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Aim: To assess the oral health status of the Sevayats of Sakhigopal temple, Puri, Odisha., Methodology: An assessment of the oral health status of 111 Sevayats at the Sakhigopal temple in Puri was carried out using a cross-sectional survey. The World Health Organization oral health assessment form for adults (2013) was used to collect data. Chi-square test and one-way analysis of variance were the statistical tests used for the investigation using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences 27 version. When the P value was less than 0.05, it was deemed statistically significant., Results: The mean DMFT of all the participants was 3.70 ± 1.71. The prevalence of caries was 91%. Bleeding and periodontal pocket were present in 82.9% and 83.8% of Sevayats, respectively., Conclusion: There was a higher prevalence of dental caries and periodontal disease among the subjects., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2024 Journal of Pharmacy and Bioallied Sciences.)

Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest.

Aim: Endometrial carcinoma (EC) data from India are very sparse. We did a retrospective analysis of our patients registered at this peripheral cancer center based in rural Punjab and studied their outcome., Materials and Methods: Ninety-eight Stage I and II EC patients with endometroid histology registered at our institute from January 2015 to April 2020 were studied for demography, histopathology, treatment received, and outcomes. FIGO 2009 staging and new European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) risk group classification was used., Results: Our patients had a median age of 60 years (range 32-93 years). There were 39 (39.8%), 41 (42.0%), 4 (4.1%), 12 (12.2%) patients in the low risk, intermediate risk (IR), high intermediate risk, and high risk groups, respectively, as per new ESMO risk classification. Two (2.0%) patients had incomplete information to assign them to a particular risk group. Fifty (46.7%) patients underwent complete surgical staging and 54 (50.5%) patients received adjuvant RT. With a median follow-up of 27.0 months, there were 1 locoregional and 2 distant recurrences. There were 8 deaths in total. Three-year overall survival for the entire group is 90.6%., Conclusions: The risk group determines adjuvant treatment in endometrial cancer. Patients operated at dedicated cancer center tend to have better surgical staging and thus better outcome because of better risk stratification and grouping for adjuvant therapy. IR histology was more common in our group of patients, which is variable as compared to available literature., Competing Interests: None

Objective: The effect of lycopene (LycoRed) supplementation was evaluated in healthy postmenopausal women by biochemical markers for cardiovascular protection and osteoporosis protection., Study Settings and Design: This was a multi-centric placebo-controlled double-blind randomized clinical trial that screened 198 postmenopausal women at 21 centers across 12 cities in India. Levels of lycopene, lipid profile, high-risk C-reactive protein, and bone turnover markers: amino-terminal propeptide of Type I collagen (P1NP) and C-terminal telopeptide of Type I collagen (β-CTx) were measured at baseline and 6 months postsupplementation with LycoRed or placebo., Interventions: The study was completed with 57 of the 100 women on LycoRed 8 mg (antioxidant potency is equivalent to 24 mg of lycopene) and 43 placebos for 6 months by randomization., Main Outcome Measures: Rise in serum lycopene and effect of serum lycopene on surrogate markers of cardiovascular health and bone health., Results: LycoRed supplementation increases lycopene levels and P1NP and nonsignificant fall in β-CTx levels in healthy postmenopausal women., Conclusions: Lycopene supplementation in Indian menopausal women may confer protection from osteoporosis as shown by the directional change in the surrogate biochemical markers. This study can form a basis for larger studies with different doses to understand the effect of lycopene to prevent and act as adjuvant treatment on clinical endpoints for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and bone health., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2022 Journal of Mid-life Health.)

Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest.

Background: Squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck (SCCHN) is a major concern of health risk in developing countries, such as India. Apart from genetic configuration, environmental and lifestyle factors, as well as poor oral hygiene, provide free radical-generating environment, which may contribute to the development of cancer through DNA damage., Materials and Methods: Here we ascertained the various oxidative stress determinants in diagnosed SCCHN patients with health risk addictions. This study further evaluated the incremental effects inflicted by these lifestyle factors on redox status. The study included 100 consenting SCCHN patients and 90 matched healthy controls. Salivary total antioxidant capacity (TAC), glutathione (GSH), free radicals: such as reactive nitrogen species (RNS) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) along with oxidative DNA adduct (8-OHdG) were monitored., Results: Our findings indicated altered salivary oxidant-antioxidant status in SCCHN. A substantial rise in ROS (~2.0 folds) and RNS (~1.4 folds), together with significant lowering in TAC (~1.2 folds) and GSH (~1.7 folds) was observed. The 8-OHdG levels were also found to be considerably higher (P < 0.001) in salivary cell's DNA of these patients., Conclusions: Our results demonstrate significant redox imbalance in cancer patients suggesting their paramount importance in the development of SCCHN.

Background: In developing countries especially in south Asia, there are growing habits of consumption of tobacco and its products in various forms. These are known to generate a strong free radical environment and when the free radicals overwhelm the antioxidant system, they may lead to degeneration of cellular components and mutations., Aim: The aim of this study is to assess the levels of oxidative stress determinants, which may be one of the critical factors in head and neck cancer development., Materials and Methods: This study included 100 consenting SCCHN patients and 90 matched healthy controls and we assessed the total antioxidant capacity (TAC), glutathione (GSH), free radicals (RNS, ROS) and oxidative DNA adduct (8-OHdG)., Results: We observed a substantial rise in reactive oxygen species (ROS, ~3.0-fold) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS, ~1.7-fold), together with significant lowering in TAC (~1.2-fold) and GSH (~1.7-fold) was observed. The 8-OHdG levels were also found to be significantly (P < 0.05) higher in patients in comparison to controls. Pearson's correlation between blood ROS and GSH were found to be negatively correlated -0.38 (P < 0.01) and RNS and DNA damage positively correlated 0.44 (P < 0.01)., Conclusion: Our present results demonstrate significant Redox imbalance in cancer patients suggesting their paramount importance in the development of SCCHN. The 8-OHdG could be the potential biomarker for evaluating risk of SCCHN. To develop new approaches of SCCHN prevention, there is a need of detailed study and better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying oxidative stress and DNA damage.

Background: In earlier days, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was recommended for menopause symptoms and also gained much popularity. However, the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) studies suggested an increased risk of cardiovascular and Alzheimer's disease. These findings led to a dramatic decrease in hormone therapy (HT) prescriptions all over the world. However, the WHI conclusions remain debatable especially because of contradictory results from antecedent studies. Inspite of these controversies, post-WHI, most gynecologists refrain from prescribing MHT (menopausal hormone replacement therapy, MHT). Furthermore, many Indian gynecologists prefer to prescribe alternative treatments that would help alleviate symptoms and thus avoid HRT. We decided to carry out a survey and document the current opinions regarding indications of HRT and alternative therapies and prescribing practices of Jaipur-based gynecologists., Objective: This study was designed to find out the current attitudes and practices of gynecologists (Jaipur) towards management of menopause., Materials and Methods: A questionnaire concerning attitudes, management strategies, and use of HT was mailed out to gynecologists, and they are asked to complete the questionnaire. Data were analyzed using the total number of respondents (n = 321). The results were analyzed using a simple percentage method as this was most suitable for this kind of studies., Results: From the results, 69.04% gynecologists were currently prescribing MHT. Hot flashes were the most common indication for MHT prescriptions and 78.57% were familiar with controversies surrounding WHI study. Also, 61.9% would consider using MHT for themselves. Alternative therapy was adopted by 83.48% in their prescribing practice. The reason cited by 71% for preferring alternative therapies was that it was safer and less controversial., Conclusions: The prescribing practices of Jaipur gynecologists in lieu of ongoing controversies surrounding HT have shifted and now also support alternative therapies for menopause management. In this era of phasic prescriptions, for immediate relief of hot flashes and mood swings, MHT was favored. However, for long-term management of women with poor compliance, alternative therapies were considered a safer option.

Objectives: This study was designed to assess the effectiveness of self-administered osteoporosis risk score sheet, body mass index (BMI), and bone mineral density (BMD) (ultrasound) in screening females with low bone mass, and how the results of the tools correlate with each other., Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on 536 postmenopausal women, who attended public awareness camps on Midlife Women Health held at the Menopause Research Unit, MGMCH, Sitapura, Jaipur. At these camps, in addition to several informational sessions on issues related to menopause, ultrasonic measurement of BMD was conducted on each participant. A broad questionnaire to identify midlife health problems was developed, and osteoporosis specific score sheet was designed to be self-administered. Patients were required to complete the osteoporosis specific risk score sheet and women health questionnaire (WHQ). BMI was determined. Statistical analysis was carried out to find the correlation between various variables. Sensitivity and specificity of the each risk score ascertained and cutoff risk score for identifying osteopenia was derived by comparing area under curve of each risk score on drawing receiver operational curve (ROC)., Results: Sensitivity of risk score system was calculated to be 78.33% with 95% confidence interval being 73.24-82.86% and specificity was 27.12% with 95% confidence interval being 21.56-33.27%, keeping the cutoff point at nine. There was statistically significant inverse relationship between risk score and BMD values with Pearson correlation coefficient of (-) 0.22 and positive relationship between BMD and BMI with correlation coefficient of 0.192., Conclusion: By noting down the risk factors and BMI, we can screen out the women who require further evaluation and management, thus, it is an effective tool, particularly in developing countries like India, where most of the patients cannot afford expensive DEXA scans, although considered as the gold standard for BMD assessment. With the help of such scoring systems, health resources can be judiciously utilized.

A 12-year-old girl presented with complaint of passing very 'scanty' amount of urine, approximately 50 ml every alternate day for the last five years. She had been admitted for investigations several times in different hospitals in the past. On evaluation, she was found to have no abnormality related to the urinary tract. Detailed psychiatric assessment revealed the factitious nature of her symptoms, suggesting the diagnosis of factitious disorder with physical symptoms.

Cognitive deficits are the recognised symptoms of the dementias of later life. However, behavioural symptoms also contribute significantly to the problem and are often the main reason for a clinical consultation. The present study describes non - cognitive behavioural symptoms in 30 patients during various stages of dementia. Anxiety, depressive features, agitation, wandering and paranoid symptoms are the main features. The paper also discusses the usefulness and limitation of pharmacological treatment of these symptoms.

Forty elderly psychiatric out-patients with an ICD-9 diagnosis of depression and twenty matched controls were studied for the presence of physical illnesses, using a pre-defined battery of investigative techniques. While the prevalence of physical illness diagnosis was not significantly different between the two groups, the number of subjects with undiagnosed illnesses and those with multiple illnesses was significantly higher among the depressives. Among specific illnesses, hypertension, osteoarthritis and cataract were significantly more common among depressives. Significance of the findings is discussed.

The prevalence of use of medicines with a known potential to cause depression among 40 elderly depressives and 20 matched controls was studied. Results showed that the prevalence was not significantly different between the two groups. Within the patient group, the prevalence was independent of the variables of sex, nature and severity of depression, and history of previous episodes of affective illness. While the results indicate that depressive illnesses secondary to the use of medicines are not common, the possibility of a medicine rarely inducing depression cannot be ruled out.

Forty-five patients of psychotic depression have been compared with 22 neurotic depressives, on SADD schedule regarding the socioderaographic and clinical variables. Two groups of these patients have differed on variables like age, duration of present attack, past history and family history of psychiatric illness and the precipitating factors.

That the mental health problems are as common in the developing countries as in the developed ones has been amply shown by many epidemiological studies. Providing mental health care to a large patient population in developing countries has remained an uphill task. One of the strategies is to involve general health practitioners in mental health services for which they must be given adequate training in their undergraduate medical curriculum. Success of a training programme depends upon the change in attitudes among the trainees regarding mental health problems. Vignettes have been successfully used to measure such changes. In this paper, the authors discuss in brief the difficulties in the delivery of mental health care and report their experience with vignettes as an evaluative design to gauze the attitudinal changes among undergraduate medical students in Addis Ababa.

Delivery of mental care in developing countries has been awfully inadequate. General hospital psychiatric units can play a significant role in providing care to the mentally ill as well as in training aspects of the health professionals. The problems of mental illness are practically same all over as has been highlighted in the paper which discusses the functioning and diagnostic and demographic data of such a unit in Ethiopia. The paper also compares the diagnostic data with that of an Indian and a British study.

45 Psychotic Depressives from PGI, Chandigarh have been compared with 90 Psychotic Depressives from Madurai Centre on 40 symptoms using SADD schedule. Differences in the symptomatology have been highlightened.

Two groups of patients on regular lithium therapy were studied to find out the stability in values of serum lithium over a period of time. Serum samples of one group was stored at -4°C while that of other group at room temperature. These samples were subsequently analysed over a period of eight days and subjected to statistical analysis. It was seen that values on the first day did not differ significantly from values of subsequent days. Implications of this findings are discussed in Indian conditions as lithium estimation facilities are available only at a few centres.

The authors present their experience of prophylactic lithium therapy in seven children diagnosed as manic depressive psychosis, bipolar type, according to International Classification of Diseases, 9th revision. The authors demonstrate the effectiveness of lithium as a therapeutic and prophylactic agent for manic depressive illness in children. Side-effects are not a problem if serum lithium levels are maintained between 0.6-1.2 mEq/L. Renal functions have remained un-impaired even after three years of lithium therapy in four children.