Occurrence, sources, and spatial distribution of fluoride in the Ganga alluvial aquifer, India.

Groundwater contamination throughout India is a global concern as it feeds more than a billion people. Of all the contaminants, fluoride (F) is one of the most widespread and well documented since its toxic nature pose serious threats to human health. In India, groundwater F concentrations have been extensively studied over the past decades. These studies have generally concluded that the groundwater F concentrations are typically higher than the drinking water standard for human health. Here, we present the occurrence, distribution, and sources of groundwater F in the Kanpur Nagar and Kanpur Dehat districts covering ~ 6000 km2 of the area in the central part of the Ganga Basin. The result revealed significant spatial variability in dissolved F concentration ranging between 0.2 and 5.2 mg/L (average 0.9 ± 0.7 mg/L, n = 172, 1 SD), which is beyond the drinking water guideline (0.5-1.5 mg/L) of the Indian Standards. We find that 31% of groundwater sampled have F content below the optimal requirement of 0.5-1.0 mg/L causing dental caries problems. The F levels only exceeded the safe drinking water limit of 1.5 mg/L in 8% of the groundwater sampled mostly in the urban regions. Fluoride distribution shows a closer resemblance with the spatial distribution pattern of electrical conductivity, and total dissolved solids demonstrate that F in the shallow alluvial aquifers is largely derived from geogenic sources. This is further confirmed by a strong positive correlation (r = 0.91, p < 0.05) observed between chloride-normalized concentration of F and the sum of geogenic elements (∑Li, Rb, Sr, Ba). We additionally performed health risk assessments, which revealed that children are most vulnerable to dental caries (commonly known as tooth decay) and dental fluorosis problems. As F concentrations show large spatial variability in the studied aquifer, we suggest that uniform application of a single de-fluoridation and fluoridation technology on an aquifer or sub-aquifer scale without a detailed well-designed groundwater F survey will have an adverse health impact on local residents as optimal level of F in drinking water may not be compromised.

Temporary Anchorage Device Misplaced into Infratemporal Space - A Case Report.

INTRODUCTION: During orthodontic treatment, temporary anchoring devices (TADs) are used to restrain tooth movement. They are a relatively recent addition to the dental toolkit. AIM: As TADs have limitations, Dr. Eric Lieu of Taiwan developed Infra Zygomatic Crest (IZC) screws which are placed between the maxillary second premolar at the bony crest. TREATMENT PLANNING: The goal of this case study is to emphasize the value of anatomy, site selection, and IZC retrieval in the event of an accident. Cone beam computed tomography was used as a diagnostic tool for the precise location of the displaced IZC and immediate surgical retrieval was done under local anesthesia from the infratemporal space to prevent further complications. TAKEAWAY LESSONS: Orthodontists knowledge of soft tissue and hard tissue anatomy and precise positioning is crucial for successful TAD implantation.

Detection and in silico characterization of banana bunchy top virus in West Bengal, India: relevance to global genetic diversity and population structure.

Banana bunchy top disease is one of the major prevailing virus diseases associated with banana cultivation, spreading rapidly within a small scale of time. Till date there are only few extensive reports of completely sequenced isolates in India. A study was conducted to detect BBTV infection across 12 districts in West Bengal (WB) where extensive prevalence of the disease was ascertained. In silico characterization of the six genome components were accomplished which showed 84.90-99.86% similarity with other BBTV isolates reported worldwide. The phylogenetic analysis based upon DNA R and DNA S suggested formation of monophyletic cluster of majority of the WB isolates and its close association with Tripura, Manipur, Australia and Africa isolates indicating diversion from geographical differentiation. Dynamics of evolutionary pattern such as genetic diversity including Tajima's D test and Fu Li's Fs test, average number of nucleotide differences (K), Polymorphic sites (S); Fst distance; Mismatch distribution plot; Haplotype network, and selection pressure were performed based upon geographical distribution of the virus. Population genetics analysis of both Pacific Indian Ocean group and South East Asian group of the global BBTV population revealed low nucleotide diversity, high haplotype diversity, high gene flow within the group, and negative or purifying selection constraint indicating recent population expansion. Hence, this study portrays Indian subcontinent as the possible hotspot for rapid demographic expansion from a small virus population size, contributing valuable addition to the currently available information on BBTV worldwide. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13337-023-00815-0.

A Clinical Study for Removal of Impacted Mandibular Third Molar under Local Anaesthesia, with and without Ketamine - A Split Mouth Comparative Study.

Introduction: Disimpaction is one of the most common operations done by oral and maxillofacial surgeons around the world. Ketamine is a well-known general anaesthetic and short-acting intraoperative analgesic. The aim of this study was to measure the efficacy of anaesthesia using combined treatment with local anaesthetic plus a subanaesthetic dose of ketamine and local anaesthetic alone in bilaterally impacted mandibular third molar surgery. Methods and Materials: A total of 24 patients who consented were taken up for a split-mouth study. In the control group, surgical extraction of the impacted lower third molar was done using local anaesthesia (lignocaine 2% with 1:80,000 adrenaline) only, and in the study group, local anaesthesia with ketamine extraction was done using ketamine (0.2 mg/kg) along with local anaesthesia (LA). The time of onset and the duration of anaesthesia intraoperatively were recorded using a digital stopwatch. The depth of anaesthesia was noted on the 10th, 30th and 60th min. After extraction, the post-operative pain on the first, fourth, eighth and 12th hour was evaluated using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score rating of 1-10. The pulse was also noted and compared for any differences in either of the groups. Results: A statistically significant (P < 0.005) difference in result was obtained for the onset, duration, depth and pain score after surgical extraction in both the evaluated groups. The pain index score by the ketamine group was significantly low as compared to the local anaesthesia-only group. Intraoperative onset, duration and depth of anaesthesia obtained had a significant difference. Discussion: Ketamine can be used as a viable option for surgical third molar extractions with reduced discomfort and post-operative pain.

Evaluation of Efficacy of Low-Intensity Pulsed Ultrasound on Comorbidities Following Mandibular Impacted Third Molar Surgery: A Prospective Study.

Introduction: Despite several in vitro and in vivo applications of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS), it remains an under-studied feature of the oral and maxillofacial region. The goal of this in vivo study was to objectively investigate the efficacy of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound on wound healing and related morbidities following surgical removal of an impacted third molar. Materials and Methods: The following in vivo prospective, comparative, randomised controlled clinical study was carried out amongst 56 patients who reported to the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery fulfilling the inclusion criteria. Group A received sham ultrasound, whereas Group B received LIPUS therapy. Based on the group allocated LIPUS 1 MHz, pulsed 20% and dose 1.0 watts/square centimetre (W/cm2)/sham, ultrasound therapy was given on 1st, 2nd and 3rd post-operative days. The assessment of post-operative pain, oedema, trismus and wound healing on preoperative, first, third and seventh postoperative days. Results: The quantitative variables of the study were assessed using independent sample t-test, and qualitative variables were assessed using the Chi-square test. The P < 0.05 on third and seventh post-op days for pain, trismus and wound healing in the LIPUS group compared to control group making it statistically significant. There was no statistically significant difference in the reduction of oedema amongst the two groups. Discussion: Post-LIPUS application in the patients, postoperative pain was significantly reduced, trismus was noticeably improved and wound healing was satisfactory and can be employed as a complementary technique.

Transcription dynamics of heat-shock proteins (Hsps) and endosymbiont titres in response to thermal stress in whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Asia-I).

The sweet potato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius), is one of the several species complexes of whitefly that are currently significant agricultural pests. Bemisia tabaci infests more than 600 plant species and thrives under a wide range of temperature conditions. In addition to the direct damage caused by sucking plant sap, it vectors several plant viruses. Heat-shock proteins play a pivotal role in enabling the insect to extend its geographical location, survival, and reproduction under different stress conditions. B. tabaci harbours several endosymbionts under the genera Portiera, Rickettsia, Hamiltonella, Wolbachia, Arsenophonus, Cardinium, and Fritschea that directly or indirectly affect its fitness. By accelerating cuticle biosynthesis and sclerotisation, symbiotic microbes can reduce or enhance tolerance to extreme temperatures and detoxify heavy metals. Thus, symbionts or microbial communities can expand or constrain the abiotic niche space of their host and affect its ability to adapt to changing conditions. The present study delineates the effect of thermal stress on the expression of heat-shock genes and endosymbionts in B. tabaci. Studies of the expression level of heat-shock proteins with the help of quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) showed that heat- and cold-shock treatment fuels the increased expression of heat-shock proteins (Hsp40 and Hsp70). However, Hsp90 was not induced by a heat- and cold-shock treatment. A significant decrease in the relative titre of secondary endosymbionts, such as Rickettsia, Arsenophonus, and Wolbachia, were recorded in B. tabaci upon heat treatment. However, the titre of the primary symbiont, C. Portiera, was relatively unaffected by both cold and heat treatments. These results are indicative of the fact that Hsp genes and endosymbionts in B. tabaci are modulated in response to thermal stress, and this might be responsible for the adaptation of whitefly under changing climatic scenario.