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The use of cellular telephones by medical personnel and the associated nosocomial transmission of pathogens have not been thoroughly examined. The objective of this study was to determine the incidence of bacterial colonisation on mobile phones of Healthcare workers (HCWs) and its accompanying resistance to commonly used antimicrobials in a medical and dental hospital in India. Method: A total of 204 mobile phones of HCWs from medical and dental departments were screened. A sterile swab moistened with sterile saline was rotated over the external surface of the phone. Swabs were cultured on 5% sheep blood agar and MacConkey agar plates. Plates were incubated aerobically at 37°C for 24 hours. All isolates were tested for antimicrobial susceptibility. A questionnaire was used for data collection on mobile phone use in hospital. Result: 99% of the phones demonstrated evidence of bacterial contamination. 64.8% of medical samples showed growth of pathogenic micro-organisms and 37.9% showed growth of Multi drug resistant bacteria. 59.37% of dental samples showed growth of pathogenic micro-organisms and 43.75% showed growth of Multi drug resistant bacteria. Pathogens isolated included Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter, Enterococcus faecalis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. According to the questionnaire 40% admitted to using their phones between examination of patients. Only 6% used disinfectants to wipe their phones. Conclusion: This study reveals that mobile phones are commonly used by HCWs, even during patient contact and may serve as a potential vehicle for the spread of nosocomial pathogens.

Pediatricians and family practitioners have the responsibility of providing the crucial primary care for the children. They are considered to be in a unique position to contribute to the dental health of their young patients. In view of this a study was conducted in Mangalore city (India) to assess pediatricians' views about oral health care and their advice regarding oral hygiene maintenance. Fifty pediatricians were personally interviewed with a questionnaire. All pediatricians acknowledged their role in oral hygiene maintenance of their patients. This study showed that there is a need for more communication between the two pediatric specialties of medicine and dentistry so as to deliver better child health care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regulation of gene expression is at the frontier of plant responses to various external stimuli including stress. RNA polymerase-based transcription and post-transcriptional degradation of RNA play vital roles in this regulation. Here, we show that HUA ENHANCER 2 (HEN2), a co-factor of the nuclear exosome complex, influences RNAPII transcription elongation in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) under cold conditions. Our results demonstrate that a hen2 mutant is cold sensitive and undergoes substantial transcriptional changes compared to wild type when exposed to cold conditions. We found an accumulation of 5' fragments from a subset of genes (including C-repeat binding factors 1-3 [CBF1-3]) that do not carry over to their 3' ends. In fact, hen2 mutants have lower levels of full-length mRNA for a subset of genes. This distinct 5'-end accumulation and 3'-end depletion was not observed in other NEXT complex members or core exosome mutants, highlighting HEN2's distinctive role. We further used RNAPII-associated nascent RNA to confirm the transcriptional phenotype is a result of lower active transcription specifically at the 3'-end of these genes in a hen2 mutant. Taken together, our data point to the unique role of HEN2 in maintaining RNAPII transcription dynamics especially highlighted under cold stress., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of American Society of Plant Biologists.)

Transcription of antisense long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) occurs pervasively across eukaryotic genomes. Only a few antisense lncRNAs have been characterized and shown to control biological processes, albeit with idiosyncratic regulatory mechanisms. Thus, we largely lack knowledge about the general role of antisense transcription in eukaryotic organisms. Here, we characterized genes with antisense transcription initiating close to the poly(A) signal of genes (PAS genes) in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). We compared plant native elongation transcript sequencing (plaNET-seq) with RNA sequencing during short-term cold exposure and detected massive differences between the response in active transcription and steady-state levels of PAS gene-derived mRNAs. The cold-induced expression of transcription factors B-BOX DOMAIN PROTEIN28 (BBX28) and C2H2-TYPE ZINC FINGER FAMILY PROTEIN5 (ZAT5) was detected by plaNET-seq, while their steady-state level was only slightly altered due to high mRNA turnover. Knockdown of BBX28 and ZAT5 or of their respective antisense transcripts severely compromised plant freezing tolerance. Decreased antisense transcript expression levels resulted in a reduced cold response of BBX28 and ZAT5, revealing a positive regulatory role of both antisense transcripts. This study expands the known repertoire of noncoding transcripts. It highlights that native transcription approaches can complement steady-state RNA techniques to identify biologically relevant players in stress responses., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest statement. None declared., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of American Society of Plant Biologists.)

Alzheimer's disease (AD) poses a significant global health challenge, necessitating the exploration of novel therapeutic strategies. Fyn Tyrosine Kinase has emerged as a key player in AD pathogenesis, making it an attractive target for drug development. This study focuses on investigating the potential of Papaveroline as a drug candidate for AD by targeting Fyn Tyrosine Kinase. The research employed high-throughput virtual screening and QSAR analysis were conducted to identify compounds with optimal drug-like properties, emphasizing adherence to ADMET parameters for further evaluation. Molecular dynamics simulations to analyze the binding interactions between Papaveroline and Staurosporine with Fyn Tyrosine Kinase over a 200-ns period. The study revealed detailed insights into the binding mechanisms and stability of the Papaveroline-Fyn complex, showcasing the compound's potential as an inhibitor of Fyn Tyrosine Kinase. Comparative analysis with natural compounds and a reference compound highlighted Papaveroline's unique characteristics and promising therapeutic implications for AD treatment. Overall, the findings underscore Papaveroline's potential as a valuable drug candidate for targeting Fyn Tyrosine Kinase in AD therapy, offering new avenues for drug discovery in neurodegenerative diseases. This study contributes to advancing our understanding of molecular interactions in AD pathogenesis and paves the way for further research and development in this critical area., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Background There is great variation in the etiology, predisposing organisms, incidence, clinical characteristics, severity, and consequences of skin and/or subcutaneous tissue infections. Extensive necrosis of the subcutaneous tissues and fascia is a characteristic of necrotizing soft tissue infections, which are frequently deadly. To change the course of treatment, this study highlights the need to find a tool that can quickly and accurately identify patients with necrotizing fasciitis (NF) and assist in making an early treatment decision. Methodology A prospective evaluation of 30 individuals with soft tissue infections was conducted using the laboratory risk indicator for necrotizing fasciitis (LRINEC). The patients were classified as low, intermediate, and high risk for the start of NF based on their LRINEC score. To assess the importance of the LRINEC score in forecasting the start of NF and its clinical consequences, patients in each group underwent appropriate management and statistical analysis. Results This study included 28 males (93.3%) and two females (6.7%). The associated p-value, recorded as 0.039, signifies statistical significance in the observed area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The p-value in risk categorization was found to be 0.296, which suggests that LRINEC helps in risk categorization with 100% sensitivity when used as a screening tool. Conclusion The early detection of necrotizing soft tissue infections, such as NF, is vital. The LRINEC score, based on routine lab tests, accurately distinguishes these infections. With high sensitivity and significant p-values, it helps stratify patients, guiding timely interventions and saving lives., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. The Institutional Ethical Committee, Adichunchanagiri Institute of Medical Sciences, B.G. Nagara, India issued approval AIMS/IEC/2124/2019-20. Animal subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve animal subjects or tissue. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Bhat et al.)

The potential application of flapping wings in micro-aerial vehicles is gaining interest due to their ability to generate high lift even in confined spaces. Most studies in the past have investigated hovering wings as well as those flapping near solid surfaces. However, the presence of surface tension at the water-air interface and the ability of the water surface to move might differentiate its response to the proximity of wings, compared to that of solid surfaces. Motivated by underwater, amphibian robots and several underwater experimental studies on flapping wings, our study investigated the effects of the proximity of flapping wings to the water surface at low Reynolds numbers (Re = 3400). Experiments were performed on a rectangular wing in a water tank with prescribed flapping kinematics and the aerodynamic forces were measured. The effects of surface proximity on the wing in its both upright and inverted orientations were studied. Broadly, the mean lift and drag coefficients in both orientations decreased significantly (by up to 60%) as the distance from the water surface was increased. In the case of the upright orientation, the mean lift coefficient was slightly decreased very close to the water surface with its peak being observed at the normalized clearance of [Formula: see text]. Overall, the study revealed an enhancement in the aerodynamic forces closer to the water surface., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: This is an open access article, free of all copyright, and may be freely reproduced, distributed, transmitted, modified, built upon, or otherwise used by anyone for any lawful purpose. The work is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication.)

Congenital heart disease (CHD) accounts for nearly one-third of all congenital defects, and patients often require repeated heart valve replacements throughout their lives, due to failed surgical repairs and lack of durability of bioprosthetic valve implants. This objective of this study is to develop and in vitro test a fetal transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement (FTPVR) using sutureless techniques to attach leaflets, as an option to correct congenital defects such as pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum (PA/IVS), in utero. A balloon expandable design was analyzed using computational simulations to identify areas of failure. Five manufactured valves were assembled using the unique sutureless approach and tested in the fetal right heart simulator (FRHS) to evaluate hemodynamic characteristics. Computational simulations showed that the commissural loads on the leaflet material were significantly reduced by changing the attachment techniques. Hemodynamic analysis showed an effective orifice area of 0.08 cm 2 , a mean transvalvular pressure gradient of 7.52 mmHg, and a regurgitation fraction of 8.42%, calculated over 100 consecutive cardiac cycles. In conclusion, the FTPVR exhibited good hemodynamic characteristics, and studies with biodegradable stent materials are underway., (© 2023. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to Biomedical Engineering Society.)

Background: Cancer is a leading cause of death globally and in the US, prompting research into medicinal plants with anticancer properties. Withania somnifera , or Ashwagandha, is one such plants, known for its diverse pharmacological effects. Withaferin A and Viscosalactone B are two compounds found in Ashwagandha with known anticancer activity. The protein NQO1, overexpressed in various cancers, was the focus of this study., Hypothesis and Aim: We hypothesize that specific phytochemicals in Withania somnifera can effectively interact with and inhibit the NQO1 protein, thereby exhibiting anticancer properties. This study aims to identify these interactions using in silico approaches., Methodology: CFDT was performed using the Gaussian 16 program package, followed by QSAR analysis of the compounds in the PASS online web server. The Schrodinger suite was used to carry out ligand and protein preparation, molecular docking, and molecular dynamic simulation to analyse the interaction of these compounds with NQO1 and ADME studies. Protox-II and SWISSADME tools were used to predict the toxicity and blood-brain barrier permeability of the phytochemicals., Results and Conclusion: CDFT and frontier molecular orbital analyses predicted the stability and reactivity of all the selected molecules. QSAR analysis predicted the biological activity and toxicity of the compounds. Withaferin A exhibited the highest glide gscore (-4.953 kcal/mol) and demonstrated 6 hydrogen bond interactions with NQO1, suggesting its potential as an anticancer agent. Conceptual density functional theory-based analysis suggested the strong electrophilicity of the ligands, further supporting their potential anticancer activities. Viscosalactone B, another phytochemical from Ashwagandha, also showed interactions involving 6 hydrogen bonds with NQO1, with a glide gscore of (-4.593 kcal/mol). Molecular dynamic simulations validated the stability of the Withaferin A-NQO1 complex. ADME-T properties predicted high oral absorption for the selected ligands, indicating that Withaferin A could be a viable orally administered drug., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Curcumin has anti-inflammatory properties but current evidence is limited to advocate its use in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We explored whether curcumin could maintain remission in patients with RA while tapering conventional synthetic Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs (csDMARD). In this patient-and investigator-blinded trial, adults with RA in sustained remission for more than six months were randomized to oral curcumin (1 g) with piperine (5 mg) twice daily or matching placebo. Patients who had received biological DMARDs or curcumin supplements in the last 6 months were excluded. csDMARD were tapered and stopped sequentially as per a fixed protocol. The primary outcome was flare-free survival at 52 weeks. The secondary outcomes were flare rate, correlation of serum curcuminoid levels with flares and safety. 200 patients (100 per arm) entered the trial with comparable baseline characteristics. Per protocol analysis included 92 and 93 participants in the curcumin and the placebo group, respectively. Flare-free survival at week 52 was similar between both groups (60% versus 64%; p = 0.76). The median time to flare was similar [Curcumin: 219 days (IQR: 123) versus placebo: 214 days (95.8); p = 0.067]. Cox proportionate regression modelling showed that the flare-free survival was independent of serum curcuminoid levels [adjusted HR = 0.99 (95% CI: 0.97-1.0)]. The model showed that flare-free survival was not associated with age, gender, seropositivity, or csDMARD used at baseline. No serious adverse effects were noted. Curcumin did not impact the flare-free survival in patients with RA in remission during the tapering of csDMARDs despite achieving adequate serum levels.Trial registration: CTRI/2018/04/013279., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Aim: To evaluate the remineralizing potential of glass ionomer cement (GIC) and silver diamine fluoride (SDF) on artificially induced enamel caries lesions in primary teeth., Materials and Methods: The initial baseline surface microhardness (SMH) of 40 primary teeth was tested using Vickers hardness tester, followed by the creation of artificial caries lesions by immersion in the demineralizing solution. Microhardness assessments of demineralized samples were done, and samples were randomly divided into two groups of 20 specimens: in group I, GIC was applied on demineralized enamel, and in group II, SDF was applied on demineralized enamel. Samples were subjected to pH cycling. For group I, GIC from the enamel samples was carefully removed using a surgical blade, and changes in the SMH from both groups were analyzed using Vickers microhardness test., Result: Surface microhardness (SMH) value after pH cycling of GIC (45 ± 10.23) and SDF (47.76 ± 6.69) is statistically highly significant (<0.001) compared to the baseline SMH of both test groups. Comparison of SMH between the two groups showed statistically nonsignificant results., Conclusion: The remineralization potential of SDF is comparable to GIC. So, SDF can be used as a remineralizing agent for incipient enamel caries., Clinical Significance: Owing to the remineralizing ability of GIC underneath the restorations, it can be used as a therapeutic sealant for incipient enamel caries lesions, where SDF staining is not always acceptable. A 38% SDF also can be used as a remineralizing agent for incipient enamel caries lesions in situations like noncompliant patients, inaccessibility to dental care, or conditions in which esthetics is not of concern., How to Cite This Article: Sunny S, Sargod SS, Bhat SS, et al. Comparative Evaluation of Effect of Silver Diamine Fluoride and Glass Ionomer Cement on Microhardness of Artificial Caries Lesion in Primary Teeth: An In Vitro Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2023;16(6):858-863., Competing Interests: Source of support: Nil Conflict of interest: None, (Copyright © 2023; The Author(s).)

Background: Despite the University of California San Francisco, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), and the Food and Drug Administration having approved the use of silver diamine fluoride (SDF) in arresting dentinal caries, literature available on its systemic absorption is limited., Aim: This study aimed to assess any systemic absorption of fluoride ion following the topical application of SDF in young children., Materials and Methods: Children aged between 3 and 6 years who were diagnosed with severe early childhood caries and required rehabilitation were recruited for the study. Before the onset of treatment for the arrest and control of caries, a baseline urine sample as a control was collected from the patient. In accordance with the manufacturer's instructions and AAPD guidelines, SDF was topically applied on a minimum of five carious teeth, following which additional urine samples were collected after 2 h and after 24 h, respectively, of application of SDF. The urine samples were stored at -20°C, and the estimation of fluoride ion concentrations in urine was then ascertained using a fluoride ion selective electrode., Results: The results revealed that the fluoride concentration in urine before application of SDF was 0.66 mg/L ± 0.25 mg/L, and following 2 h of application, it was 1.13 mg/L ± 0.23. However, 24 h postapplication, the urinary fluoride concentration was reduced to 0.63 mg/L ± 0.20, which is close to the baseline value of the control sample., Conclusion: There was no significant systemic absorption of fluoride following the application of SDF, and it could be adopted as an effective and safe agent in the armamentarium for managing caries in young children., (Copyright © 2024 Copyright: © 2024 Journal of Indian Society of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry.)

In the tropics, coffee has been one of the most extensively cultivated economic crops, especially Arabica coffee ( Coffea arabica L.). The coffee pulp, which includes phytochemicals with a proven antifungal action, is one of the most insufficiently utilized and neglected byproducts of coffee refining. In the current experiment, we carried out in silico screening of the isolated Arabica coffee phytochemicals for antifungal activity against Aspergillus fumigatus : a foodborne fungus of great public health importance. As determined by the molecular docking interactions of the library compounds indicated, the best interactions were found to occur between the nucleoside-diphosphate kinase protein 6XP7 and the test molecules Naringin (-6.771 kcal/mol), followed by Epigallocatechin gallate (-5.687 kcal/mol). Therefore, Naringin was opted for further validation with molecular dynamic simulations. The ligand-protein complex RMSD indicated a fairly stable Naringin-NDK ligand-protein complex throughout the simulation period (2-16 Å). In ADME and gastrointestinal absorbability testing, Naringin was observed to be orally bioavailable, with very low intestinal absorption and a bioavailability score of 0.17. This was further supported by the boiled egg analysis data, which clearly indicated that the GI absorption of the Naringin molecule was obscure. We found that naringin could be harmful only when swallowed at a median lethal dose between 2000 and 5000 mg/kg. In accordance with these findings, the toxicity prediction reports suggested that Naringin, found especially in citrus fruits and tomatoes, is safe for human consumption after further investigation. Overall, Naringin may be an ideal candidate for developing anti- A. fumigatus treatments and food packaging materials. Thus, this study addresses the simultaneous problems of discarded coffee waste management and antifungal resistance to available medications.

Potential single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were detected between two chicken breeds ( Kashmir favorella and broiler) using deep RNA sequencing. This was carried out to comprehend the coding area alterations, which cause variances in the immunological response to Salmonella infection. In the present study, we identified high impact SNPs from both chicken breeds in order to delineate different pathways that mediate disease resistant/susceptibility traits. Samples (liver and spleen) were collected from Salmonella resistant ( K. favorella ) and susceptible (broiler) chicken breeds. Salmonella resistance and susceptibility were checked by different pathological parameters post infection. To explore possible polymorphisms in genes linked with disease resistance, SNP identification analysis was performed utilizing RNA seq data from nine K. favorella and ten broiler chickens. A total of 1778 (1070 SNPs and 708 INDELs) and 1459 (859 SNPs and 600 INDELs) were found to be specific to K. favorella and broiler, respectively. Based on our results, we conclude that in broiler chickens the enriched pathways mostly included metabolic pathways like fatty acid metabolism, carbon metabolism and amino acid metabolism (Arginine and proline metabolism), while as in K. favorella genes with high impact SNPs were enriched in most of the immune-related pathways like MAPK signaling pathway, Wnt signaling pathway, NOD-like receptor signaling pathway, etc., which could be a possible resistance mechanism against salmonella infection. In K. favorella , protein-protein interaction analysis also shows some important hub nodes, which are important in providing defense against different infectious diseases. Phylogenomic analysis revealed that indigenous poultry breeds (resistant) are clearly separated from commercial breeds (susceptible). These findings will offer fresh perspectives on the genetic diversity in chicken breeds and will aid in the genomic selection of poultry birds.

Hyponastic Leaves 1 (HYL1) [also known as Double-stranded RNA-Binding protein 1 (DRB1)] is a double-stranded RNA-binding protein involved in microRNA (miRNA) processing in plants. It is a core component of the Microprocessor complex and enhances the efficiency and precision of miRNA processing by the Dicer-Like 1 protein. In this work, we report a novel function of the HYL1 protein in the transcription of miRNA (MIR) genes. HYL1 colocalizes with RNA polymerase II and affects its distribution along MIR genes. Moreover, proteomic experiments revealed that the HYL1 protein interacts with many transcription factors. Finally, we show that the action of HYL1 is not limited to MIR genes and impacts the expression of many other genes, a majority of which are involved in plastid organization. These discoveries indicate HYL1 as an additional player in gene regulation at the transcriptional level, independent of its role in miRNA biogenesis., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Japanese Society of Plant Physiologists.)

Lablab purpureus from the Fabaceae family has been reported to have antiviral properties and used in traditional medical systems like ayurveda and Chinese medicine and has been employed to treat a variety of illnesses including cholera, food poisoning, diarrhea, and phlegmatic diseases. The bovine alphaherpesvirus-1 (BoHV-1) is notorious for causing significant harm to the veterinary and agriculture industries. The removal of the contagious BoHV-1 from host organs, particularly in those reservoir creatures, has required the use of antiviral drugs that target infected cells. This study developed LP-CuO NPs from methanolic crude extracts, and FTIR, SEM, and EDX analyses were used to confirm their formation. SEM analysis revealed that the LP-CuO NPs had a spherical shape with particle sizes between 22 and 30 nm. Energy-dispersive X-ray pattern analysis revealed the presence of only copper and oxide ions. By preventing viral cytopathic effects in the Madin-Darby bovine kidney cell line, the methanolic extract of Lablab purpureus and LP-CuO NPs demonstrated a remarkable dose-dependent anti-BoHV-1 action in vitro. Furthermore, molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation studies of bio-actives from Lablab purpureus against the BoHV-1 viral envelope glycoprotein disclosed effective interactions between all phytochemicals and the protein, although kievitone was found to have the highest binding affinity, with the greatest number of interactions, which was also validated with molecular dynamics simulation studies. Understanding the chemical reactivity qualities of the four ligands was taken into consideration facilitated by the global and local descriptors, which aimed to predict the chemical reactivity descriptors of the studied molecules through the conceptual DFT methodology, which, along with ADMET finding, support the in vitro and in silico results., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2023 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

Salmonella enterica serovar typhimurium is the cause of significant morbidity and mortality worldwide that causes economic losses to poultry and is able to cause infection in humans. Indigenous chicken breeds are a potential source of animal protein and have the added advantage of being disease resistant. An indigenous chicken, Kashmir favorella and commercial broiler were selected for understanding the mechanism of disease resistance. Following infection in Kashmir favorella, three differentially expressed genes Nuclear Factor Kappa B (NF-κB1), Forkhead Box Protein O3 (FOXO3) and Paired box 5 (Pax5) were identified. FOXO3, a transcriptional activator, is the potential marker of host resistance in Salmonella infection. NF-κB1 is an inducible transcription factor which lays the foundation for studying gene network of the innate immune response of Salmonella infection in chicken. Pax5 is essential for differentiation of pre-B cells into mature B cell. The real time PCR analysis showed that in response to Salmonella Typhimurium infection a remarkable increase of NF-κB1 (P˂0.01) , FOXO3 (P˂0.01) gene expression in liver and Pax5 (P˂0.01) gene expression in spleen of Kashmir favorella was observed. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) and protein-TF interaction network by STRINGDB analysis suggests that FOXO3 is a hub gene in the network and is closely related to Salmonella infection along with NF-κB1. All the three differentially expressed genes (NF-κB1, FOXO3 and PaX5) showed their influence on 12 interacting proteins and 16 TFs, where cyclic adenosine monophosphate Response Element Binding protein (CREBBP), erythroblast transformation-specific (ETSI), Tumour-protein 53(TP53I), IKKBK, lymphoid enhancer-binding factor-1 (LEF1), and interferon regulatory factor-4 (IRF4) play role in immune responses. This study shall pave the way for newer strategies for treatment and prevention of Salmonella infection and may help in increasing the innate disease resistance., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Aims: To explore the hepatoprotective role of quercetin and its novel molecular mechanism of action on breast cancer associated hepatic inflammation and fibrosis via Vitamin D receptor (VDR)., Main Methods: We used Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma (mouse mammary carcinoma) model for our in-vivo experiments and human breast cancer cell lines for in-vitro assays. We inoculated 1.5 × 10 6 Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells into female Swiss albino mice. Quercetin (50 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally for 15 days. Liver enzymes activity was determined using a spectrophotometric assay. The hallmarks of inflammation and fibrosis were determined using Immunohistochemistry. The effect of quercetin on tumor formation was elucidated using human breast cancer cell lines and chick chorioallantoic membrane assay. Docking study was performed to explore the binding mode of quercetin with VDR., Key Findings: In EAC tumor-bearing mice, cell numbers, tumor volume, body weight and liver weight were dramatically increased, while they significantly decreased in mice treated with quercetin. Additionally, the peritoneal neo-angiogenesis was also significantly suppressed in the quercetin-treated mice, compared to the control. In addition, quercetin treated EAC tumor bearing mice had lower levels of liver enzymes, decreased hepatic inflammation and fibrosis compared with EAC tumor bearing mice. Docking study confirmed VDR-quercetin interaction. Furthermore, in-vitro assays and chick chorioallantoic membrane assay revealed the Vitamin D mimicking effect of quercetin., Significance: Dietary flavonoid, quercetin could act as a promising therapeutic drug to suppress the breast cancer induced tumor angiogenesis, hepatic inflammation, and fibrosis possibly via activation of VDR., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Sannappa Gowda, Shiragannavar, Puttahanumantharayappa, Shivakumar, Dallavalasa, Basavaraju, Bhat, Prasad, Vamadevaiah, Madhunapantula and Santhekadur.)

Objectives: The study aimed to compare the effects of quadhelix and nickel-titanium (NiTi) expander appliances on lower facial height, to quantify, and evaluate dentoalveolar and orthopedic changes in transverse plane, respectively, to estimate the difference in changes between these two appliances., Materials and Methods: Twenty patients, ten for the quadhelix and NiTi expander in the two-appliance group, respectively, participated in this study. A total of 8 readings, 1 for clinical facial height, 2 for model analysis, and 5 for posteroanterior cephalometric analysis were recorded. The statistical tests used were, Student's unpaired and paired t-tests., Results: Both appliances individually, produced statistically highly significant ( p < 0.01) expansion every month in both premolar and molar areas with more uniform expansion for quadhelix and less expansion in NiTi palatal expander in the premolar region initially. The skeletal to dental change ratio showed that there was more dental change than skeletal with no inter-appliance differences statistically while assessing the PA cephalometric readings., Conclusions: This study infers that both appliances are equally efficacious maxillary expanders, which are primarily dentoalveolar and not skeletal ( p < 0.05)., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2023 Journal of Orthodontic Science.)

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of mercury at concentration levels as low as parts per billion (ppb) is a basic and practical concern. The vast majority of research in this field has centered on the development of potent chemosensor to monitor mercuric (Hg 2+ ) ions. Mercury exists in three oxidation states, + 2, + 1 and 0, all of which are highly poisonous. In this study, (N 1 E,N 2 E)-N 1 ,N 2 -bis(pyrene-1-ylmethylene)benzene-1,2-diamine (PAPM), a novel photoluminescent sensor based on pyrene platform was synthesized. Over the tested metal ions (Cd 2+ , Co 2+ , Cu 2+ , Mg 2+ , Mn 2+ , Ni 2+ , K + , Na + , Zn 2+ , Sr 2+ , Pb 2+ , Al 3+ , Cr 3+ and Fe 3+ ) the sensor responds only to Hg 2+ by showing high selectivity and sensitivity. After treatment with mercuric ions at room temperature, the luminescence intensity of probe was quenched at 456 nm. The quenching of fluorescence intensity of probe upon addition of mercury is due to the effect of "turn-off" chelation enhanced quenching (CHEQ) by the formation of 1:1 complex. The ESI-MS spectrum and the Job's experimental results confirm the formation of 1:1 complex between PAPM and Hg 2+ . The detection limit and association constant of sensor for mercury is computed using fluorescence titration data and were found to be 9.0 × 10 -8  M and 1.29 × 10 5  M -1 respectively. The practical application of sensor towards recognition of mercury(II) ions was explored through economically viable test strips and also using cell imaging studies., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Current study aimed to evaluate presence & concentration of salivary molecular pain biomarkers Calcitonin Gene Related Peptide (CGRP) and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) during initial stages of orthodontic treatment and correlation with subjective pain scales, Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Verbal Rating Scale (VRS) and McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ). Consented, healthy-pain free patients (n = 40) undergoing orthodontic therapy, having moderate crowding with pre-molar extraction were recruited. Unstimulated whole saliva was collected and stored at -80 °C in cryotubes. Levels of CGRP & BDNF in salivary samples was assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Samples were collected under stipulated 5 time periods using saliva collection tube by passive drooling method: immediately after bonding but before wire placement (T0-baseline), after 24 h (T1), 48 h (T2), 72 h (T3) & 168 h (T4) after wire placement. Consolidated subjective pain scales were administered concurrently. Regression value (R 2  > 0.9) confirmed BDNF & CGRP in saliva. Significant change was observed from baseline to 168 h in all subjective parameters (p < 0.05). CGRP did not correlate with subjective pain scales statistically (p > 0.05). BDNF levels correlated with all the subjective pain scales, NRS (T3-p = 0.0092&T4-p = 0.0064), VRS (T3-p = 0.0112&T4-p = 0.0500), VAS (T3-p = 0.0092 &T4-p = 0.0064) &MPQ (T1-p = 0.0255). Mean BDNF & median subjective pain scale graphs were similar. BDNF correlated with all the subjective pain scales warranting further investigation.Trial registration; Clinical Trial Registry-India (CTRI) Reg No: CTRI/2018/12/016571; Registered 10th December, 2018 (10/12/2018) prospectively; http://ctri.nic.in/Clinicaltrials/pmaindet2.php?trialid=29640&EncHid=&userName=Dr%20Sagar%20S%20Bhat ., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

The exposure to blue and white Light emitting diodes (LED) light leads to damage in the visual system with short-term LED light exposure. Chronic exposure, adaptive responses to light, and self-protective mechanisms against LED light exposures need to be explored, and it would be essential to understand the repercussions of LED radiation on vitreous metabolites. A total of 24 male Wistar rats were used in this study, divided into four groups (n = 6 in each group). Three experimental groups of rats were exposed to either blue, white, or yellow LED light for 90 days (12:12 light-dark cycle routine) with uniform illumination (450−500 lux). Standard lab settings were used to maintain control rats. Vitreous fluids were subjected to untargeted metabolomics analysis using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC/MS). PLS-DA analysis indicated significant the separation of m metabolites among groups, suggesting that LED exposure induces metabolic reprogramming in the vitreous. Amino acids and their modifications showed significant alterations among groups which included D-alanine, D-serine (p < 0.05), lysine (p < 0.001), aspartate (p = 0.0068), glutathione (p = 0.0263), taurine (p = 0.007), and hypotaurine. In chronic light exposure, the self-protective or reworking system could be depleted, which may decrease the ability to compensate for the defending mechanism. This might fail to maintain the metabolomic structural integrity of the vitreous metabolites.

The mixed-ligand fluorophore-labelled copper(II) complex aqua[2,4-dioxo-3-azatricyclo[7.3.1.0 5,13 ]trideca-1(12),5,7,9(13),10-pentaen-3-olato-κ 2 O 2 ,O 3 ](1,10-phenanthroline-κ 2 N,N')copper(II) nitrate, [Cu(C 12 H 6 NO 3 )(C 12 H 8 N 2 )(H 2 O)]NO 3 ·CH 3 OH or [Cu(L)(phen)(H 2 O)]NO 3 ·CH 3 OH (where phen is 1,10-phenanthroline and HL is N-hydroxynaphthalene-1,8-dicarboximide), (1), was synthesized and structurally characterized. The structure of (1) was confirmed by single-crystal X-ray structure determination. The complex crystallized in the triclinic space group P-1. The geometry around the copper centre is distorted square pyramidal, with the apical position occupied by a water molecule. The complex is highly fluorescent in organic and aqueous solutions. It has good anticancer activity, with an IC 50 value of 17 µM, which is almost five times greater than cisplatin (IC 50  = 82 µM) under identical experimental conditions.

Dental caries is a common problem in adolescents, leading to permanent loss of teeth or cavitation. Caries is a continuous process wherein demineralization and remineralization occur regularly. Hydroxyapatite (HA) is one of the most biocompatible and bioactive materials, as it closely resembles the mineral composition of teeth. The present study deals with isolating hydroxyapatite from fish bone ( Epinephelus chlorostigma ) by alkaline hydrolysis and thermal calcination. The isolated nano HA was characterized using FT-IR, XRD, TGA, FE-SEM-EDX, and HR-TEM analysis. The nano HA isolated by alkaline hydrolysis is nontoxic, and the cells are viable. The isolated HA enhances the proliferation of L929 cells. The remineralization potential of the extracted nano HA was evaluated in healthy premolars by DIAGNOdent/laser fluorescence quantification, surface microhardness test, and SEM-EDX analysis. Surface morphological observations in SEM and EDX analyses show that thermally calcined HA and alkali-treated HA can induce mineralization and deposit minerals. Therefore, HA obtained from Epinephelus chlorostigma could be a potential biomaterial for treating early caries.

In the last decade, there have been significant advancements in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer, including remarkable gains in detection, diagnosis, and therapy. The emergence of molecular targeted therapies, immunotherapeutic inhibitors, and antiangiogenesis medicines has largely fueled improvements in combination therapy and systemic treatments, all of which have dramatically ameliorated patient outcomes. The Moringa oleifera bioactive compounds have been effective in the suppression of cancers, making them the therapeutic agents of choice for the current investigation to treat MAGE-A presented in NSCLC. The ligand entrants were screened for their pharmacological properties, and 2,2-diphenyl-1,3-benzodioxole was stipulated as the lead candidate. 2,2-Diphenyl-1,3-benzodioxole exhibited better pharmacological properties and superior binding with branched-chain amino acids, making it an ideal candidate to address MAGE-A. The study concluded that addressing MAGE-A to impede their activity and antigenicity can be exploited as immunotarget(s).

Diabetes is one of the biggest health problems that affect millions of people across the world. Uncontrolled diabetes can increase the risk of heart attack, cancer, kidney damage, blindness, and other illnesses. Researchers are motivated to create a Machine Learning methodology that can predict diabetes in the future. Exploiting Machine Learning Algorithms (MLA) is essential if healthcare professionals are able to identify diseases more effectively. In order to improve the medical diagnosis of diabetes this research explored and contrasts various MLA that can identify diabetes risk early. The research includes the analysis on real datasets such as a clinical dataset gathered from a doctor in the Indian district of Bandipora in the years April 2021-Feb2022. MLA are currently important in the healthcare sector due to their prediction abilities. Researchers are using MLA to improve disease prediction and reduce cost. In this Paper author developed a methodology using Machine Learning Algorithms for Diabetes Disease Risk Prediction in North Kashmir. Six MLA have been successfully used in the experimental study such as Random Forest (RF), Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP), Support Vector Machine (SVM), Gradient Boost (GB), Decision Tree (DT), and Logistic Regression (LR). RF is the most accurate classifier with the uppermost accuracy rate of 98 percent followed by MLP (90.99%), SVM (92%), GBC (97%), DT (96%), and LR (69%), respectively, with the balanced data set. Lastly, this study enables us to effectively identify the prevalence and prediction of diabetes., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Salliah Shafi Bhat et al.)

Objective: With the recent expanded indication for transcatheter aortic valve replacement to low-risk surgical patients, thrombus formation in the neosinus is of particular interest due to concerns of reduced leaflet motion and long-term transcatheter heart valve durability. Although flow stasis likely plays a role, a direct connection between neosinus flow stasis and thrombus severity is yet to be established., Methods: Patients (n = 23) were selected to minimize potential confounding factors related to thrombus formation. Patient-specific 3-dimensional reconstructed in vitro models were created to replicate in vivo anatomy and valve deployment using the patient-specific cardiac output and idealized coronary flows. Dye was injected into each neosinus to quantify washout time as a measure of flow stasis., Results: Flow stasis (washout time) showed a significant, positive correlation with thrombus volume in the neosinus (rho = 0.621, P < .0001). Neither thrombus volume nor washout time was significantly different in the left, right, and noncoronary neosinuses (P ≥ .54)., Conclusions: This is the first patient-specific study correlating flow stasis with thrombus volume in the neosinus post-transcatheter aortic valve replacement across multiple valve types and sizes. Neosinus-specific factors create hemodynamic and thrombotic variability within individual patients. Measurement of neosinus flow stasis may guide strategies to improve outcomes in transcatheter aortic valve replacement., (Copyright © 2020 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background and Objectives: Conventionally, stainless steel crown (SSC) is the preferred material for the restoration of pulpotomized primary molars. However, in situations where stainless steel cannot be used necessity for other restorative material arises., Aim: The aim of this study is to assess the microleakage of several coronal seal materials in pulpotomized primary molars- in vitro ., Methodology: Seventy-five primary molars were prepared with proximo-occlusal cavities. Restoration was done with Zinc oxide eugenol cement, SSC, composite resin, resin-modified glass-ionomer cement (GIC), and amalgam. Microleakage was assessed using dye penetration technique with stereomicroscope and scanning electron microscope., Statistical Analysis and Results: The Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests were used to statistically analyze the results., Conclusion: With regard to this present study composite resin and resin-modified GIC offers a good alternative for SSC., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2022 Journal of Pharmacy and Bioallied Sciences.)

Background and Objectives: Fluoride varnishes are being used to prevent caries in children. The high concentration of fluoride in varnishes apart from caries prevention may cause changes in surface properties of esthetic restorations. The study aims to evaluate and compare the effect of four commercially available fluoride varnishes with added calcium and phosphate on microhardness of three esthetic materials namely conventional GIC (Fuji II), high viscosity GIC (Fuji IX), and nanocomposite (Filtek Z350)., Materials and Methods: A total of 28 pellets were made of each material and stored in distilled water at 37 °C for 48 hours. The microhardness of the pellets was tested which served as a baseline. These were then randomly divided into four subgroups. In one subgroup Profluorid varnish was applied, second subgroup MI varnish was applied, third subgroup Embrace varnish was applied, and in the fourth subgroup Enamel Pro varnish was applied as per protocol. Thereafter, all the pellets were subjected to microhardness testing (load = 100 g for 15 seconds)., Results: The fluoride varnishes increased the microhardness of conventional GIC (Fuji II) whereas in case of high viscosity GIC (Fuji IX) the application of varnishes reduced the microhardness. In case of nanocomposite restorative material (Filtek Z350) only Profluorid varnish increased its microhardness., Conclusion: Fluoride varnish and calcium-phosphate containing fluoride varnish effect on the microhardness of restorative material is material dependent. So, the choice of fluoride varnish with or without proprietary additives depends on the nature and composition of the restorative material., How to Cite This Article: Shetty RS, Bhat SS, HK Sundeep, et al. Effect of Fluoride-based Varnishes with Added Calcium and Phosphate on Microhardness of Esthetic Restorative Materials: An In Vitro Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2022;15(2):187-193., Competing Interests: Source of support: Nil Conflict of interest: None, (Copyright © 2022; The Author(s).)

SNTA1 signaling axis plays an essential role in cytoskeletal organization and is also implicated in breast cancers. In this study, we aimed to investigate the involvement of actin cytoskeleton in the propagation of SNTA1/p66shc mediated pro-metastatic cascade in breast cancer cells.The effect of actin filament depolymerization on SNTA1-p66Shc interaction and the trimeric complex formation was analyzed using co-immunoprecipitation assays. Immunofluorescence and RhoA activation assays were used to show the involvement of SNTA1-p66Shc interaction in RhoA activation and F-actin organization. Cellular proliferation and ROS levels were assessed using MTT assay and Amplex red catalase assay. The migratory potential was evaluated using transwell migration assay and wound healing assay.We found that cytochalasin D mediated actin depolymerization significantly declines endogenous interaction between SNTA1 and p66Shc protein in MDA-MB-231 cells. Results indicate that SNTA1 and p66Shc interact with RhoA protein under physiological conditions. The ROS generation and RhoA activation were substantially enhanced in cells overexpressing SNTA1 and p66Shc, promoting proliferation and migration in these cells. In addition, we found that loss of SNTA1-p66Shc interaction impaired actin organization, proliferation, and migration in breast cancer cells. Our results demonstrate a novel reciprocal regulatory mechanism between actin modulation and SNTA1/p66Shc/RhoA signaling cascade in human metastatic breast cancer cells., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Ali, Mir, Hamid, Bhat, Shah, Khanday and Bhat.)

Blue light exposure-induced retinal damage has been extensively studied. Although many in vitro studies have shown the benefits of blue light-blocking lenses (BBL) there have been few comprehensive in vivo studies to assess the effects of BBL. We investigated the influence of blue light exposure using light-emitting diodes on retinal histology and visual cortex neurons in rodents. We also considered whether retinal and cortical changes induced by blue light could be ameliorated with blue light-blocking lenses. A total of n = 24 ( n = 6 in each group; control, light exposure without lenses, two different BBLs)) male Wistar rats were subjected to blue light exposure (LEDs, 450-500 lux) without or with BBLs (400-490 nm) for 28 days on a 12:12 h light-dark cycle. Histological analysis of retinae revealed apoptosis and necrosis of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), photoreceptors, and inner retina in the light exposure (LE) group, along with increase caspase-3 immunostaining in the ganglion cell layer ( p < 0.001). BBL groups showed less caspase-3 immunostaining compared with the LE group ( p < 0.001). V1-L5PNs (primary visual cortex layer 5 pyramidal neurons) demonstrated reduced branching and intersections points for apical ( p < 0.001) and basal ( p < 0.05) dendrites following blue light exposure. Blue light-blocking lenses significantly improved the number of basal branching points compared with the LE group. Our study shows that prolonged exposure to high levels of blue light pose a significant hazard to the visual system resulting in damage to the retina with the associated remodeling of visual cortex neurons. BBL may offer moderate protection against exposure to high levels of blue light.

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of three different concentrations of Ocimum sanctum aqueous extract against various caries causing microorganisms, Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus mitis, Streptococcus sanguis, and Lactobacillus acidophilus., Materials and Methods: Aqueous extract of Ocimum sanctum was prepared by the cold extraction method. The extract was diluted with milli Q water, to obtain 3 different concentrations [2%, 3%, and 4%] of the extract. Glycerol 6%v/v and tween-80, 0.1%v/v were also added to get a stable suspension. About 0.2% chlorhexidine was used as a positive control and milli Q water was used as a negative control. The extract, along with the controls, was then subjected to microbiological investigation to determine which concentration among the three different concentrations of extract gave a wider inhibition zone against Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus mitis, Streptococcus sanguis, and Lactobacillus acidophilus. The zones of inhibition were measured in millimeters., Results: Ocimum sanctum aqueous extract demonstrated maximum antimicrobial activity against microorganisms responsible for dental caries at the 4% concentration level although 3% and 2% were also effective. Maximum activity was seen against S. mutans and S. sanguis with 4% extract., Conclusion: Ocimum sanctum aqueous extract was effective against all caries causing the microorganisms., Clinical Significance: Dental caries is still a major oral disease in children which affects their quality of life. It is important to come up with an alternative oral hygiene aid which is easily available and with lesser side effects and maximum benefits by acting against caries causing microbes. Thus aqueous extract of commonly available tulsi is studied to know its effect on caries causing microorganisms., How to Cite This Article: Pai KR, Pallavi LK, Bhat SS, et al. Evaluation of Antimicrobial Activity of Aqueous Extract of "Ocimum Sanctum-Queen of Herb" on Dental Caries Microorganisms: An In Vitro Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2022;15(S-2):S176-S179., Competing Interests: Source of support: Nil Conflict of interest: None, (Copyright © 2022; The Author(s).)