Systematic review of school-based tobacco prevention programs for the adolescents in India from 2000 to 2020.

In India, 14.6% of adolescents are currently using tobacco in any form and tobacco control is a major public health challenge. The objective of this systematic review is to analyze all the existing literature and evaluate the effectiveness of school-based tobacco use prevention programs for adolescents in India. The review protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42020159535). Studies were selected using database search, manual search, gray literature, reference chasing, and contacting the authors. All randomized controlled trials, cluster-randomized trials, quasi-experimental, and non-randomized studies reporting school-based tobacco use preventive interventions for adolescents in India; articles published in English (other languages where it can be translated to English) published between January 2000 till May 2020 were included. Data was independently extracted by two reviewers. The Risk of bias (RoB) and quality of the study were assessed using appropriate tools. Among 7972 identified articles, only 13 studies met the inclusion criteria. Each study implemented a unique intervention and measured distinct outcomes. Postintervention, all the studies reported improvements in the study group with respect to the reduction of tobacco use and change in the knowledge, attitude, practices, and/or behavior outcome parameters. Twelve study results were based on short-term assessment. Overall, a 5.17-17.0% tobacco use reduction rate was noted. RoB was high for six studies. Key methodological problems related to study design, duration, outcome parameter, follow-up time, type of intervention, and attrition were identified. School-based tobacco use prevention programs for adolescents in India might have shown positive outcomes but are associated with significant limitations.

Effect of Octreotide in stopping post surgical chyle leak in neck Dissection-A systematic review.

Objective: Neck dissection causes an unusual and challenging complication called Chyle Leak. Octreotide, a long-acting somatostatin analogue, is one way Chyle Leak can be managed faster and effectively. The objective of the review was to evaluate the efficiency of Octreotide in stopping post surgical Chyle Leak in neck dissection. Methods: Three electronic database and manual search was undertaken to identify the literature. All the published articles, which included data about Octreotide used to stop post-surgical Chyle leak in neck dissection, published in the English language between January 1, 2010 to May 31, 2022 were included. Joanna Briggs critical assessment tool was used to assess the included studies. Results: Preliminary screening of 206 studies from data sources and ten from additional sources was done. After necessary exclusion, ten studies were included for qualitative synthesis. The data included 65 patients with neck dissections followed by Chyle leak postoperatively. Chyle leak was presented from 0-8th POD (range of 150 ml-2500 ml). 100mcg-eight hourly subcutaneously was given in maximum studies for 2-14 days. A gradual reduction in chyle leak started 2-4 days after the administration. The chyle leak completely resolved within 2-11 days in the majority of cases with conservative treatment and Octreotide. Conclusion: Octreotide Therapy with primary treatment is an effective way of stopping Chyle Leak in Neck Dissection. However, well-designed and robust randomized controlled studies are needed to confirm the results in the future.

Prevalence of precancerous lesions and conditions in India: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Smoking and chewing tobacco are associated with numerous oral mucosal lesions and conditions, often leading to cancer progression. AIM: To investigate the prevalence of precancerous lesions and conditions among the Indian population. METHODS: Systematic search was conducted for population or community-based observational epidemiological studies in PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, IndMED, Google Scholar, reports of the WHO South-East Asia Region, MOHFW India reports, Science Citation Index, WHO Index Medicus of the South-East Asian Region, Reference Citation Analysis (https://www.referencecitationanalysis.com/) and Open Grey from the earliest available up to 31st January 2022. The effect size was calculated for the prevalence of precancerous lesions and conditions. RESULTS: One hundred sixty-two estimates from 130 studies yielded 52 high, 71 moderate, and seven low-quality studies from 823845. Point estimate based on cross-sectional studies for leukoplakia was 4.3% (95%CI: 4.0-4.6), oral submucous fibrosis was 2.7% (95%CI: 2.5-3.0), palatal lesions in reverse smokers and nicotine palatine were 5.8% (95%CI: 4.4-7.2), and Erythroplakia was 1.2% (95%CI: 0.7-1.7), and lichen planus was 1.1% (95%CI: 0.9-1.2). Amongst hospital-based studies, the pooled prevalence for Leukoplakia was 6.7% (95%CI: 6.0-7.3), oral submucous fibrosis was 4.5% (95%CI: 4.2-4.9), lichen planus was 7.5% (95%CI: 5.3-9.6), and erythroplakia was 2.5% (95%CI: 0.4-4.5), and palatal lesions in reverse smokers and nicotine palatini were 11.5% (95%CI: 8.0-15.0). CONCLUSION: Precancerous lesions and conditions are prevailing problems among the Indian population. It is mainly due to tobacco use, the smokeless form of tobacco. The meta-analysis indicates that hospital-based studies have a higher effect size of 6.7% than community-based studies. Patients who have already developed this condition may be advised to reduce their exposure to the risk factor to prevent the condition from progressing further.

Capacity of Candida species to produce acetaldehyde at various concentrations of alcohol.

Background: Along with tobacco use, alcohol consumption is one of the crucial factors for oral cancer. Acetaldehyde (ACH), a byproduct of alcohol, is reported as carcinogenic. One of the producers of ACH from alcohol is Candida species. The aim of the study was to quantify the ACH produced by Candida species at various concentrations of alcohol. Materials and Methods: Clinical isolates of Candida, namely Candida albicans, Candida krusei and Candida tropicalis and C. albicans ATCC 18,804, were subjected to various concentrations of alcohol. Alcohol dehydrogenase and ACH were estimated using spectrophotometry and headspace gas chromatography, respectively. Results: Out of all three clinical isolates, C. tropicalis produced more ACH (412.1 µM) at 10 mM alcohol concentration by 105colony-forming unit/ml followed by C. albicans (233 µM) and C. krusei (53.7 µM). C. albicans of clinical isolate and ATCC species (222 µM) did not show much difference. Conclusion: The study results conclude that Candida species are capable of producing carcinogenic levels of ACH on exposure to various concentrations of alcohol.

Effectiveness of Behavioral Counseling in Smokeless Tobacco Cessation Among Adult Users Reporting to a Dental Hospital in Pune: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Aim To assess the effectiveness of behavioral counseling for smokeless tobacco cessation among adult users in a dental hospital setting. Methods A total of 200 patients visiting a dental hospital who were exclusively using smokeless tobacco (SLT) were enrolled in the study. A randomized controlled trial with a concurrent parallel study design, which consisted of two arms, was conducted. Fagerstrom test for nicotine dependence level and the transtheoretical stage of change was assessed at the baseline. Behavioral cessation counseling and motivational interviewing were provided in the study arm and brief advice was given to those in the control arm. The counseling was provided at baseline and followed up till six months through telephone to assess the change in the frequency of use of SLT products and abstinence from SLT use. A biochemical validation with a urine cotinine test was done to confirm abstinence. Results At six months, there was a significant difference within and between the study and control groups, indicating the role played by behavioral tobacco cessation in reducing the frequency of consumption. About 24.4% of participants in the study group and 10% in the control group abstained from the habit at the sixth month, with an odd's ratio (OR)=2.91 and with a loss to follow-up of 10% in each of the groups. The cotinine test, which was used for validation, revealed a significant difference between the study and the control group. The number needed to treat (NNT) shows that to motivate one additional person to give up the SLT habit, we need to intervene with about seven people. Conclusion Behavior intervention with motivational interviewing was considered an effective method in promoting smokeless tobacco cessation among adults. Transtheoretical stages of change have proven to be an effective model to assess the stage of behavior change of the population toward SLT use and was also helpful for changing the behavior.

Combating the psychological impact of COVID-19 pandemic through yoga: Recommendation from an overview.

Globally, the psychological health of the people is being affected due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the fact that numerous systematic reviews already exist on yoga and mental health, it becomes vital to undertake an overview on the same. The objective of the overview was to summarise the evidence from different systematic reviews of distinct yoga interventions used to improve mental health and recommend yoga practices for the same. The protocol was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42020185221). MEDLINE via Pubmed, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and Google Scholar were searched for relevant literature. Search terms used were "Yoga practice, mental health and systematic review". Reviews from earliest possible date till May 2020, including those examining the effects of any single or combination of yoga interventions on mental health reported on children, youth and adults were selected. The Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR) tool was used to evaluate the evidence of the included reviews. Out of the 90 reviews found, eight unique reviews were selected for the overview. Overall, 243 studies were analyzed, with an overlap of only 6 studies across the reviews. Out of 8 reviews, only 2 were of high quality and the rest were of moderate quality. Owing to heterogeneity of the included studies, only descriptive analysis was possible. The results of the review indicate moderate to positive effects of yoga on the mental health parameters. Practicing yoga (physical postures, Bhramary Pranayam, mindfulness meditation, sahaj yoga and laughter therapy) can be beneficial to improve psychological health of the people during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Comparative evaluation of the efficacy of wound healing with and without dehydrated human amniotic/chorionic membrane in alveoloplasty: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVES: Wound healing is an integral part of any surgical procedure. Appropriate wound closure is critical to any successful surgical procedure, especially intraoral procedures. Various factors aid in wound healing, both pharmacological and non-pharmacological. Dehydrated human amniotic/chorionic membrane (dHACM) is an emerging bioinert material that contains anti-inflammatory properties, angiogenetic properties, osteogenic potential, and various growth factors. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of wound healing properties of dHACM in bilateral alveoloplasty patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective split-mouth study was conducted on 10 patients. Site A received sutures with dHACM and site B was sutured without dHACM. Wound healing was assessed with the Landry, Turnbull, and Howley Index. RESULTS: Sites A and site B were compared. A P<0.05 and a test value of 22 was obtained, indicating a statistical difference between the two sites. CONCLUSION: Our study showed better healing with dHACM than without.

Evaluation and Comparison of Human Chorionic Amniotic Membrane and Platelet-Rich Fibrin in Achieving Bone Formation and Soft Tissue Healing in Extraction Sockets Indicated for Rehabilitation with Implants: A Preliminary Study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate and compare human chorionic amniotic membrane and platelet-rich fibrin on new bone formation and soft tissue healing in extraction sockets indicated for rehabilitation with dental implants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective, triple blind clinical study was conducted. The inclusion criteria were as follows: patient with two extraction sites each in the same arch, intact buccal bone and soft tissue around the socket, and recommended rehabilitation with dental implants. Postextraction, the sockets were randomly placed with human chorionic amniotic membrane in one site and platelet-rich fibrin in the other site. After 3 months, a trephine drill was used to take a biopsy of the respective sites for soft and hard tissue samples. The outcome parameters that were assessed histologically were percentage of new bone formation and lymphocyte density. RESULTS: After screening 80 patients, eight participants were recruited for the study. The mean percentage of new bone formation in the human chorionic amniotic membrane group was 45.71% ± 4.82%, and for the plasma-rich fibrin group, it was 41.39% ± 6.29%, showing no statistically significant difference (z = 0.99, P = .31). In the human chorionic amniotic membrane group, six out of eight sites had mild lymphocyte density, while the plasmarich fibrin group had equal numbers of mild and moderate lymphocyte density. No statistically significant difference between the groups (Fischer test value = 0.60, P = .25) was noted. CONCLUSION: Within the limitations of the study, the results showed that there is no difference in the efficiency of human chorionic amniotic membrane compared with platelet-rich fibrin in achieving new bone formation and soft tissue healing in the extraction socket.

Adherence to the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) Guidelines for Reporting Randomized Controlled Trials Related to Mandibular Third Molars.

PURPOSE: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are the backbone of evidence-based medicine. Despite the widespread acceptance of the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT), its use for reporting clinical trials in journals remains poor. The purpose of this study was to find out to what extent RCTs related to mandibular third molars have adhered to the CONSORT statement. METHODS: This study was carried out during April 2020 to June 2020. PubMed was used to retrieve RCTs related to mandibular third molars conducted during the last 5 years. The search terms used were mandibular third molar OR lower third molar OR impacted mandibular third molar AND randomized controlled trial. Each article was assessed for adherence to the CONSORT statement. RESULTS: Eighty unique articles were retrieved. The mean percentage adherence to the CONSORT statement noted was 60.26%. Of the 37 CONSORT items, only 4 items showed 100% adherence (2a, 2b, 4a, and 12a). The most underreported items were #10, 12b, 17a, 17b, 18, 19, 23 to 25. Of the 23 journals considered, 6 journals did not recommend CONSORT for reporting RCT in the "Instructions to Authors" guidelines. CONCLUSIONS: Within the limits of the study, it is clear that the RCTs related to third molar do not show 100% adherence to the CONSORT checklist. The editorial policy, peer reviewers, and researchers should endorse the use of the CONSORT checklist for transparent reporting of the RCTs.

DentalVibe reduces pain during the administration of local anesthetic injection in comparison to 2% lignocaine gel: results from a clinical study.

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to compare the efficacy of DentalVibe against 2% lidocaine gel in reducing pain during the administration of local anesthetic injection in the adult population. METHODS: This was a split-mouth open-label, randomized, controlled clinical study conducted in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of a dental institute. Fifty patients who were scheduled for bilateral dental extractions requiring an inferior alveolar nerve block were enrolled in the study. Site A (n = 50) was coated with 2% lidocaine gel followed by a local anesthetic injection, and DentalVibe with local anesthetic injection was used for Site B (n = 50). The primary outcome was pain, which was recorded immediately after the administration of anesthetic injection using the Visual Analogue Scale [VAS 0 - 10]. RESULTS: The VAS pain scores ranged from 4 to 10 for site A and 0 to 6 for site B. Comparison between the two sites showed a statistically significant difference [Mann-Whitney U test value = 51.50, P < 0.001] favoring site B. CONCLUSION: This study showed that DentalVibe reduces pain during injection of local anesthesia compared to topical anesthetic gel.

Obstructive sleep apnea domains: Knowledge, attitude and practice results of dentists from a dental college in India.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the knowledge, attitude and practice regarding different domains of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) amongst dentists from a dental college in India. METHODS: 112 dentists participated in the study. A 23-item, self-designed, pre-tested and validated questionnaire assessing the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) regarding nine different domains was used to collect the data. Knowledge and practice was categorized domain wise as good/poor, while attitude as favorable/unfavorable. RESULTS: Dentists were observed to have good knowledge about OSA, for domains concerning to the definition (60.71%), general findings (76.19%) and risk factors of OSA (66.96%). For the domain of screening and diagnosis (38.83%) along with treatment and referral (36.01%) dentists presented poor knowledge. 100% favorable attitude was reported for all the domains, while the dentists poorly faired (<50%) for both the practice domains. CONCLUSION: In spite of dentists showcasing favorable attitude towards OSA, they possessed poor knowledge for domains concerning screening, diagnosis and treatment modalities of OSA which may be linked to the hurdle in their way of practice. Thus a special attention towards these domains needs to be given so as to improve the handling skills of dentist for OSA patients coming to their clinics and prevent further health related issues.

Prevalence of dental caries among children aged 5-15 years from 9 countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Dental caries affects all age groups, although children are affected to a greater extent. Several studies have assessed the prevalence of dental caries in the World Health Organization (WHO) Eastern Mediterranean Region. However, prevalence data for dental caries have not been pooled for all countries in the Region. AIMS: To estimate by meta-analysis the pooled prevalence of dental caries among children aged 5-15 years in the Region. METHODS: The study protocol was registered in PROSPERO with registration number CRD42016037157. Twenty-one studies (37 estimates) were identified through systematic search for articles published between 1 January 2005 and 5 July 2018. The required data from each article were extracted into the datasheet. A random-effects meta-analysis was performed for the overall age group and for age 5, 12 and 15 years individually. RESULTS: Data were available for only 9 of the 21 countries in the Region. Heterogeneity between studies was high (I²>98%). There was considerable variation among the countries for the prevalence of dental caries at different ages. The pooled prevalence for deciduous dentition in children aged 5 years was 65% (45-85%); 61% (50-72%) for permanent dentition in children aged 12 years; 70% (64-75%) for children aged 15 years; and 66% (59-73%) for children aged 6-15 years. The most common index used for oral examination to calculate caries experience was WHO Basic Oral Health Survey Criteria, 1997. CONCLUSIONS: Dental caries continues to be an oral health concern among children in 9 countries in the Region.

Efficacy of T. Cordifolia (Guduchi) against plaque and gingivitis-A clinico-microbiological study.

OBJECTIVES: The present study was conducted to assess the clinical efficacy (against plaque and gingivitis) and antimicrobial efficacy (against gram negative, gram positive and S. mutans counts) of T. cordifolia (Guduchi). METHODOLOGY: A nonrandomized before and after trial for 21 days of intervention was performed involving 17 participants. Plaque index, gingival index were recorded and saliva samples were collected at baseline, 13th day and 22nd day. Repeated measures ANOVA test was performed to compare the before and after results of the clinical parameters, i.e. score of plaque index and gingival index. Freidman's test was applied for comparison between the three intervals (for microbiological evaluation of colony counts). RESULTS: There was statistically significant reduction inplaque score, gingival score, and colony forming units of gram negative organisms and S. mutans from baseline to 22nd day (P = 0.001). There was no significant reduction with gram positive organisms. CONCLUSION: This clinico-microbiological study concluded that twice rinsing of T.cordifolia decoction as mouth rinse in adjunct to scaling and routine brushing of teeth for 21 days shows anti-plaque, anti-gingivitis, and antimicrobial action against gram negative organisms and S. mutans.

Assessment of mother's ability in caries diagnosis, utilizing the smartphone photographic method.

BACKGROUND: Smartphone is proved to be reliable in teledentistry model. The aim of the study was to assess the mother's ability in caries diagnosis, utilizing the smartphone-based photographic method. HYPOTHESIS: Mothers have the ability for caries diagnosis utilizing the smartphone photographic method. METHODS: A cohort of 100 mothers was given health education regarding dental caries diagnosis. Then, their children from the preschools were screened by the dentist for dental caries using visual examination, followed by clicking intraoral photographs using Motorola 3G phone. The photographs were sent through WhatsApp to respective mothers, and they were asked to diagnose their child's dental status. Accuracy and reliability measures of mother's diagnosis were estimated by calculating the sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, and kappa value. RESULTS: The calculated value for sensitivity was 88.3%, specificity was 98.3%, positive predictive value was 92%, negative predictive value was 97%, and accuracy was 96%. There was a strong agreement between mother's and dentist's diagnosis (kappa value of 0.87). CONCLUSION: Following the dental health education, it can be concluded that mothers are in a better position to diagnose their child's dental status through smartphone-based photographs.

Comparative evaluation of low-level laser therapy and ultrasound heat therapy in reducing temporomandibular joint disorder pain.

BACKGROUND: Pain, limitations in opening, asymmetrical jaw movements, and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) sounds are the most common findings in temporomandibular joint disorders (TMDs), which causes excruciating pain, inflammation of the surrounding muscles, posterior fibers, and synovial fluid. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the effects of ultrasound heat therapy and low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in reducing TMD-related pain. METHODS: This prospective study included 42 patients (age range, 25-45 years), who were divided into two groups of 21 patients each. All patients were prescribed a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) twice a day for 5 days for temporary relief of pain prior to the commencement of treatment. Patients were kept on a soft diet and asked to restrict mouth opening during the same period. Fifteen sessions of LLLT (Group A) or ultrasound therapy (Group B) were administered to the affected side. RESULTS: Post-therapy, the mean visual analog scale score for group A and group B was 4.81 (2.01) and 6.19 (1.20), respectively; the difference was statistically significant and favoring the LLLT group. Similarly, the mean mouth opening for group A and group B was 3.99 (0.40) and 3.65 (0.41), respectively; the difference was statistically significant and favoring the LLLT group. CONCLUSION: Our study recommends LLLT for treating TMD-related pain with no underlying bony pathology.

Evaluating the Cyberchondria Construct Among Computer Engineering Students in Pune (India) Using Cyberchondria Severity Scale (CSS-15).

BACKGROUND: The Internet has become an important tool in day-to-day life. Reading medical data from Internet sources can have a negative impact on the common man. Anxiety due to excess searching for medical information online is known as cyberchondria. AIM: To evaluate the cyberchondria construct among the computer engineering students in Pune (India) using Cyberchondria Severity Scale (CSS-15). SETTINGS AND DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was conducted among third- and fourth-year computer engineering students. METHODS: The study recruited 180 students. A self-administered, English-translated CSS-15 questionnaire was used to collect the data. The responses were based on the Likert scale. Four constructs were scored from 0 to 4 while the mistrust of medical professional construct was scored in reverse order. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Descriptive statistics in the form of numbers and percentages were calculated. RESULTS: The survey was completed by 171 (95%) participants, 77 females and 94 males with the mean age of 19.77 ± 1.07 years. All (100%) participants were affected by excessiveness and reassurance construct, 92% by distress, and 75% by compulsion. Only 19% were found to be affected by mistrust of a medical professional. Among all the domains, reassurance was severely affected among 52.04% of the participants. CONCLUSION: All the computer engineering students were affected by some or the other constructs of cyberchondria. This indicates that the Internet can affect an individual's mental, physical, and social activity by giving a vast amount of information and cause anxiety or distress related to their search.

Dental caries prevalence among 5- to 15-year-old children from SEAR countries of WHO: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this review was to estimate the prevalence of dental caries in children 5-15 years of age in the countries of the South-East Asia Region (SEAR) of World Health Organization (WHO) and to describe the different caries indices used in these population-based studies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic search was carried out in two databases from 1st January 2005 to 31st May 2015. Studies were included if they met the predetermined eligibility criteria. Quality assessment was done with eight-item checklist. Meta-analysis was done for 5, 12, 15, and 6-15 years age group using software STATA version 12. RESULTS: The search strategy yielded 265 unique articles of which 36 met the inclusion criteria included for the review. Data were available for only three SEAR countries. The quality of the majority of the studies ranged from moderate to high. Heterogeneity between the studies was high (I2 > 98%). Variation in dental caries prevalence was found among different ages and among different SEAR countries. The most commonly used index for measuring dental caries was the dentition status of the 1997 WHO criteria. CONCLUSION: Dental caries continues to be a prominent oral health problem among children in the SEAR countries with huge variation in the prevalence across ages and countries. This review results can be used to update the "WHO Oral Health Country/Area Profile Program" for dental caries among children for SEAR.

Evaluation of Success Rate of Lesion Sterilization and Tissue Repair Compared to Vitapex in Pulpally Involved Primary Teeth: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Vitapex has been a popular obturating material for several decades. In recent times, lesion sterilization and tissue repair (LSTR) has shown promising results. This technique uses a mixture of 3 antibiotics for sterilization of the root canals and healing of periradicular tissues. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this systematic review was to compile all the literature comparing Vitapex and LSTR for pulpally involved primary teeth and evaluate the success rate in terms of clinical and radiographic outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This review is based on PRISMA guidelines. The electronic search on MEDLINE via PubMed database and Google scholar, cross-referencing and hand search of journals was carried out for articles from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2019. Articles only in the English language were selected. Out of the 17 articles, 3 unique articles were identified for the review, of which 2 were randomized controlled trials and 1 was a retrospective study. RESULTS: All the three articles were assessed for their quality and all had a low risk of bias. It was found that LSTR and Vitapex had a high clinical success after 12 months. The radiographic success after 6 months was high but decreased after 12 months in both the groups. CONCLUSION: There is no difference in the success rate of LSTR as compared to Vitapex for the treatment of pulpally involved primary teeth.