Objectives:The objective of the study was to determine whether plasma levels of white blood corpuscles (WBCs) and platelets were altered in patients with chronic periodontitis compared to healthy controls. Study Design:A total of 120 subjects, 60 with chronic periodontitis and 60 with healthy periodontium of age group 30-50 years were selected for the study. Oral hygiene status and pocket probing depth were measured. During clinical evaluation, venous blood samples were taken to analyze the WBC and platelet counts. Statistical analysis was utilized to compare differences across various groups. Results:The WBC count was higher in patients with chronic periodontitis when compared with controls whereas the platelet count was lower in the case group. Conclusions:Elevated WBC count plays a key role in chronic periodontitis and in turn a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. However, there is no significant role of platelets in periodontal infection even though it has a major role in atherogenesis. Key words:Periodontitis, white blood cells, platelets, cardiovascular diseases.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the maximum mesiodistal width of mandibular canines for establishing their variation as a tool to determine gender and to determine the accuracy of the measurements through clinical examination and dental cast models. Study design: A total of 60 subjects (30 males and 30 females) in the age group of 15-34 years were selected for the study. The maximum mesiodistal widths of the right and left mandibular canines were first measured intraorally and then on cast models of the same patients with the help of a divider and a digital vernier caliper. The collected data were subjected to statistical analysis and sexual dimorphism was calculated. Results: The mesiodistal width of the mandibular canines as determined by clinical examination and on plaster models was statistically insignificant. The mean canine widths were found to be higher in males when compared with females. The right mandibular canine showed a greater sexual dimorphism than the left mandibular canine. Conclusion: The present study established the mandibular canine as a valuable tool for sex determination.ª 2014 Hosting by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Forensic Medicine Authority.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the knowledge and awareness of dental postgraduate students regarding risk factors, signs of oral cancer, and treatment plan and post treatment complications. A questionnaire was given to the 450 dental postgraduate students of all specialties to various dental colleges in Andhra Pradesh. The questionnaire included 10 questions pertaining to knowledge about oral cancer, its risk factors, key symptoms, and treatment plan and post treatment complications. Majority of postgraduate students were aware that habits (94 %) were the main risk factor for most of oral cancer whereas 50 % of students were aware of clinical presentation of oral cancer and 67 % were confident about the proper treatment protocol. Majority of the postgraduate students were aware of the main risk factors. On the other hand, several aspects like clinical signs of oral cancer, treatment protocol, referrals, and post treatment complications need to be improved. Continuing dental education programs and workshops on oral cancer should be carried out to enhance the knowledge and awareness of the postgraduate students.

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This technique is not meant to replace conventional intraoral radiography. It is a useful supplementary aid to our clinical practice.

BACKGROUND: The involvement of liver in dengue fever is not uncommon as reported in literature since 1970. Liver and nervous system involvement simultaneously predicts poor outcome in dengue fever. Atypical manifestations include liver involvement with elevation of enzymes, central nervous involvement (encephalopathy) and cardiac alterations (myocarditis). Liver involvement in dengue fever is manifested by the elevation of transaminases representing reactive hepatitis, due to direct attack of virus itself or the use of hepatotoxic drugs. OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY: Study of serum aminotransferase levels in dengue fever. METHODOLOGY: In this descriptive, cross sectional study, all patients who presented to the Department of medicine with dengue IgM positive were included. Study period of 24 months from July 2010-June 2012, patients attending to M.S. Ramaiah medical college were included (n=166). RESULTS: 166 patients reactive for dengue virus specific IgM antibody were studied. As per WHO classification, 137 (82.5%) patients were classified as dengue fever, 20 (12%) as dengue hemorrhagic fever, and 9 (5.4%) as dengue shock syndrome. Mean age of dengue infection patients was 35.71 ±12.9 (SD) years, with male to female ratio nearly equal. Hepatic dysfunction is very common in all forms of dengue infection, with AST rising significantly more than ALT. Serum aminotransferase levels appear to have a directly proportional correlation with grading of dengue infection. Hyperbilirubinemia, elevated transaminases, hypoproteinemia, hypoalbuminemia and deranged coagulation profile were seen in higher frequency in DHF and DSS group as compared to classical DF group. AST and ALT were significantly higher in patients with secondary infection (IgM & IgG positive) as compared to primary infection (IgM positive). CONCLUSION: Serum aminotransferase levels are significantly raised in all forms of dengue infection and it directly correlates with severity of infection. Serum aspartate aminotransferase was significantly raised compared to alanine aminotransferase levels in all forms of dengue infection. The degree of affection of serum albumin and prothrombin time which are absolute indicators of liver cell function correlated with severity of dengue infection.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES:Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis (R.A.) have a marked increase in Carotid Atherosclerosis independent of traditional risk factors like family history of myocardial infarction in first degree male relatives younger than 55 years of age or first degree female relatives younger than 65 years of age, smoking, hypertension (Defined as blood pressure of 140/90 mm hg or higher), diabetes mellitus and fasting serum cholesterol levels including age.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES:Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction is known to occur in early stages of diabetic cardiomyopathy but its exact prevalence is not known. The present study was conducted to assess the prevalence of diastolic dysfunction in diabetic patients in the absence of hypertension or CAD. The role of valsalva maneuver in diagnosis of diastolic dysfunction was also studied. AIMS: To study left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in asymptomatic normotensive patients with Type 2 Diabetes. To study the role of valsalva maneuver in diagnosing diastolic dysfunction. METHODOLOGY: 100 consecutive asymptomatic normotensive patients (mean age 52.34 ±8.6 yrs.) with Type 2 diabetes free of any major clinical diabetic complications and having no evidence of CAD on non-invasive testing were studied for LV diastolic functions, using pulsed Doppler at the tip of mitral valve. The peak velocities of LV filling during the early rapid (E wave) and atrial contraction (A wave) phases, the ratio of the 2 filling velocities (E/A ratio) were recorded at end expiration at baseline and again during phase II of valsalva maneuver. RESULTS: LVDD was found in 54% of subjects of whom 11% had pseudo normal pattern of ventricular filling and 43% had impaired relaxation. LVDD was well correlated with age and duration of diabetes. CONCLUSION: LVDD is much more common in Type 2 diabetes who are free of clinically detectable heart disease. Pseudonormal pattern may account for a significant number of patients with diastolic dysfunction and failure to recognize it may lead to significant underestimation of the true prevalence of LVDD in these patients.