Hydro-geochemical analysis based on entropy and geostatistics model for delineation of anthropogenic ground water pollution for health risks assessment of Dhenkanal district, India.

Consumption of poor quality water causes serious human health hazards. Therefore, it is very crucial to investigate factors influencing the quality of groundwater and its suitability for drinking purpose. In the present study, groundwater quality of the Dhenkanal district of Odisha, India was characterized and the spatial distribution of different water quality parameters were analyzed using the multivariate statistics, entropy theory, and geostatistics techniques. In the present study 112 number of groundwater tube well samples were collected from the study area. The entropy theory revealed that SO42-, Mg+2 and Cl- were the most influencing parameters. A similar observation was also observed based on the correlation coefficient analysis. Groundwater quality index (GWQI) and entropy-weighted water quality index (EWQI) classifications indicated that 78.57 and 43.75% of the collected groundwater samples were categorized under excellent water quality, whereas, the rest of the samples were varying from good to medium drinking water quality. In addition, the result of EWQI classification offers more realistic assessment than that of GWQIs owing to its high precision, simplicity and without application of artificial weight. The correlation coefficient between Ca+2 and HCO3-, Mg+2 and PO4- were significantly high which might be due the presence of CaHCO3 and MgPO4 in the groundwater samples. The GWQI revealed a weak spatial dependence of groundwater quality.

Tobacco cessation in India: a contemporary issue in public health dentistry.

In India, tobacco use is incredibly linked to poverty and accounts for the high public health costs of treating tobacco-related diseases. Dental public health programs aid in detecting the tobacco-related periodontal diseases, oral cancers, etc., where the majority belongs to the submerged portion of iceberg, which otherwise leads to substantial morbidity and mortality. Moreover, public health dentists plays a key role in identifying both clinical and subclinical cases and aid in tobacco use cessation through various modes of health education and counseling. Therefore, the community-based measures are deemed to be the most cost-effective tool for tobacco cessation.

Tooth mortality and prosthetic treatment needs among the urban and rural adult population of Dharwad district, India.

PURPOSE: To assess the tooth mortality and prosthetic treatment needs among the urban and rural adult population of Dharwad district. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 1223 subjects (685 urban and 538 rural) were selected using multi-stage cluster random sampling. A form was prepared and data were collected on sociodemographic factors, tooth mortality and its causes and prosthetic treatment needs by the interview method and clinical examination. RESULTS: The rural population compared to urban, increased age and females compared to males had higher tooth mortality rates, which was demonstrated by the multiple logistic regression model. Dental caries and periodontal diseases were the two reasons for increased tooth mortality in the population studied. A proportion of 50.01% of the population required some form of prosthetic treatment. CONCLUSION: Age, gender and location were positive predictors of tooth mortality. Greater prosthetic treatment needs were observed among the rural population.

Influence of socioeconomic status on lung function and prediction equations in Indian children.

The present study was carried out to assess the influence of socioeconomic status on lung functions and to suggest prediction equations for Indian children. For this purpose, 2,616 normal, healthy schoolchildren aged between 5-15 years were recruited. Boys were classified into three groups, i.e., high-income (HIG), middle-income (MIG), and low-income (LIG), while girls were classified into HIG and LIG groups, based on socioeconomic status (SES). Height, weight, chest circumference, body surface area (BSA), fat-free mass (FFM), and body fat were assessed. Forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), FEV1/FVC ratio, and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) were measured. The results, before and after adjustment of physical characteristics, showed that anthropometry, body composition, and lung functions were significantly higher in HIG compared to MIG and LIG children, while in girls, no differences were observed in physical characteristics after adjustments. Multiple linear regression equations were developed to predict FEV1, FVC, and PEFR, using independent variables like age, height, fat-free mass, and SES. It is opined that these equations could be used as Indian reference equations for healthy children based on the SES.

Proximate determinants of demand for oral health care in the surveyed households of Dharwad city, Karnataka India.

The study was undertaken to identify the factors influential in determining the demand for oral health care in the surveyed households of Dharwad city. Karnataka during May-July 2001. Dharwad city was divided into nine divisions in 1991 census, in which four divisions were selected at random. A sample of 70 households was selected randomly from each division. A total of 1381 persons from 280 households only 208 persons were reported with various oral health problems during reference period of study. A significant positive relationship was observed between oral health care expenditure with the total number of visits (r = 0.4160, P < 0.01), the education of the sick person (r = 0.1983, p < 0.05), and the highest level of education among females (r = 0.1475, P < 0.05) and a significant negative relationship was observed between time gap between onset of disease and contact of health care centre (r = -0.1449, P < 0.05) and family size (r = -0.1518, P < 0.05) with expenditure. Path analysis results showed that, the duration of illness episode, the total number of visits to source of care during the reference period and distance between health care from the residence of the households (in km) are important variables in explaining increased oral health care expenditure.

Pharmacokinetics of norethindrone in Indian Women.

Pharmacokinetics of norethindrone (NET) was evaluated in eleven women belonging to a low socio-economic group and in five womem belonging to the high socio-economic group after the administration of an oral dose of 0.35 mg NET minipill on an empty stomach. Blood samples were collected at different intervals of time over a period of 24 hours. Plasma NET was estimated by radioimmunoassay. In all women, peak levels of NET occurred within 1-2 hours and a semi-log plot of plasma NET levels showed a biexponential decline. The half-life of plasma NET clearance was relatively shorter in women of low socio-economic group with poor nutritional status as indicated by anthropometric indices, as compared to that in well nourished women of high socio-economic group. There was a significant positive correlation between weight/(height) 2x 100 index on the one hand and t1/2 (beta) on the other in all the women studied, thereby suggesting a role for nutritional status in the metabolic handling of NET.

PIP: A correlation between nutritional levels and norethindrone pharmacokinetics was evaluated in 11 women of low socioeconomic status (SES) and 5 women of high SES. An oral dose of .35 mg of norethindrone was administered on an empty stomach in mini-pill form. Radioimmunoassay was used to measure plasma norethindrone from blood samples collected at different intervals over 24 hours. Peak norethindrone levels occurred in all women within 1-2 hours, and a semilog plot of plasma norethindrone concentration showed a biexponential decline. Peak values ranged from 7.7-12.3 ng/ml and 4.7-l4.8 ng/ml in high SES and low SES, respectively. Plasma levels of norethindrone at 12 hours were very low in low SES and could not be detected in 8 women at 25 hours. In contrast was the finding that all 5 high SES subjects had more than detectable levels of drug throughout the experimental period. Anthropometric indexes showed the low SES group with poor nutritional status had shorter half-life clearances than the relatively well-nourished high SES group. There was also a significant correlation between weight/(height) sq. times 100 index on the one hand and the time l/2-beta on the other in all women studied, thereby suggesting a role for nutritional status in the metabolic handling of norethindrone.