Giant juvenile ossifying fibroma from diagnosis to management: A rare case

Juvenile aggressive ossifying fibroma is a rare, benign tumor of the maxillofacial region that is aggressive and recurrent leading to multiple surgeries causing maxillofacial defect and deformities. The management of patients with ossifying fibroma is controversial.  The aim was to report a case of huge ossifying fibroma involving maxilla, zygoma, and orbit in a young female with a duration of 15 years. The patient was operated multiple times but the lesion recurred. Patient-specific implant was fabricated to replace the defect area which would be created after surgery but with meticulous intraoperative decision the high morbid surgery was changed to conservative surgery. No recurrence was seen after two year follow up. The patient aesthetic has also improved. In conclusion it can be said in huge benign ossifying fibroma morbid surgery should be avoided

Class III malocclusion: missense mutations in DUSP6 gene

Objective: To determine the DUSP6 gene mutation in three generations of Malaysian Malay subjects having Class III malocclusion. Material and Methods: Genetic analyses of DUSP6 gene were carried out in 30 subjects by selecting three individuals representing three generations, respectively, from ten Malaysian Malay families having Class III malocclusion and 30 healthy controls. They were submitted Clinical Evaluation to clinical examination, lateral cephalometric radiographs, dental casts, and/ or facial and intra-oral photographs. Buccal cell was taken from each participant of Class III malocclusion and control groups. DNA extractions from buccal cell were carried out using Gentra puregene buccal cell kit. Bio Edit Sequence Alignment Editor software was used to see the sequencing result. Results: A heterozygous missense mutation c.1094C>T (p. Thr 365 Ile) was identified in DUSP6 gene in three members of one family with Class III malocclusion, whereas no mutation was found in the control group. Conclusion: Current study successfully identified a missense mutation in DUSP6 gene among one Malaysian Malay family affected by Class III malocclusion. The outcome of this study broadened the mutation spectrum of Class III malocclusion and the importance of DUSP6 gene in skeletal functions

ETHNOMEDICINAL PLANTS USED BY TRIBES OF CHITTOOR DISTRICT OF ANDHRA PRADESH TO CURE MUSCULAR PAIN AND INFLAMMATION

An ethnobotanical survey was carried out to collect the first-hand information on medicinal plants used by the inhabited and traditionally rich tribal communities (Chenchus, Yanadis and Nakkalas) in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh (AP) for the treatment of muscular pain and inflammation. The information was gathered by an integrated approach of botanical collections, group discussions and questionnaire. The survey revealed thirty forty (34) ethno-medicinal plants belonging to twenty one (21) angiospermic families specifically used for the preparation of medicinal remedies. The tribal claims on the medicinal plants are listed with Latin name, family, local name, part used, method of preparation, dose and its use in pain and inflammation conditions. The habit of frequently used plant were recorded includes tree species (44 %) followed by herbs (35 %) climbers (12 %), under shrubs (6 %) and shrub (3%). Most frequently utilized plant parts were leaves, followed by root, latex, whole plant, bark, fruits, rhizome and seeds. In this particular study the most dominant family was found to be Euphorbiaceae. The result clearly indicates that people living around Chittoor forest area hold valuable traditional knowledge of the use of medicinal plants for their primary health care need related to muscular injury and inflammation. These plant resources are important component in their local livelihood and to control overexploitation of these resources sustainable management approach and proper conservation strategy for the area is also highly recommended by bringing the involvement of local communities and forest department. More in-depth investigations on these claims through phytochemical and pharmacological parameters are required to explore their activities to deal with the conditions of pain and inflammation

Climate change and geopolitical conflicts: the role of ESG readiness

This study examines the relationship between climate change vulnerability and geopolitical risk using data on 42 countries from 1995 to 2021. Utilising two distinct indices, the climate vulnerability index (CVI) and the country-specific geopolitical risk (CGPR) indices, we find that countries with high vulnerability to climate change are more likely to experience geopolitical conflicts. Further analysis reveals that country-level overall economic, social, and governance (ESG) readiness significantly mitigates this detrimental effect. This moderation is mainly attributed to the social and governance readiness measures. Additional tests indicate that the mitigating role of ESG is more pronounced for countries with high institutional governance. These results remain resilient through a set of endogeneity tests using matched samples of countries generated through propensity score matching (PSM) estimation. Our findings suggest that addressing climate vulnerability is crucial to promoting global peace and geopolitical stability

Analysis of Tweed’s facial triangle in mixed dentition children with class III malocclusion treated by two different appliances

Reverse twin-block (RTB) and reverse pull face mask (RPFM) are two commonly used orthodontic appliances to treat Class III malocclusions in mixed dentition children

Chemicals industry’s initiatives for corporate social responsibility: some perspectives from academia

Chemicals industry is likely to become increasingly relevant in Malaysia. The government is playing its active role in regulating and enforcing legislation to monitor the activities throughout the chemical lifecycle. Chemicals industry itself is also ought to manage the risks associated with their activities through a holistic risk management framework. With the implementation of global regulations and policies, it is able to increase the competitiveness of chemicals industry in the global market and enhance protection of human health and the environment. Today’s chemicals industry should not merely focus on maximize their profit and meeting the needs of shareholders, focus should also be devoted to their social and environmental performances and meeting the needs of other key stakeholders including the community, customers, suppliers, and employees. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) thus has become a concern for chemicals industry. Various CSR emblematic initiatives, namely Responsible Care (RC), Product Stewardship (PS) and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) have been carrying out within chemicals industry. The implementation of such initiatives has become a way for chemical companies to advance social progress while also making a profit, and ultimately becomes a way for many businesses to sustain over the long-term

A comprehensive pathological survey of duodenal biopsies from dogs with diet-responsive chronic enteropathy

Background: The detailed pathological phenotype of diet-responsive chronic enteropathy (CE) and its modulation with dietary therapy remain poorly characterized. Hypothesis/Objectives: Key mucosal lesions of diet-responsive CE resolve with dietary therapy. Methods: This was a prospective observational study of 20 dogs with diet-responsive CE. Endoscopic duodenal biopsies collected before and 6 weeks after the start of a dietary trial were assessed by means of qualitative and quantitative histopathological, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural criteria. Control duodenal biopsies were obtained from 10 healthy Beagle dogs on 1 occasion. Results: Compared with control dogs, the CE dogs had higher villus stunting scores and higher overall WSAVA scores, a lower villus height-to-width ratio, and higher lamina propria density of eosinophils. The CE dogs also had ultrastructural lesions of the mitochondria and brush border. In common with other studies in which the disease and control populations are not matched for breed, age, sex, and environment, these comparisons should be interpreted with caution. Comparing biopsies collected at presentation and 6 weeks after starting the dietary trial, mean lamina propria mononuclear cell score and lamina propria densities of eosinophils and mononuclear cells decreased. Dietary therapy also improved ultrastructural lesions of the mitochondria and brush border, eliciting a decrease in intermicrovillar space and an increase in microvillus height. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: In dogs with diet-responsive CE, the remission of clinical signs with dietary therapy is associated with subtle decreases in lamina propria density of eosinophils and mononuclear cells, and resolution of ultrastructural lesions of the enterocyte. © 2013 by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine

Achieving sustainable coastal environment in Langkawi, Malaysia

Despite many good policies and institutions, the coastal environment of Langkawi continues to deteriorate. This could be due to lack of effective governance as well as unregulated waste discharge. Evidences collected from the literature during 1996 to 2013 also revealed a significant increase in the concentrations of Zn (R2 = 0.78) and Pb (R2 = 0.12) in the sediment. This appears to be the result of large volume of terrestrial runoff that brings these metals originating from extensive anthropogenic activities. It is a vital indicator of coastal pollution. It is a matter of concern that in many cases Pb concentration in the sediment exceeded the world average value 20 µg/g as well as Canadian Interim Sediment Quality Standard of 35 µg/g for the coastal areas. Similarly, the metal pollution index (MPI) measured over a period of 2007 to 2009 in fish also indicated an increasing trend of pollution in Langkawi. The maximum MPI value (4.87) was recorded in Spanish mackerel. Since pollution of coastal environment has serious implications for marine biodiversity and health of seafood consumers, measures are required to address this problem. Use of constructed wetland might be effective in reducing the coastal pollution as this will filter the effluent and waste before their mixing with the coastal water. Furthermore, enabling the stakeholders to play the environmental stewardship role will ensure better governance of coastal ecosystem and effective implementation of policies, envisaging an improved monitoring of waste/effluent discharge into the coastal marine environment. These measures are among the actions necessary for achieving a sustainable coastal environment of Langkawi

Soil and Rhizosphere Associated Fungi in Gray Mangroves (Avicennia marina) from the Red Sea — A Metagenomic Approach

Covering a quarter of the world’s tropical coastlines and being one of the most threatened ecosystems, mangroves are among the major sources of terrestrial organic matter to oceans and harbor a wide microbial diversity. In order to protect, restore, and better understand these ecosystems, researchers have extensively studied their microbiology, yet few surveys have focused on their fungal communities. Our lack of knowledge is even more pronounced for specific fungal populations, such as the ones associated with the rhizosphere. Likewise, the Red Sea gray mangroves (Avicennia marina) remain poorly characterized, and understanding of their fungal communities still relies on cultivation-dependent methods. In this study, we analyzed metagenomic datasets from gray mangrove rhizosphere and bulk soil samples collected in the Red Sea coast, to obtain a snapshot of their fungal communities. Our data indicated that Ascomycota was the dominant phylum (76%–85%), while Basidiomycota was less abundant (14%–24%), yet present in higher numbers than usually reported for such environments. Fungal communities were more stable within the rhizosphere than within the bulk soil, both at class and genus level. This finding is consistent with the intrinsic patchiness in soil sediments and with the selection of specific microbial communities by plant roots. Our study indicates the presence of several species on this mycobiome that were not previously reported as mangrove-associated. In particular, we detected representatives of several commercially-used fungi, e.g., producers of secreted cellulases and anaerobic producers of cellulosomes. These results represent additional insights into the fungal community of the gray mangroves of the Red Sea, and show that they are significantly richer than previously reported