An HLA-E-targeted TCR bispecific molecule redirects T cell immunity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Peptides presented by HLA-E, a molecule with very limited polymorphism, represent attractive targets for T cell receptor (TCR)-based immunotherapies to circumvent the limitations imposed by the high polymorphism of classical HLA genes in the human population. Here, we describe a TCR-based bispecific molecule that potently and selectively binds HLA-E in complex with a peptide encoded by the inhA gene of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the causative agent of tuberculosis in humans. We reveal the biophysical and structural bases underpinning the potency and specificity of this molecule and demonstrate its ability to redirect polyclonal T cells to target HLA-E-expressing cells transduced with mycobacterial inhA as well as primary cells infected with virulent Mtb. Additionally, we demonstrate elimination of Mtb-infected cells and reduction of intracellular Mtb growth. Our study suggests an approach to enhance host T cell immunity against Mtb and provides proof of principle for an innovative TCR-based therapeutic strategy overcoming HLA polymorphism and therefore applicable to a broader patient population.

Instability of the HLA-E peptidome of HIV presents a major barrier to therapeutic targeting.

Naturally occurring T cells that recognize microbial peptides via HLA-E, a nonpolymorphic HLA class Ib molecule, could provide the foundation for new universal immunotherapeutics. However, confidence in the biological relevance of putative ligands is crucial, given that the mechanisms by which pathogen-derived peptides can access the HLA-E presentation pathway are poorly understood. We systematically interrogated the HIV proteome using immunopeptidomic and bioinformatic approaches, coupled with biochemical and cellular assays. No HIV HLA-E peptides were identified by tandem mass spectrometry analysis of HIV-infected cells. In addition, all bioinformatically predicted HIV peptide ligands (>80) were characterized by poor complex stability. Furthermore, infected cell elimination assays using an affinity-enhanced T cell receptor bispecific targeted to a previously reported HIV Gag HLA-E epitope demonstrated inconsistent presentation of the peptide, despite normal HLA-E expression on HIV-infected cells. This work highlights the instability of the HIV HLA-E peptidome as a major challenge for drug development.

Identification of G-quadruplex structures in MALAT1 lncRNA that interact with nucleolin and nucleophosmin.

Nuclear-retained long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) including MALAT1 have emerged as critical regulators of many molecular processes including transcription, alternative splicing and chromatin organization. Here, we report the presence of three conserved and thermodynamically stable RNA G-quadruplexes (rG4s) located in the 3' region of MALAT1. Using rG4 domain-specific RNA pull-down followed by mass spectrometry and RNA immunoprecipitation, we demonstrated that the MALAT1 rG4 structures are specifically bound by two nucleolar proteins, Nucleolin (NCL) and Nucleophosmin (NPM). Using imaging, we found that the MALAT1 rG4s facilitate the localization of both NCL and NPM to nuclear speckles, and specific G-to-A mutations that disrupt the rG4 structures compromised the localization of both NCL and NPM in speckles. In vitro biophysical studies established that a truncated version of NCL (ΔNCL) binds tightly to all three rG4s. Overall, our study revealed new rG4s within MALAT1, established that they are specifically recognized by NCL and NPM, and showed that disrupting the rG4s abolished localization of these proteins to nuclear speckles.

SLAM (CD150) receptor homologous peptides block the peste des petits ruminants virus entry into B95a cells.

The fusion of haemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) protein of peste des petits ruminant (PPR) virus with signaling lymphocyte activation molecules (SLAM) host cell receptor consequences the virus entry and multiplication inside the host cell. The use of synthetic SLAM homologous peptides (i.e., molecular decoy for HN protein of PPR virus) may check PPR infection at the preliminary stage. Hence, the predicted SLAM homologous peptides using bioinformatics tools were synthesized by solid phase chemistry with standard Merrifield's 9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (Fmoc) chemistry and were purified by reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography. The secondary structures of synthesized peptides were elucidated by circular dichroism spectroscopy. The in vitro interactions of these peptides were studied through indirect Enzyme Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay (ELISA) and visual surface plasmon UV-visible spectroscopy. The SLAM homologous peptides were able to interact with the peste des petits ruminant virus (PPRV) with varying binding efficiency. The interaction of SLAM homologous peptide with the PPR virus was ascertained by the change in the plasmon color from red wine to purple during visual detection and also by bathochromic shift in absorbance spectra under UV-visible spectrophotometry. The cytotoxic and anti-PPRV effect of these peptides were also evaluated in B95a cell line using PPR virus (Sungri/96). The cytotoxic concentration 50 (CC50 ) value of each peptide was greater than 1000 µg mL-1 . The anti-PPRV efficiency of SLAM-22 was relatively high among SLAM homologous peptides, SLAM-22 at 25 µg mL-1 concentration showed a reduction of more than log10 3 virus titer by priming of B95a cell line while the use of SLAM-15 and Muco-17 at the same concentration dropped virus titer from log10 4.8 to log10 2.5 and log10 3.1 respectively. The concentration of SLAM homologous peptide (25 µg mL-1 ) to exert its anti-PPRV effect was much less than its CC50 level (>1000 µg mL-1 ). Therefore, the synthetic SLAM homologous peptides may prove to be better agents to target PPRV.

Recent advances of decatungstate photocatalyst in HAT process.

The decatungstate anion (W10O324-) appears to exhibit especially interesting properties as a photocatalyst. Because of its unique photocatalytic properties, it is now recognised as a promising tool in organic chemistry. This study examines recent advances in decatungstate chemistry, primarily concerned with synthetic and, to some degree, mechanistic challenges. In this short review we have selected to give a number of illustrative examples that demonstrate the various applications of decatungstate in the hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) process.

Metal-free visible light mediated direct C-H amination of benzoxazole with secondary amines.

An efficient visible light mediated, eosin Y catalyzed direct C-H oxidative amination of benzoxazoles with secondary amines has been developed, which providing a straightforward, green, and environmentally benign access to a wide variety of substituted benzoxazole-2-amines under mild reaction conditions. The biological studies such as drug-likeness and molecular docking are also carried out on the molecule.

Alternative splicing modulation mediated by G-quadruplex structures in MALAT1 lncRNA.

MALAT1, an abundant lncRNA specifically localized to nuclear speckles, regulates alternative-splicing (AS). The molecular basis of its role in AS remains poorly understood. Here, we report three conserved, thermodynamically stable, parallel RNA-G-quadruplexes (rG4s) present in the 3' region of MALAT1 which regulates this function. Using rG4 domain-specific RNA-pull-down followed by mass-spectrometry, RNA-immuno-precipitation, and imaging, we demonstrate the rG4 dependent localization of Nucleolin (NCL) and Nucleophosmin (NPM) to nuclear speckles. Specific G-to-A mutations that abolish rG4 structures, result in the localization loss of both the proteins from speckles. Functionally, disruption of rG4 in MALAT1 phenocopies NCL knockdown resulting in altered pre-mRNA splicing of endogenous genes. These results reveal a central role of rG4s within the 3' region of MALAT1 orchestrating AS.

Chronic Morphine Treatment and Antiretroviral Therapy Exacerbate HIV-Distal Sensory Peripheral Neuropathy and Induce Distinct Microbial Alterations in the HIV Tg26 Mouse Model.

Distal Sensory Peripheral Neuropathy (DSP) is a common complication in HIV-infected individuals, leading to chronic pain and reduced quality of life. Even with antiretroviral therapy (ART), DSP persists, often prompting the use of opioid analgesics, which can paradoxically worsen symptoms through opioid-induced microbial dysbiosis. This study employs the HIV Tg26 mouse model to investigate HIV-DSP development and assess gut microbiome changes in response to chronic morphine treatment and ART using 16S rRNA sequencing. Our results reveal that chronic morphine and ART exacerbate HIV-DSP in Tg26 mice, primarily through mechanical pain pathways. As the gut microbiome may be involved in chronic pain persistence, microbiome analysis indicated distinct bacterial community changes between WT and Tg26 mice as well as morphine- and ART-induced microbial changes in the Tg26 mice. This study reveals the Tg26 mouse model to be a relevant system that can help elucidate the pathogenic mechanisms of the opioid- and ART-induced exacerbation of HIV-associated pain. Our results shed light on the intricate interplay between HIV infection, ART, opioid use, and the gut microbiome in chronic pain development. They hold implications for understanding the mechanisms underlying HIV-associated pain and microbial dysbiosis, with potential for future research focused on prevention and treatment strategies.

Characterizing genetic diversity of Sclerotium rolfsii isolates by biomapping of mycelial compatibility groupings and multilocus sequence analysis.

Genetic diversity in Sclerotium rolfsii is useful for understanding its population structure, identifying different mycelial compatibility groups (MCGs), and developing targeted strategies for disease management in affected crops. In our study, a comprehensive genetic analysis was conducted on 50 isolates of S. rolfsii, collected from various geographic regions and host plants. Two specific genes, TEF1α and RPB2, were utilized to assess the genetic diversity and relationships among these isolates. Notably, out of 1225 pairings examined, only 154 exhibited a compatible reaction, while the majority displayed antagonistic reactions, resulting in the formation of a barrier zone. The isolates were grouped into 10 distinct MCGs. These MCGs were further characterized using genetic sequencing. TEF1α sequences distinguished the isolates into 17 distinct clusters, and RPB2 sequences classified them into 20 clusters. Some MCGs shared identical gene sequences within each gene, while others exhibited unique sequences. Intriguingly, when both TEF1α and RPB2 sequences were combined, all 10 MCGs were effectively differentiated, even those that appeared identical with single-gene analysis. This combined approach provided a comprehensive understanding of the genetic diversity and relationships among the S. rolfsii isolates, allowing for precise discrimination between different MCGs. The results shed light on the population structure and genetic variability within this plant pathogenic fungus, providing valuable insights for disease management and control strategies. This study highlights the significance of comprehending the varied virulence characteristics within S. rolfsii isolates, categorizing them into specific virulence groups based on disease severity index (DSI) values. The association with MCGs provides additional insights into the genetic underpinnings of virulence in this pathogen. Furthermore, the identification of geographical patterns in virulence implies the influence of region-specific factors, with potential implications for disease control and crop protection strategies.Please confirm if the author names are presented accurately and in the correct sequence (given name, middle name/initial, family name). Author 1 Given name: [G. M. Sandeep] Last name [Kumar]. Author 2 Given name: [Praveen Kumar] Last name [Singh]. Also, kindly confirm the details in the metadata are correct.I confirm that the given names are accurate and presented in the correct sequence.

Implications of CD45RA and CD45RO T cell subsets in patients of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis infected with Aspergillus flavus.

T cell subsets (CD4 and CD8) play a prominent role in the development of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP). Colonization with Aspergillus flavus is recognized as a trigger for the growth of nasal polyps. The fungal proteins initiate the recruitment of T cells into the nasal mucosa, which contributes to the progression of nasal polyps. The study included 50 cases of CRSwNP and 50 healthy controls. Biopsies were subjected to KOH and culture for mycological investigation. We examined the changes in T helper (CD4+) and T cytotoxic (CD8+) in total T cells (CD3+) and expression of naive (CD45RA) and memory (CD45RO) cell markers in T cell subsets in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) challenged by A. flavus antigens in cases before and after treatment and in healthy controls by flow cytometry. Predominantly, A. flavus (86%) identified in nasal polyp biopsies of patients. An increased percentage of CD3+CD4+ T cells observed after A. flavus stimulation in patients when compared with healthy controls. The expression of CD4+CD45RA+ cells was significantly (P < .05) reduced in patients and increased CD4+CD45RO+ was observed upon stimulation with A. flavus in patients when compared with healthy control. Continuous exposure to inhaled fungal spores may induce aberrant immune responses to A. flavus spores, causing an allergic immunological reaction with high CD4+T cell responses, resulting in an unfavourable outcome. Elevated CD4+CD45RO+ T cells may transform the pathogenic response and highlight the chances of A. flavus reactive T cells involvement in prompting inflammation in CRSwNP.

Maternal-Periconceptional Vitamin B12 Deficiency in Wistar Rats Leads to Sex-Specific Programming for Cardiometabolic Disease Risk in the Next Generation.

BACKGROUND: Maternal vitamin B12 deficiency plays a vital role in fetal programming, as corroborated by previous studies on murine models and longitudinal human cohorts. OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the effects of diet-induced maternal vitamin B12 deficiency on F1 offspring in terms of cardiometabolic health and normalization of these effects by maternal-periconceptional vitamin B12 supplementation. METHODS: A diet-induced maternal vitamin B12 deficient Wistar rat model was generated in which female rats were either fed a control AIN-76A diet (with 0.01 g/kg vitamin B12) or the same diet with vitamin B12 removed. Females from the vitamin B12-deficient group were mated with males on the control diet. A subset of vitamin B12-deficient females was repleted with vitamin B12 on day 1 of conception. The offspring in the F1 generation were assessed for changes in body composition, plasma biochemistry, and molecular changes in the liver. A multiomics approach was used to obtain a mechanistic insight into the changes in the offspring liver. RESULTS: We showed that a 36% reduction in plasma vitamin B12 levels during pregnancy in F0 females can lead to continued vitamin B12 deficiency (60%-70% compared with control) in the F1 offspring and program them for cardiometabolic adversities. These adversities, such as high triglycerides and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, were seen only among F1 males but not females. DNA methylome analysis of the liver of F1 3-mo-old offspring highlights sexual dimorphism in the alteration of methylation status of genes critical to signaling processes. Proteomics and targeted metabolomics analysis confirm that sex-specific alterations occur through modulations in PPAR signaling and steroid hormone biosynthesis pathway. Repletion of deficient mothers with vitamin B12 at conception normalizes most of the molecular and biochemical changes. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal vitamin B12 deficiency has a programming effect on the next generation and increases the risk for cardiometabolic syndrome in a sex-specific manner. Normalization of the molecular risk markers on vitamin B12 supplementation indicates a causal role.

Evaluation of catalytic activity of human and animal origin viral neuraminidase: Current prospect.

With the exception of plants, almost all living organisms synthesize neuraminidase/sialidase. It is a one among the crucial proteins that controls how virulent a microorganism is. An essential enzyme in orthomyxoviruses and paramyxoviruses that destroys receptors is neuraminidase. It plays a number of roles throughout the viral life cycle in addition to one that involves the release of progeny virus particles. This protein is an important target for therapeutic interventions and diagnostic assays. Neuraminidase inhibitors effectively prevent the spread of disease and viral infection. Sensitive, quick, and inexpensive high throughput assays are needed to screen for specific neuraminidase inhibitory chemicals. To characterize the neuraminidase catalytic activity, however, the traditional assays are still the most common in laboratories. This review gives a brief overview of these neuraminidase assays and recent, innovative developments, particularly those involving biosensors.

The emerging role of the urinary microbiome in benign noninfectious urological conditions: an up-to-date systematic review.

PURPOSE: The goal of this systematic review was to examine the current literature on the urinary microbiome and its associations with noninfectious, nonmalignant, urologic diseases. Secondarily, we aimed to describe the most common bioinformatics used to analyze the urinary microbiome. METHODS: A comprehensive literature search of Ovid MEDLINE using the keywords "microbiota" AND "prostatic hyperplasia," "microbiota" AND "urinary bladder, overactive," "microbiota" AND "pelvic pain," and "microbiota" AND "urolithiasis" OR "nephrolithiasis" OR "urinary calculi" AND "calcium oxalate" was performed to identify relevant clinical microbiome studies associated with noninfectious benign urological conditions published from 2010 to 2022. We included human studies that evaluated the urinary, stone, or semen microbiota, or any combination of the above-mentioned locations. RESULTS: A total of 25 human studies met the inclusion criteria: 4 on benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), 9 on overactive bladder (OAB), 8 on calcium oxalate stones, and 4 on chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS). Specific taxonomic profiles in the urine microbiome were associated with each pathology, and evaluation of alpha- and beta-diversity and relative abundance was accounted for most of the studies. Symptom prevalence and severity were also analyzed and showed associations with specific microbes. CONCLUSION: The study of the urogenital microbiome is rapidly expanding in urology. Noninfectious benign urogenital diseases, such as BPH, calcium oxalate stones, CPPS, and OAB were found to be associated with specific microbial taxonomies. Further research with larger study populations is necessary to solidify the knowledge of the urine microbiome in these conditions and to facilitate the creation of microbiome-based diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.

Proteomic response of Pseudomonas aeruginosa IIPIS-8 during rapid and efficient degradation of naphthalene.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are widely distributed in the ecosystem and are of significant concern due to their toxicity and mutagenicity. Bioremediation of PAHs is a popular and benign approach that ameliorates the environment. This study investigated the biodegradation and proteome response of Pseudomonas aeruginosa IIPIS-8 for two-ringed PAH: naphthalene (NAP) to understand proteome alteration during its bioremediation. Rapid biodegradation was observed up to 98 ± 1.26% and 84 ± 1.03%, respectively, for initial concentrations of 100 mg L-1 and 500 mg L-1 of NAP. Degradation followed first-order kinetics with rate constants of 0.12 h-1 and 0.06 h-1 and half-life (t1/2) of 5.7 h and 11.3 h, respectively. Additionally, the occurrence of key ring cleavage and linear chain intermediates, 2,3,4,5,6, -pentamethyl acetophenone, 1-octanol 2-butyl, and hexadecanoic acid supported complete NAP degradation. Proteomics study of IIPIS-8 throws light on the impact of protein expression, in which 415 proteins were quantified in sequential windowed acquisition of all theoretical fragment ion mass spectra (SWATH-MS) analysis, of which 97 were found to be significantly up-regulated and 75 were significantly down-regulated by ≥ 2-fold change (p values ≤ 0.05), during the NAP degradation. The study also listed the up-regulation of several enzymes, including oxido-reductases, hydrolases, and catalases, potentially involved in NAP degradation. Overall, differential protein expression, through proteomics study, demonstrated IIPIS-8's capability to efficiently assimilate NAP in their metabolic pathways even in a high concentration of NAP.

Immunogenicity of measles-rubella vaccine administered under India's Universal Immunization Programme in the context of measles-rubella elimination goal: A longitudinal study.

Background & objectives: There is a paucity of data regarding immunogenicity of recently introduced measles-rubella (MR) vaccine in Indian children, in which the first dose is administered below one year of age. This study was undertaken to assess the immunogenicity against rubella and measles 4-6 wk after one and two doses of MR vaccine administered under India's Universal Immunization Programme (UIP). Methods: In this longitudinal study, 100 consecutive healthy infants (9-12 months) of either gender attending the immunization clinic of a tertiary care government hospital affiliated to a medical college of Delhi for the first dose of routine MR vaccination were enrolled. MR vaccine (0.5 ml, subcutaneous) was administered to the enrolled participants (1st dose at 9-12 months and 2nd dose at 15-24 months). On each follow up (4-6 wk post-vaccination), 2 ml of venous blood sample was collected to estimate the antibody titres against measles and rubella using quantitative ELISA kits. Seroprotection (>10 IU/ml for measles and >10 WHO U/ml for rubella) and antibody titres were evaluated after each dose. Results: The seroprotection rate against rubella was 97.5 and 100 per cent and against measles was 88.7 per cent and 100 per cent 4-6 wk after the first and second doses, respectively. The mean (standard deviation) titres against rubella and measles increased significantly (P<0.001) after the second dose in comparison to the levels after the first dose by about 100 per cent and 20 per cent, respectively. Interpretation & conclusions: MR vaccine administered below one year of age under the UIP resulted in seroprotection against rubella and measles in a large majority of children. Furthermore, its second dose resulted in seroprotection of all children. The current MR vaccination strategy of two doses, out of which the first is to be given to infants below one year of age, appears robust and justifiable among Indian children.

Rapid and Specific Detection of B. melitensis Targeting BMEI1661 Gene Using Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) Combined With Lateral Flow immunoassay (LFIA).

B. melitensis is the most pathogenic zoonotic species of Brucella transmitted to animals through fetal secretions, placenta, and vaginal discharges of infected animals and humans by ingesting unpasteurized milk, dairy products, and raw meat. Early detection of B. melitensis is essential for timely intervention and control of the disease. The gold standard diagnostic methods, such as culture, are time-consuming and may take several weeks aiding to the disease spread. Loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay (LAMP) is widely used to detect infectious pathogens. LAMP can be utilized as a rapid point-of-care test, but has lower specificity which can be enhanced by combining this test with lateral flow immunoassay. No point-of-care test is available for detecting Brucella melitensis in clinical samples. Herein, we developed a LAMP coupled with lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) for the specific detection of B. melitensis. The sensitivity of LAMP-LFIA was found to be 12.1 fg of genomic DNA isolated from the organism, which is 100-fold more sensitive to conventional PCR and equally sensitive to Real-time (RT-PCR). Moreover, the assay demonstrated high specificity when tested against other Brucella and non-Brucella species. The infective dose of B. melitensis is relatively low for humans, which may remain undetected by conventional PCR, but will be detected using the new technique.

Development and evaluation of gold nanoprobe based lateral flow device for rapid and sensitive serodetection of Bluetongue in sheep.

Bluetongue (BT) disease is a viral, insect borne, noncontagious illness of small ruminants caused by Orbivirus, impacting huge economic loss worldwide. The existing BT diagnostic techniques are costly, time-consuming and require both specialized equipment and also skilled personnel. So there is need to develop a rapid, sensitive, on site detection assay for diagnosis of BT. This study utilized secondary antibody derivatized Gold nanoprobes for rapid and sensitive detection of BT over lateral flow device (LFD). The detection limit for this assay was found 1.875 µg of BT IgG/ml and a comparison between LFD and indirect ELISA was performed and the sensitivity and specificity was found at 96% and 99.23%, respectively, with observed kappa value of 0.952. This developed LFD may therefore offer a quick, affordable and accurate diagnosis of BT disease at the field level.

Role of narL gene in the pathogenesis of Salmonella Typhimurium.

Salmonella Typhimurium (STM) is a facultative anaerobe and one of the causative agents of nontyphoidal salmonellosis (NTS). Its anaerobic metabolism is enabled under the hypoxic environment that is encountered inside macrophages and the gut lumen of the host. In both of these niches, free radicals and oxidative intermediates are released by neutrophils as an inflammatory response. These chemical species further undergo reactions to produce nitrate, which is preferably taken up by STM as an electron acceptor in the absence of oxygen. NarL, the response regulator of the two-component regulatory system NarX/L, and a transcription factor, gets activated under anaerobic nitrate-rich conditions and upregulates the nitrate reduction during anaerobic respiration of STM. To understand the role of NarL in the pathogenesis of STM, we generated a narL-knockout (STM:ΔnarL) as well as a narL-complemented strain of STM. Anaerobically, the mutant displayed no growth defect but a significant attenuation in the swimming (26%) and swarming (61%) motility, and biofilm-forming ability (73%) in vitro, while these morphotypes got rescued upon genetic complementation. We also observed a downregulation in the expression of genes associated with nitrate reduction (narG) and biofilm formation (csgA and csgD) in anaerobically grown STM:ΔnarL. As compared with wild STM, narL mutant exhibited a threefold reduction in the intracellular replication in both intestinal epithelial cells (INT- 407) and monocyte-derived macrophages of poultry origin. Further, in vivo competitive assay in the liver and spleen of the murine model showed a competitive index of 0.48 ± 0.58 and 0.403668 ± 0.32, respectively, for STM:ΔnarL.

Comparing the Efficacy of Postoperative Antibiotic Regimens in the Treatment of Maxillofacial Fractures: A Prospective Study.

AIM: The present study was designed to investigate the difference in the effectiveness of a 3 day postoperative course and a single perioperative dose of antibiotics on the incidence of postoperative infection in the management of maxillofacial trauma patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: About 183 maxillofacial trauma patients requiring open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) under general anesthesia were divided based on the type of fracture sustained, i.e., mandibular fractures, Le Fort fractures, and zygomaticomaxillary complex fractures. Patients from each fracture type were randomized into two groups, A and B. All patients were administered amoxicillin/clavulanate 1.2 grams intravenously 8 hours from the time of admission till the patient was taken up for surgery. Once the patients were taken up for surgery, a perioperative dose was administered. No antibiotics beyond this point were given to patients in Group A. Patients in Group B were administered the same antibiotic for 3 postoperative days additionally. Outcomes in terms of purulent discharge from the surgical site, an abscess or any other sign of infection, and wound dehiscence requiring reopening of the surgical site were considered. Patients were reviewed at 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month, 2 months, and 3 months. RESULTS: No statistically significant difference was found between the two groups across all three fracture types in terms of postoperative outcomes. However, increased numbers of complications were noted in the patients treated with an intra-oral approach in each fracture type irrespective of group. All complications were managed with local measures. CONCLUSION: A single perioperative dose of antibiotics is effective in minimizing postoperative complications following ORIF of maxillofacial fractures and there is no significant benefit in prolonging the course of antibiotics postoperatively with the need for further studies to be conducted considering comminuted, complex fractures and old fractures. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: In maxillofacial trauma, fractures frequently communicate with contaminated indigenous flora on the skin surface, oral cavities, or sinus cavities. Surgery is frequently performed using an approach across a contaminated area, even in closed fractures. Postoperative infections can be significantly decreased by using antibiotics in surgical procedures to treat facial fractures.

Comparative Assessment of Three Different Alveolar Ridge Dimension Measurement Methods before Implant Placement: An In Vivo Study.

AIM: The purpose of this study was to compare the three various techniques for measuring the alveolar ridge's dimensions prior to implant insertion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For this study, a total of 36 participants were chosen. To prepare a surgical stent, a study model was created from an alginate impression. A first point (reference point) was marked on the crest of the ridge in relation to the adjacent teeth. Then, one point (point 1) and another point (point 2) were marked at distances of 3 and 6 mm, respectively, from the reference point. Based on the procedure for measuring the size of the alveolar ridge, the study was divided into the following groups. Group I: Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) measurement method; Group II: Ridge mapping measurement method; Group III: Direct caliper measurements method. Descriptive statistics were used to estimate the mean and standard deviation (SD). The Student's unpaired t-test was utilized for the statistical analysis. The 5% level of significance was used. RESULTS: There was no significant difference found between CBCT with ridge mapping and direct caliper measurements. However, on comparison of ridge mapping and direct caliper measurements technique, at point 1, the ridge mapping was 3.88 ± 0.12 and the direct caliper measurement was 3.62 ± 0.08. At point 2, the ridge mapping was 6.58 ± 0.06 and the direct caliper measurement was 6.32 ± 0.04. There was a statistically significant difference found between these two measurement methods. CONCLUSION: Within the limitation, the current study came to the conclusion that when CBCT and ridge mapping measurements were individually compared with the gold standard-the surgical open method, CBCT-demonstrated to be a highly specific and sensitive method for detecting the residual alveolar ridge width in the treatment planning of dental implants. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Evaluation of alveolar bone is necessary during treatment planning for dental implant placement. Using simply panoramic and/or periapical radiographs to evaluate the bone may not be sufficient because it only provides two-dimensional information regarding the implant locations. Therefore, for better implant placement, three-dimensional information of the implant site, such as CBCT and ridge mapping technique, should be assessed.