ABSTRACT
Background: The early diagnosis of neonatal sepsis, a significant cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality still remains a challenge. Red-cell Distribution Width (RDW) vary significantly in conditions associated with inflammation and infection like sepsis. The study aims to find the normal range of RDW in healthy newborns and investigate the role of RDW in the early diagnosis of neonatal sepsis.Methods: This is a prospective observational study, 50 normal and 50 sepsis neonates were considered for the study. The neonatal sepsis group consisted of neonates with (i) Positive sepsis screen with/without clinical features of neonatal sepsis and/or (ii) Blood, urine or CSF culture positive or signs of pneumonia on chest x-ray. The mean RDW and the relationship between RDW and neonatal sepsis were analysed using appropriate statistical methods in SPSS-25 software.Results: Mean RDW (%) was significantly higher in sepsis neonates (18.59'1.28) than in normal newborns (16.21'1.35). RDW had statistical significance with CRP (C-Reactive Protein) in the sepsis group. RDW had significant relationship with the diagnosis of neonatal sepsis with a p value of 0.000. An RDW cut-off level of 17.25% had 86% sensitivity, 87% specificity, and 93.5% accuracy in diagnosing neonatal sepsis.Conclusions: RDW helps as a diagnostic test in the early diagnosis of neonatal sepsis.
ABSTRACT
Background and Objectives: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a local noninvasive treatment modality without side effects caused by antibiotics. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of adjunctive use of PDT with scaling and root planing as compared with SRP alone in the treatment of chronic periodontitis. Subjects and Methods: Twenty participants with chronic periodontitis having probing pocket depths (PDs) of ≥5 mm were selected for the study. Patients were randomly divided into control group and test group with ten patients in each group. Full-mouth SRP was performed in both the groups, followed by PDT in test group. Assessment of plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), PD, and clinical attachment level (CAL) was done at baseline and after 3 months. Microbiological assessment of Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia, and Treponema denticola was done by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) at baseline and 3 months after the therapy. Results: There was a significant reduction in PI, GI, PD, CAL, and microbiologic parameters in test group, following SRP and PDT, when compared with SRP alone in control group. Conclusion: PDT in conjunction with SRP has shown additional improvement in periodontal parameters when compared to SRP alone and has a beneficial effect in chronic periodontitis patients.