Raipur Institute of Medical Sciences

BACKGROUND:Forensic identification, pediatric dentistry, and medico-legal investigations all often utilize dental age estimation. Demirjian and Willems methods are frequently used when estimating dental maturity; however, their accuracy varies across different groups, pointing to the need for population specific validation. AIM:Aim of the current study was to compare and assess the reliability of the Demirjian and Willems for estimating dental age in the children from the Indian state of Chhattisgarh. METHODS:A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted using 142 orthopantomograms of children aged 10-16 years. Dental age was estimated using Demirjian and Willems methods based on the developmental stages of the seven left mandibular permanent teeth. The accuracy was assessed using mean error (ME) and mean absolute error (MAE). Pearson correlation and paired t-tests were used to evaluate statistical analysis. RESULTS:The Demirjian method showed a tendency to overestimate age in younger individuals and underestimate age in older age groups. The Willems method demonstrated comparatively smaller deviations from chronological age and often yielded better and more reliable age estimates. Both methods show positive correlation between chronological age and dental age. CONCLUSION:The Willems method showed higher accuracy than the Demirjian method in this Chhattisgarhi population for dental age estimation.

India’s medical education system, marked by a surge in seats from 51,000 to 108,000 (2014–2024), has intensified competition, fuelling a mental health crisis among undergraduate medical students. This multicentric, cross-sectional study (January–June 2024) examined stress dynamics, triggers, and sleep disruptions in 625 medical students across two institutes: Institute-A (n = 385, Uttar Pradesh) and Institute-B (n = 240, Raipur). Employing the Perceived Stress Scale and Modified Sleep Disorders Questionnaire, we assessed stress levels, sleep disturbances, and help-seeking behaviours. Using R-software version 4.5.0. Findings revealed 55.5

Periodontitis is a prevalent chronic inflammatory disease characterised by destruction of the supporting structures of the teeth, and increasing evidence indicates that periodontal inflammation and oral microbial dysbiosis contribute to systemic diseases through inflammatory, immune, and vascular mechanisms. This systematic review examined associations between periodontitis and cardiovascular, metabolic, autoimmune, neurological, and inflammatory outcomes in adult populations. Studies published from 2015 onward were identified using a structured literature search, including cohort studies, randomised controlled trials, case-control studies, cross-sectional analyses, Mendelian randomisation studies, and microbiome-based investigations. Due to heterogeneity in study designs and outcomes, qualitative synthesis was performed. Eleven studies met the inclusion criteria, demonstrating consistent associations between periodontitis and increased risk of hypertension, atrial fibrillation, rheumatoid arthritis, dementia, and elevated systemic inflammatory markers. Quantitative findings showed higher blood pressure, increased C-reactive protein levels, greater autoantibody positivity, enhanced inflammasome activity, and reduced oral microbiome diversity in individuals with periodontal disease. Periodontal therapy improved periodontal health and systemic inflammation, although cardiometabolic improvements were modest or inconsistent. The evidence supports periodontitis as a chronic inflammatory condition with significant systemic consequences, mediated by inflammatory, immune, and endothelial pathways, underscoring the importance of integrating periodontal health into disease prevention and management strategies in modern healthcare.

Thyroid dysfunction, despite its established connection to various psychiatric disorders, is underexplored in psychiatric inpatients, particularly in relation to mood disorders like depression and anxiety. A cross-sectional analysis was performed on 124 patients at a medical college, with first-episode psychiatric disorders. Thyroid function tests (TSH, T3, T4) revealed high rates of thyroid dysfunction, particularly in non-affective and affective psychoses, with common abnormalities including low TSH and high T4. Socio-demographic factors such as age, sex and family income influenced thyroid health. Thus, we show the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction in psychiatric patients and emphasizing the need for routine thyroid function testing in psychiatric assessments to improve the management of mental illnesses.

Introduction- India’s medical education system, marked by a surge in seats from 51,000 to 108,000 (2014–2024), has intensified competition, fueling a mental health crisis among medical graduates. Methodology- This multicentric, cross-sectional study (January–June 2024) examined stress dynamics, triggers, and sleep disruptions in 625 medical students across two institutes: Institute-A (n = 385, Uttar Pradesh) and Institute-B (n = 240, Raipur). Employing the Perceived Stress Scale and Modified Sleep Disorders Questionnaire, we assessed stress levels, sleep disturbances, and help-seeking behaviours. Results- Findings revealed 55.5% of students faced moderate stress, 13.6% high stress, and 18.9% severe insomnia, with Institute-B showing significantly elevated stress (17.9% vs. 10.9%, p = 0.011) and insomnia (25.0% vs. 15.1%, p = 0.002). Academic pressure (56.8%) and exam stress (61.3%) were predominant triggers, while circadian rhythm disorders affected 34.4%. Only 41.2% of high-stress and 41.5% of severe insomnia students sought consultation, underscoring stigma and access barriers. Institute-B’s higher burden suggests academic and environmental influences. Conclusion - This study unveils a silent epidemic, urging institutions to adopt mandatory stress management, sleep hygiene programs, and stigma-free counselling to protect India’s future healthcare workforce and address rising dropout and suicide risks.