Search

Aim: This study aimed to estimate and correlate the serum and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) levels of caspase-3 and milk fat globule-epidermal growth factor 8 (MFG-E8) in healthy, gingivitis and generalised chronic periodontitis subjects. Materials and Methods: A total of 24 subjects were selected and divided into three groups. After recording the periodontal parameters (plaque index (PI), modified gingival index (MGI), probing depth (PD) and clinical attachment level (CAL)), the serum and GCF samples were collected and the levels of caspase-3 and MFG-E8 were estimated using enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA). Results: The mean values of PI, MGI, PD and CALs were significantly higher in group III when compared to group II and group I. The mean value of serum and GCF caspase-3 increased with increasing disease severity, whereas the mean serum and GCF values of MFG-E8 decreased with increasing severity of disease. Spearman's correlation showed a strong positive correlation between the serum and GCF levels of caspase-3 and periodontal parameters, whereas serum and GCF levels of MFG-E8 showed a strong negative correlation with the periodontal parameters. Conclusion: The findings of this study are suggestive that the serum and GCF levels of caspase-3 and MFG-E8 could serve as a potential biomarker for the role of apoptosis in periodontal disease. However, further studies are required to explore the mechanism and understand the relationship between these apoptotic markers and periodontitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Measurement levels of As3+ and Fe3+ ions have attracted considerable research attention for environmental and living being's health safety issues. Herein, we report a green synthetic approach to prepare bright yellow fluorescent carbon dots (C-dots) from a o-phenylenediamine and pyrazole mixture. A large Stokes shift of up to 145 nm was observed under an excitation wavelength of 415 nm. The metal ion sensing study affirmed that the C-dots' aqueous dispersion underwent a strong fluorescence quenching for selective As3+ and Fe3+ ion sensing with detection limits of 24.4 and 63.4 nM, respectively. In addition, a red shift of the C-dots' emission was noticed in the case of Fe3+ ion incubation. Furthermore, the C-dots were coated on a simple paper strip and embedded in a solid silica aerogel porous matrix in which detection was carried out through the visible and fluorescence color changes. The quenching of the C-dots' fluorescence was ascribed to the static quenching effect, which was proved by UV–vis absorbance and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy techniques. In addition, this method was successfully used to detect these ions in real water samples in the presence of other contaminants. Moreover, intracellular detection of the ions has been successfully performed in living cells at a lower concentration. The methodology reported here opens a new window in real and on-site applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon dots (C-dots) are emergent nanomaterials of carbon-based materials family and have gained significant research interest because of their environmental friendliness, brightness, tunable fluorescence, chemical inertness, low cost, simple synthetic route and availability for wide variety of starting materials. These are considered as potential competitor to conventional semiconductor quantum dots in terms of lower toxicity. It is found that their involvement in adverse fields of chemical and bio-sensing, bio-imaging, drug delivery, photocatalysis, electrocatalysis and light-emitting devices makes as an ideal and potential candidate. Interestingly they are treated as important and versatile platform for engineering multifunctional nanosensors. This review focuses on the remarkable research progress of high quality tunable fluorescent C-dots synthesis via familiar top-down and bottom-up approaches. Their fluorescence origin has been nicely demonstrated by quantum confinement effect, surface state and molecular fluorescence properties. Finally, selective and sensitive atmospheric prevailed volatile organic compounds recognition has been explained with C-dots in both solution and solid phase along with discussion on challenging and future research direction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aerosol formation in dental practice is almost inevitable and the potential risk of acquiring an infection due to airborne pathogens is very high. Dental procedures involving use of ultrasonics, air polishing, use of airotors and micromotors, air-water syringes and lasers emit large amount of aerosol and microbial pathogens from saliva, dental unit waterlines and respiratory tract. Depending on the nature of the bacteria/virus/fungi in the aerosol and its pathogenic nature, the microbe travels through the lung alveoli and affects the upper/lower respiratory system. The recent episode of COVID has driven further fear among dental professionals, as the virus sheds into air and transmits the disease. As dental professionals, it is essential that we take steps to prevent transmission by following universal precautions and social precautionary measures. This review revisits on the physics of aerosol formation, spatial microbiome in aerosol, the types of pathogens associated with dental procedures, risk of disease getting transmitted to dental healthcare workers and infection control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]