Production of polyhydroxyalkanoates from renewable resources: a review on prospects, challenges and applications.

Bioplastics replace synthetic plastics of petrochemical origin, which contributes challenge to both polymer quality and economics. Novel polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA)-composite materials, with desirable product quality, could be developed, thus targeting the global plastics market, in the coming years. It is possible that PHA can be a greener substitute for their petroleum-based competitors since they are simply decomposed, which may lessen the pressure on municipal and industrial waste management systems. PHA production has proven to be the bottleneck in industrial application and commercialization because of the high price of carbon substrates and downstream processes required to achieve reliability. Bacterial PHA production by these municipal and industrial wastes, which act as a cheap, renewable carbon substrate, eliminates waste management hassles and acts as an efficient substitute for synthetic plastics. In the present review, challenges and opportunities related to the commercialization of polyhydroxyalkanoates are discussed and presented. Moreover, it discusses critical steps of their production process, feedstock evaluation, optimization strategies, and downstream processes. This information may provide us the complete utilization of bacterial PHA during possible applications in packaging, nutrition, medicine, and pharmaceuticals.

Analysis of Erosive Nature of Fruit Beverages Fortified with Calcium Ions: An In Vitro Study Evaluating Dental Erosion in Primary Teeth.

Background: Since children frequently consume acidic fruit beverages, dental erosion is common in children. The erosive effects on primary teeth are more profound due to the lesser thickness of enamel and dentin. This study evaluated if calcium fortification of fruit beverages could reduce their erosive potential. Methodology. Tropicana Orange Delight was the fruit beverage chosen and fortified with calcium carbonate. Forty noncarious extracted primary teeth were equally distributed into four groups. Samples in group A were exposed to calcium-fortified fruit beverages and group B to nonfortified fruit beverages for 1, 2, and 3 min. The pH and calcium ion concentration of both the fruit beverages were evaluated from baseline through the test period. Samples in groups C and D were then exposed to fortified and nonfortified fruit beverages for 10, 20, and 30 min. The surface roughness and microhardness of these samples were analysed. Results: Due to fortification, the pH and calcium ion concentration of fortified beverages was higher compared to nonfortified beverages at baseline. The calcium ion concentration of fortified beverages decreased from baseline in contrast to an increase in the nonfortified beverage group. This indicates that fortified beverage is less erosive in nature. The surface roughness of samples in the fortified beverage group did not decrease significantly from baseline. In the nonfortified beverage group, surface roughness values at 20 and 30 min of exposure were higher than baseline, suggesting that significant erosive changes occur at the prolonged duration of exposure. The microhardness values of samples in the fortified beverage group increased from baseline through the test period, suggestive of resistance to erosion offered by calcium fortification. The microhardness values of samples in the nonfortified beverage group decreased through the test period, suggestive of erosion. Conclusion: Calcium fortification of this fruit beverage significantly reduces its erosive potential on primary teeth.

Concomitant Temporomandibular Joint Ankylosis and Maxillomandibular Fusion in a Child with Klippel- Feil Syndrome: A Case Report.

Klippel-Feil syndrome (KFS) is classically characterized by fusion of any of the two of seven cervical vertebrae. It is identified by the presence of a triad of clinical signs including short neck, limitation of head and neck movements and low posterior hairline. Unusual bony malformations leading to facial asymmetry is the most common oral manifestation associated with KFS. Such maxillomandibular fusion can also result in restricted mouth opening in children. It's a challenge to provide complete rehabilitation in such children. This paper presents a report of a type II KFS with both maxillomandibular fusion and temporomandibular joint ankylosis which led to the limited mouth opening in a six-year-old child. Also, the child showed an inadequate development of speech, facial asymmetry and compromised oral health owing to the restricted mouth opening. After thorough investigations, surgery was done which restored limited mouth opening which led to normalizing of speech and oral health.

Fabrication, structural, and enhanced mechanical behavior of MgO substituted PMMA composites for dental applications.

The most common denture material used for dentistry is poly-methyl-methacrylate (PMMA). Usually, the polymeric PMMA material has numerous biological, mechanical and cost-effective shortcomings. Hence, to resolve such types of drawbacks, attempts have been made to investigate fillers of the PMMA like alumina (Al2O3), silica (SiO2), zirconia (ZrO2) etc. For the enhancement of the PMMA properties a suitable additive is required for its orthopedic applications. Herein, the main motive of this study was to synthesize a magnesium oxide (MgO) reinforced polymer-based hybrid nano-composites by using heat cure method with superior optical, biological and mechanical characteristics. For the structural and vibrational studies of the composites, XRD and FT-IR were carried out. Herein, the percentage of crystallinity for all the fabricated composites were also calculated and found to be 14.79-30.31. Various physical and optical parameters such as density, band gap, Urbach energy, cutoff energy, cutoff wavelength, steepness parameter, electron-phonon interaction, refractive index, and optical dielectric constant were also studied and their values are found to be in the range of 1.21-1.394 g/cm3, 5.44-5.48 eV, 0.167-0.027 eV, 5.68 eV, 218 nm, 0.156-0.962, 4.273-0.693, 1.937-1.932, and 3.752-3.731 respectively. To evaluate the mechanical properties like compressive strength, flexural strength, and fracture toughness of the composites a Universal Testing Machine (UTM) was used and their values were 60.3 and 101 MPa, 78 and 40.3 MPa, 5.85 and 9.8 MPa-m1/2 respectively. Tribological tests of the composites were also carried out. In order to check the toxicity, MTT assay was also carried out for the PM0 and PM15 [(x)MgO + (100 - x) (C5O2H8)n] (x = 0 and 15) composites. This study provides a comprehensive insight into the structural, physical, optical, and biological features of the fabricated PMMA-MgO composites, highlighting the potential of the PM15 composite with its enhanced density, mechanical strength, and excellent biocompatibility for denture applications.

Air-Abrasion in Dentistry: A Short Review of the Materials and Performance Parameters.

The selection of abrasive material and parameters of the Air-Abrasion device for a particular application is a crucial detail. However, there are no standard recommendations or manuals for choosing these details; the operator must depend on his experience and knowledge of the procedure to select the best possible material and set of parameters. This short review attempts to identify some of the effects that the selection of material and parameters could have on the performance of the Air-Abrasion procedure for a particular application. The material and parameter data are collected from various studies and categorized according to the most popular materials in use right now. These studies are then analyzed to arrive at some inferences on the performance of Air-Abrasion materials and parameters. This review arrives at a few conclusions on the effectiveness of a material and parameter set, and that there is potential for developments in the area of standardizing parameter selection; also, there is scope for further studies on Bio-Active Glass as an alternative to the materials currently used in Air-Abrasion.

Fabrication of Novel 3-D Nanocomposites of HAp-TiC-h-BN-ZrO2: Enhanced Mechanical Performances and In Vivo Toxicity Study for Biomedical Applications.

Due to excellent biocompatibility, bioactivities, and osteoconductivity, hydroxyapatite (HAp) is considered as one of the most suitable biomaterials for numerous biomedical applications. Herein, HAp was fabricated using a bottom-up approach, i.e., a wet chemical method, and its composites with TiC, h-BN, and ZrO2 were fabricated by a solid-state reaction method with enhanced mechanical and biological performances. Structural, surface morphology, and mechanical behavior of the fabricated composites were characterized using various characterization techniques. Furthermore, transmission electron microscopy study revealed a randomly oriented rod-like morphology, with the length and width of these nanorods ranging from 78 to 122 and from 9 to 13 nm. Moreover, the mechanical characterizations of the composite HZBT4 (80HAp-10TiC-5h-BN-5ZrO2) reveal a very high compressive strength (246 MPa), which is comparable to that of the steel (250 MPa), fracture toughness (14.78 MPa m1/2), and Young's modulus (1.02 GPa). In order to check the biocompatibility of the composites, numerous biological tests were also performed on different body organs of healthy adult Sprague-Dawley rats. This study suggests that the composite HZBT4 could not reveal any significant influence on the hematological, serum biochemical, and histopathological parameters. Hence, the fabricated composite can be used for several biological applications, such as bone implants, bone grafting, and bone regeneration.

Sugar content and erosive potential of commonly prescribed Orodispersible tablets- An in vitro study.

Background: Dental caries is a major non-communicable disease of public health concern caused due to freely available dietary sugars. We aimed to compare the sugar content and erosive potential with duration of use and drug classes of orodispersible tablets (ODTs).  Methods: We conducted an  in vitro evaluation of the total sugar content (TSC), Potential of Hydrogen (pH), solubility, and Titratable Acidity (TA) of commonly prescribed 62 ODTs. TA was measured by titrating the samples with known amount of. 0.1N sodium hydroxide (NaOH) with phenolphthalein indicator and pH was determined by digital pH meter. TSC was evaluated by phenol sulphuric acid. Solubility was assessed by filtration.  Results: Out of the 62 ODTs, majority were Antimicrobials (n=30). One-quarter of the ODTs (26%) had a mean pH below ≤5.5. No significant difference was seen in the mean pH with respect to different drug classes (p=0.082) and duration of use of ODTs. A significant difference was seen in the mean percentage solubility with respect to drug classes (p<0.001). Antimicrobials had the least percentage of solubility as compared to other drug classes. Antiemetics and proton pump inhibitors (24.33 ± 17.34) had significantly higher mean percentage sugar content than Antimicrobials (23.25 ± 17.16). No significant difference was seen in the mean TSC with respect to various drug classes (p=0.718) and between the duration of use of drugs (P=0.568) respectively. No significant difference was seen in the mean percentage TA with respect to drug class (p=0.123) and duration of use of drugs (p=0.424).   Conclusion: Overall, we can conclude that one in four ODT formulations had a pH below 5.5 (critical pH).  Only one ODT formulation did not have a sugar content. No difference was seen in the mean pH, sugar content, and TA with respect to duration of use of drugs and drug classes.

Maxillofacial trauma among Indians.

Orofacial injuries constitute the medico-legal cases reported, especially, in cases associated with road traffic accidents, assaults, and violence making it an emerging healthcare problem. Therefore, it is of interest to document data on the maxillofacial trauma and fractures among Indians. 150 subjects within the age of 15 to 60 years with maxillofacial fractures, detailed medical history including demographics, radiographs, medical history, associated injuries, and etiology of fractures were used for this study. Sites for both maxillary and mandibular fractures were noted. The type of intubation (medical insertion procedure) used and post-operative complications were also recorded. Lefort I, II, and III fractures were seen in 4%, 12%, 6% subjects respectively, whereas, ZMC fracture was seen in 66% study subjects. Mandibular fractures were most commonly seen in the para-symphysis region with 30% subjects followed by condylar region with 28.66% subjects. Data shows that maxillofacial trauma has a high incidence in India with RTA (road traffic accidents being the most common reason for the trauma seen in young males with significant concomitant injuries. Most common fracture is seen in mandible region. However, they can be managed well with very few postoperative complications.

Enhanced therapeutic efficacy of Piperlongumine for cancer treatment using nano-liposomes mediated delivery.

Piperlongumine (PL) is a well-known bioactive alkaloid that has been reported as a potent anticancer molecule but has failed to provide potential activity in translational and clinical applications due to some drawbacks like low bioavailability, hydrophobicity, and rapid degradation. However, nano-formulation is a good choice to increase the bioavailability and enhance cellular uptake of PL. In this study, PL loaded nano-liposomes (NPL) were formulated using the thin-film hydration method and analyzed by Response Surface Methodology (RSM) in order to treat cervical cancer. The NPL were thoroughly characterized using particle size, PDI, zeta potential, drug loading capacity, encapsulation efficiency, SEM, AFM and FTIR. Different assays viz. MTT, AO/PI, DAPI, MMP, cell migration, DCFDA and apoptotic assay using Annexin V-FITC/PI were performed for anticancer potential of NPL in human cervical carcinoma cells (SiHa and HeLa). NPL showed enhanced cytotoxicity, diminished cell proliferation, reduced cell viability, enhanced nuclear condensation, reduction in mitochondrial membrane potential, inhibited cell migration, increased ROS level and promoted more apoptosis in both human cervical cancer cell lines. These findings demonstrated that NPL may be a potential therapeutic option for cervical cancer.

Influence of Grafting on Pocket Depth and Dentin Hypersensitivity Around Third Molar Extraction Sites: A Split-Mouth Randomized Controlled Trial.

This study evaluated the effect of alloplastic bone grafts in osseous defects following surgical removal of horizontally impacted third molars by comparing the periodontal measures distal to the second molar in grafted and nongrafted third molar extraction sites. Materials and Methods: A double-blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial was designed on subjects with bilateral horizontally impacted mandibular third molars. Grafting consisting of alloplasts at the third molar extraction sites was compared with nongrafted sites. This study assessed 54 randomized sites in 27 patients who were selected using a split-mouth design. The predictor variable included the change in pocket depth distal to the mandibular second molar and associated dentin hypersensitivity around the second molar, assessed preoperatively and at 3 and 6 months after third molar surgery. The data regarding pocket depth reduction was statistically analyzed using paired t-test. The data concerning reduction in dentin hypersensitivity was statistically analyzed using chi-square test. Results: Six months after third molar surgery, mean pocket depth distal to mandibular second molar decreased significantly at the grafted sites compared to the nongrafted sites. The reduction in dentin hypersensitivity of mandibular second molar was statistically significant for the grafted sites at 6 months, compared to the nongrafted sites.

Extraarticular joint ankylosis: a rare presentation.

Pseudoankylosis is a rare condition that causes inability to open the mouth due to condition related to outside of the temporomandibular joint. Most literature refers to this hypomobility disorder, a result of fusion of the zygomatic bone to the coronoid process, and very rarely is insidious coronoid hyperplasia causing mechanical interference with the posterior maxilla has been reported. We present a case of a 45-year-old woman, who presented with coronoid malformation and overgrowth resulting in progressive decrease in mouth opening. She was managed with coronoidectomy, following which good mouth opening was obtained. In this paper we discuss about the diagnosis and management of this rare disorder.

Novel bioactive compound from the bark of Putranjiva roxburghii Wall.

Putranjivah (Putranjiva roxburghii Wall, family - Putranjivaceae) is an Indian native medicinal plant used to treat many diseases such as treatment of mouth and stomach ulcers, hot swellings, smallpox, burning sensation and ophthalmopathy. The study of chemical constituents in the bark of P. roxburghii resulted in a new triterpene (6) along with five known triterpenoids (1-5). The chemical characterisation was based on 1H, 13C, 2D-NMR experimentation, and ESI-MS data. The anti-plasmodial activity was investigated by measuring parasite-specific lactate dehydrogenase (pLDH) based in vitro assay. The IC50 value results showed that friedlein (2.40 ± 0.70) and roxburghonol (4.10 ± 1.7 µg/ml) possess better anti-plasmodial activity than other isolated triterpenes (2-5) but not as potent as chloroquine (0.023 ± 0.002 µg/ml) against chloroquine-sensitive Plasmodium falciparum (3D7) strain.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)-associated juvenile osteomyelitis of mandible: a rare variant.

Mandibular osteomyelitis in paediatric population presents as painful swelling with progressive trismus. Often the aetiology for this form of progressive osteomyelitis is inconclusive. The infective aetiology in this condition is difficult to assign as bone tissue culture is found to be seldom positive. We present a case of an 11-year-old girl, with hearing and speech impairment, who presented with report of painful right-sided mandibular swelling with progressive trismus. Clinical, radiographic and histopathological findings were suggestive of sclerotic osteomyelitis. Bone tissue culture grew Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, indicating a rare infective variant. Unlike the common belief, where osteomyelitic mandible needs a combination of medical and surgical management, our case was managed conservatively with only antibiotic therapy. Our patient responded well to the treatment with reduction in pain and gradual improvement in the mouth opening. Radiographically the mandibular involvement also showed complete regression.

Effect on Physical and Mechanical Properties of Conventional Glass Ionomer Luting Cements by Incorporation of All-Ceramic Additives: An In Vitro Study.

INTRODUCTION: Glass ionomer cements (GICs) are commonly used for cementation of indirect restorations. However, one of their main drawbacks is their inferior mechanical properties. AIM: Compositional modification of conventional glass ionomer luting cements by incorporating two types of all-ceramic powders in varying concentrations and evaluation of their film thickness, setting time, and strength. Material & Methods. Experimental GICs were prepared by adding different concentrations of two all-ceramic powders (5%, 10, and 15% by weight) to the powder of the glass ionomer luting cements, and their setting time, film thickness, and compressive strength were determined. The Differential Scanning Calorimetry analysis was done to evaluate the kinetics of the setting reaction of the samples. The average particle size of the all-ceramic and glass ionomer powders was determined with the help of a particle size analyzer. RESULTS: A significant increase in strength was observed in experimental GICs containing 10% all-ceramic powders. The experimental GICs with 5% all-ceramic powders showed no improvement in strength, whereas those containing 15% all-ceramic powders exhibited a marked decrease in strength. Setting time of all experimental GICs progressively increased with increasing concentration of all-ceramic powders. Film thickness of all experimental GICs was much higher than the recommended value for clinical application. CONCLUSION: 10% concentration of the two all-ceramic powders can be regarded as the optimal concentration for enhancing the glass ionomer luting cements' strength. There was a significant increase in the setting time at this concentration, but it was within the limit specified by ISO 9917-1:2007 specifications for powder/liquid acid-base dental cements. Reducing the particle size of the all-ceramic powders may help in decreasing the film thickness, which is an essential parameter for the clinical performance of any luting cement.

Time required for haemostasis under pressure from dental extraction socket.

INTRODUCTION: It is generally expected that the time required for a clot to form in an extraction socket must be similar to that of the average physiological bleeding time (2-9 minutes). However, in dental practice does hemostasis require the full clot to form or does it occur earlier? Conventionally there is no accepted average time range for socket hemostasis with estimates ranging from 20 minutes to 40 minutes. This study is an attempt to quantify the average time period required for hemostasis to occur in an extraction socket. METHODOLOGY: 1205 consecutive patients attending the dental clinic and requiring dental extractions were evaluated for the average duration of hemostasis after extraction. Exclusion criteria were children (<15 years), pregnant mothers and patients who had a systemic bleeding disorder or were on anticoagulants. The socket was inspected first after five minutes after an extraction and later at 10 minutes and 15 minutes if bleeding continued. RESULTS: Bleeding from an extraction socket settled in less than five minutes in about 83% of individuals and in 10 minutes in 96.5% of cases. Hence it is expected that in an otherwise normal healthy individual socket compression by biting over gauze for around 10 minutes will produce adequate haemostasis. Prolonged bleeding beyond 10 minutes was rare and was controlled with suturing and pressure applied with a gauze pack in healthy individuals. CONCLUSION: Checking for hemostasis after placing a pressure pack for 5-10 minutes over an extraction socket is a useful act of risk management before discharge of the patient from the clinic to rule out any hemorrhagic tendency.

Electrochemical paper based cancer biosensor using iron oxide nanoparticles decorated PEDOT:PSS.

We report results of the studies relating to the fabrication of a label-free, flexible, light weight and disposable conducting paper based immunosensing platform comprising of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) and nanostructured iron oxide (nFe2O3@PEDOT:PSS) nanocomposite for detection of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), a cancer biomarker. The effect of various solvents such as sorbitol, ethanol, propanol, n-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) on the electrical conductivity of Whatman filter paper (WP) modified with nFe2O3@PEDOT:PSS/WP was investigated. The electrical conductivity of the PEDOT:PSS/WP electrode was found to be enhanced by two orders of magnitude (from 6.8× 10-4 to 1.92 × 10-2 Scm-1) after its treatment with DMSO. Further, nFe2O3 doped PEDOT:PSS/WP electrode exhibited the electrical conductivity as 2.4 × 10-2 Scm-1. Besides this, the incorporation of iron oxide nanoparticles (nFe2O3) into PEDOT:PSS/WP resulted in improved electrochemical performance and signal stability. This nFe2O3@PEDOT:PSS/WP based platform was used for immobilization of the anti-carcinoembronic antigen (anti-CEA) protein for quantitative estimation of cancer biomarker (CEA). The results of electrochemical response studies revealed that this conducting paper based immunoelectrode had a sensitivity of 10.2 µAng-1mLcm-2 in the physiological range (4-25 ngmL-1) and shelf life of 34 days. Further, the proposed immunoelectrode was validated with conventional ELISA for the detection of CEA in serum samples of cancer patients.

Spontaneous bone regeneration in a large haemophilic pseudotumour of mandible.

Pseudotumours of haemophilia (PTH) are locally expansile destructive haematomas which result in varying morbidity among haemophilic patients. Adequate haematological treatment and prophylaxis helps in preventing these haematomas. Currently, there is no uniform standard management protocol for this entity due to rarity of these lesions. PTH are seen in 1%-2% of the severe haemophilic patients. They may also be seen in moderate cases when adequate factor coverage is not provided or in cases with factor VIII inhibitors. We report a rare case of mandibular pseudotumour in a patient with moderate haemophilia and Glanzmann's thrombasthenia, treated successfully with decompression of the haematoma. Postdecompression, sequential radiography revealed spontaneous bone regeneration at the site of the lesion. With 2 years follow-up, the mandible had no residual lesion. This reveals the role and potential of conservative decompression even in cases with severe osteodestruction secondary to developing haematoma of the mandible in haemophilic patients.

Osteoradionecrosis of Jaw: An Institutional Experience.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: Osteoradionecrosis (ORN) of the jaw is a significant yet rare complication of radiotherapy (RT) associated with the management of head-and-neck malignancies. Recent decrease in the incidence of ORN following RT to the head and neck is being mainly attributed to refinement in RT techniques and improvement in our understanding of this morbid disease. The aim of this study is to assess the patients with ORN following head-and-neck RT to determine the various contributing risk factors involved in the development of ORN. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A retrospective data review from 2003 onward was conducted on the cases of ORN which presented to the Department of Dental and Oral Surgery, Christian Medical College, Vellore. Details of the patients with regard to the site of primary malignancy, type of treatment provided - RT alone or in combination of surgery and chemotherapy, dose of RT, presenting complaint, duration between the RT and presentation of ORN, and method of management considered were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 25 patients were evaluated. The average age of the 25 patients in our study was 58 years. Oropharynx (about 50%) was the leading site of primary malignancy. More than half of the patients in the study (52%) had undergone radical RT for the primary malignancy and all the patients were given >60 Gy dose of RT. About 48% of the patients in the study reported with pus discharge as their chief complaint. The average intervening time period from completion of RT to the presentation of ORN was 48 months. The mandibular alveolus was the most common site for ORN. Twelve of the 25 cases in the study were managed conservatively with only 3 patients requiring major resection. CONCLUSION: Due to its rare presentation, ORN still remains a challenge for the clinician in its management. Our study revealed that radical RT and concurrent chemo-RT for the oropharyngeal and base of the tongue malignancies have a higher risk of developing ORN. Patients subjected to the dose of RT above 60 Gy for head-and-neck malignancies have an increased risk of future ORN; henceforth, newer modality treatment like intensity-modulated RT regimen is recommended for such sites. Most of the patients in the study were satisfactorily managed of the symptoms with conservative modality treatment; hence, it is recommended to consider for surgical methods only in severe end-stage form of ORN.

Assessing perceptions of oral health related quality of life in dental implant patients. Experience of a tertiary care center in India.

BACKGROUND: Patients perception of treatment outcomes are invaluable assessment tools and are effective indicators for future prognosis. Various tools of measurement have been used to assess the same. The oral health impact profile questionnaire (OHIP 14) has been effectively used to evaluate the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) with regards to individual perceptions. This study was conducted to assess OHRQoL in patients who have had dental implants to replace missing teeth in the Department of Dental Surgery, Unit 1, Christian Medical College and Hospital, Vellore, TN, India by using the OHIP 14 questionnaire. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 107 patients who had treatment with dental implants were sent a modified form of the OHIP 14 questionnaire. An attempt was made to draw an inference by correlating scores of the OHIP 14 with data pertaining to key independent variables. Gamma regression was applied to the results as the outcome score distribution was skewed. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS Version 21.0. RESULTS: The mean score for the OHIP 14 was 16.82 with the highest score of 30 for a total score of 70. OHIP 14 scores were higher in patients with implant-supported fixed dental prosthesis as compared to patients with single implant supported crowns (P = 0.0069). Patients with no complaints scored 9% lesser than those who reported complaints (P = 0.0438). CONCLUSION: Assessing quality of life with regards to specific treatment interventions may help to draw critical inferences that determine overall success. Results from the study enabled us to delineate and appreciate the success imparted by esthetics and function from the general well being imparted by treatment with dental implants. Social media could be used to positively improve responses in questionnaire based studies. Future studies using implant specific OHRQoL questionnaire may help to elicit unbiased patient perception in dental implant patients.

Microfluidics Based Point-of-Care Diagnostics.

Point-of-care (POC) diagnostic devices have been predicted to provide a boon in health care especially in the diagnosis and detection of diseases. POC devices have been found to have many advantages like a rapid and precise response, portability, low cost, and non-requirement of specialized equipment. The major objective of a POC diagnostic research is to develop a chip-based, self-containing miniaturized device that can be used to examine different analytes in complex samples. Further, the integration of microfluidics (MF) with advanced biosensor technologies is likely to result in improved POC diagnostics. This paper presents the overview of the different materials (glass, silicon, polymer, paper) and techniques for the fabrication of MF based POC devices along with their wide range of biosensor applications. Besides this, the authors have presented in brief the challenges that MF is currently facing along with possible solutions that may result in the availability of the accessible, reliable, and cost-efficient technology. The development of these devices requires the combination of developed MF components into POC devices that are user-friendly, sensitive, stable, accurate, low cost, and minimally invasive. These MF based POC devices have tremendous potential in providing improved healthcare including easy monitoring, early detection of disease, and increased personalization.