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To assess the knowledge of drugs in first year BDS students during the course of their study. Online survey form was used to conduct the survey among 94 first year dental students in a Manav Rachna Dental College, a private dental college in north India. The students' responses were obtained in an online survey form which consisted of 16 questions which were related to the knowledge of drugs. Out of 94 students who completed the survey, 92.6% and 75.5% know the names of paracetamol and aspirin respectively. Antibiotics do not cure viral infections was reported by 59.6% of the students, whereas 85.1% reported that antibiotics treat bacterial infections and should be given in recommended dosage. 26.6% of the students report that antibiotics can be prescribed for pain, however 96.8% are aware that penicillin was the first antibiotic. 54.3% would consult a doctor in case of fever, but 38.3% would opt for self-medication. 71.3% of the students report that drugs are used for both prevention and cure of diseases. The results of the study lead to important facts which can be incorporated by the faculty involved in teaching Pharmacology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few data are available on interspecific elasmobranch interactions during predation events. This report describes and discusses empirical data from a single event in which four sharks (species:Carcharhinus leucas, Galeocerdo cuvier, Sphyrna mokarranandCarcharhinus perezi) competed for foraging opportunities on a fifth shark (C. perezi) caught on an experimental longline. Analysis of video footage suggested competition was enforced without agonistic behaviour and access to the resource was not governed by size. The singularity of the data set and the artificiality of the situation limit the strength of the conclusions. The rarity of such an observation warrants, however, a published description of the event to provide an example of the behaviour of apex predator interactions in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The classical approach to management of intestinal hemorrhage due to typhoid ulceration has been conservative. In, however, the event of massive, persistent and life-threatening hemorrhage not responding to conservative measures, early surgical intervention is life-saving, controls typhoid toxemia rapidly and presents no special difficulties. A right hemicoleclomy is recommended. Four such patients treated by us with bowel resection have had an uneventful recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bakery products have gained prominence in modern diets due to their convenience and accessibility, often serving as staple meals across diverse regions. However, the fats used in these products are rich in saturated fatty acids and often comprise trans fatty acids, which are considered as a major biomarker for non-communicable diseases like cardiovascular disorders, obesity and diabetes. Additionally, these fats lack the essential omega-3 fatty acids, which are widely known for their therapeutic benefits. They play a major role in lowering the risk of cardiovascular diseases, cancer and diabetes. Thus, there is need for incorporating these essential fatty acids into bakery fats. Nevertheless, fortifying food products with polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) poses several challenges due to their high susceptibility to oxidation. This oxidative deterioration leads to not only the formation of undesirable flavors, but also a loss of nutritional value in the final products. This review focuses on the development of healthier trans-fat-free bakery fat enriched with omega-3 fatty acids and its effect on the physicochemical, functional, sensory and nutritional properties of bakery fats and products. Further, the role of various technologies like physical blending, enzymatic interesterification and encapsulation to improve the stability of PUFA-rich bakery fat is discussed, where microencapsulation emerged as a novel and effective technology to enhance the stability and shelf life. By preventing deteriorative changes, microencapsulation ensures that the nutritional, physicochemical and sensory properties of food products remain intact. Novel modification methods like interesterification and microencapsulation used for developing PUFA-rich bakery fats have a potential to address the health risks occurring due to consumption of bakery fat having higher amount of saturated and trans fatty acids. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.)

Industrial waste products derived from the oil industry often contain valuable substances and elements with great potential. These by-products can be used for various purposes, including as nutrients, bioactive compounds, fuels, and polymers. Linseed mucilage (LM) is one such example of a beneficial by-product obtained from linseed. It possesses favorable chemical and functional properties, depending on its method of extraction. Different pretreatments, such as enzymatic extraction, microwave-assisted extraction, pulse electric field, and ultrasound-assisted extraction, have been explored by various researchers to enhance both the yield and quality of mucilage. Furthermore, LM has exhibited therapeutic effects in the treatment of obesity, diabetes, constipation, hyperlipidemia, cancer, and other lifestyle diseases. Additionally, it demonstrates favorable functional characteristics that make it suitable to be used in bioplastic production. These properties preserve food quality, prolong shelf life, and confer antimicrobial activity. It also has the potential to be used as a packaging material, especially considering the increasing demand for sustainable and biodegradable alternatives to plastics because of their detrimental impact on environmental health. This review primarily focuses on different extraction techniques used for linseed mucilage, its mechanism of action in terms of health benefits, and potential applications in food packaging., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Chand, Chopra, Talwar, Homroy, Singh, Dhiman and Payyunni.)

Omega-3 fatty acids (omega-3 FAs) have been widely recognized for their therapeutic advantages, including anti-inflammatory and cardioprotective properties. They have shown promise in enhancing regulatory function, promotingdevelopment and mitigating the progression of diabetes and cancer. The scientific communities, along with industries, are actively endorsing initiatives aimed at increasing the daily intake of lipids rich in omega-3 FAs. Nevertheless, incorporating polyunsaturated FAs (PUFAs) into food products poses several challenges due to their susceptibility to oxidation when exposed to oxygen, high temperatures, and moisture. This oxidative deterioration results in undesirable flavours and a loss of nutritional value. Various methods, including physical blending, interesterification, and encapsulation, have been utilized as ways to enhance the stability of edible oils rich in PUFA against oxidation. Encapsulation has emerged as a proven strategy for enhancing the oxidative stability and functional properties of omega-3 FA-rich oils. Multiple encapsulation methods have been developed to stabilize and improve the delivery of omega-3 FAs in food products. The selection of an appropriate encapsulation method depends on the desired application of the encapsulated oil. In addition, encapsulation enhances the bioavailability of omega-3 FAs by promoting increased absorption of the encapsulated form in the intestinal epithelium. This review discusses the techniques and principles of omega-3 FA-rich oil encapsulation and its role in improving stability and bioavailability. Furthermore, it also investigates the potential health benefits of these encapsulated oils. This review explores the variations in bioavailability based on encapsulation techniques and processing, offering vital insights for nutrition and product development., (© 2023 Institute of Food Technologists®.)

Objective: This randomized controlled trial aimed to evaluate the role of fixed orthodontic treatment in the aggravation, precipitation, or alleviation of temporomandibular disorders in young adults., Methods: Sixty patients were randomly assigned to 4 groups of 15 patients each (group I, orthodontic treatment in temporomandibular disorder-free orthodontic patients; group II, orthodontic treatment in patients with mild symptoms of temporomandibular disorders; group III, splint therapy accompanied by orthodontic treatment in patients with moderate symptoms; and group IV, control with no treatment). The biometric equipment used were the T-scan, to analyze the occlusal component; the BioEMG for muscular analysis; BioJVA for temporomandibular joint acoustic analysis; and JT3D for mandibular kinematic analysis. The paired t-test and ANOVA were used for intragroup and intergroup comparisons, respectively. The difference between groups was assessed using post hoc Tukey's test., Results: Groups I and III showed significant difference in the occlusal, muscular, temporomandibular joint vibration, and kinematic mandibular assessment variables. Group II showed significant improvement in occlusal variables only. Group IV did not show improvement in any of the variables except for certain muscular components., Conclusion: Successful practical utilization of biometric equipment revealed that fixed orthodontic treatment does not aggravate temporomandibular disorders. It was also found that temporomandibular disorders due to malocclusion can be treated successfully with orthodontic treatment, whereas temporomandibular disorders due to multifactorial temporomandibular joint and muscular components might require splint therapy before orthodontic intervention.

Quantifying changes in blood chemistry in elasmobranchs can provide insights into the physiological insults caused by anthropogenic stress, and can ultimately inform conservation and management strategies. Current methods for analysing elasmobranch blood chemistry in the field are often costly and logistically challenging. We compared blood pH values measured using a portable, waterproof pH meter (Hanna Instruments HI 99161) with blood pH values measured by an i-STAT system (CG4+ cartridges), which was previously validated for teleost and elasmobranch fishes, to gauge the accuracy of the pH meter in determining whole blood pH for the Cuban dogfish ( Squalus cubensis ) and lemon shark ( Negaprion brevirostris ). There was a significant linear relationship between values derived via the pH meter and the i-STAT for both species across a wide range of pH values and temperatures (Cuban dogfish: 6.8-7.1 pH 24-30°C; lemon sharks: 7.0-7.45 pH 25-31°C). The relative error in the pH meter's measurements was ~±2.7%. Using this device with appropriate correction factors and consideration of calibration temperatures can result in both a rapid and accurate assessment of whole blood pH, at least for the two elasmobranch species examined here. Additional species should be examined in the future across a wide range of temperatures to determine whether correction factors are universal.

Purpose: This study aimed to compare the short-term efficacy of 0.1% nepafenac with that of 0.4% ketorolac tromethamine in patients with low risk factors for cystoid macular edema (CME) undergoing phacoemulsification., Design: A prospective, randomized, parallel-assignment efficacy trial., Methods: Two hundred eyes of 200 patients were randomized into 2 groups, one receiving nepafenac and the other receiving ketorolac perioperatively. Primary outcome measures were change in central macular thickness (CMT) at the 30th postoperative day and the incidence of possible subclinical CME (increase in CMT of >10 and >40 μm from baseline) on ocular coherence tomography (OCT). Secondary outcomes measured were the incidence of definite subclinical CME on OCT (>40 μm increase in CMT from baseline) and clinically significant CME at 1-month follow-up. A subgroup analysis of diabetic and hypertensive patients included in the study was made postoperatively., Results: Difference in CMT at 1 month (P = 0.43) and presence of possible subclinical CME (P = 0.18) were comparable in both groups. The incidence of possible subclinical CME was 22.7%. None of the patients developed clinical CME or definite subclinical CME. In the diabetic subgroup, nepafenac showed significantly less CMT difference than ketorolac did at 1 week after the operation (P = 0.04) but not at 1 month (P = 0.09)., Conclusions: Postoperative macular thickening after cataract surgery in eyes with low CME risk is similar with nepafenac and ketorolac. A larger population of diabetic patients should be studied to verify any beneficial effect of nepafenac on this subgroup.

We have previously reported low concentrations of plasma ascorbate and low dietary vitamin C intake in the older Indian population and a strong inverse association of these with cataract. Little is known about ascorbate levels in aqueous humor and lens in populations habitually depleted of ascorbate and no studies in any setting have investigated whether genetic polymorphisms influence ascorbate levels in ocular tissues. Our objectives were to investigate relationships between ascorbate concentrations in plasma, aqueous humor and lens and whether these relationships are influenced by Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) in sodium-dependent vitamin C transporter genes (SLC23A1 and SLC23A2). We enrolled sixty patients (equal numbers of men and women, mean age 63 years) undergoing small incision cataract surgery in southern India. We measured ascorbate concentrations in plasma, aqueous humor and lens nucleus using high performance liquid chromatography. SLC23A1 SNPs (rs4257763, rs6596473) and SLC23A2 SNPs (rs1279683 and rs12479919) were genotyped using a TaqMan assay. Patients were interviewed for lifestyle factors which might influence ascorbate. Plasma vitamin C was normalized by a log10 transformation. Statistical analysis used linear regression with the slope of the within-subject associations estimated using beta (β) coefficients. The ascorbate concentrations (μmol/L) were: plasma ascorbate, median and inter-quartile range (IQR), 15.2 (7.8, 34.5), mean (SD) of aqueous humor ascorbate, 1074 (545) and lens nucleus ascorbate, 0.42 (0.16) (μmol/g lens nucleus wet weight). Minimum allele frequencies were: rs1279683 (0.28), rs12479919 (0.30), rs659647 (0.48). Decreasing concentrations of ocular ascorbate from the common to the rare genotype were observed for rs6596473 and rs12479919. The per allele difference in aqueous humor ascorbate for rs6596473 was -217 μmol/L, p < 0.04 and a per allele difference in lens nucleus ascorbate of -0.085 μmol/g, p < 0.02 for rs12479919. The β coefficients for the regression of log10 plasma ascorbate on aqueous humor ascorbate were higher for the GG genotype of rs6596473: GG, β = 1460 compared to carriage of the C allele, CG, β = 1059, CC, β = 1132, p interaction = 0.1. In conclusion we found that compared to studies in well-nourished populations, ascorbate concentrations in the plasma, aqueous humor and lens nucleus were low. We present novel findings that polymorphisms in SLC23A1/2 genes influenced ascorbate concentration in aqueous humor and lens nucleus., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Purpose of Review: Determining the optimal timing for placing a gastrostomy in patients undergoing treatment for head and neck cancer involves complex decision making and multifactorial analysis. Lack of high-quality studies with appropriate end points for nutritional outcomes and heterogeneity of patient, clinical and organizational factors makes determining best practice nutritional care challenging. This review provides a background rationale for gastrostomy placement and evaluates the relevant literature extending beyond the past 12 months due to limited numbers of published studies. Emerging concepts and controversies are highlighted to demonstrate that the decision to place a gastrostomy or not has eclipsed the significance of patients' nutritional needs leading to much debate and inconsistencies in clinical practice., Recent Findings: While the optimal method of tube feeding remains unclear due to challenges with study design, improved outcomes have been demonstrated with prophylactic tube feeding. Variation exists with selection criteria in the decision for gastrostomy placement based on clinical opinion rather than evidence-based practice. Gastrostomy use as a measure of swallowing outcomes and the presence of a feeding tube for quality of life (QOL) have led to the concept of gastrostomy dependency and a perceived association with poorer outcomes. The multidimensional contributors have been inadequately explored leaving this phenomenon poorly defined and misinterpreted. Best practice nutritional care incorporates malnutrition screening and nutritional assessment using validated tools, early referral to the dietitian and ongoing monitoring to optimize nutritional status throughout the patient's entire care pathway., Summary: The decision for timing of gastrostomy placement should be made at diagnosis given the benefits of prophylactic tube feeding. Accountability for insertion and removal of gastrostomies with alignment of services will facilitate risk assessment, appropriate placement, effective patient counselling and monitoring for major and minor complications. Nutritional outcomes need to be distinguished from swallowing and QOL measures and evaluated to include effects on nutritional status, gastrostomy complications, intensity and frequency of dietetic support and effect on survival.

Objective: We investigated whether previously reported single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of EPHA2 in European studies are associated with cataract in India., Methods: We carried out a population-based genetic association study. We enumerated randomly sampled villages in two areas of north and south India to identify people aged 40 and over. Participants attended a clinical examination including lens photography and provided a blood sample for genotyping. Lens images were graded by the Lens Opacification Classification System (LOCS III). Cataract was defined as a LOCS III grade of nuclear ≥4, cortical ≥3, posterior sub-capsular (PSC) ≥2, or dense opacities or aphakia/pseudophakia in either eye. We genotyped SNPs rs3754334, rs7543472 and rs11260867 on genomic DNA extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes using TaqMan assays in an ABI 7900 real-time PCR. We used logistic regression with robust standard errors to examine the association between cataract and the EPHA2 SNPs, adjusting for age, sex and location., Results: 7418 participants had data on at least one of the SNPs investigated. Genotype frequencies of controls were in Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium (p>0.05). There was no association of rs3754334 with cataract or type of cataract. Minor allele homozygous genotypes of rs7543472 and rs11260867 compared to the major homozygote genotype were associated with cortical cataract, Odds ratio (OR) = 1.8, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) (1.1, 3.1) p = 0.03 and 2.9 (1.2, 7.1) p = 0.01 respectively, and with PSC cataract, OR = 1.5 (1.1, 2.2) p = 0.02 and 1.8 (0.9, 3.6) p = 0.07 respectively. There was no consistent association of SNPs with nuclear cataract or a combined variable of any type of cataract including operated cataract., Conclusions: Our results in the Indian population agree with previous studies of the association of EPHA2 variants with cortical cataracts. We report new findings for the association with PSC which is particularly prevalent in Indians.

Purpose: To describe the prevalence of cataract in older people in 2 areas of north and south India., Design: Population-based, cross-sectional study., Participants: Randomly sampled villages were enumerated to identify people aged ≥ 60 years. Of 7518 enumerated people, 78% participated in a hospital-based ophthalmic examination., Methods: The examination included visual acuity measurement, dilatation, and anterior and posterior segment examination. Digital images of the lens were taken and graded by type and severity of opacity using the Lens Opacity Classification System III (LOCS III)., Main Outcome Measures: Age- and gender-standardized prevalence of cataract and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). We defined type of cataract based on the LOCS III grade in the worse eye of: ≥ 4 for nuclear cataract, ≥ 3 for cortical cataract, and ≥ 2 for posterior subcapsular cataract (PSC). Any unoperated cataract was based on these criteria or ungradable dense opacities. Any cataract was defined as any unoperated or operated cataract., Results: The prevalence of unoperated cataract in people aged ≥ 60 was 58% in north India (95% CI, 56-60) and 53% (95% CI, 51-55) in south India (P = 0.01). Nuclear cataract was the most common type: 48% (95% CI, 46-50) in north India and 38% (95% CI, 37-40) in south India (P<0.0001); corresponding figures for PSC were 21% (95% CI, 20-23) and 17% (95% CI, 16-19; P = 0.003), respectively, and for cortical cataract 7.6% (95% CI, 7-9) and 10.2% (95% CI, 9-11; P<0.004). Bilateral aphakia/pseudophakia was slightly higher in the south (15.5%) than in the north (13.2%; P<0.03). The prevalence of any cataracts was similar in north (73.8%) and south India (71.8%). The prevalence of unoperated cataract increased with age and was higher in women than men (odds ratio [OR], 1.8). Aphakia/pseudophakia was also more common in women, either unilateral (OR, 1.2; P<0.02) or bilateral (OR, 1.3; P<0.002)., Conclusions: We found high rates of unoperated cataract in older people in north and south India. Posterior subcapsular cataract was more common than in western studies. Women had higher rates of cataract, which was not explained by differential access to surgery., (Copyright © 2011 American Academy of Ophthalmology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To report the incidence of postoperative endophthalmitis at a high-volume eye hospital in southern India using a modified cost-effective sterilization protocol., Setting: Aravind Eye Hospital and Post Graduate Institute of Ophthalmology, Pondicherry, India., Methods: In this retrospective observational series at a single eye hospital, records of patients who had cataract surgery using a modified sterilization protocol from January 2007 through August 2008 and developed postoperative endophthalmitis within the first 3 postoperative months were drawn from a computerized database. The patient's socioeconomic status, the surgeon's experience, and the type of cataract procedure performed were analyzed as possible risk factors using the chi-square test/Fischer exact test., Results: During the study period, 42426 cataract surgeries were performed. From these, 38 cases of presumed postoperative endophthalmitis were identified (incidence 0.09%). Thirty-five of the 38 cases were in the manual large- and small-incision extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) group, which had a statistically higher rate than the phacoemulsification group (P = .016). There was no statistical difference in the endophthalmitis rates between private patients and charity patients for either surgical method (manual ECCE or phacoemulsification)., Conclusions: The modified sterilization and asepsis protocol adopted to facilitate high-volume cataract surgery in a clinical setting appeared to be safe and effective in preventing postsurgical endophthalmitis. Despite a 3:1 ratio of manual ECCE to phacoemulsification and the elimination of certain traditional sterilization practices, the rate of endophthalmitis in this generally underserved patient population with multiple risk factors for infection was comparable to that reported in other modern settings.

Acute necrotising colitis and perforation of the colon due to amebic infection is usually fatal. Only three patients in the present series of nine survived surgery. Preoperative diagnosis was not possible and because of an extremely friable, blotting paper like colon, this condition was only suspected at laparotomy. Examination of ulcer scrapings for the presence of Entamoeba histolytica or histopathology is confirmatory. Resection anastomosis is mandatory as less extensive local procedures or bypass surgery are not always feasible.