Oral Microbiome and Innate Immunity in Health and Disease: Building a Predictive, Preventive and Personalized Therapeutic Approach

An average person carries 1 to 2 kg of microbes in the alimentary track, including the oral cavity. There are more bacteria in a person's mouth than the total human population in the entire world. Oral health is critical to the general systemic health of an individual. The harmonious co-existence between more than 1000 bacterial species and the host's immune system underpins sustained, long-term homeostasis, the sine qua non of oral health. In a similar manner, global oral health is essential for general population health of the world. Since our last review of this subject in 2019, while significant clinical advances continue, the disparity, lack of prevention, insufficient care, and political unrest have persisted or significantly deteriorated. This review focuses on the following important questions: 1.What is oral microbiome? How to detect, characterize, compare, report, and interpret the results?2.How does oral microbiome affect and respond to local and systemic innate immunity?3.What is the role of oral microbiome in the pathogenesis of diseases of the mouth?4.What are the impacts of oral health or the lack of it at the systemic level?5.Why is oral health important at the population level?6.How can the healthcare providers restore and sustain harmonious co-existence between host and oral microbiome?Copyright © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

Assessment of the psychological impact of COVID-19 pandemic on undergraduate medical students in India

BACKGROUND: Medical students who are prone to psychological stress due to their overburdened curriculum, are at an increased risk of getting adversely affected by the pandemic. The present study was planned to assess the anxiety level among undergraduate medical students across the country using generalized anxiety disorder scale (GAD-7). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this online survey, anonymous data was collected through Google forms from undergraduate students from all the phases of MBBS course across the country from August 15, 2020, to October 15, 2020. Section I collected various demographic information, section II included GAD-7 questionnaire for assessing anxiety and section III had open- ended questions about their impending fear, uncertainties, and apprehensions. The data was expressed in percentage and association among the variables was determined using Chi-square test. Thematic analysis of the open-ended responses was done. RESULTS: Among the sample of 1208 students, 81% were from urban areas. During the pandemic, 77% were residing with their parents and 71% parents having stable jobs. Eighty percent students had no relative diagnosed with COVID-19, whereas 52% students had family members with comorbidity. The GAP score showed mild, moderate, and severe anxiety in 27, 24, and 16% students, respectively. Anxiety was significantly associated with rural setting and with COVID-19 positive or comorbid family member (P < 0.05). Open ended responses revealed that majority of the students were finding it difficult to cope with the academic stress at home but still did not want to join back. CONCLUSION: With such a high incidence of anxiety among medical students, it is pertinent to safeguard the mental health and implement efficient approaches to upkeep the scholastic, physical, emotional, and professional well-being of medical students during such vulnerable times. © Shahad A. Hafez et al., 2022;Published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. 2022.

Online teaching and learning during COVID era: Medical students' feedback and their perspectives

Introduction: The COVID-19 has prompted medical faculty all across Indian sub-continent to start online classes, with no prior sensitization and experience. This study was planned to assess the perceptions of medical students on online teaching. Materials and Methods: Present study is cross sectional and done through anonymous online survey from 15th June to 15th July 2020 across the Indian subcontinent on undergraduate students from all the phases of MBBS course across the country. Perceptions of medical students on Online teaching-learning during COVID-19 pandemic was measured. Results: Of the 1256 complete responses received, >60% of the students reported online lectures to be less interesting, less interactive and less engaging. They disagreed that online learning gives stronger sense of community among students and are capable of replacing the traditional didactic lecture format but were of the opinion that online learning encourages self-directed learning. The majority of students felt online teaching is a better opportunity for introvert students to express themselves through chat messages and it requires more self-direction and discipline. Conclusion: The results showed that students were not much satised with online teaching. The possible reason could be lack of awareness of faculty about the available online teaching-learning strategies. Teachers must undergo faculty development training to learn the use of technology in teaching. Students should also be sensitized on the various online tools available for learning and assessment. © 2021, Punjab Academy of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology. All rights reserved.

Could 3D food printing help to improve the food supply chain resilience against disruptions such as caused by pandemic crises? (Special Issue: Nanotechnology.)

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is having a tremendous effect on the current food system. The situation urges us to face many issues never experienced before, aimed at mitigating a multitude of sanitary and social risks. The current pandemic has affected the food system in many ways: significant changes in dietary habits and in the health status of people;the food chain is broken, which has an effect on food security (including making it difficult to find or to buy fresh food at affordable prices);unemployment or underemployment is rising due to the damages of the food sector;there is a lack of food-socialising events which has an effect on people's mental status;and there are concerns about food safety. To mitigate all these issues, the implementation of innovative technologies urges. We have mapped the scientific studies and online information on 3D food printing (3DFP) about the effects of 3DFP on the food system and people's health when adopted in food industry, restaurants, hospitals, schools, offices, homes, etc. Finally, this information has been examined in light to the future challenges of the food chain also considering the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrating its potential benefits to mitigate this and future pandemics.