Clinical results after binocular implantation of a unique nondiffractive enhanced monofocal intraocular lens designed for enhanced monovision to increase the depth of focus.

PURPOSE: To provide the reports of a pilot study to assess the visual acuity (VA) and contrast sensitivity with RayOne enhanced monovision (EMV), a unique nondiffractive enhanced monofocal intraocular lens (IOL) to increase the range of focus. METHODS: A retrospective case series study was conducted by analyzing 25 patients (50 eyes) who had bilateral implantation of EMV IOL after cataract surgery. Data collected included biometry, spherical equivalent (SE), and VA for near, intermediate, and distance. Patients were reviewed at 1 day, 1 week, and 1 month after surgery. Contrast sensitivity (CS) was checked at 1 month. RESULTS: The study included 14 males (56%). Age of participants was 61.4 ± 7.4 years. Uniocular uncorrected near and distance VA improved from 0.33 ± 0.13 to 0.05 ± 0.07 and from 0.63 ± 0.31 to 0.05 ± 0.10 log of minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) at 1 month (P < 0.001 for both). Binocular uncorrected near and distance VA improved from 0.09 ± 0.18 and 0.14 ± 0.27 to 0.05 ± 0.06 and 0.00 ± 0.09 logMAR, respectively (P < 0.001). SE changed from - 0.23 ± 2.55 to - 0.33 ± 0.46. CS at 3 months was 1.74 ± 0.21. At 1 month, 48 eyes (96%) achieved uncorrected intermediate VA 6/15 (0.4 logMAR) or better. When comparing eyes that had uncorrected intermediate vision of ≥ 0.2 (6/9 or better) to eyes that had < 0.2 logMAR at 1 month, there was no difference between groups with respect to baseline parameters. CONCLUSION: The pilot study shows that the nondiffractive EMV IOL is safe, effective, and stable, providing excellent distance and intermediate vision and good near vision.

Evaluation of the Efficacy of Novel Self Disinfectant Solution in Irreversible Hydrocolloid Impression Material - An Experimental Study.

Background: Irreversible hydrocolloid materials are widely used for both diagnostic and definitive impression procedures. Impressions can be disinfected by immersion or spraying in any compatible disinfectant. Disinfectants should not adversely affect the dimensional stability of the impression and physical properties of impression material and subsequent dental cast. Objective: The study aims to evaluate the efficacy of a hypochlorous disinfectant solution mixed with irreversible hydrocolloid on setting time, antibacterial efficacy, and dimensional stability. Methodology: Three groups were made with one control group and three alginate impression was made for each participants in the maxillary arch with 24-hours intervals between one another using the same brand of commercially available chromatic alginate. The working and setting time were noted. Bacterial swabs were collected using a dry sterile cotton swab in the mid palatal region. Dental casts were made using type III gypsum. Result: The working and setting time had significant differences whereas the dimension among the cast has no significant difference. Microbial growth analysis had distinct differences among the groups. Conclusion: The self disinfection method using a pioneer solution of hypochlorous HOCl (100 ppm) to mix the alginate impression material rather than the water with the same powder-liquid ratio prescribed by the manufacturer had the same dimensional stability with improved antimicrobial action.

The Antibacterial Effect of Tinospora Cordifolia (Guduchi) and Its Role in Combating Antimicrobial Resistance.

Objective: Tinospora cordifolia, often known as "Guduchi," has a variety of medicinal characteristics, including those that are anti-diabetic, ant-iinflammatory, anti-periodic, anti-arthritic, anti-oxidant, anti-allergic, and anti-stress. Drug development projects face significant obstacles because of the rapid rise in antimicrobial drug resistance in the world healthcare system and the introduction of multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains. In order to combat the MDR infections isolated from patients' bodies, the current study was conducted to evaluate and investigate the antibacterial capabilities of Tinospora cordifolia. Methods: Using the agar well diffusion method, Tinospora cordifolia extracts (aqueous, chloroform, and ethanol) were tested for their antibacterial effectiveness against 30 MDR pathogens, and the 3-(4,5-dimethyl-thiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide assay was used to determine the minimal inhibitory concentration. To determine whether there were any medicinally useful and significant bioactive ingredients in the plant extract, phytochemical analysis was performed. Results: In comparison to the aqueous extract which had little effect, the antibacterial activity of ethanol and chloroform extracts exhibited a potential antimicrobial effect against most of the tested bacterial isolates. Phytochemical analysis of Tinospora cordifolia extract showed alkaloids, carbohydrates, phytosterols, saponins, tannins, proteins, flavonoids, and terpenoids. Conclusions: Our findings show that Tinospora cordifolia plays a potential role in combating the antimicrobial resistance of clinical isolates.

An Unusual and Rare Location of Intra-articular Rheumatoid Nodule in the Elbow Joint - A Case Report.

Rheumatoid nodules are the most common extra-articular manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis. Intra-articular rheumatoid nodules are very rare and usually associated with clinical symptoms. Case reports of intra-articular rheumatoid nodules in the knee joint, wrist joint, ankle joint, and sacrococcygeal joint are reported. However, an intra-articular rheumatoid nodule in the elbow joint has not been reported in the literature. Herein, we report a unique and rare case of a symptomatic intra-articular rheumatoid nodule in the elbow joint of a 49-year-old female with a 15-year history of rheumatoid arthritis. The symptoms resolved after surgical excision of the nodule.

Evaluation of structural and compositional changes on the root surface exposed to diode laser (810 nm): An In-vitro study.

Background: The laser therapy has been used as an adjuvant for conventional periodontal disease as they exhibit a bactericidal effect on scaling and root planning by its thermal and photo disruptive effects on the pathogens. This study focuses on the structural and compositional changes induced on the root surfaces of teeth following diode laser (DL) application with increasing quantum of exposure time. Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the structural and compositional changes on the root surface of extracted human permanent teeth after application of DLs (810 nm) with varying time interval. Materials and Methods: Twenty samples of single-rooted periodontally compromised extracted teeth were utilized for this study. Root planning was done and the roughness caused by the instrumentation was measured using profilometric analysis. Then, the samples were divided into four groups, with DL application time: Group 1 - laser application for 15 s, Group 2 - laser application for 30 s, Group 3 - laser application for 45 s, and Group 4 - laser application for 60 s. A scanning electron microscope was used to examine the cemental surface and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis software assesses the compositional changes of the teeth in each group. Results: This study reveals that on exposure of DL (810 nm) on the root surface when time of exposure increases, there were relative increases in surface irregularities and charring. There were significant changes in the chemical composition of the tooth surface.

Dapsone Hypersensitivity Syndrome (DHS): A Detrimental Effect of Dapsone? A Case Report.

BACKGROUND: Dapsone is a sulfone derived drug used in the treatment of leprosy and several chronic inflammatory dermatological diseases. Dapsone Hypersensitivity Syndrome (DHS) is characterized by fever, hepatitis, generalized exfoliative dermatitis and lymphadenopathy. It is rare and potentially fatal. CASE REPORT: We present a case report of a 52 years old female with a recent history of antecedent dapsone exposure of 100 mg daily for 2 weeks. She developed fever 10 days after exposure to dapsone therapy and was treated in various primary and tertiary centers for features of sepsis. When she presented to us, clinical features of multi-organ dysfunction and intractable sepsis was evident. She was successfully managed with intravenous corticosteroids and other supportive therapy. This case of DHS is unique due to pulmonary, hepatic and colonic involvement in addition to secondary bacterial and fungal infection, which is associated with an increased risk of mortality. CONCLUSION: As dapsone is mainstay in the treatment several infections and inflammatory conditions, further research is needed to characterize markers to diagnose DHS and to develop screening policies prior to initiation of dapsone therapy.

Knowledge and attitude toward use of internet in smartphones for dental education.

INTRODUCTION: Internet has become ubiquitous with the advent of smartphones. The dental fraternity keeps themselves updated and share knowledge through webinars, video conferences, research publications, etc. Hence, the internet serves as an imperative tool for dissemination of information. The usage of internet in dental education can be exploited to the fullest, especially due to the increased ownership rates of smartphones. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 490 students from four dental colleges in Tamil Nadu were asked to fill a close-ended questionnaire to assess the knowledge and attitude of dental students toward internet usage in smartphones. This study was conducted from November 2016 to January 2017. RESULTS: The response rate was 100%. Almost all the students (98%) had knowledge on browsing. The percentage of internet use in smartphones were the highest (55.2%) followed by computers or laptops at home (26.5%). About 34.6% of students used internet in smartphones daily. More than half of the students (52.2%) used internet in smartphone at least 2-3 h a day. About one quarter (23.4%) of students used internet on a daily basis while 29.59% of students accessed the internet thrice a week for searching content related to dentistry. The preferred source for collecting dental-related information was through the internet (28.9%) and textbooks (28.5%). CONCLUSION: Dental students have considerable knowledge in using the internet for dental education and some of them utilize internet more frequently because of the possession of smartphones.

Differential Culturability of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Culture-Negative Sputum of Patients With Pulmonary Tuberculosis and in a Simulated Model of Dormancy.

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a leading killer among infectious diseases of humans worldwide. Delayed diagnosis is a crucial problem in global TB control programs. Bacteriological methods currently used to diagnose TB in endemic countries take up to 8 weeks, which poses a significant delay in starting antibiotic therapy. The presence of a heterogeneous population of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of TB, is among the reasons for delayed diagnosis by bacteriological methods. Previously, it has been shown that mycobacterial resuscitation-promoting factors (RPFs), a family of proteins secreted by actively growing bacteria into the media, are capable of activating the growth of dormant bacteria, thus enhancing the detection of bacilli in the sputum of confirmed TB cases. However, the variability in bacterial resuscitation by RPF in the sputum of suspected pulmonary TB cases that showed differential smear and/or culture positivity during diagnosis has not been fully explored. Here, we report the presence of non-replicating bacteria in the sputum of suspected TB cases that show differential growth response to RPF treatment. Using crude and recombinant RPF treatment, we show improved sensitivity and reduced time to detect bacilli in the sputum samples of smear-positive/culture-negative or smear-negative/culture-negative cases. We also report the phenotypic heterogeneity in the RPF responsiveness among Mtb strains using an in vitro dormancy model. Our findings have implications for improving the bacteriological diagnostic modalities currently used to diagnose TB in endemic countries.

Knowledge and attitudes of pharmacists regarding oral health care and oral hygiene products in Chennai city.

OBJECTIVES: This study was done to find out the knowledge and attitudes of pharmacists regarding oral health care and oral hygiene products in Chennai city. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional survey among a sample of the pharmacists in Chennai city was done and data regarding their knowledge and attitudes towards oral health care and oral hygiene products were obtained using a closed-ended questionnaire. RESULTS: Among the 60 pharmacies approached, 50 pharmacists participated in the study and completed the questionnaire. Though 48% of the participants gave a positive answer when asked whether they had met the dentist practicing close to their pharmacies, the frequency with which they met the dentist ranged from once a week (24%) to once a month (28%). Most of the pharmacists stocked oral health-related products, which comprised 15-25% of their total stock. Of these products toothpaste was the most common (62%), followed by mouth rinses (12%). Toothache or painful teeth was the most common dental problem (78%) for which patients approached the pharmacists for advice. With regard to the advice given, 38.5% of the pharmacists asked the patient to consult a nearby dentist after dispensing medications, while 22.4% of the pharmacists dispensed antibiotics and painkillers without any referral. Seventy percent of the pharmacists expressed interest in giving oral health care advice to patients. However, many of them (38%) felt that lack of proper knowledge is a barrier to providing oral health care advice. CONCLUSION: It is clear from the present study that pharmacists are presently an underutilized resource, and there is a definitive need to improve their training and access to information on available dental services.

The tip of the iceberg: Post caesarean wound dehiscence presenting as abdominal wound sepsis.

INTRODUCTION: Uterine scar dehiscence can complicate caesarean section with complications like post partum hemorrhage, endomyometritis, localized/generalized peritonitis, and sepsis. PRESENTATION OF CASE: Our patient had abdominal wound infection after LSCS surgery and features of sepsis. The wound infection was actually the presentation of a uterine scar dehiscence and localized peritonitis. DISCUSSION: Incidence of uterine scar dehiscence is around 0.6%. Presentation can be post partum hemorrhage, endomyometritis, and generalized/localized peritonitis. Peritonitis caused by uterine incisional necrosis must be dealt surgically. A high index of suspicion with appropriate investigations can highlight such problems for early treatment and cure with least morbidity especially related to further pregnancies. CONCLUSION: Uterine scar dehiscence with infection requires high index of suspicion as rare cause for post partum localized/generalized peritonitis with sepsis. Severe abdominal wound infection after caesarean section may be associated with uterine wound dehiscence, which poses a grave risk to the mother in a future pregnancy.

Small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the cervix: a rare entity.

Small cell carcinoma of the cervix is a rare and a very aggressive tumour. Once being considered to be a rare type of squamous cell carcinoma, evidence has proven that most of the tumours express one or more markers of neuroendocrine differentiation. The behaviour of this rare malignancy is different from that of squamous cell carcinomas, with a high propensity for nodal and distant metastases. Hence, there is a need to highlight this histopathological entity.

Similar hematological and biochemical parameters among periodontitis and control group subjects.

OBJECTIVE: There are conflicting reports in the past literature documenting the tendency of anemia in patients with periodontitis. Hence, this study was undertaken to assess whether periodontitis may cause an anemic state, by evaluating and comparing the red blood cell count, levels of hemoglobin, hematocrit, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), serum iron and serum ferritin between subjects with and without periodontitis. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 140 systemically healthy subjects of both sexes (mean age 46 years) were recruited as control group (50 subjects without periodontitis) and study groups comprising 30 patients each with mild, moderate and severe chronic generalized periodontitis. Periodontal parameters and orthopantamographs were taken for all the groups and then 5 mL venous blood samples were sent for complete blood count and biochemical analysis. Inter-group and intra-group comparisons were performed for all the assessed parameters. RESULTS: The periodontal parameters were significantly higher (P⩽.05) in periodontitis patients. Except for the ESR, which was significantly higher (P=.03) in the mild periodontitis group than the control group, hematological and biochemical parameters were not significantly different (P>.05) among the study groups or between the control and study groups. This difference was not evident even among the male and female subjects of both control and study groups (P>.05). CONCLUSIONS: Within the limits of this cross-sectional study, it can be concluded that the presence and severity of periodontitis may not affect the hematological and biochemical parameters of an individual. Further long term studies are however encouraged to validate these findings.

Preventive effects of rutin on lysosomal enzymes in isoproterenol induced cardio toxic rats: biochemical, histological and in vitro evidences.

This study was aimed to evaluate the preventive effect of rutin on lysosomal enzymes in isoproterenol induced cardio toxic rats. Male albino Wistar rats were pretreated with rutin (80 mg/kg) daily for a period of 42 days. After the pretreatment period, isoproterenol (100 mg/kg) was subcutaneously injected to rats at an interval of 24 h for two days. The activity of serum creatine kinase-MB and the levels of serum troponins T and I and the activities of serum and heart lysosomal enzymes (ß-glucuronidase, ß-N-acetylglucosaminidase, ß-galactosidase, cathepsin-B and D) were increased significantly (P<0.05) in isoproterenol induced cardio toxic rats. Isoproterenol induced cardio toxic rats also resulted in decreased stability of membranes, which was reflected by decreased activities of ß-glucuronidase and cathepsin-D in mitochondrial, nuclear, lysosomal and microsomal fractions. Pretreatment with rutin daily for a period of 42 days to isoproterenol induced cardio toxic rats prevented the changes in the activities of these enzymes. Oral treatment with rutin (80 mg/kg) to normal rats did not show any significant effect in all the biochemical parameters studied. Histopathology of myocardium showed the preventive effects of rutin in isoproterenol induced cardio toxic rats. In vitro study also confirmed the mechanism of action of rutin. Thus, the results of our study show that rutin protects the lysosomal membrane against isoproterenol induced cardiac damage. The observed effects are due to the free radical scavenging, antioxidant and membrane stabilizing properties of rutin.