Introduction: According to World Health Organization, the global cancer burden is estimated to have risen to 18.1 million new cases and 9.6 million deaths in 2018. Tobacco use is a leading cause of cancer and of death from cancer. Beedis are the most popular smoking form of tobacco in India. Thirty-four percent of the tobacco produced in India is used for making beedis. The beedi sector is agroforestry-based and the second largest industry in India with approximately 4.4 million full-time beedi workers in India. Toxic constituents present in tobacco are released into the ambient air during the processing of beedis.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted to assess and compare salivary sialic acid levels among beedi rollers, tobacco smokers, smokeless tobacco users and individuals with no tobacco exposure. The study sample comprised of 140 individuals who were 30 to 60 years old, who attended dental screening and treatment camps in rural and urban areas in Mangalore, conducted by the Department of Public Health Dentistry, Yenepoya Dental College and patients who visited the Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology of Yenepoya Dental College. Saliva was collected by passive drool method into a sterile container. Biochemical analysis of salivary sialic acid was done using the acidic ninhydrin method. Continuous variables are expressed in terms of mean and standard deviation. Categorical variables are expressed in terms of frequencies and percentages. To compare salivary sialic acid levels between the groups ANOVA was used. The Chi-square test was used to compare categorical variables between the groups.Results: A total of 140 participants, 35 beedi rollers, 35 smokers, 35 smokeless tobacco users and 35 individuals with no tobacco exposure participated in the study. Among the 140 participants, 90 participants were males and 50 participants were females. There was a statistically significant difference in the mean salivary sialic acid level between the different groups (p<0.001) with smokeless tobacco users having the highest (10.60 mg/dL) mean salivary sialic acid level. It was found that the mean salivary sialic acid level reduced as the age progressed, even though there was no statistically significant difference. There was a statistically significant difference in the mean salivary sialic acid level between the different groups (p=0.010) with participants with 11 to 20 years of exposure to tobacco having the highest (8.67 mg/dL) mean salivary sialic acid level and participants with no tobacco exposure having least (3.06 mg/dL) mean salivary sialic acid level. Conclusion:The salivary sialic acid level was more in beedi rollers than individuals with no tobacco exposure, even though the difference was not statistically significant. The results showed elevated levels of salivary sialic acid in smokeless tobacco users followed by tobacco smokers. This may be an indication that smokeless tobacco use has harmful effects similar to or more than tobacco smoking since salivary sialic acid levels in smokel...

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an increasing health concern worldwide. In addition to systemic changes, kidney disease patients also present with oral complications. The objectives of the study were to assess and compare the oral health status in patients with CKD (with diabetes and without diabetes) undergoing dialysis and not undergoing dialysis aged between (30-70) years and controls in Mangalore, South India.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 160 adults with various types of kidney disease and controls, attending a tertiary care hospital in Mangalore. Oral health status was assessed using WHO oral health assessment form for adults 2013. Oral hygiene was assessed by using simplified oral hygiene index and gingival status was assessed by using modified gingival index.Results: Number of decayed teeth was more among controls, and number of missing teeth was more among CKD patients. Diabetic CKD patients who were not on dialysis had highest number of teeth with periodontal pocket and more sextants with loss of attachment. Non-diabetic CKD patients who were on dialysis had more gingival bleeding and gingival inflammation. Multinomial logistic regression analysis showed that CKD patients have more odds of having poor oral health than controls.Conclusions: CKD patients had poor oral hygiene, gingival and periodontal status. In contrast, dental caries was significantly lower in CKD patients than the control group. Good oral health condition mitigates the risk of infection, contributing to a better quality of life among CKD patients.

Background: Second-hand smoke (SHS) causes more than 1.2 million premature deaths per year and other serious diseases. Aim: The aim of the present study was to determine exposure to SHS among college students in Mangalore, South India. Methods: This cross-sectional study was done among 2063 college students aged 18–24 years in Mangalore. Data regarding exposure to SHS at home and indoor work areas were collected. Chi square test was used to test the association between study variables. Multinomial logistic regression was used to find factors influencing SHS exposure. Results: In the present study, 9.9% of the respondents were exposed to tobacco smoke at home of which 8.4% were nonsmokers. Among the respondents, 21.7% were exposed to tobacco smoke at indoor work areas of which 19.3% were nonsmokers. Significant association was found between current tobacco smoking status and anyone smoking inside the home or workplace. Logistic regression analysis revealed that males had 1.814 more odds of getting exposed to SHS at home and 1.976 more odds of getting exposed to SHS at indoor work areas than females. Conclusion: Exposure to SHS was higher at indoor work areas than at home and majority of the respondents exposed to SHS were nonsmokers. The findings emphasize the need for increased efforts to implement strategies to control SHS exposure.