ObjectivesTo assess the prevalence and factors associated with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) among older adults in an urban area of South India.SettingThe study was conducted in the capital city of Thiruvananthapuram in the South Indian state of Kerala.ParticipantsThe study participants were community-dwelling individuals aged 60 years and above.Primary outcome measureMCI was the primary outcome measure and was defined using the criteria by European Alzheimer’s Disease Consortium. Cognitive assessment was done using the Malayalam version of Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination tool. Data were also collected on sociodemographic variables, self-reported comorbidities like hypertension and diabetes, lifestyle factors, depression, anxiety and activities of daily living.ResultsThe prevalence of MCI was found to be 26.06% (95% CI of 22.12 to 30.43). History of imbalance on walking (adjusted OR 2.75; 95 % CI of 1.46 to 5.17), presence of depression (adjusted OR 2.17, 95 % CI of 1.21 to 3.89), anxiety (adjusted OR 2.22; 95 % CI of 1.21 to 4.05) and alcohol use (adjusted OR 1.99; 95 % CI of 1.02 to 3.86) were positively associated with MCI while leisure activities at home (adjusted OR 0.33; 95 % CI of 0.11 to 0.95) were negatively associated.ConclusionThe prevalence of MCI is high in Kerala. It is important that the health system and the government take up urgent measures to tackle this emerging public health issue.

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Background:Dental pulp calcifications are unique and represent the dental pulp regenerative process. Dental pulp calcifications are sometimes routine findings in oral radiographs and may later serve as an important diagnostic criterion for a hidden aspect of systemic illness.Objective:The purpose of this study was to assess the patterns and prevalence of idiopathic dental pulp calcifications in a tertiary care setting in South India.Materials and Methods:A total of 227 patients were included in the study fulfilling the inclusion criteria. Age range of the study population was from 15 to 70 years. Teeth were examined under digital panoramic radiograph. The presence or absence of pulp stones was recorded. The presence of pulp stone were categorized according to the types classified as Type I, Type IA, Type II, Type IIA, Type II B, and Type III. The frequency of occurrence of pulp stones with sex, tooth type, dental arches, and types were compared with the types of calcification.Results:Total no. of patients with pulpal calcification were 227 [females 133 (58.59%) and males 94 (41.40%)]. The most common type between both sexes was Type I (48%). Total no. of teeth with calcification was 697; maxilla (48%), mandible (52%). The prevalence of pulp stone was found to be higher in the molars in both the arches. Most no. of pulp stones are reported at the third and fourth decade of life.Conclusion:Idiopathic dental pulp calcifications are incidental radiographic findings of the pulp tissue and also may be an indicator of underlying disease.

The alimentary tract mucosal inflammation has been a topic of concern in oncology; though many modalities of treatment have been proposed for mucosal inflammation, the contributing adverse effects have severely affected the quality of life of patients. This review focuses on the importance of neurogenic peptide, Substance P and its receptor NK-1R in modulating the cascades of events in mucosal inflammation during cytotoxic therapy. There are various preclinical and clinical models showing increased expression of Substance P/NK-1R in ionizing radiation and chemotherapy, but only very few preclinical studies to our knowledge have highlighted or examined its role in mucosal inflammation. Hence, the importance of neuropeptide involved in the inflammatory events in mucosal inflammation in cytotoxic therapy could be a major breakthrough for future research purposes and treatment. The factors contributing to the severity of tissue reactions have been multietiogenic; thus, resultant treatment also has to be directed toward multiple contributing factors. This review also focuses on the significance of care strategy to be adopted in alimentary tract mucositis when multietiogenic factors are taken into consideration.

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