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Medicinal plants are extensively used in traditional folk medicine. High blood pressure is associated with the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and many other serious health complications resulting from it as a major concern of morbidity and mortality in health sector. Use of diuretics, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, beta adrenergic receptor antagonists (beta blockers), alpha adrenergic receptor antagonists (alpha blockers), calcium channel blockers (CCBs) etc. are not efficient enough to cure hypertension. Side effects regarding these medications lead to intolerance, impaired control of the disease, and also mismanagement of therapy. So, approach regarding quenching new potent therapeutic compounds from medicinal plants draws attention nowadays. For example, as a first-line therapeutic agent, an alkaloid is highly effective in lowering systolic blood pressure which is isolated from root extract of the plant of Rauwolfia serpentina species, namely reserpine. This article comes up with a list of 63 plant species from 37 families, compiling information related to plant parts used for making extracts, types of extract and animals used in these studies, antihypertensive effect of the extracts etc. It also refers to 74 chemically defined molecules, with in vitro and in vivo anti-hypertensive potential, isolated from these extracts along with their dosage and mechanism of action by using electronic searches of published articles from various databases and reference books. Our present work would be beneficial for researchers to investigate and invent novel antihypertensive therapy to treat hypertension.

The purpose of this article is to compare and contrast the different types of endodontic access cavity designs based on the current available evidence. Four types of access cavity designs, namely, traditional endodontic access cavity design (TEC), contracted/conservative endodontic access cavity design (CEC), ultra-conservative or ninja endodontic access cavity design (NEC) and truss endodontic access cavity design (TREC) have been suggested, and the latter three are currently in the limelight. Studies in vitro have been performed comparing the TECs, CECs, TRECs and NECs; except for the TECs, the other three types have not undergone clinical trials on patients. The choice of endodontic access cavity design affects fracture strength of the tooth, but remnants of pulpal tissue, due to ineffective instrumentation, can cause root canal treatment failure. CPD/Clinical Relevance: Root canal treatment with new access cavity designs has been proposed. However, there is lack of evidence to support such practices. It is important to consider the potential deleterious effects of such access cavity designs rather than emphasizing the preservation of tooth structure alone.

Objective. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the effectiveness of laser application in temporomandibular joint disorder. Methods. PubMed, SCOPUS, Science Direct, Web of Science, and Google Scholar electronic databases were searched systematically with restricting the languages to only English and year (January 2001 to March 2020), and studies were selected based on the inclusion criteria. Study quality and publication bias were assessed by using the Robvis, a software package of R statistical software. Results. This systematic review included 32 studies (1172 patients) based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Most of the studies reported significant reduction of pain by the use of the laser during TMD treatment. Two-thirds of the study (78.13%) found a better outcome comparing with conventional one. According to Robvis, 84.4% of the studies were high methodological studies with low risk of bias. Conclusion. TMD patients suffer with continuous pain for long time even after conventional treatment. Laser therapy shows a promising outcome of pain reduction for TMD patients. Therefore, laser therapy can be recommended for the TMD patients’ better outcome. This trial is registered with PROSPERO (CRD42020177562).

Sialolithiasis is considered as one of the most frequently encountered diseases of the salivary glands. The most susceptible site is the submandibular gland and its duct. However, megaliths have been sparsely reported in the literature. This article portrays management of a sialolith and a megalith in a 26-year-old and a 59-year-old male patient, respectively. The sialolith in the first case case was 4 mm long, whereas the second case demonstrated a megalith measuring 46 mm at its greatest size. Follow-up revealed normal functioning and a painless gland in the first case, while the second case showed no eventful complications. It is interesting to know that both patients remained relatively pain-free, despite having such longstanding sialolith/megaliths. After removal of the small sialolith, the gland regained its normal functioning swiftly, whereas in the case of the megalith, the gland removal was mandatory because such a longstanding megalith led to irreversible functional injury to the gland. CPD/Clinical Relevance: A giant sialolith can be easily misdiagnosed as a submandibular infection or neoplasm, especially when the patient presents with a longstanding pain-free swelling. Hence, early and appropriate referral and investigation is necessary for early diagnosis and treatment.

The average time consumed for disimpaction of mandibular third molar using rotatory instruments was approximately 17 mins and 23 mins while using a piezotome. The authors introduce a new technique of disimpaction of mandibular third molar with the least amount of bone removal ever achieved during mandibular third molar removal. This technique can be readily included in routine clinical practice and can be performed by using routine rotary instruments. This technique was successfully accomplished in 10 individuals with the least amount of discomfort and post-operative complications reported from day 1 to day 14. The procedure was evaluated based on time of the procedure, pain score, bleeding, nerve injury, trismus, swelling & dry socket. Third molar removal has been the most frequently performed oral surgical procedure in the modern world of dentistry.1 Although, mandibular third molar is the most commonly performed procedure, it demands skill, technique and experience. Several techniques have been implied for disimpaction of mandibular third molar, but every method involves either considerable amount of bone removal or splitting the bone. Bone manipulation is done by using a rotary instruments or chisel and mallet. The most popular techniques are buccal bone guttering, distal bone removal, lingual bone split technique and lingual bone guttering.2 According to the traditional classifications of impacted mandibular third molar (Pell & Gregory and Winter’s classification), the minimum amount of bucco-distal bone removed during disimpaction of mesioangularly positioned class I A impacted mandibular third molar using rotary instruments and conventional techniques can be calculated as 157.5 mm2 (volume of a rectangle = L X W X H; where L = 15 mm, W = 1.5 mm [width of the bur] and H = 7 mm). The mandibular third molar requiring osteotomy and tooth section have the highest risk of complications3. Surgical time had significantly increased in cases which required osteotomy and tooth section. Post-operative swelling and pain has been recorded as significant complications after using rotary instruments via buccal approach followed by use of chisel & mallet and least in lingual split approach. On the contrary, post-operative nerve injury and trismus were significantly high in lingual split technique. Dry socket was more in patients of bur technique.2

Oral cyst is uncommon in the neonatal period. Depending on the size and site of occurrence, its symptoms may vary. If not diagnosed and managed expeditiously, these oral cysts may cause significant and potentially fatal morbidity and mortality. We report a successfully managed case of oral cyst in neonate that presented with huge tongue at birth and complaints of impending airway obstruction. She was referred for tracheostomy as intubation was impossible. We attempted needle aspiration and the airway successfully relieved without the need for tracheostomy.

Oral health is a cardinal element of nutritional as well as systemic well-being and plays a substantial part in sustaining optimum general health condition. Various factors influence oral health including metabolic diseases such as endocrine (diabetes mellitus [DM]), hematological, gastrointestinal, cutaneous, and neurological diseases. The intent of this review is to accentuate the correlation between DM and oral disorders, like those upsetting oral mucosa and supporting tissues. A review of literature was performed using relevant key words (“Oral Manifestations of Diabetes” OR “Oral Complications of Diabetes” OR “Oral Impacts of Diabetes” OR “Oral Repercussions of Diabetes“) in prominent journals pertaining to Endocrinology and Dentistry (Journal of Periodontology, Periodontology 2000, British Dental Journal, The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology, PloS ONE, and Nature Reviews Genetics). The most frequently witnessed diabetic manifestations in oral cavity include gingivitis and periodontitis leading to premature tooth loss, salivary dysfunctions, dental caries, delayed wound healing, bacterial and fungal infections, lichen planus, taste impairment, tongue abnormalities, neurosensory oral disorders, halitosis, and dry socket. In the end, I have comprehensively described the role of antidiabetic drugs in the management of DM and eventually leading to prevention of its oral complications. In this review, etiopathophysiology of each oral complication has been prudently analyzed to contemplate the establishment of a possible preventive and treatment approach.

Oral health is a cardinal element of nutritional as well as systemic well-being and plays a substantial part in sustaining optimum general health condition. Various factors influence oral health including metabolic diseases such as endocrine, hematological, gastrointestinal, cutaneous, and neurological diseases. The intent of this review is to highlight the treatment as well as prevention strategies for one of the most devastating repercussions of chemotherapy (CT) and radiotherapy (RT) on the oral cavity in the form of oral mucositis (OM). A review of literature was performed using relevant key words (“Mucositis” OR “Oral Mucositis” OR “Oral Stomatitis” AND “Treatment of Mucositis” OR “Treatment of Oral Mucositis” OR “Treatment of Oral Stomatitis” AND “Prevention of Mucositis” OR “Prevention of Oral Mucositis” OR “Prevention of Oral Stomatitis“) in prominent journals pertaining to Oncology and Dentistry (CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, Cancer, Frontiers in Oncology, Journal of Clinical Oncology, and Oral Oncology). It is basically sequelae of CT, RT, and radiochemotherapy in patients suffering from malignant diseases as well as those who require hematopoietic stem cell transplants. In addition to its negative effects on the oral cavity and consequently on the overall quality of life, OM may lead to delay in cancer treatment which incriminates in a poor prognosis of the disease.

BACKGROUND: Sleep apnoea is a diagnosed condition in which appurtenances interrupt breathing whilst sleeping. The consequence of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) includes road traffic accidents due to drowsiness, systemic hypertension, heart disease, diabetes mellitus and neurocognitive disorders. This condition extends the duration of recovery phase after traumatic brain injury. OBJECTIVE: This study was intended to assess the knowledge and attitude towards OSA and compare it among dental and medical undergraduate students of University Sains Malaysia (USM). METHODS: In this study, a total of 216 clinical undergraduate students (36 from each year; 108 from medical and 108 from dental school) of University Sains Malaysia (USM) Health campus were recruited for the study by non-probability stratified random sampling method. Total study period was October 2017 to October 2018. A self-administered questionnaire was used to assess the sociodemographic status and OSAKA questionnaire was used to assess knowledge and attitude regarding sleep apnoea of the respondents. Descriptive analysis was carried out to assess the knowledge and attitude of OSA amongst dental and medical undergraduate students of USM. The Mann–Whitney U test was carried out to compare the knowledge and attitude of OSA amongst dental and medical undergraduate students of USM. RESULTS: Our study findings revealed that 0.9 %and 6.5 %of the dental undergraduate students and medical undergraduate students could answer all the questions correctly regarding knowledge of OSA. Based on the assessment of the difference between medical and dental students in terms of knowledge towards OSA patients, significant difference was observed at the significance level of 95%, where p

Palatal defects are rehabilitated by fabricating maxillofacial prostheses called obturators. The treatment incorporates taking deviously unpredictable impressions to facsimile the palatal defects into plaster casts for obturator fabrication in the dental laboratory. The casts are then digitally stored using expensive hardware to prevent physical damage or data loss and, when required, future obturators are digitally designed, and 3D printed. Our objective was to construct and validate an economic in-house smartphone-integrated stereophotogrammetry (SPINS) 3D scanner and to evaluate its accuracy in designing prosthetics using open source/free (OS/F) digital pipeline. Palatal defect models were scanned using SPINS and its accuracy was compared against the standard laser scanner for virtual area and volumetric parameters. SPINS derived 3D models were then used to design obturators by using (OS/F) software. The resultant obturators were virtually compared against standard medical software designs. There were no significant differences in any of the virtual parameters when evaluating the accuracy of both SPINS, as well as OS/F derived obturators. However, limitations in the design process resulted in minimal dissimilarities. With further improvements, SPINS based prosthetic rehabilitation could create a viable, low cost method for rural and developing health services to embrace maxillofacial record keeping and digitised prosthetic rehabilitation.

Objective: To determine the association of socio-demographic and clinic-pathological risk factors with oral cancer in Kelantan, Malaysia . Material and Methods: A 19-year cross-sectional survey was performed in Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM), Malaysia. Medical record of 301 oral cancer patients was retrieved from the Medical Records office. Results: The majority of the oral cancer cases were male (62.8%), non-smokers (57.5%), non-alcohol consumers (83.4%), non-betel quid chewers (96.7%), and belonged to Malay ethnicity (68.8%). At the time of diagnosis, most of the patients were at stage II (38.9%). Approximately one-third (30.6%) of the total OC patients experienced loco-regional/distant metastasis, whereas no metastasis was detected in around two-thirds of cases (69.4%). A combination of surgery and radiotherapy was the most commonly employed treatment modality (27.2%). At the time of this study, the survival status of most of the patients was alive (69.1%). The most frequently encountered oral cancer in the Kelantanese population was oral squamous cell carcinoma (70.1%), with the tongue being the most frequently involved oral cavity site (35.5%) . Conclusion: More than three-fourths of the cases were alive at follow-up, which included the cases that did not undergo any form of treatment.

More than 15,000 prescriptions and over the counter drugs are available according to the US Food and Drug Administration website. Moreover, several herbal medicines and dietary supplements are readily available to add to the list of possible drugs, which can potentially cause adverse drug interactions. These are a pressing concern for all as they can interfere with many dental procedures. Additionally, the number of geriatric patients seen in routine dental practice has increased over time. This implies that there are more patients with multiple diseases and health conditions like hypertension, diabetes, problems associated with the cardiovascular, renal and gastrointestinal systems, arthritis, osteoporosis, etc. All these require patients to be on certain medications. Furthermore, advancement in the dental field has led to more complex dental procedures (implants, grafts) being carried out in a general dental practice. These advanced and slightly more invasive treatments require the use of certain drugs before, during and after the treatment like local anesthetics, vasoconstrictors, anxiolytics, analgesics and antibiotics. All of these can possibly interact with medications a patient is already taking and can also interfere with the current dental treatment and create complications. This article aims to provide necessary information about commonly encountered systemic diseases and associated treating medications, their mechanism of action, possible complications and their management. The classes of drugs discussed include anti-platelet agents, vitamin K antagonists, novel oral anticoagulants, bisphosphonates, disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs and oral contraceptives.

Autism is a severe disorder affecting 1 in 160 children globally. Autism comprises of several development disabilities such as social, communicational and behavioural challenges. Children being diagnosed by the autism mainly face a hard time studying curriculum in inclusive classrooms based on their IQ level and the autism levels. Although, different strategies and learning teaching tools are available to support autistic children, only few systems aid them in learning efficiently, and are not highly interactive. Thus, the proposed Intelligent Education System primarily focuses on providing interactive learning experience to the autistic children with IQ level >50% and efficient teaching assistance to their tutors using augmented reality and machine learning in both English and Arabic The capability of the education system to perform an action, allows the autistic child to interact with the playable sand and gain interest. In learning stage, once the child scribbles on the sandbox, Kinect 3D camera captures and recognizes the drawn image. After the refinement and recognition of the image using OpenCV and classification model, the stored set of real world object are projected on the canvas. Besides, a webcam captures the facial expression of the child, and emotion detection algorithm determines the reaction of the child. Based on the child’s emotion, the current object is projected and pronounced three times to enforce better learning. Once the instructor chooses the language and character to be taught using the developed mobile application, the system displays it over the sandbox and further three objects that starts with the particular character are pronounced and projected. The system is tested rigorously with large set of users, and the results prove the efficiency of the system and happiness of the autistic children in better learning.

This prospective study on result of internal fixation of femoral shaft nonunion with implant failure by SIGN interlocking nail was carried out during the period of January 2009 to December 2016at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, Bangladesh. Mean age of the patient was 34 years (11-70 years), majority of the patients were male (76%), injury was due to high energy trauma (88%), right side involvement was more (68%).Closed exchange nailing was done in 28 cases (56%) and open nailing was done in 22 cases (44%). In the open cases previous implants were removed, refreshening of the fracture ends was done. Antegrade or retrograde SIGN interlocking nailing depend on the site involvement. Reaming materials were used as internal bone graft in all the cases. Autogenouscancellous bone graft was given in 5 cases due to comminution at fracture site (2 cases) and severe osteoporosis (3 cases). The final outcome satisfactory result was found in 44 (88%) cases and unsatisfactory result in 6 (12%) cases.TAJ 2017; 30(1): 11-16

The study was carried out to report the results of marginal resection in sacral chordoma using a posterior midline approach. The study was carried out between July 2008 to June 2016, there were 21 patients who underwent the operation. Fourteen patients were male and seven were female and age ranging from 28 and 76 years. All most of the patients presented with pain, sacral mass and neurological deficit. Total sacrectomy and bone reconstruction were carried out in 11 patients. Subtotal sacrectomy was carried out in the remaining ten patients. Patients were followed up for at least seven years. Recovery after the operation was good. Duration of operation ranged between three to six hours. Three to five units blood was transfused in all patients after operation .Bowel and bladder dysfunction were almost all patients. After surgery following local complications including infection and wound disruption occurs in three patients and seroma occurs in two patients. Three patients (14%) had tumor recurrence and one patient expired three years after operation. 18 patients were still tumor-free at long term (seven years) follow-up. Marginal resection of sacral chordoma through posterior approachcan be a management plan for sacral chordoma with acceptable results.TAJ 2017; 30(1): 21-26

Background : Expansive open-door laminoplasty is widely accepted as a reliable procedure for cervical myelopathy. However, one acknowledged complication is spring-back complication or closure of the door which may result in re-stenosis of cervical canal and neurologic deterioration. The study aimed for addressing our cervical open-door laminoplasty technique with plate and screw and subsequently the follow-up outcomes.Methods: Thirty consecutive patients who underwent open-door laminoplasty with the novel technique were included and followed for minimum 5 years from July 2011 to June 2016. Antero-posterior diameter (APD) of the vertebral canal of C4 was measured in lateral cervical radiographs. Neurologic scenarios were assessed using the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scores.Results: Twenty-five males (83.3%) and five (16.7%) females with an average follow-up of 68 months were enrolled. The preoperative APD was 13.22 mm (±1.15), whereas the postoperative APD increased to 31.23 mm (±2.43) with an expansion ratio of 136.23% (P < 0.05). The JOA score increased from 8.5 preoperatively to 13.45 postoperatively with a recovery rate of 58.2% (P < 0.05). The elevated laminas were maintained open during the follow-up period.Conclusions: Our technique with plate and screw for laminoplasty is a simple and efficient method for maintaining the decompression of cervical canal and neurologic improvement.TAJ 2016; 29(1): 33-38

Ewing's sarcoma is a primary bone malignancy with the highest incidence in the first decade of life. Although it mostly affects the diaphyseal as well as metaphysical region of growing long bones but involvement of spine is not very uncommon especially the sacrum. Nonsacral spinal Ewing's sarcoma is rarer and often mimics a benign condition before spreading extensively. They present with neurologic deficits due to spinal cord compression, but acute onset paraplegia is very rare.A high index of clinical suspicion can clinch the diagnosis early in the course of the disease. A prompt intervention is required to keep neurological damage to a minimum, and a correct combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy is required for better long-term patient outcome. We report a 15-years old male who presented with acute paraplegia and had an excellent postoperative outcome after posterior decompression of a D 11 Ewing's sarcoma.TAJ 2013; 26: 92-97

Aim The purpose for this study was to investigate and elucidate the relationships between the mandibular third molar and mandibular angle fractures. Materials and methods This retrospective study incorporated the presence, position and angulation of mandibular third molar and prevalence of fracture of angle of mandible among patients treated in Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia. The medical records were scanned and 427 patients with mandibular fractures from 2001 until 2016 were identified. Depending on the notes and various radiographic images, 77 of 427 patients had mandibular angle fracture. The presence or absence of impacted mandibular third molar was assessed for each patient that had angle fracture. In presence of impacted mandibular third molar, their position and angulation of the tooth were evaluated. The positions were classified using Pell and Gregory system while the angulations were classified using Winter's classification. Data were analysed using SPSS 22.0 system and applying a chi-square test. Results Among 77 patients with angle fracture, 67 (87%) had impacted mandibular third molar while 10 (13%) had no evidence of mandibular third molar. The incidence of mandibular angle fracture was found to be significantly greater when impacted third molar was present (P < 0.05). Conclusion The results of this study showed that the patients with impacted mandibular third molar have an increased risk of mandibular angle fracture compared to those without.

In Malaysia, oral cancer is very common and the reported 5-year survival of such patients is nearly 50% after treatment with surgery and radiotherapy, much lower than most of the developed countries. This study aimed to investigate the socio-demographic and clinicopathological parameters that influence the mortality rate of the patients suffering from oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) in the Kelantanse population.In this retrospective study, data regarding socio-demographic, clinicopathological factors, and treatment outcome associated with OSCC were gathered from the archives of the medical records office of Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia. For statistical analysis, simple and multiple logistic regression were performed. The significance level was set to P

Various iatrogenic mishaps can impede adequate biomechanical preparation of the root canal system. Instrument separation can be treated by orthograde retreatment, with or without instrument removal, endodontic surgery or extraction. The aim of this case report is to describe a minor surgical procedure to resect an infected root containing a separated instrument. A fractured instrument was detected in the mesiobuccal root of the maxillary first molar extending beyond the apex. This fractured instrument was serving as a niche for infection and formation of a sinus tract. The fractured instrument could not be retrieved through the root canal, hence the root canal was obturated up to the fractured instrument and the apical half of the mesiobuccal root was resected surgically. At the two years recall the clinical and radiographic outcome was considered favourable. CPD/Clinical Relevance: Endodontic surgery, while classically being considered as the last resort, becomes important when orthograde retreatment fails to remove the cause of persisting infection.

Auto-transplantation is the repositioning of an autogenously erupted, partially erupted, or unerupted tooth from one site to another in the same individual. The purpose of this case report is to describe the auto-transplantation of the mandibular third molars as an alternative means of replacing second molars requiring extraction. An orthopantomogram revealed horizontal impaction of teeth #37 and 47 and mesio-angular impaction of teeth #38 and 48. Cone beam computed tomography revealed that the roots of #37 and 47 were in close proximity to the inferior alveolar canal bilaterally. As atraumatic and complete removal of these two teeth was not possible, #38 and 48 were chosen as the donor teeth instead. The procedure was carried out under general anesthesia. Teeth #38 and 48 were extracted atraumatically; teeth #37 and 47 were pulled out by sectioning and transplant sites prepared. Teeth #38 and 48 were transplanted to the sites vacated by teeth #37 and 47, respectively. Endodontic treatment of teeth #38 and 48 was completed within 1 month following transplantation. Both clinical and radiographic outcomes were considered satisfactory at 1 year postoperatively. Bone healing was observed around the roots of teeth #38 and 48. In conclusion, although auto-transplantation is not very common in general dental practice, we believe that it offers a clinically and economically viable alternative to other complicated prosthetic and dental implant treatments.

Background: Anterior cervical discectomy with fusion (ACDF) is challenging with respect to both patient selection and choice of surgical procedure.Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcome of anterior cervical discectomy and fusion with an artificial cage made of polyetheretherketoneMaterials & Methods: From January 2012 to January 2017, 80 consecutive patients referred to the Department of spine surgery, Bangabandhu Shekh Mujib Medical University were recruited for the study. Postoperative Clinical outcome assessed with Nurick scale for myelopathy, Odom's criteria for functional outcome and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for both neck and arm pain. Radiological fusion was assessed by X-ray. Operative complications were reported.Results: 36 patients were operated for one level discectomy and fusion with PEEK cages and 44 patients for two levels. There were 48 (60%) males and 32 (40%) females. The age of the patients ranged from 30-72 years, a mean ± SD 45 ± 8.34. At the 2 years clinical follow-up, there were significant post operative improvements of Nurick scale, and VAS comparative to preoperative record. According to Odom's criteria, 72/80 patients (90%) were graded excellent-good.Conclusion: Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion with polyetheretherketone (PEEK) cage is an effective treatment of cervical myelopathy having higher fusion rate and lack of donor site morbidity.KYAMC Journal Vol. 9, No.-1, April 2018, Page 32-34

Background Neurological disorders are the most common cause of morbidity and mortality in developing countries. Available evidence on urban–rural differences on neurological diseases is scare in such countries. Our study objective was to determine the prevalence of neurological diseases in urban and rural tertiary care hospitals of Sindh, Pakistan. Methods This was a cross sectional study conducted in selected urban and rural region of tertiary care hospitals of Sindh, Pakistan. The outpatients medical records of adults (18 years and above) was obtained from January 1st, 2014 to December 31st, 2014. Results A total of 10,786 outpatients visit were recorded in this period. Mean age of the participants was 40.6 ± 15 years; majority was females 6104 (56.6%). About three-fourth of the patients were from rural hospital 7828 (72.6%). Common neurological diseases were headache disorders 3613 (33.4%), nerve and root lesion 2928 (27.1%), vascular diseases 1440 (13.3%), epilepsies 566 (5.2%), muscle disorders 424 (3.9%), psychiatric disorders 340 (3.1%) and CNS infection 303 (2.8%). Comparison between the urban and rural samples showed that ischaemic stroke (72.7% vs. 82%) and psychiatric disorders (2.1% vs. 3.5%) were more prevalent in rural area as compared to urban setting. Conclusion Stroke, headache and nerve and root lesion are major causes of neurological disorders in urban and rural settings of Sindh, Pakistan. The policy and planning must be focus on primary care, preventive measures and the promotion of health. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12883-019-1424-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Aim\ud \ud To identify and analyse the main features of the top 100 most‐cited randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews and meta‐analyses published in endodontic journals from 1961 to 2018.\ud \ud \ud Methodology\ud \ud The Clarivate Analytics’ Web of Science ‘All Databases’ was used to search and analyse the 100 most frequently cited randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews and meta‐analyses having ‘randomized’, ‘randomised’, ‘randomized controlled’, ‘randomised controlled’, ‘randomized controlled trial’, ‘randomized controlled trials’, ‘clinical trial’, ‘systematic’, ‘systematic review’, ‘meta‐analysis’, and ‘meta‐analyses’ in the title section. The ‘International Endodontic Journal’, ‘Journal of Endodontics’, ‘Oral Surgery Oral Medicine Oral Pathology Oral Radiology and Endodontology’, ‘Australian Endodontic Journal’, ‘Endodontics & Dental Traumatology’, ‘Endo‐Endodontic Practice Today’ and ‘European Endodontic Journal’ were included in the publication name section. After ranking the articles in a descending order based on their citation counts, each article was cross‐matched with the citation counts in Elsevier's Scopus and Google Scholar. The articles were analysed, and information on citation counts, citation density, year of publication, contributing authors, institutions and countries, journal of publication, study design, topic of the article and keywords was extracted.\ud \ud \ud Results\ud \ud The citation counts of the 100 most‐cited articles varied from 235 to 20 (Web of Science), 276 to 17 (Scopus) and 696 to 1 (Google Scholar). The year in which the top 100 articles were published was 2010 (n = 13). Among 373 authors, the greatest number of articles was associated with three individuals namely Reader A (n = 5), Beck M (n = 5) and Kvist T (n = 5). Most of the articles originated from the United States (n = 24) with the greatest contribution from Ohio State University (USA) (n = 5). Randomized controlled trials were the most frequent study design (n = 45) followed by systematic reviews (n = 30) with outcome studies of root canal treatment being the major topic (n = 35). The Journal of Endodontics published the largest number of included articles (n = 70) followed by the International Endodontic Journal (n = 27). Among 259 unique keywords, meta‐analysis (n = 23) and systematic review (n = 23) were the most frequently used. \ud \ud \ud Conclusion\ud \ud This study has revealed that year of publication had no obvious impact on citation count. The bibliometric analysis highlighted the quantity and quality of research, and the evolution of scientific advancements made in the field of Endodontology over time. Articles before 1996, that is prior to the CONSORT statement that encouraged authors to include specific terms in the title and keywords, may not have been included in this electronic search.

Aim To analyse the main characteristics of the top 50 most-cited articles published in the International Endodontic Journal from 1967 to 2018. Methodology The Clarivate Analytics' Web of Science 'All Databases', Elsevier's Scopus, Google Scholar and PubMed Central were searched to retrieve the 50 most-cited articles in the IEJ published from April 1967 to December 2018. The articles were analysed and information including number of citations, year of publication, contributing authors, institutions and countries, study design, study topic, impact factor and keywords was extracted. Results The number of citations of the 50 selected papers varied from 575 to 130 (Web of Science), 656 to164 (Elsevier's Scopus), 1354 to 199 (Google Scholar) and 123 to 3 (PubMed). The majority of papers were published in the year 2001 (n = 7). Amongst 102 authors, the greatest contribution was made by four contributors that included Gulabivala K (n = 4), Ng YL (n = 4), Pitt Ford TR (n = 4) and Wesselink PR (n = 4). The majority of papers originated from the United Kingdom (n = 8) with most contributions from King's College London Dental Institute (UK) and Eastman Dental Hospital, London. Reviews were the most common study design (n = 19) followed by Clinical Research (n = 16) and Basic Research (n = 15). The majority of topics covered by the most-cited articles were Outcome Studies (n = 9), Intracanal medicaments (n = 8), Endodontic microbiology (n = 7) and Canal instrumentation (n = 7). Amongst 76 unique keywords, Endodontics (n = 7), Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (MTA) (n = 7) and Root Canal Treatment (n = 7) were the most frequently used. Conclusion This is the first study to identify and analyse the top 50 most-cited articles in a specific professional journal within Dentistry. The analysis has revealed information regarding the development of the IEJ over time as well as scientific progress in the field of Endodontology.

Objective We aimed to assess the response and impact of covid 19 pandemic at tertiary care centers in Pakistan especially pertaining to neurological care, facilities and training. Methods A pre-tested survey form was sent to 40 neurology tertiary care centers in all the provinces in the country in the first week of July 2020. 33 filled forms were received, out of which 18 were public (government) and 15 were private hospitals. Results Estimated 1300 HCW (faculty, medical officers, trainees and nurses) work at these 33 participating centers. There were 17 deaths among HCW (1.3%) at ten centers. Sufficient personal protective equipment (PPE) were provided to 158 HCW (12%). 129 (10%)HCW tested positive for COVID 19 at 31 centers including trainees/medical officers (39), consultants (29) and nursing and other staff (61). Due to low neurology admissions, 23/33 hospitals (70%) posted neurology trainees in COVID 19 units to contribute to covid care. Less than 50% hospitals did covid screening PCR before admission to neurology wards. Only 10% hospitals provide training and regular update to HCW. Neurology tele-health services were started for clinically stable patients at 15 (45%) centers. Only 60% neurology training programs were able to start online training. Ongoing research studies and trials focusing neurological manifestations of COVID-19 were done at 10 (30%) centers. Modification of facilities for COVID patients showed that 24(72%) hospitals strictly reduced the number of attendants accompanying patients. Only 10 (30%) centers had neurophysiological tests being conducted on COVID-19 patients. Mental health support services to HCW were provided at 12 (36%) centers. Conclusions Among HCW 10% tested positive for covid and 1.3% died. Mental health support services offered for HCW were available in 36% institutions. Neurology training was substantially affected due to low admissions, limited ward rounds and limited availability of online training.

Introduction Currently, a number of treatment strategies are available to treat oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), but unfortunately, they are less than adequate in significantly ameliorating the condition. Hence new therapeutic approaches are required to address this issue. Here, we describe the in-vitro effect of Malaysian stingless-bee (Trigona itama) honey on a cell line derived from OSCC (HSC-2) and its feasibility as a chemotherapeutic agent to alleviate the condition. Methods HSC-2 cells were incubated with various concentrations of T. itama honey and appropriate controls, for 24, 48, and 72 h. Its cytotoxic effect was investigated using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, while the apoptotic effect was quantified using flow cytometric analysis. Results A dose dependent anti-proliferative response of T. itama honey on in-vitro HSC-2 cell growth was noted, with 50% growth inhibition (IC50) at 0.84% (v/v) concentration of honey, at 24 h. Cell shrinkage and apoptosis, as well as reduced proliferation of the HSC-2 cells were noted on light microscopic and flow cytometric evaluation. Conclusion This preliminary data, reported here for the first time, imply that T. itama honey may be a useful chemotherapeutic adjunct as an anticancer agent in managing oral squamous cell carcinomas.

Numerous studies have been conducted in the previous years with an objective to determine the ideal biomarker or set of biomarkers in temporomandibular disorders (TMDs). It was recorded that tumour necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin 8 (IL-8), IL-6, and IL-1 were the most common biomarkers of TMDs. As of recently, although the research on TMDs biomarkers still aims to find more diagnostic agents, no recent study employs the biomarker as a targeting point of pharmacotherapy to suppress the inflammatory responses. This article represents an explicit review on the biomarkers of TMDs that have been discovered so far and provides possible future directions towards further research on these biomarkers. The potential implementation of the interactions of TNF with its receptor 2 (TNFR2) in the inflammatory process has been interpreted, and thus, this review presents a new hypothesis towards suppression of the inflammatory response using TNFR2-agonist. Subsequently, this hypothesis could be explored as a potential pain elimination approach in patients with TMDs.

Ameloblastoma is a benign locally aggressive odontogenic epithelial neoplasm. It is slow growing tumour and mostly of benign behaviour. The most frequent location is at lower molar region and rarely involve upper jaw or maxillary sinus. Patients are usually asymptomatic until reaching a certain large size. Delayedtreatment is relatively common in our society. Patients mostly seek for treatment when a large tumour size is achieved. Herein we report a case due to its rarity, giant size, imaging challenge and management, which involves radical resection and free flap reconstruction.International Journal of Human and Health Sciences Vol. 04 No. 04 October’20 Page : 313-318

Although huge advances have been made in the field of medicine, fever of unknown origin (FUO) continues to be a significant health problem and an important cause of morbidity and mortality, especially in children. The aim of this study was to study current spectrum of FUO, newly emerging challenges and outcome of FUO. A prospective observational study was conducted over a 16 month period (May 2012-September 2013). 53 children aged 4 months to 15 years met the definition of FUO and were included. Children with known immunodeficiency disorders or other chronic disorders were excluded. A diagnosis was reached in 47 (88.7%) patients. Infections were the commonest cause accounting for FUO in 37 (69.8%) patients. Haematological disorders were found in 8 (15%) and autoimmune diseases in 2 (3.8%) patients. Among infections, the most common causes of FUO were tuberculosis (TB) (37.8%), enteric fever (29.7%), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) (8.1%) and brucellosis (8.1%). TB was extra-pulmonary in 11 cases and pulmonary in 3 cases. Amongst the haematological disorders, 3 patients had haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), 3 had leukemia, 1 had non-Hodgkin lymphoma and 1 had autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome. Juvenile idiopathic arthritis with systemic onset and polyarteritis nodosa accounted for the two cases of autoimmune disease. Elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were associated with an infectious etiology. Bone tenderness, thrombocytopenia and neutropenia predicted haematological malignancy. 1 patient of HLH died of complications during initial hospitalization and 3 other patients (1 HIV, 2 TB) died on follow up. TB, especially extrapulmonary, and enteric fever are still significant public health problems and were the commonest causes of FUO in our population. Due to advances in diagnostic facilities, some diseases like urinary tract infection (UTI) and hepatitis have become less common; however, other diseases like EBV have become more common causes of FUO. HLH is emerging as a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in FUO patients.

A 30-year-old male presented with diplopia for 20 days post occupational accident involving left side of his nose, while he was working with a nail gun. He was fully conscious and did not have any neurological deficits. Patient narrated the mechanism of injury and was sure that the nail fell down after hitting the left side of his nose. He had normal vision, but extra ocular movements were restricted and painful. Computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a curved metal object lodged in the posterior aspect of the left orbit extending diagonally from medial wall to the anterior-superior aspect of the orbital roof. The object was removed via a small surgical approach, inflicting least possible surgical trauma. Post surgery, the patient recovered with complete resolution of diplopia. The original aspects of this case are the lack of signs of a foreign body entry and its relative harmlessness in spite of its large size.