Clinicopathological and Molecular Characteristics of Intraosseous Rhabdomyosarcoma Involving Head and Neck Region: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Rhabdomyosarcoma with TFCP2 rearrangement is a newly introduced spindle cell neoplasm showing predilection for craniofacial bones exhibiting highly aggressive nature and poor prognosis. Therefore, an attempt was made to delineate the entity for improved understanding and treatment outcomes through comprehensive analysis of the clinicopathological and molecular characteristics. An electronic search was carried out using MEDLINE by PubMed, Scopus, Google scholar, Cochrane library, and EMBASE databases. Original articles and case reports involving intraosseous rhabdomyosarcoma arising in head and neck region with TFCP2 fusion were included. Data were compiled and risk of bias was analyzed using JBI tool. Thirteen eligible articles were included for the quantitative analysis, which revealed 33 cases with TFCP2 fusion. Majority of the affected individuals were females (58%) with mandible being the common site. Most of the patients died within few months after diagnosis demonstrating a low mean survival rate (30 months). Odds ratio, overall survival and disease-free survival were calculated and analyzed statistically concluding that intraosseous rhabdomyosarcomas harboring TFCP2 fusion are found to be novel and dreadful neoplasms. The predilection for young age with poor prognosis exhibited by these lesions demand early diagnosis and specific treatment planning to curtail mortality.

Elastin-inspired supramolecular hydrogels: a multifaceted extracellular matrix protein in biomedical engineering.

The phenomenal advancement in regenerative medicines has led to the development of bioinspired materials to fabricate a biomimetic artificial extracellular matrix (ECM) to support cellular survival, proliferation, and differentiation. Researchers have diligently developed protein polymers consisting of functional sequences of amino acids evolved in nature. Nowadays, certain repetitive bioinspired polymers are treated as an alternative to synthetic polymers due to their unique properties like biodegradability, easy scale-up, biocompatibility, and non-covalent molecular associations which imparts tunable supramolecular architecture to these materials. In this direction, elastin has been identified as a potential scaffold that renders extensibility and elasticity to the tissues. Elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs) are artificial repetitive polymers that exhibit lower critical solution temperature (LCST) behavior in a particular environment than synthetic polymers and hence have gained extensive interest in the fabrication of stimuli-responsive biomaterials. This review discusses in detail the unique structural aspects of the elastin and its soluble precursor, tropoelastin. Furthermore, the versatility of elastin-like peptides is discussed through numerous examples that bolster the significance of elastin in the field of regenerative medicines such as wound care, cardiac tissue engineering, ocular disorders, bone tissue regeneration, etc. Finally, the review highlights the importance of exploring short elastin-mimetic peptides to recapitulate the structural and functional aspects of elastin for advanced healthcare applications.

Residual pollutants in treated pulp paper mill wastewater and their phytotoxicity and cytotoxicity in Allium cepa.

Discharged pulp and paper mill wastewater (PPMW) were collected near M/s K. R. pulp and papers Limited, Shahjahanpur, India. Chemical analysis of the wastewater showed high BOD (3653-4180 mg L-1) and COD (17,890-19100 mg L-1) values from two different sampling sites. The levels of total phenol were in the range of 389-432 mg L-1; nitrogen (125-234 mg L-1), sulfate (1926-2098 mg L-1), chloride (3.12-5.43 mg L-1) and lignin (38,950-39,000 mg L-1) along with various heavy metals (Fe, 87-79; Zn, 34-22; Cu, 3.28-2.57; Cd, 1.90-0.36; Ni, 6-5, and Pb, 41.23-36.54 mg L-1) were above the permissible limits recommended by the CPCB and the USEPA. The BOD/COD ratio was < 0.2 which indicated very low biodegradability of the organic matters present in the effluent. The organometallic complex generated from the pulp and paper industry persists in the environment and might be toxic to aquatic organisms. The organic polymers, lignin, metals and ions present in the PPMW were characterized using SEM, EDAX, FTIR, and UV-VIS spectroscopy. The major pollutants detected in the discharged PPMW included nonacosane, heptacosane, octadecanoic acid, hexadecane, and 6-benzamide- 3- [2- [1-(phenylmethyl)-4-piperidinyl] ethyl]-1, 2-benzisoxazole, as well as a group of plant fatty acids classified as EDCs, and mutagenic pollutants. The cytotoxic and androgenic properties of these complex organics were examined. The seed germination test with Phaseolus mungo and cytotoxicity test with Allium cepa showed that at > 20% concentration of PPMW, α-amylase production was inhibited and chromosomal segregation at metaphase and anaphase during cell division was disturbed, which resulted in c-mitosis, sticky chromosomes, and laggard chromosomes. In addition, SEM of the root of A. cepa showed fissures and fractured tissues of the root cap, probably due to the inhibition of auxins that were responsible for root cap formation. The findings indicated A. cepa as a good test model for examining the DNA damage and cytotoxicity by PPMW, and the discharged effluent should be treated at a tertiary stage for environmental protection.

Multimodality Imaging-based Evaluation of Single-Lumen Silicone Breast Implants for Rupture.

Breast implants are frequently encountered on breast imaging studies, and it is essential for any radiologist interpreting these studies to be able to correctly assess implant integrity. Ruptures of silicone gel-filled implants often occur without becoming clinically obvious and are incidentally detected at imaging. Early diagnosis of implant rupture is important because surgical removal of extracapsular silicone in the breast parenchyma and lymphatics is difficult. Conversely, misdiagnosis of rupture may prompt a patient to undergo unnecessary additional surgery to remove the implant. Mammography is the most common breast imaging examination performed and can readily depict extracapsular free silicone, although it is insensitive for detection of intracapsular implant rupture. Ultrasonography (US) can be used to assess the internal structure of the implant and may provide an economical method for initial implant assessment. Common US signs of intracapsular rupture include the "keyhole" or "noose" sign, subcapsular line sign, and "stepladder" sign; extracapsular silicone has a distinctive "snowstorm" or echogenic noise appearance. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is the most accurate and reliable means for assessment of implant rupture and is highly sensitive for detection of both intracapsular and extracapsular rupture. MR imaging findings of intracapsular rupture include the keyhole or noose sign, subcapsular line sign, and "linguine" sign, and silicone-selective MR imaging sequences are highly sensitive to small amounts of extracapsular silicone. ©RSNA, 2017.

Exploring mutations: GNAS and CDC73 in jaw fibroosseous lesions.

INTRODUCTION: Benign fibro-osseous lesions have long been an area of diagnostic difficulty due to overlapping of histological and radiological features. Differentiating between these lesions is crucial because of their unique pathogenesis and biological behavior. Ossifying fibroma (OF) and fibrous dysplasia (FD) are the most prevalent lesions. However, not all FD or OF exhibit the typical radiological and histopathological features. In such situations, molecular-level investigations could be essential for precise identification and differentiation. AIM: To evaluate the screening of GNAS and CDC73 mutations in blood and formalin fixed tumor tissues (FFTT) of FD and OF cases. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Six blood samples (three cases of FD and JOF each) and thirteen FFTT (six cases of FD and seven cases of JOF) were included in the study. DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples using salting out method followed by whole exome sequencing. Multiple efforts were made to extract DNA from tumor tissues using various protocols, but no measurable yield was obtained. RESULTS: DNA derived from blood samples gave successful DNA library preparation and subsequent exome sequencing data generation. We report a pathogenic GNAS mutation (exon8:c.G602A:p.R201H) associated with McCune-Albright syndrome and a novel benign mutation identified in a case of FD (GNAS(NM_000516.7):c.257+687_257+688del) whereas none of the subjects of JOF displayed GNAS and/or CDC73 mutation. CONCLUSION: Study observed mutations in GNAS gene in blood samples from FD cases. However, a limitation is that only DNA extracted from blood underwent successful exome sequencing. Potential reason for low-quality DNA extraction from tissue may be attributed to prior fixation procedures conducted on bone specimens.

Design, development, and optimization of polymeric based-colonic drug delivery system of naproxen.

The aim of present investigation deals with the development of time-dependent and pH sensitive press-coated tablets for colon specific drug delivery of naproxen. The core tablets were prepared by wet granulation method then press coated with hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) or Eudragit RSPO : RLPO mixture and further coated with Eudragit S-100 by dip immerse method. The in vitro drug release study was conducted in different dissolution media such as pH 1.2, 6.8, and 7.4 with or without rat caecal content to simulate GIT conditions. Surface morphology and cross-sectional view of the tablets were visualized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). All prepared batches were in compliance with the pharmacopoeial standards. The tablets which are compression coated with HPC followed by Eudragit S-100 coated showed highest in vitro drug release of 98.10% in presence of rat caecal content. The SEM of tablets suggested that the number of pores got increased in pH 7.4 medium followed by dissolution of coating layer. The tablets coat erosion study suggested that the lag time depends upon the coating concentrations of polymers. A time-dependent hydrophilic polymer and pH sensitive polymer based press-coated tablets of naproxen were promising delivery for colon targeting.

Designing ECM-inspired supramolecular scaffolds by utilizing the interactions between a minimalistic neuroactive peptide and heparin.

Short bioactive peptide-based supramolecular hydrogels are emerging as interesting candidates for developing scaffolds for tissue engineering applications. However, proteins and peptides represent only a single class of molecules present in the native ECM, thus, recapitulating the complete ECM microenvironment via only peptide-based biomaterials is extremely challenging. In this direction, complex multicomponent-based biomaterials have started gaining importance for achieving the biofunctional complexity and structural hierarchy of the native ECM. Sugar-peptide complexes can be explored in this direction as they provide essential biological signaling required for cellular growth and survival in vivo. In this direction, we explored the fabrication of an advanced scaffold by employing heparin and short bioactive peptide interactions at the molecular level. Interestingly, the addition of heparin into the peptide has significantly modulated the supramolecular organization, nanofibrous morphology and the mechanical properties of the scaffold. Additionally, the combined hydrogels demonstrated superior biocompatibility as compared to the peptide counterpart at certain ratios. These newly developed scaffolds were also observed to be stable under 3-D cell culture conditions and supported cellular adhesion and proliferation. Most importantly, the inflammatory response was also minimized in the case of combined hydrogels as compared to heparin. We expect that this approach of using simple non-covalent interactions between the ECM-inspired small molecules to fabricate biomaterials with improved mechanical and biological properties could advance the current knowledge on designing ECM mimetic biomaterials. Such an attempt would create a novel, adaptable and simplistic bottom-up strategy for the invention of new and more complex biomaterials of ECM origin with advanced functions.

Exploring Supramolecular Interactions between the Extracellular-Matrix-Derived Minimalist Bioactive Peptide and Nanofibrillar Cellulose for the Development of an Advanced Biomolecular Scaffold.

It has been increasingly evident over the last few years that bioactive peptide hydrogels in conjugation with polymer hydrogels are emerging as a new class of supramolecular materials suitable for various biomedical applications owing to their specificity, tunability, and nontoxicity toward the biological system. Despite their unique biocompatible features, both polymer- and peptide-based scaffolds suffer from certain limitations, which restrict their use toward developing efficient matrices for controlling cellular behavior. The peptide hydrogels usually form soft matrices with low mechanical strength, whereas most of the polymer hydrogels lack biofunctionality. In this direction, combining polymers with peptides to develop a conjugate hydrogel can be explored as an emergent approach to overcome the limitations of the individual components. The polymer will provide high mechanical strength, whereas the biofunctionality of the material can be induced by the bioactive peptide sequence. In this study, we utilized TEMPO-oxidized nanofibrillar cellulose as the polymer counterpart, which was co-assembled with a short N-cadherin mimetic bioactive peptide sequence, Nap-HAVDI, to fabricate an NFC-peptide conjugate hydrogel. Interestingly, the mechanical strength of the peptide hydrogel was found to be significantly improved by combining the peptide with the NFC in the conjugate hydrogel. The addition of the peptide into the NFC also reduced the pore size within NFC matrices, which further helped in improving cellular adhesion, survival, and proliferation. Furthermore, the cells grown on the NFC and NFC-peptide hybrid hydrogel demonstrated normal expression of cytoskeleton proteins, i.e., ß-tubulin in C6 cells and actin in L929 cells, respectively. The selective response of neuronal cells toward the specific bioactive peptide was further observed through a protein expression study. Thus, our study demonstrated the collective role of the cellulose-peptide composite material that revealed superior physical properties and biological response of this composite scaffold, which may open up a new platform for biomedical applications.

Prevalence and implications of microplastics in potable water system: An update.

Synthetic plastics, which are lightweight, durable, elastic, mouldable, cheap, and hydrophobic, were originally invented for human convenience. However, their non-biodegradability and continuous accumulation at an alarming rate as well as subsequent conversion into micro/nano plastic scale structures via mechanical and physio-chemical degradation pose significant threats to living beings, organisms, and the environment. Various minuscule forms of plastics detected in water, soil, and air are making their passage into living cells. High temperature and ambient humidity increase the degradation potential of plastic polymers photo-catalytically under sunlight or UV-B radiations. Microplastics (MPs) of polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene, polystyrene, polypropylene, and polyvinyl chloride have been detected in bottled water. These microplastics are entering into the food chain cycle, causing serious harm to all living organisms. MPs entering into the food chain are usually inert in nature, possessing different sizes and shapes. Once they enter a cell or tissue, it causes mechanical damage, induces inflammation, disturbs metabolism, and even lead to necrosis. Various generation routes, types, impacts, identification, and treatment of microplastics entering the water bodies and getting associated with various pollutants are discussed in this review. It emphasizes potential detection techniques like pyrolysis, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), micro-Raman spectroscopy, and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT IR) spectroscopy for microplastics from water samples.

Oral health status and dental anomalies among children with congenital heart disease in contemporary times.

AIMS: The aim of the study was to assess the oral health, hygiene status, and prevalence of dental anomalies in children suffering from congenital heart disease (CHD). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was conducted on 300 children, aged 2-16 years, diagnosed with CHD. RESULTS: Overall, the oral health status of the children with CHD was found to be poor in this study. The prevalence of caries was found to be 56.7%. It was significantly higher in children with acyanotic CHD compared to cyanotic CHD. Mean DMFT was 0.6 ± 1.6. Mean Debris index was 0.8 ± 0.9. Mean calculus index was 0.3 ± 0.6. The prevalence of dental anomalies was 9%. Most common anomaly was enamel opacities/hypoplasia (8.0%) followed by hypodonita (0.7%) and fusion (0.3%). The mean dmft score and Calculus Index were found to be significantly higher in cyanotic CHD group compared to acyanotic CHD group. Prevalence of caries, Debris Index, Calculus Index, and Oral Health Index were found to be increasing with increasing age (> 5 vs. < 5 years). CONCLUSION: Overall, the oral health status of the children with CHD was found to be poor in this study.

Effective recovery of microalgal biomass using various types of emulsion polymers.

Microalgae biomass has been considered as one of the potential feedstocks in biofuel production. Yet, biomass harvesting poses a challenge to the overall production cost due to its low cell density. Flocculation has been marked as one of the promising processes in microalgae harvesting technology. In this study, the first screening of two anionic (A-230, and A-330E) and five cationic polymers (C-810E, C-810EL, C-810EB, C-810ELH, and C-810EMB) followed by gravity settling with the mixed microalgae concentration of 2.24 gTSS/L revealed that anionic polymers are less effective. Whereas all cationic polymers achieved above 90% harvesting efficiency. Therefore, the maximum mass recovery of 98.7% with 86.8 gTSS/L sediment content was achieved by adjusting pH to 6-0.6 mL/L (115.178 mg/gbiomass) of C-810E followed by 15-min settling. The cationic polymer addition followed by settling would enable cost-effective downstream processing of microalgal biomass.

Mechano-chemical and biological energetics of immobilized enzymes onto functionalized polymers and their applications.

Enzymes of commercial importance, such as lipase, amylase, laccase, phytase, carbonic anhydrase, pectinase, maltase, glucose oxidase etc., show multifunctional features and have been extensively used in several fields including fine chemicals, environmental, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, energy, food industry, agriculture and nutraceutical etc. The deployment of biocatalyst in harsh industrial conditions has some limitations, such as poor stability. These drawbacks can be overcome by immobilizing the enzyme in order to boost the operational stability, catalytic activity along with facilitating the reuse of biocatalyst. Nowadays, functionalized polymers and composites have gained increasing attention as an innovative material for immobilizing the industrially important enzyme. The different types of polymeric materials and composites are pectin, agarose, cellulose, nanofibers, gelatin, and chitosan. The functionalization of these materials enhances the loading capacity of the enzyme by providing more functional groups to the polymeric material and hence enhancing the enzyme immobilization efficiency. However, appropriate coordination among the functionalized polymeric materials and enzymes of interest plays an important role in producing emerging biocatalysts with improved properties. The optimal coordination at a biological, physical, and chemical level is requisite to develop an industrial biocatalyst. Bio-catalysis has become vital aspect in pharmaceutical and chemical industries for synthesis of value-added chemicals. The present review describes the current advances in enzyme immobilization on functionalized polymers and composites. Furthermore, the applications of immobilized enzymes in various sectors including bioremediation, biosensor and biodiesel are also discussed.

Investigating the efficacy of vibration anesthesia to reduce pain from cosmetic botulinum toxin injections.

BACKGROUND: Many analgesic modalities have been employed with limited success to alleviate the pain associated with botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) injections. Vibration is an effective method of reducing pain during facial cosmetic injections, but it has not been previously studied in the context of clinical cosmetic procedures. OBJECTIVES: The authors evaluate the safety and efficacy of vibration-assisted anesthesia for reducing pain associated with BTX-A injections. METHODS: In this prospective study, 50 patients received BTX-A injections for cosmetic rhytid reduction. Injections were given in a split-face design that was randomly assigned. A vibration stimulus was coadministered with BTX-A injections on one side, while the other side of each patient's face received BTX-A injections alone. Patients completed a questionnaire immediately posttreatment and were contacted for follow-up three to four weeks later. RESULTS: Patients reported less injection pain on the vibration-treated half of the face as compared to the control side (an average of 1.3 vs 2.4 on a five-point scale; P = .000). Overall, 86% of patients preferred to receive vibration with their next BTX-A treatment. There was no significant difference between first-time and repeat BTX-A patients in terms of preference for vibration. Five of 50 patients experienced transient side effects perceived to be associated with vibration, including tingling teeth, increased bruising, and headaches. Of the patients who did not request vibration with subsequent BTX-A injections, none cited decreased BTX-A efficacy as the reason for their preference. CONCLUSIONS: Vibration is a safe and effective means of reducing patient discomfort during BTX-A injections for cosmetic rhytid reduction and may have applications in other cosmetic procedures.

An overview of latest advances in exploring bioactive peptide hydrogels for neural tissue engineering.

Neural tissue engineering holds great potential in addressing current challenges faced by medical therapies employed for the functional recovery of the brain. In this context, self-assembling peptides have gained considerable interest owing to their diverse physicochemical properties, which enable them to closely mimic the biophysical characteristics of the native ECM. Additionally, in contrast to synthetic polymers, which lack inherent biological signaling, peptide-based nanomaterials could be easily designed to present essential biological cues to the cells to promote cellular adhesion. Moreover, injectability of these biomaterials further widens their scope in biomedicine. In this context, hydrogels obtained from short bioactive peptide sequences are of particular interest owing to their facile synthesis and highly tunable properties. In spite of their well-known advantages, the exploration of short peptides for neural tissue engineering is still in its infancy and thus detailed discussion is required to evoke interest in this direction. This review provides a general overview of various bioactive hydrogels derived from short peptide sequences explored for neural tissue engineering. The review also discusses the current challenges in translating the benefits of these hydrogels to clinical practices and presents future perspectives regarding the utilization of these hydrogels for advanced biomedical applications.

HRPZyme Assisted Recognition of SARS-CoV-2 infection by Optical Measurement (HARIOM).

In order to define public health policies, simple, inexpensive and robust detection methods for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are vital for mass-testing in resource limited settings. The current choice of molecular methods for identification of SARS-CoV-2 infection includes nucleic acid-based testing (NAT) for viral genetic material and antigen-based testing for viral protein identification. Host exposure is detected using antibody detection assays. While NATs require sophisticated instrument and trained manpower, antigen tests are plagued by their low sensitivity and specificity. Thus, a test offering sensitive detection for presence of infection as a colorimetric readout holds promise to enable mass testing in resource constrained environments by minimally trained personnel. Here we present a novel HRPZyme Assisted Recognition of Infection by Optical Measurement (HARIOM) assay which combines specificity of NATs with sensitivity of enzymatic assays resulting in enhanced signal to noise ratios in an easily interpretable colorimetric readout. Using this assay, we could detect up to 102 copies of synthetic viral RNA spiked in saliva as a detection matrix. Validating our assay on suspected human subjects, we found concordance with PCR based readouts with visible colorimetric distinction between positive and negative samples in less than an hour. We believe that this assay holds the potential to aid in mass screening to detect SARS-CoV-2 infection by facilitating colorimetric detection with minimal resources and less trained personnel.

Effect of antioxidant on orthodontic bracket bond strength after vital bleaching.

OBJECTIVES: : The objective of this study is to compare the neutralization effect of various antioxidant agents on the bond strength of composite resins on stainless steel and ceramic brackets immediately bonded to previously bleached teeth. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and sixty human maxillary premolars were used for the study. Teeth were divided into four groups (n = 40): Group 1 (control), Group 2 (bleached), Group 3 (sodium ascorbate), and Group 4 (tocopherol acetate). Each group was divided into two subgroups, one was bonded with stainless steel and other with ceramic brackets using 3M Transbond XT. Universal testing machine was used to determine the shear bond strength (SBS). RESULTS: Among the metal brackets, Group 1A had the highest SBS (12.18 + 1.41 MPa) and Group 2A had the least SBS (6.18 + 1.49 MPa). Weibull analysis indicated that bond strength for a 90% probability of failure was highest for Group 1A (13.99 MPa) and lowest for Group 2A (8.49 MPa). For ceramic brackets, Group 1B had the highest SBS (13.80 + 1.69 MPa) and Group 2B had the least SBS (8.05 + 1.85 MPa). Weibull analysis indicated that bond strength for a 90% probability of failure was highest for Group 1B (14.61 MPa) and lowest for Group 2B (8.85MPa). CONCLUSION: The in vitro study showed that bleaching reduced the SBS significantly, and this could be effectively reversed by the application of antioxidants in both metal and ceramic brackets.

Rare Enlargement of Genial Tubercles and its Management: A Case Report.

Genial tubercles are tiny bony projections located bilaterally around the lingual foramen, on the lingual surface of the mandible giving attachment to geniohyoid inferiorly & genioglossus superiorly. Due to delayed prosthetic rehabilitation & lack of balanced mastication excessive resorption of alveolar processes take place thereby leaving genial tubercles as elevated bony projections. This may pose problems in speech, deglutition & prosthetic rehabilitation. Excessive mobility of tongue may also contribute to enlargement of genial tubercles to such an extent that they may extend beyond the crest of alveolar ridges leaving them vulnerable to spontaneous fracture. This report presents a rare case of excessive enlargement of genial tubercles and its surgical management using a novel technique. This technique not only addresses the removal of the enlarged genial tubercles but also aims at reattachment of muscles attached to these tubercles, in a simple non morbid manner.

Effect of tooth bleaching on orthodontic stainless steel bracket bond strength.

OBJECTIVES: The objective was to assess the shear bond strength (SBS) of composite resins on stainless steel brackets immediately bonded to previously bleached teeth with 35% hydrogen peroxide and to compare the neutralization effect of various antioxidant agents on the bond strength after bleaching. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred sound human maxillary premolars were used for the study. Teeth were divided into 5 groups (n = 20); Group 1 (control), Group 2 (bleach treatment), Group 3 (sodium ascorbate treatment), Group 4 (tocopherol acetate treatment), and Group 5 (retinol acetate treatment). Teeth in Group 3, 4, and 5 were treated as in Group 2, but after that and before bleaching received treatment with sodium ascorbate, tocopherol acetate, and retinol acetate, respectively. Subsequently, teeth were bonded with stainless steel brackets (Ormco) using 3M Transbond XT. After 24 h, each specimen was loaded into a universal testing machine to determine the SBS at debonding. The data were exposed to the analysis of variance, Bonferroni, and Weibull Analysis. RESULT: There significant SBS difference (P = 0.000, F = 32.125) between various groups. Group 1 had the highest SBS (12.182 ± 1.41 MPa) and Group 2 the least SBS (6.182 ± 1.49 MPa). Significant SBS differences observed between Group 1 and 2; Group 2 and 3; Group 2 and 4; and Group 2 and 5 (P = 0.000). There was no significant SBS difference between Group 1 and 3; Group 1 and 4; and Group 3 and 4 (P = 1.000). Bonferroni results also indicated that there was a significant difference between Group 1 and 5 (P = 0.002); Group 3 and 5 (P = 0.144); and between Group 4 and 5 (P = 0.008). Weibull analysis indicated that bond strength for a 90% probability of failure, which was highest for Group 1 (13.99 MPa) and lowest for Group 2 (8.49 MPa). CONCLUSION: The in-vitro study showed that bleaching with 35% hydrogen peroxide reduced the SBS significantly and this could be effectively reversed by the application of 10% sodium ascorbate, 10% tocopherol acetate, or 10% retinol acetate. Thus, treatment of bleached teeth with antioxidants can be a good clinical option for bonding immediately after bleaching.

Ergonomic risk factors and their association with musculoskeletal disorders among Indian dentist: a preliminary study using Rapid Upper Limb Assessment.

CONTEXT: Ergonomics is the scientific study of people and their work. The manufacturers typically do not design to accommodate the dimensions of the individual user. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) have emerged as major health problem among workers in both industrialized and industrially developing countries. Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) was developed to investigate the exposure of the individual workers to risk factors associated with work-related upper limb disorders. AIMS: The assessment of the posture using RULA, which is quick reliable tool to determine the posture, has not been done in the Indian dentist population, indicating the need for the same. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: A total of 104 subjects were included from New Delhi/NCR. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The procedure was explained, and the questionnaire was distributed and assessment was done using RULA. The MSDs can be recorded using the standard Nordic questionnaire. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: The data were collected from 104 subjects out of the 192 evaluated and was statistically analyzed using SPSS software. RESULTS: The study sample included 70 male and 34 female dentists. The posture of the subjects and the MSDs are not associated with a significant difference as according to Pearson's Chi-square test (0.231). CONCLUSIONS: RULA can be used as a screening tool for postural risks following a short training session regardless of the assessor's experience in postural risk assessments.

Kinetics and isotherm analysis of Tropaeoline 000 adsorption onto unsaturated polyester resin (UPR): a non-carbon adsorbent.

The presence of dyes in water is undesirable due to the toxicological impact of their entrance into the food chain. Owing to the recalcitrant nature of dyes to biological oxidation, a tertiary treatment like adsorption is required. In the present study, unsaturated polyester resin (UPR) has been used as a sorbent in the treatment of dye-contaminated water. Different concentrations of Tropaeoline 000 containing water were treated with UPR. The preliminary investigations were carried out by batch adsorption to examine the effects of pH, adsorbate concentration, adsorbent dosage, contact time, and temperature. A plausible mechanism for the ongoing adsorption process and thermodynamic parameters have also been obtained from Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherm models. Thermodynamic parameter showed that the sorption process of Tropaeoline 000 onto activated carbon (AC) and UPR were feasible, spontaneous, and endothermic under studied conditions. The estimated values for (ΔG) are -10.48 × 10(3) and -6.098 × 10(3) kJ mol(-1) over AC and UPR at 303 K (30 °C), indicating towards a spontaneous process. The adsorption process followed pseudo-first-order model. The mass transfer property of the sorption process was studied using Lagergren pseudo-first-order kinetic models. The values of % removal and k (ad) for dye systems were calculated at different temperatures (303-323 K). The mechanism of the adsorption process was determined from the intraparticle diffusion model.