Comparative Evaluation of Antimicrobial Efficacy of Silver Nanoparticles Infused with Extract and Chlorhexidine Against Red-complex Pathogens.

Aim: The present study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of silver nanoparticles infused with extract and chlorhexidine against red-complex periopathogens.

Materials And Methods: Neem leaf extraction was done followed by standardization to the synthesis of neem-infused silver nanoparticles and fractionation of compounds done by using thin layer chromatography to separate the mixture of neem leaf extract. Characterization of neem-infused silver nanoparticles was done by scanning electron microscopy and UV-Visible spectroscopy.

Public Health Dentistry as a Career Choice - Attitude of Dental Undergraduate Students in Puducherry.

Background: To pursue further education in a particular specialty of dentistry, it is important for dental students to be aware of the "expectation" associated with any specific specialty in dentistry. Therefore students 'attitudes' towards 'expectations' of various specialties, to a large extent enables a meaningful understanding that facilitates appropriate planning in the dental sector for the community.

Materials And Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire based survey was conducted, which included, final year and dental interns studying in two dental institutions, in the State of Puducherry.

Assessment of exposure to dust, gaseous pollutants and endotoxins in sewage treatment plants of Ahmedabad city, India.

Background: Sewage treatment plant workers (STPs) are exposed to gaseous pollutants (H2S) and bioaerosols and their health is at risk.

Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate exposures to dust, 1,3 Beta D Glucans, endotoxins and gaseous pollutants in different process plants and to provide suitable recommendations.

Methods: Gaseous pollutants and bioaerosols (inhalable dust, 1,3 beta D-glucans and endotoxins) were evaluated in two sewage treatment plants (STPs) of Ahmedabad city, India.

Respiratory morbidities and lung function abnormalities in survivors of Bhopal Gas Disaster: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Respiratory morbidities remained significant for the last four decades among the survivors of the Bhopal gas disaster. We hypothesized that lung function abnormalities, especially small airway dysfunctions, were responsible for the ongoing respiratory morbidities.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study between 2018 and 2020 in the severely exposed cohort of the Bhopal gas disaster.

Oxidative biomarkers of exhaled breath condensate in adults exposed to traffic-related air pollution: a case-control study.

Traffic-related air pollution exposure (TRAP) is a major public health problem. The effects of TRAP exposure on the oxidative biomarkers of exhaled breath condensate (EBC) of adults are seldom studied. We compared the oxidative EBC biomarkers in a group of individuals exposed to TRAP with those of individuals unexposed to TRAP.

COVID-19: Immunology, Immunopathogenesis and Potential Therapies.

The Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) imposed public health emergency and affected millions of people around the globe. As of January 2021, 100 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 along with more than 2 million deaths were reported worldwide. SARS-CoV-2 infection causes excessive production of pro-inflammatory cytokines thereby leading to the development of "Cytokine Storm Syndrome.

Chronic respiratory morbidity in the Bhopal gas disaster cohorts: a time-trend analysis of cross-sectional data (1986-2016).

Objectives: In 1984, nearly 500,000 inhabitants of Bhopal city, India, were exposed to toxic gases that leaked from a nearby pesticide manufacturing plant. In 1985, four cohorts were established to assess the long-term health impact of exposure, namely, mild, moderate, severely exposed and unexposed groups. The self-reported morbidity data of these cohorts were collected by follow-up cross-sectional surveys at regular intervals over the last 35 years.

Immune cell engineering: opportunities in lung cancer therapeutics.

Engineered immune cells offer a prime therapeutic alternate for some aggressive and frequently occurring malignancies like lung cancer. These therapies were reported to result in tumor regression and overall improvement in patient survival. However, studies also suggest that the presence of cancer cell-induced immune-suppressive microenvironment, off-target toxicity, and difficulty in concurrent imaging are some prime impendent in the success of these approaches.

Regression Equations of Respiratory Impedance Measured by Forced Oscillation Technique for Indian Children.

Objective: To develop regression equations of within and whole-breath respiratory impedance for Indian children aged 5 to 17 y.

Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was carried out in 5 to 17 y old school children of Bhopal, India. Healthy children were identified by physical examination and by administering questionnaire.

Tannic acid prevents macrophage-induced pro-fibrotic response in lung epithelial cells via suppressing TLR4-mediated macrophage polarization.

Background: Polarized macrophages induce fibrosis through multiple mechanisms, including a process termed epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Mesenchymal cells contribute to the excessive accumulation of fibrous connective tissues, leading to organ failure. This study was aimed to investigate the effect of tannic acid (TA), a natural dietary polyphenol on M1 macrophage-induced EMT and its underlying mechanisms.

Respiratory Morbidity of Roadside Shopkeepers Exposed to Traffic-related Air Pollution in Bhopal, India.

Background: Traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) is a major source of ambient air pollution in urban areas. Shopkeepers of heavily trafficked roadside shops are persistently exposed to high levels of TRAP.

Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of respiratory morbidity in shopkeepers of shops in heavily trafficked roadside areas in Bhopal city (India) and to determine any association with long term exposure to TRAP.

Nanobiosensors: Point-of-care approaches for cancer diagnostics.

Early cancer diagnosis is of prime importance as it paves the way for effective treatment and possible patient survival. The recent advancements in the field of biosensorics have facilitated the development of functionalized nanobiosensors which have the potential to provide a cost-effective, reliable and rapid diagnostic strategy for cancers. These nanoscaled sensing systems utilize electrochemical, optical, mass and calorimetric sensing mechanisms to specifically identify the disease-specific biomarkers.

Does Change in Thread Shape Influence the Pull Out Strength of Mini Implants? An In vitro Study.

Introduction: Mini implants form a valuable source for absolute anchorage thereby helping in achieving ideal treatment outcome. Stability of the mini implant is one of the important factors affecting the success of mini implants. Thread shape is a critical factor in the engineering design of mini implant, which affects the primary stability.

Cell-Free Circulating Epigenomic Signatures: Non-Invasive Biomarker for Cardiovascular and Other Age-Related Chronic Diseases.

The burden of cardio-vascular and other age-related non-communicable diseases are rapidly increasing worldwide. Majority of these chronic ailments are curable, if diagnosed at early stages. Candidate biomarkers of early detection are therefore essential for identification of high-risk individuals, prompt and accurate disease diagnosis, and to monitor therapeutic response.

In cellulo phosphorylation of XRCC4 Ser320 by DNA-PK induced by DNA damage.

XRCC4 is a protein associated with DNA Ligase IV, which is thought to join two DNA ends at the final step of DNA double-strand break repair through non-homologous end joining. In response to treatment with ionizing radiation or DNA damaging agents, XRCC4 undergoes DNA-PK-dependent phosphorylation. Furthermore, Ser260 and Ser320 (or Ser318 in alternatively spliced form) of XRCC4 were identified as the major phosphorylation sites by purified DNA-PK in vitro through mass spectrometry.

Molecular evidence of increased resistance to anti-folate drugs in Plasmodium falciparum in North-East India: a signal for potential failure of artemisinin plus sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine combination therapy.

North-east India, being a corridor to South-east Asia, is believed to play an important role in transmitting drug resistant Plasmodium falciparum malaria to India and South Asia. North-east India was the first place in India to record the emergence of drug resistance to chloroquine as well as sulphadoxine/pyrimethamine. Presently chloroquine resistance is widespread all over the North-east India and resistance to other anti-malarials is increasing.

Evolution of early lesions in leprosy.

We observed 29 patients presenting with vague peripheral neurological symptoms for 6 months or more. During this period, 16 developed clinical leprosy, 3 developed borderline tuberculoid leprosy and the other 13 developed neuritic leprosy. Of these 13 cases 11 subsequently developed skin lesions similar to those seen in indeterminate and in borderline tuberculoid leprosy.

Trigeminal neuralgia--a presenting feature of facial leprosy.

Trigeminal neuralgia is a well recognized clinical entity. However, it has not been reported to mimic leprosy or vice versa. Of the 3 cases reported here, 2 initially presented with neuralgic symptoms similar to that seen in trigeminal neuralgia and later developed borderline lesions on the face.