Unraveling the structure-property relationship of a chalcone-based push-pull molecule for optical limiting application in high-powered laser.

In this work, the optical limiting response of a highly π-conjugated push-pull chalcone derivative (2E)-3-(2,3-dimethoxyphenyl)-1-(3-nitrophenyl)prop-2-en-1-one (abbreviated as 3DPNP) has been investigated. The structure-property relationship of 3DPNP was explored through spectroscopic investigation and quantum chemical computations. The existence of weak-non-covalent interactions and charge transfer species that responsible for the chemical stability of 3DPNP were studied by AIM and NBO analyses. The quantitative and qualitative analysis of vibrational and electronic contribution to non-linear optical (NLO) response of 3DPNP were discussed in detail. The normal vibrational modes associated with a change in the dipole moment, polarizability, first- and second-order hyperpolarizabilities of 3DPNP were identified using DFT calculations followed by potential energy distribution (PED) analysis using Gaussian 09 W software and Gar2ped program, respectively. The changes in the NLO parameters with respect to the varying frequencies and electric dipole fields were studied. The abrupt changes in the NLO properties were noticed when the frequency doubled, confirming the second harmonic generation (SHG) efficiency of 3DPNP. From the non-linear absorption and refraction studies through the z-scan experiment, the optical limiting threshold value of 3DPNP is determined to be 3.26 kJ/cm2, which shows the suitability of the material for optical limiting applications in the continuous wave (CW) laser regime.

Low-level laser therapy: A novel therapeutic approach to temporomandibular disorder - A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of low-level laser therapy (LLLT)/low intensity laser therapy (LILT) in the management of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain in a random and double-blind research design. MATERIALS AND METHODS: TMJ pain patients, randomly assigned into two groups: Group 1 (n = 20) and Group 2 (n = 20), received 2-3 treatments per week for 8 sessions of active LILT with diode laser (gallium aluminum arsenide, 810 nm, 0.1 W). Measures of TMJ pain during function were evaluated at baseline, after completion of 8 sessions of laser treatment, and 30 days after the final laser therapy. RESULTS: At the final treatment point, within-group, pain reduction was observed in both active LLLT and placebo groups at day 0 (P = 0.000), 8th session (P = 0.000), and 1 month (P = 0.001). Between the groups, there is no significant difference at day 0 (P = 0.214), 8th session (P = 0.806), and 1 month (P = 0.230). Significant increased mouth opening was observed in both Group 1 and Group 2 (P = 0.006 and P = 0.021, respectively) after treatment. However, no significant difference was found between the two groups (P = 0.330). Furthermore, significant improvement in clicking was recorded before and after treatment both in Group 1 (P = 0.000) and Group 2 (P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: The study suggests that LLLT is not better than placebo at reducing TMJ pain during function. It may be assumed that a more tailored application of LLLT should be developed to take into account the multifactorial aspect of the disorder.

Bioequivalence and comparative pharmacodynamics of insulin lispro 200 U/mL relative to insulin lispro (Humalog®) 100 U/mL.

Insulin lispro 200 U/mL (IL200) is a new strength formulation of insulin lispro (Humalog®, IL100), developed as an option for diabetic patients on higher daily mealtime insulin doses. This phase 1, open-label, 2-sequence, 4-period crossover, randomized, 8-hour euglycemic clamp study aimed to demonstrate the bioequivalence of IL200 and IL100 after subcutaneous administration of 20 U (U) to healthy subjects (n = 38). Pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) responses were similar in both formulations. All 90%CIs for the ratios of area under the concentration-versus-time curve from time zero to the time of the last measurable concentration (AUC0-tlast) and maximum observed drug concentration (Cmax), as well as the total glucose infused throughout the clamp (Gtot) and the maximum glucose infusion rate (Rmax), were contained within 0.80 and 1.25. Time of maximum observed drug concentration (tmax) was similar between formulations, with a median difference of 15 minutes and a 95%CI of the difference that included zero. Inter- and intrasubject variability estimates were similar for both formulations. Both formulations were well tolerated. IL200 was bioequivalent to IL100 after subcutaneous administration of 20-U single doses, and PD responses were comparable between formulation strengths.

In silico prediction and qPCR validation of novel sRNAs in Propionibacterium acnes KPA171202.

Propionibacterium acnes is an anaerobic, Gram-positive, opportunistic pathogen known to be involved in a wide variety of diseases ranging from mild acne to prostate cancer. Bacterial small non-coding RNAs are novel regulators of gene expression and are known to be involved in, virulence, pathogenesis, stress tolerance and adaptation to environmental changes in bacteria. The present study was undertaken keeping in view the lack of predicted sRNAs of P. acnes KPA171202 in databases. This report represents the first attempt to identify sRNAs in P. acnes KPA171202. A total of eight potential candidate sRNAs were predicted using SIPHT, one was found to have a Rfam homolog and seven were novel. Out of these seven predicted sRNAs, five were validated by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and sequencing. The expression of these sRNAs was quantified in different growth phases by qPCR (quantitative PCR). They were found to be expressed in both exponential and stationary stages of growth but with maximum expression in stationary phase which points to a regulatory role for them. Further investigation of their targets and regulatory functions is in progress.

Enteral paracetamol or Intravenous Indomethacin for Closure of Patent Ductus Arteriosus in Preterm Neonates: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of enteral paracetamol and intravenous indomethacin for closure of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in preterm neonates. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Level III neonatal intensive care unit. PARTICIPANTS: 77 preterm neonates with birth weight ?1500 g and PDA size ?1.5 mm, with left to right ductal flow with left atrium to aortic root ratio >1.5:1; diagnosed by 2D-Echo within first 48 hours of life. INTERVENTION: Paracetamol drops through the infant feeding tube (15 mg/kg/dose 6 hourly for 7 days) or intravenous indomethacin (0.2 mg/kg/dose once daily for 3 days). OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary: PDA closure rate assessed by echocardiography. Secondary: need for surgical closure of PDA, renal impairment, gastrointestinal bleed, necrotising enterocolitis, hepatotoxicity, pulmonary hemorrhage, sepsis, hypothermia, retinopathy of prematurity, intraventricular hemorrhage, bronchopulmonary dysplasia and mortality. RESULTS: PDA closure rate was 100% (36/36) in enteral paracetamol group as compared to 94.6% (35/37) in intravenous indomethacin group (P=0.13). The secondary outcomes were also similar between the two groups. There was no occurrence of hepatotoxicity. CONCLUSIONS: Enteral paracetamol is safe but not superior to intravenous indomethacin in the treatment of PDA in preterm neonates.

Awareness of the association between periodontal disease and adverse pregnancy outcome among the general female population.

BACKGROUND: Preterm low birth weight (PTLBW) is a public health issue which needs to be dealt with by educating the general female population. One of the major contributing factors is periodontal disease and treatment of the same could reduce the occurrence of PTLBW babies. Therefore, awareness of this among the female population is highly essential. Hence, this survey was planned with the aim to explore the awareness of the general female population regarding the association of periodontal disease and PTLBW. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This survey consisted of nine close-ended questions answered by 1284 females. RESULTS: Younger individuals had higher knowledge scores as compared to the older individuals (r = -0.161) and the more educated group had a higher knowledge score as compared to the less educated groups (r = 0.322). Furthermore, married women seemed to be more aware of the relation of PTLBW to periodontal disease as compared to unmarried women. CONCLUSION: Younger and educated females had better awareness of the association between periodontal diseases and PTLBW. Hence, efforts to educate the general female population on this association could contribute toward the reduction of the risk of PTLBW.

Glycerin suppository for promoting feeding tolerance in preterm very low birthweight neonates: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of glycerin suppository versus no suppository in preterm very-low-birthweight neonates for improving feeding tolerance. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Level III neonatal unit from Mumbai, India. PARTICIPANTS: 50 very-low-birthweight (birth weight between 1000 to 1500 grams)preterm (gestational age between 28 to 32 weeks) neonates randomized to glycerine suppository (n=25) or no intervention (n=26). INTERVENTION: Glycerin suppository (1g) once a day from day-2 to day-14 of life or no suppository, along with intermittent oral feeds and standardized care. PRIMARY OUTCOME: Time required to achieve full enteral feeds (180 mL/kg/d). RESULTS: Baseline characteristics of neonates like gestational age, birthweight, gender and age at the time of introduction of feeds were comparable in both groups. The mean (SD) duration to reach full enteral feed was 11.90 (3.1) days in glycerin suppository group and was not significantly different (P=0.58) from control group, [11.33 (3.57) days]. Glycerin suppository group regained birth weight 2 days earlier than control group but this difference was not significant (P=0.16). There was no significant difference in duration of hospital stay or occurrence of necrotizing enterocolitis amongst the two study groups. CONCLUSIONS: Once daily application of glycerin suppository does not accelerate the achievement of full feeds in preterm very-low-birthweight neonates.

Maternal lipids are as important as glucose for fetal growth: findings from the Pune Maternal Nutrition Study.

OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship between maternal circulating fuels and neonatal size and compare the relative effects of glucose and lipids. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: The Pune Maternal Nutrition Study (1993-1996) investigated the influence of maternal nutrition on fetal growth. We measured maternal body size and glucose and lipid concentrations during pregnancy and examined their relationship with birth size in full-term babies using correlation and regression techniques. RESULTS: The mothers (n = 631) were young (mean age 21 years), short (mean height 151.9 cm), and thin (BMI 18.0 kg/m(2)) but were relatively more adipose (body fat 21.1%). Their diet was mostly vegetarian. Between 18 and 28 weeks' gestation, fasting glucose concentrations remained stable, whereas total cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations increased and HDL-cholesterol concentrations decreased. The mean birth weight of the offspring was 2666 g. Total cholesterol and triglycerides at both 18 and 28 weeks and plasma glucose only at 28 weeks were associated directly with birth size. One SD higher maternal fasting glucose, cholesterol, and triglyceride concentrations at 28 weeks were associated with 37, 54, and 36 g higher birth weights, respectively (P < 0.05 for all). HDL-cholesterol concentrations were unrelated to newborn measurements. The results were similar if preterm deliveries also were included in the analysis (total n = 700). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest an influence of maternal lipids on neonatal size in addition to the well-established effect of glucose. Further research should be directed at defining the clinical relevance of these findings.

Synthesis and pharmacological activities of some new 3-substituted-4-amino-5-mercapto-1,2,4-triazoles.

In this study, various 3-ß-[(N-benzenesulphonyl/tosyl)-4-(un) substituted anilino]ethyl-4-amino-5-mercapto-4(H)-1,2,4-triazoles (5a-f), with biologically active 'sulphonamide' moiety as the side chain have been prepared. The structures of the newly synthesised compounds have been established on the basis of their spectral data and elemental analysis. All the compounds were evaluated for antimicrobial activities against Escherichia coli, Bacillus cirroflagellosus, Aspergillus niger and Colletotrichum capsici. Most of the compounds investigated exhibited significant antifungal activity against Colletotrichum capsici, even greater than fluconazole, the standard used. Only two compounds 3f (59%) and 5e (67%), have shown moderate antituberculosis activity. All the triazoles exhibited moderate degree of antiinflammatory activity and least ulcerogenecity. Most of the compounds have shown significant analgesic activity (81.02-120.72%) in comparison with aspirin (49.39%). In the MES method, only compound 3e exhibited a protection of 66.66%, whereas others exhibited minimum protection of (33.33%).

Alveolar ridge augmentation--a case series.

This study presents case reports of patients with osseous defects who were treated with autogenous bone grafts from the symphysis region, alloplast grafts with barrier membrane, and the use of free gingival onlay grafts for alveolar ridge augmentation. The patients were followed for a period of six months.

Synthesis and Antimicrobial Activities of Some New Azetidin-2-ones and Thiazolidin-4-ones.

Various (4-substituted) phenyl-3-ß-[(N-benzenesulphonyl/tosyl)-4-(un)substituted anilino]propionylamido-1,3-thiazolidine-4-ones (3a-x) and 1-ß-[(N-benzenesulphonyl/tosyl)-4-(un)substituted anilino]-propionylamido-3-chloro-4-(4-substituted)phenyl-azetidin-2-ones (4a-x) have been synthesised by the cyclocondensation of Schiff bases (2a-x) with thioglycolic acid and chloroacetyl chloride, respectively. The structures of the newly synthesised compounds have been established on the basis of their spectral data and elemental analysis. All compounds were evaluated for antimicrobial activities against Escherichia coli, Bacillus cirroflagellosus, Aspergillus niger and Colletotrichum capsici. Most compounds investigated exhibited significant antifungal activity against Colletotrichum capsici, comparable to that of fluconazole, the standard used.

Synthesis and Pharmacological Activities of Some New 5-Substituted-2-mercapto-1,3,4-oxadiazoles.

In this study, various 5-ß-[(N-benzenesulphony/tosyl)-4-(un) substituted anilino]ethyl-2-mercapto-1,3,4-oxadiazole (4a-f), with sulphonamide moiety at the side chain have been synthesised. The structures of the newly synthesised compounds have been established on the basis of their spectral data and elemental analysis. All the compounds were screened for antimicrobial activities against Escherichia coli, Bacillus cirroflagellosus, Aspergillus niger. Colletotrichum capsici and antituberclosis activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv strain. Only two compounds 4b (73%) and 4e (54%), have shown moderate antituberculosis activity. All the compounds have shown moderate antiinflamatory activity and least ulcerogenecity. Most of the compounds have shown significant analgesic activity (64.20-120.72%) in comparison with the standard, Aspirin (49.39%) In the MES method, however only compound 4a, exhibited a protection of 33.33%, and others failed to protect.

Hepatic angiosarcoma arising in an adult mesenchymal hamartoma.

Embryonal (undifferentiated) sarcomas arising in mesenchymal hamartoma are on record but cases of hepatic angiosarcoma (AS) arising in mesenchymal hamartoma (MH) of the liver are extremely rare. We report one such case in a 20-year-old male patient. He presented with a lump in the right hypochondriac region and pain of two years duration with rapid increase in size since two months. Ultrasonography (USG) revealed a well circumscribed mass on the undersurface of the right lobe of liver suggestive of hemangioma. The patient underwent resection of the mass. Histopathology revealed AS with areas of MH.

Left shoulder region metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma as an initial presentation--a case report.

Hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis as a soft tissue mass is rare; we came across a 65 years old female who presented with a left shoulder region mass. There was no previous history of any liver disease and liver function tests were normal. Histologically, it turned out to be a metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma.

Association between immunoglobulin allotypes and pulmonary tuberculosis.

In a sample of n = 133 non-related patients suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis, Gm and Km typings have been carried out and compared with healthy controls from the same geographical area. All the Gm allotypes tested were found to be more preponderant in the patients than in the healthy controls and these differences were found to be statistically significant for Gm (1) and Gm (5) only and not for the other immunoglobulin allotypes e.g. Gm (2). The frequency of Km (1) was lower and that of Km (3) was higher in the patients than in the controls. These differences were, however, statistically not significant.

Synthesis of vanillin ethers from 4-(bromomethyl) coumarins as anti-inflammatory agents.

4-(Bromomethyl) coumarins 1 have been reacted with vanillins, 2 and 2A to obtain the corresponding ethers 3 and 5. Ethers 3 have been reacted with ethyl cyanoacetate to obtain the unsaturated esters 4. Ethers 5 have been converted to the corresponding 4-(2'-benzo[b] furanyl) coumarins 6 by an intramolecular aldol condensation. Eight compounds have been screened for their anti-inflammatory activity. Out of these the 5,6-benzo-4-2'-benzo[b]furanyl) coumarin (6c) and the aryloxymethyl coumarin (4) with p-formyl group were found to be most active.