swati singh

The present review systematically analyzed the available literature on the application of spheno-occipital synchondrosis (SOS) as a skeletal maturity indicator in growing subjects reporting for orthodontic treatment. A systematic search of the available literature on SOS for assessment of skeletal maturity was performed in various databases like Google Scholar, PubMed, and Scopus until December 2023. The risk of bias assessment was performed using the STARD (Standards for the Reporting of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies) statement. A narrative summary on the correlation of SOS with cervical vertebral maturation index (CVMI), hand-wrist maturation (HWM), and chronologic age was done, followed by a meta-analysis with a fixed effects model to quantitatively assess the correlation of SOS with CVMI. A total of eight studies were included in the review, and seven of them reported a significant, strong positive correlation between SOS and CVMI, two studies reported a moderate correlation of SOS with HWM stages, and seven studies reported a good to moderate correlation between SOS and chronologic age. Most included studies had a low risk of bias and were considered good-quality studies. On performing the meta-analysis of both the 4- and 5-stage SOS, a significant positive correlation of SOS with CVMI was noted (P<0.05). The present high-quality evidence suggests a strong positive correlation between SOS and CVMI, a moderate correlation between SOS and HMW, and a moderate correlation between SOS and chronologic age. Hence, SOS can reliably be used as a skeletal maturity indicator.

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) include a range of clinical syndromes that may be acquired/transmitted from one individual to another through sexual activity.

This study aimed to determine the awareness and knowledge of sexually transmitted infections and its associated factors among clinically suspected cases.

A hospital-based cross-sectional study design was used among 194 STIs patients between aged 15 to 60 years from a tertiary care hospital during August 2022 to March 2023. Data were collected through self-administered structured schedule. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with awareness and knowledge of STIs.

The proportion of respondents with good awareness and knowledge about STIs was 62% and 50% respectively. Respondents with poor awareness and poor knowledge of STIs were found to be more likely to engage in informal treatment care (AOR = 7.39, 95% CI [2.14-25.52] P = 0.002),) and (AOR = 1.21, 95% CI [1.34-4.30], P = 0.021). Place of residence, educational status, occupation, type of treatment care was found to be significantly associated with awareness of STIs and type of treatment care, referral status, delay in seeking treatment were found to be significantly associated with knowledge of STIs.

The current findings show that the knowledge level on STIs has slightly increased compared to previous studies, but it was still unsatisfactory. The existing education programs in the country should be enhanced, by conveying more information on STIs.

This review aims to collate and analyze the existing evidence on the comparison of external apical root resorption (EARR) in subjects treated with clear aligners (CAs) and fixed appliances (FA). An electronic search was conducted in six databases for articles published in all languages until July 2023. Studies that evaluated EARR in subjects treated with CAs and FAs were included. The RoB 2 tool for RCTs and the ROBINS-I tool for non-randomized studies were used to analyze the risk of bias (ROB). A random effects meta-analysis was performed to assess EARR extent in maxillary and mandibular anterior teeth for subjects treated with CAs and FAs. Ten studies (eight retrospective, one RCT, and one CCT) were included in this review, out of which six studies reported a moderate ROB, one reported a serious ROB, and three reported a low ROB on qualitative analysis. The quantitative analysis of six studies revealed a significant intergroup difference (P<0.05) in the mean EARR for maxillary central (SMD=-0.62, P<0.00001) and lateral incisors (SMD=-0.47, P=0.01) with a moderate heterogeneity (I2=56%), as well as the mandibular central incisors (SMD=-0.27, P=0.04) with high heterogeneity (I2=79%). EARR was lower in subjects treated with CAs than FAs. A moderate quality of the available evidence suggests that EARR was less evident in subjects treated with CAs when compared with FAs.

A lab based hybrid constructed wetland system (1.645 m2) consisting of sludge drying bed (0.135 m2), vertical sub-surface flow bed (0.58 m2), and horizontal sub-surface flow bed (0.93 m2) was operated for the treatment of septage. All the beds were filled with gravels of varied sizes (5-40 mm), sand (0.25 mm) and planted with Canna indica L. Average concentration in influent and effluent was observed as; BOD5 (2395.6±1196.4 and 41.87±8.9 mg/L), COD (7442± 7342.6 and 29.6±7.6 mg/L), TSS (4965.9±801.69 and 336.1±152.9 mg/L), TN (1774.8±693.5 and 55.7±13.7 mg/L), and Total P (849.3±237.7 and 7.05±3.5mg/L) during study period. Hybrid System was operated with high influent loads of BOD5 (175.2± 87.5 g m-2 d-1), COD (544.5±537 g m-2 d-1), TSS (363.3±58.6 g m-2 d-1), Total N (129.8±50.7 g m-2 d-1), NH4-N (7.8±1.1 g m-2 d-1), and Total P (62.1±17.4 g m-2 d-1), throughout the study period. Hybrid-CW has showed significant removal of BOD5 (99.1±0.3%), COD (99.7±0.3%), TS (98.2±6.8%), TSS (96.9±4.9%), Total N (98.4±0.4 %), NH4-N (94.8±0.1%), and Total P (99.6±0.1%) from the septage. Finally treated septage met effluent discharge standards for all parameters except BOD5.

A convenient and efficient synthesis of 2-substituted benzothiazole derivatives are carried out by the one-pot reaction of 2-aminothiophenol with various aromatic aldehydes in using Bi2O3 nanoparticles as a catalyst at 60°C. The structure of the synthesized compounds have been confirmed on the basis of by FT-IR, H1 NMR, C13 NMR, Mass spectrometry and elemental analysis. This protocol afforded advantages i.e. purification of products by non-chromatographic method. Bi2O3 nanoparticles is cheap, readily available, versatile, environment friendly and recyclable. The reaction has been carried out in ethanol, thus eliminating hazardous organic solvents.