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Gregor Benton and Hong Liu, Dear China: Emigrant Letters and Remittances, 1820–1980 (Oakland, CA: University of California Press, 2018), pp. xiv + 286, $34.95. ISBN: 978052097540

INTRODUCTION: India has a large proportion of the global HIV-infected patients. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is the cornerstone of HIV treatment. Antiretroviral drugs are highly toxic and lead to diverse adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Adherence to medications plays a prominent role in success of the therapy. This prospective study was done to study the adherence and analyze its associated factors. METHODOLOGY: The present study was conducted at ART Centre, Swarup Rani Hospital, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India. Selection of the patients was done based on systematic random sampling method. Baseline enrollment was done over 2 months and follow-up was done monthly over 6 months. Information regarding sociodemographic profile, ART regimen, occurrence of ADRs, adherence to ART and factors affecting adherence was collected. Bivariate logistic regression was done to analyze the association of selected variables with adherence. RESULTS: This study enrolled 163 participants among which 152 participants completed the study. During the study period, 94 participants reported the occurrence of at least one ADR. Nonadherence to ART therapy was seen in 31.6% of patients. The most common reason was forgetting to take the medicine (21.8%) followed by occurrence of ADRs (18.3%). No statistically significant association of nonadherence was found with the selected variables. CONCLUSION: Comprehensive research to assess nonadherence to ART therapy is the need of the hour. Policy formulations ought to be made to assess and promote effective adherence to enhance the longevity and quality of life of people living with HIV/AIDS. Concerted efforts by government and intersectoral collaboration are further needed to sustain promotive measures.

Amalgam is basically a concoction of metals that has been used as a potent filling material in dentistry for the last 150 years. Amalgam usually consists of silver, mercury, tin and copper. Dental amalgam is a material used to fill cavities of tooth. Over the years, amalgam has become a topic of concern because it contains mercury. Mercury is a naturally occurring metal in the environment. Mercury exists as a liquid in room temperature but when heated, it becomes a gas. Flexibility of amalgam as a filling material is due Mercury. An alloy powder, a compound that is soft in nature when mixed with mercury makes it enough to mix and condense into the tooth. It hardens quickly and offers strong resistance to the forces of biting and chewing. There are studies reported on the safety of amalgam fillings. In 2005, European Union launched a comprehensive mercury strategy to reduce use of mercury. In 2008, countries like Norway and Denmark restricted the use of dental amalgam containing mercury. In 2009, this research was evaluated by U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and found no rationale to limit the use of amalgam. There are certain restorative materials that are available commercially that are mercury free in nature like Gold, Porcelain, Gallium alloys, Composite resin restoratives etc. They offer many advantages over amalgams containing mercury like: seals the dentin from future decay, reinforces remaining tooth structure, provides smooth and bonded margins, conservative and it blends naturally.