Background: the efficiency of the diagnostic aids plays an important role in the treatment plan. This study aims to assess the diagnostic accuracy of dental pulse oximeter with a customized sensor holder, thermal test and electric pulp tester in assessing the actual pulp status and to evaluate the oxygen saturation level in control healthy teeth, non-vital and teeth with irreversible pulpitis. Material and methods: thirty-seven single canal teeth requiring endodontic therapy were included in the study. The selected teeth were tested with dental pulse oximeter, electric pulp test, cold spray, and heated gutta percha stick. Between each test a time lag of 2 minutes was allowed for the central sensitization to occur.  Three blinded operators were involved in the study. The actual status of the pulp was evaluated after the initiation of endodontic treatment. To assess the actual pulp status direct visual examination of access cavity as performed. The data was statistically analysed using (ANOVA) Analysis of Variance and Post-hoc Tukey test. Results: sensitivity of pulse oximeter, heat test, cold and electric pulp test, was 100, 25, 50, and 12, respectively. The specificity of these tests was 100, 72 81, and 77, respectively. The ANOVA showed that there was statistical difference between all the groups (p=0.0005). Post-Hoc Tukey revealed that there was statistical difference among all the groups, nonvital group (p=0.0005), control group (p=0.01) and for irreversible pulpitis (p=0.01). The overall diagnostic accuracy of pulse oximeter was 100% followed by cold test 66%, heat test to be 49% and electric pulp test to be 45%. Conclusion: the custom-made holder used in the present study aided in providing accurate response for pulp vitality testing. In this study the diagnostic accuracy was high with dental pulse oximeter followed by cold, heat and the least was electric pulp tester in different pulpal conditions.KEYWORDS Cold test; Heat test; Oxygen saturation; Pulse oximeter; Vitality tests.

Aim: This study aims to assess the diagnostic accuracy of new custom-made pulse oximeter sensor holder in assessment of actual pulp status with three pulp sensibility tests. Materials and Methods: Seventy-nine single canal teeth requiring endodontic therapy was included in the study. The tooth that was requiring root canal treatment was tested with heat test, cold test, electric pulp test, and pulse oximeter. Between each test, a time period of 2 min was allowed. The response from three pulp sensibility tests and the reading from pulse oximeter were recorded. Following which root canal treatment was performed. The result obtained from four pulp tests were correlated with the clinical finding after access cavity preparation. The data obtained was statistically assessed. Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to assess the efficacy of the pulp tests. In the above statistical tools, the probability value. 05 is considered as significant level. Results: The overall diagnostic accuracy was found to be significantly higher with pulse oximeter when compared with other three pulp sensibility tests. The ROC curve demonstrates the results obtained from pulse oximeter was found to be more reliable than other pulp tests. Conclusion: Within the limitation of the study, diagnostic accuracy of pulse oximeter with custom made sensor holder was reliable and accurate in assessment of actual pulp status.

Aim of the studyTo determine the factors that are likely to influence the domains of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) using SF-36 and CLDQ questionnaires in patients with liver cirrhosis.Material and methodsPatients with liver cirrhosis were compared with age- and gender-matched healthy controls for physical and mental components of the SF-36 score. Effects of age, co-morbidity, namely diabetes, severity of liver disease and complications of liver cirrhosis on HRQOL using self-administered or by direct interview SF-36 and CLDQ questionnaires were studied. Statistical analysis: chi square test, ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis test and stepwise linear regression analysis. A p value of < 0.05 was considered significant.ResultsRegarding SF-36 score, except for bodily pain, 149 patients had significantly low individual and composite domain scores (p value < 0.0001) compared to age/gender-matched controls. Patients below 45 years, the majority of whom belonged to Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) class C with a high Model of End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) and higher rates of complication had low SF-36 for bodily pain (KW p < 0.005) and those above 55 years for physical function (p < 0.05). Both the physical components had a major impact on mental composite score (MCS) (KW p < 0.05). The overall CLDQ score was also low in patients below 45 years old (p < 0.05). Diabetes with or without other co-morbid conditions had no effect on SF-36 or CLDQ scores, while non-diabetic co-morbid conditions did on physical domains (physical function, bodily pain and role physical) and the physical component score of SF-36 (KW p < 0.01 to < 0.0001). In linear regression, MELD had a direct and significant association with overall PCS, MCS and CLDQ.ConclusionsAge below 45 years, higher MELD and CTP score with the presence of ascites and hepatic encephalopathy affect the overall CLDQ scores.

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Gallbladder cancer is common in north India. It is also a well established fact that gall bladder cancer is frequently associated with gallstone disease in north India, similar to reports from the West. The magnitude of the problem of gallbladder cancer in south India and its link to gallstone disease is not clearly established. The aim of the study was to determine retrospectively, the characteristics of individuals with GBC in south India and to determine its association with gallstone disease. Retrospective data was obtained from records of proven cases of gallbladder cancer and patients undergoing cholecystectomy for gallstone disease between Jan 2001 and Dec 2010. Data retrieved included age, gender, and clinical presentation, findings on imaging, histology and details of management. The number of proven cases of gallbladder cancer each year ranged from 8 to 17. There were 38 men and 23 women. Male female ratio was 1.6:1. There were more men in the successive decades. Right upper quadrant pain (42 %) followed by jaundice (27 %) and a presence of a palpable mass (12 %) were the common clinical presentation. Pre-operative diagnosis of gall bladder cancer was possible in 80 %. Twelve patients had co-existing gallstones (19.6 %). Forty patients (50 %) had stage IV disease; only 6 patients had Stage I operable disease (9.8 %). During the same time 758 patients had cholecystectomy for gallstone disease. Only one patient had an incidental gall bladder cancer, who had an extended cholecystectomy. Gallbladder cancer is uncommon in south India and its association with gallstone is also low.

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During endodontic treatment, eliminating microorganisms from the root canals should be considered with utmost importance. Before filling the canal, every effort should be made to ensure optimal shaping and adequate disinfection of the root canal system. This systematic review aimed to compare the efficacy of herbal agents with sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) in reducing the microbial load while used as a root canal irrigant. The research question in the present study was to assess “Is there a significant difference in reducing microbial load comparing sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and herbal agents.” Electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science) were searched from their start dates to November 2020 using strict inclusion and exclusion criteria and reviewed following PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. Only in vitro studies comparing herbal agents with NaOCl regarding antimicrobial efficiency were included. Two reviewers independently assessed the included article. 825 articles were obtained from an electronic database. Twenty papers were included for review of the full text. Eleven papers were excluded because they did not meet the inclusion criteria. Finally, nine articles were included in the systematic review. The present systematic review was at the in vitro level; therefore, the result cannot translate the exact clinical conditions. This systematic review concludes that herbal agents cannot be used as a main irrigant for canal disinfection.