Cone Beam Computed Tomography Study of Root Canal Morphology of Permanent Mandibular Incisors in Indian Subpopulation.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to determine the root canal morphology of permanent mandibular incisor teeth in the Indian subpopulation with the use of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). MATERIAL/METHODS: CBCT images of 200 patients with 800 permanent mandibular incisors, fulfilling necessary inclusion criteria and aged 18 to 60 years were evaluated. The number of roots, number of root canals and canal configuration were investigated and then classified according to Vertucci's classification of root canals. The effect of gender on the incidence of root canal morphology was also investigated. RESULTS: All the permanent mandibular incisors had a single root. The majority of mandibular incisors (66.5%) had a single root with a single canal. The prevalence of second canals was as follows: right central incisor - 33.5%, left central incisor - 30%, right lateral incisors - 33.5% and left lateral incisor - 36.5%. According to gender, 15.2% of men and 20.4% of women had a second root canal. Type 1 Vertucci configuration was most prevalent, followed by type 3, type 2, type 5 and type 4 in that order. CONCLUSIONS: Type 1 Vertucci's classification (64.5%) was the most prevalent canal configuration in the mandibular anterior teeth in the Indian population. Type 5 Vertucci's classification was the most frequently observed canal configuration of the two-canalled teeth. CBCT is an excellent imaging modality for detection of different canal configurations of mandibular incisors.

EOS-3D-DCNN: Ebola optimization search-based 3D-dense convolutional neural network for corn leaf disease prediction.

Corn disease prediction is an essential part of agricultural productivity. This paper presents a novel 3D-dense convolutional neural network (3D-DCNN) optimized using the Ebola optimization search (EOS) algorithm to predict corn disease targeting the increased prediction accuracy than the conventional AI methods. Since the dataset samples are generally insufficient, the paper uses some preliminary pre-processing approaches to increase the sample set and improve the samples for corn disease. The Ebola optimization search (EOS) technique is used to reduce the classification errors of the 3D-CNN approach. As an outcome, the corn disease is predicted and classified accurately and more effectually. The accuracy of the proposed 3D-DCNN-EOS model is improved, and some necessary baseline tests are performed to project the efficacy of the anticipated model. The simulation is performed in the MATLAB 2020a environment, and the outcomes specify the significance of the proposed model over other approaches. The feature representation of the input data is learned effectually to trigger the model's performance. When the proposed method is compared to other existing techniques, it outperforms them in terms of precision, the area under receiver operating characteristics (AUC), f1 score, Kappa statistic error (KSE), accuracy, root mean square error value (RMSE), and recall.

Enhanced fibroblast-myocyte interactions in response to cardiac injury.

RATIONALE: A critical event in the development of cardiac fibrosis is the transformation of fibroblasts into myofibroblasts. The electrophysiological consequences of this phenotypic switch remain largely unknown. OBJECTIVE: Determine whether fibroblast activation following cardiac injury results in a distinct electrophysiological phenotype that enhances fibroblast-myocyte interactions. METHODS AND RESULTS: Neonatal rat myocyte monolayers were treated with media (CM) conditioned by fibroblasts isolated from normal (Fb) and infarcted (MI-Fb) hearts. Fb and MI-Fb were also plated on top of myocyte monolayers at 3 densities. Cultures were optically mapped after CM treatment or fibroblast plating to obtain conduction velocity and action potential duration (APD(70)). Intercellular communication and connexin43 expression levels were assessed. Membrane properties of Fb and MI-Fb were evaluated using patch clamp techniques. MI-Fb CM treatment decreased conduction velocity (11.1%) compared to untreated myocyte cultures. APD(70) was reduced by MI-Fb CM treatment compared to homocellular myocyte culture (9.4%) and Fb CM treatment (6.4%). In heterocellular cultures, MI-Fb conduction velocities were different from Fb at all densities (+29.8%, -23.0%, and -16.7% at 200, 400, and 600 cells/mm(2), respectively). APD(70) was reduced (9.6%) in MI-Fb compared to Fb cultures at 200 cells/mm(2). MI-Fb had more hyperpolarized resting membrane potentials and increased outward current densities. Connexin43 was elevated (134%) in MI-Fb compared to Fb. Intercellular coupling evaluated with gap fluorescence recovery after photobleaching was higher between myocytes and MI-Fb compared to Fb. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate cardiac injury results in significant electrophysiological changes that enhance fibroblast-myocyte interactions and could contribute to the greater incidence of arrhythmias observed in fibrotic hearts.

Synthesis and selective cytotoxic activity of novel hybrid chalcones against prostate cancer cells.

A new class of hybrid chalcones (17a-l &18a-l) was synthesized by Claisen-Schmidt condensation. All compounds were characterized by (1)H NMR, IR and mass spectral analysis and tested for their cytotoxic activity against PC-3 (prostate cancer), HT-29 (colon cancer), B-16 (mouse macrophages) and NCI-H460 (lung cancer) cell lines. Three compounds 18i, 18j and 18l (IC(50)=8.4, 7.9 & 5.9 µM) showed significant activity against PC-3 cell line.

Bilateral Incisiform Superlative Maxillary Permanent Lateral Incisors in a Nonsyndromic Young Girl: A Review and Report of a Case with Comprehensive Management.

Aim and objective: This case report aims to describe the management of a case of non-syndromic bilateral incisiform superlative lateral incisors in a young girl. Background: Supernumerary teeth are an excess number of teeth as compared to the normal dental formula. Supernumerary teeth closely resembling normal tooth shape and morphology are called superlative tooth. Superlative incisiform lateral incisors occurring bilaterally is very rare in the arch. Case description: This paper describes a case of non-syndromic bilateral incisiform superlative lateral incisors in a 16-year-old female patient and its management by pediatric and orthodontic therapy. Conclusion: In this case as both the teeth were equally formed, the tooth which is more out of occlusion and causing discomfort will be extracted under local anesthesia and continued with orthodontic treatment for the correction of crowding. Clinical significance: When superlative teeth are present, they should be investigated and diagnosed properly. Superlative teeth should be managed according to the presenting clinical feature so that further complications can be minimized in the developing dentition. How to cite this article: Thimmegowda U, Nagarajshetty PM, Amrutha B, et al. Bilateral Incisiform Superlative Maxillary Permanent Lateral Incisors in a Nonsyndromic Young Girl: A Review and Report of a Case with Comprehensive Management. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2022;15(3):376-379.

Chromate reduction by PVA-alginate immobilized Streptomyces griseus in a bioreactor.

Microbial reduction of toxic Cr6+ to the less toxic Cr3+ is potentially a useful bioremediation process. Among the matrices tested for whole cell immobilization of an efficient chromate-reducing Streptomyces griseus strain, PVA-alginate was the most effective and was used for reduction of Cr(VI) in a bioreactor. Cr6+ reduction efficiency decreased as Cr6+ was increased from 2 to 12 mg l(-1) but increased with an increase in biomass concentration. However, increasing the flow rate from 2 to 8 ml h(-1) did not significantly affect Cr(6+) reduction. The reduction was faster in simulated effluent than in synthetic medium and complete removal of 8 mg Cr6+ l(-1) from effluent and synthetic medium occurred in 2 and 12 h, respectively. Our results indicate that immobilized S. griseus cells could be applied for the large-scale bioremediation of chromate-containing effluents and wastewaters.

Prediction of enantioselectivity of lipase catalyzed kinetic resolution using umbrella sampling.

Enantiopure intermediates are preferred for drug synthesis in pharmaceutical industry. Lipases are widely used for chiral resolution of optically active compounds based on kinetic resolution. In the kinetic resolution, two enantiomers react with different rates in presence of a chiral catalyst or reagent, resulting in obtaining one enantiomer of great excess compared to other. The enantiomeric ratio (E) is closely related to the free energy difference (ΔΔG) of the activated state of substrate enantiomers. Molecular dynamic (MD) simulations with umbrella sampling technique can be used for estimation of activation free energy change of enantiomers. In this work, lipase-catalyzed transesterification of racemic alcohols with single and double hydroxyl groups have been studied. The umbrella sampling studies have been carried out for Candida rugosa lipase and Burkholderia cepacia lipase in n-hexane. The distance between serine residue in the catalytic triad and the ligand has been considered as a reaction coordinate and various conformations have been selected for MD simulation. The E value has been estimated based on free energy change from umbrella sampling. The estimated E values are in good agreement with experimental data. The work highlights changes in lipase conformation in n-hexane, ligand-protein interaction as well as free energy curve as a function of the reaction coordinate.

Kinetic resolution of 1,2-diols using immobilized Burkholderia cepacia lipase: A combined experimental and molecular dynamics investigation.

Kinetic resolution of rac-1,2-diols using the biocatalyst Burkholderia cepacia lipase (BCL) immobilized on a biodegradable binary blend support of hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose(HPMC)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) has been investigated. The immobilization technique improved enzyme activity significantly and it has excellent recyclability with good yield and enantiomeric excess values up to the studied range of nine cycles. At optimum reaction conditions, conversion of 45-50% with excellent enantiomeric excess (up to 99% ee) were obtained. It was observed that BCL shows enantio-preference to R form of primary hydroxyl group for acylation, whereas S form is preferred for diacetate formation. The resultant products were characterized with the help of different analytical techniques such as 1H and 13C NMR, chiral HPLC, IR and GC-MS. In order to understand the effect of solvent as well as various derivatives of substrates, combined molecular dynamics and docking simulations were carried out. Explanation related to experimentally observed enantio-selectivities have been provided based on transition state structures of acylated complexes.

Frontline Science: Corticotropin-releasing factor receptor subtype 1 is a critical modulator of mast cell degranulation and stress-induced pathophysiology.

Life stress is a major risk factor in the onset and exacerbation of mast cell-associated diseases, including allergy/anaphylaxis, asthma, and irritable bowel syndrome. Although it is known that mast cells are highly activated upon stressful events, the mechanisms by which stress modulates mast cell function and disease pathophysiology remains poorly understood. Here, we investigated the role of corticotropin-releasing factor receptor subtype 1 (CRF1) in mast cell degranulation and associated disease pathophysiology. In a mast cell-dependent model of IgE-mediated passive systemic anaphylaxis (PSA), prophylactic administration of the CRF1-antagonist antalarmin attenuated mast cell degranulation and hypothermia. Mast cell-deficient KitW-sh/W-sh mice engrafted with CRF1-/- bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs) exhibited attenuated PSA-induced serum histamine, hypothermia, and clinical scores compared with wild-type BMMC-engrafted KitW-sh/W-sh mice. KitW-sh/W-sh mice engrafted with CRF1-/- BMMCs also exhibited suppressed in vivo mast cell degranulation and intestinal permeability in response to acute restraint stress. Genetic and pharmacologic experiments with murine BMMCs, rat RBL-2H3, and human LAD2 mast cells demonstrated that although CRF1 activation did not directly induce MC degranulation, CRF1 signaling potentiated the degranulation responses triggered by diverse mast cell stimuli and was associated with enhanced release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores. Taken together, our results revealed a prominent role for CRF1 signaling in mast cells as a positive modulator of stimuli-induced degranulation and in vivo pathophysiologic responses to immunologic and psychologic stress.

Congenital anatomic variants of the kidney and ureter: a pictorial essay.

Congenital renal parenchymal and pelvicalyceal abnormalities have a wide spectrum. Most of them are asymptomatic, like that of ectopia, cross fused kidney, horseshoe kidney, etc., while a few of them become complicated, leading to renal failure and death. It is very important for the radiologist to identify these anatomic variants and guide the clinicians for surgical and therapeutic procedures. Cross-sectional imaging with a volume rendered technique/maximum intensity projection has overcome ultrasonography and IVU for identification and interpretation of some of these variants.

Kinetic modeling and docking study of immobilized lipase catalyzed synthesis of furfuryl acetate.

The present work deals with the kinetic modeling and docking study for the furfuryl acetate synthesis using immobilized Burkholderia cepacia (BCL) lipase. Initially various lipases were immobilized on hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) and poly vinyl alcohol (PVA) base hybrid polymer matrix. After screening of various immobilized biocatalysts, HPMC:PVA:BCL was found to be a robust biocatalyst. Various reaction conditions were optimized using response surface methodology (RSM) based on a four-factor-three-level Box-Behnken design. The optimal conditions were obtained at molar ratio of 1:2 of furfuryl alcohol to acyl donor, temperature 50°C with catalyst loading of 30mg in 3mL of non-aqueous media toluene. Under these conditions 99.98% yield was obtained in 3h. The Arrhenius plot showed that the activation energy for furfuryl acetate synthesis was 10.68kcal/mol. The kinetics of reaction was studied close to optimized conditions which obey order bi-bi model. Molecular docking study was carried out to understand the active site of BCL which is responsible for the reaction. It was observed that the reaction proceeds via acylation of the active serine of BCL and demonstrating strong hydrogen bond between the substrate and histidine site. The catalyst recyclability study was carried up to five cycles.

Increased expression of the PI3K catalytic subunit p110δ underlies elevated S6 phosphorylation and protein synthesis in an individual with autism from a multiplex family.

BACKGROUND: Dysfunctions in the PI3K/mTOR pathway have gained a lot of attention in autism research. This was initially based on the discovery of several monogenic autism spectrum disorders with mutations or defects in PI3K/mTOR signaling components. Recent genetic studies corroborate that defective PI3K/mTOR signaling might be a shared pathomechanism in autism disorders of so far unknown etiology, but functional molecular analyses in human cells are rare. The goals of this study were to perform a functional screen of cell lines from patients with idiopathic autism for defects in PI3K/mTOR signaling, to test if further functional analyses are suitable to detect underlying molecular mechanisms, and to evaluate this approach as a biomarker tool to identify therapeutic targets. METHODS: We performed phospho-S6- and S6-specific ELISA experiments on 21 lymphoblastoid cell lines from the AGRE collection and on 37 lymphoblastoid cell lines from the Simons Simplex Collection and their healthy siblings. Cell lines from one individual with increased S6 phosphorylation and his multiplex family were analyzed in further detail to identify upstream defects in PI3K signaling associated with autism diagnosis. RESULTS: We detected significantly increased S6 phosphorylation in 3 of the 21 lymphoblastoid cell lines from AGRE compared to a healthy control and in 1 of the 37 lymphoblastoid cell lines from the Simons Simplex Collection compared to the healthy sibling. Further analysis of cells from one individual with elevated S6 phosphorylation showed increased expression of the PI3K catalytic subunit p110δ, which was also observed in lymphoblastoid cells from other autistic siblings but not unaffected members in his multiplex family. The p110δ-selective inhibitor IC87114 reduced elevated S6 phosphorylation and protein synthesis in this cell line. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that functional analysis of PI3K/mTOR signaling is a biomarker tool to identify disease-associated molecular defects that could serve as therapeutic targets in autism. Using this approach, we discovered impaired signaling and protein synthesis through the PI3K catalytic subunit p110δ as an underlying molecular defect and potential treatment target in select autism spectrum disorders. Increased p110δ activity was recently associated with schizophrenia, and our results suggest that p110δ may also be implicated in autism.

Prospective evaluation of intra-operative quick parathyroid hormone assay as an early predictor of post thyroidectomy hypocalcaemia.

BACKGROUND: Hypocalcaemia following total thyroidectomy is a major contributing factor in delayed hospital discharge and dissuading surgeons from day care thyroidectomy. We prospectively evaluated the utility of Intra-operative serum quick parathyroid hormone level measurement twenty minutes after total thyroidectomy in predicting post-operative hypocalcemia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Prospective longitudinal study which included patients undergoing total thyroidectomy for benign or malignant thyroid disorders at SGPGIMS, Lucknow, India from November 2013 to February 2015. Patients who received calcium prophylaxis were excluded from the study. Intraoperative serum quick PTH level measurements were done twenty minutes after resection of thyroid. Serum calcium levels were estimated preoperatively and on three consecutive post operative days. Calcium supplementation was started in patients with symptomatic hypocalcemia. RESULTS: The study included 100 patients with a mean age of 41 years, range 17-72 years. 48 patients had Euthyroid multinodular goitre, 10 patients grave's disease and 42 patients had differentiated thyroid cancer. Total thyroidectomy was performed in 88 patients, total thyroidectomy with lymph node dissection in 12 patients. Post-operatively 23% patients experienced symptomatic hypocalcemia. The IOPTH level of 9 pmol/L, twenty minutes after total thyroidectomy, had the highest sensitivity and specificity of 92% and 83% respectively in predicting post-operative hypocalcemia. CONCLUSION: Parathyroid hormone assay twenty minutes after thyroidectomy is an accurate and reliable means of predicting clinically relevant hypocalcemia. Patients with PTH values greater than 9 pmol/L twenty minutes after thyroidectomy, can be safely discharged on the same postoperative day as the probability of life threatening hypocalcemia is unlikely.

Studies on biological reduction of chromate by Streptomyces griseus.

Chromium is a toxic heavy metal used in various industries and leads to environmental pollution due to improper handling. The most toxic form of chromium Cr(VI) can be converted to less toxic Cr(III) by reduction. Among the actinomycetes tested for chromate reduction, thirteen strains reduced Cr(VI) to Cr(III), of which one strain of Streptomyces griseus (NCIM 2020) was most efficient showing complete reduction within 24h. The organism was able to use a number of carbon sources as electron donors. Sulphate, nitrate, chloride and carbonate had no effect on chromate reduction during growth while cations such as Cd, Ni, Co and Cu were inhibitory to varying degrees. Chromate reduction was associated with the bacterial cells and sonication was the best method of cell breakage to release the enzyme. The enzyme was constitutive and did not require presence of chromate during growth for expression of activity. Chromate reduction with cell free extract (CFE) was observed without added NADH. However, addition of NAD(P)H resulted in 2-3-fold increase in activity. Chromate reductase showed optimum activity at 28 degrees C and pH 7.

Hexavalent chromate reduction by immobilized Streptomyces griseus.

Hexavalent chromium, which is a mutagen and carcinogen, was efficiently reduced by Streptomyces griseus. This activity was associated with the cell. Cr(6+) reduction by free as well as immobilized cells was studied: cells in PVA-alginate had the highest (100%) Cr(6+) removal efficiency in 24 h with reduction rates similar to free cells. Immobilized cells completely reduced 25 mg Cr(6+) l(-1) in 24 h. PVA-alginate immobilized cells could be reused four times to completely reduce 25 mg Cr(6+) l(-1) in 24 h each time. Chromate in a simulated effluent containing Cu(2+), Mg(2+), Mn(2+) and Zn(2+) was completely reduced by PVA-alginate immobilized cells within 9 h.