Search

Context: Dentinal hypersensitivity (DH) is a chronic disorder in which patients report sharp and acute pain to a variety of stimuli. Till date, a standardized procedure to treat DH is missing, though several alternative treatment strategies have been designed, including laser therapies. Aim: The aim of the study was to treat DH with minimum chemical concentration and least laser energy level with longer follow-up period. Materials and Methods: One hundred and twenty patients were randomly divided into four groups: (i) Group 1-5% potassium nitrate (KNO3); (ii) Group 2 - gallium-aluminum-arsenide diode laser (62.2 J/cm2, wavelength - 980 nm, noncontact pulse mode, and power wattage - 0.5 W); (iii) Group 3 - combined 5% KNO3 and the diode laser; and (iv) Group 4 - placebo (control). The visual analog scale (VAS) scores were recorded, analyzed, and compared to tactile stimuli, cold water, and air blast tests at different intervals for 6 weeks. Results: Synergistic use of 5% KNO3 and diode laser (Group 3) significantly reduced the DH pain, which was almost negligible after 6th week (97%–99% of the pain was reported to be relieved) and showed promising results than any other studied groups. Further, the diode laser (Group 2) showed better results than 5% KNO3 (Group 1). One-way ANOVA and Bonferroni correction post hoc test revealed the combination of groups with significant differences in the mean VAS scores at the different interval of time (P < 0.01). Conclusions: Convincingly, the combined application of 5% KNO3 with the diode laser can be recommended for treating DH patients.

The fatigue life prediction model based on crack propagation from micro-structural features is derived and presented for planar and randomly oriented Discontinuous Reinforced Metal Matrix Composites (DRMMCs). The model contains the influence of micro-structural properties such as aspect ratio, volume fraction of particle/fibre and constraint between particle and the matrix. The effect of residual thermal stresses generated within the matrix during development of composite is considered. The particle/fibre plays a dominant role in the development of the cyclic plastic zone size ahead of the crack tip; moreover, it enhances the cyclic plastic deformation characteristics of DRMMC. The theoretical model-based evaluations for low cycle fatigue in DRMMCs are within the proximity of the experimental results.

Algae are often promoted as feedstock organisms to produce a sustainable petroleum fossil fuel alternative. However, to induce lipid accumulation most often requires a severe stress that is difficult to induce in large batch cultures. The objective of this study is to analyze and mathematically model heat stress on growth, chlorophyll content, triacylglyceride, and starch synthesis in algae. We initially screened 30 algal species for the most pronounced induction of lipid droplets from heat stress using confocal microscopy and mass spectroscopy techniques. One species, Coccomyxa subellipsoidea C169, was selected and subjected to further biochemical analyses using a jacketed bioreactor amended with 1% CO2 at 25°C, 30°C, 32°C, 33°C, 34°C, 35°C, and 36°C. Lipid and starch accumulation was less extreme than N stress. Growth was reduced above 25°C, but heat stress induced lipid droplet synthesis was negatively correlated with growth only past a demonstrated threshold temperature above 32°C. The optimal temperature for lipid accumulation was 35°C, which led to 6% of dry weight triglyceride content and a 72% reduction from optimal growth after 5 days. Fatty acid influx rates into triglycerides and 15N labeling of amino acids and proteins indicate that heat stress is mechanistically distinct from N stress. Thus, this study lends support to a novel hypothesis that lipid droplet triglycerides result from a redistribution of carbon flux as fatty acids to neutral storage lipids over membrane or other lipids.

Oral health care is the most important part of person day to day life. Many methods are documented in literature so far for oral health programmes which includes interventions aiming at affecting attitudinal and behavioural change through interactive sessions such as role-play, nukkad nataks, have led to self-reported reductions in risk habits in adults as well as children. Use of applied drama and theatre in oral health promotion is increasing, but knowledge about its effectiveness for health and well-being is still limited. This review is aimed to detect the role of drama in oral health care programmes

Gingival hyperplasia is an atypical increase in the number of healthy cells in normal arrangement in a tissue...

Thermoacidophilic archaea, such as Metallosphaera sedula, are lithoautotrophs that occupy metal-rich environments. In previous studies, an M. sedula mutant lacking the primary copper efflux transporter, CopA, became copper sensitive. In contrast, the basis for supranormal copper resistance remained unclear in the spontaneous M. sedula mutant, CuR1. Here, transcriptomic analysis of copper-shocked cultures indicated that CuR1 had a unique regulatory response to metal challenge corresponding to the upregulation of 55 genes. Genome resequencing identified 17 confirmed mutations unique to CuR1 that were likely to change gene function. Of these, 12 mapped to genes with annotated function associated with transcription, metabolism, or transport. These mutations included 7 nonsynonymous substitutions, 4 insertions, and 1 deletion. One of the insertion mutations mapped to pseudogene Msed_1517 and extended its reading frame an additional 209 amino acids. The extended mutant allele was identified as a homolog of Pho4, a family of phosphate symporters that includes the bacterial PitA proteins. Orthologs of this allele were apparent in related extremely thermoacidophilic species, suggesting M. sedula naturally lacked this gene. Phosphate transport studies combined with physiologic analysis demonstrated M. sedula PitA was a low-affinity, high-velocity secondary transporter implicated in copper resistance and arsenate sensitivity. Genetic analysis demonstrated that spontaneous arsenate-resistant mutants derived from CuR1 all underwent mutation in pitA and nonselectively became copper sensitive. Taken together, these results point to archaeal PitA as a key requirement for the increased metal resistance of strain CuR1 and its accelerated capacity for copper bioleaching.

Living systems must continuously receive substrates from subenvironment, and the population metabolic rate model is affected on this flow of substrates to be metabolized, its relevant variables, and the rate at which operates. This study focuses on the influences of resistances and bulk phase factors with in the subenvironment and by thermodynamic coupling on reaction-transport processes representing a simple enzymatic conversion of a substrate to a product. Thermodynamic coupling refers to mass flow, or a reaction velocity that occurs without or opposite to the direction imposed by its primary thermodynamic driving force. We considered the effects of (i) subenvironment resistances for the heat and mass flows of reacting substrate in the form of the ratios of Sherwood to Nusselt numbers, (ii) the subenvironment bulk phase temperatures and concentration of substrate, and (iii) the cross-coefficients responsible for the induced effects due to the thermodynamic coupling. In order to study these effects, the ...

Various drugs have been used for the treatment of antitubercular treatment. Such drugs may often lead to hepatotoxicity. Aim: To Access the pharmacokinetic profile of rifampicin and isoniazid and metabolites of isoniazid viz. Mono Acetyl Hydrazine (MAH) and Diacetyl Hydrazine (DAH) in patients of pulmonary tuberculosis which served as control group and in patients of Antitubercular Drugs (ATD) induce hepatotoxicity. Materials and methods: Ten patients of pulmonary tuberculosis already receiving ATD for at least last four weeks and had no clinical hepatotoxicity and ten patients of pulmonary tuberculosis suffering from ATD induced hepatotoxicity were included. Liver Function Test Serum bilirubin, SGOT, SGPT, Serum Alkaline phosphatase, Prothrombin time, HbsAg, IgM anti HBc for hepatitis B, blood urea and serum creatinine were investigated. Results: Patients suffering from ATD induced hepatotoxicity have shown increased peak serum Conc. t1/2 and decrease in serum clearance of INH and increase in peak serum concentration, AUC & decrease clearance of RMP indicating that there was delayed elimination of both the drugs (RMP, INH) which may further cause hepatotoxicity. Conclusion: It was concluded that in patients of liver derangement low dose of INH and rifampicin should be given and plasma levels of MAH may act as an indicator to predict hepatotoxicity in patients receiving antitubercular treatment.

Background: The aim of the study was to evaluate the anaesthetic efficacy of 4% articaine hydrochloride with epinephrine/adrenaline 1:200000 versus 2% lignocaine hydrochloride with epinephrine/adrenaline 1:200000 in extractions of permanent mandibular posterior teeth. Materials and methods: One hundred (100) patients were selected for the study in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Implantology. Patients were equally but randomly divided into two different groups: i) Group 1-4% articaine solution; ii) Group 2-2% lignocaine solution, both with equal concentration of epinephrine (1:200000). Standardized clinical parameters included the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score for each, Pain on injection, Intraoperative Pain, Onset of anaesthesia, Duration of anaesthesia, Need of reanaesthesia. Results: On statistical evaluation of the values obtained for each patient, it was observed that Group I (4% articaine with 1:200000 epinephrine) demonstrated low pain on injection, early onset of anaesthesia (shorter latency), low intraoperative pain and reasonable duration of soft tissue anaesthesia compared to Group II (2% lignocaine with 1:200000 epinephrine) that demonstrated slow onset, more intraoperative pain and minimally longer duration of soft tissue anaesthesia. Conclusion: it can be stated that Septanest (4% articaine hydrochloride with 1:2000000 epinephrine) may be preferred to Xylocaine (2% lignocaine hydrochloride with 1:2000000 epinephrine) in simple minor oral surgical procedures.

Tetraazamacrocyclic complexes of Mn

Due to their anatomical position, the surgical removal of impacted third molars results in oedema, pain, and trismus. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of four different routes of administration of methylprednisolone on oedema, trismus and pain after lower third molar surgery. This randomized, perspective, and controlled study included 150 patients. The patients were randomly divided into five groups: Group A (control; no steroids), Group B (Submucosal injection), Group C (oral tablets), Group D (i.v. injection) and Group E (Intramuscular Injection). On days 2 and 7 following surgery, linear oedema was determined using facial landmarks, and maximal mouth opening was measured. Postoperative mouths opening and swelling were evaluated for each route of methylprednisolone administration and compared. The female (59%) to male (41%) ratio was 1.44; the mean age of the patients was 29.6 years. The level of significance was set at P < 0.01 for mouth opening and P < 0.05 for oedema. With regard to trismus, all four routes of administration demonstrated better efficacy in comparison to the control. While oral administration and i.v. injection of methylprednisolone achieved similar results, masseter injection provided better results in reducing oedema and trismus when compared with the control following lower third molar surgery.

Purpose: Indiscriminate disposal of bio medical waste poses a serious threat to environment and human health and is currently a burning issue with increasing health care facilities and associated waste generation. Hence this study assesses the awareness levels and attitude regarding biomedical waste disposal among post-graduates, under-graduates & auxiliary staff of a dental college.Materials and Method: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among post-graduates, under-graduates & auxiliary staff using a questionnaire. A total of 120 participants, 40 in each group answered the questionnaire. The answers were analyzed and graded for each group.Results: The results depict satisfactory awareness about biomedical waste disposal among post-graduates and under-graduates. However, the auxiliary staff lacks the awareness about proper biomedical waste disposal.Conclusion: The study reveals that there is a need to increase knowledge among the auxiliary staff regarding biomedical waste management by continuing training program.

The relative effects of three precise nitrogen limitation regimes on green micro-algae were assessed using the Trebouxiophycean alga Coccomyxa subellipsoidea grown in a chemostatic bioreactor system. The data provides further evidence that growth and triglyceride (TAG) accumulation are concurrent and independently proportional to the degree of nitrogen limitation in algae. Additionally, TAG accumulation was observed to proceed via oscillations with respect to time and percent dry weight quantity. The predator–prey model was applied to fit the experimental data and to obtain the physiological significance of these oscillations. The results determine the conditions of maximum neutral lipid productivity with respect to nitrate stress and highlight an area of potential future research.