Introduction: Oral cancer is a major concern in developing countries. India accounts for one third of worlds oral cancer and has a high rate of oral precancer. Early detection of premalignant conditions can improve the prognosis of the disease. Objective: 1.To evaluate the prevalence of oral precancer and oral cancer among patients in south Kerala, India. 2. To evaluate the association of tobacco related oral precancer and oral cancer with abusive habits. Methods: A total number of 10999 patients, aged 20-80yrs, who visited the outpatient department of a dental college for the diagnosis of various complaints over a period of 8 months were interviewed for oral risk habits, duration and frequency of the habit and current usage of any medications. Patients were clinically examined by trained professionals. Result: The prevalence of oral precancer and cancer was seen in 1.08 % of the population. The prevalence of oral lichen planus was 0.72 % followed by leukoplakia 0.23 %, oral submucous fibrosis .072 %, oral cancer .036%, and erytroplakia .009%. Tobacco related oral lesions like leukoplakia, oral submucous fibrosis, oral cancer, erythroplakia were more prevalent among men as compared to women. The tobacco re- lated abusive habits like smoking and chewing tobacco were more prevalent among men. Conclusion: This study provides the prevalence of oral precancer and oral cancer among patients in South Kerala. It also reinforces the association between tobacco products and tobacco related oral precancerous lesions.

Objective: Inflammatory bowel disease has been reported to have varying frequencies in different parts of the world, and there seem to be significant differences in the disease pattern and clinical course in cases of ulcerative colitis (UC). The aim of the present study was to assess the incidence and disease pattern of UC in Oman. Method: A prospective study, over a period of 8 years (1987-1994), was performed to study 108 patients found to have UC. Results: The annual incidence of UC was 1.35/100,000. The disease was mainly seen in the middle and upper middle class group, and the majority were nonsmokers or exsmokers. There was no significant difference in the incidence of the disease between nationalities or sexes. Total colitis was seen in 18%, and a significant number had disease extending up to the splenic flexure. Proctitis was seen in 8%. Although, the extent of the disease was similar to reports from the West, these patients had fewer hospital admissions, blood transfusions and none of them suffered local complications such as toxic dilatation, perforation or severe bleeding. Sclerosing cholangitis occurred in 2 patients. Patients were followed up for a maximum period of up to 7 years after diagnosis and none developed dysplasia or cancer. Three patients had surgery mainly for failure of medical treatment. Conclusions: From this report it seems that UC occurs in Oman at a lower frequency compared to the West. Although, the extent of the disease was similar to Europeans, these patients had less severe disease with fewer complications.

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The ionic conductivity of solid polymer electrolytes is governed by the ionic association caused by the polymer···Li + and the anion···Li + interactions. We performed the density functional calculation to analyze the molecular interactions in the CH 3 –(CH 2 –CF 2 ) n –CH 3 –Li + –(CF 3 SO 2 ) 2 N – for n = 1,4 systems. The gauche conformation is predicted in the lowest energy conformer of pure polymer except for n = 1. The lithium coordination number with the polymer is changed from 3 to 2 in the presence of anion for n = 2, 4 systems. The consequences of the Li + ion and Li + –(CF 3 SO 2 ) 2 N – to the vibrational spectrum are studied to understand the ionic association at the molecular level.

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