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Mosquito control is becoming more difficult as a result of the rise in resistance to toxic chemical insecticides. The insecticides of bio-fabrication sources may serve as a convenient alternative to environmentally acceptable methods in the future. The larvicidal and pupicidal activities of bio-fabricated zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) on the different instar larvae and pupae of Anopheles subpictus Grassi (Malaria vector) and Culex quinquefasciatus Say (lymphatic filariasis) were investigated in this study. The results recorded from XRD, FTIR, SEM-EDX, and TEM analyses confirmed the bio-fabrication of ZnO NPs. Such nanoparticles were nearly spherical and agglomerated with a size of 34.21 nm. GC-MS analysis of methanol extract revealed the compound, stigmasterol (C29H48O) as major one. Mosquito larvae and pupae of targeted mosquito were tested against varied concentrations of the bio-fabricated ZnO NPs and methanol extract of Vitex negundo for 24 h. The maximum activity was recorded from ZnO NPs against the larvae and pupae of A. subpictus LC50 which were 1.70 (I), 1.66 (II), 1.93 (III), 2.48 (IV), and 3.63 mg/L (pupa) and C. quinquefasciatus LC50 were 1.95 (I), 2.63 (II), 2.90 (III), 4.32 (IV), and 4.61 mg/L (pupa) respectively. ZnO NPs exhibited strong DPPH radical and FRAP scavengers compared to the aqueous extract of V. negundo. Also, V. negundo leaf methanol extract (VNLME) and ZnO NPs were evaluated for their cytotoxicity on HeLa cells, which exhibited the IC50 values of 72.35 and 43.70μg/mL, respectively. The methylene blue (MB) dye, which is harmful to both aquatic and terrestrial life, was degraded using the biosynthesized ZnO nanoparticles. At 664 nm, 81.2% of the MB dye had degraded after 120 min of exposure to sunlight. Overall, our results revealed that ZnO NPs are the perfect biological agent and economical for the control of malaria, filariasis vectors, antioxidant, HeLa cells, and MB blue dye degradation under sunlight irradiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrophysiological studies can objectively predict the functional recovery in Bell's palsy but, the clinical prognostic indicators seem to be more practical where the nerve conduction studies are not available. To determine the clinical prognostic indicators in Bell's palsy patients and to determine the indicators with poor outcome for recovery. We designed a prospective, descriptive, and observational analysis of Bell's palsy patients, who presented to our ENT outpatients department. 34 patients with Bell's palsy were recruited for this study. We studied the demographic characteristics, sidedness, associated symptoms, time of presentation, grade, and therapeutic options. All the patients were followed up for 8 weeks and the final grade of functional recovery of the nerve was recorded. The patient information was entered in Epicollect 5software and the output was analysed as descriptive statistics. Hypothesis testing was accomplished by means of χ2 test or Fischer exact test, to compare the proportions of categorical data and continuous data using the Mann–Whitney U test. 91.17% (31/34) of Bell's palsy patients had complete facial nerve function recovery at the end of 8 weeks. Higher Age > 40 years (p = 0.022) and BP patients with coronary artery disease (p = 0.005) were the only two significant indicators for incomplete recovery. We suggest that all Bell's palsy patients seek medical advice early at the onset,especially the BP patients of older age and with coronary artery disease for faster recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of this study was to elucidate the efficiency of BTX-A injections as an alternative approach in patients with excessive gingival display and to observe the patient's satisfaction in order to obtain cosmetically promising results. Materials and Methods: Fifteen patients of whom ten female and five male with different types of gummy smiles such as anterior (53%), posterior (7%) and mixed (40%) reported to the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Thai Moogambigai Dental College and Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu from December 2018 to October 2019 those who were willing to undergo corrections using Botulinum Toxin Type A (BTX-A) were selected for the present study using various inclusion and exclusion criteria. The patients were injected with BTX-A on Yonsei triangle accordingly. The clinical evaluation and patient satisfaction evaluation were carried out. Results: A significant decrease in the gingival exposure of about 3.5 ± 1 mm at 2 weeks after injection was observed and it lasted for 4 months. It was also noted that there was no difference in the measurement of gingival display on maximum smile for postinjection during 5th and 6th month when compared with preinjection measurements. This study confirms that the efficacy of BTX A injection lasted for 4 months and then gradually reduced resulting in reversal of gingival display during maximum smile. Conclusion: The authors conclude that in the cosmetic correction of gummy smile by BTX-A, it is important to identify the type of smile and the main muscles involved, so that the correct injection technique can be used. It also confirms that BTX-A is a novel, competent, risk-free and minimally invasive nonsurgical therapy that can extensively improve smile aesthetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The objective of this study was to develop and validate aquestionnaire for analyzing Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices (KAP) about riskfactors in otitis media (OM) in children among their caretakers.The questionnaire was developed following a standardized protocolthat consisted of a literature search, peer review, item generation, and expertvalidation, for construct, content and face validity of items in thequestionnaire followed by a cross-sectional survey on 100 caretakers, this wasfollowed by the reliability test of the items in Questionnaire.A KAP questionnaire with 24 items categorized under three domainsknowledge, attitude, and practices was developed. The KAP sections have 12, 5,and 7 items, respectively. The Content validity ratio (CVR) of our questionnairewas 0.>0.49, Item -Content Validity Index (I-CVI) was 0.78, Scale contentValidity Index average (SCVI a) was 0.9. indicating that all items of thequestionnaire could be retained. The Independent Cronbach’s α forKAP domains were 0.658, 0.731, and 0.522, respectively, and for the totalquestionnaire was 0 0.730, indicating good internal consistency.The developed questionnaire will help achieve a better understandingof the caretakers’ KAP about risk factors in otitis media in children.This RFOMQ-24 has satisfactory validity and good internal consistency.Methods: The objective of this study was to develop and validate aquestionnaire for analyzing Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices (KAP) about riskfactors in otitis media (OM) in children among their caretakers.The questionnaire was developed following a standardized protocolthat consisted of a literature search, peer review, item generation, and expertvalidation, for construct, content and face validity of items in thequestionnaire followed by a cross-sectional survey on 100 caretakers, this wasfollowed by the reliability test of the items in Questionnaire.A KAP questionnaire with 24 items categorized under three domainsknowledge, attitude, and practices was developed. The KAP sections have 12, 5,and 7 items, respectively. The Content validity ratio (CVR) of our questionnairewas 0.>0.49, Item -Content Validity Index (I-CVI) was 0.78, Scale contentValidity Index average (SCVI a) was 0.9. indicating that all items of thequestionnaire could be retained. The Independent Cronbach’s α forKAP domains were 0.658, 0.731, and 0.522, respectively, and for the totalquestionnaire was 0 0.730, indicating good internal consistency.The developed questionnaire will help achieve a better understandingof the caretakers’ KAP about risk factors in otitis media in children.This RFOMQ-24 has satisfactory validity and good internal consistency.Results: The objective of this study was to develop and validate aquestionnaire for analyzing Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices (KAP) about riskfactors in otitis media (OM) in children among their caretakers.The questionnaire was developed following a standardized protocolthat consisted of a literature search, peer review, item generation, and expertvalidation, for construct, content and face validity of items in thequestionnaire followed by a cross-sectional survey on 100 caretakers, this wasfollowed by the reliability test of the items in Questionnaire.A KAP questionnaire with 24 items categorized under three domainsknowledge, attitude, and practices was developed. The KAP sections have 12, 5,and 7 items, respectively. The Content validity ratio (CVR) of our questionnairewas 0.>0.49, Item -Content Validity Index (I-CVI) was 0.78, Scale contentValidity Index average (SCVI a) was 0.9. indicating that all items of thequestionnaire could be retained. The Independent Cronbach’s α forKAP domains were 0.658, 0.731, and 0.522, respectively, and for the totalquestionnaire was 0 0.730, indicating good internal consistency.The developed questionnaire will help achieve a better understandingof the caretakers’ KAP about risk factors in otitis media in children.This RFOMQ-24 has satisfactory validity and good internal consistency.Conclusion: The objective of this study was to develop and validate aquestionnaire for analyzing Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices (KAP) about riskfactors in otitis media (OM) in children among their caretakers.The questionnaire was developed following a standardized protocolthat consisted of a literature search, peer review, item generation, and expertvalidation, for construct, content and face validity of items in thequestionnaire followed by a cross-sectional survey on 100 caretakers, this wasfollowed by the reliability test of the items in Questionnaire.A KAP questionnaire with 24 items categorized under three domainsknowledge, attitude, and practices was developed. The KAP sections have 12, 5,and 7 items, respectively. The Content validity ratio (CVR) of our questionnairewas 0.>0.49, Item -Content Validity Index (I-CVI) was 0.78, Scale contentValidity Index average (SCVI a) was 0.9. indicating that all items of thequestionnaire could be retained. The Independent Cronbach’s α forKAP domains were 0.658, 0.731, and 0.522, respectively, and for the totalquestionnaire was 0 0.730, indicating good internal consistency.The developed questionnaire will help achieve a better understandingof the caretakers’ KAP about risk factors in otitis media in children.This RFOMQ-24 has satisfactory validity and good internal consistency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]