Anticonvulsants

Background: Use of tobacco is often implicated in the development of oral diseases. Questionable accuracy of the traditional questionnaires to assess cigarette exposure necessitates the use of biomarkers like thiocyanate which provide a definitive quantitative measure. Objective: To assess the rise in the level of thiocyanate for measurement of smoking behaviour in adults. Materials and methods: Serum and salivary thiocyanate levels were estimated in 20 non-smokers, 20 ex-smokers and 40 smokers. Smokers were divided into two groups based on the presence or absence of oral mucosal lesions. Results: The mean serum and salivary thiocyanate levels were increased significantly in smokers when compared to non-smokers and ex-smokers. The levels were not significantly different between ex-smokers and non-smokers and between smokers with tobacco related oral mucosal lesions and those without. Statistically significant correlation was seen between the serum and salivary levels of thiocyanate. Conclusion: This study highlights the high level of thiocyanate in the serum and saliva of smokers when compared to non-smokers and ex-smokers. Significant increase in thiocyanate level was also seen in saliva. Hence it can be stated that saliva can be used as a reliable, non-invasive tool to assess smoking behaviour in the population and its changes over time.

Green Tobacco Sickness (GTS) has been one of the unexplored areas of occupational health safety. The condition mainly affects the tobacco harvesters. The condition is prevalent in Asian and South American tobacco harvesters. Although transient, the condition can affect multiple organ systems. The objective of this review is to extensively discuss the background, epidemiology, clinical features and measures to counter the problem.A literature search of Medline with terms such as “green”, “tobacco” and “sickness” was done covering years 1970-2007. All studies, reviews and commentaries on health effects of farming green tobacco and preventing the disease were included.Green Tobacco Sickness is caused by the absorption of nicotine through the skin from wet tobacco plants who have direct contact with tobacco plants during cultivation and harvesting. The early symptoms often include headache and nausea followed by vomiting, weakness, pallor, dizziness, headaches, increased perspiration, chills, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, and increased salivation which may also progress to extreme conditions like prostration, shortness of breath, and occasional fluctuations in blood pressure or heart rate. The duration of the illness is usually between one and three days. The use of protective, water-resistant clothing, chemical-resistant gloves, plastic aprons and rainsuits with boots and socks has reduced the chances of contracting GTS.It is important to educate the tobacco workers and the employers about GTS in order to reduce its incidence. An international level awareness campaign has to be taken up and more stringent workers safety regulations have to be formulated.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ijosh.v2i1.4963 International Journal of Occupational Safety and Health, Vol. 2 No. 1 (2012) 11-14

No abstract

BACKGROUND: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is a very well known metabolic disorder that has reached epidemic proportions worldwide. Evidence suggests that oxidative stress increases in Diabetes Mellitus because of the excessive production of reactive oxygen species and an impaired antioxidant defence mechanism. This study estimated, compared and correlated the serum and salivary Superoxide dismutase levels in healthy subjects and subjects with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus having oral manifestations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, serum and salivary Superoxide dismutase levels were estimated in 45 healthy subjects and 45 patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus with oral manifestations. RESULTS: The mean serum and salivary Superoxide dismutase levels were significantly decreased in subjects with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus with oral manifestations compared to the healthy subjects. Positive correlation in both healthy and diabetics was observed between serum and salivary samples. CONCLUSION: This study highlights that the abnormally high levels of oxidative stress in diabetics coupled with simultaneous decline in antioxidant defence mechanism results in complications in Diabetes mellitus. Thus exploring saliva for antioxidant markers that accurately reflect the redox status of the body is worthwhile.