Search

Aim: To evaluate the in-vitro microleakage of traditional micro hybrid composite resin and 0.2% chitosan-incorporated composite resin when restored in Class V cavities using total etch versus self-etch adhesives after storing in artificial saliva for 24 h. Materials and Methodology: Sixty permanent maxillary premolars collected and Class V cavities were prepared on buccal surface of each tooth (dimensions: mesio-distally 3 mm, occluso cervically 2 mm, and depth of 1.5 mm) and restored with Group 1: micro hybrid (30 teeth) and Group 2: chitosan-incorporated composite (30 teeth), which was further subdivided into: (a) 15 teeth using total-etch adhesives. (b) 15 teeth using self-etch adhesives. Next dye extraction test was carried out using spectrophotometer. Results: Comparison within groups: In Group 1: Self-etch demonstrated less microleakage (0.0129) compared with total etch (0.0183). The difference was statistically significant, and in Group 2: No statistically significant difference was found in mean microleakage scores after using either self-etch (0.0118) or total etch adhesives (0.0120). Conclusion: It can be concluded that chitosan-incorporated composite seems to have improved mechanical properties with a stable bond when used with either self-etch or total etch adhesives in addition to being antibacterial. It may be clinically useful in restoring Class V cavities in patients with high caries risk. However, further in vitro and in-vivo studies need to be carried out.

Background: Growing life expectancy is challenging the quality of healthcare for elderly. Information regarding health-related quality of life (QOL) may help policymakers to design need-based health programs for this population. Objectives: The objective of this study is to estimate health-related QOL of the geriatric population living in rural areas of West Tripura district and to compare it between ethnic and nonethnic populations with respect to important domains. Methodology: This community-based cross-sectional study was conducted between February 1, 2019, and March 31, 2020, among 225 geriatric subjects of rural West Tripura district chosen by multistage sampling. The World Health Organization's QOL–BREF scale was used for data collection. Results: Among the study population, 46.2% had overall good health-related QOL. About 52.9% had good QOL in environment, and 37.3% had good QOL in social relationship domains. Marginally higher proportion of the subjects from ethnic origin had better QOL than the nonethnic, but it was not significant. A higher proportion of the Muslim subjects had better QOL than the rest, but it was also not significant. Bivariate analysis showed significant associations between QOL with age, sex, literacy, financial condition, socioeconomic status, and type of family. Multivariate analysis identified male sex, younger age, and living with spouse as the significant predictors of good QOL. Conclusion: Overall health-related QOL of the geriatric people living in rural areas of West Tripura district is poor, but younger male subjects of ethnic origin and living with spouses may enjoy relatively better QOL.

Background: In India 66% of blindness among individuals aged 50 yrs and above is attributable to cataract. Cataract has multiple etiologies and many of them are modifiable. But data regarding burden and correlates of cataract among OPD attendees in Northeast India are insufficient. Objectives: To estimate the proportion of cataract among the attendees of ophthalmology OPD of a teaching hospital of Northeast India and to study the factors associated with it. Methods: This hospital based cross-sectional study was conducted during 7th February to 6th March 2020, using a pre-tested structured interview schedule, among 330 adults attending ophthalmology OPD of Agartala Government Medical College, chosen by consecutive sampling. Result: Proportion of cataract among the attendees was 36.7% and it was 51.5% among the subjects aged ≥50 years. Age, family type, literacy, diabetes mellitus and hypertension had significant associations with cataract (P < 0.05). Logistic regression model has identified age ≥ 50 yrs (OR: 5.57, 95% CI: 2.98-10.43) and illiteracy (OR: 2.67, 95% CI: 1.55-4.59) as the significant predictors for developing cataract (P < 0.05) in the study population. Conclusion: Proportion of cataract among OPD attendees is 36.7%, which is higher than the community prevalence of cataract in Tripura. Promoting literacy, reducing family size, blood sugar and blood pressure may bring down the proportion of cataract in this population.