Spatial distribution of heavy metals, source identification, risk assessment and particulate matter in the M4 motorway.

Metal-containing dust is a potential severe environmental and human health threat. Metals present in dust may originate from car exhausts, tear and wear of tires, and vehicular emissions, which are less manageable. Metal-containing dust from roads can contaminate the soils, and crops alongside motorway.

Effect of vitamin B17 (amygdalin) found in apricot kernel on the irradiated salivary glands of albino rats.

Background: Radiotherapy is used as a treatment for head and neck cancers but increases the risk of salivary gland hypofunction. The management strategies include pharmacotherapies such as salivary substitutes and sialagogues which are largely temporary. In this study, we examine the regenerative potential of vitamin B17 to improve salivary gland function.

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition in gingival tissues from chronic periodontitis patients: A case-control study.

Background: It has been proposed that epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is responsible for the pathogenesis of several diseases. However, the relationship between the EMT process and the severity of periodontitis has not been previously investigated.

Objectives: This study aimed to localize and quantitatively assess the expression of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1), vimentin and E-cadherin in correlation with the EMT process in human gingiva of periodontally diseased patients in comparison with halthy individuals.

The effect of lathyrism on dentin structure of the rat incisors: a morphometric and scanning electron microscopic investigation.

Background: The present study was designed to study the effect of beta-aminopropionitrile (beta-APN), present in Lathyrus sativus grass pea consumed in drought prone areas, on dentin of the continuously erupting rat incisors.

Methods: Eighteen adult male rats were used. In the experimental group (18 rats), lathyrism was induced by a once daily subcutaneous administration of beta-APN for 40 days.

The self-ordering properties of novel phthalocyanines with out-of-plane alkyl substituents.

Two novel homologous series of phthalocyanines were prepared from 2,2-dialkylindane and 2,2-dialkyl-1,3-benzodioxole precursors. It was anticipated that attaching alkyl chains to five-membered rings, fused to the peripheral sites of the phthalocyanine ring, would result in the adoption of an out-of-plane configuration and thereby discourage cofacial aggregation, to provide an analogy with picket-fence porphyrins. This strategy proved partially successful.