Characterisation of Anopheles species composition and genetic diversity in Meghalaya, northeast India, using molecular identification tools.

Malaria in India is declining, in part due to the use of long-lasting insecticide-treated nets (LLINs) and vector control. Historically, the north-eastern region of India has contributed ~10%-12% of the nation's malaria burden. The important mosquito vectors in northeast India have long been considered to be Anopheles baimaii and An.

Antimalarial Drug Resistance Profiling of Infections in India Using Next-Generation Sequencing.

Background: Tracking the emergence and spread of antimalarial drug resistance has become critical to sustaining progress towards the control and eventual elimination of malaria in South Asia, especially India.

Methods: An amplicon sequencing protocol was used for high-throughput molecular surveillance of antimalarial drug resistance in a total of 158 isolates at three sites in India: Chennai, Nadiad and Rourkela. Five genes of the implicated in antimalarial resistance were investigated here; for chloroquine resistance, for pyrimethamine resistance, for sulfadoxine resistance, for artemisinin resistance and for resistance to multiple antimalarials.

Systematic review of school-based tobacco prevention programs for the adolescents in India from 2000 to 2020.

In India, 14.6% of adolescents are currently using tobacco in any form and tobacco control is a major public health challenge. The objective of this systematic review is to analyze all the existing literature and evaluate the effectiveness of school-based tobacco use prevention programs for adolescents in India.

Population genetic structure of the malaria vector Anopheles fluviatilis species T (Diptera: Culicidae) in India.

Anopheles fluviatilis James (Diptera: Culicidae) represents a complex that comprises four sibling species (S, T, U, and V). Among these, species T is widely distributed in India. Chromosomal inversion polymorphism exists among different geographic populations of An.

Genetic diversity in two leading Plasmodium vivax malaria vaccine candidates AMA1 and MSP119 at three sites in India.

Plasmodium vivax, a major contributor to the malaria burden in India, has the broadest geographic distribution and shows higher genetic diversity than P. falciparum. Here, we investigated the genetic diversity of two leading P.

Effectiveness of licorice in preventing dental caries in children: A systematic review.

Background: Dental caries is one of the most prevailing oral health diseases in children. Recent times have focused on herbal products, because they have minimum or no side effects and are effective in prevention. Licorice is one such product belonging to Glycyrrhiza family used in the form of dentifrice, chewing gums, lollipop, gels, etc.

Obstructive sleep apnea domains: Knowledge, attitude and practice results of dentists from a dental college in India.

Objective: To assess the knowledge, attitude and practice regarding different domains of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) amongst dentists from a dental college in India.

Methods: 112 dentists participated in the study. A 23-item, self-designed, pre-tested and validated questionnaire assessing the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) regarding nine different domains was used to collect the data.

Prevalence of dental caries among children aged 5-15 years from 9 countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: a meta-analysis.

Background: Dental caries affects all age groups, although children are affected to a greater extent. Several studies have assessed the prevalence of dental caries in the World Health Organization (WHO) Eastern Mediterranean Region. However, prevalence data for dental caries have not been pooled for all countries in the Region.

Dental caries prevalence among 5- to 15-year-old children from SEAR countries of WHO: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: The aim of this review was to estimate the prevalence of dental caries in children 5-15 years of age in the countries of the South-East Asia Region (SEAR) of World Health Organization (WHO) and to describe the different caries indices used in these population-based studies.

Materials And Methods: A systematic search was carried out in two databases from 1 January 2005 to 31 May 2015. Studies were included if they met the predetermined eligibility criteria.

Antibody responses within two leading Plasmodium vivax vaccine candidate antigens in three geographically diverse malaria-endemic regions of India.

Background: Identifying highly immunogenic blood stage antigens which can work as target for naturally acquired antibodies in different eco-epidemiological settings is an important step for designing malaria vaccine. Blood stage proteins of Plasmodium vivax, apical membrane antigen-1 (PvAMA-1) and 19 kDa fragment of merozoite surface protein (PvMSP-1) are such promising vaccine candidate antigens. This study determined the naturally-acquired antibody response to PvAMA-1 and PvMSP-1 antigens in individuals living in three geographically diverse malaria endemic regions of India.

The burden of submicroscopic and asymptomatic malaria in India revealed from epidemiology studies at three varied transmission sites in India.

Malaria in India, while decreasing, remains a serious public health problem, and the contribution of submicroscopic and asymptomatic infections to its persistence is poorly understood. We conducted community surveys and clinic studies at three sites in India differing in their eco-epidemiologies: Chennai (Tamil Nadu), Nadiad (Gujarat), and Rourkela (Odisha), during 2012-2015. A total of 6,645 subject blood samples were collected for Plasmodium diagnosis by microscopy and PCR, and an extensive clinical questionnaire completed.

Assessment of mother's ability in caries diagnosis, utilizing the smartphone photographic method.

Background: Smartphone is proved to be reliable in teledentistry model. The aim of the study was to assess the mother's ability in caries diagnosis, utilizing the smartphone-based photographic method.

Hypothesis: Mothers have the ability for caries diagnosis utilizing the smartphone photographic method.

Assessment of oral findings of dental patients who screen high and no risk for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) reporting to a dental college - A cross sectional study.

To assess the oral findings of patients who screen high and no risk for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) reporting to outpatient department of a dental college. Patients coming to dental Out Patient Department (OPD) were screened using STOP questionnaire and were categorized into high (n=130) and no risk (n=130) OSA groups. BANG (body mass index, age, neck circumference and gender) was recorded for both the OSA risk group patients.

A Method for Amplicon Deep Sequencing of Drug Resistance Genes in Plasmodium falciparum Clinical Isolates from India.

A major challenge to global malaria control and elimination is early detection and containment of emerging drug resistance. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) methods provide the resolution, scalability, and sensitivity required for high-throughput surveillance of molecular markers of drug resistance. We have developed an amplicon sequencing method on the Ion Torrent PGM platform for targeted resequencing of a panel of six Plasmodium falciparum genes implicated in resistance to first-line antimalarial therapy, including artemisinin combination therapy, chloroquine, and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine.