Influence of New Customized Cast Dowel Designs on the Fracture Resistance of Endodontically Treated Maxillary Central Incisors: An In Vitro study

AIM AND OBJECTIVE : The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the influence of new customized cast dowel designs on the fracture resistance of endodontically treated maxillary central incisors MATERIALS AND METHODS : Sixty recently extracted maxillary central incisor with uniform root lengths were selected and stored in distilled water at a temperature of 37º C. Access cavity was prepared in all the teeth. Canal instrumentation was done to master apical file size #40 and step back preparation was done with periodic irrigation. Each canal was obturated by cold lateral condensation using gutta-percha points and resin sealer (AH Plus). 60 teeth were divided into 6 groups of 10 teeth each (group A, B, C, D, E, F). Group A is the control group which did not receive any post endodontic restoration. The experimental groups received customized cast dowels with different designs- Group B- parallel dowel with no modifications, Group C- parallel dowel with uniform serrations, Group D- parallel dowel with non uniform serrations, Group E- parallel dowel with uniform serrations and stabilizing end, Group F- parallel dowel with non uniform serrations and stabilizing end. The coronal aspects of the teeth of the experimental groups [B,C,D,E,F] were removed at 2mm above the CEJ to make 2mm ferrule. The finish lines for all specimens were placed at the level of the CEJ. Samples were embedded in acrylic resin. Post space preparation was done in groups B, C, D, E, and F. In groups E,F, the apical 3mm of the post space preparation was prepared using a custom drill ( made with tapering end) to obtain a stabilizing end. Wax patterns were sprued, invested, and cast in a Ni-Cr alloy. Design modifications were done on the posts in groups B, C, D, E, and F and luted. Metal crown was fabricated and luted with zinc phosphate cement. Specimens were subjected to loading in the universal testing machine at an angle of 45˚ to the long axis of tooth. A crosshead speed of 0.5 mm/min was applied until each sample fractured. The load at which failure occurred was measured in Newton (N). The data were analyzed with a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) to determine the differences among the mean values of the test groups and Tukey multiple comparison test was used to determine which test groups were statistically different from the others. RESULTS : The results of this study showed that the highest fracture resistance was seen in the group E (uniformly serrated parallel dowel with stabilizing end) and the lowest fracture resistance was seen in the group restored with parallel dowel (group B) other than the control group A. Intergroup comparison revealed that the custom made post fabricated had no significant difference in whichever technique and preparation done. CONCLUSION : Parallel sided dowels with serration and stabilizing ends showed high fracture resistance among the groups

A study to assess the effectiveness of back massage on reduction of pain and anxiety among patients with stroke at selected hospital, Madurai

A study to assess the effectiveness of Back Massage on reduction of Pain and Anxiety among patients with stroke at selected Hospital, Madurai, was conducted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the award a degree in Master of science in nursing under the Tamilnadu Dr.M.G.R. Medical University, Chennai. The research design was quasi experimental design. Sample size was 60, purposive sampling technique was used to select the samples. OBJECTIVES: 1. To assess the pre and post test level of pain and anxiety among patients with stroke in experimental group. 2. To assess the pre and post test level of pain and anxiety and among patients with stroke in control group. 3. To evaluate the effectiveness of back massage on reducing pain and anxiety among patients with stroke in experimental group. 4. To find out the relationship between post test level of pain and anxiety among patients with stroke in experimental group. 5. To find out the association between post test level of pain with their selected demographic variables in experimental group. 6. To find out the association between post test level of anxiety with their selected demographic variables in experimental group. The conceptual framework adopted for this study was based on modified Ludwig von bertanlanffy’s general system model (1968). HYPOTHESES: H1: Mean post test level of pain and anxiety will be significantly lower than pre test level of pain and anxiety in experimental group. H2: Mean post test level of pain and anxiety among experimental group will be significantly lower than control group. H3: There will be a significant relationship between post test level of pain and anxiety among experimental group. H4: There will be a significant association between post test level of pain and anxiety and their selected demographic variables in experimental group. MAJOR FINDINGS OF THE STUDY: • With regard to age, 43.3% subjects were between 41-60 and above 60 years in the experimental group and 66.6% subjects were between 41-60 years of age in the control group. • With regard to sex, in the experimental group 53.3% subjects were males and 50% subjects were males in the control group. • Regarding the educational status 9 (30%) subjects had higher secondary education in the experimental group and 10 (33.3%) subjects had primary education in the control group. • Regarding the occupation in the experimental group 17 (56.6%) subjects were sedentary workers and in the control group 20 (66.6%) were sedentary workers. • Regarding the family income, majority of samples 13 (43.3%) were getting an income between Rs. 1001-5000 in the experimental group and 13 (43.3%) samples were getting Rs. 1001-5000 in the control group. • Regarding the duration of illness 20 (66.6%) subjects were less than 2 yrs of duration in the experimental group and 9 (30%) were having 2-5 yrs of duration in the control group. • Regarding the type of family in the experimental group 17(53.3%) subjects belong to nuclear family and in the control group 20 (66.6%) subjects belong to nuclear family. • Regarding the family history of stroke 19 (63.3%) had the history of stroke among experimental group and 22 (73.3%) had the history of stroke among control group. • Regarding the hospitalization, in the experimental group 20(66.6%) subjects had the experience of previous hospitalization and in the control group 20(66.6%) subjects had the experience of previous hospitalization. • The mean post-test level of pain (5.03) which is lower than (7.1) the pre test level of pain in the experimental group. • The mean post-test level of anxiety (62.93) was lower than the mean pre-test level of anxiety (75.63) in the experimental group. • There was a significant association between post-test level of pain and education among experimental group. • There was a significant association between post test level of anxiety and income, occupation, education among experimental group. RECOMMENDATIONS: • The study may be conducted by using large populations to generalize the findings. • A longitudinal study may be conducted to assess the effectiveness of back massage on reducing pain and anxiety among stroke patients. • This study may also be done as a comparative study in different settings. • Nurse researcher has to identify the effects of back massage among patients with orthopaedic conditions. • The effectiveness of back massage on reducing physiological parameters such as temperature, blood pressure, heart rate could be studied. CONCLUSION: As for this research is concerned, the interventional study proved that there is a significant reduction on pain and anxiety level among patients with stroke. The findings of the present study agree with the findings of the previous clinical study, regarding back massage. The pre-test and post-test mean and standard deviation were calculated. The paired ‘t’ test was applied to identify the effectiveness. The reduction of pain and anxiety level was statistically significant at 0.05 level. Therefore the back massage is a very effective non-pharmacological intervention to reduce the pain and anxiety among stroke patients

Efficacy of trans-cerebellar diameter/abdominal circumference ratio versus head circumference/abdominal circumference ratio in prediction of asymmetrical intrauterine growth retardation

Background: Determination of gestational age is an important step of pregnancy management and foetal development evaluation in obstetrics. Any error in this gestational age estimation results in prematurity or post maturity and in case if the expected date of delivery is not known, there is high chance of perinatal mortality in the near outcome. Hence it is important in achieving an uneventful gestation to have a sensitive, specific and age independent obstetric biometric parameter that stays constant throughout the gestation. Trans-cerebellar diameters (TCD)/ abdominal circumference (AC) ratio are reliable, constant predictors to assess the gestational age and to evaluate fetal growth. Aim was to compare the accuracy of TCD/ AC ratio with head circumference (HC)/ AC ratio in predicting asymmetrical IUGR.Methods: A prospective study was conducted over a period of one year on 100 clinically suspected IUGR pregnancies who were evaluated with BPD, HC, AC and FL along with TCD were measured for assessing the sonological gestational age. Two morphometric ratios-TCD/AC and HC/AC were calculated. Estimated fetal weight was calculated for all these pregnancies and its percentile was determined. Then those clinically suspected IUGR cases were followed up to delivery and post-delivery new Ballord score and CAN score (clinical assessment of nutritional status at birth) were calculated.Results: In the present study, the sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and DA were 83.93%, 65.91%, 75.81%, 76.32% and 76% respectively for TCD/AC ratio versus respectively for HC/AC ratio in predicting IUGR.  Conclusions: Both ratios were gestational age independent and can be used in detecting IUGR with good diagnostic accuracy. However, TCD/AC ratio had a better diagnostic validity and accuracy compared to HC/AC ratio in predicting asymmetric IUGR

Performance Analysis of Process Parameters on Machining Titanium (Ti-6Al-4V) Alloy Using Abrasive Water Jet Machining Process

AbstractOwing to its light weight and corrosive resistant, Titanium (Ti-6Al-4V) alloy is mainly utilized in fabricating medical device applications. Since it has high strength, it is very difficult to machine alloy using conventional machining. In the present study, an endeavor has been made to machine titanium alloy using AWJM process. Since the process involves with less heat affect zone and higher material removal, it is possible to enhance machinability of workpiece. It has attempted to find the influence of process parameters on surface roughness and topography for enhancing the process. It has been observed that the abrasive flow rate and standoff distance has the most significant role on determining surface quality

Neoplasia in oil sardine from Palk Bay

During a routine fishery survey programme at Irumeni fishing village, Palk Bay on 03rd December 2016, a single specimen of oil sardine Sardinella longiceps with neoplasia, measuring 163 mm in total length (TL) and weighing 119 gram was collected from the gillnet landings. The specimen was a female with empty stomach

Histomorphology and immunohistochemistry of adenocarcinoma and fibroma in Indian oil sardine (Sardinella longiceps Valenciennes, 1847) from Palk Bay, Southeast coast of India

A single specimen of Indian oil sardine Sardinella longiceps was observed with wart-like appearances in three different regions of the fish: one on the premaxillary part, and other two on the skin and at the vent region respectively. Mucosal tissues were expunged and preserved in 10 % neutral phosphate-buffered formalin for histological examination. Based on the histopathological analysis, lesions were identified as adenocarcinoma and fibroma on the premaxillary part and skin, respectively. Based on the immunohistochemistry, vimentin and cytokeratin-like proteins were demonstrated, suggesting that the wart-like extrusions were fibroma and adenocarcinoma respectively

Reproductive traits of the obtuse barracuda Sphyraena obtusata Cuvier, 1829 in the Gulf of Mannar, south-east coast of India

The reproductive biology (sex ratio, maturity and fecundity) of the obtuse barracuda Sphyraena obtusata Cuvier, 1829 was investigated based on 698 specimens (323 females and 375 males) sampled along the Pamban Coast in the Gulf of Mannar during the years 2018 and 2019. The total length of the samples ranged from 11.8 to 41.6 cm and the overall sex ratio (male:female) was 1:0.86. The length at first maturity (Lm50) was estimated to be 31.26 cm for females and 31.12 cm for males. Monthly changes in the gonadosomatic index (GSI) values and reproductive phases revealed a protracted spawning, extending from September to February with a peak in January. However, the presence of mature females throughout the year indicated year-round spawning behaviour of the species in the region. Detailed histological studies of the ovary further confirmed that the species is a continuous batch spawner. The estimated absolute batch fecundity ranged between 20,520 and 2,22,422 oocytes and the relative batch fecundity ranged from 261 to 754, with an average of 505 ova per gram body weight of fish. The ova size ranged from 0.03 to 0.84 mm (Mean±SE: 0.43±0.04). Fecundity positively correlated with the total length and total weight of the fish, indicating larger females produced a greater number of ova compared to the smaller ones

Course Manual on Marine Fisheries & Mariculture Prepared for the Training programme for B.F.Sc students of Central Agricultural University (CAU), Tripura

The undergraduate Fisheries Science students are required to know about the inland and marine fisheries. The students from landlocked area are getting rare opportunity to understand the marine fisheries and mariculture activities. Hence, based on the request of the Central Agricultural University (CAU), Tripura as a part of their academic activities, the Director, ICAR-CMFRI, has kindly approved a 10 days in-plant training for B.F.Sc. final year students at the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), Mandapam Regional Centre. The training was organized in collaboration with Agricultural Technology Information Centre (ATIC), ICAR-CMFRI, Kochi. A total of 27 B.F.Sc students and a faculty of Central Agricultural University (CAU), Tripura participated in the training programme during 17th to 26th January, 2020. The training emphasized on the skill development of students through hands on training on mariculture activities and field visits to fish landing centres. A course manual was prepared covering the major topics on marine capture fisheries and mariculture. I congratulate all those who have put in their sincere efforts to bring out this manual

Impact of mini trawl fishing on the population of alligator pipefish Syngnathoides biaculeatus bloch (1785) caught as bycatch from the seagrass meadows of Palk bay, southeast coast of India

Seagrass meadows are a highly productive ecosystem providing habitat, breeding and feeding ground for various marine species and also support the fisheries. The single species S. biaculeatus is the most dominant pipefish among Syngnathoids in Palk Bay. Periodic monitoring and observation of bycatch and discards, of the alligator pipefish Syngnathoides biaculeatus, caught in Mini trawl from Devipattinam for one year formed the basis of this communication. The size range of alligator pipefish was recorded between 128 mm to 240 mm and individual weight ranged from 1.42 to 6.60 g. The maximum numbers of Pipefish were recorded during July 2017. There is no significant difference in b values (P > 0.05) and K values between male and female. In the present study, population of pipefish S. biaculeatus have shown negative allometric growth pattern (b = 1.92). Fishing by Mini trawl in the inshore region of seagrass meadows has harshly affected the alligator pipefish population and its habitat. Mesh size regulation and its strict implementation will be the required management measures to ensure the sustainability of the pipefish population in the seagrass meadows of the Palk Ba

Shark Awareness Day 14th July

Shark Awareness Day 14th Jul