Factors Affecting Quality of Life of Cancer Patients in North India.

INTRODUCTION: Cancer is the second leading reason of death in many countries, and its burden and prognosis are highly dependent on disease stage at diagnosis. Lack of perception of the population about cancer and its related risk factors usually sequel in defer/delayed presentation and increased treatment morbidity and decrease survival chances. Quality of life (QOL) is defined as Individual view of life, merits, intentions, standards and interests in the framework of culture. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To study the socio-demographic profile and factors affecting quality of life of cancer patients. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Using a cross-sectional study, between 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2021, 192 cancer confirmed patients at cancer registry centre at District civil hospital, Ambala cantt. were interviewed using a pre tested semi-structured questionnaire along with EORTC QLQ-C30 (version 3) questionnaire scale for QOL. The data was entered into an excel sheet and was analysed using IBM SPSS version 28. RESULTS: Out of 192 patients, 95 were male and 97 were female. Results shows that female (60.05±19.167) had better mean score of QL2 than male (58.68±18.906) with P value=0.619. Overweight (BMI25.0-29.9) had better mean QL2 score (65.50±18.147) than obese (BMI>30.0) mean QL2 score (61.67±14.803), normal weight (BMI 18.0-24.9) mean QL2 score (59.57±18.575) and underweight (BMI<18.0) mean QL2 score (49.46±19.595) with P value of 0.004. CONCLUSION: Present study found that QOL had significant association with BMI, type of cancer, history of smoking, lost income after cancer diagnosis and stage of cancer at the time of diagnosis. While gender, occupation, age group, religion, residence, marital status, type of family, income, tobacco alcohol and physical activity showed no significance association with QOL.

Photocatalytic TiO2/CdS/ZnS nanocomposite induces Bacillus subtilis cell death by disrupting its metabolism and membrane integrity.

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is widely characterized for its application in clinical diagnostics, therapeutics, cosmetics, nutrition, and environment management. Despite enormous potential, its dependence on ultraviolet (UV) light for photocatalytic activity limits its commercialization. Accordingly in the present study, a photo catalytically superior ternary complex of TiO2 with Cadmium sulfide/Zinc sulfide (CdS/ZnS) has been synthesized, as well as, characterized for photo-induced antimicrobial activity. The band gap of crystalline TiO2/CdS/ZnS nanocomposite has been reduced (2.26 eV) and nanocomposite has shown the optimal photo-activation at 590 nm. TiO2 nanocomposite has significant bactericidal activity in visible light (P < 0.01). Exposure of the TiO2 nanocomposite affected the cellular metabolism by altering the 1681 metabolic features (P < 0.001) culminating in poor cellular survivability. Additionally, photo-induced reactive oxygen species generation through nanocomposite disrupts the microbial cellular structure. The present study synthesized photocatalytic nanocomposite as well as unveiled the holistic cellular effect of theTiO2/CdS/ZnS nanocomposite. Additionally, the present study also indicated the potential application of TiO2/CdS/ZnS nanocomposite for sustainable environment management, therapeutics, and various industries. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12088-021-00973-z.

Curcumin Encapsulated PEGylated Nanoliposomes: A Potential Anti-Infective Therapeutic Agent.

Exploration of novel bioactive molecules or potentiation of the existing bioactive molecules is necessary to reduce the burden of the infectious diseases for the better human health. Curcumin is a promising molecule with huge therapeutic potential. Despite high bioactivity, its therapeutic suitability is shadowed by poor bioavailability, limited aqueous solubility, and short shelf life. Nanotechnology has generated new avenues to overcome these challenges. In the current study polymer assisted nanoliposomes, PEGylated Curcumin nanoliposomes with good loading efficiency were prepared. These particles have shown 1000 fold enhanced curcumin hydrophilicity and tenfold higher stability. In vitro release kinetic indicates two fold higher curcumin release in the simulated gastric and intestinal environment. Various bioactivity assays have confirmed enhanced bioactivity of nanocurcmin in comparison of the native curcumin. PEGylated Curcumin nanoliposomes could be employed for treating various diseases.

TiO2 and its composites as promising biomaterials: a review.

TiO2 is a well-known material and has remarkable physical, chemical and biocompatible properties which have made it a suitable material in the biological world. The development of new TiO2-based materials is strongly required to achieve desired properties and applications. A large number of TiO2 composites have been synthesized and applied in various fields. The present review reports the utility of TiO2 and its composites in biosensing, in Photodynamic Therapy, as an antimicrobial agent and as a nanodrug carrier. The aim of this review is to discuss the biological application of the TiO2 based materials and some recent advancement in TiO2 to enhance its application in the biological world.

Dental Students' Reflections on Quality of Periodontal Care in Dental School Clinics.

The aim of this study was to analyze dental students' descriptions of and reflections on the periodontal care they provided for their patients in dental school clinics. All students enrolled in the final year of the DDS program in 2011-14 at the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine were required to complete a self-assessment of the periodontal care they provided for patients. Assessments from 263 students were compiled and qualitatively analyzed. The key reasons given for not providing good care were identified and then stratified as student/school-dependent or patient-dependent factors. Among these students, 63.1% reported that the periodontal care they provided for their patients was inadequate. Some of the student/school-dependent factors were multiple providers involved in patient care (22.8%), student oversight (21.3%), licensure and academic requirements (20.9%), limited clinic operator sessions (19.4%), clinical rotations to other sites (18.3%), and students' interest in/emphasis on other areas of dentistry (17.9%). Some of the patient-dependent factors were patient scheduling compliance (61.6%), patient finances (46.4%), medical status (20.5%), urgent dental needs (18.3%), emphasis only on restorative care (17.5%), periodontal care awareness (16.4%), and patients' oral hygiene compliance (11.5%). This analysis of students' attitudes, challenges they faced, and patient-related factors that influenced the delivery of periodontal care helped to facilitate changes in the curriculum and school policies to optimize clinical instruction and patient care in periodontics.