Overweight and Obesity and its associated factors among high school students of Dibrugarh, Assam, India

Background: The increasing prevalence of childhood obesity is emerging as a public health problem in urban India and also contributes to obesity and various non-communicable diseases among adult population. Hence, it is necessary to identify potential risk factors for childhood obesity and formulate early interventions to control this epidemic. Aims & Objectives: To assess the magnitude of overweight and obesity among high-school students of Dibrugarh and to determine factors associated with it. Materials & Methods: A cross-sectional study including students enrolled in 8th- 10th grades in schools of urban Dibrugarh, Assam was conducted from October 2012 to June 2013 wherein 1000 students were selected using stratified random sampling technique. Information regarding dietary intake, amount of physical activity was collected using pre-designed, pre-tested questionnaire followed by anthropometric measurements which included body mass index (BMI), waist and hip circumference was done. Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS-16 software. Results: Of the 1000 students enrolled, 119 (11.9%) were overweight, 71 (7.1%) were obese and 225 (22.5%) had high waist-hip ratio. The factors significantly associated with overweight and obesity were higher socio-economic class, frequent intake of fast food items, sedentary lifestyle with less physical activity. Conclusion: Children belonging to higher socio-economic group, consuming fast food and involved in less physical activity were more predisposed to overweight and obesity.&nbsp

Protocol for a feasibility study of a self-help cognitive behavioural therapy resource for the reduction of dental anxiety in young people

Background: Childhood dental anxiety is very common, with 10–20 % of children and young people reporting high levels of dental anxiety. It is distressing and has a negative impact on the quality of life of young people and their parents as well as being associated with poor oral health. Affected individuals may develop a lifelong reliance on general anaesthetic or sedation for necessary dental treatment thus requiring the support of specialist dental services. Children and young people with dental anxiety therefore require additional clinical time and can be costly to treat in the long term. The reduction of dental anxiety through the use of effective psychological techniques is, therefore, of high importance. However, there is a lack of high-quality research investigating the impact of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) approaches when applied to young people’s dental anxiety. Methods/design: The first part of the study will develop a profile of dentally anxious young people using a prospective questionnaire sent to a consecutive sample of 100 young people referred to the Paediatric Dentistry Department, Charles Clifford Dental Hospital, in Sheffield. The second part will involve interviewing a purposive sample of 15–20 dental team members on their perceptions of a CBT self-help resource for dental anxiety, their opinions on whether they might use such a resource with patients, and their willingness to recruit participants to a future randomised controlled trial (RCT) to evaluate the resource. The third part of the study will investigate the most appropriate outcome measures to include in a trial, the acceptability of the resource, and retention and completion rates of treatment with a sample of 60 dentally anxious young people using the CBT resource. Discussion: This study will provide information on the profile of dentally anxious young people who could potentially be helped by a guided self-help CBT resource. It will gain the perceptions of dental care team members of guided self-help CBT for dental anxiety in young people and their willingness to recruit participants to a trial. Acceptability of the resource to participants and retention and completion rates will also be investigated to inform a future RCT

Platelet Rich Fibrin (PRF), Future of Pulp Preservation: An Umbrella Review

Introduction: Vital pulp therapy is to preserve and maintain pulp tissue that has been damaged but not completely destroyed by trauma, dental caries, or other iatrogenic causes. PRF is a second-generation platelet concentrate and an autologous healing biomaterial. Population: - Databases were evaluated with adult patients with pulp exposure having either mature or immature roots, reversible pulpitis. Intervention: - Data extraction and analysis of research papers based on Platelet Rich Fibrin (PRF). Comparison: - MTA, Biodentine, calcium-based silicates, calcium hydroxide, glass ionomer, resin modified glass ionomer, blood clot, plasma rich platelet (PRP), Artificial scaffolds and other pulp capping agents. Outcome: - PRF has regenerative properties, stimulate proliferation and differentiation of dental pulp cells, conducive to healing, dentin bridge formation. Objective: The aim of the study was to study the effectiveness of platelet rich fibrin as direct pulp capping agent in young permanent teeth. Methods: Electronic databases such as Scopus, Ebsco and PubMed were searched. In the search systematic review and meta- analysis, clinical studies and randomized clinical trials were included. Results: Platelet Rich Fibrin (PRF) can be used as a direct pulp capping agent. Conclusions: Platelet Rich Fibrin (PRF) can be a suitable biological and economical choice for pulp capping agent owing to its regenerative properties. It could be promising alternative for direct pulp capping procedures

Smile4life Reflexive Mapping Exercise. Better Health and social care for homeless people (Aberdeen) : Reflexive Mapping Exercise of services and organisations to support people experiencing homelessness or at risk to become homeless in Aberdeen

Acknowledgments The production of this publication is the result of a multi-agency collaboration between different sectors working to prevent and to mitigate homelessness in Aberdeen City. We would like to express our most sincere and special gratitude to the various organizations and services existing in Aberdeen who have collaborated by sending their information and subsequent updates which were essential for the development of the project and for the unveiling of our reality, in terms of the guarantee of rights, not just for those who are in a vulnerable situation, but all citizens in Aberdeen. We would like to thank Aberdeen City Council, and to Shelter Scotland for our partnership working and the national discussion platform for health and social care integration.Publisher PD