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Introduction: The Modified Mallampati (MM) grading and Friedman's Tongue Position (FTP) scores are two major scoring systems used to evaluate the oropharyngeal space. However, the current descriptions of performing these scores do not specify the route of breathing taken by the patient during the examination. The dynamic changes in the tongue and palate, in relation to the route of breathing, may contribute to the high interobserver variability in MM scoring. Aim: To explore the differences in MM scores and Friedman's scores obtained during mouth breathing and nose breathing in order to standardise the scoring system. Materials and Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted at the Departments of Anaesthesiology and Community Medicine at Believers Church Medical College Hospital in Central Kerala, India between April 2022 and October 2022, on 702 adults. MM scores and FTP scores were recorded separately for each person during mouth breathing and nose breathing. Socio-demographic variables such as age, gender, and Body Mass Index (BMI) were also collected. The data was analysed using the Z-test for proportions. Results: The mean age of the study participants was 3.58±16.42 years. The majority of the participants were females (69.2%), and more than half (59%) were above 50 years of age. Out of the 135 participants with an MM Score-1 during mouth breathing, 99 (73.3%) had higher scores during nose breathing. For the 196 individuals with an MM Score-2 during mouth breathing, 87 (44.3%) had higher scores during nose breathing. Similarly, out of the 220 people with an MM score of -3 during mouth breathing, 106 (48.2%) had a Score-4 during nose breathing. A similar pattern was observed for the FTP scores. Conclusion: The present study demonstrates significant variability in MM and FTP scores obtained during oral and nasal breathing, highlighting the need to standardise the route of breathing during examination. The study suggests that advising patients to breathe through the mouth may relax the tongue and improve the predictive value of MM grading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tonsillectomy is one of the most commonly performed surgical procedures worldwide. Postoperative pain remains a significant problem for patients undergoing tonsillectomy and is the most typical reason for readmission after the procedure. We conducted the present study to investigate the efficacy of a single dose of dexamethasone administered intravenously before tonsillectomy on postoperative pain in a group of patients undergoing cold dissection tonsillectomy, using a standardised anaesthetic and surgical procedure.It was a prospective study done in the Department of ENT in a tertiary care centre in eastern India, from 1 st September 2017 to 31 st August 2019 (2 years). Subjects included in the study were patients who attended the OPD of ENT of the tertiary care centre in eastern India, with a history of throat pain,difficulty in deglutition, mouth breathing, snoring. Tonsillectomy operation was recommended to the patients who fit the inclusion criteria. A hundred patients were selected for the study and divided randomly into two groups. Patients in group A (50 patients) were administered preoperative intravenous dexamethasone (0.15 mg/kg)after the induction of anaesthesia, and Group B patients (50 patients)were not administered dexamethasone along with other drugs.RESULTS: A hundred patients were enrolled after excluding the patients not fulfilling the selection criteria. The majority of patients were female, with the majority patients between 9–19 years. There was a noteworthy decreased mean pain score postoperatively of Group A on the first, third, and fifth day. (p-value = < 0.001).The results of this study suggest that a single preoperative injection of dexamethasone for patients undergoing tonsillectomy by cold dissection method significantly reduced postoperative pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Bovine babesiosis caused by an intraerythrocytic apicomplexan protozoon responsible for the most prevalent and costly tick borne diseases (TBD’s) of cattle throughout the globe. Cerebral babesiosis of bovine is fatal and mainly caused by Babesia bovis. To the knowledge of author, there is no confirm molecular report of Babeisa bigemina caused cerebral babesiosis in cattle. Therefore, authors want to report Babesia bigemina caused cerebral babesiosis on record. Methods: In the year 2015, a Holstein-Friesian cow aged 3 years and weighing approximately 300 kg, was attended at Jabalpur, (M.P.) with the clinical signs of high rise in temperature (104F), recumbency, severe dysponea, peculiar sound during open mouth breathing, pale color of eye conjunctiva and mucous membrane of vagina, convulsions, sever anaemia, paddling of legs at frequent interval. After preparation of peripheral thin blood smear from animal at the site of collection and fixation with methanol, blood sample brought to Department of Veterinary Parasitology, College of Veterinary Science and A.H, Jabalpur and stained by standard protocol for Giemsa staining. Genomic DNA was isolated from the collected blood sample using QIAamp® DNA blood mini kit following the manufacturer’s recommendations and PCR was performed. Conclusion: The thin blood smear examination revealed the presence of Babesia parasite. The species of Babesia was confirmed by molecular amplification of genomic DNA as B. bigemina. This might be the first confirmed report of cerebral babesiosis caused by B. bigemina from Central India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nasal obstruction is a common symptom among children with numerous causes. Congenital or acquired nasal septal deviation may cause nasal obstruction in children. Deviated nasal septum (DNS) may also result in sinusitis, headache, epistaxis and hyposmia which increase the morbidity of the child and hamper the quality of life. The present study investigated the clinical details of the DNS among children at a tertiary care teaching hospital. Methods: This is a retrospective study was conducted at a tertiary care teaching hospital between November 2016 and December 2021. History of nasal obstruction, mouth breathing, nasal bleeding and sinusitis among children with DNS was noted. Anterior rhinoscopy, fiberoptic endoscopic examinations of both nostrils and imaging such as computed tomography were done in all participating children with DNS. Results: Out of 652 children who attended the outpatient department of otorhinolaryngology, 128 (19.6%) were diagnosed with DNS. Out of 128 children with DNS, 72 (56.3%) were male; male:female ratio was 1.28:1. Out of 128 children, 54 (42.2%) children showed C-shaped DNS, 27 (21.1%) showed anterior dislocation, 21 (16.4%) showed S-shaped DNS, 15 (11.8%) showed spur and 11 (8.6%) showed nasal septal thickening. Conclusions: DNS and its impact on nasal breathing impairment in children are often underestimated by clinicians. Clinicians often are unaware on the impact of DNS and its clinical manifestations in children and its appropriate management. Early intervention for DNS in children is helpful to prevent morbid symptoms and their complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The attached and unattached radon and thoron progeny concentrations were measured in indoor environment using LR-115 detector-based Direct Progeny Sensors in a test village at Tehri Garhwal, India. The goal of this study is to determine radiological dosage attributed to inhalation of attached and unattached radon/thoron progeny. Human Respiratory Tract Model (HRTM) was used to estimate Inhalation Dose owing to nasal and mouth breathing. The average value of the annual effective dosage due to exposure of radon and thoron progeny was estimated to be 1.4 ± 0.4 mSv/y and 0.6 ± 0.2 mSv/y, respectively. The experimental techniques and results obtained are discussed in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The present study was conducted to determine the prevalence of harmful oral habits among 4-13-year-old children in relation to their age and gender, in a dental college hospital in Central Kerala, India. Methods: A retrospective survey was conducted in 1034 children (478 males and 556 females) aged between 4 and 13 years. The participants were checked for the prevalence of oral habits in relation to their age and gender. Information regarding oral habits was obtained with the help of a questionnaire and clinical evaluation using mouth mirror and water tests. Chi-square test was used in the statistical analysis. Results: Overall prevalence of oral habits was 72.7% in the study participants. Nearly 47.1% of the children had only one habit, whereas 19.1% had two habits and 5.5% had three or more habits. Mouth breathing was the most commonly reported oral habit (29.4%), followed by tongue thrusting (23.5%), nail biting (20%), thumb-sucking (17%), pencil biting (8.7%), bruxism (4.9%), and lip/cheek biting (4.5%). Nail biting was reported significantly more in females and bruxism significantly more in males. Prevalence of thumb-sucking was very high in younger children (4-8 years) compared to older children (9-13 years). Conclusion: The prevalence of oral habits among 4-13-year-old children is very high in Central Kerala, compared to children in other Indian populations. Since oral habits can be intercepted and prevented, creating awareness regarding the adverse outcomes of oral habits is highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the prevalence of oral habits in 11-13 year old children in Gulbarga city, India. Method: Data was gathered from 1000 children of age group 11-13 years, attending different primary schools of Gulbarga city. Information pertaining to the study was collected from the parents in the form of questionnaire, fallowed by the clinical examination of the subjects using torch, disposable mirror and the probe. Results: Out of 1000 children examined, 38% had oral habits, out of which 18% children had tongue thrusting habit, 17% had mouth breathing habit and only 3% had nail biting habit. There was no significant difference in prevalence of habits between male and female except for nail biting habit. Prevalence of the oral habit decreased with the increasing age. Conclusions: The data revealed that most of the children had oral habits. This highlights the importance of identifying children who are in need of preventive orthodontic treatment to avoid future occurrence of malocclusion. Further it is suggested that the same pattern of research has to be done on wide strata to identify the potentially occurring malocclusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]