Objective: To investigate the frequency of number of roots, canals, and canal configuration based on gender and symmetry bilaterally of mandibular permanent incisors of Pakistani sub-population. Study Design: Cross-Sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Operative Dentistry, 28 Military Dental Center, Lahore, Pakistan, from Nov 2023 to Jul 2024. Methodology: Three hundred forty CBCT scans were analyzed, which were recorded for the diagnosis and treatment planning of the patients within the age limits of 18 to 80 years. Number of roots, number of canals and configurations of the canal according to Weine’s classification, bilateral symmetry and gender were noted as well. Results: Mean age of the patients in the study was 44.28 ± 12.84 years. There were 207(60.9%) females and 133(39.1%) males included in our study. Outcome concludes that 65% mandibular central incisors and 63.8% mandibular lateral incisor had two canals. Most common canal configuration was Weine’s Type II (65.3%). Frequency of different canal configurations bilaterally was not statistically significant. Occurrence of two canals in lower incisors was slightly higher among males. Conclusion: Among Pakistani population second canal in mandibular incisors was more prevalent. Dentists performing endodontic treatment of these teeth must be aware of this fact to avoid missed canal.
Objective: To compare different doses of dexmedetomidine in attenuating extubation response in hypertensive patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Study Design: Quasi-experimental study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Anesthesia, Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Sep 2022 to Feb 2023. Methodology: Patients were segregated into two groups D1 (n=90) and D2 (n=90). Group-D1 received 0.5 mcg/kg of Dexmedetomidine in 10 ml of normal saline while Group-D2 received 1 mcg/kg of Dexmedetomidine diluted in normal saline (10 ml). Both the titrations were administered as an infusion over 10 minutes before extubation. Results: Post-extubation mean heart rate varied from 86.27±3.48 beats per minute in the D1 versus 66.01±1.69 beats per minute in the Group-D2 (p<0.001). Similarly, mean arterial pressure varied from 97.40±1.23 mmHg in D1 to 80.88±1.77 mmHg in the Group-D2 (p<0.001). The quality of extubation was statistically better in the Group-D2 (p<0.001) Conclusion: We conclude that 1 mcg/kg of Dexmedetomidine is a better dose than 0.5 mcg/kg in blunting extubation responses and providing more than satisfactory control of bradycardia and hypotension which is advantageous during extubation.
Objective: To compare the efficacy of local 20% W/V Mannitol infiltration with the standard care for minimizing postoperative pain, edema, and trismus after impacted mandibular third molar removal. Study Design: Quasi-experimental study. Place and Duration of the Study: Armed Forces Institute of Dentistry, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, from May 2024 to Jul 2025. Methodology: Forty subjects who underwent extraction of impacted mandibular third molar were divided into two equal groups, i.e., Mannitol and control group. In group A, apart from standard treatment, 20% w/v Mannitol infiltrated, while in group B, only standard treatment was applied. Pain assessment was done after 6, 24, and 48 hours, while swelling and trismus were recorded before surgery and 48 and 72 hours after surgery. Results: There was a significant decrease in pain after surgery for Mannitol at 6 hours [6.00 (1.00) versus 9.00 (1.00); p<0.001] and 24 hours [3.00 (1.00) versus 5.00 (0.50); p<0.001] when compared with controls. The amount of swelling was significantly decreased at 48 hours [7.00 (1.00) versus 11.00 (1.00); p<0.001] and 72 hours [5.00 (1.00) versus 6.00 (2.00); p=0.001]. Trismus was also significantly decreased in the Mannitol group at 48 and 72 hours (p<0.001). Within-group analysis showed significant improvements in pain, swelling, and trismus over time in both groups (p<0.001). Conclusion: Local 20% W/V Mannitol infiltration effectively decreases early postoperative pain, swelling, and trismus after third molar surgery, providing a non-steroidal supplement to postoperative management.
Objective: To compare the mean scores of quality of life in myofascial pain patients treated with conservative therapy alone versus conservative therapy with early self-physiotherapy. Study Design: Single-blinded randomized controlled trial. Trial number (ISRCTN12874881). Place and Duration of Study: Fatima Memorial Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan, from Jul 2021 to Aug 2022. Methodology: A total of 62 patients diagnosed with myofascial pain DC-TMD Group 1(Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders Group) were randomly allocated using a lottery method into two groups: Group A (conservative therapy only) and Group B (conservative therapy with early self-physiotherapy). Written informed consent was taken. The QOL was assessed using a validated QOL index before and after four weeks of therapy. Results: A total of 62 participants were included in this study. Pre-intervention mean score in Group A was 2.53 ± 0.65, which improved to 2.06 ± 0.74 post-intervention. Similarly, Group B showed an improvement from 2.28 ± 0.74 pre-intervention to 1.48 ± 0.75 post-intervention. Both the groups had statistically significant difference pre and post interventions as p value <0.001. There was statistically significant difference seen among the study group at pre intervention as p value =0.003 while after intervention there was not statistically significant difference seen as p-value 0.165Conclusion: Early self-physiotherapy combined with conservative therapy significantly improves the QOL in patients with myofascial pain.
Objective: To compare the quality of Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs) created by humans and Chat GPT using post-hoc item analysis. Study Design: Quasi-Experimental Research Design. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Medicine, Azra Naheed Medical College, The Superior University, Lahore Pakistan, from Feb to Aug 2024. Methodology: A total of 100 participants were given two sets of 50 questions. One set was created using Chat GPT while the other was crafted by human teachers. Duration of generation of MCQs was noted. Post hoc item analysis was done (difficulty index, discrimination index and distractor analysis). Student scores were compared. Independent sample t-test was applied to compare mean difficulty index, discrimination index and student scores. Two proportions z-test to compare mean distractor efficiency. The results were reported as means, frequencies and percentages and analyzed using SPSS version 27. Results: Total of 100 MCQs were evaluated. Chat GPT generated MCQs in 25 minutes, significantly faster than humans' 205 minutes. The Difficulty Index (Chat GPT: 30.3, humans: 34.7, p=0.39), Discrimination Index (Chat GPT: 0.21, humans: 0.19, p=0.514), student scores (Chat GPT: 19.4, humans: 18.46, p=0.125) and Distractor efficiency (Chat GPT: 75%, humans 69.5%, p=0.385) were statistically non-significant, indicating similar quality. Conclusion: The quality of MCQs produced by Chat GPT and Human Educators is comparable; however, the duration required by Chat GPT is significantly less. A mixed approach, where subject matter experts qualitatively evaluate the MCQs generated by Chat GPT, can enhance the overall assessment quality.
