% were males. A significant reduction in all the liver enzymes were observed after Essentiale treatment (baseline vs. six months after treatment: ALT: 54.5± 29.6 IU/L vs. 37.1±18.7 IU/L, p< 0.05, AST: 38.0±18.0 IU/L vs. 27.6±12.4 IU/L, p< 0.05, GGT: 38.7±27.5 IU/L vs. 29.6±13.8 IU/L, p< 0.05). Ultrasound studies revealed that the hepatic echotexture improved after Essentiale treatment in 12/22 (54.5%) of the study subjects, while there was no change in 9/22 (40.9%), and it worsened in only one patient (4.5%). The study results suggest that Essentiale protects and improves liver function in diabetic subjects with NAFL. Prospective, blinded clinical trials are required to confirm these findings