Background: The present study was done with an objective to evaluate the effect of melatonin as an antioxidant, with a focus on vitamin C, in patients suffering from periodontitis.Methods: This study was conducted jointly in the Department of Periodontics, Rural Dental College, and Department of Pharmacology, PIMS, Loni. Patients suffering from chronic periodontitis, of age between 18 to 65 years of either gender were included in the study, after obtaining a written informed consent. Patients were divided into three Groups. Group A included patients who underwent scaling and root planning (SRP) alone, Group B included patients who underwent SRP and supplemented with vitamin E 200 IU daily at night for 4 weeks. Group C included patients who underwent SRP and supplemented with tablet melatonin 3 mg daily at night for 4 weeks. Estimation of vitamin C was done on day 0, day 30, day 60 and day 90.Results: A total 240 patients were enrolled in the study, 80 in each group. Statistical analysis was done using ‘Z’ test of difference between two sample means for comparison of vitamin C among the three groups. It was observed that, there was a highly significant increase in mean values of vitamin C in group C when compared with group A and group B at 1st, 2nd and 3rd visits (p<0.01).Conclusions: Melatonin acts as an antioxidant in the patients of periodontitis which has positive effect on biochemical parameters of periodontitis, conferring a new facet to the management of periodontitis and an attempt to impede the disease progression.

Introduction: Considering the immunity enhancing property of melatonin, a study on the evaluation of the effect of melatonin on the hematological parameters in patients suffering from Periodontitis.  Methods: This study was conducted in the Department of Periodontics, Rural Dental College, Loni. Patients of chronic Periodontitis, of age between 18 to 65 years of either gender ready to give informed consent to participate in the study were included. Postoperative patients, patients having night duties, drivers and those using heavy machinery, pregnant women, lactating mothers, patients with any clinically significant systemic disease and patients on any other drugs were excluded from the study. Patients were divided into two Groups. Group B received scaling and root planning (SRP) and melatonin 3 mg per day were compared to Group A which received SRP only. The Total Leukocyte count, Differential Leukocyte count and Erythrocyte sedimentation rate of each patient was studied at a baseline, 1st (30 days) visit, 2nd (60 days) visit and 3rd (90 days) visit. Results: Both the groups consisted of 80 subjects each. Group A consisted of 71.25% male and 28.75% female patients. There were 56.25% male and 43.75% female patients in Group B. With respect to visit 3, the TLC was statistically lower in Group B. The neutrophil count of Group B was significantly lower during visit 3 as compared to Group A. The lymphocyte count of Group B was significantly lower than that of Group A during the visit 1, and also significantly higher during visit 3 on comparison with Group A. There was no statistically significant difference in the groups with respect to eosinophil and basophil count. The Monocyte count of Group B was statistically lower when compared to that of Group A. There was no statistically significant difference between ESR of Group A & Group B.  Conclusions: It can be concluded that melatonin has a positive effect on TLC and differential count of patients of periodontitis, conferring a new facet to the management of periodontitis and an attempt to impede the disease progression. Keywords: Melatonin; Hematological parameters; Periodontitis; Total Leukocyte count; Differential Leukocyte count; Erythrocyte sedimentation rate; Scaling and Root Planning.

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Background: Mental health of women is adversely affected during pregnancy. Stress and depression during pregnancy negatively impact birthweight and neuro-cognitive development of the fetus. The current crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic further adds to the stressful situation. Yoga practiced during pregnancy has beneficial effects on improving stress and depression and preliminary evidence suggests that yoga-based interventions can improve immunity. This study aims to examine the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a Yoga -based intervention for maternal Mental health and iMmunity (Yoga-M 2) in a rural community in India.     Methods: The study design will be a single-blind individual randomized parallel group-controlled pilot trial with 1:1 allocation ratio. Adult pregnant women, with gestational age between 12–24 weeks will be randomly allocated to either the Yoga-M 2 group or the Enhanced Usual Care (EUC) group. Participants in the Yoga-M 2 arm will attend weekly group yoga sessions for 12 weeks and will be encouraged to practice yoga at home. In the EUC arm, participants will receive a single session of health education. Eligibility of the participants, recruitment, retention-in-care, and study completion rates will be estimated and feasibility of delivering Yoga-M 2 and acceptability of this intervention by the participants will be assessed. Change in the scores of the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), EuroQoL 5 Dimensions Score (EQ-5D-5L), Wisconsin Upper Respiratory Symptom Severity Scale (WURSS-21), and serum C-Reactive Protein at three-months from baseline will be used to assess preliminary efficacy. Discussion: The key outputs of this trial will be a structured intervention manual and evidence about the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of the intervention, establishing the foundation to undertake an explanatory randomized controlled trial to assess efficacy and cost-effectiveness of Yoga-M 2 intervention.  Trial registration: CTRI/2022/01/039701. Prospectively registered with the Clinical Trials Registry of India on 25 January 2022.

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