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Rapid and accurate diagnosis of malaria is the need of hour for effective management and controlling drug resistance. The conventional and gold-standard method, Light microscopy (LM), is time-consuming, requires trained staff and well-maintained equipments. The newly developed, rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) are fast and reliable, but give only qualitative results, are expensive and have short shelf life. Light Emission Diode fluorescence microscopy (LED FM) may provide a reliable alternative which can be used for routine diagnosis. In order to assess the effectiveness of LED fluorescence microscopy in malaria diagnosis, a cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care teaching hospital in Mumbai. 2-3ml of blood of 300 patients, who were clinically suspected of having malaria but were not on anti-malarial treatment, was collected in EDTA vials. These specimens were processed to diagnose malaria by three methods, namely-Peripheral smear examination with LM, Peripheral smear examination with LED FM and RDT. The results of all the 3 tests were compared, taking Light Microscopy as the gold standard method. Of the 300 specimens, LM, LED FM and RDT reported 111 (37%), 86 (28.67%) and 107 (35.67%), respectively, as positive. The sensitivity and specificity were respectively 71.2% and 96.3% for LED FM and 91% and 96.8% for RDT. Of the LM positive cases, 53 (47.75%) had parasitic index (PI) <1% and 58 (52.25%) had PI ≥1%. LED FM was found to be only moderately sensitive but highly specific in comparison to Light microscopy. In order to improve the performance of this technique, more precise training in fluorescence staining and reading of the slides, will be required.

Various psychological traits of adolescents influence their dental anxiety.

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Introduction: Oral malodour is a social malady affecting people of all the age groups. Effective management of oral malodour is the key to improve the quality of life of such people.

Optimum oral health is required to eat, socialize without discomfort or embarrassment. Untreated dental caries is a common problem faced by the population in developing countries affecting the development of the child. A cross sectional study was conducted among 3 to 5 years old preschool children to evaluate the prevalence of dental caries and consequences of untreated dental caries. Dental caries was measured using 'dmf' and 'pufa' index. Descriptive statistics was computed to assess the prevalence of the untreated dental caries. Chi square test and z test were used to assess the statistical difference among the variable means in between the groups. Data was analyzed using SPSS ver 20.0. The prevalence of dental caries in the study population was 32% and that of the untreated dental caries with clinical consequences was 24%. There was no statistically significant difference between the genders for prevalence of untreated dental caries. The mean 'dmf' and 'pufa' scores increased over the ages of 3, 4 and 5 years in the study sample. 'pufa' index can be used as a useful epidemiological tool to assess the prevalence of untreated dental caries. Proportion of untreated dental caries was substantial which points to the need for diverting attention to care of deciduous dentition.

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Introduction: Centric Relation (CR) is the only physiological position which is repeatable, recordable and reproducible for prosthodontic rehabilitation. A missed CR can give rise to faulty occlusal relationships leading to a life time of trauma to the temporomandibular joints. Literature has various methods outlined to locate and record the CR but it’s confusing as to which method is best suited to take the condyles into CR position. Hence, this systematic review was conducted to find an answer to this very question. Aim: To find a reliable clinical technique to guide the mandible to a recordable, repeatable and reproducible CR position. Materials and Methods: The present systematic review was conducted from July 2019 to October 2019 at School of Dental Sciences, KIMSDU, Maharashtra. A 20-year comprehensive literature review was undertaken aiming to arrive at a reliable and repeatable method to guide the mandible to CR following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta Analyses (PRISMA) and Patient Intervention Comparison Outcome (PICO) guidelines to the highest possible extent. The research material was sifted through MEDLINE (PubMed)- {(“CR technique”) (MeSH terms) AND/OR (Retruded mandibular position”) (MeSH terms)}, Cochrane library “CR techniques” and Google Scholar “CR techniques OR Retruded mandibular position” search engines. Cochrane collaboration tool was used to assess the risk of bias for the Randomised Controlled Trial, Methodological I index for non RCTs (MINOR). Quality and strength of the existing evidence was appraised by both the authors through Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system. Results: Online database search was conducted from January 1998 to September 2019 resulting in a total of 950 articles being shortlisted. Post-screenings, using the exclusion criteria, nine articles of the total articles were reviewed. These were reviewed individually by both the authors and discussed for various techniques to guide the mandible to CR. The ultimate outcome of the review was that the clinicians are required to fall back on time tested models, scientifically sound and technically correct and uncomplicated to execute methods which have proven to yield the most excellent outcomes at zero or minimal cost. One such method is undoubtedly Dawson’s Bimanual Technique. Bimanual technique in supine position coupled with a simple anterior deprogrammer has consistently resulted in a physiological CR position that is recordable, repeatable and reproducible. Conclusion: The primary outcome of this systematic review is that Dawson’s bimanual manipulation technique is superior to other techniques; primarily when carried out in supine position.