Reliability of Modified Hertels Exophthalmometer as an Intraoperative Tool for Assessment of Relative Globe Position in Orbital/Zygomatic Fracture.

INTRODUCTION: Axial globe position assessment is commonly carried out with Hertels Exophthalmometer. Hertels requires an intact lateral orbital rim for its placement, which is often fractured in zygomatic fractures. Hence, to overcome this problem, we have modified the instrument for its application in zygomatic/orbital fractures. Reliability of this Modified Hertels Exopthalmometer has been already validated in normal healthy patients. Therefore, the aim of this study is to assess the efficacy of the Modified Hertels Exophthalmometer in pateints with zygomatic/orbital fracture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a prospective study carried out between April 2015 and October 2017, including 20 patients with a mean age of 34 years. Enophthalmos was measured using Modified Hertels in patients with unilateral orbital/zygomatic fracture indicated for surgical intervention by a single observer. The data was collected and statistically analyzed. Paired sample t-test was done to compare the preoperative exophthalmometer reading with readings at different time points. RESULTS: A statistically significant difference was noted (P = 0.031) among the variables of Modified Hertels. We believe this instrument to be of practical use in the assessment of enophthalmos/exophthalmos in patients with lateral orbital trauma, surgery or disease and also precludes the use of rim-based exophthalmometry and other modifications of same.

Effect of Heartfulness Meditation on Anxiety and Perceived Pain in Patients Undergoing Impacted Third Molar Surgery.

PURPOSE: Oral-maxillofacial surgical procedures like impacted third molar surgery (ITMS) may lead to increased perioperative anxiety and pain perception in patients. Psychological interventions like meditation have been shown to decrease acute anxiety levels in individuals. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of heartfulness (HFN) meditation during ITMS. We hypothesized that heartfulness meditation would reduce the intraoperative anxiety and pain perception in patients undergoing ITMS procedures. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The prospective interventional study included 60 participants. They were randomly assigned to heartfulness meditation group (26 participants) and control group (34 participants). The heartfulness meditation group was given meditation before their ITMS procedure. Perioperative anxiety and pain perception were assessed using the Spielberger State - Triat Anxiety Inventory (STAI - T, STAI - S), Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) and Numerical Rating Scale (NRS). Descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation were used to describe the data. Inferential statistics such as Chi-square test, Unpaired T test and Pearson correlation were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: The heartfulness meditation group reported less intraoperative anxiety (STAI - S) compared to the control group which was statistically significant (P < 0.002). There was a positive correlation between triat and situational anxiety levels of the participants. There was no significant difference between the groups in relation to dental anxiety and intraoperative pain perception. CONCLUSION: A single session of heartfulness meditation was effective in reducing the intraoperative anxiety levels in impacted third molar surgery. However, its effectiveness in reducing dental anxiety and pain perception was not significant.

Momordica cymbalaria improves reproductive parameters in alloxan-induced male diabetic rats.

Male reproductive dysfunction is one of the common complications of diabetes mellitus that causes infertility. This study was designed to investigate the protective effect of Momordica cymbalaria (M. cymbalaria) extracts on diabetes mediated reproductive toxicity in male Wistar rats. The induction of diabetes was performed using a single intraperitoneal injection of alloxan (120 mg/kg). Skin and seed extracts (250 and 500 mg/kg) of M. cymbalaria were orally administered to alloxan-induced diabetic male rats for 28 days. Postprandial blood glucose (PBG) levels were recorded at 7-day interval for four weeks. The effects of the treatment on blood glucose, weight of reproductive organs, sperm count, testosterone levels, antioxidant capacity, and histomorphology were evaluated. Treatment with the above extracts of M. cymbalaria significantly (p < 0.05) improved the reproductive parameters as well as the antioxidant levels superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione-s-transferase (GST) in the diabetic rats. Also, oral treatment with M. cymbalaria extracts significantly reduced the PBG and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Further, it revived the histomorphology of reproductive organs in diabetic rats. Interestingly, skin extract at a dose of 500 mg/kg was found to be more efficient in elevating the level of testosterone and sperm count in the diabetic rats. Based on the results, it is clear that M. cymbalaria not only regulates the postprandial blood glucose levels but also improves the reproductive health in the diabetic state.

Antidiabetic and hypolipidemic efficacy of skin and seed extracts of Momordica cymbalaria on alloxan induced diabetic model in rats.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Momordica cymbalaria, a wild vegetable belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family, has long been used as a food and a remedy for diabetes mellitus in the Asian native medicinal system. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of ethanolic extract of skin (EESK) and methanolic extract of seed (MESE) of M. cymbalaria (MC), for their hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects in alloxan induced diabetic rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The diabetes induced rats were given skin and seed extracts at doses 250 and 500 mg/kg b.w. p.o. for 28 days. Alloxan monohydrate (120 mg/kg) was used to induce diabetes mellitus. Daily food and water intake were assessed. Blood glucose levels and body weights were measured every 7 days throughout the experiment. Antioxidant assays, different biochemical and glycemic parameters were evaluated. Histopathological studies on pancreas, liver and kidney were also studied. RESULTS: Treatment of EESK and MESE showed dose significant decrease in fasting blood glucose level (FBG) in experimental diabetic animals with significant reduction in food and water intake and increase in body weight. Findings confirmed the hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of EESK and MESE in the experimental groups. The impaired glucose tolerance and altered activities of the hepatic enzymes such as AST, ALT and ALP levels of diabetic rats were significantly improved by the administration of EESK and MESE. Oral treatment with MC extract for 28 days demonstrated significant protective effects on the lipid profile, biochemical parameters and antioxidant levels. Besides, biochemical findings were supported by histopathological investigations. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the treatment with EESK and MESE of MC at a dose of 500 mg/kg b.w. have better protective effects against hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia and oxidative stress generated during diabetes justifying the use of the plant in traditional systems of medicine.

Solitary angiokeratoma of tongue: A case report and review of the literature.

Angiokeratoma is a benign cutaneous lesion of capillaries. It is characterized by large dilated blood vessels in the superficial dermis and hyperkeratosis of extremities. It is mostly seen in generalized form affecting the extremity of the body, but we report this case of solitary angiokeratoma of the tongue which is a very rare type.