Dental Procedures, Oral Practices, and Associated Anxiety: A Study on Late-teenagers

AbstractObjectivesThe study aims to determine the degree of anxiety pertaining to dental procedures and various oral hygiene practices among college teenagers.MethodsCorah's Modified Dental Anxiety Scale was administered on a randomly chosen sample of 100 Indian college students (50 males and 50 females) of Delhi University, belonging to the age group of 17–20 years.ResultsDescriptive statistical computations revealed 12.14 years as the mean age of first dental visit, with moderately high levels of anxiety (60.75%) for various dental procedures among the Indian teenagers and 5% lying in the “phobic or extremely anxious” category. With merely 4.16% people going for regular consultations, general check-ups evoked 78.3% anxiety and having an injection or a tooth removed was perceived as the most threatening. The sample subgroup not using mouthwash and mouthspray, smokers, and alcohol drinkers with improper oral hygiene practices experienced much higher anxiety towards routine dental procedures.ConclusionThe majority of the Indian youngsters had an evasive attitude of delaying dental treatment. The core problems lay in deficient health care knowledge, lack of patient-sensitive pedagogy to train dental professionals, inaccessibility of services, and a dismissive attitude towards medical help. The feelings of fear and anxiety prevalent among the Indian youth offer significant insights into causes and preventive measures for future research and practice. Methods of education and motivation could be developed to dissipate the anxiety amongst Indian teenagers that prevent routine dental visits and maintenance of adequate oral hygiene

Effectiveness of a novel topical anesthetic gel in patients undergoing non surgical periodontal therapy.

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of a topical anesthetic gel containing potassium nitrate, benzocaine and tetracaine in patients undergoing non surgical periodontal therapy. Materials and Methods: The present study was a randomised, double blind, placebo controlled, split mouth design trial carried out in 300 patients. Two quadrants in each patient were selected for non surgical periodontal therapy. The drug gel and placebo were liberally applied over the teeth and gingiva on the selected quadrants and the treatment was started after two minutes. Patients were asked to evaluate their pain experience at the end of treatment of their respective quadrants using verbal rating scale. Results: The mean pain score on using the drug gel was 0.433+0.737 as compared to the mean pain score of 2.35+0.761 on using the placebo gel, and the results were statistically significant. The drug gel out performed the placebo gel. None of the patients reported of any local or systemic side effects. Conclusions: The topical anesthetic gel provided excellent pain control for the patients undergoing non surgical periodontal therapy. It can also be considered as a good option during periodontal examination and maintenance visits to increase the patients comfort

Particle size distribution from municipal solid waste burning over National Capital Territory, India

Proceeding paper, presented at the 5th International Electronic Conference on Atmospheric Sciences, 16–31 July 2022. Emission of particulate matter (PM) of different sizes from Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) burning may have an impact on air quality and human health of the National Capital Territory (NCT) of India, particularly during winter months. MSW samples were collected from three sanitary landfill sites in the NCT Delhi. Experiments were performed to mimic real world burning during different stages of sample combustion (ignition, flaming smoldering, smoldering and pyrolysis). We determined the emission factor for the number and mass concentration of particles of different sizes, ranging from 0.34 to 9.05 µm, for MSW burning. Present results confirm the assumption that MSW burning emits the maximum number concentration (No/cm3) of particles (90%) in the range < 1.0 µm, or fine-mode aerosol

The Extended Solar Cycle: Muddying the Waters of Solar/Stellar Dynamo Modeling or Providing Crucial Observational Constraints?

In 1844 Schwabe discovered that the number of sunspots increased and decreased over a period of about 11 years, that variation became known as the sunspot cycle. Almost eighty years later, Hale described the nature of the Sun's magnetic field, identifying that it takes about 22 years for the Sun's magnetic polarity to cycle. It was also identified that the latitudinal distribution of sunspots resembles the wings of a butterfly—showing migration of sunspots in each hemisphere that abruptly start at mid-latitudes (about ±35o) toward the Sun's equator over the next 11 years. These sunspot patterns were shown to be asymmetric across the equator. In intervening years, it was deduced that the Sun (and sun-like stars) possess magnetic activity cycles that are assumed to be the physical manifestation of a dynamo process that results from complex circulatory transport processes in the star's interior. Understanding the Sun's magnetism, its origin and its variation, has become a fundamental scientific objective—the distribution of magnetism, and its interaction with convective processes, drives various plasma processes in the outer atmosphere that generate particulate, radiative, eruptive phenomena, and shape the heliosphere. In the past few decades, a range of diagnostic techniques have been employed to systematically study finer scale magnetized objects, and associated phenomena. The patterns discerned became known as the “Extended Solar Cycle” (ESC). The patterns of the ESC appeared to extend the wings of the activity butterfly back in time, nearly a decade before the formation of the sunspot pattern, and to much higher solar latitudes. In this short review, we describe their observational patterns of the ESC and discuss possible connections to the solar dynamo as we depart on a multi-national collaboration to investigate the origins of solar magnetism through a blend of archived and contemporary data analysis with the goal of improving solar dynamo understanding and modeling

Electrochemical Behavior of Titanium and Its Alloys as Dental Implants in Normal Saline

The electrochemical behavior of pure titanium and titanium alloys in a simulated body fluid (normal saline solution) has been tested, and the results have been reported. The significance of the results for dental use has been discussed. The tests also serve as a screening test for the best alloy system for more comprehensive long-term investigations

Bilateral Acute Angle-Closure Glaucoma: A Case Report of an Unusual Cause of Acute Headache in a Child.

INTRODUCTION: Acute angle-closure glaucoma (AACG) is typically considered a disease of adulthood. However, AACG may occasionally be seen in children. The clinical presentation is similar to adults, including headache, vomiting, and eye pain. However, the etiology of angle closure in children is different and most often associated with congenital anterior segment abnormalities. A precipitating factor of AACG in children with previous established, anterior segment abnormalities is eye dilation, which may occur during routine ophthalmological examination with topical mydriasis, or physiologic mydriasis upon entering a dark room. CASE REPORT: We describe a 5-year-old child with a history of severe prematurity and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) presenting with bilateral AACG following a routine outpatient, dilated ophthalmological examination. While angle-closure glaucoma has previously been reported in cases of ROP, a bilateral acute attack of AACG following pupil dilation in regressed ROP has hitherto been unreported. CONCLUSION: Given the association of ROP and AACG, it can be expected that as the survival rate of premature infants improves, the incidence of ROP and AACG may also increase. It is therefore prudent for the emergency physician to have AACG on the differential for pediatric patients with headache and eye pain

Evaluation of subjective and objective cyclodeviation following oblique muscle weakening procedures

Purpose: To evaluate the subjective and objective cyclodeviational changes following different weakening procedures on superior and inferior oblique muscles Design: Comparative case series Materials and Methods: In a prospective institution based study, 16 cases of A pattern horizontal strabismus having superior oblique overaction were randomized to superior oblique weakening procedures: either silicon expander or translational-recession. Similarly, 20 cases of V pattern horizontal strabismus with inferior oblique overaction were randomized for inferior oblique weakening procedures: either 10 mm Fink&#x2032;s recession or modified Elliot and Nankin&#x2032;s anteropositioning. Cyclodeviation was assessed subjectively with the synoptophore and objectively using the fundus photograph before surgery and 3 months postoperatively. Change in cyclodeviation was measured by subjective and objective methods. The index of surgical effect (ISE) was defined as the net torsional change postoperatively. Results: The difference between the extorsional change induced by the two superior oblique procedures, silicone expander (-6&#x00B0;) and translational recession (-11.3&#x00B0;), was statistically significant (P=0.001). Translational recession caused more extorsional change (ISE=296&#x0025;) than silicone expander surgery (ISE=107&#x0025;). The two inferior oblique weakening procedures, Fink&#x2032;s recession (&#x002B;2.5&#x00B0;) and modified Elliot and Nankin&#x2032;s anteropositioning (&#x002B;4.7&#x00B0;) produced equitable amount of intorsional shift with no statistical difference (P=0.93). Objective measurements were significantly more than the subjective measurements. Conclusions: Different weakening procedures on oblique muscles produce different changes in cyclodeviation, which persists even up to 3 months. Subjective cyclodeviation is less than the objective measurements indicating partial compensation by sensorial adaptations

Experiences of cervical cancer survivors in Chitwan, Nepal: A qualitative study.

IntroductionCervical cancer is a global leading cause of morbidity and mortality. The majority of cervical cancer deaths occur in developing countries including Nepal. Though knowledge of cervical cancer is an important determinant of women's participation in prevention and screening for cervical cancer, little is known about this topic in Nepal. This study explores the experiences of cervical cancer survivors and assesses the attitude of family and community towards it and stigma related to this disease in Bharatpur, Nepal.MethodsThe study design was qualitative methods involving two focus-group discussions. A total of 17 cervical cancer survivors, who have completed two years of cancer treatment were selected purposively from Chitwan. All qualitative data were transcribed and translated into English and were thematically analyzed.ResultsThe majority of the participants had scant knowledge about cervical cancer, its causative agent, showed less cervical cancer screening, delayed healthcare-seeking behavior despite having persistent symptoms before the diagnosis. The main reasons identified for not uptaking the cervical screening methods were an embarrassment and having no symptoms at all. Most of them endured social stigma related to cervical cancer in the form of physical isolation and verbal abuse.ConclusionsThere is an urgent need for interventions to make women and the public aware of cervical cancer and launch effective health education campaigns, policies for cervical cancer prevention programs. This implementation can save the lives of hundreds of women and help them avoid going through all the negative experiences related to cervical cancer. More studies are required to gain the perspectives, knowledge, experiences, and attitudes of cervical cancer survivors to add to the research