Present Time Research Articles

The Effect of Radial Inclination on the Stage of Kienbock Disease at the Time of Initial Diagnosis.

Negative ulnar variance is a widely accepted risk factor for the development of Kienbock disease (KD). Variation in radial inclination has been proposed as a risk factor, but evidence thus far has been inconclusive. We aim to clarify the relationship between radial inclination and KD. A retrospective analysis of all KD patients from a single institution from 2007 to 2021 was conducted. Radiographs were reviewed to measure anatomic parameters and stage of disease. An exploratory multinomial regression model was created to examine the association of patient age, radial height, ulnar variance, radial inclination, volar tilt, scapholunate angle, duration of symptoms prior to evaluation, history of wrist trauma, and diagnosis of diabetes with stage of disease. Fifty-seven cases of KD were identified, with a mean duration of disease of 33.3 months. A history of trauma to the wrist was common (53%) and significantly associated with stage of disease at initial presentation. Twenty-seven cases (47%) were stage IIIB or greater. The average initial radial inclination, radial height, and ulnar variance was 21.9°, 10.7 mm, and -1.23 mm, respectively. A multinominal logistic regression model revealed decreased initial radial inclination is associated with Lichtman stage IIIB or greater at the time of initial patient presentation. A correlation exists between decreased radial inclination and more advanced KD at presentation, suggesting this may be a risk factor for disease progression. This correlation is strengthened by our finding of decreased ulnar variance being associated with later stage at presentation, which is one of the most widely accepted proposed risk factors for development and progression of disease. IV.

Outcome of Biliary-enteric Reconstruction with Hepaticoduodenostomy Following Choledochal Cyst Resection: A Prospective Study.

The two most commonly performed methods of biliary-enteric reconstruction following choledochal cyst resection are Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy (HJ) and hepaticoduodenostomy (HD). There is a lack of consensus regarding the better technique between them. This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes, efficacy and early complications of HD as a mode of biliary reconstruction after surgical resection of a choledochal cyst. This was a multi-institutional prospective study carried out in high-volume tertiary care teaching institutes from January 2010 to December 2022. All children managed with HD following choledochal cyst resection were analysed for their early complications and outcomes. A total of 74 patients were included in this study. There were 59 (79.73%) females and 15 (20.27%) males. Thirty-nine (52.70%) patients had jaundice at the time of presentation. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography was performed in 57 (77.03%) patients following ultrasonography. Intraoperatively, malrotation was present in 2 (2.70%) patients. In our study, operating time ranged from 60 to 195 min (mean: 118 min). Hospital stays ranged from 8 to 17 days (mean: 11.5 days). The post-operative biliary leak was seen in 7 (9.50%) patients, out of which 6 (8.11%) minor leaks were managed conservatively. Roux-en-Y HJ was performed on 1 (1.35%) patient with a major leak. In our series, 4 (5.40%) patients developed cholangitis; post-operative haemorrhagic nasogastric aspirate 5 (6.76%), post-operative pancreatitis 3 (4.05%) and wound infection 4 (5.40%) were observed and managed conservatively. None of the patients in our study developed an anastomotic stricture, bile gastritis and adhesive small bowel obstruction. Resection of choledochal cyst with HD reconstruction is safe and feasible with short operative time. HD is a viable option for operative management of choledochal cyst with low complication rates and faster recovery.

Severity of Exacerbation in Pneumococcal Vaccinated versus Unvaccinated Patients with Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Post hoc Analysis of Presentation Status of the Subjects of HOPE Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Study

Background: Acute exacerbations occur with varying frequency and severity and impact the natural course of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. Pneumococcal vaccination has been shown to decrease the incidence of community-acquired pneumonia and exacerbation rate in COPD patients. There is a paucity of data on the influence of pneumococcal conjugate vaccination on the severity of COPD exacerbations. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to evaluate the severity of exacerbation in pneumococcal vaccinated (vaccinated with 13-valent conjugate vaccine) versus unvaccinated COPD subjects hospitalized with acute exacerbation. Materials and Methods: This was a post hoc analysis of the severity of exacerbation in the subjects of HOPE COPD study. This involved the collection of clinical, radiological, and laboratory data of 120 COPD patients who were hospitalized with an acute exacerbation, 60 of whom had prior pneumococcal vaccination and 60 were unvaccinated. Data of COPD patients at the time of presentation with acute exacerbation were analyzed. Comparison was made between severity parameters such as presence of fever, leukocytosis, respiratory failure, multilobar consolidation, hypotension needing inotropic support, and presence of sepsis between pneumococcal vaccinated and unvaccinated subjects. Results: The occurrence of multilobar consolidation was substantially less in the vaccinated group (60% vs. 6.7%; P = 0.0001). The incidence of fever, leukocytosis, and elevated C-reactive protein was significantly higher in the unvaccinated group. Need for intensive care unit care was higher in the unvaccinated group (58.3% vs. 30% with P = 0.019). The occurrence of new-onset respiratory failure was similar in both the groups although type 2 failure with respiratory acidosis was more in the unvaccinated group. Patients in the unvaccinated group had a higher incidence of sepsis and need for inotropic support as well as assisted ventilation. Conclusions: Prior immunization with 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine ameliorates the severity of exacerbation in COPD patients needing hospitalization. Pneumococcal vaccination may be recommended for all patients with COPD who are at risk of hospitalization with acute exacerbation.

Clinicopathological Features of Primary Renal Mesenchymal Neoplasms in Adults: A Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: Renal mesenchymal tumours are a subset of primary renal tumours arising from the mesenchymal tissue in the kidney. They are a heterogeneous group of mostly benign tumours that exhibit varied behaviours and molecular characteristics. Aim: To analyse the wide spectrum of histological subtypes, their unique clinical presentation, and pathological features of primary renal mesenchymal neoplasms. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective crosssectional observational clinicopathological study conducted in Department of General Pathology, Christian Medical College, tertiary care hospital, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India, looking at data of adult Primary Renal Mesenchymal Tumours (PRMT) for a 15- year period between January 2006 and March 2021. Clinical details such as age, presenting symptoms, and tumour size were obtained from the hospital information system. Histopathology and immunohistochemical slides were reviewed for all the cases. Additional Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and molecular studies were performed for the undifferentiated sarcomas. The tumours were categorised into three groups as recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) 2020 classification of soft-tissue tumours based on biological behaviour: benign, intermediate, and malignant. Continuous variables are expressed as mean and Standard Deviation (SD). Comparison of categorical variables between groups was performed using the Chi-squared test. Continuous variables between groups were compared using the Student’s t-test for significance. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Of the 2164 nephrectomies performed for neoplastic conditions, 97 (4.5%) were diagnosed as renal mesenchymal tumours. There were 59 (60.8%) benign, 10 (10.3%) with intermediate biologic behaviour and 28 (28.9%) malignant tumours. The mean ages at presentation were 40.5 years for benign, 43.4 years for intermediate, and 41 years for malignant tumours, respectively. Haematuria was seen in 11 of 38 (29%) intermediate grade and malignant tumours and in only 6 of 59 (10%) benign tumours, a difference that was statistically significant (p-value=0.017). Malignant tumours 24 of 28 (86%) were more likely to be larger (>7 cm) when compared to benign tumours 28 of 59 (47%) at the time of presentation (p-value=0.027). Classical angiomyolipomas constituted 53/59 (90%) of the benign tumours. Of the 10 intermediate grade tumours, epithelioid angiomyolipomas and solitary fibrous tumours were the most common, accounting for 50% and 30% of the intermediate group, respectively. Undifferentiated small round cell sarcoma was the most common malignant neoplasm, making up 12/28 (43%) of the malignant tumours. Conclusion: The present study found that renal mesenchymal tumours constitute a small but unique group of renal tumours. They are predominantly benign, but up to a quarter are malignant. Malignant tumours tend to be larger and more often present with haematuria. The present study highlights the importance of IHC in the diagnosis of intermediate and malignant mesenchymal tumours and the requirement of exhaustive molecular studies individually tailored to the immuno-profile of malignant tumours.

Profile of Acute Poisoning and Its Outcome in Children Admitted to a Tertiary Care Hospital in Northeast India: A Cohort Study

Introduction: Acute poisoning in children is an important public health problem. It is a significant paediatric emergency in both developing and developed countries, leading to preventable morbidity and mortality. While there is substantial research literature on acute childhood poisoning from developed countries, there is a lack of data from developing countries like India due to inadequate and poor surveillance of poisoning-related data. Aim: To investigate the clinical and epidemiological profile, as well as the outcome, of acute poisoning in children admitted to the paediatric emergency department of a tertiary care hospital in Northeast India. Materials and Methods: This prospective cohort study was conducted in the Paediatrics department of Assam Medical College and Hospital, Dibrugarh, Assam, India, from April 1, 2021, to March 31, 2022. All children under the age of 12 years who presented to the paediatric department with a history of exposure to toxic substances were included in the study. The admitted children were assessed in terms of demographic variables, type of poison, route of poisoning, time of presentation, circumstances of poisoning, storage place of poison, clinical presentation, and interventions provided. Data were presented as mean and frequency. Results: A total of 78 children under 12 years of age were enrolled in the study, with a mean age of three years and three months at presentation. The majority of cases (96.2%) involved accidental poisoning, while a small proportion (3.8%) was due to suicidal poisoning. Of the two reported cases of suicidal poisoning, one involved a male child and the other involved a female child. Both children were above six years of age. The most common causes of poisoning were kerosene (34.6%), organophosphorus compounds (10.3%), and liquid mosquito repellents (9.1%). Conclusion: This study revealed both unintentional and intentional poisoning cases, with a high prevalence of accidental poisoning observed in children below three years of age. Kerosene was identified as the most common cause of childhood poisoning.

Solutocapillary transport of oxygen bubbles in a diffusion-bubbling membrane core.

Bubbles are extensively explored as gas and energy carriers. However, despite notable progress, the bubble transport mechanisms are still poorly understood. At the present time there is not sufficient understanding of whether the body or surface forces play a major role in bubble transport in liquid interfacial systems. This understanding is important to be able to drive oxygen bubble transport. Here, we show the crucial role of solutocapillary forces in oxygen bubble transport in the core of a diffusion-bubbling membrane with a high density of solid/liquid and gas/liquid interfaces that operates under the oxygen chemical potential gradient. In order to describe the transport of oxygen bubbles in the membrane core, we developed a mathematical model. Both the velocity of bubbles and oxygen flux through this membrane predicted by this model agree with experiments. An in-depth understanding of the bubble transport mechanism presented in this study could eventually lead the way to more efficient bubble membrane gas separation, bubble energy generation, and bubble-assisted therapy in the future.

PENALTIES NOT RELATED TO IMPRISONMENT IN THE CRIMINAL LEGISLATION OF UZBEKISTAN: CONCEPT, SYSTEM, SPECIFIC ASPECTS

In this article, the author covered the concept, system, specific aspects general of penalties not related to imprisonment according to the criminal legislation of Uzbekistan. The author notes that the system of non-parole-related penalties continues to develop all over the world at the present time. Among them, fines, public works (including correctional work) are especially widely used. It should be noted that the task of developing a system of punishments in which criminal law is not associated with deprivation of Liberty is of urgent importance for Uzbekistan, which is constantly reforming the judicial system. As the main directions of the criminal justice policy implemented in Uzbekistan, the revision of types of crimes according to the level of social danger, the transfer of many serious or extreme crimes established in the criminal law into a category of crimes of greater social risk and less severe severity, the relaxation of the conditions for applying criminal liability measures to persons who first committed, it can be seen in expanding the scope and capabilities of the basis for the application of types of punishment that are not related to the separation of the convicted from society, in improving the procedure for the enforcement of these criminal justice measures.

ISSUES OF CONSTITUTIONAL AND LEGAL REGULATION OF ECOLOGICAL AUDIT: NATIONAL AND FOREIGN EXPERIENCE

In this article, the importance of legal provision of environmental audit in the Republic of Uzbekistan at the present time, the issues of legal regulation of environmental audit, the difference between the concepts of audit and environmental audit, the opinions expressed by scientists on this issue, the experiences of national and foreign countries in the legal regulation of environmental audit, as well as this Proposals regarding the issue are presented.

WOMEN’S EQUALITY: THE FINAL REDEMPTION

The aim of this paper is to correct a historical error, one that I will argue is at the heart of the contemporary feminist movement: the ancient claim, grounded in a flawed understanding of the reproductive act, that woman is inferior to man. I will show that the lineage of this can be traced as far back as the pre-Socratic philosophers, finally finding its earliest concrete expression in a claim most have either dismissed, forgotten, or never heard: Aristotle’s argument that women are merely “malformed males” and are therefore “inferior to man”. The theory found support in the first century with a historical interpretation of Genesis 2:18-23, traceable in particular to the Hellenistic Jewish philosopher, Philo (BC 13-AD 54). Philo’s own theory about woman echoed that of Aristotle’s; his legacy includes the vague feeling that Scripture itself declares that, since woman is created after man, she is necessarily subservient to him. She becomes, as it were, the “second sex”. The combination of Aristotle and Philo proved too persuasive even for the mind of St. Thomas Aquinas and the theory accelerated and then spread through the university system inaugurated during the Middle Ages, subsequently informing the social structures and norms of Western civilization, going mostly unchallenged throughout human history, silently persisting even into the present time. This error represents what can be called a chronic “wound” in our intellectual tradition. And it is a wound that must be healed. I argue that the antidote is to correct this account and that it can be defeated on its own terms. Through the lens of Hebraic and Aristotelian-Thomistic anthropology, and building on the insights of St. John Paul II, I provide a robust, philosophically and theologically grounded account of man and woman from within the Catholic exegetical tradition, showing that man and woman are both equally human, equally endowed with intellect, will, and freedom while at the same time reflecting two different ways of being in the world.

How to improve inhabitants' acceptance of rainwater harvesting systems? Application to an existing collective residence in northern Algeria

In Algeria, at the present time, there are no rainwater harvesting systems (RWHS) registered with the public authorities as an alternative to the public water supply. This is explained by numerous factors, the most important being inhabitants? acceptance. The aim of this article is to investigate the current level of acceptance of an RWHS as a viable method for backing up the public water supply system. Our hypothesis is that inhabitants? acceptance can be improved by the increasing awareness of the benefits of an RWHS. For the purposes of this study, an RWHS located in northern Algeria was designed, and its benefits were measured and discussed with the direct participation of residents living in the building. The first benefit was the potential potable water saving (PPWS) and the second was the benefit-cost ratio (BCR). The PPWS was estimated at 51 m3/year. The BCR was estimated at 7% (15% with local council funding). This paper shows that, in the case of an existing building, inhabitant acceptance of an RWHS depends on three factors: (1) the amount of rainwater delivered by the RWHS; (2) the cost of building and managing it; and (3) the extent of the modifications made to the building.

Technology Optimisation of Hybrid PV Systems for Covering Energy Needs of Emergency Shelters for Ukrainian War Refugees

Hybrid photovoltaic systems have become a common solution for decreasing energy consumption for specific objects and customers at present time. The efficiency of the entire system depends strongly also on the technology of the used battery inverter. In general, DC-coupled inverters are recognized to be more energy efficient. Surprisingly, in some specific cases, AC-coupled systems can offer better results. Ukraine escalates the problem with internal migration, that can be solved just through constructing new communities of emergency shelters. Integrating these units into Ukrainian overloaded and damaged distribution grids must be projected very precisely to limit not just power consumption but also power injection. Particular savings can be reached with the proper application of AC or DCcoupled systems. This article describes that phenomenon presented on specific real cases defined through own consumption profile, battery storage system management, climate conditions, and PV system design. The presented results show that the proper choice of battery inverter technology can save interesting amount of energy produced from the installed PV system. The AC coupled system can offer not just higher flexibility and modularity, but also higher energy efficiency of the hybrid system, lower grid feed-in.

The Essentiality of Implementing Curriculum and Activities for Gender Education in Present Education System

Gender Education is very essential and sensitive subject for discussion and analyses in present age of society. Everyone knows about benefits of gender education in society but hesitated for accept it. All educators in India are widely explained to society for implementing the gender education in school and college level as earlier. But some groups of society oppose to it and spread to rumors about its negative effect on society. In present time, society is in hesitation, as well as fear and oppression. Talking about gender education, discussing it, is not considered decent in our society. Because, gender education is a narrow interpretation of sexual relations between men and women. The reason behind this is that ignorance and misunderstanding of this education being neglected. Gender education is not just limited to physical and sexual information about men and women, but its scope is wide. Gender education includes many physical and mental changes, how different body functions, how reproduction works, communication with each other, relationships, decision making, sense of self, and respect for others. Sexuality is the femininity of a woman and the sexuality of a man’s body, mind, thoughts, opinions, emotions and so on. With the birth of a child, the question is, son or daughter. Accordingly, the child is raised, behaved. He expects family and society to do the same. Gender has consequences for speaking, behaving, dressing, etc. According to the traditions of the society, they expect the same and they have to deal with it.

Systemic lupus erythematosus - diagnosis and classification of the disease in the past and in present times

The main feature of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is its heterogeneity, which mainly refers to clinical presentation, the course of disease and prognosis which can impact any or many organs and various immunoserological tests. As a result, prompt illness recognition and right diagnosis are extremely complicated processes based on the most recent classification standards and the doctor's clinical expertise with specific patients. In contrast, not all SLE patients are included when using classification criteria, which are based on a definition of a homogenous group by the specified, restricted number of clinical and immunoserological domains and for the purpose of conducting clinical or epidemiological investigations. Classification criteria have evolved over the last fifty years in response to new understandings and advances. This process began with the ACR criteria in 1971 and continued through their updates in 1982 and 1997, followed by SLICC 2012 and EULAR/ACR 2019. EULAR/ACR 2019 criteria have proven their high validity (sensitivity and specificity) in numerous studies, as well as adequate diagnostic usefulness, defined by 24 items in 10 domains, with the fulfillment of the essential precondition of antinuclear antibody positivity

Comparative study of the resistance level of the organism in schoolchildren with socio-psychological disadaptation among Uzbek population studying in different conditions

Socio-psychological disadaptation in children and adolescents at the present time should be considered not only from the perspective of existing disorders of the emotional state and limitations of sociability but also from the standpoint of the deterioration of their somatic health and quality of life. The purpose of the research is to carry out comparative study of the level of body resistance in schoolchildren of the Uzbek population with socio-psychological maladjustment studying in different academic conditions. To achieve the set goal, clinical, clinical-psychological, and epidemiological research methods were chosen. In addition, psychopathological and paraclinical analyses were conducted, and long-term results were monitored. Disruption of adaptation mechanisms and unsatisfactory adaptation are more common in adolescent boys, regardless of the type of education (30.1% and 24.1% in boys with traditional education, 26.2% and 19.7% in boarding lyceums, P >0.05- > 0.01). Among all surveyed girls with maladjustment, adolescent girls with traditional education were more likely to have a breakdown in adaptation mechanisms (20.7% versus 16.9%, P > 0.05). Tense adaptation mechanisms were also predominantly recorded in adolescent boys in both study groups (64.3% and 67.6%, respectively), which has to be well considered when organizing preventive measures. The developed method for assessing the development of disadaptation, based on a systematic analysis of risk factors, considering the clinical and psychological characteristics of the child’s development, personality, family structure and teaching methods, the state of the central nervous system, and hormonal changes, facilitates the diagnostic procedure before the onset of clinical signs of maladjustment.

TRANSFORMATION OF MAASAI- ABAGUSII CO-EXISTENCE DURING SECOND WORLD WAR AND THE DECOLONIZATION PERIOD (1939-1963)

documented historical truth and ongoing situation. This phenomenon can be attributed to the tendency of many communities to deliberately or inadvertently exploit ethnicity as a means to maintain their power and control in an environment marked by limited resources, fear, and bias. The prevalence of ethnic conflicts in this country is so extensive that there is scarcely any region where the issue has not emerged: Western, Rift Valley, Nyanza, Coast, Central, North Eastern, Eastern, and even Nairobi. It is crucial to thoroughly examine the historical framework of inter-community interactions when addressing ethnic and boundary conflicts in the present time. This aspect should not be underestimated in this particular situation. This research presents historical empirical facts that can be utilized to effectively control future conflicts between the Maasai and the Abagusi communities in Kenya. The main aim of this study was to investigate the changes in the relationship between the Maasai and Abagusii communities throughout the Second World War and the period of decolonization from 1939 to 1963. The objective of this study was to gather relevant information regarding the consequences of previous and possible ethnic conflicts on peace and sustainable development, as well as to identify strategies for both mitigating and managing such conflicts. The findings from this study have the potential to significantly enhance other research efforts on conflicts in Kenya, Africa, and beyond. The data was acquired from oral interviews, archival sources, and papers about inter-ethnic violence, as well as boundary and resource conflicts in Kenya.

About some risks and opportunities in the educational process in conditions of digitization

The article discusses the advantages and disadvantages of digitalization, which is being actively introduced into educational practice at the present time. The results of a students‘ survey on the problem under consideration are presented. The authors draw attention to the fact that digitalization is an inevitable process that requires constant analysis and improvement. And the quality of education in modern realities depends on the harmonious interaction between technical innovations and pedagogical wisdom.

Characteristics of Cyanobacteria at Different Stages of Existence of the Kyiv Reservoir

The paper deals with the patterns of Cyanobacteria long-term succession at different stages of existence of the Kyiv Reservoir. The main ecological factors responsible for Cyanobacteria succession include current velocity, hydromorphological characteristics of the reservoir, the content of inorganic nitrogen (primarily of ammonium) and phosphorus, ΣN : P ratio, global climate changes, and the competition with higher aquatic plants in the shallow water zone. The trophic state of the hydroecosystem changed from mesotrophic (at the stage of the non-regulated river) to eutrophic (at the present time) depending on the intensity of Cyanobacteria development. With possible further deterioration of water quality, possible climate changes with an increase in water temperature within the range of even 1-2°C, the intensity of Cyanobacteria development will increase, especially in the pelagic zone of the reservoir, where they have practically no natural biological competitors.

Association between Serum Insulin and Interleukin-6 levels with Breast Cancer in Post-Menopausal Iraqi Women

Background: Obesity rates are increasing day by day affecting all populations at different ages. The most prevalent kind of cancer among women worldwide is breast cancer, with increasing rates in the present time and in the future. Substantial connections between obesity and breast cancer are demonstrated. Elevated circulating levels of insulin and interleukin-6 have a substantial link to obesity and breast cancer development. Objective: This study aimed to examine the serum levels of insulin and interleukin-6 in postmenopausal breast cancer patients and to study the connection between these biomarkers and breast cancer development. Method: In this research, 120 postmenopausal women actively participated., 30 had a body mass index of >30kg/m2 diagnosed with breast cancer and considered as obese (group 1), 30 with a body mass index of <30kg/m2 with breast cancer and considered as not obese (group 2), 30 had a body mass index of >30 kg/m2 who were apparently healthy and were obese (group 3), and 30 participants with a body mass index of <30 kg/m2 , were apparently healthy and were not obese (group 4). Five millilitres of venous blood were provided by each individual. Insulin and interleukin-6 levels in the blood were measured using ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) kits. Results: Serum insulin levels were higher in the groups of obese participants (groups 1 and 3) than the groups of non-obese participants (groups 2 and 4), serum levels of interleukin-6 were the lowest in the healthy control group without obesity (group 4). Substantial moderate correlation was found between body mass index and both insulin and interleukin-6. Postmenopausal breast cancer risk is increased with elevations of serum insulin and interleukin-6. Conclusions: Elevated levels of serum interleukin-6 and insulin were linked to higher body mass index. In addition, in addition interleukin-6 elevated levels were linked to the cancer state of the non-obese patients. Risk of breast cancer increased with higher levels of circulating insulin and intereukin-6. Received: Mar,, 2023 Accepted: May, 2023 Published: Jan.2023

Evaluation of oral health-related quality of life in a sample of Iraqi patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a case-control study

Background: Oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) has been investigated as a component of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in recent years. However, there is a lack of local data using OHRQoL questionnaires to assess life quality in individuals rheumatoid arthritis (RA) at the present time. Objectives: to assess the OHRQoL of RA patients and explore any potential effects of various clinical indicators. Methods: A cross-sectional study compared 100 RA patients and 100 control individuals to assess and compare their OHRQoL. The study examined the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) as one of the oral health factors under investigation, examining the association between the disease activity score of RA (CDAI and DAS28) and the OHIP. Results: Patients with RA had a median OHIP-14 of 14 (4–24.5), while controls had a median of 6 (2–18), yielding a significant difference (p = 0.005). A significant positive yet weak correlation was observed between OHIP-14 and CDAI (r = 0.26, p = 0.009). A weak positive correlation was seen between OHIP-14 and DAS28, although the correlation did not attain statistical significance (r = 0.15, p = 0.125). Conclusions: Patients with RA reported a more unfavorable evaluation of their OHRQoL compared to those without RA.

Effect of Different Processing Methods on Composition, Biological Activities and Permeability of Barley (<i>Hordeum vulgare</i> L.): An Indigenous Cereal

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is a cereal rich in soluble dietary fibres, and antioxidant and bioactive compounds. Ayurveda reported its use as a therapeutic food. Being a rich source of functional ingredients, it has the potential to be incorporated for nutritional enrichment. Still, there are certain limitations to its use. The present study first time analyses the effect of different processing methods recommended in Ayurveda on variation in its composition and permeability. The hulled barley was processed namely dry roasting, roasting with cow ghee and roasting after overnight soaking in Triphala decoction. Further evaluated for proximate composition, in vitro anti-glycation and permeability of soluble fibres. A variation in proximate composition was seen in all processed forms. Soluble fibre content was maximum in hulled barley. The β-glucan of hulled barley was 39.41 mg/g, which was increased up to 62.22 mg/g in dry roasted barley. All processed forms exhibited inhibition of glycation, which was maximum with Triphala-soaked barley. Processing improved the permeability of soluble fibres, which was maximum with dry roasted form (54%). Dry-roasted barley showed improvement in almost all analyzed parameters. Hence, it can be explored further to facilitate the use of barley as a dietary supplement.