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Diasporic women maintain links to the homeland by recreating traditional recipes. They also assimilate and adapt through their foodways. The diasporic food memoir has emerged as a unique medium for redefining and renegotiating the domestic and professional roles of women. Food is used in a multitude of ways, by women, in order to exercise power, control, and agency. Padma Lakshmi’s Love, Loss and What We Ate delves into the complexities of navigating through and reminiscing about life vis-à-vis the food one eats. Lakshmi gives voice to her bodily struggles, experiences with racial prejudice and showcases how being a celebrity chef has enabled her to create food content that problematizes simplistic understandings of both American and Indian cuisines. This paper argues that food gives Lakshmi a subversive voice to explore the biases and stereotypes implicit in being an Indian-American celebrity chef. It investigates how the culinary space facilitates a nuanced conversation regarding exoticization and marginalization of women from the Indian diaspora. Food enables Lakshmi to explore and enunciate femininity and individuality. Using feminist food criticism, we illustrate how food and recipes become a metaphor for the diasporic self and showcase the evolution of an Indian-American woman. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Tobacco consumption is a significant public health challenge, particularly among young adults. Despite the presence of anti-tobacco laws and control measures, awareness and compliance remain suboptimal. This study aims to assess the awareness, knowledge, and perceptions regarding anti-tobacco laws among young adults, along with their attitudes towards potential interventions for effective tobacco control. Materials andMethods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 500 young adults aged 18-25 years across colleges and public spaces in a metropolitan city. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data on participants' awareness of anti-tobacco laws, knowledge of the harmful effects of tobacco, and their perceptions of intervention strategies. The questionnaire included multiple-choice and Likert-scale questions. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests to assess the association between awareness levels and demographic factors. Results Out of the 500 participants, 65% (n=325) were aware of the existence of anti-tobacco laws, but only 40% (n=200) could recall specific provisions like the ban on smoking in public places. Approximately 58% (n=290) recognized the significance of warning labels on tobacco products. However, only 30% (n=150) were aware of penalties for violations of these laws. Participants indicated a strong preference (75%, n=375) for educational campaigns over punitive measures for effective tobacco control. Awareness levels were significantly higher among urban participants compared to those from semi-urban areas (p < 0.05). Conclusion The findings suggest that while awareness of anti-tobacco laws is moderate among young adults, there are gaps in specific knowledge about legal provisions. Educational interventions, including awareness campaigns and peergroup initiatives, are likely to be more effective than punitive measures in promoting tobacco control. There is a need for collaborative efforts involving policymakers, educational institutions, and healthcare professionals to enhance the reach and impact of anti-tobacco programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Smoking is a significant risk factor for periodontal disease and can influence the host's immune response. Salivary cytokines are biomarkers that reflect the inflammatory status in periodontal conditions. Non-surgical periodontal therapy (NSPT) has been shown to improve periodontal health, but its effect on salivary cytokine expression in smokers remains underexplored. This study aims to evaluate the changes in salivary cytokine levels after NSPT in smokers over a clinical follow-up period. Materials and Methods: A total of 40 smokers with moderate to severe chronic periodontitis were included in the study. Participants underwent NSPT, which included scaling and root planing. Saliva samples were collected at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months post-therapy. The levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α) and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10) were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Periodontal clinical parameters, including probing pocket depth (PPD) and clinical attachment level (CAL), were recorded at each follow-up. Results: At 3 months, there was a significant reduction in the levels of IL-1β (from 20.5 ± 2.4 pg/mL to 14.3 ± 1.8 pg/mL, p<0.05) and TNF-α (from 18.7 ± 2.3 pg/mL to 12.6 ± 1.9 pg/mL, p<0.05), along with an increase in IL-10 levels (from 5.2 ± 0.7 pg/mL to 8.9 ± 1.0 pg/mL, p<0.05). By 6 months, further reductions in IL-1β and TNF-α were observed (12.1 ± 1.5 pg/mL and 10.2 ± 1.3 pg/mL, respectively), while IL-10 levels continued to rise (10.5 ± 1.2 pg/mL, p<0.05). Improvements in periodontal parameters, with PPD reduced from 5.6 ± 0.5 mm at baseline to 3.2 ± 0.4 mm at 6 months, were also noted. Conclusion: NSPT significantly reduces pro-inflammatory salivary cytokines and enhances anti-inflammatory cytokine levels in smokers with periodontitis. These findings suggest that NSPT not only improves clinical periodontal outcomes but also modulates the local inflammatory response in smokers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dental caries remains a prevalent issue, particularly in children from low-income families, where social, environmental, and behavioral risk factors contribute to poor oral health outcomes. Approximal contacts between teeth are often sites where caries develop, but the relationship between different contact types and caries progression in this population remains understudied. This pilot study aims to explore the associations between various risk factors, including approximal contact types, and the development of dental caries in children from low-income families. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional pilot study included 100 children aged 6-12 years from low-income households. Data were collected through oral health examinations, parent questionnaires, and a review of dental records. Approximal contact types were classified into three categories: open, closed, and tight contacts, based on clinical examination and radiographs. The prevalence of dental caries was assessed using the DMFT (Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth) index. Additional risk factors, such as oral hygiene practices, dietary habits, and parental education, were also examined. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data, and logistic regression was applied to assess associations between risk factors and dental caries. Results: Of the 100 children, 72% had at least one carious lesion, with a mean DMFT score of 4.2 ± 1.5. Children with tight approximal contacts had a significantly higher prevalence of caries (84%) compared to those with open (62%) and closed contacts (70%) (p < 0.05). Poor oral hygiene practices were reported in 58% of the children, and 67% of the parents had low educational attainment. The logistic regression model identified tight approximal contacts (OR: 1.8, 95% CI: 1.2-2.7), frequent sugar consumption (OR: 2.5, 95% CI: 1.6-3.8), and inadequate tooth brushing (OR: 2.0, 95% CI: 1.4-2.9) as significant predictors of dental caries. Conclusion: This pilot study suggests that tight approximal contacts, combined with poor oral hygiene and dietary habits, are significant risk factors for dental caries in children from low-income families. Early interventions focusing on oral hygiene education and dietary modifications, along with regular dental check-ups, may help reduce the prevalence of caries in this vulnerable population. Further large-scale studies are required to validate these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Oral health plays a vital role in general well-being, especially among children. In rural areas, limited access to dental care and education often leads to poor oral hygiene and an increased prevalence of dental caries. This study aims to assess the oral hygiene practices and caries experience among school-leaving children in a rural area, highlighting the relationship between oral habits and dental health outcomes. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 200 school-leaving children aged 12-16 years in a rural area. Data on oral hygiene practices, including frequency of brushing, use of fluoride toothpaste, and visits to the dentist, were collected using a structured questionnaire. Dental caries experience was evaluated through clinical examination, where the DMFT (Decayed, Missing, Filled Teeth) index was used as an indicator of caries prevalence. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS, and the significance of various practices was determined with chisquare and t-tests. Results: The results indicated that 60% of children brushed their teeth once daily, 25% brushed twice, and 15% brushed irregularly. About 50% of the children used fluoride toothpaste, and only 20% visited a dentist regularly. The mean DMFT score was 3.5 ± 1.2, with 65% of children having experienced dental caries. Children who brushed twice daily and used fluoride toothpaste had significantly lower DMFT scores (p < 0.05) compared to those with poor oral hygiene practices. Conclusion: The study demonstrates a high prevalence of dental caries among school-leaving children in the rural area, largely associated with inadequate oral hygiene practices. Regular tooth brushing with fluoride toothpaste and dental visits were significantly linked to reduced caries experience. Efforts should be made to improve oral health awareness and access to dental care in rural communities to promote better oral hygiene and reduce caries risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DHTKD1 is a nuclear gene that encodes "dehydrogenase E1 and transketolase domain-containing 1", essential in mitochondrial metabolism. First identified in the patients of 2-amino-apidic and 2 oxoapidic aciduria, mutation in this gene has recently been implicated in CMT2Q and ALS. Here we report the case of a septuagenarian who presented with a 2 years progressive history of respiratory and neck muscle weakness without significant bulbar and limb involvement. Clinical and electrophysiological examination revealed lower motor neuron involvement with widespread chronic denervation and reinnervation. Clinical exome sequencing revealed a heterozygous nonsense variant in exon 8 of the DHTKD1 gene, which was previously described in CMT2Q. This report highlights the pleotropic phenotypic presentation of DHTKD1 mutation and the need for genetic testing even in sporadic cases of ALS presenting at a later age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The placement of recipes in a food memoir serves the unique function of contextualising a life story against culture, tradition, and history. They serve as a form of self-expression that looks at life in its entirety through an amalgamation of the material and abstract aspects of existence. For women in the diaspora, recipes not only enable them to maintain a link to the homeland through the preservation and perpetuation of foodways but also serve as a medium to adapt to the new country. Bengali-American historian and writer Chitrita Banerji's A Taste of My Life: A Memoir in Essays and Recipes (2021) is structured as a three-course meal and uses recipes to frame liminal moments of existence. The food memoir traces the arc of Banerji's life over seven decades--from her childhood in India, to her student life in the US, followed by married life in Bangladesh and culminates with her mature years spent dividing her time between the US and India. Banerji reconstructs her life through the food that has defined her with the recipes providing a structure for her transnational life that spans years and continents; they provide unity and coherence across space and time. This paper argues that the inclusion of recipes helps Banerji in constructing an identity that takes the whole gamut of her experiences into account. The recipes show her journey from dislocation to relocation and provide the scaffolding for the construction of a self that is reconciled and empowered. Banerji's recipes articulate the way in which food anchors her, provides the impetus for her growth and gives her the means to reflect on life with a certain resolve tempered with a hint of nostalgia. Through her narrative we see how a recipe borrows as well as adapts, preserves as well as modifies. There is replication as well as recreation in a recipe, which is similar to a diaspora individual balancing assimilation with adaptation. Every recipe reveals a new facet of her identity and is crucial in her understanding of the self in relation to others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]