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Aim: The aim of the study attitudes and perceptions toward dental appearance differ among populations and individuals. There is a paucity of data regarding awareness of orthodontic treatment among village population in the Indian context. Materials and Methods: After due ethical clearance, a prestructured questionnaire consisting of twenty questions was given to random 500 patients visiting the School of Dental Sciences, Karad, Maharashtra, India, in the age group of 18–25 years, who may or may not have taken orthodontic treatment. Exclusion criteria used were systemically compromised patients. The responses of the patients to the questions were recorded on a 3-point Likert scale. Simple descriptive statistics were applied to describe the study variables. The Chi-square test procedure was used to compare means for two groups. Results: Chi square tests done on the data obtained from random village population suggests that there is significant difference between the awareness of orthodotnic treatment in males and females. Conclusion: Within limits of this study, it may be concluded that people in rural areas comparatively lack awareness regarding advances and various techniques in orthodontic treatment. Although people are concerned regarding their facial appearance, lack of awareness regarding this field makes them unapproachable to an orthodontist.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate and compare efficacy and tolerability of Vilazodone with Escitalopram and Amitriptyline in patients of major depressive disorder(MDD). METHODS: This was a randomized, prospective, parallel-group, open label clinical study in which newly diagnosed patients of MDD were randomized to receive Tab Vilazodone 20 mg daily or Tab Escitalopram 20mg daily or Tab Amitriptyline 75mg daily for 12 weeks. Antidepressant activity was assessed by change in score from baseline to week 12 on HAMD-17 and MADRS scales while change in score on HAM-A scale was used to assess antianxiety effect. Change in scores on the three scales was also compared between the three treatment groups. Severity and causality of adverse events were assessed by the modified Hartwig & Siegel scale and Naranjo scale respectively. Data was analyzed in accordance with per protocol analysis. RESULTS: Reduction in HAMD-17 and MADRS scores was significantly more in vilazodone group compared to the other two drugs indicating that vilazodone is more efficacious antidepressant. Number of remitters were also significantly more in the vilazodone group (n=11) compared to escitalopram (n=4) (p<0.05) and amitriptyline (n=0) (p<0.001) at 12 weeks. Similar results were also obtained with HAM-A score. Number of patients showing MADRS sustained response at 12 weeks was statistically significantly more in vilazodone (n=12) and escitalopram (n=12) groups compared to amitriptyline (n=01) (p<0.001). Reported adverse events were constipation and sedation(amitriptyline group); nausea and headache(escitalopram and vilazodone groups). These adverse events were of mild severity. Most adverse events belonged to probable category. CONCLUSION: Vilazodone is more efficacious and well tolerated antidepressant compared to escitalopram and amitriptyline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]