Factors affecting biofilm formation by bacteria on fabrics.

Fabrics act as fomites for microorganisms, thereby playing a significant role in infection transmission, especially in the healthcare and hospitality sectors. This study aimed to examine the biofilm formation ability of four nosocomial infection-causing bacteria (Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus) on cotton, polyester, polyester-cotton blend, silk, wool, viscose, and nylon, used frequently in the healthcare sector, by qualitative and quantitative methods. The impact of temperature, pH, and relative humidity (RH) on biofilm formation was also assessed. P. aeruginosa and S. aureus were strong biofilm producers, while E. coli produced weak biofilm. Wool (maximum roughness) showed the highest bacterial load, while silk (lowest roughness) showed the least. P. aeruginosa exhibited a higher load on all fabrics, than other test bacteria. Extracellular polymeric substances were characterized by infrared spectroscopy. Roughness of biofilms was assessed by atomic force microscopy. For biofilm formation, optimum temperature, pH, and RH were 30 °C, 7.0, and 62%, respectively. MgCl2 and CaCl2 were the most effective in removing bacterial biofilm. In conclusion, biofilm formation was observed to be influenced by the type of fabric, bacteria, and environmental conditions. Implementing recommended guidelines for the effective disinfection of fabrics is crucial to curb the risk of nosocomial infections. In addition, designing modified healthcare fabrics that inhibit pathogen load could be an effective method to mitigate the transmission of infections.

Textiles as fomites in the healthcare system.

Nosocomial infections or healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are acquired under medical care in healthcare facilities. In hospital environments, the transmission of infectious diseases through textiles such as white coats, bed linen, curtains, and towels are well documented. Textile hygiene and infection control measures have become more important in recent years due to the growing concerns about textiles as fomites in healthcare settings. However, systematic research in this area is lacking; the factors contributing to the transmission of infections through textiles needs to be better understood. The review aims to critically explore textiles as contaminants in healthcare systems, and to identify potential risks they may pose to patients and healthcare workers. It delineates different factors affecting bacterial adherence on fabrics, such as surface properties of bacteria and fabrics, and environmental factors. It also identifies areas that require further research to reduce the risk of HAIs and improve textile hygiene practices. Finally, the review elaborates on the strategies currently employed, and those that can be employed to limit the spread of nosocomial infections through fabrics. Implementing textile hygiene practices effectively in healthcare facilities requires a thorough analysis of factors affecting fabric-microbiome interactions, followed by designing newer fabrics that discourage pathogen load. KEY POINTS: • Healthcare textiles act as a potential reservoir of nosocomial pathogens • Survival of pathogens is affected by surface properties of fabric and bacteria • Guidelines required for fabrics that discourage microbial load, for hospital use.

Nationwide estimation of daily ambient PM2.5 from 2008 to 2020 at 1 km2 in India using an ensemble approach.

High-resolution assessment of historical levels is essential for assessing the health effects of ambient air pollution in the large Indian population. The diversity of geography, weather patterns, and progressive urbanization, combined with a sparse ground monitoring network makes it challenging to accurately capture the spatiotemporal patterns of ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution in India. We developed a model for daily average ambient PM2.5 between 2008 and 2020 based on monitoring data, meteorology, land use, satellite observations, and emissions inventories. Daily average predictions at each 1 km × 1 km grid from each learner were ensembled using a Gaussian process regression with anisotropic smoothing over spatial coordinates, and regression calibration was used to account for exposure error. Cross-validating by leaving monitors out, the ensemble model had an R2 of 0.86 at the daily level in the validation data and outperformed each component learner (by 5-18%). Annual average levels in different zones ranged between 39.7 µg/m3 (interquartile range: 29.8-46.8) in 2008 and 30.4 µg/m3 (interquartile range: 22.7-37.2) in 2020, with a cross-validated (CV)-R2 of 0.94 at the annual level. Overall mean absolute daily errors (MAE) across the 13 years were between 14.4 and 25.4 µg/m3. We obtained high spatial accuracy with spatial R2 greater than 90% and spatial MAE ranging between 7.3-16.5 µg/m3 with relatively better performance in urban areas at low and moderate elevation. We have developed an important validated resource for studying PM2.5 at a very fine spatiotemporal resolution, which allows us to study the health effects of PM2.5 across India and to identify areas with exceedingly high levels.

Evaluation of the correlation between facial index and the cortical bone thickness of the maxilla and mandible-A computer tomography based study.

OBJECTIVES: cortical bone thickness confines the position of teeth and thus can be a limiting factor for orthodontic tooth movement. The study is aimed to correlate the cortical bone thickness of the maxilla and mandible with that of different face types, viz; dolichofacial, brachyfacial, and mesofacial. METHODS: Forty CT scans were analysed for the face types and were grouped into dolichofacial (13), brachyfacial (13) and mesofacial (14) face types. The scans were measured for the right and left side buccal and lingual cortical bone thickness at the central incisor, first and second molar regions on both the maxilla and mandible. Other parameters like basal cortical bone thickness, height, and width of cortical bone were also measured. To determine the correlation and difference between the different parameters, the obtained data was subjected to the correlation coefficient, t test, and ANOVA statistical analysis. RESULTS: Maxillary buccal cortical bone thickness of central incisors was found to be highly correlated to facial index with a correlation coefficient of - 0.833 * *. Mandibular buccal bone thickness correlated with face type and cortical bone thickness at the central incisor, first, and second molars by-0.531 * *, - 0.474 * *, and - 0.589 * *, respectively. There was a significant difference between the right and left side cortical bone thickness (p < 0.05) and also for all the parameters amongst the different face types (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: There exists a definite correlation between the face type and the certain anatomical measurements of cortical bone morphology. Dolichofacial face types show thin buccal cortical bone, which implies the limitation of orthodontic tooth movement in these types of individuals.

Transient elastography and von Willebrand factor as predictors of portal hypertension and decompensation in children.

Background & Aims: Von Willebrand factor antigen (vWFAg), a protein measured to test the level of vWF released from the vascular endothelium has gained much attention as a marker for portal hypertension (PHT) severity. The objectives of this study were to investigate the use of vWFAg as a biomarker along with liver and spleen stiffness measurements by transient elastography as potential predictors of clinically significant varices (CSV), variceal bleeding (VB) and decompensation in children with PHT. Methods: This observational prospective cohort study included 117 children (median age 10 [IQR 6-14] years) who underwent oesophagogastroduodenoscopy between January'2012 to November'2021 and a validation group of 33 children who underwent the same procedure between December'2021 to March'2023. Measurements of vWFAg and glycoprotein Ib binding activity of VWF (GPIbR) were available in 97 patients in the study group and in all patients in the validation group.Results: vWFAg and GPIbR were significantly higher in children with CSV (223 IU/dl and 166 IU/dl; p = 0.015 and p = 0.04, respectively) and VB (218 IU/dl and 174 IU/dl; p = 0.077 and p = 0.03, respectively) than in those without CSV or VB, respectively. Ninety-six patients had liver and spleen stiffness measurements. Spleen stiffness was significantly higher in patients with CSV compared to those without CSV (p = 0.003). In a chronic liver disease subgroup, a predictive scoring tool based on vWFAg, GPIbR, platelet count, and spleen/liver stiffness measurements could predict CSV with an AUROC of 0.76 (p = 0.04). Conclusions: This study suggests the predictive value of vWF for CSV and VB increases when combined with spleen stiffness, with AUROCs of 0.88 and 0.82, respectively. Hence, a combination of biomarkers could assist clinicians in diagnosing CSV, preventing unnecessary invasive procedures. Impacts and implications: Surveillance endoscopies in children with portal hypertension (PHT) have their own risks and non-invasive markers, such as von Willebrand factor antigen, glycoprotein Ib binding activity of VWF (GPIbR), and transient elastography could be used to predict clinically significant varices, variceal bleeding and disease compensation in children with PHT. Such non-invasive markers for PHT and varices are lacking in the paediatric population. The results show that von Willebrand factor and GPIbR along with transient elastography can be used to formulate a scoring system which can be used as a clinical tool by paediatric hepatologists to monitor the progression of PHT and risk of bleeding, and hence to stratify the performance of invasive endoscopic procedures under general anaesthesia. However, there is a need to validate the scoring system in children with portal vein thrombosis and for hepatic decompensation in a multi-centre registry in the future.

Manual and Powered Toothbrushing Effectiveness on Autistic Children's Oral Hygiene Status.

Background: Autistic children want a lot of help cleaning their teeth and they have a higher risk of periodontal disorder and less caries than the general public. The study's purpose is to see how helpful manual and powered toothbrushing are for autistic kids aged 6-12 years. Materials and Methods: A total of 40 autistic children aged 6-12 years were chosen at random from Mangalore city schools. The simplified oral hygiene index was used to determine the baseline oral health (OHI-S). Children were split into two classes during an oral review. Children in Group 1 received a manual toothbrush, and those in Group 2 received a powered toothbrush. Many of the children were given Colgate fluoride-free toothpaste. Under the guidance of care professionals, children were taught to brush for 3 min. They were taught to count from 1 to 20 when brushing each buccal and lingual section. The index was rechecked at the conclusion of the 1st month (30th day) and the next month (3rd month) (90th day). On the 60th day, the recently learned techniques were reinforced (end of the 2nd month). Result: In Group 1, a statistically significant reduction in mean OHI-S scores was observed in baseline versus 30 days and baseline versus 90 days, while in Group 2, a statistically highly significant reduction in baseline versus 30 days, baseline versus 90 days, and 30 days versus 90 days was observed. Conclusion: Furthermore, in autism children, powered teeth brushing shows potential. Long-term follow-up and greater sample size are, however, needed.

Enzymatic degradation of sulphonated azo dye using purified azoreductase from facultative Klebsiella pneumoniae.

Heterologously expressed and purified azoreductase enzyme from facultative Klebsiella pneumoniae was used to degrade sulphonated azo dye. Methyl orange (MO) was used as the model dye to study the azo dye decolorization potential of the purified enzyme at different conditions. The enzyme had maximum activity at 40 °C and pH 8.0. The enzyme was observed to be thermo-stable as some enzyme activity was retained even at 80 °C. The apparent kinetic parameters, i.e., appKm and appVmax, for azoreductase using MO as a substrate were found to be 17.18 µM and 0.08/min, respectively. The purified enzyme was able to decolorize approximately 83% of MO (20 µM) within 10 min in the presence of NADH. Thus, efficient decolorization of MO was observed by the purified enzyme. The recombinant enzyme was purified approximately 18-fold with 46% yield at the end of four steps of the purification process. Enzyme was present in a tetrameric structure as confirmed by the volume at which protein was eluted in gel filtration chromatography, and the monomeric molecular mass of enzyme was found to be 23 kDa on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The dye degradation efficiency of azoreductase cloned from Klebsiella pneumoniae and purified from recombinant Escherichia coli was observed to be much higher as compared with the efficiencies of the reported azoreductases from other bacterial strains. In the present study, we report the purification and characterization of the azoreductase cloned from Klebsiella pneumoniae and expressed in Escherichia coli.

Amelogenesis imperfecta: Report of a case and review of literature.

Amelogenesis imperfecta (AI) is a diverse collection of inherited diseases that exhibit quantitative or qualitative tooth enamel defects in the absence of systemic manifestations. Also known by varied names such as Hereditary enamel dysplasia, Hereditary brown enamel, Hereditary brown opalescent teeth, this defect is entirely ectodermal, since mesodermal components of the teeth are basically normal. The AI trait can be transmitted by either autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive, or X-linked modes of inheritance. Genes implicated in autosomal forms are genes encoding enamel matrix proteins, namely: enamelin and ameloblastin, tuftelin, MMP-20 and kallikrein - 4. This article presents a case reported to Dr. D. Y. Patil, Dental College and Hospital, Pune, India, along with a review of this often seen clinical entity.

Apert's Syndrome: Report of a New Case and its Management.

In this article, an interesting case of Apert syndrome in a 14-year-old boy with characteristic craniosynostosis, acrocephaly, midface hypoplasia, pharyngeal attenuation, ocular manifestations, and syndactyly of the hands and feet is presented. The case is discussed in the light of relevant literature. A precise clinical differentiation must be made since considerable overlap of the features of various other syndromes could give rise to difficulties in diagnosing this condition. Besides detection and timely recognition of the syndrome to allow adequate dental care, screening at periodic intervals is merited to improve the overall quality of life of these patients. Clinical relevanceThis paper highlights the importance of the dentist as well as the specialist in the recognition and oral care of children with this syndrome.Children with teeth of unusual anatomy present a challenge for conventional dentistry.It is important for a pedodontist to evaluate and intervene the malrelationship of the jaws to reduce the complexity of further orthodontic treatment. Objectives statement: The reader should understand the clinical implications of recognition of this syndrome and provision of early treatment, with a purpose to reducing the duration and complexity of further treatment.