Abstract : The controversies regarding amalgam use in dentistry has been an issue for decades. The perspectives on practice of silver amalgam restorations and its associated hazards still vary among dentists. Thus, the aim of the present study was to assess the knowledge of dentists regarding potential risks of silver amalgam and the use of alternative dental restorative materials in southern Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study was carried out, among 231 dentists working in the southern Saudi Arabia. A close-ended questionnaire was mailed to all dentists in Southern Saudi Arabia who consented to the study. The response rate was 96%. About 84% of the participants were aware of the mercury toxicity. More than 50%of the practitioners felt the use of silver amalgam should either be reduced or stopped. Most of the dentists preferred resin composite followed by silver reinforced glass as alternatives to Amalgam. The present study showed that despite the controversies and regular media debates and discussions regarding the safety of silver amalgam restorations, the restorative material has been rated as ‘safe’ by about fifty percent of the practitioners when asked about mercury toxicity.Majority of the dentists in the region were aware of mercury toxicity and preferred alternative restorative materials.

Keyword : Silver Amalgam, mercury toxicity, dentist perspective.

Abstract : The textile industry is one of the oldest and second largest industries in the world. So, power loom provides a major source of employment to the rural people in India. The power loom workers can be exposed to dust, generated from the textile products in various stages during the textile manufacturing process. Numerous epidemiological studies have documented decrements in pulmonary function and various other health problems associated with long-term air pollution exposure. obesity is also an major cause which affects the pulmonary function periodically .Obesity can also affects the thorax, diaphragm and abdominal muscles which alters respiratory function even if the lungs are under normal circumstances. The study was designed to compare Body mass index with peak expiratory flow rate among power loom and non power loom workers in rural area in Salem district. 500 subjects between the age group of 30-70 years who volunteered to enroll for the study were selected. It included 250 power loom workers and 250 non power loom workers in a rural area in Salem district. Body mass index were measured by height and weight of the subjects. Peak expiratory flow rate was measured by using Wrights peak flow meter. The result shows as BMI increased PEFR decreased in both Power loom and non Power loom workers. But comparison with non power loom workers, PEFR was further more decreased in power loom workers when compared to non power loom workers which was statistically significant. Obesity may also cause impairment of diaphragmatic activity-dependent respiratory function. The mechanical behaviour of the respiratory system in obese individuals may altering lung volume, airway calibre or respiratory muscle strength.

Keyword : Body mass index, power loom workers, non power loom workers, peak expiratory flow rate, and pulmonary function.

Abstract : Digestive disorders affect people from all parts of the world. This cause significant impact on health cost and absenteeism at work place. There are various treatments available in modern medicine but they are either associated with side effects or recurrence. Gastrone a purely herbal remedy has been found to be effective in the treatment of GI disorders. In this study Gastrone was found to be highly effective in the alleviating symptoms of FGDs. There was no adverse effect reported and more than 88% patients responded to treatment.

Keyword : Dyspepsia, Gastrone, Hyperacidity, Belching.

Abstract : Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune systemic inflammatory disease primarily affecting the joints as well as other extra-articular tissues. This study was designed to evaluate the immunomodulatory effect of different doses of quercetin(500mg, 1000mg, 1500mg/day) for rheumatoid arthritis in patients treated with the conventional disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). This project was performed on 160 rheumatoid arthritis patients who fulfilled the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria for the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. In addition to 30 healthy volunteers were invited to participate in the study and served as a control group. The selected patients were allocated randomly into four groups, group (A) treated with azathioprine(100 mg/day) plus a placebo( starch containing capsules), group (B) treated with azathioprine (100mg/day) plus quercetin (500mg/day), group (C) treated with azathioprine (100mg/day) plus quercetin (1000mg/day) and group (D) patients treated with azathioprine (100mg/day) plus quercetin (1500mg/day). Serum level of interleukin-6, interleukin-10, intercellular adhesion molecule I (ICAM-1), complements proteins pretreatment and after eight weeks of treatment. It was found that quercetin at doses of 1500mg/ day, when added to 100mg azathioprine, significantly(p< 0.05) reduced interleukin-6, complement protein 3 (C3) & complement protein 4 (C4) levels and elevated interleukin-10 level more than when azathioprine had combined with placebo or with lower doses of quercetin(500, 1000mg). However, all of tested doses of quercetin in this study were able to significantly (p< 0.05) reduce the level of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 as compared to the quercetin-free treated group. Oral administration of different daily doses of quercetin (500, 1000, 1500mg) in combination with azathioprine (100 mg) produced an immunomodulatory action through the reduction of interleukin-6, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and complement protein

Keyword : Immunomodulatory, Quercetin, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Interleukins, Complements protein.

Abstract : Rotavirus is the most common cause of severe diarrhoea among children <5 years of age worldwide. To determine the prevalence of severe rotavirus infection in children admitted with acute gastroenteritis attending Mbabane Government Referral Hospital in the Hhohho region and Raleigh Fitkin Memorial (RFM) Hospital in the Manzini Region of Swaziland, sentinel surveillance was conducted in January 2013 – December 2014. This is hospital based sentinel surveillance study. A total of 331 children under the age of five years with acute diarrhoea were enrolled into the sentinel surveillance system and 302 cases had stool samples tested for rotavirus antigens by enzyme immunoassay ProSpec T Rotavirus kit. The G and P genotypes were established by multiplex nested reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Rotavirus was detected in 159 (52.6%) of the 302 children with acute diarrhoea that had stool specimens collected and 108 (68%) of positive cases of rotavirus gastroenteritis were between 6-11 months of age and 91% were below the age of two years. Rotavirus infection occurred with peaks between June - August. During the 2013 – 2014 period, 146 samples were subjected for reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and genotyping assays. The most common genotypes detected in Swaziland were 82% G2P[4] in 2013 and 93% G1P [8] in 2014. Swaziland would benefit by introducing rotavirus vaccine and hence reduce the hospitalization burden of managing acute diarrhoea cases attributed to Rotavirus. The data from the sentinel hospitals can also be used to monitor the effectiveness of the vaccine once introduced.

Keyword : Diarrhoea, Rotavirus, prevalence, genotypes

Abstract : This is a case control study. It was conducted at Madani educational Hospital in Aljazeera state. The aim of the present study is to evaluate Serum urea, creatinine, Na, K, copper and selenium levels in sickle cell disease patients. A total of 70 sickle cell disease patients were enrolled in this study, in addition to 30 healthy’ children as a control group age and sex matched apparently healthy control subjects. Blood samples collected from participants were analyzed for trace elements using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The results of the present study showed a significant increase in the mean of serum urea levels in patients when compared with control group (58.76±10.19) versus (34.27±7.13) mg/dl respectively with (P-value 0.00). Result of creatinine indicated insignificant increase when compared mean of patients with mean of control group (0.87±0.22) versus (0.42±0.07) mg/dl with (P-value 0.07). Also there was insignificant difference in the serum Na and K in mean of patients comparing with mean of control group (138.77±6.47) versus (139.5±2.93)m.mol/l (P-value 0. 5), (4.28±0.74) versus (3.91±0.34) m. mol/l (P-value 0.10). In the current study there was significant increase in the mean of serum copper levels when compared mean of patients with mean of control group(1.61±0.22) versus (1.03±0.23) mg/ L (P-value 0.00) but in the mean of serum selenium levels there was a significant decrease(64.91 ± 3.780) versus (85.40±8.82) (P-value 0.00). Conclusively, assessment of trace element levels is vital in the management of sickle cell disease. and thereby improving the chances of survival in sickle cell disease.

Keyword : Homozygous sickle cell diseases, renal function tests, copper, selenium.