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This study was designed to evaluate the personal challenges, work environment, and financial satisfaction of female radiation oncologists (FRO) in South Asia.A 28-point online survey was answered by 296 FRO from south Asia. The study comprised of seven sections: personal, professional, family, economic, workplace burnout, research/academic components, and challenges exclusive to being a working woman.The distribution of the participants was 73.4%, 14.8%, 7.9%, and 3.9% from India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan, respectively. Age distribution was50 y 12.1%, 30-50 y 61.1%, and30 y 26.8%. Out of 296 respondents 206 (69.6%) and 176 (59.5%) were married and mothers respectively. 43.8% (77) of all mothers were denied maternity leave partially.45.9% (136) of all respondents and 68.7% (121) of all mothers found motherhood the principal obstacle to career growth. Total 60.1% encounter a gender bias in the department, and 34.8% reported they were either gained or lost a job/training because of their gender. 43.3%, 36.9%, 30.6%, and 25.5% of responders felt they could have done well in professional, financial, social, and academic perspectives, respectively, had they been of the opposite gender. 28.5%, 31%, and 16.4% FRO have income ½, equal and1.5 times than their partners. 58.9% of FRO have a similar income to male colleagues in the city, and 43% of participants are financially satisfied.This study shows a fraction of FRO in south Asia faces a substantial gender disparity in the workplace. They are partially satisfied as a woman, as RO, as mother, and as lone-earner in the family. FROs need well deserved support for optimum delivery in their professional and personal lives.

Radiation dermatitis is most common and debilitating side effects of radiotherapy leading to treatment interruption, thereby compromising the local control, and effecting quality of life. With the invent of modern imaging and recent advances in megavoltage radiotherapy, radiation-related side effects have reduced. In this audit, we report the risk factors associated with Grade III dermatitis in modern centers.We analyzed 172 patients treated with volume modulated arc therapy (VMAT) and static field intensity-modulated radiotherapy (SFIMRT) at our center. All head and neck, breast, gynecological, GU malignancies, and sarcoma patients treated with a dose of45 Gy from April 2018 to December 2019 were included in the study. On couch, treatment verification was done with cone-beam computer tomography (CBCT). Slice-by-slice verification of planning target volume (PTV) with CBCT was done in the first three fractions and weekly thereafter. Skin evaluation was done using CTCAE v. 5. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS v. 22.Of the 172 patients treated with VMAT and SFIMRT, 15 patients (8.7%) had Grade III dermatitis. Grade III dermatitis was mostly seen in breast cancer followed by head-and-neck patients. More reactions were observed in patients with advanced stage disease. Treatment verification is important at the later course of treatment, especially in head-and-neck cases where the treatment volume is large and PTV may extend outside skin. Contributing factors of radiation dermatitis at modern radiotherapy center are gene mutation, use of concurrent chemoradiotherapy, and bolus.We hereby conclude that PTV mismatch in weekly treatment verification, genetic mutations, concurrent chemo-radiotherapy, use of thermoplastic mask, and bolus are the contributing factors for Grade III dermatitis in modern radiotherapy centers.

Lysine is the first limiting essential amino acid in rice because it is present in the lowest quantity compared to all the other amino acids. Amino acids are the building block of proteins and play an essential role in maintaining the human body’s healthy functioning. Rice is a staple food for more than half of the global population, thus, increasing the lysine content in rice will help improve global health. In this paper, we studied the lysine biosynthesis pathway in rice (Oryza sativa) to identify the regulators of the lysine reporter gene LYSA (LOC_Os02g24354). Genetically intervening at the regulators has the potential to increase the overall lysine content in rice. We modeled the lysine biosynthesis pathway in rice seedlings under normal and saline (NaCl) stress conditions using Bayesian networks. We estimated the model parameters using experimental data and identified the gene DAPF(LOC_Os12g37960) as a positive regulator of the lysine reporter gene LYSA under both normal and saline stress conditions. Based on this analysis, we conclude that the gene DAPF is a potent candidate for genetic intervention. Upregulating DAPF using methods such as CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing strategy has the potential to upregulate the lysine reporter gene LYSA and increase the overall lysine content in rice.

BackgroundThis study aims to analyze the dynamics of the published articles and preprints of Covid-19 related literature from different scientific databases and sharing platforms.MethodsThe PubMed, Elsevier, and Research Gate (RG) databases were under consideration in this study over a specific time. Analyses were carried out on the number of publications as (a) function of time (day), (b) journals and (c) authors. Doubling time of the number of publications was analyzed for PubMed “all articles” and Elsevier published articles. Analyzed databases were (1A) PubMed “all articles” (01/12/2019-12/06/2020) (1B) PubMed Review articles (01/12/2019-2/5/2020) and (1C) PubMed Clinical Trials (01/01/2020-30/06/2020) (2) Elsevier all publications (01/12/2019-25/05/2020) (3) RG (Article, Pre Print, Technical Report) (15/04/2020–30/4/2020).FindingsTotal publications in the observation period for PubMed, Elsevier, and RG were 23000, 5898 and 5393 respectively. The average number of publications/day for PubMed, Elsevier and RG were 70.0 ±128.6, 77.6±125.3 and 255.6±205.8 respectively. PubMed shows an avalanche in the number of publication around May 10, number of publications jumped from 6.0±8.4/day to 282.5±110.3/day. The average doubling time for PubMed, Elsevier, and RG was 10.3±4 days, 20.6 days, and 2.3±2.0 days respectively. In PubMed average articles/journal was 5.2±10.3 and top 20 authors representing 935 articles are of Chinese descent. The average number of publications per author for PubMed, Elsevier, and RG was 1.2±1.4, 1.3±0.9, and 1.1±0.4 respectively. Subgroup analysis, PubMed review articles mean and median review time for each article were and 13.9 days respectively; and reducing at a rate of-0.21 days (count)/day.InterpretationAlthough the disease has been known for around 6 months, the number of publications related to the Covid-19 until now is huge and growing very fast with time. It is essential to rationalize the publications scientifically by the researchers, authors, reviewers, and publishing houses.FundingNone

Purpose/objective(s) Historically south Asia had the second highest gender disparity in the world which reflected in professional attributes, like medical practice as well. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the growth pattern and leadership position of woman radiation oncologists (WRO) in South Asia; and, if applicable, forecast the time required to achieve gender neutrality in these countries. Materials/methods Out of the eight countries - viz., Afghanistan, Bhutan, Maldives, Bangladesh (BD), India (IN), Nepal (NP), Pakistan (PK) and Sri Lanka (SL) constituting South Asia, only the last five countries have radiation oncology (RO) facilities. To calculate the growth pattern of oncologists, registration data from national associations in IN, BD, NP and SL were analyzed. PK has none and hence we used data from published literature. Growth rate of WRO and male radiation oncologists (MRO) were calculated based on time function of registration of ROs of different sexes. Based upon calculated growth rate, numbers of WROs and MROs are forecasted for next 10 years. Number of WROs in leadership position was derived from multiple sources. Results The total number of oncologists in the region was 4074 with 91.8% of it belonging to IN. Ratio of WRO to MRO was 1: 2 (1370 WROs and 2704 MROs). Incremental annual growth in the number of WROs was the highest in India (12.7/yr) and the least in Nepal (0.4/yr) with no data available for Pakistan. With the current growth rate, Indian radiation oncologist community will achieve a gender neutrality by 2027. For other countries, gender neutrality is unlikely in foreseeable future with present growth rate of WRO and MRO and their existing numbers at present. Leadership position: Presently WROs lead ≈ 64 of the 430 centers (≈15%) in IN, while the corresponding figures are BD = 1, NP = 0, SL = 1, and PK = 0. Conclusion In all the South Asian countries, patriarchal values and social norms keep gender inequalities alive. Gender equality is a human right which is a must for sustained growth in a peaceful society. With the gender equality index ≈50%, south Asia is the 2nd highest gender disparity region in the world marginally above East-North Africa. With the present growth rates of WROs and MROs, India will achieve the gender equality within a decade; however, rest of the countries may not achieve so in the near future. Presently the % of WRO in IN is better than the developed nation like United States where population of WRO is 26%. Analysis of RO registration with national body reveals radiation oncology is a preferred choice of super specialization for woman clinicians, with an encouraging growth observed in the last 5 yrs compared to previous decades, especially in BD, SL and IN.

Volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) has been implemented for left breast irradiation to reduce prescription dose to the heart and improve dose homogeneity across the targeted breast. Our in‐house method requires application of a bolus during the optimization process with a target outside of the body, then removing the bolus during the final calculation in order to incorporate skin flash in VMAT plans. To quantify the dosimetric trade‐offs between traditional 3D field‐in‐field tangents and VMAT with integrated skin flash for these patients, we compared nine consecutive patients who recently received radiation to their entire left breast but not their regional lymphatics. Tangent plans used non‐divergent tangents of mixed energies and VMAT plans utilized four 6 MV arcs of roughly 260°. Mean dose to the heart, contralateral lung, and contralateral breast and their volume receiving 5%, 10%, and 20% of the prescription dose were higher in all nine VMAT plans than in the static tangential beam plans. For all critical structures, the mean VMAT DVH was higher in the low‐dose region and crossed the 3D field‐in‐field DVH between 23.13% and 34.18% of the prescription dose (984.75‐1454.70 cGy). However, the volume of the contralateral breast and heart receiving the prescription dose was slightly lower in the VMAT plans, but not statistically significant. VMAT provided superior homogeneity, with a mean homogeneity index of 9.41 ± 1.64 compared to 11.05 ± 1.82 for 3D tangents. Results indicate that VMAT spares the heart, contralateral lung, and contralateral breast from prescription dose at the cost of increasing their mean and low‐dose volume and delivers a more homogenous dose distribution to the breast. For these reasons, VMAT is selectively applied at the request of the physician for left breast radiation without respiratory gating to spare the heart from prescription dose in cases of poor anatomical geometry.

Highlight Comparative studies using Arabidopsis and radish (Raphanus sativus) found that cytokinin-mediated regulatory programmes in the cambium are important for the radial growth of radish roots and its variations., The root serves as an essential organ in plant growth by taking up nutrients and water from the soil and supporting the rest of the plant body. Some plant species utilize roots as storage organs. Sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas), cassava (Manihot esculenta), and radish (Raphanus sativus), for example, are important root crops. However, how their root growth is regulated remains unknown. In this study, we characterized the relationship between cambium and radial root growth in radish. Through a comparative analysis with Arabidopsis root expression data, we identified putative cambium-enriched transcription factors in radish and analysed their expression in representative inbred lines featuring distinctive radial growth. We found that cell proliferation activities in the cambium positively correlated with radial growth and final yields of radish roots. Expression analysis of candidate transcription factor genes revealed that some genes are differentially expressed between inbred lines and that the difference is due to the distinct cytokinin response. Taken together, we have demonstrated for the first time, to the best of our knowledge, that cytokinin-dependent radial growth plays a key role in the yields of root crops.

Purpose: T1-contrast and T2-flair images of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are commonly fused with computed tomography (CT) and used for delineation of postoperative residual tumor and bed after surgery in patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Our prospective study was aimed to see the feasibility of incorporating perfusion MRI in delineation of brain tumor for radiotherapy planning and its implication on treatment volumes. Methods: Twenty-four patients with histopathologically proven GBM were included in the study. All patients underwent radiotherapy planning with a contrast CT scan. In addition to radiotherapy (RT) planning protocol, T1-perfusion MRI was also done in all patients in the same sitting. Perfusion imaging was processed on the in-house-developed JAVA-based software. The images of CT and MRI were sent to the iPlan planning system (Brainlab AG, GmbH) using a Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine - Radiation Therapy (DICOM-RT) protocol. A structure of gross tumor volume (GTV)-perfusion (GTV-P) was delineated based only on the MRI perfusion images. Subsequently, GTV-P and GTV were fused together to make GTV-summated (GTV-S). Using existing guidelines, GTV-S was expanded to form clinical target volume-summated (CTV-S) and planning target volume-summated (PTV-S). The increment in each of the summated volumes as compared to baseline volume was noted. The common overlap volume (GTVO) between GTV and GTV-P was calculated using intersection theory (GTV n GTV-P = GTVO [Overlap]). Results: Mean ± standard deviation (cc) for GTV, GTV-P, and GTVO was 46.3 ± 33.4 cc (range: 5.2 cc–108.0 cc), 26.0 ± 26.2 (range: 6.6 cc–10.3.0 cc), and 17.5 ± 22.3 cc (range: 10.0 cc–92 cc), respectively. Median volume (cc) for GTV, GTV-P, and GTVO was 40.8 cc, 17.2 cc, and 8.0 cc, respectively. Mean absolute and relative increments from GTV to that of GTV-S were 8.5 ± 8.2 cc and 27.2 ± 30.9%, respectively. Average CTV volume (cc) was 230.4 ± 115.3 (range: 80.8 cc–442.0 cc). Mean and median CTV-S volumes were 262.0 ± 126.3 cc (range: 80.8 cc–483.0 cc) and 221.0 cc, respectively. The increment in the mean CTV volume (with respect to CTV created from GTV-S) was 15.2 ± 15.9%. Mean and median PTV volumes created on the summated CTV were 287.1 ± 134.0 cc (range: 118.9 cc–576.0 cc) and 258.0 cc, respectively. Absolute and relative increments in PTV volume, while incorporating the perfusion volume, were 31.3 ± 28.9 cc and 12.5 ± 13.3%, respectively. Out of the total of 24 patients, perfusion scanning did not do any increment in GTV in five patients. Conclusions: Our study is the first to present the feasibility and the outcome of contouring on perfusion imaging and its overlay on regular MRI images. The implications of this on long-term outcome and control rates of glioblastoma patients need to be seen in future studies.

In this work, we analysed processive sliding and breakage of actin filaments at various heavy meromyosin (HMM) densities and ATP concentrations in IVMA. We observed that with addition of ATP solution, the actin filaments fragmented stochastically; we then determined mean length and velocity of surviving actin filaments post breakage. Average filament length decreased with increase in HMM density at constant ATP and increased with increase in ATP concentration at constant HMM density. Using density of HMM molecules and length of actin, we estimated the number of HMM molecules per actin filament (N) that participate in processive sliding of actin. N is solely a function of ATP concentration: 88 ± 24 and 54 ± 22 HMM molecules (mean ± S.D.) at 2 mM and 0.1 mM ATP respectively. Processive sliding of actin filament was observed only when N lay within a minimum lower limit (Nmin) and a maximum upper limit (Nmax) to the number of HMM molecules. When N Nmin the actin filament diffused away from the surface and processivity was lost and when N > Nmax the filament underwent breakage eventually and could not sustain processive sliding. We postulate this maximum upper limit arises due to increased number of strongly bound myosin heads.

The diagnosis' Aggressive Periodontitis' (AgP), defined by the International workshop for a classification of periodontal diseases and conditions in 1999, refers to the multifactorial, severe and rapidly progressive form of periodontitis, which primarily--but not exclusively--affects younger patients. Direct and indirect bacterial effects influencing the host immune response play a significant part in the aetiology of AgP comparable with chronic periodontitis. In addition to various virulence factors of specific periodontal pathogens, a genetic predisposition influences the outbreak and progression of the disease. This report describes the disciplinary treatment of AgP patient with progressing full-mouth bone resorption.

A predictable aesthetic restoration is not limited to the restored teeth; it has to include the gingival unit and its interface with the teeth involved. Orthodontic forced eruption may be a suitable approach without risking the aesthetic appearance in tooth fracture below the gingival attachment or alveolar bone crest. It is a well-documented clinical method for altering the relation between a non-restorable tooth and its attachment apparatus, elevating sound tooth material from within the alveolar socket to create a ferrule effect which is considered to be crucial for the optimal biomechanical behaviour of restored teeth. This report presents the reconstruction of a traumatised and fractured left maxillary lateral incisor by building a cast core with a cast post to perform orthodontic extrusion before placing porcelain fused to metal crown as the final restoration.

Sometimes inter-departmental approach is really necessary in treating various complex dental problems. While orthodontics can promote periodontal disease; orthodontics can also help in reducing the symptoms of periodontal disease. The present article showcases an overview of hand in hand ortho-perio relationship.

Intracellular Ca2+ concentration regulate the muscle contraction by changing the conformation of Tropomyosin molecule over Actin filament. In this work we have purified native thin filaments (NTF) from Chicken Pectoralis muscle and reconstituted in in vitromotility assay (IVMA) with skeletal muscle myosin II. NTF prepared were 1.67±0.14 µm in length and showed good regulation under different Ca2+ concentrations. At pCa 4, more than 90% of NTF were continuously sliding and when solution changed to pCa 9 all the filaments were rigidly stuck to surface. Sliding velocity of NTF was VF=5.63±1.21 µm/s at 30 oC and 17% higher compared to unregulated actin filaments. Fraction of sliding filament showed a direct correlation with pCa of buffer and pCa50= 6.69 was obtained using Hills equation fit. However the sliding filament velocity was not affected under different pCa concentration. Under varying substrate [MgATP] conditions in IVMA we found k+ATP is 4.3± 0.56 x 106 M−1s−1 and k-ADP is 404.33±2.7 s−1 at 30 oC. These kinetic parameters are comparable to values obtained using unregulated actin filaments, suggesting the detachment kinetics of myosin II is not affected due to Ca2+ regulation. We studied the effect of myosin density on thin filaments activation in IVMA. Even with fully activated thin filament (pCa 4.0), decrease in myosin density leads to increase in fraction of stuck filaments. Decrease in fraction of motile filaments with myosin density in IVMA suggests there is minimum number of myosin head binding required to completely activate the NTF.Supported by Department of Science and Technology, Government of India.

A 19-year-old female patient with convex profile, posterior divergence having Angle's class II division 1 malocclusion with incompetent lips and rotations in various teeth was treated with fixed mechanotherapy. All the first premolars were extracted. Roth prescription of 0.022″ × 0.028″ slot was used. Proximal stripping was performed to correct a black triangle in the embrasure area in the upper anteriors. The entire treatment took about 15 months.

Coronal fractures of the anterior teeth are a common form of dental trauma and its sequelae may impair the establishment and accomplishment of an adequate treatment plan. Among the various treatment options, reattachment of a crown fragment is a conservative treatment that should be considered for crown fractures of anterior teeth. This clinical case reports the management of two coronal tooth fracture cases that were successfully treated using tooth fragment reattachment using glass-fibre-reinforced composite post.

Coronal fractures of the anterior teeth are a common form of dental trauma and its sequelae may impair the establishment and accomplishment of an adequate treatment plan. Among the various treatment options, reattachment of a crown fragment obtained from a previously extracted tooth is a conservative treatment that should be considered for crown fractures of anterior teeth. This article reports reattachment of an allogenous tooth fragment in a fractured maxillary lateral incisor in a 38-year-old patient. It is suggested that allogenous reattachment in a fractured anterior tooth serves to be a better alternative and should be further researched. Aesthetic and functional rehabilitation of a fractured complicated anterior crown using allogenous tooth fragment is a better alternative to other more conventional treatment options.

Odontoma is perhaps more accurately defined as a hamartoma than a true neoplasm.1 The term odontoma was first coined by Broca in 1866, who defined it as a tumour formed by overgrowth of complete dental tissue.2 Odontoma has also been defined as ‘tumour’ that has developed and differentiated enough to produce enamel and dentin.3 Odontomas are usually composed of different dental tissues, including enamel, dentine, cementum and in some cases, pulp tissue.4 Although usually located pericoronally to an impacted tooth, odontoma may also arise from odontogenic progenitor cells within the periodontal ligaments and become located between …

Drug-induced gingival enlargement is the term now used to describe medication-related gingival hypertrophy or hyperplasia, a condition commonly induced by three main classes of drugs: anticonvulsants, antihypertensive calcium channel blockers and the immunosuppressant cyclosporine. The pathogenesis of drug-induced gingival enlargement is uncertain and there appears to be no unifying hypothesis that links together the three commonly implicated drugs. Phenytoin-induced gingival overgrowth is a well known and frequently reported gingival lesion, which was first detected in 1939. This case report consists of phenytoin usage, duration and poor oral hygiene.

While there is a hereditary component to tori, this does not explain all cases. Tori tend to appear more frequently during middle age of life. Certain ethnic groups are more prone to one torus or the other. Torus is mainly removed owing to prosthodontic reasons, as it may also be used as biomaterial, not only in periodontology, but also in implantology. This case report deals with the surgical removal of mandibular tori and is thereby improving clinical implications and serving as an adequate autogenous bone graft.

The concept of ‘distal driving’ of maxillary posterior teeth has a long orthodontic history.1 Class II malocclusions, which are the most numerous among orthodontic cases, can be resolved by several procedures.1 One involves the distal movement of the maxillary molars to establish class I molar relationships. The premolars and canines are then sequentially moved posteriorly to class I positions, and finally the incisors are aligned and/or retracted.2 This version of the appliance is called as ‘Pend-X’. The pendulum springs are so efficient in expanding and …

Myosin II is an ensemble motor that participates in muscle contraction, actin cortex remodeling and cytokinesis ring constriction. It has been an interesting puzzle for scientific community to understand the allosteric rules between motors that regulate/co-ordinate when they work in group. We have performed classical In Vitro motility assay at different heavy meromyosin (HMM) density and ATP concentrations. By changing immobilized HMM density and ATP concentration, we change the number of HMM molecules available for interaction/unit length of actin filament. Actin filaments of >10 micron length were added in flow cell and assay was initiated by addition of ATP. Actin filaments breaks down to smaller pieces within minutes after addition of ATP. Average length of sliding filaments correlates well with motors density and ATP concentrations in solution. At 633 head/µm2 density and 2 mM ATP concentration the average filament length was 1747.6±614 nm and further reduced to 1290.5±385.5 nm at 0.1 mM ATP. At 4000 heads/µm2 density and 2 mM ATP concentration the average filament length was 935.5±286 nm and reduced to 599.5±154.2 nm at 0.1 mM ATP. Any filament below this average length does not slide continuously, they detach from surface with time and any filament above this average length fragments to smaller pieces with time. Assuming Poisson distribution of immobilized heads, we calculated maximum number of molecules that can interact for a given actin length. Number of molecules required for continuous sliding is independent of motor density and depends only on ATP concentration. For 2 mM ATP concentration, 123.6±28.9 heads and for 0.1 mM ATP concentration 62.3 ±19.5 heads are required for continuous sliding of actin. All values are mean ± SD.Supported by DST, Government of India.