Validation of Gender Identification From Frontal Sinuses Using Yoshino's Classification: A Morphometric Radiographic Study.

INTRODUCTION: Gender determination of deceased individuals may become necessary in scenarios involving sudden and unforeseen fatalities like explosions, fires, transportation accidents, or instances of mutilation or decomposition, which frequently require medicolegal expertise. Forensic radiology is instrumental in identifying gender. The shape of the frontal sinus is considered distinct for every person, differing even among identical twins, much like individual fingerprints and establishing personal identity. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to validate and determine gender identification by evaluating frontal sinus measurements using digital posteroanterior cephalograms with reference to Yoshino's classification and to determine gender based on measurements of frontal sinus size, bilateral asymmetry, the outline of the upper border of the frontal sinus, partial septa, and supraorbital cells of the frontal sinus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 300 digital posteroanterior cephalograms (150 males and 150 females) of age groups ranging from 18 to 30 years were collected from the records of the Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Panineeya Institute of Dental Sciences & Research Centre, Hyderabad. The parameters that were assessed in a digital radiograph are Yoshino's frontal sinus pattern of the individual, which includes frontal sinus size, bilateral asymmetry, superiority of the side, outline of the upper border, partial septa, and supraorbital cells. The measurements were taken, tabulated, and compared with the standard values of the gender measurement. The values were subjected to statistical analysis. RESULTS: Results showed a statistically significant difference in the mean height (p=0.000), width (p=0.000), area (p=0.000), partial septa (p=0.002), and outline of the upper border on the right side (p=0.011) of the frontal sinus for both males and females. The mean values for length, width, and area of the frontal sinus were higher in males than females. No statistical difference is found on the outline of the upper border on the left side, superiority of the side, and supraorbital cells. The application of discriminative analysis to the data accurately identified gender in 65.3% of the cases. CONCLUSION: Thus, from the above study, the forensic application of frontal sinus morphology can be recommended as an adjunctive tool for gender determination.

Taste Changes and Salivary Flow Rate Disparities in Premenopausal and Postmenopausal Women: Exploring the Zinc Connection.

INTRODUCTION: Menopause triggers hormonal changes that can manifest in oral symptoms like dysgeusia, xerostomia, and burning sensations, substantially impacting daily life, including chewing, swallowing, and taste perception. Menopausal women are particularly susceptible to nutritional fluctuations, including variations in zinc levels, which are believed to be linked to taste perception. Taste alterations can render food unappetizing, leading to malnutrition and diminished quality of life. The study aims to assess taste alterations, salivary flow rate, and zinc levels in premenopausal and postmenopausal women, investigating the correlation between these factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This research involved 30 premenopausal and 30 postmenopausal women randomly selected from outpatients at the Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Panineeya Institute of Dental Sciences and Research Centre, Hyderabad, India. Saliva samples were collected, unstimulated salivary flow rates were measured, taste perception was evaluated using a whole mouth threshold taste test, and serum zinc levels were assessed. RESULTS: The study revealed that a significantly higher percentage of postmenopausal women could not identify sucrose taste at concentrations 1 (76.7%, p = 0.017) and concentrations 2 (56.7%, p = 0.007) compared to premenopausal women (43.3%, 20%, respectively). A statistically significant number of postmenopausal women also couldn't identify the bitter taste at concentration 1 (43.3%, p=0.047) compared to premenopausal women. No significant difference in taste perception of salt and sour was observed between both groups at all tested concentrations. In both groups, mean taste perception rankings were similar, with salt being most perceived, followed by sour bitter, and at least with sucrose. Salivary flow rates and zinc levels did not significantly differ between premenopausal and postmenopausal women. The correlation between zinc levels and taste perception was weak and non-significant, indicating that zinc levels were not significant predictors of taste perception in either group. CONCLUSION: Postmenopausal women exhibited reduced perceptions of sucrose and quinine hydrochloride, potentially impacting eating habits, while taste perception of sodium chloride and citric acid remained relatively consistent. Salivary flow rates and zinc levels were within the normal range for postmenopausal women up to 60 years of age included in the study. The study demonstrated that zinc levels did not significantly influence perception among postmenopausal women, suggesting that taste impairment is a multifactorial phenomenon.

Amyloid-induced neurodegeneration: A comprehensive review through aggregomics perception of proteins in health and pathology.

Amyloidosis of protein caused by fibrillation and aggregation are some of the most exciting new edges not only in protein sciences but also in molecular medicines. The present review discusses recent advancements in the field of neurodegenerative diseases and therapeutic applications with ongoing clinical trials, featuring new areas of protein misfolding resulting in aggregation. The endogenous accretion of protein fibrils having fibrillar morphology symbolizes the beginning of neuro-disorders. Prognostic amyloidosis is prominent in numerous degenerative infections such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), etc. However, the molecular basis determining the intracellular or extracellular evidence of aggregates, playing a significant role as a causative factor in neurodegeneration is still unclear. Structural conversions and protein self-assembly resulting in the formation of amyloid oligomers and fibrils are important events in the pathophysiology of the disease. This comprehensive review sheds light on the evolving landscape of potential treatment modalities, highlighting the ongoing clinical trials and the potential socio-economic impact of novel therapeutic interventions in the realm of neurodegenerative diseases. Furthermore, many drugs are undergoing different levels of clinical trials that would certainly help in treating these disorders and will surely improve the socio-impact of human life.

Probing protein aggregation through spectroscopic insights and multimodal approaches: A comprehensive review for counteracting neurodegenerative disorders.

Aberrant accumulation of protein misfolding can cause aggregation and fibrillation and is one of the primary characteristic features of neurodegenerative diseases. Because they are disordered, misfolded, and aggregated proteins pose a significant setback in drug designing. The structural study of intermediate steps in these kinds of aggregated proteins will allow us to determine the conformational changes as well as the probable pathways encompassing various neurodegenerative disorders. The analysis of protein aggregates involved in neurodegenerative diseases relies on a diverse toolkit of biophysical techniques, encompassing both morphological and non-morphological methods. Additionally, Thioflavin T (ThT) assays and Circular Dichroism (CD) spectroscopy facilitate investigations into aggregation kinetics and secondary structure alterations. The collective application of these biophysical techniques empowers researchers to comprehensively unravel the intricate nature of protein aggregates associated with neurodegeneration. Furthermore, the topics covered in this review have summed up a handful of well-established techniques used for the structural analysis of protein aggregation. This multifaceted approach advances our fundamental understanding of the underlying mechanisms driving neurodegenerative diseases and informs potential therapeutic strategies.

Oral Health in Zero Gravity: A Comprehensive Review of Orofacial Effects and Countermeasures in Spaceflights.

Space is a complex and challenging setting encompassing the region beyond Earth's atmosphere where astronauts and spacecraft operate. The unique conditions of spaceflights, particularly microgravity and radiation, pose significant challenges to astronaut health, including the orofacial region. It has effects on saliva production, microbial composition, and oral hygiene practices, which influence oral health status, such as increased risk of dental caries, gum diseases, oral discomfort, temporomandibular joint dysfunctions, sialoliths, pain and dysesthesia in the teeth and oral mucosa, masticatory muscle atrophy, and oral cancer which can be detrimental during prolonged missions. Hence, a comprehensive approach to dental care in space is imperative to ensure astronauts' well-being and overall health as we strive to extend our presence beyond Earth. This literature review paper sheds light on the intricate effects of space on the orofacial region and delves into the unique challenges astronauts face in upholding optimal oral health while in space. It explores the current state of dentistry in space and discusses advancements and strategies that aim to maintain optimal oral health for astronauts during extended space missions.

Identification of Thermostable Xylose Reductase from Thermothelomyces thermophilus: A Biochemical Characterization Approach to Meet Biofuel Challenges.

The constant rise in energy demands, costs, and concerns about global warming has created a demand for new renewable alternative fuels that can be produced sustainably. Lignocellulose biomass can act as an excellent energy source and various value-added compounds like xylitol. In this research study, we have explored the xylose reductase that was obtained from the genome of a thermophilic fungus Thermothelomyces thermophilus while searching for an enzyme to convert xylose to xylitol at higher temperatures. The recombinant thermostable TtXR histidine-tagged fusion protein was expressed in Escherichia coli and successfully purified for the first time. Further, it was characterized for its function and novel structure at varying temperatures and pH. The enzyme showed maximal activity at 7.0 pH and favored  d-xylose over other pentoses and hexoses. Biophysical approaches such as ultraviolet-visible (UV-visible), fluorescence spectrometry, and far-UV circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy were used to investigate the structural integrity of pure TtXR. This research highlights the potential application of uncharacterized xylose reductase as an alternate source for the effective utilization of lignocellulose in fermentation industries at elevated temperatures. Moreover, this research would give environment-friendly and long-term value-added products, like xylitol, from lignocellulosic feedstock for both scientific and commercial purposes.

Mitochondrial Dysfunction: Pathophysiology and Mitochondria-Targeted Drug Delivery Approaches.

Mitochondria are implicated in a wide range of functions apart from ATP generation, and, therefore, constitute one of the most important organelles of cell. Since healthy mitochondria are essential for proper cellular functioning and survival, mitochondrial dysfunction may lead to various pathologies. Mitochondria are considered a novel and promising therapeutic target for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of various human diseases including metabolic disorders, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases. For mitochondria-targeted therapy, there is a need to develop an effective drug delivery approach, owing to the mitochondrial special bilayer structure through which therapeutic molecules undergo multiple difficulties in reaching the core. In recent years, various nanoformulations have been designed such as polymeric nanoparticles, liposomes, inorganic nanoparticles conjugate with mitochondriotropic moieties such as mitochondria-penetrating peptides (MPPs), triphenylphosphonium (TPP), dequalinium (DQA), and mitochondrial protein import machinery for overcoming barriers involved in targeting mitochondria. The current approaches used for mitochondria-targeted drug delivery have provided promising ways to overcome the challenges associated with targeted-drug delivery. Herein, we review the research from past years to the current scenario that has identified mitochondrial dysfunction as a major contributor to the pathophysiology of various diseases. Furthermore, we discuss the recent advancements in mitochondria-targeted drug delivery strategies for the pathologies associated with mitochondrial dysfunction.