Degenerative Temporomandibular Disorders: An Assessment of Bone Trabecular Structure Using Fractal Analysis in Digital Panoramic Radiographs.

Introduction Fractal analysis has proved to be a salient tool to quantitatively assess the qualitative changes in the bone trabeculae of patients with hyperparathyroidism, osteoporosis, and various temporomandibular disorders, including osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis of temporomandibular joint (TMJ), in several previous studies. The purpose of this study was to use fractal analysis to assess alterations in the trabecular pattern of the mandibular condyle in patients with degenerative temporomandibular disorders. Materials and methods This study comprised 98 subjects with 49 subjects in the study group and 49 subjects in the control group, aged 18-50 years. Age and sex in the control group were matched to those in the case group. The subjects were assessed clinically with the Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders. Digital panoramic X-ray equipment with set parameters of 70 kvp, 8 mA, and 16-second exposure duration was used to take panoramic radiographs. Fractal analysis was done and the calculated fractal dimension value was obtained using ImageJ version 1.48 software (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD). The same observer used Muir and Goss's method to rate the total degenerative changes in the condylar surfaces, which were substantiated by the calculated fractal dimension value. The data were statistically analyzed. Results The results revealed a significant difference (p-value = 0.041) between the mean fractal value in the case group's (1.35) and the control group's (1.38) left sides whereas the differences in the mean fractal values between the case and control groups on the right side was not significant (p-value = 0.49). Conclusion It is recommended to use the fractal dimension value and the total degenerative severity score together to quantify degenerative changes in the TMJ OA rather than exclusively relying on fractal value.

Removal of Malachite Green using carbonized material derived from disposable facemasks: optimization of removal process through Box-Behnken design.

Water resources are being heavily contaminated due to the huge load of toxic pollutants released by industrial activities. Among various physical and chemical methods, adsorption is considered as a promising method for rapidly removing contaminants from wastewater. In the present study, a novel carbon-based adsorbent was prepared through controlled pyrolysis of disposable facemasks. The properties of carbonized compound (CC) were characterized by FTIR, XRD, SEM and EDX. The pollutant removal efficiency of CC was initially investigated with synthetic dyes Malachite Green (MG) and Congo Red (CR). The peaks observed in FTIR spectra corresponding to C=O and C=C and C-N functional groups on adsorbed CC surface confirm the interaction between dye and CC. The XRD spectra of CC showed strong peaks at 2θ = 26.629, 27.488, 27.810 and 29.404 which correspond to the disordered graphitic plane. The SEM images of CC showed good porosity nature. A quadratic model was developed through response surface methodology by conducting a series of Box-Behnken design experiments. Adequacy of this model variables was ensured by ANOVA tests at P-value <0.05. The lower P-value (<0.0001) and higher F-value (44.54) of the quadratic model showed it was a significant model for dye removal. Finally, the optimal condition to obtain maximum MG removal (rate >99%) was identified by desirability function as CC 1000 and MG 212 mg/L and adsorption time 180 min. Adsorption kinetic study indicates that a pseudo second-order kinetic model showed the best fit with R2 = 0.999.

Clinical Dilemma and the Role of Cone-Beam Computed Tomography in the Diagnosis of an Unusual Presentation of Central Odontogenic Tumor-A Case Report.

Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) provides a detailed analysis of the dentition and of cortical and medullary bone free of superimposition inherent in radiographs, which are effortlessly plausible, easily available, and relatively inexpensive when compared with other cross-sectional imaging modalities such as computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This article presents a case report of a 23-year-old male patient with a complaint of a mass in the right side lower back tooth region for the past 2 and a half months, which had the unusual presentation of prominent exophytic growth masking the central odontogenic tumor, wherein the diagnostic performances of CBCT in unveiling the diagnostic challenge that led to the clinical dilemma is emphasized. Routine radiographs such as orthopantomogram, mandibular occlusal view were taken along with CBCT, which accentuated the precise diagnosis in this case. The lesion was surgically enucleated with curettage and extraction of the involved teeth. CBCT unveiled the classic multilocularity of ameloblastoma, which routine imaging failed to display. CBCT played a pivotal role in counteracting the diagnostic challenges faced and also in distinguishing it from a cystic lesion that was initially deceived by routine two-dimensional radiographs.

Role of Zinc (Zn) in Human Reproduction: A Journey from Initial Spermatogenesis to Childbirth.

Zinc (Zn), the second-most necessary trace element, is abundant in the human body. The human body lacks the capacity to store Zn; hence, the dietary intake of Zn is essential for various functions and metabolism. The uptake of Zn during its transport through the body is important for proper development of the three major accessory sex glands: the testis, epididymis, and prostate. It plays key roles in the initial stages of germ cell development and spermatogenesis, sperm cell development and maturation, ejaculation, liquefaction, the binding of spermatozoa and prostasomes, capacitation, and fertilization. The prostate releases more Zn into the seminal plasma during ejaculation, and it plays a significant role in sperm release and motility. During the maternal, labor, perinatal, and neonatal periods, the part of Zn is vital. The average dietary intake of Zn is in the range of 8-12 mg/day in developing countries during the maternal period. Globally, the dietary intake of Zn varies for pregnant and lactating mothers, but the average Zn intake is in the range of 9.6-11.2 mg/day. The absence of Zn and the consequences of this have been discussed using critical evidence. The events and functions of Zn related to successful fertilization have been summarized in detail. Briefly, our current review emphasizes the role of Zn at each stage of human reproduction, from the spermatogenesis process to childbirth. The role of Zn and its supplementation in in vitro fertilization (IVF) opens opportunities for future studies on reproductive biology.

Impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on digital device-related ocular health.

PURPOSE: Since the declaration of the lockdown due to COVID-19, the usage of digital devices has gone up across the globe, resulting in a challenge for the visual systems of all ages. The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of the lockdown on digital device usage, and consequently, the ocular surface health implications and circadian rhythm abnormalities related to digital eye strain. METHODS: An open online survey was sent through various social media platforms and was open for a period of 2 weeks. RESULTS: A total of 407 usable responses were obtained; the average age of respondents was 27.4 years. Typically, 93.6% of respondents reported an increase in their screen time since the lockdown was declared. The average increase in digital device usage was calculated at about 4.8 ± 2.8 h per day. The total usage per day was found to be 8.65 ± 3.74 hours. Sleep disturbances have been reported by 62.4% of people. Typically, 95.8% of respondents had experienced at least one symptom related to digital device usage, and 56.5% said that the frequency and intensity of these symptoms increased since the lockdown was declared. CONCLUSION: The study highlighted the drastic increase in use of digital devices after the initiation of the COVID-19 lockdown, and along with it, the slow deterioration of ocular health across all age groups. Awareness about prevention of digital eye strain should be stressed, and going forward, measures to bring these adverse effects to a minimum should be explored.

Oral manifestations of dengue fever

Background: Dengue is a life­threatening viral infection which has become an epidemic in India in the postmonsoon period (August­November). It mostly associated with nonspecific fever and rashes, arthralgia, myalgia, and thrombocytopenia in severe cases. Objective: This study aimed to study the oral manifestations of dengue fever and to observe the various features of oral presentation then to validate the significance and importance of oralmanifestation in the diagnosis of dengue fever.Materials and Methods: Patients meeting the inclusion criteria were subjected to detailed history, oral examination, and relevant investigations. Results: Intraoral manifestations were present in 24 (48%) patients, anf these included petechiae (29.2%), bleeding gums (16.6%), ulcer (4.2%), dryness of mouth (4.2%), and combined features (45.8%). Extraoral manifestations were present in 4% of the cases. Conclusion: This study highlights the thrombocytopenia related oral haemosrrhagic manifestations of dengue fever

Analysis of time-dependent changes in Bitemarks on Styrofoam sheets.

CONTEXT: The scope of Bitemarks in forensic dentistry is widening as they help the forensic expert in identifying the perpetuator in medicolegal cases. The greatest challenge in Bitemarks analysis is the time-dependent changes produced in Bitemark patterns on various substrates at the scene of the crime. AIMS: To analyze the time-dependent changes in Bitemarks on Styrofoam sheets. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Single centered prospective study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-five subjects were randomly chosen, and dental casts prepared. Then test bites were registered on Styrofoam sheets, overlays prepared from these test bites on subsequent days (day 1, 2, 3, 4) and checked for matching accuracy. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: The data were analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA to compare the overlays from dental stone cast with test bites on Styrofoam sheets on subsequent days. RESULTS: The P value was found to be 1 which is statistically not significant implying that there were no significant time-dependent changes in the pattern of Bitemarks. CONCLUSIONS: There were no time-dependent changes in the pattern of Bitemarks on Styrofoam sheets hence they serve as better materials than Bitemarks on human skin or food substrates obtained from the scene of the crime.

Envelopment technique and topographic overlays in bite mark analysis.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The aims and objectives of our study were to compare four sequential overlays generated using the envelopment technique and to evaluate inter- and intraoperator reliability of the overlays obtained by the envelopment technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Dental stone models were prepared from impressions made from healthy individuals; photographs were taken and computer-assisted overlays were generated. The models were then enveloped in a different-color dental stone. After this, four sequential cuts were made at a thickness of 1mm each. Each sectional cut was photographed and overlays were generated. Thus, 125 overlays were generated and compared. RESULTS: The scoring was done based on matching accuracy and the data were analyzed. The Kruskal-Wallis one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test was used to compare four sequential overlays and Spearman's rank correlation tests were used to evaluate the inter- and intraoperator reliability of the overlays obtained by the envelopment technique. CONCLUSION: Through our study, we conclude that the third and fourth cuts were the best among the four cuts and inter- and intraoperator reliability were found to be statistically significant at 5% level that is 95% confidence interval (P < 0.05).

Retrospective non-uniform illumination correction techniques in images of tuberculosis.

Image pre-processing is highly significant in automated analysis of microscopy images. In this work, non-uniform illumination correction has been attempted using the surface fitting method (SFM), multiple regression method (MRM), and bidirectional empirical mode decomposition (BEMD) in digital microscopy images of tuberculosis (TB). The sputum smear positive and negative images recorded under a standard image acquisition protocol were subjected to illumination correction techniques and evaluated by error and statistical measures. Results show that SFM performs more efficiently than MRM or BEMD. The SFM produced sharp images of TB bacilli with better contrast. To further validate the results, multifractal analysis was performed that showed distinct variation before and after implementation of illumination correction by SFM. Results demonstrate that after illumination correction, there is a 26% increase in the number of bacilli, which aids in classification of the TB images into positive and negative, as TB positivity depends on the count of bacilli.

A comparative study of overlay generation methods in bite mark analysis.

AIM: To evaluate the best method of overlay generation out of the three methods, i.e., manual, photocopying, and computer assisted method. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Impressions of maxillary and mandibular arches of 25 individuals participating in the study were made and dental study models were prepared. Overlay production was done by manual, photocopying, and computer assisted methods. Finally, the overlays obtained by each method were compared. RESULTS: Kruskal Wallis ANOVA H test was used for the comparison of manual, photocopying, and computer assisted overlay generation methods. H value being highest in case of computer assisted overlays, thus, making it the best method of overlay generation out of the three methods. CONCLUSION: We conclude that the method of computer assisted overlay generation is the best among the three methods used in our study.

Age-related changes in serum levels of insulin-like growth factor-II and its binding proteins correlate with calcaneal bone mineral density among post-menopausal South-Indian women.

BACKGROUND: Insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system components are important regulators of bone metabolism, which have a predominant role in determining bone mineral density (BMD). While the serum levels of IGF-I are regulated by various systemic hormones and growth factors, IGF-II levels reflect the skeletal production relative to physical activity, mechanical loading, aging, race etc. Though various studies have been carried out among women of different ethnic groups to understand the relationship between serum levels of IGF-II and BMD, the results seem to be quite inconclusive. METHODS: We evaluated the same, recruiting South-Indian women who engage themselves in a wide variety of physical activities pertaining to their profession and life style. RESULTS: Serum levels of IGF-II and IGF binding protein (IGFBP)-3 showed positive correlation with calcaneal BMD, whereas IGFBP-4 showed negative correlation. These IGF system components exhibited similar correlations with serum bone formation markers and opposite trend with bone resorption marker. While both IGF-II and IGFBP-3 levels were observed to be decreased with aging and menopause, IGFBP-4 levels increased. CONCLUSIONS: The alterations in serum levels of IGF-II and its binding proteins due to aging and menopause could be some of the major contributors of decreased calcaneal BMD observed among elderly women.

(E)-3-(4-Methyl-phen-yl)-1-(1,3-thia-zol-2-yl)prop-2-en-1-one.

In the title chalcone, C(13)H(11)NOS, derived from the condensation of p-tolualdehyde and 1-(1,3-thia-zol-2-yl)ethanone, the olefine group has a trans configuration. No classical hydrogen bonding is present in the crystal structure.

Dihydrotestosterone is a determinant of calcaneal bone mineral density in men.

Male osteoporosis is an increasingly important health problem worldwide. Though androgen deficiency leads to bone loss in men, information on the relative contribution of aromatizable and non-aromatizable androgens in maintaining bone mineral density (BMD) and the mechanisms involved are unclear. This cross-sectional study was designed to explore the same. Hundred osteoporotic men with age matched normal were studied for serum levels of sex steroids, PTH, IGF system components, cytokines and bone turnover markers. Our findings show that serum DHT, IGF-I, IGF-II and IGFBP-3 levels were significantly decreased while IL-1beta and bone turnover markers were significantly increased in osteoporotic men compared to normal. Pearson correlation analysis revealed that serum DHT, IGF-I, IGF-II and IGFBP-3 levels were positively and strongly correlated with BMD, while serum IL-1beta levels were negatively correlated with BMD. Serum PTH, testosterone, estradiol, IGFBP-4, TNF-alpha, IL-4 and IFN-gamma levels were similar between the two groups. We observed that DHT levels significantly declined with age. However, the significant difference in DHT between the osteoporotic and normal groups is the same regardless of age. A multiple regression model adjusted for age demonstrated that DHT/BMD association is fairly stronger among those with osteoporosis than the normal. Our findings for the first time point out that DHT is an important determinant of BMD in men. Most importantly, the strong positive correlation of serum DHT with BMD offers new perspectives in understanding the role of non-aromatizable androgen in regulating bone metabolism in men, and might serve as a potential clinical marker in the diagnosis of male osteoporosis.