American Journal of Pharmacy and Health Research

Background: The insertion of local anesthetic solution remains one of the most dreaded events during dental treatment, and discomfort from needle penetration is a recognised source of dental anxiety and treatment avoidance. Topical anesthetic gels and pre-injection cooling (cryotherapy) have both been proposed to reduce this discomfort, yet direct comparisons in adult endodontic patients are limited. Objective: To compare pain perception during administration of local anesthesia following a 2% lignocaine topical gel versus a standardized ice-stick cryotherapy protocol. Materials and Methods: In this two-arm crossover randomized controlled trial, patients aged 18–60 years requiring endodontic treatment in at least two teeth received both protocols at separate sites: 2% lignocaine gel (Group A) for 1 minute and a customized ice stick measuring 5 mm × 10 mm (Group B) for 15 seconds before injection. Injection pain was self-rated on a 10 cm visual analogue scale (VAS), and scores were compared using the Mann–Whitney U test at a 5% level of significance. Results: The mean VAS score was 3.65 ± 1.00 in Group A and 2.53 ± 0.94 in Group B, a statistically significant difference (z = −2.888, p = 0.004) indicating lower injection pain with cryotherapy. Conclusion: Pre-injection cryotherapy using a standardized ice stick produced significantly less injection pain than 2% lignocaine topical gel. It offers a simple, inexpensive and non-pharmacological chairside adjunct that can be readily incorporated into routine endodontic practice.

INTRODUCTION: Proniosomal gels are generally present in transparent, translucent or white semisolid gel texture, which makes them physically stable during storage and transport. Due to the limited solvent system present, the proniosomes formed were the mixture of many phases of liquid crystal, viz. lamellar, hexagonal and cubic phase liquid crystals as given in dissolution of most surfactants in water, leads to the formation of lipotropic liquid crystals rather than micelle solution. Lamellar phase shows sheets of surfactants arranged in bilayer form, whereas in hexagonal phase cylindrical units are packed in hexagonal fashion. Cubic phase consists of curved bio-continuous lipid bilayer extending in three dimensions, separating two congruent networks of water channels. These liquid crystals present an attractive appearance because of their, transparency and high viscosity, although in the beginning of its formation, a short range of less viscous compositions (so called liquid/gel compositions) appear in some cases. Addition of water leads to interaction between water and polar groups of the surfactant results in swelling of bilayers. When the concentration of solvent is increased above a limited value, the bilayer tends to form random spherical structures, i.e., multilamellar, multivesicular structures. When shaken with water i.e., the aqueous phase of water, complete hydration takes place leading to the formation of niosomes. The beauty of these proniosomes lies in their ability to rearrange as stable niosomal suspensions, on hydration with water.

Combined and progestogen-only oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) are among the most widely used reversible methods of fertility control worldwide, yet their physiological and psychological effects remain debated across multiple clinical domains. This manuscript synthesizes findings from seventeen recent publications—systematic reviews, meta-analyses, randomized trials, cohort studies, and cross-sectional surveys—covering the cognitive, cardiovascular, metabolic, musculoskeletal, psychological, and reproductive effects of OCPs, together with their history, therapeutic applications, and emerging formulations. Effects prove domain- and formulation-specific: OCP use is associated with modest gains in verbal memory, while venous thromboembolism risk and inflammatory markers vary by progestin generation and androgenic activity. Findings on mortality, mood, and exercise-related muscle damage are similarly mixed, and methodological heterogeneity across the literature limits firm conclusions in several domains. Non-contraceptive use—particularly for menstrual disorders and polycystic ovary syndrome—is common and clinically valuable, although weight-related concerns remain a leading driver of discontinuation. This synthesis supports individualized, progestin-informed prescribing and identifies persistent gaps in long-term, high-quality comparative evidence.