Fabrication and In Vitro Biological Assay of Thermo-Mechanically Tuned Chitosan Reinforced Polyurethane Composites.

The progressive trend of utilizing bioactive materials constitutes diverse materials exhibiting biocompatibility. The innovative aspect of this research is the tuning of the thermo-mechanical behavior of polyurethane (PU) composites with improved biocompatibility for vibrant applications. Polycaprolactone (CAPA) Mn = 2000 g-mol-1 was used as a macrodiol, along with toluene diisocyanate (TDI) and hexamethylene diisocyanate (HMDI), to develop prepolymer chains, which were terminated with 1,4 butane diol (BD). The matrix was reinforced with various concentrations of chitosan (1-5 wt %). Two series of PU composites (PUT/PUH) based on aromatic and aliphatic diisocyanate were prepared by varying the hard segment (HS) ratio from 5 to 30 (wt %). The Fourier-transformed infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy showed the absence of an NCO peak at 1730 cm-1 in order to confirm polymer chain termination. Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) showed optimum weight loss up to 500 °C. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) showed the complex modulus (E*) ≥ 200 MPa. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) proved the ordered structure and uniform distribution of chain extender in PU. The hemolytic activities were recorded up to 15.8 ± 1.5% for the PUH series. The optimum values for the inhibition of biofilm formation were recorded as 46.3 ± 1.8% against E. coli and S. aureus (%), which was supported by phase contrast microscopy.

Arsenic and fluoride co-exposure through drinking water and their impacts on intelligence and oxidative stress among rural school-aged children of Lahore and Kasur districts, Pakistan.

Arsenic (As), and fluoride (F-) are potent contaminants with established carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic impacts on the exposed populations globally. Despite elevated groundwater As and F- levels being reported from various regions of Pakistan no biomonitoring study has been reported yet to address the co-exposure impact of As and F- among school children. We aimed to investigate the effects of these two contaminants on dental fluorosis and intelligence quotient (IQ) along with the induction of oxidative stress in rural children under co-exposed conditions. A total of 148 children (5 to 16 years old) from the exposed and control group were recruited in the current study from endemic rural areas of Lahore and Kasur districts, Pakistan having elevated As and F- levels in drinking water than permissible limits. We monitored malondialdehyde and its probable association with antioxidants activity (SOD, CAT, and GR) as a biomarker of oxidative stress. GSTM1/T1 polymorphisms were measured to find the impact of As on health parameters. Mean urinary concentrations of As (2.70 vs. 0.016 µg/L, P < 0.000) and F- (3.27 vs. 0.24 mg/L, P < 0.000) as well as the frequency of dental fluorosis were found elevated among the exposed group. The cases of children with lower IQ were observed high in the exposed group. Additionally, lower concentrations of antioxidants (SOD, CAT, and GR) were found suggesting high susceptibility to F- toxicity. The findings suggest that F- accounted for high variations in health parameters of children under the co-exposure conditions with As.

Salivary and imaging-based biomarkers of radiation therapy-induced xerostomia.

Biomarkers are anatomical characteristics or naturally occurring measurable molecules indicating physiological or pathological state of an individual. These biomarkers have the potential to detect or predict diseases at an early stage, which is particularly beneficial in timely management of common complications of radiation therapy done in head and neck cancer treatment regime. Xerostomia is one of the most common oral complaints of radiation therapy. Saliva has an abundance of protein biomarkers; however, those related to post-radiation therapy xerostomia need to be explored further. Textural and imaging-based biomarkers are helpful in predicting xerostomia in such patients. This narrative review provides an account of salivary protein and imaging-based biomarkers of radiation therapy-induced xerostomia in head and neck cancer patients.

Dental erosion in mice with impaired salivary gland function.

Objective: Salivary flow rate exerts an essential impact on the development and progression of dental erosion. In this work, the experimental dental erosion in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice with reduced salivary flow rate was induced, and the erosive effect of acidic drinks on their dentition was studied.Material and methods: Three acidic drinks (sports drink, cola light drink and sugar containing cola drink) were given to adult NOD mice (groups: N = 11) as the only drink for 6 weeks. Two control groups were included; wild type and NOD control (groups: N = 9). Experimental and control (water) teeth were dissected out and observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Mandibular first molars were subsequently embedded in Epon, ground transversely, observed again by SEM, and the enamel thickness and tooth height were measured.Results: Mandibular molars were considerably more eroded than maxillary molars. The erosive process started at the top of the cusps and subsequently extended in the cervical, mesio-distal, and pulpal direction. Erosive lesions were evident in increased succession from sports drink, cola light to cola drink exposed mandibular molars, with the lingual tooth height being approximately 23%, 26%, and 37% lower, respectively, compared to the control. The lingual enamel was approximately 48% thinner in sports drink molars and 62% thinner in cola light molars. In cola drink molars, the lingual enamel was totally eroded, and significant erosion of dentine was evident.Conclusion: Reduced salivary flow, together with a high consumption of acidic drinks, results in severe erosion of NOD mice molars.

Identifying research obstacles; a cross sectional comparative study of perceptions of postgraduate medical and dental residents in three public sector medical colleges.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the attitude of postgraduate medical and dental residents about research work and to identify barriers in the way of research activities. METHODOLOGY: The cross-sectional study was conducted from May to July, 2018, at three public-sector medical and dental institutions in Quetta, the capital of Pakistan province of Balochistan, and comprised postgraduate residents. Data was collected using a pre-validated 16 item Likert scale questionnaire. Data was analysed using SPSS 23. RESULTS: Of the 72 subjects, 44(61.1%) were males. The overall mean age was 23.3±4.6 years (range: 28-30 years. The residents demonstrated willingness to conduct clinical research with a mean score of 4.36±0.65. There was no association of attitudes and barriers with socio-demographic and personal characteristics (p>0.05). Deficient lab facilities (p-<0.001), and inaccessibility to electronic and hospital data (p=0.003) were the major factors identified as research barriers. CONCLUSIONS: Barriers to research need to be addressed in designing research curricula to encourage and facilitate meaningful research.

Enhancement of solubility and dissolution profile of artesunate by employing solid dispersion approach: An in-vitro evaluation.

Current study was designed with an aim to improve the solubility and dissolution profile of artesunate by preparing solid dispersions through solvent evaporation and freeze-drying techniques using polyethylene glycol 4000 (PEG4000) as solubility enhancer. Developed formulations were characterized for FTIR, XRD, TGA and SEM. Maximum increase in solubility was attained by freeze-dried solid dispersions (FD F444) i.e. 2.99 folds and 2.66 folds by solvent evaporation solid dispersion (SE F44) as compare to pure drug. Amorphous nature of artesunate in solid dispersions was confirmed from XRD diffractographs. Surface morphology indicated the existence of rough surface in freeze- dried solid dispersions (FDDs) and smooth surface in solvent evaporation solid dispersions (SEDs). Rapid dissolution rates were exhibited by fast dissolving tablets of optimized formulations. Moreover, the release of the drug was dominated by the first order kinetics (R2 = 0.9932) with the Fickian type of diffusion mechanism (n<0.450).

Predicting Success: A Comprehensive Analysis of High School and Admission Test Scores on Future Academic Performance of Dental Students.

Introduction Dental school admissions in Pakistan traditionally rely on Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSSC), University of Health Sciences (UHS), and National Testing Service (NTS) scores, with limited research available on their predictive validity for dental school performance. This study aims to investigate the correlation between a student's first-year dental school performance and their HSSC, UHS, and NTS scores. Methods A total of 282 records, spanning the years 2016 to 2020, were obtained from a single private dental institution. The data included HSSC, UHS, and/or NTS scores, with the first professional examination results as the dependent variable. Statistical analysis was conducted using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, IBM Corp., Version 25.0, Armonk, NY), encompassing descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and multiple regression analysis. Results Pearson's coefficients revealed weak to moderate positive correlations between the first professional examination and HSSC (r=0.209, p<.01), UHS (r=0.344, p<.01), and NTS (r=0.350, p<.01), all statistically significant at p < 0.01. Multiple regression analysis indicated that UHS scores contributed the highest explanatory power (R² = 0.146) in predicting first professional examination results. Conclusion A positive correlation between HSSC, UHS, and NTS scores with dental students' performance in the first professional examination is observed. However, the correlations are moderate, highlighting the importance of incorporating assessments that consider cognitive, behavioral, and skill-related aspects in admissions processes. Given the evolving landscape of dental education, these findings underscore the need for a holistic approach to identify candidates better equipped to serve the healthcare sector.

Interplay between leadership and patient safety in dentistry: a dental hospital-based cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: The study aimed to study the association of leadership practices and patient safety culture in a dental hospital. DESIGN: Hospital-based, cross-sectional study SETTING: Riphah Dental Hospital (RDH), Islamabad, Pakistan. PARTICIPANTS: All dentists working at RDH were invited to participate. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: A questionnaire comprised of the Transformational Leadership Scale (TLS) and the Dental adapted version of the Medical Office Survey of Patient Safety Culture (DMOSOPS) was distributed among the participants. The response rates for each dimension were calculated. The positive responses were added to calculate scores for each of the patient safety and leadership dimensions and the Total Leadership Score (TLS) and total patient safety score (TPSS). Correlational analysis is performed to assess any associations. RESULTS: A total of 104 dentists participated in the study. A high positive response was observed on three of the leadership dimensions: inspirational communication (85.25%), intellectual stimulation (86%), and supportive leadership (75.17%). A low positive response was found on the following items: 'acknowledges improvement in my quality of work' (19%) and 'has a clear sense of where he/she wants our unit to be in 5 years' (35.64%). The reported positive responses in the patient safety dimensions were high on three of the patient safety dimensions: organisational learning (78.41%), teamwork (82.91%), and patient care tracking/follow-up (77.05%); and low on work pressure and pace (32.02%). A moderately positive correlation was found between TLS and TPSS (r=0.455, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Leadership was found to be associated with patient safety culture in a dental hospital. Leadership training programmes should be incorporated during dental training to prepare future leaders who can inspire a positive patient safety culture.

Flow injection online spectrophotometric determination of uranium after preconcentration on XAD-4 resin impregnated with nalidixic acid.

In this work, spectrophotometer was used as a detector for the determination of uranium from water, biological, and ore samples with a flow injection system coupled with solid phase extraction. In order to promote the online preconcentration of uranium, a minicolumn packed with XAD-4 resin impregnated with nalidixic acid was utilized. The system operation was based on U(VI) ion retention at pH 6 in the minicolumn at flow rate of 15.2 mL min(-1). The uranium complex was removed from the resin by 0.1 mol dm(-3) HCl at flow rate of 3.2 mL min(-1) and was mixed with arsenazo III solution (0.05 % solution in 0.1 mol dm(-3) HCl, 3.2 mL min(-1)) and driven to flow through cell of spectrophotometer where its absorbance was measured at 651 nm. The influence of chemical (pH and HCl (as eluent and reagent medium) concentration) and flow (sample and eluent flow rate and preconcentration time) parameters that could affect the performance of the system as well as the possible interferents was investigated. At the optimum conditions for 60 s preconcentration time (15.2 mL of sample volume), the method presented a detection limit of 1.1 µg L(-1), a relative standard deviation (RSD) of 0.8 % at 100 µg L(-1), enrichment factor of 30, and a sample throughput of 42 h(-1), whereas for 300 s of the preconcentration time (76 mL of sample volume), a detection limit of 0.22 µg L(-1), a RSD of 1.32 % at 10 µg L(-1), enrichment factor of 150, and a sampling frequency of 11 h(-1) were reported.

Comparison of complete denture fabricated by two different border molding materials, in terms of patients' satisfaction.

BACKGROUND: Restoration of dentition leads to an improvement in the oral health related quality of life. Complete dentures are used to restore this oral cavity disability to its original condition. This study was designed to compare satisfaction levels between two groups of edentulous patients for whom two different border moulding techniques: 'conventional green stick' and 'polyvinyl siloxane material' were employed. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional questionnaire based study. A questionnaire was designed in the Department of Prosthodontics at the Armed Forces Institute of Dentistry to compare the satisfaction levels between two groups by assessing the following four variables: 'retention', 'stability', 'comfort during final impression procedure' and 'time taken by the procedure'. RESULTS: No significant differences were found between the two groups for 'retention', 'stability' and 'comfort during the final impression procedure' (p > 0.05). For 'stability' there was a significant difference between the two groups. However, as the difference was only that of one patient (31 patients having 'good stability' in Group A, as compared to 32 in Group B); the difference was not considered significant. The conventional border moulding technique took significantly more time as compared to the modified polyvinyl siloxane technique (p < 0.05).The mean satisfaction score was low (7.36 +/- 0.45). There was a significant difference in the patient satisfaction scores between the modified and the conventional border moulding techniques (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Although a significant difference was found between the patient satisfaction levels between the two groups, the clinical significance of these results is still in question as the only factor found to be different between the two groups was the 'time taken'.

Development of hamming and hausdorff distance metrics for cubic intuitionistic fuzzy hypersoft set in cement storage quality control: Development and evaluation.

Quality control is paramount in product manufacturing as it ensures consistent production to meet customer expectations, regulatory requirements and maintain a company's reputation and profitability. Distance measures within fuzzy sets serve as powerful tools for quality control, allowing for data comparison and identification of potential defects or outliers within a system. This study aims to develop a hybrid concept by combining a Cubic Intuitionistic Fuzzy Set (CIFS) with Soft Set (SS) and extending it to Cubic Intuitionistic Fuzzy Hypersoft Set (CIFHSS). CIFHSS enables handling multiple distinct attributes at the sub-attribute level within a cubic set environment. The concept includes operations like internal, partial internal, external, complement, direct sum, and product. Additionally, six distance metrics are defined within CIFHSS and applied to establish a quality control management system for industrial applications. The versatility of CIFHSS in quality control management stems from its ability to capture and model uncertainty, vagueness, and imprecision in data. This makes it an effective tool for decision-making, risk analysis, and process optimization across a wide range of industrial applications.

Fractional order ATR-FTIR differential spectroscopy for detection of weak bands and assessing the radiation modifications in gamma sterilized UHMWPE.

This study presents a new method for identifying radiation modifications in UHMWPE polymer samples. The method involves using a mathematical technique called fractional order differential transformation on IR spectra obtained through ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. This new method was compared to existing techniques such as FTIR, XRD, and DSC, and it was found to be more sensitive and accurate in detecting radiation-induced changes in the polymer. The study focused on identifying changes in weak IR bands in the UHMWPE samples caused by gamma sterilization while simulating IR spectra using different orders of fractional derivatives and compared them to experimental spectra. It was found that applying a lower order of differentiation was more suitable for identifying radiation-induced changes in the UHMWPE samples. Using this method, they were able to identify specific changes in the gamma irradiated structure, such as the splitting of a single absorption peak into a doublet, which was only present in the 50 kGy irradiated sample. The study also used correlation index analysis, principal component analysis, and hierarchy cluster analysis to analyze the simulated and experimental spectra. These techniques allowed to confirm the effectiveness of the fractional order differential transformation method and to identify the specific regions of the IR spectra that were affected by radiation-induced changes in the UHMWPE samples. Overall, this study presents a new method for identifying radiation-induced changes in UHMWPE polymer samples that is more sensitive and accurate than existing techniques. By identifying these changes, researchers can better understand the effects of gamma sterilization on medical equipment and potentially develop new methods for sterilization that do not damage the equipment.

Self-efficacy and Online Learning Readiness of Undergraduate Dental Students in Pakistan During COVID-19 Pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation between general self-efficacy and online learning readiness among Pakistani undergraduate dental students. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of the Study: Riphah International University, Islamabad, between September 2020 and March 2021. METHODOLOGY: Using cluster sampling, three dental colleges of Islamabad and Rawalpindi were selected. Electronic questionnaires were sent to 750 students. The questionnaire was comprised of two instruments, General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), and Online Learning Readiness Scale (OLRS). GSES had 10-items with response measurement on four-point Likert scale, while the OLRS had 18 items in five different domains measured by five-point Likert scale. Data were analysed using SPSS-23. Correlation between dependent variables was calculated using linear regression analysis. RESULTS: The response rate was 59.3% with a predominant response from female students (82.2%) compared with male students (17.8%). The majority of responses were recorded from third year students (27.9%). The year four students' scores for GSE, computer and internet self-efficacy, and self-directed learning differed significantly from other students. The overall mean GSE score was 29.37+4.57. Regression indicated a low degree of correlation between GSE and the five domains of OLRS with r2 values ranging from 0.12 to 0.32. CONCLUSION: A weak to moderate correlation was found between self-efficacy and the five dimensions of online learning readiness among Pakistani undergraduate dental students as depicted by the r-values. KEY WORDS: Cross-sectional studies, Dental education, Dental students, Dentistry, Efficacy, Online learning, Questionnaire.

Salivary aquaporin-3 as a screening biomarker for xerostomia in patients with periodontal disease and the effects of xerostomia on oral health-related quality of life.

Xerostomia is a subjective condition of dryness of the oral cavity that may lead to several oral problems deteriorating oral health-related quality of life. This study aimed to (1) determine the prevalence of xerostomia, (2) compare the general health status, unstimulated salivary flow rate, and oral health-related quality of life in xerostomics and non-xerostomics, and (3) investigate the potential of salivary aquaporin-3 (AQP-3) as a screening biomarker for xerostomia in patients with periodontal disease. Demographics and systemic health data were collected from 109 healthy participants, 20 to 55 years old, with Community Periodontal Index (CPI) score ≥ 3. For subjective assessment of xerostomia, Shortened Xerostomia Inventory (SXI) was used. For objective assessment of xerostomia, unstimulated salivary flow rate was measured. Shortened Oral Health Impact Profile (S-OHIP) was utilized for oral health-related quality of life assessment. The collected saliva samples were processed and stored at -80°C. Quantification of salivary AQP-3 protein was done with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Xerostomia was reported in 78% of the subjects based on SXI score. Median concentration of AQP-3 was significantly higher in xerostomics compared to non-xerostomics, p = 0.001. Moreover, oral health-related quality of life was significantly poor in xerostomics compared to non-xerostomics, p = 0.002. Furthermore, there were significant correlations between AQP-3 and SXI (r = 0.21, p = 0.025), AQP-3 and S-OHIP (r = 0.2, p = 0.042), S-OHIP and SXI (r = 0.37, p < 0.001), unstimulated salivary flow rate and random blood glucose level (r = 0.32, p = 0.001), and body mass index and mean arterial pressure (r = 0.44, p < 0.001). Regression analysis showed that body mass index, CPI score 3, and salivary AQP-3 were suitable predictors for presence of xerostomia. AQP-3 could be a potential screening biomarker for xerostomia in patients with periodontal disease for its early identification may help improve oral health-related quality of life of the individuals.

Infantile Systemic Hyalinosis: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Infantile systemic hyalinosis (ISH) is a very rare disorder belonging to the heterozygous group of genetic fibromatosis. There is a diffuse deposition of hyaline material in the skin, gastrointestinal tract, muscle, lymph node, spleen, thyroid, and adrenal gland due to which it presents clinically with multiple subcutaneous skin nodules, gingival hypertrophy, osteopenia, joint contractures, failure to thrive, and diarrhea with protein-losing enteropathy, and is associated with recurrent infections. The disease is caused by mutations in ANTXR2 also known as the CMG2 gene, which encodes the transmembrane-extracellular matrix assembly. In this report, we describe a nine-month-old male diagnosed with ISH based on the clinical presentation of severe skin lesions, painful joint contractures, diarrhea, and failure to thrive. His diagnosis was confirmed by molecular DNA sequencing of the ANTXR2 gene. Consanguinity and molecular diagnosis will be helpful for early diagnosis and accurate management.

The severity of COVID-19 in hypertensive patients is associated with mirSNPs in the 3' UTR of ACE2 that associate with miR-3658: In silico and in vitro studies.

The SARS-CoV-2 virus targets the antigen converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor, thus resulting in elevated morbidity and an increased risk of severe and fatal COVID-19 infection in individuals with hypertension and diabetes mellitus. Objectives: This study aimed to identify the association between increased susceptibility and severity in order to evaluate their impact in hypertensive COVID-19 patients using in vitro and in silico models. Methods: We identified 80 miRNA binding sites on ACE2 (for different miRNAs) as well as various 30 SNPs in the miRNA binding sites of the 3' untranslated region (3' UTR) in the ACE2 gene using different online software and tools. From August 2020 to August 2021, a total of 200 nasopharyngeal/mouth swabs samples were collected from Multan, Pakistan. In order to quantify the cDNA of ACE2 and miR-3658 genes, we used Rotor Gene qRT-PCR on hypertensive patients with COVID-19 as well as healthy controls. Results: Interestingly, the binding site of miR-3658 corresponding to the 3' UTR of ACE2 featured three SNPs (rs1457913029, C>T; rs960535757, A>C, G; rs1423809569, C>T), and its genomic sequence featured a single SNP (rs1024225815, C>T) with the same nucleotide variation (rs1457913029, C>T) which potentially increases the severity of COVID-19. Similarly, three other SNPs (rs1557852115, C>G; rs770335293, A>G; rs1024225815, C>T) were also found on the first binding site positions of miR-3658. Our in vitro study found that ACE2 gene expression had an effect on miR-3658 in COVID-19 patients who also had hypertension. In both cases, our analysis demonstrated that the in silico model captured the same biological mechanisms as the in vitro system. Conclusion: The identified SNPs could represent potential informative signatures owing to their position in the splicing site of the ACE2 gene.

Once daily controlled release matrix tablet of Prochlorperazine maleate: influence of Ethocel® and/or Methocel® on in vitro drug release and bioavailability.

CONTEXT: Controlled release (CR) matrix tablet of Prochlorperazine maleate was developed to improve its patient compliance. METHODS: Tablet formulations F1, F2 and F3 based on different concentrations of Methocel(®) K100 LV-CR Premium, were compacted by direct compression method while tablet formulations F4, F5 and F6, based on distinct blends of Methocel(®) K100 LV-CR Premium and Ethocel(®) Standard 7FP Premium, were compressed by flow-bound dry granulation-slugging method. The prepared powder mixtures, granules and tablets were evaluated for their physicochemical performance. Bioequivalence study of the optimized test tablet versus reference-conventional Stemitil(®) tablet was conducted on rabbits, using HPLC-UV system at λ(max) 254 nm. RESULTS: The test tablet, containing 28% Methocel(®) and 58% Ethocel(®) (F6) exhibited desired zero order kinetics for 24 h and was found stable at accelerated storage conditions for 6 months. In vitro drug release rate decreased as the Ethocel(®) content in the blend was increased, perhaps due to slower penetrability of water. Hydrodynamic conditions and hardness of tablets could not affect drug release kinetics. The tablet displayed significantly (p < 0.05) optimized peak drug concentration-C(max) (45 ± 3.42 vs. 64.5 ± 4.03), extended half life-t(1/2) (16.071 ± 3.97 vs. 5.257 ± 1.314 h) and bioequivalence to the reference tablet taken three times a day (1409 ± 15 ng·h/mL vs. 1346 ± 23 ng h/mL). The tablet showed strong Level A correlation (R(2) = 0.8458) between drug absorbed in vivo and drug released in vitro. CONCLUSIONS: The developed tablet may be adopted by pharmaceutical industry to improve patient compliance of the Prochlorperazine maleate.

Competency of groundwater recharge of irrigated cotton field subjacent to sowing methods, plastic mulch, water productivity, and yield under climate change.

Irrigated agriculture is a foremost consumer of water resources to fulfill the demand for food and fiber with an increasing population under climate changes; cotton is no exception. Depleting groundwater recharge and water productivity is critical for the sustainable cotton crop yield peculiarly in the semiarid region. This study investigated the water productivity and cotton yield under six different treatments: three sowing methods, i.e., flat, ridge, and bed planting with and without plastic mulch. Cotton bed planting without mulch showed maximum water productivity (0.24 kg.m-3) and the highest cotton yield (1946 kg.ha-1). Plastic mulching may reduce water productivity and cotton yield. HYDRUS-1D unsaturated flow model was used to access the groundwater recharge for 150 days under six treatments after model performance evaluation. Maximum cumulative recharge was observed 71 cm for the flat sowing method without plastic mulch. CanESM2 was used to predict climate scenarios for RCP 2.6, 4.5, and 8.5 for the 2050s and 2080s by statistical downscale modeling (SDSM) using historical data from 1975 to 2005 to access future groundwater recharge flux. Average cumulative recharge flux declined 36.53% in 2050 and 22.91% in 2080 compared to 2017 without plastic mulch. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that a maximum 23.78% reduction in groundwater recharge could influence future climate change. Further study may require to understand the remaining influencing factor of depleting groundwater recharge. Findings highlight the significance of climate change and the cotton sowing method while accessing future groundwater resources in irrigated agriculture.

Natural polysaccharide-based biodegradable polymeric platforms for transdermal drug delivery system: a critical analysis.

Natural biodegradable polymers generally include polysaccharides (starch, alginate, chitin/chitosan, hyaluronic acid derivatives, etc.) and proteins (collagen, gelatin, fibrin, etc.). In transdermal drug delivery systems (TDDS), these polymers play a vital role in controlling the device's drug release. It is possible that natural polymers can be used for TDDS to attain predetermined drug delivery rates due to their physicochemical properties. These polymers can be employed to market products and scale production because they are readily available and inexpensive. As a result of these polymers, new pharmaceutical delivery systems can be developed that is both regulated and targeted. The focus of this article is the application of a biodegradable polymeric platform based on natural polymers for TDDS. Due to their biocompatibility and biodegradability, natural biodegradable polymers are frequently used in biomedical applications. Additionally, these natural biodegradable polymers are being studied for their characteristics and behaviors.

Effectiveness of propolis in maintaining oral health: a scoping review.

Background: Research has revealed that periodontal diseases are caused by inflammation that results from a dysbiosis of the oral microbiome where oral bacteria multiply into larger communities referred to as dental biofilm. To help control this overgrowth of bacteria, a variety of toothpastes, dentifrices, and mouthwashes have been developed. Although not as common in North American toothpastes, propolis as an active ingredient in dentifrices has begun to emerge, as laboratory studies have suggested it has anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antidiabetic properties. The purpose of this scoping review was to explore the literature on the effectiveness of propolis in maintaining oral health. Methods: This review used the following criteria: Population: studies involving healthy humans; Intervention: propolis in the form of toothpaste, dentifrice, and mouthwash; Comparison: fluoride, chlorohexidine, and placebo; Outcomes: plaque and gingival indices, improvement in oral hygiene, and inhibition of bacteria. Relevant research articles were selected from Web of Science, PubMed, MEDLINE, and Scopus databases using the search parameter "propolis[tw] AND (toothpaste*[tw] OR dentifrice*[tw] OR mouthwash*[tw])". Only original articles published after 2009 and written in the English language were included. Results: A total of 19 original papers met the criteria and showed varying levels of success achieved with the use of propolis. It was responsible for a significant lowering of specific plaque and gingival indices, inhibited the growth of bacteria, reduced oral flora diversity, and consistently improved periodontal condition, oral hygiene, and oral health. Conclusion: Propolis may play a role in initiating, sustaining, and maintaining oral health as its desirable properties have the potential to improve various oral hygiene related indices.

Contexte: Les recherches ont révélé que les maladies parodontales sont causées par de l'inflammation résultant d'une dysbiose du microbiome buccal, lorsque les bactéries buccales se multiplient en communautés plus importantes appelées biofilm dentaire. Afin d'aider à maîtriser cette prolifération de bactéries, une variété de pâtes dentifrices, de dentifrices et de bains de bouche ont été conçus. Bien qu'elle ne soit pas aussi courante dans les pâtes dentifrices de l'Amérique du Nord, la propolis commence à émerger comme ingrédient actif dans les dentifrices, puisque les études de laboratoire ont suggéré qu'elle a des propriétés anti-inflammatoires, immunomodulatrices, antioxydantes, antimicrobiennes et antidiabétiques. Le but de cet examen de la portée était d'explorer la littérature sur l'efficacité de la propolis dans le maintien de la santé buccodentaire. Méthodes: Cette revue a utilisé les critères suivants : Population : études portant sur des humains en bonne santé; Intervention : propolis sous forme de pâte dentifrice, dentifrice et bain de bouche; Comparaison : fluorure, chlorohexidine et placebo; Résultats : indices de plaque et de gencive, amélioration de l'hygiène buccodentaire et inhibition des bactéries. Les articles de recherche pertinents ont été sélectionnés dans les bases de données de Web of Science, PubMed, MEDLINE et Scopus à l'aide de paramètres de recherche « propolis[tw] ET (pâte dentifrice*[tw] OU dentifrice*[tw] OU bain de bouche*[tw]) ¼. Seuls les articles originaux publiés après 2009 et rédigés en anglais ont été inclus. Résultats: Un total de 19 articles originaux ont répondu aux critères et ont montré des taux de succès variables, atteints à l'aide de la propolis. Elle était responsable d'une diminution considérable des indices propres la plaque et aux gencives, de l'inhibition de la croissance de bactéries, de la réduction de la diversité de la flore buccale et de l'amélioration constante de l'état du parodonte, de l'hygiène buccodentaire et de la santé buccodentaire. Conclusion: La propolis peut jouer un rôle dans l'initiation, le maintien et l'entretien de la santé buccodentaire, car ses propriétés intéressantes ont le potentiel d'améliorer divers indices liés l'hygiène buccodentaire.