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Objectives Bulk-filled composite resins are popularly used for posterior restorations due to various advantages. Routine oral hygiene measures like toothbrushing and the use of various mouthrinses can influence the mechanical properties of composite resins. Desensitizing mouthrinses are widely used as well, to manage dentinal hypersensitivity. Studies on the influence of desensitizing mouthrinses on bulk-filled composites are limited. Hence, the objective of the present in vitro study was to evaluate the influence of toothbrushing and various desensitizing mouthrinses on the surface roughness and microhardness of Tetric N-Ceram bulk-fill composite resin. Materials and Methods Fifty Tetric N-Ceram bulk-fill composite resin disks were prepared and were randomly divided into five groups (n = 10). Group 1 (Control): no toothbrushing and no mouthrinse; Group 2: toothbrushing only; Group 3: toothbrushing + HiOra-K mouthrinse; Group 4: toothbrushing + Listerine Sensitive mouthrinse; and Group 5: toothbrushing + Shy-OR mouthrinse. The specimens were brushed with a soft bristle brush using a toothpaste slurry and immersed in respective mouthrinse twice daily for 1 month. The mean surface roughness (average roughness) and microhardness (Vickers Pyramid number) values were determined and the data were tabulated. Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance, Post-hoc Tukey test, and Pearson correlation test. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Specimens treated with HiOra-K mouthrinse exhibited maximum surface roughness (p Conclusions It is suggested that desensitizing mouthrinses containing alcohol or essential oils can lead to increased surface roughness and reduction in microhardness of bulk-fill composites, which could have an undesirable effect on their clinical performance.

Depression is a prevalent mental health condition treated with antidepressants and other psychotropic medications. This study aimed to assess the utilization pattern of antidepressants among patients visiting the outpatient clinic of the psychiatry department of a tertiary care hospital. The study included the patients who visited the study site and fulfilled the mental and behavioral diagnostic criteria for depression. The demographic and clinical details, including drugs prescribed, were documented in a study-specific data collection form. The ratio of Prescribed Daily Dose to Defined Daily Dose (PDD: DDD) was calculated to assess the adequacy of antidepressant utilization. Data total of 154 patients were collected. A total of 22 psychotropic drugs were used among the study patients as mono (n = 70), dual (n = 69), triple (n = 10), or quadruple therapy (n = 1). Escitalopram was the most often prescribed antidepressant out of the nine antidepressants alone and in combination and was used in slightly high doses (PDD: DDD ratio 1.6). Sertraline, paroxetine, and desvenlafaxine, were used in adequate doses (PDD: DDD between 1 and 1.1), and fluoxetine, duloxetine, amitriptyline, imipramine, and mirtazapine, were used in inadequate doses (PDD: DDD

Purpose Plantar Fasciitis is a widely prevalent condition and is extremely disabling if it remains unresolved. Despite many available treatment modalities, the management of recalcitrant cases is still a dilemma. We conducted this study to evaluate and compare the role of two novel modalities: Intralesional PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) injection and Extra Corporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) for the management of this condition. Methods 60 patients with a clinical diagnosis of recalcitrant plantar fasciitis were randomized into 2 groups; PRP Group (n = 30) and ESWT Group (n = 30). In PRP group patients received 3 intralesional injections of PRP and in ESWT group 3 sessions of Extra Corporeal Shockwave Therapy were administered. The Primary outcome measures were Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score, American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) Ankle-Hindfoot Score, Roles and Maudsley Index and Heel Tenderness Index (HTI). The secondary outcome measures were complications. The patients were followed up for a period of 6 months and evaluated for various scores. Results At 6 months follow-up, significant results were found only on VAS score for both groups (p-value Conclusions Both autologous PRP and ESWT can become extremely useful modalities for management of recalcitrant cases of plantar fasciitis with no known adverse effects.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder imposing a severe health and socioeconomic burden worldwide. Existing pharmacological approaches for developing PD are poorly developed and do not represent all the characteristics of disease pathology. Developing cost-effective, reliable Zebrafish (ZF) model will meet this gap. The present study was conceived to develop a reliable PD model in the ZF using manganese chloride (MnCl

Introduction: Labor pain is the most severe pain a women would experience and several treatment modalities have been adopted since decades. Labor analgesia using epidural technique is considered as the efficient and effective treatment options available. Parturients in India especially rural areas are less aware regarding labor analgesia using epidural technique. Aim: To study the effects of labor analgesia using epidural technique in nulliparous women. Materials and Methods: Sixty full term nulliparous women with singleton vertex pregnancy were made aware of labor analgesia using epidural technique and included, those willing were grouped epidural(n=30), those not keen were grouped control(n=30). In 1st stage labor, parturients in epidural group received bupivacaine and fentanyl, whereas in control group received intramuscular Inj. tramadol, and Inj. pethidine if needed. Duration of 1st and 2nd stage labor, pain relief, maternal satisfaction, adverse effects, instrumental deliveries, 1st and 5th minute Apgar score and NICU admission were recorded. Results: The mean duration of first stage labor was shorter (p=0.071) in epidural group (250.17±106.33 minutes) compared with control group (302.0±111.99 minutes) and statistically insignificant prolongation (p=0.892) (18.73±6.82 minutes) of 2nd stage labor as compared to control (18.33±14.53 minutes). Pain relief in epidural group was statistically significant (pst (p=0.306) and 5th minutes (p=1.00), NICU admission rate were statistically insignificant (p=0.143) between groups. Conclusion: Labor epidural analgesia using Inj.bupivacaine and Inj.fentanyl provides good pain relief, safe for mother and baby. It does not affect labor duration, instrumental delivery rate or neonatal outcome. Keywords: Labor analgesia, Epidural, Bupivacaine, Fentanyl, Labor stages, Apgar score, NICU admission.

Aims: Plant phenology is a tool to assess climate variability, but less is known about the differences in phenological sensitivity at community, life-form and individual species level. The aim of the present study is to know the contribution of individual, life-form leaf phenophases within the community. Methodology: The leaf phenology of tropical dry forest trees in Bhadra wildlife sanctuary, Karnataka, India was observed during June 2004 to May 2009. A total of 277 trees belonging to 45 species were monitored on monthly basis for different phenophases of leaf phenology. Simple Spearman’s correlations and multiple regressions were performed between different phenophases and environmental factors like rainfall and temperature. Seasonality was determined with circular statistics analyses using the phenological variables and dates of observation. Results: The influence of temperature was stressed with multiple regressions. Seasonality of each of the phenophases was also tested with circular statistics. There is a strong seasonality observed in all phenophases, the strength of seasonality was highest with leafless phenophases. Leafing phenophases among some dominant species within the community was described for seasonality and differences among them were also analyzed. Understorey species had longer leaf life span compared to canopy species. At the community level different phenophases are distinctly seasonal, though the strength of seasonality varied considerably with flushing and expansion of leaves, the strength of the seasonality was high with leaf senescence for all species. Conclusion: The results of this research are in agreement with previous study but the present study suggests that community, population and individual sensitivity might vary under the present context of increasing climatic variability and their adaptation helps to understand the climatic influence in shaping phenology at individual, species and community level.

In the present study genetic diversity among 40 rice genotypes was evaluated using Mahalanobis D2 statistic based on morphological markers. Based on cluster analysis, the germplasms were grouped into 4 clusters of which Cluster I comprising of 23 genotypes was the largest group followed by the cluster II comprising of 15 genotypes, the clusters III and IV were represented by single genotype indicating high degree of heterogeneity among the genotypes. Maximum intra cluster distance observed in cluster II is (146.8) followed by cluster I (112.9) indicating the existence of variability among the genotypes within these clusters. The highest inter-cluster distance was observed between cluster IV and III (606.5), While the lowest was noticed between cluster II and III (222.9), describing that the genotypes included in these clusters were closely related. The kernel length, kernel length after cooking, kernel breadth, gel consistency, days to 50% flowering and plant height together contributed 90.1% towards total divergence. Therefore, these characters should be given importance during hybridization and selection of segregating populations. The genotypes falling in different clusters with the high mean for grain yield and other component characters can be utilized for the hybridization programme to obtain elite segregants.

Aim: The aim of this study is to clinically isolate and detect three anaerobic bacteria associated with endodontic-periodontal lesions in type-2 diabetic and nondiabetic patients using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Materials and Methods: Sixty patients presenting endodontic-periodontal lesions were divided into two groups. Thirty patients with type-2 diabetics (Group 1) and 30 nondiabetic patients (Group 2) were evaluated for the presence of three anaerobic bacteria. Clinical examinations, periapical radiographs, and microbiological sampling from the canal system and periodontal pockets were performed. Qualitative evaluation of bacteria was performed using a multiplex PCR for Porphyromonas gingivalis and Prevotella intermedia. Statistical analysis was performed using Pearson's Chi-square test and Fischer's exact test. Results: Enterococcus faecalis (73.3%) was the predominant bacteria isolated from the root canal in type 2 diabetic patients, followed by P. gingivalis (70%) and P. intermedia (36%) compared to 53.3%, 43.3%, and 23.3%, respectively, among nondiabetic patients. P. gingivalis (73.3%) was the predominant bacteria isolated from periodontal pockets in type II diabetic patients followed by P. intermedia 50% and E. faecalis 30% compared to 36.6%, 33.3%, and 30%, respectively, among nondiabetics. P. gingivalis was detected in the root canal and periodontal pocket in almost similar numbers (70% and 73%), respectively, among type-2 diabetics. Conclusion: Detection of P. gingivalis, P. intermedia, and E. faecalis in both root canal and periodontal pocket samples confirm a viable pathway for the spread of infection through dual sites. Since in the present study, P. gingivalis was found to be present in similar numbers in dual sites among type 2 diabetic patients, importance should be given in treating such anaerobic bacteria in immune-compromised patients.

The present investigation was carried out for yield and quality related traits in the F2 and F3 populations of twenty eight rice cross combinations developed from five aromatic (Pusa 1121, Improved Pusa Basmati, Basmati 370, Sumathi and RNR 2354) and three non-aromatic (BPT 5204, Akshyadhan and NLR 145) parents. In F2 generation, among the yield characters, the highest values of phenotypic co-efficient of variation (PCV) and genotypic co-efficient of variation (GCV) were recorded for the number of filled grains/panicle followed by grain yield per plant while the lowest values were recorded for days to 50% flowering. However, for the grain quality characters the highest PCV and GCV values were recorded for head rice recovery and lowest for kernel breadth. In F3 population, higher magnitudes of PCV and GCV were recorded for the number of filled grains/panicle and panicle weight, indicating greater scope of obtaining high selection response for these traits. High heritability in narrow sense along with medium to high genetic advance was noticed for the traits like days to 50% flowering, 1000 grain weight and the kernel traits.

Depression is a common mood disorder characterized by persistent sadness and loss of interest. Research suggests an association between the inclusion of omega-3 fatty acids in the diet and a reduced risk for depression. The present study evaluated the effectiveness of omega-3 fatty acid supplements in alleviating depressive symptoms in patients with mild to moderate depression. A total of 165 patients suffering from mild to moderated depression were randomized to receive omega-3 fatty acid supplementation, an antidepressant (single agent), or a combination of an antidepressant and omega-3 fatty acid supplementation. The clinical features of depression were assessed using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) during the follow-up period. A statistically significant improvement in depressive symptoms was observed from baseline to first, second and third follow-ups within each treatment arm as measured by HRDS scores (p = 0.00001). Further, the HDRS scores at the third follow-up were significantly lower in patients on combination therapy of omega-3 fatty acid supplement and antidepressants (arm-3) than the patients on the omega-3 fatty acid supplement alone (arm-1) [Q = 5.89; p = 0.0001] or the patients taking an antidepressant alone (arm 2) [Q = 4.36; p = 0.0068]. The combination of an omega-3 fatty acid supplement and an antidepressant elicited significantly higher improvement in depressive symptoms than the supplement or the antidepressant alone.

F3 generations of 28 crosses were evaluated for the genetic parameters in rice. The estimates of GCV were lower than the respective PCV, indicating the influence of environmental factors on the expression of the quantitative and qualitative traits studied. In F3 population, higher magnitudes of PCV and GCV recorded for no. of filled grains/panicle and panicle weight and indicated greater scope of obtaining high selection response for these traits. The high estimates of heritability in broad sense with moderate genetic advance were recorded for the yield components viz., panicle length, filled grains per panicle and 1000 grain weight and kernel traits viz., kernel length and L/B ratio, which suggested that additive genetic effects played greater role as such, the chances of obtaining desirable segregants with good yield potential and quality are very bright through direct selection.