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Objectives. Various researches have shown periodontitis to share common pathophysiological pathways with systemic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and osteoporosis and recently neurological disorders. This article provides a narrative review summarizing the various linking mechanisms and the nature of association between two multifactorial diseases—periodontitis and migraine. Materials and Methods. A literature search was performed for articles related to periodontitis and migraine up till the year 2023 which yielded totally 14 articles. There were only three randomized controlled clinical trials; therefore, we were unable to conduct a systematic review and focused on a narrative review. The keywords searched were "migraine", "periodontitis" and "biomarkers" in PubMed/Medline, Web of Science, and Embase databases. Any article related to the association of periodontitis and migraine and the dental management of subjects with headache disorders were included and studies with migraine and other dental diseases were excluded. Results. It is found that the occurrence of periodontitis and migraine are associated with each other. There is reasonable evidence to believe that periodontitis and migraine are linked by direct and indirect mechanisms which can eventually lead to chronic inflammatory conditions like periodontitis worsening neurovascular conditions such as migraine. However, upon detailed analysis it was found that the strength of association is weak owing to the presences of various common confounding and risk factors. Conclusions. The association between periodontitis and migraine cannot be denied, however, not all the criteria are fulfilled while examining the nature of association and future long-term studies are required to prove the same. Clinical Relevance. Various studies have reported poor periodontal health in patients with migraine. The risk of exacerbation of migraine also increases in subject undergoing dental therapy if the triggering factors are manipulated. Hence, knowing the precise pathophysiologic mechanisms linking both the diseases would be favorable in planning treatment protocols for subjects with migraine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The EOS™2D/3D system is a low-dose, 3D imaging system that utilizes two perpendicular X-ray beams to create simultaneous frontal and lateral images of the body. This is a useful modality to assess spinal pathologies. However, due to the slow imaging acquisition time up to 25 s, motion artifacts (MA) frequently occur. These artifacts may not be distinguishable from pathological findings, such as scoliosis, and may impair the diagnostic process. The aim of this study was to design a method to detect MA in EOS X-ray. We retrospectively analyzed EOS imaging from 40 patients wearing a radiopaque reference device during imaging. We drew a straight vertical line along the reference device. We measured deviations from it to quantify MA, presenting these findings through descriptive statistics. For a subset of patients with high MA, acquisitions were repeated after giving specific instructions to stand still. For these patients, we compared MA between the two acquisitions. In our study, a substantial proportion of patients exhibited MA ≥ 1 mm, with 80% in frontal projections and 87.9% in lateral projections. In the subjects who received a second acquisition, MA was significantly lower in the second images. Our method allows for a precise detection of MA on EOS images through a simple, yet reliable solution. Our method may improve the reliability of spine measurements, and reduce the risk of wrong diagnosis due to low imaging quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Periodontal regeneration involves the composite action of cell, scaffolds and signaling molecules. There are numerous autologous sources of regenerative cells which are present close to the vicinity of the periodontally debilitated site, the primary one being the periodontal ligament stem cell, which is believed to have a key role in regeneration. Various methods can be harnessed to optimize and enhance the regenerative potential of PDLSCs such as the application of LASERs. In the last few years there have been various studies which have evaluated the effect of different types of LASERs on PDLSCs and the present review summarizes the photo-biomodulative activity of LASERs in general and its beneficial role in the stimulation of PDLSC specifically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laboratory pot grate sintering studies have been carried out to explore the NOx emission during coke combustion in the presence and absence of quick lime and quick lime with iron ore fines as coating material on coke breeze (LCCB & LICCB). Melt formation studies have been carried out to know the melt formation at different temperatures. The pot grate sinter test results showed that quick lime and quick lime with iron ore fines were catalytically active in promoting coke combustion and reduction in NOx emission and improving the sinter productivity & sinter properties. In sintering experiments sinter productivity, sinter strength and NOx reduction, improved with quick lime (LCCB: 0.49%) and quick lime with iron ore fines (LICCB: 0.49 + 0.49%) as coating material on coke breeze (LICCB). With increase in quick lime and quick lime with iron ore fines as adhering layer on coke breeze the wind box temperature increased up to 0.49% due to increase in coke combustion rate with the help of formed CaO.Fe2O3 melt layer and decreased the overall NOx emission by decreasing the oxygen concentration in gas film at the surface of the coke breeze. The effect was not significant with the addition of quick lime and quick lime with iron ore fines >0.49%. Calcium ferrite suppressed the formation of NOx. As the NOx emission decreases the oxygen concentration in the gas also decreased. From sintering experiments, it was found that −3 mm coke breeze is effective for reducing the NOx emission with LCCB and LICCB compared to −1 mm coke breeze. The finer size coke is considered to be difficult to reach higher temperatures of combustion. Through LCCB and LICCB decrease in NOx emission was 37% and 49% respectively. Coating with quick lime & iron ore fines on coke breeze as adhering material is the one of the effective methods to reduce the NOx emission compared to quick lime coating on coke breeze. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this exploratory study was the assessment of the metabolic profiles of persons with complete spinal cord injury (SCI) in three region-of-interests (pons, cerebellar vermis, and cerebellar hemisphere), with magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and their correlations to clinical scores. Group differences and association between metabolic and clinical scores were examined. Fifteen people with chronic SCI (cSCI), five people with subacute SCI (sSCI) and fourteen healthy controls were included. Group comparison between cSCI and HC showed lower total N-acetyl-aspartate (tNAA) in the pons (p = 0.04) and higher glutathione (GSH) in the cerebellar vermis (p = 0.02). Choline levels in the cerebellar hemisphere were different between cSCI and HC (p = 0.02) and sSCI and HC (p = 0.02). A correlation was reported for choline containing compounds (tCho) to clinical scores in the pons (rho = − 0.55, p = 0.01). tNAA to total creatine (tNAA/tCr ratio) correlated to clinical scores in the cerebellar vermis (rho = 0.61, p = 0.004) and GSH correlated to the independence score in the cerebellar hemisphere (rho = 0.56, p = 0.01). The correlation of tNAA, tCr, tCho and GSH to clinical scores might be indicators on how well the CNS copes with the post-traumatic remodeling and might be further examined as outcome markers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After spinal cord injury (SCI), reorganization processes and changes in brain connectivity occur. Besides the sensorimotor cortex, the subcortical areas are strongly involved in motion and executive control. This exploratory study focusses on the cerebellum and vermis. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was performed. Between-group differences were computed using analysis of covariance and post-hoc tests for the seed-based connectivity measure with vermis and cerebellum as regions of interest. Twenty participants with complete SCI (five subacute SCI, 15 with chronic SCI) and 14 healthy controls (HC) were included. Functional connectivity (FC) was lower in all subjects with SCI compared with HC in vermis IX, right superior frontal gyrus (pFDR = 0.008) and right lateral occipital cortex (pFDR = 0.036). In addition, functional connectivity was lower in participants with chronic SCI compared with subacute SCI in bilateral cerebellar crus I, left precentral- and middle frontal gyrus (pFDR = 0.001). Furthermore, higher amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) was found in the left thalamus in individuals with subacute SCI (pFDR = 0.002). Reduced FC in SCI indicates adaptation with associated deficit in sensory and motor function. The increased ALFF in subacute SCI might reflect reorganization processes in the subacute phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Cardiovascular diseases in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients are becoming increasingly detected in developing countries and pericardial effusion is one of the common problems amongst them. The relation of CD4 count is also important, as it correlates with the severity of cardiac involvement. The present study was therefore undertaken to determine the clinical profile of pericardial effusion in HIV patients and its correlation with CD4 count. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital from 2015 to 2017 and it included 500 HIV patients, 39 of whom had pericardial effusion. All patients were assessed clinically and had undergone electrocardiograph, echocardiography and CD4 count along with the routine investigations. The presence of pericardial effusion was determined by echocardiography. The pericardial fluid was analyzed for cells, biochemistry, Gram staining, AFB staining and cultures. An attempt was made to correlate the findings with CD4 count. Results: Out of 500 HIV-positive patients, 39 (7.8%) were found to have pericardial effusion. Majority were male (64.1%) and middle-aged (40-65 y/o) (59%). Most of the effusions (61.54%) were quantified as large and the most common etiology was tuberculous (41%). Twenty-one patients (53.85%) were in the subgroup of CD4 count <50 cells/µL and 16 of them had severe pericardial effusion. Sixty-four percent of the patients underwent pericardial drainage and the remaining were managed medically. Conclusions: In the present study, 7.8% of HIV-infected patients had pericardial effusion. Tuberculosis is the most common cause. The lower the CD4 count is, the larger the pericardial effusion will be. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Vitamin D has a significant role in host immune defense against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It has been suggested that pulmonary tuberculosis may be associated with lower levels of vitamin D. Present study was therefore undertaken to identify the association between vitamin D deficiency and pulmonary tuberculosis. Methods. A case-control study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital from 2014 to 2016, including 50 adult newly diagnosed sputum positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients as cases and 50 age and sex-matched healthy participants as control groups. All participants in the study group had undergone detailed clinical examination and routine laboratory investigations, including vitamin D, calcium, and sputum for AFB. The clinical characteristics, X-ray findings, sputum AFB, and vitamin D levels were analyzed and compared with data obtained from healthy controls. Results. In both groups, the majority were men (88%). BMI was significantly (<0.0001 ∗) lower in the tuberculosis group (19.40 (17.20, 22.0) vs. 24.00 (22.50, 25.47)). Serum vitamin D levels were significantly lower (P = 0.012) in the tuberculosis group (19 (7.75, 27.25) ng/dl) as compared to the control group (25 (19.75, 32.00) ng/dl). Out of 50 TB patients, 27 (54%) had vitamin D deficiency, while among healthy controls, only 13 (26%) had vitamin D deficiency. Among vitamin D deficient PTB patients, 44% had 3+/hpf AFB in sputum smear examination. Conclusion. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in pulmonary tuberculosis cases is very high. Hypovitaminosis D was associated with more severe clinical symptoms, higher sputum smear positivity, and extensive lesions in chest radiograph among pulmonary tuberculosis patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tonsillopharyngitis is very common in children, with Group A Streptococci being the most common bacterial etiology. Effective antibacterial treatment is imperative due to risk of rheumatic fever. Cephalosporins have been used successfully for the treatment of Group A beta-hemolytic Streptococcal (GABHS) tonsillopharyngitis. Cefprozil is a novel broad-spectrum oral cephalosporin. Cefprozil is rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract with high bioavailability. The excellent penetration of cefprozil into tonsillar and adenoidal tissue corresponds well with the clinical outcome. The drug provides excellent coverage against both gram-negative and-positive bacteria that may cause pharyngitis/tonsillitis. The beta-lactamase stability of cefprozil appears to exceed that of other oral cephalosporins for important gram negative pathogens. In clinical trials, cefprozil appears to be at least as effective as commonly used comparison agents such as cefaclor and cefixime. Additionally, cefprozil is better tolerated than the latter, especially with regard to gastrointestinal adverse effects. Thus cefprozil can be considered a safe and reliable drug for the treatment of Streptococcal tonsillopharyngitis in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Treatment of schizophrenia has taken so many turns, and adverse effects of the drugs still continue to remain as a hurdle in the management. Clozapine is considered to be the better promising drug in the treatment of paranoid schizophrenia with minimal side effects. Clozapine-induced agranulocytosis is one adverse event that troubles clinicians, and it requires a vigilant eye to look for the signs. In the present study, the authors discuss a case which has developed agranulocytosis in the later stages of clozapine treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]