Common Habit Research Articles

The effect of smoking on amylase enzyme activity in saliva

Smoking has become a common habit in Indonesia. If done regularly, smoking is known to cause problems in the oral cavity. When smoking, cigarette smoke will enter the oral cavity and affect the activity of the salivary amylase enzyme. The journal search used in this review was conducted on several databases, such as PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google with a range of years between 2013 and 2023. A total of 14 studies from various global populations were included in this review. Thirteen studies showed an association between smoking and alpha-amylase enzyme activity, while one study did not show an association between smoking and amylase enzyme. Of the 13 studies that showed an association, ten studies showed a negative association, while the remaining three studies showed a positive association. The effect of cigarettes on amylase activity in saliva may arise due to several factors, including the toxic effects of cigarettes on the salivary glands, mechanical and chemical stimulation of cigarettes on the mucosa, smoking period, oxidative stress index, and salivary pH.

Assessment of variations in upper and lower gonial angle in children with mouth breathing habit

Background: Mouth breathing is one of the most common deleterious oral habits in children. The habitual position of muscles inside and outside the mouth will affect dental development. Mouth breathing influences skeletal growth and thereby affects the cephalometric parameters. The present study aimed to assess if there is any variation in upper and lower gonial angles in children with mouth breathing habit. Methods: The 33 patients in the age group of 8 to 12 years reporting to the Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry with chief complaint of mouth breathing was selected for the study based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Lateral cephalograms of these children were taken with a digital panoramic system under standard exposure factors, as recommended by the manufacturer. Upper and lower gonial angles were determined on the lateral cephalograms. The values obtained were tabulated and subjected to statistical evaluation. Results: The mean upper and lower gonial angles were seen to increase from the normal in children with mouth breathing habit. However, independent sample t test showed no statistically significant difference in upper and lower gonial angles with a p value of 0.598 in upper gonial angle and 0.714 in lower gonial angle. Contusions: Early detection of the changes in the upper and lower gonial angles can help a pediatric dentist in effectively framing a treatment plan in children with mouth breathing habit, to prevent further deterioration in the dental and skeletal structures and be able to correct the already occurred unfavourable changes in them.

SALIVA FLOW RATE AND PLAQUE SCORE IN CONVENTIONAL SMOKERS

Background: Smoking had become a common habit in the community. The Lampung Dormitory in Yogyakarta had found that people who had consumed cigarettes for more than 1 year had a moderate level of dental and oral hygiene. Teeth and mouths could be said to be clean if they were free of dirt such as debris, plaque, and calculus. Purpose: This study aimed to analyze the relationship between saliva flow rate and plaque score in conventional smokers in Lampung Dormitory. Methods: A type quantitative research with an observational analytical approach was used, employing a cross-sectional design. The population of this study was conventional cigarette users aged 18–30. The number of samples in this study was 70 respondents with sampling using the purposive sampling technique. The research variables were saliva flow rate and plaque score. Saliva was taken by the spitting method, and the plaque scores were measured using the PHP (Personal Hygiene Performance) index. Data analysis used bivariate analysis in the form of a chi-square test. Results: Smokers had a low criterion saliva flow rate (50.0%), and smokers had a poor criterion plaque score (45.7%). The average saliva flow rate was low (0.29±0.08), and the plaque score was poor (2.85±0.81). based on the chi-square test showed that p-value was 0.000. Conclusion: There was a significant relationship between saliva flow rate and plaque score in conventional smokers.

The Interactions between Smoking and Sleep.

Smoking a cigarette before bed or first thing in the morning is a common habit. In this review, the relationship between smoking and sleep is investigated based on the existing literature. Out of 6504 unique items that were identified via a PubMed search related to smoking and sleep, 151 were included in this review. Tobacco smoking disrupts sleep architecture by reducing slow wave and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and undermining sleep quality. Furthermore, smoking affects sleep-related co-morbidities, such as obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS), insomnia, parasomnias, arousals, bruxism, and restless legs, as well as non-sleep-related conditions such as cardiovascular, metabolic, respiratory, neurologic, psychiatric, inflammatory, gynecologic and pediatric issues, while poor sleep quality also seems to worsen the chances of successful smoking cessation. In conclusion, the existing literature suggests that there is a wicked relation between smoking and sleep.

Accessibility, Utilisation and Perceived Usefulness of Library Resources on the Study Habits of Undergraduates in Kwara State Universities

The research explores the accessibility, utilisation, and perceived usefulness of library resources among undergraduates in Nigeria, aiming to enhance their study habits. Conducted through a survey with 410 undergraduates from three universities offering library and information science programs, data was collected via questionnaires and analysed descriptively and inferentially. Findings revealed predominant usage of library resources via the university library, departmental library, and electronic databases, including journals, OPAC, textbooks, databases and projects/theses. Students acknowledged the usefulness of these resources in research projects, knowledge acquisition, learning quality, and assignments. Common study habits encompassed post-lecture review, utilising breaks for study, minimizing distractions and prioritise academic commitments over social activities. Statistical analyses showcased significant correlations and indicated that independent variables collectively influenced 48.3% of observed variations in study habits. Ultimately, the study suggests that leveraging accessible, useful library resources could enhance undergraduates' study habits and foster academic success.

Demographic profile of head and neck cancer patients: a single tertiary institution-based study in Telangana

Background: Head and neck cancer (HNC) is a broad category of cancerous entity that arise from different types of tissues and organ sites located in the topographical areas of the head and neck (Hand N). H and N squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) comprises 30% of all cancer cases in India. The risk factors for HNSCC include tobacco and alcohol consumption. Methods: This study aimed to determine the demographics of HNC patients and classify the incidence of H&N cancers according to the primary histological type and organ of origin along with any recent change in pattern compared with previous study. Results: Highest incidence seen in 41-50 years of age group with majority of cases belonging to urban area. Tobacco chewing was observed as most common habit. Buccal mucosa cancer was seen as most common cancer particularly at gingivo-buccal sulcus. Squamous cell carcinoma was the most common type identified on histopathology. Majority of the cancers presented in locally advanced stage. Conclusions: Male plurality of carcinoma noted indicating male being more likely to be engaged in behaviours increasing risk of carcinoma head and neck. Buccal muscosa carcinoma particularly at gingivo-buccal sulcus noted to be most common site correlating to tobacco chewing habit and keeping tobacco quid at gingivo-buccal sulcus leading to prolonged exposure.

Circadian transcriptome oscillations in human adipose tissue depend on napping status and link to metabolic and inflammatory pathways.

Napping is a common habit in many countries. Nevertheless, studies about the chronic effects of napping on obesity are contradictory, and the molecular link between napping and metabolic alterations has yet to be studied. We aim to identify molecular mechanisms in adipose tissue (AT) that may connect napping and abdominal obesity. In this cross-sectional study, we extracted the RNA repeatedly across 24 hours from cultured AT explants and performed RNA sequencing. Circadian rhythms were analyzed using six consecutive time points across 24 hours. We also assessed global gene expression in each group (nappers vs. non-nappers). With napping, there was an 88% decrease in the number of rhythmic genes compared to that in non-nappers, a reduction in rhythm amplitudes of 29%, and significant phase changes from a coherent unimodal acrophase in non-nappers, towards a scattered and bimodal acrophase in nappers. Those genes that lost rhythmicity with napping were mainly involved in pathways of glucose and lipid metabolism, and of the circadian clock. Additionally, we found differential global gene expression between nappers and non-nappers with 34 genes down- and 32 genes upregulated in nappers. The top upregulated gene (IER3) and top down-regulated pseudogene (VDAC2P2) in nappers have been previously shown to be involved in inflammation. These new findings have implications for our understanding of napping's relationship with obesity and metabolic disorders.

Impact of common social habits on optical properties of lithium disilicate glass ceramic crowns: An in vitro study

Statement of the problemPatient stratifications considered the stability of color and treatment longevity are key success of restoration. Daily consumption of colored beverages, such as coffee, tea, and soft drinks, as well as the use of globally consumed materials, such as smokeless tobacco (ST), snuff, Khat, and Yerba mate, can change the color of restorative materials, such as lithium disilicate glass ceramics (LDGC). These changes can ultimately lead to treatment failure. PurposeThis in vitro study aimed to evaluate color changes, translucency, and opalescence of full anatomical LDGC crowns exposed to commonly used and potentially colorant solutions. Materials and methodsNinety LDGC specimens/crowns were prepared and divided into nine groups according to immersion solution (control, Saudi Coffee, Cola, Khat, Yerba mate, Nescafe, ST Snuff, and Mixed Fruit Juice). The specimens were immersed in colorant solutions for 15 days with alternating twice daily at 37 °C. Color parameters were measured with a spectrophotometer and calculated using two backgrounds (black and white). Data were subjected to ANOVA followed by the Student t-test and Bonferroni test at a significant difference level (α = 0.05). ResultsThe greatest color change (ΔE*) among groups after immersion was observed in Yerba mate (7.6 ± 1.6). The mean difference of before and after staining within Yerba mate group was 3.14 ± 1.6 (p = 0.001). Translucency mean values of groups after immersion into staining media were ranging between 7.6 ± 1.2 and 9.1 ± 2, showing a slight decrease compared with pre-staining values but was not significantly different. Immersion in Mixed Fruit Juice significantly reduced opalescence (7.4 ± 1.9) compared to (8.8 ± 1.7) before staining. ConclusionThe findings confirm that appropriate user guidance helps to preserve both translucency and opalescence as well as prevent color changes. This can improve patient compliance and promote treatment longevity.

Smart distance alert system with Blynk integration for safer gadget use

Gadgets have certainly become an integral part of our daily lives. From smartphones and tablets to laptops and smartwatches, we rely on these devices to stay connected, entertained, and productive throughout the day. Excessive usage of gadgets for a long time and unhealthy habits will lead to health problems such as myopia. Using gadgets at a close distance is one of the most common unhealthy habits among gadget users, especially children. This study, called "smart distance alert system" is developed to address the unhealthy habit of using gadgets at a close distance. The developed prototype operates by measuring the distance between the user and the gadget screen using an ultrasonic sensor. The buzzer and vibration motor work as an alert system, activating when the distance is less than 50 cm. Parents or guardians will get notifications through the Blynk application. The entire prototype is controlled by NodeMicrocontroller unit.

WAYS TO PREVENT BAD HABITS THAT MAY ARISE AMONG SCHOOL CHILDREN

The reasons for the emergence of harmful habits among schoolchildren can be different. Studies show that the number of harmful habits is quite large. However, there are some of them that (computer addiction, nail biting, inactivity or laziness, smoking, drinking alcohol, using drugs, etc.) can have a strong negative impact on the life and health of schoolchildren. The article discusses the most common harmful habits among schoolchildren, their causes and ways to eliminate them.

A Study to Compare Spirometric Observations in Smokers and Non Smokers in Age Group between 25-55 Years

In India, smoking is a common habit prevalent in both urban and rural areas irrespective of mode of smoking i.e beedis, cigarettes, cigars etc. Tobacco smoke contains 400 chemicals out of which 60 are known carcinogens, which can lead to lung cancer. Smoking leads to rapid decline in pulmonary function test. Cigarette smokers have a high annual rate of decline in FEV1 of about 50ml, which is nearly double the average value in non smokers.

The Application of Iron (Fe) from Bay Leaves (Syzgium Polyanthum) in Food Flavoring Powder Formula

Anemia caused by iron deficiency is still a nutritional problem in Indonesia. New methods are needed to help increase blood levels of iron by utilizing the habit of people consuming and processing food. Bay leaves (Syzgium polyanthum) offer a potential solution to Indonesia's iron-deficiency anemia issue by utilizing common food consumption habits This research method was a quantitative experiment by finding the best ratio of comparison of the encapsulation leaf extract formula in bay leaves powder and conducted a test of the receipt of the powder formula. The best formula ratio in making powder found in this research was a formula with 4 gr bay leaf extract and seasoning ingredients (10 gr seaweed, 10 gr fried onion, 7 gr white sesame, 5 gr oyster mushrooms, 5 gr sugar, 2 gr salt, 1 gr powder garlic, sesame oil 15 ml, and pepper 0.2 gr. The formula has an iron level (Fe) of 3.2 mg, equivalent to 24.2% RDA.

Face reality - consider face touching behaviour on subsequent DNA analysis

ABSTRACT Face touching is a common habit that can have implications on the outcome of criminal investigations. When conducting activity level assessments, it is important to be aware of any factors that may impact the type of profile obtained from the sample of interest. This may include the number, duration, location, and manner of contacts that a person makes with themselves. In this study we have recorded the contacts made by different individuals, of their hands with their face, over a 1 hr period, while working within an office. All participants were observed to regularly touch their face. Swabs of the face of some participants were subsequently collected for DNA profiling. The individuals sampled were found to be the sole or majority contributor to the profiles generated.

Deciphering the Interplay between Genetic Risk Scores and Lifestyle Factors on Individual Obesity Predisposition.

Obesity's variability is significantly influenced by the interplay between genetic and environmental factors. We aimed to integrate the combined impact of genetic risk score (GRSBMI) with physical activity (PA), sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB), wine intake, and eating habits score (EHS) on obesity predisposition risk. Adults' (n = 5824) data were analyzed for common obesity-related single nucleotide polymorphisms and lifestyle habits. The weighted GRSBMI was constructed and categorized into quartiles (Qs), and the adjusted multivariate logistic regression models examined the association of GRSBMI with obesity (BMI ≥ 30) and lifestyle factors. GRSBMI was significantly associated with obesity risk. Each GRSBMI unit was associated with an increase of 3.06 BMI units (p ≤ 0.0001). PA markedly reduced obesity risk across GRSBMI Qs. Inactive participants' (≥90 min/week) mean BMI was higher in GRSBMI Q3-Q4 compared to Q1 (p = 0.003 and p < 0.001, respectively). Scoring EHS ≥ median, SSBs (≥1 cup/day), and non-wine drinking were associated with higher BMI within all GRSBMI Qs compared to EHS < median, non-SSBs, and non-wine drinkers. Mean BMI was higher in GRSBMI Q4 compared to other quartiles (p < 0.0001) in non-wine drinkers and compared to Q1 for SSB's consumers (p = 0.07). A higher GRSBMI augmented the impact of lifestyle factors on obesity. The interplay between GRSBMI and modifiable lifestyle factors provides a tailored personalized prevention and treatment for obesity management.

Facial soft-biometrics obfuscation through adversarial attacks

Sharing facial pictures through online services, especially on social networks, has become a common habit for thousands of users. This practice hides a possible threat to privacy: the owners of such services, as well as malicious users, could automatically extract information from faces using modern and effective neural networks. In this paper, we propose the harmless use of adversarial attacks, i.e. variations of images that are almost imperceptible to the human eye and that are typically generated with the malicious purpose to mislead Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs). Such attacks have been instead adopted to (i) obfuscate soft biometrics (gender, age, ethnicity) but (ii) without degrading the quality of the face images posted online. We achieve the above mentioned two conflicting goals by modifying the implementations of four of the most popular adversarial attacks, namely FGSM, PGD, DeepFool and C&amp;W, in order to constrain the average amount of noise they generate on the image and the maximum perturbation they add on the single pixel. We demonstrate, in an experimental framework including three popular CNNs, namely VGG16, SENet and MobileNetV3, that the considered obfuscation method, which requires at most four seconds for each image, is effective not only when we have a complete knowledge of the neural network that extracts the soft biometrics (white box attacks), but also when the adversarial attacks are generated in a more realistic black box scenario. Finally, we prove that an opponent can implement defense techniques to partially reduce the effect of the obfuscation, but substantially paying in terms of accuracy over clean images; this result, confirmed by the experiments carried out with three popular defense methods, namely adversarial training, denoising autoencoder and Kullback-Leibler autoencoder, shows that it is not convenient for the opponent to defend himself and that the proposed approach is robust to defenses.

Evaluation of Site And Location of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma among Patients Visiting at Tertiary Care Hospital Hyderabad

Background: Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC), a prevalent form of oral cancer, is marked by its aggressive nature and potential for metastasis. With a global five-year survival rate below 50%, the incidence of OSCC presents a significant public health challenge. The highest incidence rates are observed in Southeast Asia, correlating with the cultural practices of betel-quid and tobacco consumption. Objective: To evaluate the common sites and locations of OSCC among patients attending a tertiary care hospital in Hyderabad, with a view to identifying patterns that may guide early detection and targeted interventions. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 100 clinically diagnosed OSCC patients from Liaquat Medical University Hospital, Hyderabad, from January 2021 to February 2022. Following informed consent, detailed patient examinations were performed. Data on demographic variables, habits, and lesion sites and locations were collected using a structured proforma and analyzed using SPSS Version 25. The study adhered to the ethical guidelines of the Declaration of Helsinki. Results: The patient cohort exhibited a male predominance (77%) with a mean age of 44.28 ± 13.065 years. Betel Nut (47%) and Gutka (27%) were the most common habits among the patients. The tongue was the most frequently involved site (38%), followed by buccal/labial mucosa (27%) and gingiva (10%). OSCC was more commonly found in the maxilla (75%) than in the mandible (43%). Conclusion: The results indicate a higher occurrence of OSCC in the maxilla with the tongue being the most common site of manifestation. These findings underscore the need for targeted educational and preventive strategies at the primary healthcare level, emphasizing early diagnosis and intervention.

Determinants Of Knowledge, Attitude and Self-efficacy of Khat Chewing Among School Students in Mogadishu Somalia

Introduction: Khat chewing has been a common habit throughout the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula for thousands of years. It is estimated that more than 20 million people in Africa and the Arabian Peninsula are adolescents. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and self-efficacy of khat chewing among adolescents in Mogadishu, Somalia. Method: A cross-sectional study with a sample of 284 adolescents was used. A self-administered pretested questionnaire was used after obtaining an ethical approval from Universiti Putr Malaysia. Data were coded, entered, and statistically analyzed. Results: The prevalence of khat chewing among respondents was 10.2%. Almost more than half of the participants had poor knowledge (184, 64.8%) and self-efficacy (154, 54.2%), while 140 (49.3%) respondents had positive attitudes. Significant predictors of the students’ knowledge of khat chewing included monthly income of more than 500$ (AOR: 2.145), family history such as cousin (AOR=0.347), fathers with a high school (AOR=1.75) and a college degree (AOR=2.21). Significant predictors of the students’ attitude towards khat chewing included family income of 100-299 USD (AOR=0.5), fathers’ with a high school (AOR=2.5) and college (AOR=2.4). Significant predictors of the students’ self-efficacy to resist khat chewing included family income of 100- 300$ (AOR=2.25), fathers with a high school (AOR=2.6), and khat accessibility that is fairly difficult (AOR=0.63) and fairly easy (AOR=0.55). Conclusion: The study highlights the need for increased awareness and education about the adverse effects of khat chewing and the importance of addressing social norms and peer pressure in shaping adolescent attitudes toward Khat.

Association of Lifestyle Factors with Multimorbidity Risk in China: A National Representative Study

Multimorbidity significantly impacts health, well-being, and the economy; therefore, exploring notable factors associated with multimorbidity across all age groups is critical. For this investigation, we focused on the relationship between four lifestyle factors and multimorbidity risk. We recruited 11,031 Chinese citizens aged ≥ 12 years from 31 provinces between July 2021 and September 2021 using a quota sampling strategy to ensure that the socioeconomic characteristics (sex, age, rural–urban distribution) of those participating in this research were representative of national demographics. In the first stage, multivariable logistic regression models were utilized as a means of investigating the relationship between lifestyle factors and multimorbidity. Then, a multinomial logistic regression model was used with the aim of examining the Healthy Lifestyle Profile (HLP) related to the number of chronic diseases. Multivariable logistic regression models assessed the interaction effects and joint association among the four lifestyle factors. Overall, 18% of the participants had at least one disease, and 5.9% had multimorbidity. Approximately two-thirds of the participants were physically inactive, 40% had consumed alcohol, 39% were underweight or overweight, and 20% were or had been smokers. Participants who maintained one HLP showed a 34% lower multimorbidity risk (adjusted OR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.48 to 0.92), while participants who maintained 4 HLP showed a 73% lower multimorbidity risk (adjusted OR, 0.27; 95% CI, 0.17 to 0.43), as compared to those who had 0 HLP. The joint association analysis revealed that participants with all four healthy lifestyle factors had 0.92 times lower odds of multimorbidity (95% CI: 0.90, 0.94) in comparison with the all-unhealthy reference cluster. Notably, individuals with a combination of healthy smoking status and healthy body weight had the highest minimized odds of multimorbidity (OR: [0.92], 95% CI: 0.91, 0.94). Common lifestyle habits, alone or in combination, are associated with multimorbidity risk. This study provides insights for public health programs to promote a healthy lifestyle at a younger age and to alleviate multimorbidity risk in older people.

Coping strategies of psychiatrists and psychiatry trainees following patient suicide and suicide attempt: A national cross-sectional study in Saudi Arabia.

A patient's suicide or suicide attempt is a challenging experience for psychiatrists. This study aimed to explore the common coping strategies and habits developed by psychiatrists/trainees following such incidents. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed among participants in Saudi Arabia. The study enrolled 178 participants, of whom 38.8% experienced a patient's suicide, 12.9% experienced a patient's severe suicide attempt, and 48.3% did not encounter any suicidal events. The most frequently utilized sources of support were colleagues (48.9%), team discussions (41.3%), and supervisors (29.3%). Only 21.4% received formal education in coping with a patient's suicide. Approximately 94.9% reported a lack of support systems within their institution. The study highlighted the coping strategies most commonly employed by psychiatrists/trainees and revealed that the majority of participants reported no changes in their daily habits. The findings underscore the need for a structured support system and formal educational resources to address the existing deficit. Mental health organizations must take action to ensure adequate resources for healthcare providers.

Knowledge and Awareness of Smoking on Oral Health among Non-Medical Students in Salem District

Introduction Smoking is a global health concern not only for respiratory health but also for an oral health which includes oral cancer and gum disease. Smoking recently has become a common habit developed by early adolescence. AIM: To assess the knowledge and awareness of smoking on oral health among non-medical students in Salem district. Material and Methods A set of questions approved by the two experts were used to assess the awareness and effects of smoking on oral health. The sample will include all the non-medical students under the age of 18-24 years. The objective of the study is to communicate them, and the volunteers were asked to complete the questionnaire. The questionnaire is divided into three sections; demographic details of education level and location, awareness about the effects of smoking on oral health and willingness to participate in smoking cessation program to quit smoking. Results Out of 1000 students 997 completed the questionnaire. The participants were between the age group of 18-24 years. 43.7% participants accepted that smoking can cause tooth staining, around 46% know about smoking cause gum diseases and only 36% responded about its cause for delayed wound healing and 63% know that smoking can cause cancer. Among the participants 60.2% family member smoke and only 27.1% were willing to recommend them for smoking cessation program. Conclusion Public awareness initiates when the young adults are educated priorly. Hence awareness and knowledge of effects of smoking on oral health among young adults will help in eradicating the smoking habit from the society. Key Words Non-medical students, Oral health, Smoking, Tobacco