Currencies of greater interest for central Asian economies: an analysis of exchange market pressure amid global and regional interdependence.

Central Asian Economies (CAEs) have diverse exchange rate policies. They have recorded higher volatility in the foreign exchange market since inception. High volatility of the transition era has drifted these economies towards partial dollarization. Monetary authorities in CAEs, (already have a challenge of maintaining monetary policy autonomy) have a gigantic task of price stability and stopping the spread of dollarization. This study is directed towards assessing the drivers and the determinants of foreign exchange market pressure in CAEs. The results, based on panel data analysis and the System GMM model, have provided useful insights about the exchange market pressure determinants particularly USD, Euro, Ruble, and Renminbi. The results show that China and Russia exchange market pressure has a negative effect on the exchange market pressure of CAEs. While the dollar index shows a positive impact on the exchange market pressure of CAEs. Overall, the findings imply that China and Russia currency appreciation results in a trade deficit across CAEs. The policy implication suggests that the floating exchange rate regime (inflation targeting regime) is not in favor of CAEs, and they must use managed-float to reduce their trade deficits.

Evaluation of non-surgical therapy on glutathione levels in chronic periodontitis.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the levels of glutathione (GSH), both oxidized and reduced forms in patients with and without chronic periodontitis in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty GCF samples from maxillary quadrants were collected using capillary micropipettes from the chronic periodontitis patients (test group) at baseline before treatment, at 1-month, 3 months, and 6 months after scaling and root planing and samples from 20 patients without chronic periodontitis (control group) from maxillary quadrants were also collected. GSH, oxidized glutathione (GSSG) levels and GSH: GSSG ratios were determined using the spectrophotometric method. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Results were concluded for the test over control groups using paired Student's t-test. RESULTS: Lower concentrations of GSH (P < 0.001) and GSSG (P < 0.001) were detected in GCF in patients with chronic periodontitis (test group) than patients without chronic periodontitis (control group) at baseline. Treatment had a significant effect in improving the GSH and reducing GSSG levels postscaling and root planing at 1-month and 3 months but not significant effect at 6 months. Scaling and root planing increased the GSH: GSSG ratio (P < 0.001) in the test group as compared to the control group (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The concentrations of GSH within GCF are reduced in chronic periodontitis patients. Scaling and root planing (nonsurgical therapy) restores GSH concentration in GCF post 1-month and 3 months along with redox balance (GSH: GSSG ratio), but at 6 months the balance is not maintained. Adjunctive use of micronutritional supplements to boost antioxidant concentration in tissues by preserving GSH or by elevating its level at the inflamed sites is recommended, as nonsurgical periodontal therapy alone is not able to maintain redox balance for longer duration.

Primordial prevention: promoting preparedness for ebola virus disease.

BACKGROUND: India may face a danger of immediate spread of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) if it enters the subcontinent. Preparedness for such a condition is a part of its prevention. Dentists form a sizeable chunk of healthcare in India and may help in augmenting the health care team at the time of such outbreaks. This paper details the development and evaluation of a specially tailored program for dental students and faculty for imparting knowledge on EVD and its prevention strategies. AIM: To assess the knowledge score for EVD and its prevention after attending a specially tailored program. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A multidisciplinary team was selected for content development and providing an insight on the topic. The program was attended by students and faculty members of Manav Rachna Dental College. The knowledge of the attendees about EVD was assessed at the end of the program through a structured questionnaire. The response rate was 96%. RESULT: According to the knowledge score attained, 52.4% of the participant had good knowledge level and 2.8% had poor knowledge level. There was no significant difference in knowledge scores between the participants having prior knowledge and those having no previous knowledge about the disease (p = 0.135). CONCLUSION: High response rate and good knowledge level attained by most of the participants established evidence of a successful program.

A knowledge, attitude, and practices study regarding dental floss among dentists in India.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the knowledge, attitude, self-reported practices, and prescription patterns regarding dental floss amongst a select population of dentists in India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A pretested 30-item questionnaire was self-administered by authors to the dental faculty and postgraduate students in dental schools in Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR). Nine dental institutes were selected by simple random sampling procedure among 15 institutions and a total of 255 dentists were included in the study. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The data obtained were analyzed by SPSS version 18. Descriptive statistics such as frequencies were calculated and Pearson's Chi-square test was used with P value fixed at 0.05. RESULTS: There was lack of adequate knowledge regarding dental floss, among dentists in India. 78% of the dentists responded that the routine use of dental floss was necessary for good periodontal health. Majority of the dentists cited lack of awareness, availability, and cost as the major factors affecting floss usage. Lack of training in the dental education programs may have an impact on the prescription patterns as well. 15.3% of those surveyed do not use floss at all. 63.9% of the dentists prescribed floss routinely to their patients and considered factors like education, occupation, and socioeconomic status of the patient before prescribing dental floss. CONCLUSION: Health education programs regarding dental floss are necessary to create awareness among the general population and adequate training at undergraduate level is also essential to increase the prescription practices. Dentists should practice recommended oral self-care and act as role models.

Anesthetic management of a child with nephrotic syndrome undergoing open heart surgery: report of a rare case.

The congenital nephrotic syndrome (NS) in infancy and childhood is an important entity but combination with acyanotic congenital heart disease is uncommon. Anesthesia in such cases is challenging because of associated problems like hypo-protienemia, anti-thrombin III deficiency, edema, hyperlipidemia, coagulopathy, cardiomyopathy, immunodeficiency, increased lung water etc. We describe anesthetic management of a patient with childhood NS and sinus venosus atrial septal defect (ASD) undergoing open heart surgery. We also suggest guidelines for safe conduct of anesthesia and CPB in such patients.

Effect of oral clonidine premedication on perioperative haemodynamic response and postoperative analgesic requirement for patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Clonidine has anti-hypertensive properties and augments the effects of anaesthesia, hence we considered it to be an ideal agent to contain the stress response to pneumoperitoneum. We studied the clinical efficacy of oral clonidine premedication in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomies. Fifty patients scheduled for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy under general anaesthesia were randomly allocated to receive premedication with either oral clonidine 150 µg (Group I, n = 25) or placebo (Group II, n = 25) 90 minutes prior to induction. The patients were managed with a standard general anaesthetic. The two groups were compared with respect to haemodynamic parameters, isoflurane concentration, pain and sedation scores, time to request of analgesic and cumulative analgesic requirements. Oral clonidine was found to be significantly better in terms of maintaining stable haemodynamics, having an isoflurane sparing effect and having a prolonged time interval to the first request of analgesia postoperatively compared to the control group. Administration of oral clonidine 150 µg as a pre-medicant in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy results in improved perioperative haemodynamic stability and a reduction in the intra-operative anaesthetic and post-operative analgesic requirements.