The study participants exhibited poor knowledge and attitude towards their child's oral heath which was leading to the adoption of poor oral health practices by these mothers. Thus, to improve the oral health of children, appropriate practices and measures should be promoted among their parents/guardians.
Aim: The aim of this study was to assess and compare the visual, refractive, and topographic outcomes of keratoconic eyes treated with corneal collagen cross-linking combined with and without same day intrastromal corneal ring segment over the first 12 months. Methods: This prospective randomized study analyzed 38 eyes of 30 consecutive keratoconus patients aged 26.21 ± 6.97 (range = 15–41) years. A total of 20 eyes were treated with collagen cross-linking alone, and 18 eyes underwent collagen cross-linking combined with simultaneous femtosecond laser-assisted intrastromal corneal ring segment. Visual acuity, manifest refraction, and corneal topography (using a rotating Scheimpflug topographer) were assessed and compared between the two groups at baseline, 6, and 12 months. Results: On an average follow-up duration of 12.2 ± 0.50 (range = 11–13) months, both collagen cross-linking alone and collagen cross-linking with simultaneous intrastromal corneal ring segment implantation were effective. However, collagen cross-linking plus intrastromal corneal ring segment resulted in an additional improvement of uncorrected distance visual acuity of 0.16 (95% confidence interval = 0.01 to 0.32) logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution units (p = 0.035), cylindrical power by 1.16 D (95% confidence interval = 0.25 to 2.06, p = 0.014), and spherical equivalent by 1.40 D (95% confidence interval = −2.71 to −0.08, p = 0.038) at 1 year. During the study period, no serious intraoperative or postoperative complications were noted in either group. Conclusion: One-year follow-up results suggest that collagen cross-linking with simultaneously combined intrastromal corneal ring segment implantation could yield an additive visual and refractive outcome. The combined procedure is safe and merits consideration for the treatment of progressive keratoconus to achieve better visual rehabilitation.
The epidemiology of Fasciola gigantica Cobbold was studied in the definitive host and the epidemiological cycle was determined. The incidence of immature flukes was high in September to December and mature flukes from December to March. A survey of chronic fascioliasis was conducted covering almost the whole country. The prevalence of the disease was high in the Northern and Central Regions. Based on the epidemiological findings a control programme for the disease in Malawi was prepared.
Fasciola gigantica Cobbold was studied in the intermediate host snail. On snail survey Lymnaea natalensis Krauss was the species found responsible for the transmission of Fasciola gigantica in Malawi. The ecology of this snail was studied at 5 different habitats spread throughout Malawi. The snail population was recorded high from April to October. The epidemiological cycle of Fasciola gigantica in the snail was determined and it was shown that snail infection was high in April and May and thus more metacercariae are released in August to October following such an infection. To complete the epidemiological picture studies reported separately were done involving the definitive host.
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