Novel Nicotine Delivery Systems.

Electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) are devices that contain a power source, a heating element, and a tank or cartridge containing an "e-liquid," which is a mixture of nicotine and flavoring in a glycerol-propylene glycol vehicle. Their increasing popularity among adolescents might be attributed to aggressive marketing in physical venues, social media outlets, as well as irreversible changes caused by nicotine in the developing brains of youth and young adults, predisposing them to addictive behaviors. Adolescent ENDS users were 4 times more likely to initiate cigarette smoking, and the odds of quitting smoking were lower and, in many instances, delayed for those using ENDS. ENDS also renormalize cigarette-like behaviors, such as inhaling/exhaling smoke. The oral cavity is the initial point of contact of ENDS and the first affected system in humans. Oral health depends on an intricate balance in the interactions between oral bacteria and the human immune system, and dysbiosis of oral microbial communities underlies the etiology of periodontitis, caries, and oral cancer. Emerging evidence from subjects with periodontitis as well as periodontally healthy subjects demonstrates that e-cigarette use is associated with a compositional and functional shift in the oral microbiome, with an increase in opportunistic pathogens and virulence traits.

Late onset systemic sclerosis with seronegativity: a rare presentation of an uncommon disease.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an uncommon connective tissue disorder characterized by multisystem involvement with fibrosis of skin and internal organs. Antibody formation is one of the hallmarks of SSc. Antinuclear antibodies (ANA) are positive in 97% of patients with SSc. We report a rare case where the patient was negative for ANA, Anti-topoisomerase I, Anti-centromere and Anti-RNA polymerase III antibodies.

The gut and oral microbiome in HIV disease: a workshop report.

Recent years have seen a massive expansion in our understanding of how we interact with our microbial colonists. The development of new, rapid sequencing techniques such as pyrosequencing and other next-generation sequencing systems have enabled us to begin to characterise the constituents of our diverse microbial communities, revealing the astonishing genetic richness that is our microbiome. Despite this, our ignorance of how these communities change over the course of an HIV infection is profound. Whilst some steps have been made to characterise the HIV microbiome at selected sites, these reports are still limited and much remains to be done. It has become apparent, however, that host-microbiota interactions are perturbed during HIV infections, with microbial translocation of potential pathogens linked to a variety of different HIV complications, including more rapid progression of disease. The use of probiotics and prebiotics has been investigated as treatments to alleviate symptoms for a variety of conditions, and is now being proposed for the treatment of symptoms associated with HIV. However, this is a new area of investigations and many questions remain unanswered. What we know about both of these topics is a drop in the ocean compared with what we need to know. In this article, we report on a workshop where these two major under-investigated research areas were presented, and future directions explored and discussed.

Modulation of the orodigestive tract microbiome in HIV-infected patients.

More than 37 million people are living with human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV), and more people than ever received lifesaving antiretroviral therapy worldwide. HIV-1 infection disrupts the intestinal immune system, leading to microbial translocation and systemic immune activation. We investigated the impact of HIV-1 infection on the GI microbiome and its association with host immune activation. The data indicated that the microbiome was different in HIV-positive and HIV-negative individuals. The initial sequence analysis of saliva indicated that there were major differences in the phyla of Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and TM7. Phylum Tenericutes was only seen in HIV-positive saliva. At the family level, we identified differences in Streptococcacea, Prevotellaceae, Porphyromonadaceae, and Neisseriaceae, whereas data from various sites in GI tract indicated that Prevotella melaninigencia, Fusobacterium necrophorum, Burkholderia, Bradyrhizobium, Ralstonia, and Eubacterium biforme were predominant but differentially present at various sites. Furthermore, there was a decrease in seven proteins associated with the alternative complement pathway and an increase in 6 proteins associated with the lectin and classical complement pathways. The correlation with a shift in complement pathways suggests that compromised immunity could be responsible for the observed dysbiosis in the GI microbiome.

Utility and limitations of multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification technique in the detection of cytogenetic abnormalities in products of conception.

Background and Introduction: Chromosomal abnormality is found in about half of first-trimester abortions. Karyotype is the gold standard to detect chromosomal abnormalities. Multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) offers advantage over karyotype in terms of lower failure rate, faster turnaround time, and much higher resolution than conventional karyotyping and found to be 98% concordant with conventional karyotype. AIM: We performed this study to look for the utility of MLPA in diagnosing chromosomal abnormalities in first-trimester abortions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MLPA using subtelomeric SALSA probe sets (P036 and P070) was used to detect cytogenetic abnormalities in products of conception in missed/spontaneous abortions. RESULTS: A total of ninety abortus samples were analyzed by MLPA. Successful results were provided in (67) 74.4% of the cases while no conclusion could be drawn in 25.6% (23) of the cases. Fifty-five (82.1%) cases were cytogenetically normal and 17.9% (12) had some abnormality. Aneuploidy was detected in 8 (66.7%) cases, 3 (25%) had double-segment imbalance, and one (8.3%) had partial aneuploidy. CONCLUSION: We suggest that MLPA is a good substitute to traditional karyotype.

Retracted: Evaluation of the incidence of microcracks caused by Mtwo and ProTaper NEXT rotary file systems versus the Self Adjusting File: a scanning electron microscopic study.

The following article from International Endodontic Journal, 'Evaluation of the incidence of microcracks caused by Mtwo and ProTaper NEXT rotary file systems versus the Self Adjusting File: a scanning electron microscopic study' by S. G. Saha, N. Vijaywargiya, S. Dubey, D. Saxena & S. Kala, published online on 24 November 2015 in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com), has been retracted by agreement between the authors, the journal Editor in Chief, Prof. Paul Dummer, and John Wiley & Sons Ltd. The retraction has been agreed due to the consideration that the SEM methodology used by the authors has the potential to cause cracks and is thus is not suitable for the evaluation of micro-cracks in roots.

Engineering and functional properties of biodegradable pellets developed from various agro-industrial wastes using extrusion technology.

Different agro-industrial wastes were mixed with different plasticizers and extruded to form the pellets to be used further for development of biodegradable molded pots. Bulk density and macro-porosity are the important engineering properties used to determine the functional characteristics of the biodegradable pellets viz., expansion volume, water solubility, product colour, flowability and compactness. Significant differences in the functional properties of pellets with varying bulk densities (loose and tapped) and macro-porosities (loose, tapped) were observed. The observed mean bulk density of biodegradable pellets made from different formulations ranged between 0.213 and 0.560 g/ml for loose fill conditions and 0.248 to 0.604 g/ml for tapped fill conditions. Biodegradable pellets bear a good compaction for both loose and tapped fill methods. The mean macro-porosity of biodegradable pellets ranged between 1.19 and 54.48 % for loose fill condition and 0.29 to 53.35 % for tapped fill condition. Hausner ratio (HR) for biodegradable pellets varied from 1.026 to 1.328, indicating a good flowability of biodegradable pellets. Pearson's correlation between engineering properties and functional properties of biodegradable pellets revealed that from engineering properties functional properties can be predicted.

Physicochemical, pasting, rheological, thermal and morphological properties of horse chestnut starch.

Indian Horse chestnuts contain high content of starch which can be explored to be used in various applications in food industry as encapsulating agent, stabilizer, binder, thickener, gelling agents and many more. Horse chest nut is locally available and can be a boon for food industry if the inherent properties are explored. Hence, horse chest nut starch can be a better option for the replacement of conventional starches to meet the industrial demand of starch. Physicochemical, pasting, rheological, thermal and morphological properties of starch isolated from Indian Horse chestnut (HCN) were determined. Amylose content was found to be 26.10 %. Peak viscosity obtained from RVA profile was 4110 cP. Hardness, cohesiveness, adhesiveness and gumminess were determined by Texture Profile Analyser. Particle size analysis showed a typical Uni modal size distribution profile with particle distribution ranging from 7.52 to 27.44 µm. The shape of starch granules varied from round, irregular, oval, and elliptical with smooth surface. X- ray diffraction revealed that HCN starch showed a typical C-type pattern with characteristic peaks at 5.7, 15.0, 17.3 and 22.3°. The transition temperatures (To, Tp, and Tc) and enthalpy of gelatinization (ΔH) values were 53.35, 58.81, 63.57 °C and 8.76 J/g, respectively. The rheological properties were determined in terms of variation of storage modulus (G (/)), loss modulus (G (//)) and loss factor (tan δ) at different temperatures. Peak G (/), peak G (//) and peak tan δ values were observed as 10,400 Pa, 1,710 Pa, and 0.164, respectively.

Reporting of various methodological and statistical parameters in negative studies published in prominent Indian Medical Journals: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: Biased negative studies not only reflect poor research effort but also have an impact on 'patient care' as they prevent further research with similar objectives, leading to potential research areas remaining unexplored. Hence, published 'negative studies' should be methodologically strong. All parameters that may help a reader to judge validity of results and conclusions should be reported in published negative studies. There is a paucity of data on reporting of statistical and methodological parameters in negative studies published in Indian Medical Journals. The present systematic review was designed with an aim to critically evaluate negative studies published in prominent Indian Medical Journals for reporting of statistical and methodological parameters. DESIGN: Systematic review. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All negative studies published in 15 Science Citation Indexed (SCI) medical journals published from India were included in present study. Investigators involved in the study evaluated all negative studies for the reporting of various parameters. Primary endpoints were reporting of "power" and "confidence interval." RESULTS: Power was reported in 11.8% studies. Confidence interval was reported in 15.7% studies. Majority of parameters like sample size calculation (13.2%), type of sampling method (50.8%), name of statistical tests (49.1%), adjustment of multiple endpoints (1%), post hoc power calculation (2.1%) were reported poorly. Frequency of reporting was more in clinical trials as compared to other study designs and in journals having impact factor more than 1 as compared to journals having impact factor less than 1. CONCLUSION: Negative studies published in prominent Indian medical journals do not report statistical and methodological parameters adequately and this may create problems in the critical appraisal of findings reported in these journals by its readers.

Unveiling the synergistic effect of octenyl succinic anhydride and pulsed electric field on starch nanoparticles.

In this study, guinea starch nanoparticles (GSNP) were prepared by nanoprecipitation technique and modified with octenyl succinic anhydride (3 %) and pulsed electric field (1.5, 3.0, and 4.5 kV/cm). The effect of dual modification on the physicochemical, structural, morphological, thermo-pasting, and rheological properties of GSNP was investigated. The dual modification successfully incorporated octenyl groups into GSNP, as confirmed by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The degree of substitution increased from 0.0254 to 0.0347, with particle size ranging from 241.30 to 292.50 nm and zeta potential of -23.11 to -29.98 mV. TEM micrographs revealed that all SNP samples had self-aggregated granules with a mean size below 120 nm, and XRD confirmed a V-type crystalline structure. The amylose content and water absorption capacity decreased from 34.02 % to 24.63 % and from 2.45 to 1.91 g/g, respectively, while the oil absorption capacity and relative crystallinity increased from 3.42 to 4.01 g/g and from 17.82 % to 34.76 %, with modification. The gelatinization and degradation temperature of modified samples were higher while pasting properties exhibited variation with modification. The rheological properties of modified SNP samples exhibited more pronounced shear thinning, attributed to their weaker gel structure and fluid-like gel network. Overall, results suggested that modified GSNPs have potential for stabilizing Pickering emulsion and delivery of carrier materials for active functional substances.

Synthesis, optimization, and characterization of precipitation derived starch nanoparticles from guinea seeds.

Guinea starch nanoparticles (GS-SNP) were developed using ultrasound and nanoprecipitation techniques. The physicochemical, thermal, structural, morphological, pasting, and rheological properties of GS-SNP were examined and compared with native starch. The particle size of GS-SNP was 391.50-206.00 nm, with a PDI of 0.35-0.23 and a zeta potential of -37.5 to -13 mV. The amylose content of GS-SNP increased with a decrease in relative crystallinity, and a VH-type crystalline structure was observed. The GS-SNP were in round shape with some self-aggregated granules. The water and oil absorption capacity, solubility, and gelatinization temperature of GS-SNP increased, but the swelling power was restricted. The viscosity of the GS-SNP dispersion remained almost constant throughout the heating but slightly increased after cooling. A higher degree of shear thinning was observed due to a fluid-like gel network and weak gel structure. The optimum conditions were: 50 % amplitude, 30 min time, and a starch to ethanol ratio (1:4) with 85 % maximum desirability. Overall, the findings suggest that GS-SNP have promising potential for application in a liquid system where viscosity of the system cannot be significantly influenced by temperature.

Valorization of guinea grass seed (Megathyrsus maximus): Synthesis and utilization of cellulose microfiber to reinforce esterified and cross-linked guinea starch films.

The present study extracts starch from guinea grass seed and fiber from the starch extraction residue. The fibrous residue was chemically converted into cellulose microfiber (CMF) and used to reinforce the native, esterified and crosslinked guinea starch films. The films were developed with 5 % starch, 40 % glycerol and 0, 2.5, 5, and 10 % CMF based on the dry matter of starch. SEM images of all film samples showed good compatibility of CMF with starch molecules, and no fractures or pores were observed. Adding filler materials to modified starch films slightly increased the film thickness (0.24 to 0.30 mm) due to the high dimensions of CMF, which comprise a significant amount of the composite's volume. A synergetic effect of starch modification and CMF in films decreased the moisture content (21.98 to 9.21 %), water solubility (25.65 to 15.47 %), water vapor permeability (6.96×10-7 to 1.65×10-7g∙mm2∙day∙Pa), and elongation at the break (33.51 to 16.79 %) while increasing the tensile strength (1.84 to 3.85 MPa) and Young's modulus (5.49 to 22.93 MPa). The L* and a* values of the films decreased, and the b* and opacity values of the films increased with the addition of CMF. The XRD graph showed that all films have semicrystalline structures with peaks at 18°, 20°, and 22°, and the degree of crystallinity increases (32.3 to 55.1 %) with CMF. All film samples showed good thermal stability up to 315 °C. In conclusion, esterified starch-based films exhibited superior barrier properties and flexibility. On the contrary, cross-linked starch films demonstrated higher tensile strength and lower water solubility.

Development of high-yielding white maize hybrids with better chapatti-making quality compared to traditionally used local landraces.

Introduction: The present research focuses on the chapatti making quality of high-yielding white maize hybrids compared to available low-yielding local yellow and white landraces in India. Materials and methods: In this study, the top nine superior hybrids were selected for testing the physical properties of the maize kernels, proximate composition of flours and chapattis, physical parameters of chapatti, textural properties, sensory evaluation of chapattis and pasting properties of maize flour. Results and discussion: The results revealed the superiority of white maize hybrids (WMH), viz., WHM 1, WHM 2, and WHM 8 over the local yellow and white landraces for most of the parameters studied. In sensory analysis, though, the yellow landrace was considered superior by the panellists in terms of colour but the white maize hybrids outperformed in overall sensory analysis and were more acceptable than the yellow and white maize landraces. These high yielding white maize hybrids with good consumer acceptance may cater for the needs of rural and tribal populations in India who prefer white maize as a staple food.

Response of chickpea genotypes to Agrobacterium-mediated delivery of Chickpea chlorotic dwarf virus (CpCDV) genome and identification of resistance source.

Chickpea stunt disease caused by Chickpea chlorotic dwarf virus (CpCDV) (genus Mastrevirus, family Geminiviridae) is the most important biotic stress affecting chickpea crops worldwide. A survey conducted on the incidence of stunt disease clearly revealed high incidence of the disease with severe symptom expression in both indigenous and imported genotypes. To manage the disease in a sustainable way, resistant genotypes need to be bred by adopting objective and precise assessment of the disease response of chickpea genotypes. At present, evaluation of CpCDV resistance is conducted on the basis of natural infection in the field, which is bound to be erroneous due to vagaries in vector population. To circumvent the above problems, we devised an agroinoculation technique that involves the delivery of viral genomic DNA through Agrobacterium tumefaciens. An objective scoring system assigning quantitative value to different symptoms has been evolved to assess the response of chickpea genotypes to CpCDV inoculation. Using the inoculation and scoring techniques, we screened 70 genotypes, which helped in differentiating field resistance that is more due to resistance to vector feeding than resistance to the virus.

Antibiotic effects on bacterial profile in osteonecrosis of the jaw.

OBJECTIVE: Oral infection is considered to play a critical role in the pathogenesis of bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ), and antibiotic therapy has become a mainstay of BRONJ therapy. This study was aimed to investigate the effect of antibiotics on bacterial diversity in BRONJ tissues. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The bacterial profile from soft tissues associated with the BRONJ lesion was determined using 16S rRNA-based denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and sequencing. Twenty BRONJ subjects classified as stage 0-2 were enrolled in this study, and patient groups were divided into an antibiotic cohort (n=10) treated with systemic antibiotic and a non-antibiotic cohort (n=10) with no prior antibiotic therapy. RESULTS: The DGGE fingerprints indicated no significant differences in bacterial diversity of BRONJ tissue samples. Patients on antibiotics had higher relative abundance of phylum Firmicutes with bacterial species, Streptococcus intermedius, Lactobacillus gasseri, Mogibacterium timidum, and Solobacterium moorei, whereas patients without antibiotics had greater amounts of Parvimonas micra and Streptococcus anginosus. Thirty percent of bacterial populations were uncultured (yet-to be cultured) phylotypes. CONCLUSION: This study using limited sample size indicated that oral antibiotic therapy may have a limited efficacy on the bacterial population associated with BRONJ lesions.

Molecular profiling of oral microbiota in jawbone samples of bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw.

OBJECTIVE: Infection has been hypothesized as a contributing factor to bisphosphonate (BP)-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ). The objective of this study was to determine the bacterial colonization of jawbone and identify the bacterial phylotypes associated with BRONJ. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Culture-independent 16S rRNA gene-based molecular techniques were used to determine and compare the total bacterial diversity in bone samples collected from 12 patients with cancer (six, BRONJ with history of BP; six, controls without BRONJ, no history of BP but have infection). RESULTS: Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis profile and Dice coefficient displayed a statistically significant clustering of profiles, indicating different bacterial population in BRONJ subjects and control. The top three genera ranked among the BRONJ group were Streptococcus (29%), Eubacterium (9%), and Pseudoramibacter (8%), while in the control group were Parvimonas (17%), Streptococcus (15%), and Fusobacterium (15%). H&E sections of BRONJ bone revealed layers of bacteria along the surfaces and often are packed into the scalloped edges of the bone. CONCLUSION: This study using limited sample size indicated that the jawbone associated with BRONJ was heavily colonized by specific oral bacteria and there were apparent differences between the microbiota of BRONJ and controls.

Effect of photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy on in vitro and in situ biofilms.

AIM: The effect of photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy (PACT) on oral biofilms was evaluated. METHODS: Biofilms formed in vitro were treated with sensitizer (S) and/or light (L) in the test (S+L+) and control (S-L-, S+L-, S-L+) groups. Additionally, 21 volunteers wore intraoral devices and the biofilms formed on each side of the device were referred to as S+L+ or S-L- groups. RESULTS: Significant decreases in the viability of in vitro biofilms were observed after PACT. PACT was ineffective in inhibiting multi-species biofilms formed in situ. CONCLUSION: PACT was effective on in vitro biofilms and was ineffective on in situ biofilms.

Potential Mechanisms Underlying Marijuana-Associated Periodontal Tissue Destruction.

While definitive evidence awaits, cannabis is emerging as a likely risk factor for periodontal tissue destruction. The mechanisms that underlie potential cannabis-induced or cannabis-enhanced periodontal diseases, however, remain to be elucidated. Herein, we 1) examine insights obtained from the endocannabinoid system, 2) summarize animal models of exposure to cannabinoid receptor agonists and antagonists, 3) review the evidence suggesting that cannabis and cannabis-derived molecules exert a profound influence on components of the oral microbiome, and 4) assess studies indicating that marijuana and phytocannabinoids compromise the immune response to plaque. Furthermore, we address how knowledge of cannabinoid influences in the oral cavity may be exploited to provide potential novel periodontal therapeutics, while recognizing that such medicinal approaches may be most appropriate for nonhabitual marijuana users. The suspected increase in susceptibility to periodontitis in marijuana users is multifaceted, and it is clear that we are only beginning to understand the complex toxicological, cellular, and microbial interactions involved. With marijuana consumption increasing across all societal demographics, periodontal complications of use may represent a significant, growing oral health concern. In preparation, an enhanced research response would seem appropriate.

Functional, thermal and structural properties of fractionated protein from waste banana peel.

Defatted banana peel powder was fractionated using the Osborne method to extract albumin, globulin, prolamin, and glutelin for physicochemical and functional characterization. The total recovery of protein was ∼89.76%. Albumin was the dominant one in terms of yield (62.4%) and protein content (65.15%) among all the fractions. The mean diameter of albumin (635.05 µm) and glutelin (642.62 µm) were significantly smaller than globulin (726.81 µm) and prolamin (986.45 µm). The highest water (1.86 ± 0.12 g/g), oil (1.97 ± 0.12 g/g) holding capacity, and emulsion capacity (59.27 ± 1.25%) were found for the albumin fraction. In contrast, the glutelin fraction showed the highest foaming capacity (19.13 ± 0.41%) and dispersibility (951.55 ± 3.83 g/kg). The denaturation temperature of protein fractions was found in the range of 30.31-82.08 °C. FTIR confirmed low carbohydrates and protein richness of albumin fraction. XRD revealed the crystalline nature of albumin (65%) and the amorphous nature of other fractions (41-45%). The morphology of all fractions was different, which influenced the functional characteristics.

Advances in isolation, characterization, modification, and application of Chenopodium starch: A comprehensive review.

The Chenopodium genus includes >250 species, among which only quinoa, pigweed, djulis, and kaniwa have been explored for starches. Chenopodium is a non-conventional and rich source of starch, which has been found effective in producing different classes of food. Chenopodium starches are characterized by their smaller granule size (0.4-3.5 µm), higher swelling index, shorter/lower gelatinization regions/temperature, good emulsifying properties, and high digestibility, making them suitable for food applications. However, most of the investigations into Chenopodium starches are in the primary stages (isolation, modification, and characterization), except for quinoa. This review comprehensively explores the major developments in Chenopodium starch research, emphasizing isolation, structural composition, functionality, hydrolysis, modification, and application. A critical analysis of the trends, limitations, and scope of these starches for novel food applications has also been provided to promote further scientific advancement in the field.