Personal Protective Equipment Associated Symptoms amongst Frontline Health Care Workers in COVID-19 Pandemic � A Cross Sectional Study

Context : During COVID-19 Pandemic, frontline Health Care Worker (HCW) in hospitals were mandated to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), while caring for suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients, which involved the donning of close-fitting N95 Face Masks, Protective Eyewear, Gowns, Surgical Gloves and the use of Powered AirPurifying Respirators (PAPR). Aims : This study is to know the challenges faced during use of PPE among frontline HCW. Methods and Material : This is a cross-sectional study among HCW at our Tertiary Institution who were working in high-risk hospital areas during COVID-19. All respondents completed a self-administered questionnaire Statistical analysis used : Data were entered in Microsoft Excel and analyzed using SPSS version 23. Baseline characteristics were described using frequency and percentages. Association between predictors of PPE associated symptoms were assessed using Chi-square test with p-value of <0.05 considered as significant. Results : Total of 190 Health Care Workers participated in the study. Doctors- contributed most [143/189 (75.2%)]. Majority of the respondents reported usage of Masks, Eyewear, Shield and Gown [126/189 (66.7%)], in which most of them donned N-95 mask [152/189(80.5%)], and Goggles [110/189 (58.2%)] average for 6.32 (2.40) hours a day and 18.15(8.65) days in a month. 83 respondents reported a new onset headache associated with usage of PPE. Majority of the respondents localized Headaches as frontal (69.9%) which was statistically significant. Other symptoms were Tiredness (73.5%), Excess Sweating (45.4%) and Giddiness (20.6%). Conclusions : Prevalence and characteristics of PPE- associated symptoms in HCW working in high-risk areas in Tertiary Care Centers necessitates better measures and strategies for designing PPE and reducing the exposure time in HCW and also the impact on their work performance

GSTM1 null polymorphism prevalence in tobacco users, oral leukoplakia and oral squamous cell carcinoma patients in South Indian population: A polymerase chain reaction study.

Context: Tobacco abuse is a well‑known risk factor for potentially malignant disorders as well as oral squamous cell carcinoma. Factors that influence tobacco‑exposed individuals developing a malignancy may include the combination of total tobacco exposure and genetic susceptibility. Aim: This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of the glutathione S‑transferase M1 (GSTM1) null polymorphism in oral leukoplakia and oral squamous cell carcinoma patients in South Indian population. Settings and Design: This case–control study was conducted in hospital setting on South Indian population. Materials and Methods: About 280 subjects with history of tobacco use, oral leukoplakia, oral squamous cell carcinoma were included in this study. Three milliliter of blood was collected and transported under cold cycle and taken for evaluation of GSTM1 null polymorphism using multiplex polymerase chain reaction. Results and Discussion: On comparing the prevalence of GSTM1 null polymorphism among the group with subjects with habits and no oral lesions, oral leukoplakia, and oral squamous cell carcinoma, it was observed that there was a statistically significant association between GSTM1 null polymorphism and the different groups (P < 0.01). Conclusion: The lack of GSTM1 activity would make the oral tissues more susceptible to action of tobacco carcinogens and to the development of a high‑grade level of dysplasia in oral leukoplakia and thereby increases the susceptibility of lesion to undergo malignant changes.

Brief Perspective on Burning Mouth Syndrome: A Review.

Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) also called as stomatopyrosis, is an enigmatic disorder causing chronic pain of the intraoral soft tissues. It is a distinctive nosological entity including all forms of burning sensation in the mouth and described as stinging sensation or pain in association with oral mucosa that appears clinically normal in the absence of local or systemic diseases or alterations. The etiology of BMS is not known although a number of factors have been suggested. These include hormonal changes associated with menopause, allergic reactions, chronic low-grade trauma, genetic polymorphisms, psychosocial and personality disorders namely alexithymic traits, cancer phobia somatisation, obsession-compulsion disorders, etc. Among the proposed causative factors, psychological disorders have been frequently associated. These findings suggest a need for an interdisciplinary treatment which apart from dental therapy demands a certain kind of psychotherapy. A number of treatment modalities have been used, but they are found to be variable, unpredictable and outcome is often discouraging. Nevertheless, newer forms of therapy are being described in the literature. This presentation will highlight the various strategies employed in diagnosis and newer modalities of the treatment for such patients.