Teratogenic impacts of Antiepileptic drugs on development, behavior and reproduction in Drosophila melanogaster.

Clobazam (CLB) and Vigabatrin (VGB) are the two widely used Antiepileptic drugs, which may have teratogenic potentiality and it has been evaluated in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. These different concentrations of CLB (0.156, 0.25, and 0.312 µg/ml) and VGB (17.6, 22, and 44 µg/ml) were used to evaluate the life-history parameters, developmental, and behavioral abnormalities. The results revealed that life-history parameters (fecundity, fertility, larval and pupal mortality) were significantly affected along with varied developmental duration, and pupal and adult deformities in flies on exposure of CLB and VGB in concentration dependent manner. The present study demonstrated that the prenatal treatment of CLB and VGB has displayed clear teratogenic potentiality with various deformities in the fruit fly. The findings could be correlated with the various abnormalities in human caused by the use of AEDs.

Extending the scope of the carbonyl facilitated triplet excited state towards visible light excitation.

A series of extended π-conjugated benzophenone analogs was synthesized through a facile Lewis-acid catalyzed Friedel-Crafts reaction in order to exploit the integral triplet state properties of benzophenone. Extending the π-conjugated plane of the phenyl ring of benzophenone allowed tuning of the excitation wavelength from the far-UV end (∼260 nm) to the visible spectrum (∼446 nm). Compared to benzophenone, significant red-shifts in the absorption (up to 450 nm in solution) with high photostability were observed for the synthesized benzophenone analogs. As is evident from the density functional theory calculations, expansion of the ring size of the aromatic part of the benzophenone analogs induces a decrease in the HOMO-LUMO gap. The considerable extension of the electron density to the carbonyl group in the LUMO substantiates the triplet nature associated with the benzophenone analogs. By virtue of the properties of the carbonyl functionality, an apparent increase in the triplet quantum yield (ΦT = 5.4% to 87.7%) was observed for the benzophenone analogs when compared to the corresponding bare polyaromatic hydrocarbon. The spin orbit coupling was computationally estimated for the benzophenone analogs to propose pathways for the observed intersystem crossing process. The plausibility to photoexcite the aromatic-ring-fused benzophenone frameworks for triplet activation in the visible range opens the door for a new class of materials for photonic application.

Exopolysaccharide produced by Enterobacter sp. YG4 reduces uranium induced nephrotoxicity.

Uranium nephrotoxicity is a health concern with very few treatment options. Bacterial exopolysaccharides (EPS) possess multiple biological activities and appear as prospective candidates for treating uranium nephrotoxicity. This study focuses on the ability of an EPS produced by a bacterial strain Enterobacter sp. YG4 to reduce uranium nephrotoxicity in vivo. This bacterium was isolated from the gut contents of a slug Laevicaulis alte (Férussac). Based on the aniline blue staining reaction and infrared spectral analysis, the EPS was identified as ß-glucan and its molecular weight was 11.99×10(6)Da. The EPS showed hydroxyl radical scavenging ability and total antioxidant capacity in vitro. To assess the protection provided by the EPS against uranium nephrotoxicity, a single dose of 2mg/kg uranyl nitrate was injected intraperitoneally to albino Wistar rats. As intervention, the EPS was administered orally (100mg/kg/day) for 4 consecutive days. The rats were sacrificed on the fifth day and analyses were conducted. Increased serum creatinine and urea nitrogen levels and histopathological alterations in kidneys were observed in uranyl nitrate treated animals. All these alterations were reduced with the administration of Enterobacter sp. YG4 EPS, emphasizing a novel approach in treating uranium nephrotoxicity.

Quick and easy placement of coil spring.

A tooth displaced palatally in an arch often demands placement of an open coil spring for gaining space. Ligation of an archwire with compressed coil spring is a cumbersome process. We have made use of 0.010 supreme AJ Wilcock sectional wire to compress the open coil spring and place it on the required the dental arch.

The ideal smile and its orthodontic implications.

AIM: To determine the parameters for an ideal smile. METHODS: Ten laypersons classified frontal photographs of 62 smiling individuals between 18 and 25 years of age into five categories: 1, poor; 2, fair; 3, good; 4, very good; and 5, excellent. The scores obtained for each smile were averaged. The five smiles with each the highest and lowest scores were analyzed for seven parameters: buccal corridor, smile index, smile symmetry, smile line ratio, upper lip line, smile arc, and upper lip curvature. RESULTS: The five smiles with the highest scores were symmetrical with an average upper lip line and a consonant smile arc. Three of the five had an upward upper lip curvature. The smile line ratio, buccal corridor, and smile index for all five subjects ranged from 1.0 to 1.3 mm, 9.0% to 11.0%, and 4.0 to 6.0 mm, respectively. Two of the five smiles with the lowest scores were asymmetrical and three had a high upper lip line and a downward curvature, but all five had a nonconsonant smile arc. The smile line ratio, buccal corridor, and smile index for all five subjects ranged from -1.0 to 1.3 mm, 18.0% to 22.0%, and 7.0 to 10.0 mm, respectively. CONCLUSION: The seven investigated smile parameters can define characteristics of an ideal smile. These smile components should be included in the orthodontic problem list to help clinicians select the appropriate mechanotherapy.