Patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) produce significantly low levels of plasma nitric oxide (NO) during acute vaso-occlusive crisis. In transgenic sickle cell mice, NO synthesized by endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) enzyme of vascular endothelial cells has been found to protect the mice from vaso-occlusive events. Therefore, the present study aims to explore possible association of eNOS gene polymorphism as a potential genetic modifier in SCD patients. A case control study involving 150 SCD patients and age- and ethnicity-matched 150 healthy controls were genotyped by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism techniques for three important eNOS gene polymorphisms-eNOS 4a/b, eNOS 894G>T and eNOS -786T>C. It was observed that SCD patients had significantly higher frequencies of mutant alleles besides heterozygous and homozygous mutant genotypes of these three eNOS gene polymorphisms and low levels of plasma nitrite (NO2) as compared with control groups. The SCD severe group had significantly lower levels of plasma NO2 and higher frequencies of mutant alleles of these three SNPs of eNOS gene in contrast to the SCD mild group of patients. Haplotype analysis revealed that frequencies of one mutant haplotype '4a-T-C' (alleles in order of eNOS 4a/b, eNOS 894G>T and eNOS -786T>C) were significantly high in the severe SCD patients (P<0.0001), whereas the frequency of a wild haplotype '4b-G-T' was found to be significantly high (P<0.0001) in the SCD mild patients, which indicates that eNOS gene polymorphisms are associated with SCD patients in India and may act as a genetic modifier of the phenotypic variation of SCD patients.

BackgroundMixed dentition space analysis forms an important part of orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning. Regression equations are widely used for mixed dentition analysis which can vary among races. This study aimed to find out the new regression equation in estimating the size of unerupted canines and premolars for Nepalese Brahmins/Chhetris.MethodsHundred Nepalese Brahmins/Chhetris (50 males and 50 females) who met our criteria were selected among the patients attending to the Orthodontic Out-Patient Department, Institute of Medicine, Kathmandu. The mesiodistal widths of all mandibular permanent incisors; maxillary and mandibular canines and premolars were measured and analyzed. The results were also compared with predicted values from the Moyers and the Tanaka and Johnston methods. Correlation and linear regression analyses were performed between the predicted and actual tooth sizes for Nepalese Brahmins/Chhetris and standard regression equations were developed.ResultsNo significant differences were observed when the sum of canine and premolars of one quadrant is compared between sides and sex. Significant and high positive correlations were found between the mandibular incisors and the combined mesiodistal widths of the canines and premolars for the maxillary (r = 0.72) and mandibular (r = 0.73) segments. Significant differences were observed between the measured values from this study and from Moyers (50 % and 75 % probability) and Tanaka-Johnston methods.ConclusionsThe equations and charts commonly used for North American children (50th or 75th percentile) did not accurately predict for our sample, so new regression equations and tables were developed for Nepalese Brahmins/Chhetris children.

MTHFR C677T and FVL G1691A polymorphisms may be risk factors for increased vascular complications in patient with SCD.

The prevalence of undernutrition is high in cerebral palsy children. SGNA can be a reliable tool for assessing nutritional status in children with cerebral palsy and is a simple, comprehensive, noninvasive, and cost-effective tool for screening undernutrition in children of cerebral palsy.

The study revealed a high prevalence of SCD among scheduled caste, backward caste, and tribal communities. Dissemination of study findings, screening, pre-marriage counselling, and pre-natal diagnosis are fundamental to preventing or lowering of birth of sickle cell anaemia children in the affected populations.

Introductions: Congenital malformations need to be identified and intervened early to save lives and prevent sufferings. Many birth defects have well known incidence/prevalence rates but these have not been studied thoroughly in the local population of Nepal. The current study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of congenital malformation at birth, to classify them systematically, to study risk factors and immediate outcome of the newborn babies afflicted.Methods: This was a cross sectional study. All newly delivered babies were examined carefully for congenital malformation and when detected, the parents were interviewed in detail.Results: Over the 10 months of study period 7,922 babies were delivered out of which 90 were stillborn. The number of babies with malformations was 64 (0.81%). Polydactyli was observed in 12 (19%) babies whereas cleft lip/palate and malformations of ears in seven (11%) each. Musculoskeletal system was affected in 31 (35%) cases and craniofacial in 18 (21%). Nine (14%) mothers had bad obstetric history and eight (13%) had illness/medication during pregnancy.Conclusions: Congenital malformation is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in Patan hospital. Our findings support many established thoughts like higher rates in stillbirths but also challenge some age-old beliefs like higher rates in babies born to older mothers.

The prevalence of skeletal Class II malocclusion is high amongst Asian population. Various treatment modalities have been presented for the treatment of Class II malocclusions in adult patients. We come across many adult patients who desire a costeffective and non-surgical correction and they accept dental camouflage as a treatment option to mask skeletal discrepancy. This case report presents a 26-year-old non-growing female who had a skeletal Class II malocclusion with prognathic maxilla and retrognathic mandible with an overjet of 7 mm, severe crowding, but did not want surgical treatment. We considered the camouflage treatment by extracting upper first premolars. Following the treatment, a satisfactory result was achieved with an acceptable static and functional occlusion, facial profile, smile and lip competence with patient satisfaction.

BackgroundAssessment of growth status of a patient is a key component in orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning for growing patients with skeletal discrepancy. Skeletal maturation based on hand-wrist radiograph and cervical vertebral maturation (CVM) are commonly used methods of growth assessment. Studies have shown that stages of dental calcification can also be used to assess skeletal maturation status of an individual, whereas other studies have suggested that the relationship between dental calcification and skeletal maturation should be interpreted with caution owing to racial variation.ObjectiveTo evaluate the relationship between permanent mandibular second molar calcification stages and skeletal maturity assessed by CVM among a group of Nepalese orthodontic patients.Materials and methodsOne hundred and sixty-eight digital radiographs (84 orthopantomograms and 84 lateral cephalograms) were obtained from the records of 84 patients who sought orthodontic treatment in Orthodontic and Dentofacial Orthopaedic Unit, Department of Dentistry, Institute of Medicine, Kathmandu. Two parameters were used in this study, namely, CVM stages from lateral cephalogram and Demirjian index (DI) stages from orthopantomogram. The evaluation of digital radiographs was carried out on a computer screen with a resolution of 1,280×800 pixels. The association between DI stages of permanent mandibular second molar and CVM stages was assessed.ResultsA statistically significant association was found between DI and CVM stages for both male and female subjects with Pearson’s contingency coefficient value of 0.751 and 0.766 for male and female subjects, respectively.ConclusionSkeletal maturation can be reliably assessed with dental calcification stages of permanent mandibular second molar for Nepalese orthodontic patients.