Teledentistry awareness, its usefulness, and challenges among dental professionals in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.

Objectives: This study aims to describe the perception of dental professionals in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia (SA) towards the practice of teledentistry, its usefulness and challenges.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among 190 dentists from January 2021 to April 2021. The participants were included in the study using snowball sampling method.

Effect of lumbar traction on discogenic low back pain using variable forces.

Objective: To determine the effect of variable traction forces on discogenic low back pain.

Methods: The experimental study was conducted at the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the Combined Military Hospital, Okara, Pakistan, from July to December 2018, and comprised patients of low back pain who were randomised into group 1 treated with high-force lumbar traction, hot pack and lumbar stabilisation exercises, and group 2 treated with low-force lumbar traction, hot pack and lumbar stabilisation exercises. There were a 3 sessions per week for 3 weeks for a total of 9 sessions.

Effect of Pilates based exercises on symptomatic knee osteoarthritis: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: To determine the effects of Pilates exercises on pain, knee range of motion and functional disability in women with knee osteoarthritis.

Methods: The double-blind randomised controlled trial was conducted at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Bahawalpur, Pakistan, from April to September 2018, and comprised female patients with knee osteoarthritis. The subjects were selected and randomised into control group A receiving isometrics and intervention group B receiving Pilates exercises.

Reorienting goals in endodontic therapy: Pulp revitalisation, on the brink of a paradigm shift.

Objective: To assess literature related to the various aspects of dental pulp tissue engineering, its myriad protocols, inclusive of adjuvant surgeries, and to summarise the testing methodologies of pulp vitality.

Methods: The multidisciplinary systematic review was conducted at the Army Medical College, Rawalpindi, the National University of Medical Sciences, Rawalpindi, and HITEC Dental College, Taxilla, Pakistan, and comprised literature search on PubMed, Scopus, MEDLINE, Cochrane and Science Direct databases related to articles about 'revitalisation', 'revascularisation', 'dental pulp' and 'regeneration' published from January 2017 to January 2020.

Results: Of the 5,986 articles found through search, 14(0.

Impact of strengthening exercises with and without blood flow restriction on quadriceps of knee osteoarthritis patients.

Objective: To determine the effect of blood flow restriction with strengthening exercises on knee osteoarthritis patients.

Method: The case-control study was conducted at the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Combined Military Hospital, Okara, Pakistan, from June to December 2018, and comprised knee osteoarthritis patients who were assigned to two equal groups. The cases in Group A received strengthening exercises with blood flow restriction, while the controls in Group B received strengthening exercises without blood flow restriction.

Prevalence of dental caries in Pakistan: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Optimum oral health is impossible to achieve without managing dental caries. The first step to manage dental caries at a community level is to know its prevalence and trend. Unfortunately, the prevalence of dental caries at the national/regional level is not known in many developing countries.

Distribution of High-risk Human Papillomavirus Genotypes in Cervical Secretions in Punjab.

Objective: To determine the high risk-human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) prevalence, genotype distribution, and associated risk factors in women with general gynaecological problems.

Study Design: Descriptive, cross-sectional study.

Place And Duration Of Study: Lady Wallingdon Hospital, Lahore from August 2018 to May 2019.

The trends of dental biomaterials research and future directions: A mapping review.

Objective: This literature research aimed to compare, contrast and quantify the innovations in the most commonly used dental biomaterials.

Methodology: Original research articles based on experimental dental biomaterials published between 2007 and 2019 were retrieved and reviewed. A search of electronic databases, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science indexed dental/biomaterials journals, has been conducted.

Sagittal Jaw Relationship of Different Types of Cleft and Non-cleft Individuals.

To investigate whether the craniofacial sagittal jaw relationship in patients with non-syndromic cleft differed from non-cleft (NC) individuals by artificial intelligence (A.I.)-driven lateral cephalometric (Late.

A Cytological Study Enlightening the Unseen Effects of Concomitant Chemoradiotherapy in Contralateral Normal Buccal Mucosa of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients.

Background/objectives In patients receiving concomitant chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) as a treatment for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), cytological changes were seen not only in neoplastic epithelial cells but the non-neoplastic epithelial cells are also affected, resulting in cytopathological atypical changes. The present study was designed to observe oral epithelial atypical cytopathologic changes induced in contralateral normal buccal mucosa in OSCC patients receiving CCRT. Methods The study included 150 patients with OSCC treated by CCRT whose details were collected from the Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Oncology Lahore (INMOL) Hospital Lahore.

Frequency of Different Dental Irregularities Associated With Cleft Lip and Palate in a Tertiary Care Dental Hospital.

Background Oro-facial clefts (OFCs) are formed due to a combination of genetic factors and environmental factors. Treatment is usually extensive and lasts till adult age. The treatment also includes a large portion of dental rehabilitation.

Nature and severity of dental malocclusion in children suffering from transfusion-dependent (-thalassemia major.

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence and severity of malocclusion in children suffering from β-thalassemia and to assess orthodontic treatment need using Grainger's Treatment Priority Index (TPI) and index of orthodontic treatment need (IOTN)-dental health component (DHC).

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 200 transfusion-dependent children diagnosed with homozygous β-thalassemia and 200 healthy school children aged 11-17 years. The TPI and IOTN-DHC data was recorded for both groups.

Current trends in craniofacial distraction: A literature review.

The techniques and procedures involved in craniofacial distraction are constantly evolving. The understanding of histological and biochemical response at the distraction site is now improved. The cascade of events in distraction osteogenesis (DO) differs significantly from the typical fracture healing, and a better knowledge about these events has helped us identify suitable candidates for DO, make appropriate modifications to the distraction protocols and minimize the risk of complications.

Assessment and prevalence of concomitant chemo-radiotherapy-induced oral mucositis in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Background/aim: Quantification of oral mucositis that progresses during concomitant chemo-radiotherapy (CCRT) is essential for its management. It is important to determine the methods that are simple, reliable and beneficial in foreseeing mucositis at earlier stages of treatment.

Materials And Methods: A prospective study was conducted on 100 oral cancer patients receiving CCRT following the inclusion criteria.

Comparison of the Efficacy of Tramadol and Paroxetine in the Management of Premature Ejaculation.

Objective The goal of this study was to compare the efficacy of tramadol and paroxetine in the treatment of primary premature ejaculation (PE). Study design This study was a randomized controlled trial performed in the outpatient department of Nishtar Hospital, Multan, from January 2017 to January 2018. Methodology One hundred six patients were diagnosed with PE and included in the study.

Corona pandemic: awareness of health care providers in Pakistan.

Introduction: Corona pandemic has resulted in a high mortality rate among health care professionals. The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge and practices of health care providers during this pandemic in Punjab, Pakistan.

Methods: A web based cross sectional survey was conducted during 2 of April to 20 April 2020 targeting health care professionals working in Punjab, Pakistan.

Management of an adolescent with complete bilateral cleft lip and palate using fan-shaped expander and secondary alveolar bone graft: A case report.

Treatment approach for bilateral cleft lip and palate (BLCLP) patients varies according to their presenting age. This case report describes the successful orthodontic treatment in an adolescent with BLCLP who was classified in Grade 3 according to Bauru BLCLP yardstick. The patient was diagnosed with skeletal Class III malocclusion, severe crowding, anterior and bilateral posterior crossbites and bilateral maxillary anterior alveolar defects.

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Forecast of an Emerging Urgency in Pakistan.

Background/Aims Novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global challenge due to little available knowledge and treatment protocols. Thus, there is a great need for collecting data related to COVID-19 from all around the world. Hence, we conducted this study, collecting daily data on COVID-19, to map the epidemiology outbreak and forecast its trajectory for May 2020.

Efficacy of Dexmedetomidine vs Morphine as an Adjunct in a Paravertebral Block with Bupivacaine in Postoperative Analgesia Following Modified Radical Mastectomy.

Objective To observe the efficacy of dexmedetomidine vs morphine as an adjunct in a paravertebral block (PVB) with bupivacaine in postoperative analgesia following modified radical mastectomy. Study design This was a randomized controlled trial performed from June 2018 to August 2019 in the Department of Anesthesia, Bakhtawar Amin Medical and Dental College, Ch. Pervaiz Ellahi Institute of Cardiology, Multan, Gurki Hospital, Services Institute of Medical Sciences, and Sheikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore.

Comparison of Ureteroscopic Pneumatic Lithotripsy and Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy for Proximal Ureteral Calculi.

Objective The goal of this study was to compare the effectiveness and complications of ureteroscopic pneumatic lithotripsy (URS) and extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) in the management of patients with proximal ureteral stones. Methods In this trial, 150 patients presenting with proximal ureteral stones at the Department of Urology of Nishter Hospital Multan from November 2018 to November 2019 were allocated 1:1 to undergo URS or SWL. The presence of stone fragments <4 mm on follow-up was regarded as being stone free.

Review Analysis on Thymectomy vs Conservative Medical Management in Myasthenia Gravis.

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an acquired, rare autoimmune disease that occurs due to autoantibodies blocking neuromuscular transmission. Its pathophysiology involves production of antibodies against the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Patients with negative anti-acetylcholine receptors (AChR) antibodies results are recognized as seronegative myasthenia gravis.

Atypical Descending Paralysis in Miller Fisher Syndrome: A Rare Variant of Guillain-Barre Syndrome.

Miller Fisher syndrome (MFS) is a rare variant of Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) which usually presents with descending paralysis. Common symptoms are ophthalmoplegia, ataxia, and areflexia. Our case presented with an atypical presentation.

Role of Prophylactic Antibiotics in Critical Care of Stroke Patients - A Preventive Approach to Post-stroke Infections?

Post-stroke complications are very common worldwide and the most common complication is infection. This contributes the most to the mortality rate in stroke patients. Among the infections, pneumonia and urinary tract infections are most common.

Study of Culture and Sensitivity Patterns of Urinary Tract Infections in Patients Presenting with Urinary Symptoms in a Tertiary Care Hospital.

Objective To study the culture and sensitivity patterns of urinary tract infections in patients presenting with urinary symptoms in a tertiary care hospital. Study design  A cross-sectional study. Place and duration of the study The departments of General Medicine, Nephrology, and Urology at Nishtar Hospital, Multan, from May 5, 2019, to November 5, 2019.

The Neuroprotective Effects of Exercise on Cognitive Decline: A Preventive Approach to Alzheimer Disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive disorder that causes brain cells to slowly degenerate and die. This leads to a continuous decline in thinking, behavioral and social skills that disrupts a person's ability to function independently. AD is the most common cause of dementia globally.