Excision of a Chronic Inflammatory Mass Using Diode Lasers: A Case Report

Photobiomodulation (PBM), also known as low level laser therapy (LLLT) or cold laser therapy uses light energy to elicit biological responses from the cell and help regulate cell function. From a clinical point of view PBM offers dental practitioners a non-invasive treatment modality that can be used as an adjunct to the traditional therapies or as a therapeutic tool on its own. This is a case of surgical excision of a fluctuant mass using a scalpel and diode laser 980nm wavelength

Frenectomy Using Diode Lasers: A Case Report

OBJECTIVES Lasers are used in almost every aspect of dentistry, be it surgeries, restorations, periodontal procedures, and even aesthetic dentistry. One certain area that requires extra emphasis and importance is the laser-assisted frenectomy. Frenectomy, as the name suggests, is the excision of frenum attachment to the underlying bone. Frenectomy is carried out in the mandible as well as the maxilla. This is a case of a patient undergoing orthodontic treatment who also required a frenectomy, and to minimize the postoperative pain and swelling, the procedure was carried out using a diode laser rather than the conventional surgical procedure

Mental health implications on Afghan children: an impending catastrophe

Afghan children have suffered for decades because of chronic socioeconomic health crises. The current state of Afghanistan has deprived the basic human needs of children. The lack of freedom leaves their voices unheard, causing detrimental effects on their mental health. Mental illnesses such as post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression are prevalent in Afghanistan, causing severe negative outcomes among children. Promotion of mental health services, psychological training, awareness campaigns, acceptance of Afghan refugees, and initiatives to support re-connecting with loved ones, are among the many recommended measures needed to manage this alarming situation. This requires an immediate action plan from government and public health officials to mitigate this impending catastrophe

Consumer deceleration and well-being under the conditions of control over consumption, social class, and spirituality: A social acceleration perspective

This paper explains how and when consumer deceleration - the perception of slowed-down temporal experience - adds to consumer well-being. This investigation is the first attempt to quantify consumer deceleration (a recently coined concept). Secondly, it has utilized social acceleration theory, which is relatively less utilized in the Eastern context, to investigate the consequences of consumer deceleration empirically. Specifically, we argue that consumer deceleration can safeguard consumers from the clutches of fast-moving life, enable them to connect to their inner self, discover their spiritual self, slow down their movement, relax them, and consequently add to consumer well-being. We suggest that the deceleration-well-being path is intervened by consumers' control over consumption (an anti-consumption attitude towards impulsive buying). This mechanism will be attenuated for higher social classes and spirituality. Our evidence is based on a self-administered questionnaire survey utilizing drop-and-collect and via emails (n=299). Data was analyzed through the Hayes Process macro in SPSS, and the findings support our notion that consumer deceleration increases well-being under the underlying conditions except for social class. We provide the theoretical and practical implications of these results. We also suggest some potential research avenues around consumer deceleration

Exploring the clinical potentials of zuranolone in managing postpartum depression: A new therapeutic horizon

Postpartum depression (PPD) poses a major threat to maternal mental health and wellbeing while also adversely affecting the mother's relationship with her baby, leading to significant repercussions that may hinder the growth and cognitive development of the child. For decades, antidepressants have been the mainstay of treating PPD; however, recent evidence suggests that antidepressants are not as effective as they are believed to be and there is a dire need to explore new treatment options. In 2023, a breakthrough in treating PPD emerged with the recent FDA approval of zuranolone, a gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABAA) receptor selective positive allosteric modulator. The implementation of zuranolone in treating PPD can prove to be revolutionary, considering it is the first oral medication available for PPD. Our review aims to discuss the various clinical trials that have been conducted to validate the efficacy of zuranolone in mitigating the symptoms of PPD, hence, leading to better outcomes for mothers.Open Access funding provided by the Qatar National Library.Scopu

Impact of Food Literacy on Consumer's Food Purchasing Habits and Dietary Intake - A Systematic Review

Introduction: A well-nourished population represents the sustainable development of a nation. Poor alignment between food intake and dietary recommendations results in consumption of high calorie, low nutrient dense foods. Aims & Objectives: The main goal of this study is to find the relation between food literacy and dietary intake. Secondly, to assess the influence of food literacy on food purchasing habits. Place and duration of study: For this review, collection of studies from PubMed and Cochrane databases was started in May 2020 and was finalized by June 2020. Material & Methods: The eligibility criteria were based on two factors; that the study be written in English and published through a peer reviewed journal. Through the database search, total 673 studies were identified. After checking studies thoroughly at various steps, only 26 were included in this review. Results: 11 studies claimed the link between food label reading and intake of nutrients, while there were 10 studies that measured the consumer's purchase and food choices by their awareness level about food labels. Conclusion: This systematic review demonstrates nutrition education to be directly correlated with the food-related habits of people. Further research is required to get a clear vision about knowledge of nutritional labels and its effect on real life dietary choices

Singapore's Dengue Outbreak Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic: Challenges, Responses, and Lessons.

Dengue outbreaks have been documented in Singapore since 1901, occurring almost annually in the 1960s and disproportionately affecting the paediatric population. In January 2020, virological surveillance detected a shift from DENV-2, which was the previous dominant strain, to DENV-3. As of 20 September 2022, 27,283 cases have been reported in 2022. Singapore is currently also responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, overcoming another wave of infections with 281,977 cases recorded in the past two months as of 19 September 2022. While Singapore has adopted several policies and interventions to combat dengue, primarily through environmental control but also innovations such as the Wolbachia mosquito programme, there is a need for further efforts to deal with the dual threat of dengue and COVID-19. Drawing lessons from Singapore's experience, countries facing such dual epidemics should enact clear policy responses, including establishing a multisectoral dengue action committee and action plan prior to potential outbreaks. Key indicators should be agreed upon and tracked at all healthcare levels as part of dengue surveillance and incorporated into the national health information system. Digitizing dengue monitoring systems and implementing telemedicine solutions are innovative measures that would facilitate the response to dengue in the context of restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic that hinder the detection and response to new cases. There is a need for greater international collaboration in reducing or eradicating dengue in endemic countries. Further research is also required on how best to establish integrated early warning systems and extend our knowledge of the effects of COVID-19 on dengue transmission in affected countries

Psidium guajava L. An Incalculable but Underexplored Food Crop: Its Phytochemistry, Ethnopharmacology, and Industrial Applications.

Peer reviewed: TruePsidium guajava L. (guava) is a small tree known for its fruit flavor that is cultivated almost around the globe in tropical areas. Its fruit is amazingly rich in antioxidants, vitamin C, potassium, and dietary fiber. In different parts of the world, this plant holds a special place with respect to fruit and nutritional items. Pharmacological research has shown that this plant has more potential than just a fruit source; it also has beneficial effects against a variety of chronic diseases due to its rich nutritional and phytochemical profile. The primary goal of this document is to provide an updated overview of Psidium guajava L. and its bioactive secondary metabolites, as well as their availability for further study, with a focus on the health benefits and potential industrial applications. There have been several studies conducted on Psidium guajava L. in relation to its use in the pharmaceutical industry. However, its clinical efficacy and applications are still debatable. Therefore, in this review a detailed study with respect to phytochemistry of the plant through modern instruments such as GC and LC-MS has been discussed. The biological activities of secondary metabolites isolated from this plant have been extensively discussed. In order to perform long-term clinical trials to learn more about their effectiveness as drugs and applications for various health benefits, a structure activity relationship has been established. Based on the literature, it is concluded that this plant has a wide variety of biopharmaceutical applications. As a whole, this article calls for long-term clinical trials to obtain a greater understanding of how it can be used to treat different diseases

Effects of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection and COVID‐19 pandemic on menstrual health of women: A systematic review

Abstract Background The menstrual cycle in women is the main indicator of their reproductive health which is affected by the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic. This review aims to summarize the effects of the COVID‐19 infection and the global pandemic on the menstrual health of women. Methods The literature search was conducted in PubMed, Cochrane library, and Google Scholar using keywords “COVID‐19,” “Menstrual Cycle,” “Menstrual Cycle Irregularities,” “Amenorrhea,” “Polymenorrhea,” and “Dysmenorrhea.” The articles were selected according to the following inclusion criteria: (i) cross‐sectional studies, (ii) cohort studies, (iii) surveys, and (iv) other observational studies observing the effects of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection or COVID‐19 pandemic on menstrual health of women. Exclusion criteria included: case reports, gray literature, and website articles regarding menstrual health. Results A total of 30,510 articles were shortlisted after a comprehensive search. Sixteen articles were included out of which 13 studies investigated the effects of the COVID‐19 pandemic on the menstrual cycle while 3 evaluated the possible effects of COVID‐19 infection on the menstrual health of women. Menstrual disorders or irregularities were a more common finding during the pandemic as compared to before (p = 0.008). Women affected by pandemic‐related stress were more prone to changes in the duration of their menses (p = 0.0008), reported heavier bleeding (p = 0.028), and increased incidence of painful periods (p < 0.0001). COVID‐19 infected women also reported changes in their menstrual cycle including irregular menstruation, increased symptoms of premenstrual syndrome, and infrequent menstruation. Conclusions Women suffering from COVID‐19 infection or pandemic‐associated stress and anxiety were more likely to experience irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, and other menstrual abnormalities compared to those who were less exposed