Development of chitosan-based cerium and titanium oxide loaded polycaprolactone for cutaneous wound healing and antibacterial applications

Cerium dioxide (CeO2) based nanomaterials have emerged as promising dermal equivalents, promoting fibroblast infiltration and tissues regeneration. To enhance the antibacterial and wound healing activity, herein chitosan (CS)-CeO2 combined nano titanium dioxide (TiO2) complex loaded polycaprolactone (PCL) nanohybrid (CS-CeO2/TiO2/PCL) scaffolds were prepared through casting method. The nanohybrid scaffolds' physiochemical, morphological, mechanical, and biological properties were evaluated using advanced analytical techniques. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy spectrum evidently depicted the various intermolecular interactions on the nanohybrid scaffolds. The developed scaffold exhibited the high swelling behavior and good degradability and permeability which is beneficial for absorbing wound transudation to fasten the healing efficacy. Moreover, CS-CeO2/TiO2/PCL scaffolds owned the better antibacterial activity against bacterial strains E. coli and S. aureus. Also, MTT assay on fibroblast (NIH 3T3) cells and immortalized human keratinocytes (HaCaT) cells indicated improved cell viability and proliferation. In vivo results revealed that the fabricated scaffold full aid to complete wound closure after 14 days which showed CS-CeO2/TiO2/PCL as the significant wound dressing material with potential antibacterial immunity.

Validation of Diagnostic Utility of Salivary Urea in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease in Chennai: A Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND

Serum urea levels are essential for the diagnosis of chronic kidney disease (CKD), as they are a measure of renal function. Salivary urea has been used as an alternative to serum urea in patients with CKD.

AIM

To estimate serum urea levels and their correlation with salivary urea levels in order to validate the use of saliva as an alternative diagnostic tool for renal dysfunction.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Thirty healthy individuals and 150 patients with CKD (30 from each CKD stage) were recruited for the study. Serum and salivary samples were collected to estimate the urea levels, and statistical analyses were performed.

RESULTS

Statistically significant (P < 0.05) differences in the mean serum and salivary urea levels were observed between the healthy and each stage of the CKD group; significance at P < 0.05 was observed within the stages of CKD as well. Correlation analysis also showed significant differences between the serum and salivary urea levels at each stage of the disease. Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed a higher area under the curve of 0.917 at a 95% confidence interval with a salivary urea cut-off of 28.25 mg/dl (sensitivity and specificity: 88% and 84%, respectively).

CONCLUSION

The variability in salivary urea levels in the early and late stages suggests the use of salivary urea in the late stages of CKD. It is suggested that salivary urea levels may be used as an alternative to serum to assess and monitor the progression of renal impairment along with other standard renal function markers.

Detection of human papillomavirus 16 and 18 in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma and potentially malignant oral disorders in South Indian population: A pilot study

The Aim of the Study

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is an oncogenic virus and the high-risk genotype HPV 16 and 18 are the most commonly associated with carcinoma. The aim of the study is to determine the prevalence of HPV 16 and 18 in normal oral mucosa, potentially malignant oral disorders (PMOD), and in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) in South Indian population and whether it can be used as a biological marker to identify the severity of the disease in patients.

Materials and Methods

Cytological samples from buccal mucosa were obtained from ten OSCC patients, ten patients with PMOD, and ten from control group. The samples were subjected to polymerase chain reaction.

Results

The prevalence of HPV 16 in control, PMOD, and OSCC was 80%, 50%, and 70%, respectively. The prevalence of HPV 18 in control, PMOD, and OSCC was 70%, 60%, and 50%, respectively.

Conclusion

HPV 16 and 18 was noticed in normal oral mucosa, potentially malignant oral lesions, and SCC. The absence of sequential increase or decrease of HPV 16 and 18 in the three groups in this study prevents its use from being used as a marker to identify the progression of the disease.

Root Length: As a determinant tool of sexual dimorphism in an ethnic Tamil population

Background:

Sexual dimorphism in teeth has been an area of research for forensic anthropologists. The function of root in transmitting the forces of occlusion to the alveolar bone varies as the force in males tends to be larger than in females. This shows the significance of the root length as indicators of sexual dimorphism.

Aim:

The aim of this study was to determine the presence of sexual dimorphism in the root lengths of permanent teeth and to evaluate if root length could be instrumental in defining sexual dimorphism among an ethnic Tamil population.

Materials and Methods:

Orthopantomograms of 1000 individuals (500 males and 500 females) were utilized, and the measurement of root length of permanent maxillary and mandibular teeth from canine to first molar on all four quadrants using the Digital software SCANORA 5.2.6. was carried out. Statistical analysis including descriptive statistics and independent Student t-test were performed.

Results:

In this study, the sexual dimorphism in root length is observed in 13, 14, 15, 16, 23, 26, 33, 36, 43, and 46 (mesial), and there is a statistically significant difference between the root measurements of males and females (P < 0.05). Most dimorphic teeth were maxillary canines and mandibular canines.

Conclusion:

The data generated from this study suggest that the root length measurements present with a substantial evidence of sexual dimorphism emphasizing its importance on identifying sex and are therefore useful in determining the biological profile.

Interaction of Mesotetrakis (2,6,dimethoxyphenol) Porphyrin with AuTiO2 Nanoparticles: A Spectroscopic Approach

The combination of nanoparticles with the photosensitizing molecules will assist in developing new approach for their biological applications. In this paper work, we have studied the interaction of photosensitising mesotetrakis (2,6,dimethoxyphenol) porphyrin molecule (P1) with AuTiO2 nanoparticles using absorption, fluorescence and time resolved measurements. An isosbestic point is appeared in the absorption spectrum of P1 on increasing the concentration of AuTiO2 nanoparticles indicates the interaction of P1 with AuTiO2 nanoparticles. Static type of quenching is observed in the fluorescence quenching measurement which is confirmed through lifetime measurements. Energy level calculations and Rehm Weller methods confirms the electron transfer mechanism from the excited P1 to the AuTiO2 nanoparticles. The observed effective binding and electron transfer property of porphyrin with AuTiO2 nanoparticles has great potential to be applied in the field of photodynamic therapy.

Descriptions of four new species of Dicopomorpha Ogloblin (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Mymaridae) from India with a key to Indian species

<p>Four new species of <em>Dicopomorpha </em>Ogloblin (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Mymaridae), <em>D. albithorax</em>, <em>D. funiculata</em>,<em> D. longiscapa </em> and <em>D. minuta </em>are described and illustrated.  A key to the Indian species of <em>Dicopomorpha </em>is provided.</p><div> </div>

Descriptions of four new species of Dicopomorpha Ogloblin (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Mymaridae) from India with a key to Indian species

<p>Four new species of <em>Dicopomorpha </em>Ogloblin (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Mymaridae), <em>D. albithorax</em>, <em>D. funiculata</em>,<em> D. longiscapa </em> and <em>D. minuta </em>are described and illustrated.  A key to the Indian species of <em>Dicopomorpha </em>is provided.</p><div> </div>

Additions to the Encyrtidae and Mymaridae (Chalcidoidea) of India with new distribution and host records for some species

Background

Encyrtidae and Mymaridae of India have not been surveyed in depth and hosts are not known for most of the species as the methods of collections used are passive and do not yield firsthand information on the hosts. Based on our ongoing surveys on the Encyrtidae and Mymaridae of India, we report here new distribution and host records for some species.

New information

Acmopolynemacampylurum Xu and Lin, Lituscynipseus Haliday, Omyomymarglabrum Lin and Chiappini and Platystethynium Ogloblin (Mymaridae), and Rhytidothoraxpurpureiscutellum (Girault) (Encyrtidae) are reported for the first time from India. Anagyrusaquilonaris (Noyes and Hayat) is recorded as new to Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya. Paraphaenodiscusindicus Singh and Agarwal and Paraphaenodiscusmonawari Bhuiya are recorded from south India for the first time, the latter on a new host, Pulvinariapolygonata. Chorizococcussorghi Williams (Pseudococcidae) is reported as a host for Cryptanusiaajmerensis (Fatma & Shafee), for which no hosts are hitherto known and the male of Cryptanusia is documented for the first time. Aclerda sp. is recorded as a new host for Neastymachusaxillaris Singh, Agarwal and Basha.

First report of Dicopus longipes (Subba Rao) (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) from India with new distribution data on some species

Dicopuslongipes (Subba Rao) (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Mymaridae) is recorded from India for the first time. New additional distribution records of Mymaridae from the southern Indian states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala are documented.

New distributional records of Encyrtidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) from Puducherry, India

Thirty six genera and forty species of encyrtid parasitoids are reported as new records from Pondicherry and Karaikal districts of Union Territory of Puducherry (=Pondicherry), India.