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Introduction: With the increasing demand for aesthetics, the popularity of Vacuum-formed Retainers (VFRs) has been on the rise. Bisphenol-A (BPA) is added to the polymers to make them clear and tough. BPA is identified as an endocrine disruptor linked to developmental defects, infertility, cardiovascular disease and cancer. The release of BPA from various orthodontic materials, including VFRs, has been reported infrequently and with variable results. Aim: To assess the effect of immersing VFRs in distilled water on BPA release in the saliva of patients wearing VFRs. Materials and Methods: This was a single-centre prospective randomised clinical trial. A total of 28 patients aged between 15 and 25 years, who had completed their fixed orthodontic treatment in 2021 at Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed to be University (BVDU), Dental College and Hospital, Sangli, Maharashtra, India, were selected for this in-vivo study. Patients were randomly divided into two groups. Group I patients received VFRs without immersion in water before delivery, while Group II patients received VFRs that were immersed in distilled water at 37˚C for 24 hours before delivery. Four samples of unstimulated whole saliva were collected across four different time intervals: T0 (before VFR delivery), T1 (after one hour of wearing retainers), T2 (after one week of wearing retainers) and T3 (after three weeks of wearing retainers). These samples were tested for BPA release using HPLC analysis. For numerical continuous data following a normal distribution, intergroup comparison was conducted using a one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) test and intra-group comparisons were performed using a paired t-test. An alpha error of 5% and a power of 80% were maintained, with p

Peptide molecules have design flexibility, self-assembly ability, high biocompatibility, good biodegradability, and easy functionalization, which promote their applications as versatile biomaterials for tissue engineering and biomedicine. In addition, the functionalization of self-assembled peptide nanomaterials with other additive components enhances their stimuli-responsive functions, promoting function-specific applications that induced by both internal and external stimulations. In this review, we demonstrate recent advance in the peptide molecular design, self-assembly, functional tailoring, and biomedical applications of peptide-based nanomaterials. The strategies on the design and synthesis of single, dual, and multiple stimuli-responsive peptide-based nanomaterials with various dimensions are analyzed, and the functional regulation of peptide nanomaterials with active components such as metal/metal oxide, DNA/RNA, polysaccharides, photosensitizers, 2D materials, and others are discussed. In addition, the designed peptide-based nanomaterials with temperature-, pH-, ion-, light-, enzyme-, and ROS-responsive abilities for drug delivery, bioimaging, cancer therapy, gene therapy, antibacterial, as well as wound healing and dressing applications are presented and discussed. This comprehensive review provides detailed methodologies and advanced techniques on the synthesis of peptide nanomaterials from molecular biology, materials science, and nanotechnology, which will guide and inspire the molecular level design of peptides with specific and multiple functions for function-specific applications.

Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine have shown potential in the repair and regeneration of tissues and organs via the use of engineered biomaterials and scaffolds. However, current constructs face limitations in replicating the intricate native microenvironment and achieving optimal regenerative capacity and functional recovery. To address these challenges, the utilization of decellularized tissues and cell-derived extracellular matrix (ECM) has emerged as a promising approach. These biocompatible and bioactive biomaterials can be engineered into porous scaffolds and grafts that mimic the structural and compositional aspects of the native tissue or organ microenvironment, both in vitro and in vivo. Bioactive dECM materials provide a unique tissue-specific microenvironment that can regulate and guide cellular processes, thereby enhancing regenerative therapies. In this review, we explore the emerging frontiers of decellularized tissue-derived and cell-derived biomaterials and bio-inks in the field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. We discuss the need for further improvements in decellularization methods and techniques to retain structural, biological, and physicochemical characteristics of the dECM products in a way to mimic native tissues and organs. This article underscores the potential of dECM biomaterials to stimulate in situ tissue repair through chemotactic effects for the development of growth factor and cell-free tissue engineering strategies. The article also identifies the challenges and opportunities in developing sterilization and preservation methods applicable for decellularized biomaterials and grafts and their translation into clinical products.

Background: Early identification and intervention of thyroid dysfunction which occurs in association with type-II diabetes mellitus may significantly reduce the risk of adverse cerebrovascular and cardiovascular events in such patients. Hence, this study analyzed the pattern of thyroid dysfunction in T2DM (Type 2 Diabetes mellitus) patients. Methods: The present cross-sectional study was done on 250 T2DM patients, who visited the department of General Medicine in a tertiary care teaching center. Medical history was recorded and venous blood samples were collected for investigations (HbA1C (Hemoglobin A1C), FBS (Fasting blood sugar), PPBS (Postprandial blood sugar), TSH (Thyroid stimulating hormone), T4 (Tetraiodothyronine), anti-TPO (Thyroid peroxidase), and fasting lipid profile). Thyroid dysfunction in patients with T2DM was considered as the primary outcome variable. P value

Tendon and ligament injuries are the most common musculoskeletal injuries, which not only impact the quality of life but result in a massive economic burden. Surgical interventions for tendon/ligament injuries utilize biological and/or engineered grafts to reconstruct damaged tissue, but these have limitations. Engineered matrices confer superior physicochemical properties over biological grafts but lack desirable bioactivity to promote tissue healing. While incorporating drugs can enhance bioactivity, large matrix surface areas and hydrophobicity can lead to uncontrolled burst release and/or incomplete release due to binding. To overcome these limitations, we evaluated the delivery of a peptide growth factor (exendin-4; Ex-4) using an enhanced nanofiber matrix in a tendon injury model. To overcome drug surface binding due to matrix hydrophobicity of poly(caprolactone) (PCL)—which would be expected to enhance cell-material interactions—we blended PCL and cellulose acetate (CA) and electrospun nanofiber matrices with fiber diameters ranging from 600 to 1000 nm. To avoid burst release and protect the drug, we encapsulated Ex-4 in the open lumen of halloysite nanotubes (HNTs), sealed the HNT tube endings with a polymer blend, and mixed Ex-4-loaded HNTs into the polymer mixture before electrospinning. This reduced burst release from ∼75% to ∼40%, but did not alter matrix morphology, fiber diameter, or tensile properties. We evaluated the bioactivity of the Ex-4 nanofiber formulation by culturing human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) on matrix surfaces for 21 days and measuring tenogenic differentiation, compared with nanofiber matrices in basal media alone. Strikingly, we observed that Ex-4 nanofiber matrices accelerated the hMSC proliferation rate and elevated levels of sulfated glycosaminoglycan, tendon-related genes (Scx, Mkx, and Tnmd), and ECM-related genes (Col-I, Col-III, and Dcn), compared to control. We then assessed the safety and efficacy of Ex-4 nanofiber matrices in a full-thickness rat Achilles tendon defect with histology, marker expression, functional walking track analysis, and mechanical testing. Our analysis confirmed that Ex-4 nanofiber matrices enhanced tendon healing and reduced fibrocartilage formation versus nanofiber matrices alone. These findings implicate Ex-4 as a potentially valuable tool for tendon tissue engineering.

The present paper investigates the heat transfer features of a viscous fluid in an unsteady incompressible Casson fluid flow through a porous medium with an internal heat source under the influence of a magnetic field. A Casson fluid passes through the given porous medium using Darcy model. The study involves simulating the flow using mathematical models based on conservation laws and similarity transformations. The resulting highly nonlinear coupled ordinary differential equations are solved using the Bernoulli wavelet numerical approach. The study utilizes graphical tools to illustrate the flow behaviour under different physical factors, including the effect of the internal heat source. The normalization of the flow behaviour by the magnetic field suggests that it could potentially be used to control various flows. The study finds that various physical parameters which affects the velocity and temperature profiles of the fluid.

Introduction: Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy (HDP) affect up to 10% of pregnancies worldwide, despite improvements in maternal and neonatal care. HDP and its sequelae are a dreaded complication of pregnancy. If prediction becomes possible, prevention will follow naturally. Aim: To study the efficacy of mid-second trimester serum b-hCG levels in the prediction of HDP. Materials and Methods: This was a longitudinal cohort study conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Shri BM Patil Medical College Hospital and Research Centre , Vijayapura, Karnataka, India, between December 2020 and June 2022. All women with gestational age between 16-20 weeks were screened, and 163 pregnant women were enrolled in the study. Serum β-hCG levels were measured at enrollment, and values were followed-up until delivery. The development of HDP was evaluated using statistical analysis, including Chi-square, Independent t-test, Receiver Operating Curve/Area under the ROC Curve (ROC/AUC), sensitivity, and specificity. A p-value of

Background: Among various treatment modalities for tooth replacement, dental implants are considered the best one. This study assessed the effects of smoking, periodontitis, and diabetes on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in patients receiving corticobasal dental implants. Materials and Methods: One hundred twenty patients of either gender who received corticobasal dental implants were enrolled. All were subjected to Oral Health Impact Profile-20 (OHIP-20) for dental implant patients (OHRQoL questionnaire). The patient satisfaction level was measured on a scale with points ranging from 0 to 5. The value 0 indicates no satisfaction, whereas the value 5 shows highly satisfied. Results: Of 120 patients, males were 70 and females were 50. The overall satisfaction level was 4.92, articulation speech was 4.12, implants were 4.80, and construction was 4.88. The overall satisfaction, articulation speech, implants, and construction values in patients with and without diabetes were 4.90 vs 4.93, 4.56 vs 4.86, 4.76 vs 4.92, and 4.94 vs 4.83, respectively. The overall satisfaction, articulation speech, implants, and construction values in patients with and without smoking were 4.83 vs 4.91, 4.52 vs 4.88, 4.70 vs 4.82, and 4.12 vs 4.84, respectively. The overall satisfaction, articulation speech, implants, and construction values in patients with and without periodontitis were 4.72 vs 4.96, 4.52 vs 4.88, 4.73 vs 4.98, and 4.81 vs 4.95, respectively. The overall satisfaction, articulation speech, implants, and construction values in patients with one to three risk factors and control were 4.85 vs 4.96, 4.82 vs 4.94, 4.88 vs 4.97, and 4.76 vs 4.86, respectively. There was a significant difference in pain, infections and/or swelling, sleeping problems, problems with self-confidence, taste, chewing discomfort and/or difficulties, and influence on food choice before and after in patients treated with corticobasal dental implants (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The satisfaction level is higher after obtaining corticobasal dental implants in patients with diabetes, smoking, and periodontitis as compared to control. Thus, corticobasal dental implants may be considered alternate treatment options for these patients.

Deep neural networks (DNNs) have found widespread adoption in solving image recognition and natural language processing tasks. However, they make confident mispredictions when presented with data that does not belong to the training distribution, i.e. out-of-distribution (OoD) samples. Research has shown that angular representations can be useful to address the curse of dimensionality and improve OoD detection performance. However, when evaluating the angular separability using Fisher’s criterion we find that empirical risk minimization and inter-class mixup trained DNNs have low angular separability between in-distribution data and OoD data. To improve angular separability, we propose intra-class mixup. We provide mathematical reasoning that shows that intra-class mixup results in reduced angular spread because of reduced variance at the input during training. Further, to take full advantage of improved angular separability from intra-class mixup we propose supplementing the separation metric with the cosine of angular margin to improve OoD detection. Angular margin is the angle between the final layer weight vector and the sample representation. The proposed intra-class mixup when applied to various existing OoD detection techniques shows an improvement of 4.21% and 6.21% in AUROC performance over empirical risk minimization and inter-class mixup, respectively. Further, intra-class mixup aided with the cosine of angular margin improves AUROC performance by 6.71% and 8.75% over empirical risk minimization and inter-class mixup, respectively.

Background: Distal end-of-radius fractures are one of the most common fractures seen worldwide, accounting for approximately one-sixth of all fractures. Closed reduction and cast immobilization have been the mainstay of treatment, but recently open reduction and plating with conventional plates have gained importance as they can be of great value in treating distal end radius fractures. This study is based on the latest innovation in this regard, the effectiveness of the volar variable angle locking compression plate in treating distal end radius fractures. Aim and Objectives: To evaluate the functional outcome associated with volar variable angle locking compression plate for distal end radius fractures and also to study the efficacy of the plate in capturing the fracture fragments. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study involving 30 patients with distal end radius fractures who were treated with open reduction and internal fixation using a volar variable angle locking compression plate. Patients admitted between November 2018 and November 2019 were included in this study. Clinical, functional, and radiological outcomes were used to assess the efficacy of the plate. Results were calculated using the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score questionnaire at the end of 1-year postsurgery. Follow-up data for all patients for 1 year were available in our medical records. The extent of the range of motion (ROM) at the wrist joint was noted. Results: 53.3% of patients had excellent results, 36.7% of patients had good results, while 10% of patients had fair results. Almost all the patients had good ROM postoperatively except two patients. One of them developed wrist stiffness and another patient had reduced ROM due to noncompliance to the treating doctor's advice. Conclusion: Our study signifies the importance fragment specific fixation of distal end radius fractures. Patients were mobilized sooner than other accepted modalities of treatment. We conclude that volar variable angle locking compression plates are superior to the other accepted modalities of treatment for distal end radius fractures.

Silica biomaterials including Bioglass offer great biocompatibility and bioactivity but fail to provide pore and degradation features needed for tissue engineering. Herein we report on the synthesis and characterization of novel amorphous silica fiber matrices to overcome these limitations. Amorphous silica fibers were fused by sintering to produce porous matrices. The effects of sacrificial polymer additives such as polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and cellulose fibers (CF) on the sintering process were also studied. The resulting matrices formed between sintering temperatures of 1,350–1,550 °C retained their fiber structures. The matrices presented pores in the range of 50–200 μm while higher sintering temperatures resulted in increased pore diameter. PVA addition to silica significantly reduced the pore diameter and porosity compared with silica matrices with or without the addition of CF. The PVA additive morphologically appeared to fuse the silica fibers to a greater extent and resulted in significantly higher compressive modulus and strength than the rest of the matrices synthesized. These matrices lost roughly 30% of their original mass in an in vitro degradation study over 40 weeks. All matrices absorbed 500 wt% of water and did not change in their overall morphology, size, or shape with hydration. These fiber matrices supported human mesenchymal stem cell adhesion, proliferation, and mineralized matrix production. Amorphous silica fiber biomaterials/matrices reported here are biodegradable and porous and closely resemble the native extracellular matrix structure and water absorption capacity. Extending the methodology reported here to alter matrix properties may lead to a variety of tissue engineering, implant, and drug delivery applications.

Background: The craniovertebral junction (CVJ) is a crucial region of the spine designed for optimal movements of head and is also a frequent site for various pathological processes. The importance of knowing the CVJ parameters in normal population cannot be overstated when instrumentation and correction of deformities in this region is so frequently being performed. There is paucity of data defining the craniometrics of CVJ osteology in Indian population on the literature search. Accordingly, we present a study in an attempt to quantitate the normal craniometric indices for anatomically normal CVJ in Indian population and compare them with the existing literature from other regions. Aims and Objectives: The aims of this study were to quantitate the normal craniometric indices for anatomically normal CVJ in Indian population and compare them with the existing literature from other regions. Materials and Methods: Two hundred and forty computed tomography (CTs) belonging to Indians were looked at over a 6-month period retrospectively. These patients had normal CVJs and were ordered imaging for other health reasons. A total of eight parameters were analyzed for each CT. Results: There were 166 (69.2%) males and 74 (30.8%) females in our study. The values (in mm) were as follows: anterior atlantodental interval (AADI), 1.78±0.42; PADI (posterior atlantodental interval), 18.12±1.97; distance of tip of odontoid process to chamberlain’s line, –2.73±2.63; distance of tip of odontoid process to McGregor’s line, –2.29±2.79; distance of tip of odontoid process to McRae’s line, –5.91±1.4; Clivus-canal angle, 160.82°±7.14°; basion dens interval, 5.6±1.45; and powers ratio, 0.71±0.07. No patient had an odontoid process extending beyond the McRae’s line. Males were more likely to have higher AADI and PADI values than females. Our study shared significant differences between the other studies (even the studies where an Indian population was used) except one. The AADI, from our study, did not vary significantly when compared to the AADI from a Chinese study. Conclusion: Due to the significant differences from our study and the available literature, a greater compilation of studies belonging to different races will be required to understand the flexibility of the CVJ metrics.

Brinjal and okra are being sprayed withdifferent formulations of imidacloprid which leads to significant deposition of residues on fruits. Here in this study, we validated a method that could detect the traces of imidacloprid residues in a short run time using LC-MS/MS. LOD of 0.001 and LOQ of 0.003 μg/g for brinjal and in compliance with the MRL (0.2 mg/kg). The recovery at different spiking levels recorded 89.67 to 115.55 with an RSDr range of 3.02 and 5.22%. For okra, 0.0025 and 0.008 μg/g were observed as LOD and LOQ, respectively. Recovery was obtained between 88.69 and 93.74%. Precision in terms of repeatability (RSDr) and reproducibility (RSDwR) was found satisfactory in both matrices. Two applications of imidacloprid 17.8% SL in both vegetables showed faster dissipation initially and persisted up to 15–25 days. Decontamination with 2% salt solution followed by boiling for 15min. removed 96.43 and 73.66% of imidacloprid residues from brinjal and okra, respectively. Risk assessment was found to be less than one (HI

Millions of people worldwide suffer from low back pain and disability associated with intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration. IVD degeneration is highly correlated with aging, as the nucleus pulposus (NP) dehydrates and the annulus fibrosus (AF) fissures form, which often results in intervertebral disc herniation or disc space collapse and related clinical symptoms. Currently available options for treating intervertebral disc degeneration are symptoms control with therapy modalities, and/or medication, and/or surgical resection of the IVD with or without spinal fusion. As such, there is an urgent clinical demand for more effective disease-modifying treatments for this ubiquitous disorder, rather than the current paradigms focused only on symptom control. Hydrogels are unique biomaterials that have a variety of distinctive qualities, including (but not limited to) biocompatibility, highly adjustable mechanical characteristics, and most importantly, the capacity to absorb and retain water in a manner like that of native human nucleus pulposus tissue. In recent years, various hydrogels have been investigated in vitro and in vivo for the repair of intervertebral discs, some of which are ready for clinical testing. In this review, we summarize the latest findings and developments in the application of hydrogel technology for the repair and regeneration of intervertebral discs.

Objectives: This study was done to assess the effects of pimecrolimus cream 1% and triamcinolone aceonide paste in the treatment of atrophic–erosive oral lichen planus. Materials and Methods: A total of 100 patients diagnosed both clinically and histopathologically as lichen planus were considered in the present study. Subjects were classified into two groups. Group I: Patients in this group were treated with 1% pimecrolimus cream and Group II: Patients falling under this group were treated with triamcinolone acetonide in 0.1% concentration. Results: None of the patients reported worsening clinical signs and symptoms. No significant difference in efficacy and reduction in burning sensation of either pimecrolimus or trimcinolone acetonide was present. Conclusion: Present study found no significant difference in the efficacy of both the agents studied.

Introduction: With advances in materials for bonding in orthodontics, errors regarding amount of adhesive to be used can be controlled. Adhesive Precoated (APC™) Brackets were introduced to reduce the step of applying conventional adhesive on base of the bracket. Moreover, APC™ Flash Free Adhesive System (FFAS) eliminated the step of removal of excessive adhesive around the brackets. Aim: To compare Shear Bond Strength (SBS), Bonding Time (BT) and Adhesive Remnant Index (ARI) between Conventional Adhesive System (CAS) and APC™ FFAS using metal brackets Materials and Methods: This in-vitro study was carried out in the Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics at Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University) Dental College and Hospital, Sangli, Maharashtra, India. A total of 78 teeth with metal braces were split into two groups, with 39 samples each receiving treatment with the CAS and the APCTM FFAS. Shear bond forces were applied to each sample using a universal testing machine and recorded in Megapascals (MPa) to provide an indication of SBS. Both Groups’ BT was quantified in terms of seconds. The stereomicroscope indexes of Artun J and Bergland S were used to determine ARI. Microsoft Excel was used for data entry, while Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 24.0 was used for analysis. The normality of the data was tested using two different t-tests. In terms of mean and standard deviation, descriptive statistics were represented. A significant level of 0.05 was used. Results: SBS values were 10.35±3.55 MPa and 11.23±3.82 MPa in CAS and FFAS respectively. No significant difference was found among the two groups (p≤0.29) in SBS. BT was significantly (p≤0.001) less in FFAS (95.54±8.72 seconds) compared to CAS (140.85±16.62 seconds). ARI was significantly (p≤0.002) less in FFAS (1.79±0.80) in comparison with CAS (1.23±0.74). Conclusion: FFAS brackets perform better in comparison to CAS in case of BT and ARI. Both groups show no significant difference in SBS.

Introduction: The digitalisation of dental models has made significant contribution to the current success of orthodontic practices. Rapid Prototyping (RP) is an innovative method of producing physical objects based on Computer-Aided Design (CAD) Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM). Aim: To compare the accuracy of the Three-Dimensional (3D) printed rapid prototyped models with orthodontic stone models across different ranges of crowding. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study carried out at the Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed to be University, Dental College and Hospital, Sangli, Maharashtra, India during September 2019 to September 2020. A total of 36 rapid prototyped models were reconstructed from stone models using Light Emitting Diode (LED) scanner and Digital Light Processing (DLP) technology. Dental stone models and RP models were evaluated using digital caliper for different linear measurements and arch dimensions. The data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26.0. To evaluate accuracy, t-test analyses and Bland-Altman plotting were performed. Results: T-test showed statistically non significant difference in all parameters of measurements of RP models when compared to stone models. According to Bland-Altman plotting. The mean difference between stone and RP models for the various degree of crowding was minimal and within ±0.07 mm in all planes. Conclusion: Discrepancy between dental plaster models and RP models were less than 0.5 mm which was considered clinically non significant. Suggesting that RP models can be effectively used as an alternative to stone models.

Glioblastoma is the most common malignant primary brain tumor. The outcome is dismal, despite the multimodal therapeutic approach that includes surgical resection, followed by radiation and chemotherapy. The quest for novel therapeutic targets to treat glioblastoma is underway. FKBP38, a member of the immunophilin family of proteins, is a multidomain protein that plays an important role in the regulation of cellular functions, including apoptosis and autophagy. In this study, we tested the role of FKBP38 in glioblastoma tumor biology. Expression of FKBP38 was upregulated in the patient-derived primary glioblastoma neurospheres (GBMNS), compared to normal human astrocytes. Attenuation of FKBP38 expression decreased the viability of GBMNSs and increased the caspase 3/7 activity, indicating that FKBP38 is required for the survival of GBMNSs. Further, the depletion of FKBP38 significantly reduced the number of neurospheres that were formed, implying that FKBP38 regulates the self-renewal of GBMNSs. Additionally, the transient knockdown of FKBP38 increased the LC3-II/I ratio, suggesting the induction of autophagy with the depletion of FKBP38. Further investigation showed that the negative regulation of autophagy by FKBP38 in GBMNSs is mediated through the JNK/C-Jun–PTEN–AKT pathway. In vivo, FKBP38 depletion significantly extended the survival of tumor-bearing mice. Overall, our results suggest that targeting FKBP38 imparts an anti-glioblastoma effect by inducing apoptosis and autophagy and thus can be a potential therapeutic target for glioblastoma therapy.

Introduction: As bone traces tooth movement during orthodontic treatment, leading to biological response of the surrounding tissues of the teeth resulting in remodelling of the socket, favourable bone response is expected after incisor retraction. Orthodontic treatment causing changes in alveolar bone can be evaluated using Fractal dimension (FD) analysis, a mathematical method of information processing, where the input data is in the form of an image and generated information is displayed as numbers. Aim: To evaluate changes in the trabecular structure of alveolar bone after incisor retraction in the mandibular symphysis region in adult patients using fractal analysis. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study was conducted with digital Orthopantomogram (OPG) of 30 patients with class I and class II malocclusion with mandibular incisor protrusion treated with extraction and retraction of anterior teeth were taken with standard protocols at the three different periods, before orthodontic treatment (T0), before retraction (T1) and after retraction of anterior teeth (T2) included in the study. Regions of interest were located between the apices of mandibular incisors. FD was calculated using ImageJ software. Statistical Analysis was carried out by repeated Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) test and post-hoc test. Results: Total of 30 cases were selected, out of which 15 were males and 15 females with the mean age of 21±2 years. FD values of the alveolar bone of mandibular incisors at T0 were 1.470±0.09 which reduced to 1.390±0.09 at T1 and to 1.350±0.08 at T2. This overall changes in FD values were significant (p-value=0.001). Conclusion: Fractal dimension analysis demonstrate significant changes in bone trabeculation of the mandibular symphysis region before and after orthodontic treatment. It has valuable impact in the cases of fenestration, dehiscence’s, and osteoporosis.

Abstract Strategies promoting efficient water use and conserving irrigation water are needed to attain water security to meet growing food demands. This meta-analysis study evaluated the effect of deficit irrigation (DI) strategy on eight vegetables to provide a quantitative estimate of yield and water productivity (WP) responses under variable soil textures, climates, and production systems (open-field and greenhouse). This study analyzed 425 yield and 388 WP comparisons of different DI levels to full irrigation (FI), extracted from 185 published studies representing 30 countries. Moving from the highest (> 80%FI) to the lowest ( 65%FI) accompanied by gains in WP may be justifiable in the light of anticipated water restriction.

Peripheral nerve injuries account for roughly 3% of all trauma patients with over 900,000 repair procedures annually in the US. Of all extremity peripheral nerve injuries, 51% require nerve repair with a transected gap. The current gold-standard treatment for peripheral nerve injuries, autograft repair, has several shortcomings. Engineered constructs are currently only suitable for short gaps or small diameter nerves. Here, we investigate novel nerve guidance conduits with aligned microchannel porosity that deliver sustained-release of neurogenic 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) for peripheral nerve regeneration in a critical-size (15 mm) rat sciatic nerve transection model. The results of functional walking track analysis, morphometric evaluations of myelin development, and histological assessments of various markers confirmed the equivalency of our drug-conduit with autograft controls. Repaired nerves showed formation of thick myelin, presence of S100 and neurofilament markers, and promising functional recovery. The conduit's aligned microchannel architecture may play a vital role in physically guiding axons for distal target reinnervation, while the sustained release of 4-AP may increase nerve conduction, and in turn synaptic neurotransmitter release and upregulation of critical Schwann cell neurotrophic factors. Overall, our nerve construct design facilitates efficient and efficacious peripheral nerve regeneration via a drug delivery system that is feasible for clinical applications.

Healthy soils provide the foundation for sustainable agriculture. However, soil health degradation has been a significant challenge for agricultural sustainability and environmental quality in water-limited environments, such as arid and semi-arid regions. Soils in these regions is often characterized by low soil organic matter (SOM), poor fertility, and low overall productivity, thus limiting the ability to build SOM. Soil health assessment frameworks developed for more productive, humid, temperate environments typically emphasize building SOM as a key to soil health and have identified the best management practices that are often difficult to implement in regions with water limitations. This study reviewed existing soil health assessment frameworks to assess their potential relevance for water-limited environments and highlights the need to develop a framework that links soil health with key ecosystem functions in dry climates. It also discusses management strategies for improving soil health, including tillage and residue management, organic amendments, and cropping system diversification and intensification. The assessment of indicators sensitive to water management practices could provide valuable information in designing soil health assessment frameworks for arid and semi-arid regions. The responses of soil health indicators are generally greater when multiple complementary soil health management practices are integrated, leading to the resilience and sustainability of agriculture in water-limited environments.

Pregnancy is a state of high metabolic demand. Anaemia and thrombocytopenia are common during pregnancy, which is the result of normal dilutional effect of increased plasma volume seen during pregnancy. These are frequently seen in pregnant women but are not severe enough to require interventions unless aggravated by deficiency of micronutrients. Anaemia due to nutritional deficiency is common in developing countries.

Introduction: Lichen planus is a mucocutaneous disease of unknown aetiology. Topical corticosteroid has been widely used for the treatment purpose so far. In order to overcome the side-effects of corticosteroid, Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) has been proposed, but very few studies have been done to evaluate the effect of PDT and corticosteroid on lichen planus using computerised photometric analysis. Aim: To compare the efficacy, using computerised photometric analysis and Red Green Blue (RGB) scoring, of triamcinolone acetonide and PDT in the treatment of erosive lichen planus. Materials and Methods: This prospective interventional study was done in the Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Kalinga Institute of Dental Sciences, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India, from January 2021 to February 2021. There were 10 patients of erosive lichen planus who were divided into two groups. Patients of group A were treated with triamcinolone acetonide, and group B patients were treated with PDT, for four weeks. Visual Analogue Score (VAS), Reticular Erosive Ulcerative (REU) Score, Oral Mucositis Index (OMI), photometric analysis using RGB scoring were recorded at baseline, after two weeks and four weeks of treatment. Mann-Whitney U test was used for intergroup comparison, and paired t-test for intragroup comparison. Results: In the study, there was no significant difference (p-value=1.00) in age among the patients of two groups. At baseline, VAS mean score of group A patients (5.20±0.837), group B patients (6.40±1.140) and the p-value was 0.101; REU mean score of group A patients (5.90±1.245), group B patients (9.00±2.00) and p-value was significant (0.028); OMI mean score of group A patients (1.20±0.447), group B patients (1.60±0.548) and p-value was 0.221; RGB mean score for group A (110.80±1.212) and group B (116.52±1.194). After four weeks of treatment, VAS mean score of group A patients was (0.80±0.84), group B patients was 0, with p-value=0.05; REU mean score in group A (2.70±1.04), group B (1.00±0.71), p-value=0.031; OMI mean score of both group A and B was 0; RGB mean score for group A (113.22±1.89), group B (121.58±0.96), p-value=0.009. Conclusion: It was found that PDT was better in treating erosive lichen planus and it can be used as an alternative to the standard treatment modalities.

Advent of additive manufacturing in biomedical field has nurtured fabrication of complex, customizable and reproducible orthopaedic implants. Layer-by-layer deposition of biodegradable polymer employed in development of porous orthopaedic screws promises gradual dissolution and complete metabolic resorption thereby overcoming the limitations of conventional metallic screws. In the present study, screws with different pore sizes (916 × 918 μm to 254 × 146 μm) were 3D printed at 200 μm layer height by varying printing parameters such as print speed, fill density and travel speed to augment the bone ingrowth. Micro-CT analysis and scanning electron micrographs of screws with 45% fill density confirmed porous interconnections (40.1%) and optimal pore size (259 × 207 × 200 μm) without compromising the mechanical strength (24.58 ± 1.36 MPa). Due to the open pore structure, the 3D printed screws showed increased weight gain due to the deposition of calcium when incubated in simulated body fluid. Osteoblast-like cells attached on screw and infiltrated into the pores over 14 days of in vitro culture. Further, the screws also supported greater human mesenchymal stem cell adhesion, proliferation and mineralized matrix synthesis over a period of 21 days in vitro culture as compared to non-porous screws. These porous screws showed significantly increased vascularization in a rat subcutaneous implantation as compared to control screws. Porous screws produced by additive manufacturing may promote better osteointegration due to enhanced mineralization and vascularization.

Electrical stimulation (ES) is predominantly used as a physical therapy modality to promote tissue healing and functional recovery. Research efforts in both laboratory and clinical settings have shown the beneficial effects of this technique for the repair and regeneration of damaged tissues, which include muscle, bone, skin, nerve, tendons, and ligaments. The collective findings of these studies suggest ES enhances cell proliferation, extracellular matrix (ECM) production, secretion of several cytokines, and vasculature development leading to better tissue regeneration in multiple tissues. However, there is still a gap in the clinical relevance for ES to better repair tissue interfaces, as ES applied clinically is ineffective on deeper tissue. The use of a conducting material can transmit the stimulation applied from skin electrodes to the desired tissue and lead to an increased function on the repair of that tissue. Ionically conductive (IC) polymeric scaffolds in conjunction with ES may provide solutions to utilize this approach effectively. Injectable IC formulations and their scaffolds may provide solutions for applying ES into difficult to reach tissue types to enable tissue repair and regeneration. A better understanding of ES-mediated cell differentiation and associated molecular mechanisms including the immune response will allow standardization of procedures applicable for the next generation of regenerative medicine. ES, along with the use of IC scaffolds is more than sufficient for use as a treatment option for single tissue healing and may fulfill a role in interfacing multiple tissue types during the repair process.

This study is undertaken to explore the use of natural fiber Jute-epoxy (JE), Jute-epoxy-rubber (JRE) sandwich composite for ballistic energy absorption. Energy absorbed and residual velocities for these composites are evaluated analytically and through Finite Element Analysis (FEA). FE analysis of JE plates is carried out for different thicknesses (3, 5, 10 and 15 mm). JE plates and JRE sandwiches having the same thickness (15 mm) are fabricated and tested to measure residual velocity and energy absorbed. The analytical results are found to agree well with the results of FE analysis with a maximum error of 9%. The study on JE composite plate reveals that thickness influences the energy absorption. Experimental and FE analysis study showed that JRE sandwiches have better energy absorption than JE plates. Energy absorption of a JRE sandwich is about 71% greater than JE plates. Damages obtained from FEA and testing are in good agreement. SEM analysis confirms composites failed by fiber rupture and fragmentation.

Background: Overweight and increased Body Mass Index (BMI) have been among the major changes in girls and is one of the likely factors affecting the menarche age. Aim and Objectives: To determine correlation of age at menarche with BMI in adolescent girls of urban and rural schools of Vijayapura, North Karnataka. Material and Methods: A prospective cross sectional study was conducted by Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Shri. B. M. Patil Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, BLDE (Deemed to be University), between 1stJuly 2019 to 29thFebruary 2020.Girls below the age of 19 years who had attained menarche were included. Height and weight were measured, and BMI was calculated. Statistical analysis was carried out in SPSS software, version 23.0 and Microsoft 2010. Correlation between age at menarche and BMI was assessed in adolescent girls of urban and rural schools of Vijayapura. Results: The mean age at menarche among adolescent girls of urban and rural schools was about 13.6 ± 1.2 years. Among all participants, 60.2% were from urban area and 39.8% were from rural area. The mean age of the menarche was 13.8 ± 1.2 in rural population and 13.5 ± 1.3 in urban population (p value

Introduction: Preterm birth is the leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. One of the major causes for Preterm Labour (PTL) and Premature Rupture of Membrane (PROM) is infection of urogenital tract. Aim: To study the incidence of genitourinary infection in patients with preterm labour and preterm premature rupture of membrane. Materials and Methods: A Prospective study was conducted at BLDE (DU) Shri BM Patil Medical College. We enrolled 100 pregnant women with preterm/preterm PROM in the study and evaluated for the genitourinary infection by doing urine culture, cervical swab culture, vaginal swab culture and examination of urine for pus cells. The participants were given appropriate obstetric care and followed till delivery. Results: In the present study, study the incidence of genitourinary infection in preterm/preterm PROM was 59%. The cervical swab was positive in 33 participants, the vaginal swab was positive in 26 participants, the urine culture was positive in 19 participants, 35 participants had significant pus cells indicating urinary tract infection. A total of 59 participants had one or the other form of genitourinary infection. Out of the 100 participants enrolled in the study, 82 patients continued the pregnancy till full term. Conclusion: Genitourinary infection is highly prevalent among patients of Preterm labour/preterm PROMs. There is a need for educating pregnant women regarding personal hygiene to prevent the genitourinary infections.

Weather conditions in the southwestern United States are variable and influence crop growing periods with late spring and early fall frosts which significantly impact cropping seasons. With the development of new maize hybrids, grain yield, evapotranspiration, and water use efficiency can be substantially impacted by planting density and planting date. Thus, the optimum plant density and planting date for maximum grain yield must be determined for local conditions. Field experiments were conducted at NMSU Agricultural Science Center in Farmington to evaluate six plant densities (54,700; 64,600; 74,600, 88,000; 101,700; and 120,100 pph) under seven planting dates (from April 23 to June 5 in 2019 and from April 21 to June 10 in 2020) to determine the planting window and the optimum density. Plots were sprinkler irrigated and crop management was similar across all planting dates during the two growing seasons. The results showed that crop height and leaf area index varied with plant density and planting date. Grain yield also varied with plant density and planting date. The highest grain yield (16.8 Mg ha−1) was observed under the density 101,700 pph which showed statistically similar yield as the density 88,000 pph and the first planting trended to provide the best grain yield in 2019. In 2020, the highest grain yield (17Mg ha−1) was obtained under the density 88,000 pph on May 18 planting date. Plant density 88,000 pph was revealed as the optimum density that maximized grain yield and WUE and maize planting after May 25 is not recommended.

Damage to intervertebral discs (IVD) can lead to chronic pain and disability, and no current treatments can fully restore their function. Some non-surgical treatments have shown promise; however, these approaches are generally limited by burst release and poor localization of diverse molecules. In this proof-of-concept study, we developed a nanoparticle (NP) delivery system to efficiently deliver high- and low-solubility drug molecules. Nanoparticles of cellulose acetate and polycaprolactone-polyethylene glycol conjugated with 1-oxo-1H-pyrido [2,1-b][1,3]benzoxazole-3-carboxylic acid (PBC), a novel fluorescent dye, were prepared by the oil-in-water emulsion. Two drugs, a water insoluble indomethacin (IND) and a water soluble 4-aminopyridine (4-AP), were used to study their release patterns. Electron microscopy confirmed the spherical nature and rough surface of nanoparticles. The particle size analysis revealed a hydrodynamic radius ranging ~150–162 nm based on dynamic light scattering. Zeta potential increased with PBC conjugation implying their enhanced stability. IND encapsulation efficiency was almost 3-fold higher than 4-AP, with release lasting up to 4 days, signifying enhanced solubility, while the release of 4-AP continued for up to 7 days. Nanoparticles and their drug formulations did not show any apparent cytotoxicity and were taken up by human IVD nucleus pulposus cells. When injected into coccygeal mouse IVDs in vivo, the nanoparticles remained within the nucleus pulposus cells and the injection site of the nucleus pulposus and annulus fibrosus of the IVD. These fluorescent nano-formulations may serve as a platform technology to deliver therapeutic agents to IVDs and other tissues that require localized drug injections.

Complex craniofacial surgeries of damaged tissues have several limitations, which present complications and challenges when trying to replicate facial function and structure. Traditional treatment techniques have shown suitable nerve function regeneration with various drawbacks. As technology continues to advance, new methods have been explored in order to regenerate damaged nerves in an effort to more efficiently and effectively regain original function and structure. This article will summarize recent bioengineering strategies involving biodegradable composite scaffolds, bioactive factors, and external stimuli alone or in combination to support peripheral nerve regeneration. Particular emphasis is made on the contributions of growth factors and electrical stimulation on the regenerative process. Keywords: Peripheral nerve regeneration, Composite materials, Growth factor, Electrical stimulation

Objective: To comparatively assess electromyographic (EMG) activity of masseter muscle and maximum bite force among various facial divergence pattern. To compare bilateral variation therefore derive the clinical importance changes in masseter EMG activity. Materials and Methods: The sample size comprised of 90 subjects, age ranging from 16-25 years. They were further classified under three subgroups-normodivergent, hypodivergent and hyperdivergennt based on the cephalometric values. Tekscan Flexiforce B201H sensor along with the associated software was used to record the bite force. The EMG of the superficial masseter muscle was recorded using Biotech Neurocare 2000 surface electromyography machine. The muscle activity was recorded bilaterally from the superficial masseter. The data obtained were statistically analyzed using ROC curve at p

The giant honey bee Apis dorsata is unusual in being able to forage during both the day and the night. To date, the extent of this unique nocturnal foraging behavior and the environmental factors correlating with it have not been deeply investigated. We conducted the first systematic investigation into the nocturnal behavior of A. dorsata in Southern India by tracking the daily and nightly foraging activity of A. dorsata colonies in an urban environment for 8 months, over multiple seasons and lunar cycles. We found strong evidence that A. dorsata can behave in a manner that is “cathemeral” (active over the entire diel cycle) when environmental illumination is sufficient for nocturnal flight. However, workers were not always active even when the environment should have been bright enough for them to forage, suggesting that their nocturnal foraging behavior was also affected by seasonal changes in resource availability. The foraging activity observed during the day versus twilight versus night differed between seasons; notably, nocturnal activity rates were higher than diurnal activity rates during the winter. We found that at our study site A. dorsata routinely exhibits both diurnal and crepuscular activity, foraging just as intensely during the short twilight hours as during the day. The high foraging activity observed during the twilight and nighttime hours shows that A. dorsata colonies can extend their foraging beyond the daylight hours and reveals that foraging during these dimly lit hours is an integral part of their foraging ecology. This evidence of the importance of nocturnal and crepuscular foraging by A. dorsata paves the way for future studies examining the role of this species in nocturnal pollination networks, the contribution of nocturnal foraging to colony-level nutrition and energy budget, and the evolution of this unusual behavior. Future work comparing nocturnal activity in light polluted urban environments versus unpolluted natural environments is particularly encouraged to determine the generalizability of these findings.

Abstract Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] serves as a low‐cost alternative to corn (Zea mays L.) in semi‐arid regions of the world because of its high N and water use efficiencies. However, there has been a concern regarding N loss to the atmosphere as nitrous oxide (N2O) from semi‐arid drylands. This study investigated various soil C and N components, including CO2 and N2O emissions, and crop yield with a dairy compost (13.5 Mg ha−1) and four rates of chemical N fertilizer (0, 22.4, 44.8, and 67.3 kg ha−1) in dryland sorghum. There was no significant difference in soil C and N fractions among N fertilizer rates, although compost addition numerically increased soil C storage and 67.3 kg ha−1 N rate resulted the highest yield in both years. Potential nitrogen mineralization (PNM) was negatively related to crop yield and positively related to grain N content. Soils with greater inorganic N and PNM had a lower carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, while soils with greater potential C mineralization (PCM) had lower N2O emissions. The results of this study show no significant improvements in yield of dryland sorghum in the semi‐arid environment of southern Great Plains in the short term. However, compost and 44.8 kg N ha−1 applications appeared to be beneficial when both yield and quality were compared.

Background: To compare the effect of different mouth washes on metallic ions release from silver-soldered and laser-welded orthodontic attachments. Materials and Methods: In this comparative in vitro study, 32 samples of molar bands without attachments were used. Sixteen samples were silver soldered to stainless steel (SS) wire and 16 samples were laser welded using laser welding device to SS wire. Each group samples were divided into four test groups and submerged in solution containing sodium fluoride (NaF), NaF + alcohol (NaF + alcohol), Chlorhexidine (CHX), and artificial saliva (AS). Samples were shaken for 24 h with an agitation rate of 60 rpm. One sample from each group was selected to study the morphologic changes on their surfaces through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and remaining samples were studied for metal ions released and dissolved in the solutions using spectrometry. The metal ions release values of two different attachment methods in three different mouth washes and AS group were compared using the unpaired t-test. A two-way analysis of variance was used to identify the significant differences between the two types of orthodontic attachments immersed in four different types of solutions. P < 0.05 was defined to be set significant for all tests. Results: Level of metal ions released from the samples of silver soldering was higher than from laser welding. The lowest amounts of metal ions were released in CHX while highest in NaF + alcohol. The SEM images were in accordance with these findings. Conclusion: Laser welding should be preferred over silver soldering for the construction of orthodontic appliances. CHX containing mouthwashes such as Hexidine can be prescribed for the patients undergoing orthodontic treatment. More in vivo experiments will determine whether the levels of dissolved nickel ions can reach the toxic or sub-toxic concentrations or not.

Introduction: Various studies on corrosion of Orthodontic appliances and numerous factors aggravating this process have been discussed in the past. The diverse environment of the oral cavity favours the degradation of the metal alloys which is of concern to an Orthodontist due to the prolonged duration of these appliances in the mouth. Of the various factors affecting the biodegradation of the metals one of the factors is the diet and the dietary spices. Inspite of being an integral part of daily cuisine, the literature explaining their role in corrosion of the Orthodontic appliances is scarce. Aim: To assess and compare in vitro corrosion of Orthodontic metal brackets immersed in solutions of different spices and salt in artificial saliva. Materials and Methods: A total of 20 metal orthodontic brackets (AO) were divided into 10 groups containing artificial saliva, coriander (coriandrum sativum), turmeric (curcuma longa), black pepper (piper nigrum), red chilli (capsicum annuum) and Salt (sodium chloride). Electrochemical corrosion of the orthodontic brackets was carried out in corrosion cell. The corrosion current density (Icorr), corrosion potential (Ecorr) and pitting potential (Epit) rates were calculated using Tafel analysis and potentiodynamic data. Photographic images were captured from the metallurgical microscope. Results: The present study demonstrated that turmeric and coriander showed reduced corrosion whereas salt, red chilli and black pepper have been found to enhance it. Increased corrosion was seen in all groups containing salt. Surface analysis under metallurgical microscope showed increased pitting in red chilli solution group while less in coriander solution group. Conclusion: Different spices affect corrosion of metal brackets. Turmeric and coriander showed reduced corrosion whereas salt, red chillies and black pepper have been found to enhance it. Increased corrosion was seen with solutions containing salt.

Abstract Background Hypertensive disorders are the second highest direct obstetric cause of maternal death after haemorrhage, accounting for 14% of maternal deaths globally. Pregnancy hypertension contributes to maternal deaths, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, due to a scarcity of doctors providing evidence-based emergency obstetric care. Task-sharing some obstetric responsibilities may help to reduce the mortality rates. This study was conducted to assess acceptability by the community and other healthcare providers, for task-sharing by community health workers (CHW) in the identification and initial care in hypertensive disorders in pregnancy. Methods This study was conducted in two districts of Karnataka state in south India. A total of 14 focus group discussions were convened with various community representatives: women of reproductive age (N = 6), male decision-makers (N = 2), female decision-makers (N = 3), and community leaders (N = 3). One-to-one interviews were held with medical officers (N = 2), private healthcare OBGYN specialists (N = 2), senior health administrators (N = 2), Taluka (county) health officers (N = 2), and obstetricians (N = 4). All data collection was facilitated by local researchers familiar with the setting and language. Data were subsequently transcribed, translated and analysed thematically using NVivo 10 software. Results There was strong community support for home visits by CHW to measure the blood pressure of pregnant women; however, respondents were concerned about their knowledge, training and effectiveness. The treatment with oral antihypertensive agents and magnesium sulphate in emergencies was accepted by community representatives but medical practitioners and health administrators had reservations, and insisted on emergency transport to a higher facility. The most important barriers for task-sharing were concerns regarding insufficient training, limited availability of medications, the questionable validity of blood pressure devices, and the ability of CHW to correctly diagnose and intervene in cases of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Conclusion Task-sharing to community-based health workers has potential to facilitate early diagnosis of the hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and assist in the provision of emergency care. We identified some facilitators and barriers for successful task-sharing of emergency obstetric care aimed at reducing mortality and morbidity due to hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

Abstract Background Pre-eclampsia and eclampsia are major causes of maternal morbidity and mortality. Magnesium sulphate is accepted as the anticonvulsant of choice in these conditions and is present on the WHO essential medicines list and the Indian National List of Essential Medicines, 2015. Despite this, magnesium sulphate is not widely used in India for pre-eclampsia and eclampsia. In addition to other factors, lack of availability may be a reason for sub-optimal usage. This study was undertaken to assess the availability and use of magnesium sulphate at public and private health care facilities in two districts of North Karnataka, India. Methods A facility assessment survey was undertaken as part of the Community Level Interventions for Pre-eclampsia (CLIP) Feasibility Study which was undertaken prior to the CLIP Trials (NCT01911494). This study was undertaken in 12 areas of Belagavi and Bagalkote districts of North Karnataka, India and included a survey of 88 facilities. Data were collected in all facilities by interviewing the health care providers and analysed using Excel. Results Of the 88 facilities, 28 were public, and 60 were private. In the public facilities, magnesium sulphate was available in six out of 10 Primary Health Centres (60%), in all eight taluka (sub-district) hospitals (100%), five of eight community health centres (63%) and both district hospitals (100%). Fifty-five of 60 private facilities (92%) reported availability of magnesium sulphate. Stock outs were reported in six facilities in the preceding six months – five public and one private. Twenty-five percent weight/volume and 50% weight/volume concentration formulations were available variably across the public and private facilities. Sixty-eight facilities (77%) used the drug for severe pre-eclampsia and 12 facilities (13.6%) did not use the drug even for eclampsia. Varied dosing schedules were reported from facility to facility. Conclusions Poor availability of magnesium sulphate was identified in many facilities, and stock outs in some. Individual differences in usage were identified. Ensuring a reliable supply of magnesium sulphate, standard formulations and recommendations of dosage schedules and training may help improve use; and decrease morbidity and mortality due to pre-eclampsia/ eclampsia. Trial registration The CLIP trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01911494).

Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) between a donor nucleobase analogue and an acceptor nucleobase analogue, base–base FRET, works as a spectroscopic ruler and protractor. With their firm stacking and ability to replace the natural nucleic acid bases inside the base-stack, base analogue donor and acceptor molecules complement external fluorophores like the Cy-, Alexa- and ATTO-dyes and enable detailed investigations of structure and dynamics of nucleic acid containing systems. The first base–base FRET pair, tCO–tCnitro, has recently been complemented with among others the adenine analogue FRET pair, qAN1–qAnitro, increasing the flexibility of the methodology. Here we present the design, synthesis, photophysical characterization and use of such base analogues. They enable a higher control of the FRET orientation factor, κ2, have a different distance window of opportunity than external fluorophores, and, thus, have the potential to facilitate better structure resolution. Netropsin DNA binding and the B-to-Z-DNA transition are examples of structure investigations that recently have been performed using base–base FRET and that are described here. Base–base FRET has been around for less than a decade, only in 2017 expanded beyond one FRET pair, and represents a highly promising structure and dynamics methodology for the field of nucleic acids. Here we bring up its advantages as well as disadvantages and touch upon potential future applications.

Background: Human bites in human beings are important injuries that constitute one of the emergency visits to the General surgery department. Human bite injuries may lead to infection, loss of function, and interpersonal relation. Human bites are usually under reported when they are between intimate partners and are reported due to assault by the biter or accidental injury. Infection and tissue damage make the management of human bites a challenge. Proper documentation and follow up is essential to prevent untoward complications. Aims and Objectives: The study was done to evaluate patients with regards to sex, clinical presentation, site, management and follow up. Materials and Methods: It is a prospective study carried out by department of General surgery at our institute for a period of 1 year. Patients were selected after taking history and examination. The patients were treated by conservative or surgical methods. The outcome and follow up was monitored. Result: The majority of the patients were males as victims and biter also as males. Human bites were common on upper limbs. Most of the patients were medico-legal cases treated by medical management but the follow up was very poor. Conclusion: Most of the patients are medico-legal cases with history of assault and human bite. Majority can be treated by medical management. With the availability of better facilities blood investigations, admission and surgical debridement should be done when there is complete breach of skin. Complications are minimal with surgical expertise.

Angiomyxofibroma of vulva is rare and unique, known for local recurrence. It is a mesenchymal tumour. It is common in women with reproductive age group. Its occurrence in the genital region is a cause for delayed consultation and social stigma. Clinically examination showed it was arising from vulva. Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) showed it to be a benign tumour. Wide local excision was done and confirmation with Histopathological examination done, which revealed Angiomyxofibroma.

A variety of engineered scaffolds have been created for tissue engineering using polymers, ceramics and their composites. Biomimicry has been adopted for majority of the three-dimensional (3D) scaffold design both in terms of physicochemical properties, as well as bioactivity for superior tissue regeneration. Scaffolds fabricated via salt leaching, particle sintering, hydrogels and lithography have been successful in promoting cell growth in vitro and tissue regeneration in vivo. Scaffold systems derived from decellularization of whole organs or tissues has been popular due to their assured biocompatibility and bioactivity. Traditional scaffold fabrication techniques often failed to create intricate structures with greater resolution, not reproducible and involved multiple steps. The 3D printing technology overcome several limitations of the traditional techniques and made it easier to adopt several thermoplastics and hydrogels to create micro-nanostructured scaffolds and devices for tissue engineering and drug delivery. This review highlights scaffold fabrication methodologies with a focus on optimizing scaffold performance through the matrix pores, bioactivity and degradation rate to enable tissue regeneration. Review highlights few examples of bioactive scaffold mediated nerve, muscle, tendon/ligament and bone regeneration. Regardless of the efforts required for optimization, a shift in 3D scaffold uses from the laboratory into everyday life is expected in the near future as some of the methods discussed in this review become more streamlined.

Orofacial granulomatosis (OFG) is a rare disease, usually presenting as a persistent swelling of the soft tissues in the orofacial region, predominantly lips (cheilitis granulomatosa). The treatment of OFG can be challenging as frequent recurrences are very common. Here, we present a case of an Asian female patient with persistent swelling of the upper lip from the past 6 months. After establishing the diagnosis, intralesional triamcinolone injection (10 mg on a weekly schedule) was planned for a period of 6 weeks. Complete resolution of the lesion was observed. This article presents a unique case of cheilitis granulomatosa (CG) with a brief highlight on the various treatment modalities and a structured algorithm discussing the various differential diagnoses, aiding in formulating an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment.

In this paper, we report on a novel biocompatible micromechanical bioreactor (actuator and sensor) designed for the in situ manipulation and characterization of live microtissues. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate an application-targeted sterile bioreactor that is accessible, inexpensive, adjustable, and easily fabricated. Our method relies on a simple polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) molding technique for fabrication and is compatible with commonly-used laboratory equipment and materials. Our unique design includes a flexible thin membrane that allows for the transfer of an external actuation into the PDMS beam-based actuator and sensor placed inside a conventional 35 mm cell culture Petri dish. Through computational analysis followed by experimental testing, we demonstrated its functionality, accuracy, sensitivity, and tunable operating range. Through time-course testing, the actuator delivered strains of over 20% to biodegradable electrospun poly (D, L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) 85:15 non-aligned nanofibers (~91 µm thick). At the same time, the sensor was able to characterize time-course changes in Young’s modulus (down to 10–150 kPa), induced by an application of isopropyl alcohol (IPA). Furthermore, the actuator delivered strains of up to 4% to PDMS monolayers (~30 µm thick), simultaneously characterizing their elastic modulus up to ~2.2 MPa. The platform repeatedly applied dynamic (0.23 Hz) tensile stimuli to live Human Dermal Fibroblast (HDF) cells for 12 hours (h) and recorded the cellular reorientation towards two angle regimes, with averages of −58.85° and +56.02°. The device biocompatibility with live cells was demonstrated for one week, with no signs of cytotoxicity. We can conclude that our PDMS bioreactor is advantageous for low-cost tissue/cell culture micromanipulation studies involving mechanical actuation and characterization. Our device eliminates the need for an expensive experimental setup for cell micromanipulation, increasing the ease of live-cell manipulation studies by providing an affordable way of conducting high-throughput experiments without the need to open the Petri dish, reducing manual handling, cross-contamination, supplies, and costs. The device design, material, and methods allow the user to define the operational range based on their targeted samples/application.