Socioeconomic inequalities in high-risk fertility behaviors over time in Ethiopia.

Introduction: High-risk fertility behaviors (HRFB), including short birth intervals, early or late childbearing age, and high parity, are associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Understanding the importance of socioeconomic disparity in HRFB and the factors influencing this disparity is essential to improve maternal and child survival, Accordingly, this study investigated socioeconomic inequalities in HRFB over time and its contributing factors.

Methods: We included a total weighted sample of 11,163 and 5,527 women aged 15 to 49 years from the 2005 and 2019 Ethiopia Demographic and Health Surveys, respectively.

Access to specialist plastic surgery in rural vs. Urban areas of Africa.

Introduction: Plastic surgery is an essential yet underdeveloped field in many African nations, especially in rural areas. The demand for plastic surgery is increasing, but differences in access to respective services between rural and urban domiciles remain ever existent, despite the exponentiation of trauma, burns, and congenital disorders. According to this review, urban areas have access to better facilities and specialized surgeons, while rural areas frequently lack infrastructure, educated healthcare personnel, and medical resources.

Disparities in telehealth utilization between US rural and urban areas during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Purpose: During the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth services were expanded across the United States to meet the increased demand and safety requirements of care. This observational study aims to understand rural-urban differences in telehealth utilization during the early part of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: Individual-level data from the National Health Interview Survey 2020-2021 (age ≥18) were analyzed for this study.

The Evaluation of Gingival Crevicular Fluid Biomarkers as Predictors of Gingival Enlargement in Patients Undergoing Fixed Orthodontic Treatment: A Prospective Study.

Introduction Gingival enlargement (GE) poses a significant problem during fixed orthodontic treatment (FOT). Thus, the primary aim of the current study was to evaluate the concentrations of biomarkers present in the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) of individuals receiving FOT. The ancillary aim was to examine and compare biomarker levels among patients exhibiting GE undergoing FOT, those without GE undergoing FOT, and a control group comprising individuals not undergoing FOT and to assess the predictors for GE in patients undergoing orthodontic treatment.

Cellular Schwannoma of the Palate Simulating as Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor: A Diagnostic Marathon.

Schwannomas are considered benign soft tissue tumors that originate from Schwann cells. Oral Schwannomas are rare and account for only 1% of all Schwannomas. Cellularschwannoma (CS) is a rare histological variant of schwannoma, characterized by high cellularity and cellular atypia.

Oral human papillomavirus infections in Zambian Rural and Urban residents-a community cross-sectional study.

Background: How common it is with the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) in the healthy and diseased oral cavity is largely unknown for Africans. In this cross-sectional study we assessed the prevalence of oral HPV and the risk factors associated with HPV contraction including sexual practice in the urban and rural Zambian population.

Methods: Urban (N = 188) and rural (N = 211) Zambian adults aged 21 years and older living in Ndola and Mansa, respectively, were interviewed about demographical data, oral and coital sexual history and tobacco and alcohol use.

Prevalence and Patterns of Polysubstance Use (Tobacco and Other Substances) and Associated Factors: A Cross-Sectional Analysis in a High-Risk Cohort for Oral Cancer in Varanasi, India, with a Special Focus on Young Emerging Adults.

Introduction: The dearth of population-based data on polysubstance use, especially in young emerging adults, presents a critical gap in understanding public health challenges, particularly in rural India, where tobacco and oral cancer are prevalent. This study addresses this gap by investigating the prevalence and patterns of substance use, with a focus on young emerging adults (18-29 years) within a high-risk cohort for oral cancer in Varanasi, India.

Methods: The study involved a cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from 10,101 participants within a high-risk cohort in rural settings of the Varanasi district between December 2020-June 2023.

Ranking of Health Problems and Prioritization of Cancer Education Topics by African American Communities in South Carolina.

Despite landmark breakthroughs in cancer research, African American adults (AA) bear the highest cancer burden compared to other racial groups in the United States (US). AA adults have twice the likelihood of dying from prostate and uterine cancers compared to White adults, suggesting that there are fundamental issues yet to be addressed when developing and implementing cancer-preventative programs for AA communities. Community-based participatory research (CBPR) empowers community members to identify and prioritize their health problems and preferred strategies to tackle these issues.

Awareness and Practices of Menstrual Hygiene Among Rural Adolescent Schoolgirls in Lahore, Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background Empowering adolescent girls with accurate data, a supportive environment, and access to resources is crucial for promoting their dignity and educational success, thereby enabling gender equity and social development in rural communities. Aim This research aims to assess the knowledge and practices of menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls in schools within the rural community of Lahore, Pakistan. Methodology This research employed a quantitative, cross-sectional design, with a survey conducted among 108 participants in Lakhodair Sharif Bakra Mandi, Lahore, Pakistan.

The Application of L-Serine-Incorporated Gelatin Sponge into the Calvarial Defect of the Ovariectomized Rats.

Background: Osteoporosis, characterized by decreased bone mineral density due to an imbalance between osteoblast and osteoclast activity, poses significant challenges in bone healing, particularly in postmenopausal women. Current treatments, such as bisphosphonates, are effective but associated with adverse effects like medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw, necessitating safer alternatives.

Methods: This study investigated the use of L-serine-incorporated gelatin sponges for bone regeneration in calvarial defects in an ovariectomized rat model of osteoporosis.

Association Between Sealant and Early Impairment of First Molars in 6-14-Year-Olds: A 9-Year Follow-Up Using South Korean Cohort Data.

Objectives: This study aimed to analyse the 2010-2018 cohort data of the National Health Insurance Service to examine the association between applying sealants in the first molars of children and their early dental impairment.

Methods: Based on the two-level mixed effect model (individual four teeth), the study participants were divided into two groups: those with sealants on all four first molars and those without sealants to determine the association between sealants and early impairment. We analysed teeth that had undergone extraction or canal filling to determine early impairment.

Association between oral health-related behaviors and quality of life of adolescents among three provinces in Northwest China.

Objective: To assess the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of adolescents in Northwest China, and to explore the relationship between sociodemographic characteristics, oral health-related behaviors and OHRQoL.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey of adolescents aged 12-15 years in Shaanxi, Gansu province and Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region of Northwest China was conducted by stratified cluster random sampling. Oral examinations were performed with World Health Organization (WHO) standards, and the condition of crowns and periodontal was recorded.

Association of Demographic Disparities in Maternal Oral Hygiene Status, Caries Experience, and Oral Health Behavior Toward Children in Chengalpattu District, India: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background And Objective:  Mothers are the primary caregivers throughout early childhood, playing a vital role in developing their child's oral health behavior, as oral conditions in primary teeth can have a considerable negative impact on the child's growth. This study aims to assess the association between maternal oral hygiene status, caries experience, and oral health behavior (OHB) toward their children.

Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 226 mothers of children aged nine months to three years visiting the primary health centers (PHCs) in urban (n = 113) and rural (n = 113) areas of Chengalpattu district, India.

4-Hexylresorcinol Enhances Glut4 Expression and Glucose Homeostasis via AMPK Activation and Histone H3 Acetylation.

This study investigates the potential of 4-hexylresorcinol (4HR) as a novel antidiabetic agent by assessing its effects on blood glucose levels, Glut4 expression, AMPK phosphorylation, and Histone H3 acetylation (Ac-H3) in the liver. In vitro experiments utilized Huh7 and HepG2 cells treated with varying concentrations of 4HR. Glut4, p-AMPK, and Ac-H3 expression levels were quantified via Western blotting.

Evaluating practices toward dental health among primary school children in Rwanda.

Background: Dental diseases pose a global health problem that significantly affects overall well-being and quality of life. They are frequently neglected in many regions, despite the availability of preventive measures and it remains unclear whether these measures are effectively implemented in practice. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate dental health practices among primary school children in both rural and urban areas of Rwanda.

The Influence of Patient-, Site-, and Implant-Related Factors on Marginal Bone Levels of Dental Implants in a Rural Population in China: A Retrospective Study.

Objectives: Limited research is available on implant treatment outcomes in rural populations. This may be due to the presence of various barriers, such as access to oral health care, resources, health literacy, and education. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of patient-, site-, and implant-related factors on marginal bone levels of dental implants in a rural population in China.

Assessment of fluoride level in drinking water sources in Sudurpaschim Province, Nepal.

Background: Fluoride, a naturally occurring element found in varying concentrations in water, confers preventive effects in dental caries around a concentration of 1 ppm. The study aimed to assess the level of fluoride in drinking water sources in the Sudurpashchim Province of Nepal.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from April to July 2023 with water samples from natural, municipal, and packaged sources collected in polypropylene plastic bottles from all 9 districts of the province.

Expanding School-based Oral Health Programs in the Carolinas: Challenges and Opportunities.

School-based oral health programs are an effective approach to population-based care and a stalwart of public health, especially in rural and underserved communities. Lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic have informed contemporary strategies and policies to ensure integration into the delicate dental safety net in the Carolinas.

Evaluation of stress generation in core build up-material of mutilated primary teeth: a comparative finite element analysis between BioFlx, stainless steel and zirconia crowns.

Stainless-steel crowns (SSCs) are the most durable restorative option for deciduous teeth, although they are unsightly. However, prefabricated zirconia crowns (ZCs) look more pleasant but require substantial dental preparation. Recently, BioFlx crowns have been introduced as a white-colored alternative to SSCs, providing both flexibility and aesthetics.

Acceptance of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine among the parents of eligible daughters (9-15 years) in Bangladesh: A nationwide study using Health Belief Model.

Background: To align with the 2030 vision of the World Health Organization (WHO) to ensure 90% of girls receive the HPV vaccine before turning 15, Bangladesh has recently started the (HPV) vaccine campaign nationwide. Therefore, our study aimed to assess the level of its acceptance among parents of eligible daughters in Bangladesh.

Methods: This nationwide cross-sectional study was conducted among the self-identified parents of daughters in the age group of 9-15 years between June 28 and August 2, 2023.

Atypical Presentation and Surgical Management of Ectopic Mandibular Third Molar in Subcondylar Region: A Rare Case Report.

Ectopic teeth arise from developmental abnormalities and can be supernumerary, deciduous, or permanent teeth. They can cause orofacial pain, swelling, and infection. There is a major paucity in literature about ectopic mandibular third molar (EMTM) and its causes, symptoms, and treatment.