Prevalence of periodontitis and its association with smokeless tobacco (SLT) Use amongst the adult population of Greater Noida, India - A cross-sectional study

Context: Smokeless tobacco (SLT) has been consumed in India since times immemorial. It is the need of an hour to emphasise about awareness and harmful effects of SLT in relation to periodontium. Aim: The aim of the study was to access the prevalence of periodontitis and its association with SLT amongst the adult population of Greater Noida, India. Settings and Design: Hospital-based study and cross-sectional design. Methods and Material: This cross-sectional study included 512 SLT subjects between the ages of 18 and 79 years. The study was carried out from December 2019 to January 2022. A self-designed questionnaire was used for recording demographic details, forms of SLT, frequency, duration of use, and sites of retention of SLT products. The clinical periodontal parameters such as periodontal pocket depth (PPD) and clinical attachment level (CAL) were recorded in a given point of time. Statistical Analysis Used: Chi-square test and logistic regression analysis. Results: The prevalence of periodontitis among SLT was 81.6% with the highest occurrence of Stage III Periodontitis (35.4%). The use of SLT for ≥10 years [odds ratio (OR) = 3.05, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.86–6.27] showed threefold the risk for periodontitis compared to others who consumed SLT for 4–5 years. Gutkha consumers [OR = 2.56 (95% CI = 0.75–3.48)] were 2.56 times more prone to have periodontitis as compared to other forms of SLT. Conclusions: Periodontitis is positively associated with SLT use. Awareness, timely intervention, and periodic screening in the SLT users will help to prevent the progression of periodontitis

Adherence to iron with folic acid supplementation in women attending an antenatal clinic at a low-income urban area in Delhi, India

Introduction: Adherence to Iron-Folic Acid Supplementation (IFAS) in pregnant women can safeguard them against nutritional anemia and the related adverse pregnancy outcomes. The objective of this study was to assess the adherence to oral IFAS in women attending an antenatal clinic in an urban resettlement colony of Delhi, India. Material and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study and enrolled 211 antenatal women through consecutive sampling during a 4-month period from December 2018 to April 2019. IFAS adherent status was defined as women taking ≥80% of their prescribed IFAS in the previous 7 days, equivalent to IFAS intake for at least 6 days in the previous week. We also estimated adequacy of IFAS drug stocks with the patient during the past 30 days. The data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Version 25. A P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The mean (± standard deviation) age of the women was 24.6 (±3.4) years, ranging from 19 to 35 years. Median years of education was 11, and all the women were currently married. A total of 54 (25.6) women reported being non-adherent to their prescribed IFA medication. Only 175 (82.9%) women had adequate IFAS stocks during the past 30 days. On adjusted analysis, running out of IFAS stocks was a significant predictor of IFAS non-adherence (P = 0.004). Conclusion: The present study indicates that adherence to IFAS among pregnant women is suboptimal. Non-adherence was usually because of running out of drug-stocks but rarely due to drug side-effects

Orai3 Regulates Pancreatic Cancer Metastasis by Encoding a Functional Store Operated Calcium Entry Channel

Store operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) mediated by Orai1/2/3 channels is a highly regulated and ubiquitous Ca2+ influx pathway. Although the role of Orai1 channels is well studied, the significance of Orai2/3 channels is still emerging in nature. In this study, we performed extensive bioinformatic analysis of publicly available datasets and observed that Orai3 expression is inversely associated with the mean survival time of PC patients. Orai3 expression analysis in a battery of PC cell lines corroborated its differential expression profile. We then carried out thorough Ca2+ imaging experiments in six PC cell lines and found that Orai3 forms a functional SOCE channel in PC cells. Our in vitro functional assays show that Orai3 regulates PC cell cycle progression, apoptosis and migration. Most importantly, our in vivo xenograft studies demonstrate a critical role of Orai3 in PC tumor growth and secondary metastasis. Mechanistically, Orai3 controls G1 phase progression, matrix metalloproteinase expression and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in PC cells. Taken together, this study for the first-time reports that Orai3 drives aggressive phenotypes of PC cells, i.e., migration in vitro and metastasis in vivo. Considering that Orai3 overexpression leads to poor prognosis in PC patients, it appears to be a highly attractive therapeutic target

Understanding the Role of Atomic Ordering in the Crystal Structures of NixSny\mathrm{Ni_{x}Sn_{y}} toward Efficient Vapor Phase Furfural Hydrogenation

We have synthesized ordered NixSny nanoparticles separated by Al$_2$O$_3$ as highly efficient catalysts for the vapor phase hydrogenation of furfural. The Ni$_x$Sn$_y$-Al$_2$O$_3$ composite catalysts with different chemical compositions (Ni$_3$Sn$_4$, Ni$_3$Sn, Ni$_{1.5}$Sn, Ni$_3$Sn$_2$, Ni) were prepared through the layered double hydroxide (LDH) route by annealing at 800 °C in the presence of H$_2$. NixSny nanoparticles were well dispersed throughout the Al$_2$O$_3$ matrix indicating the high thermal stability of these materials. The effect of different concentration of Ni, Sn, and Al in the formation of Ni$_x$Sn$_y$-Al$_2$O$_3$ catalyst was investigated. The X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray absorption fine structure analyses indicate the formation of intermetallic phases with spherical particles having an average size of 30–160 nm. The nanoparticles with different compositions were tested toward the hydrogenation of furfural, and it was found that crystal structure, atomic ordering and composition play crucial roles in the catalytic activity. DFT calculations indicate that the adsorption energy and the geometrical orientation of furfural on the surface of different NixSny-Al2O3 compounds play crucial role in the hydrogenation of furfural. Ni$_3$Sn$_2$–Al$_2$O$_3$ was found to be the most efficient catalyst with high furfural conversion (∼65%) and selectivity (57–62%) for furfuryl alcohol

Manufacturing Techniques for Mg-Based Metal Matrix Composite with Different Reinforcements

Magnesium is among the lightest structural metals available, with the capacity to replace traditional alloys in mass-saving applications while still providing increased stiffness and strength. The inclusion of reinforcing components into the metallic matrix has a substantial impact on stiffness, specific strength, wear behaviour, damping behaviour, and creep properties when compared to typical engineering materials. Due to their outstanding physical and mechanical characteristics along with low density, magnesium metal matrix composites are viable materials for numerous applications. This study discusses how to choose an appropriate technique and its process parameters for synthesising magnesium-based metal matrix composites (MMCs) and gives an overview of the impacts of various reinforcements in magnesium and its alloys, emphasising their benefits and drawbacks. The essential applications of various magnesium-based MMCs are also critically examined in this article. The impact of reinforcement on the microstructure as well as mechanical characteristics are thoroughly examined

Robotic Drone Arm for civil structures inspection: Challenges and Future Directions

Over the past two decades, the field of civil engineering has witnessed a remarkable transformation with the integration of robotic technology in civil and infrastructures inspection. Robotic drone arms have emerged as a pivotal tool, offering unparalleled access to hard-to-reach areas and enabling comprehensive assessments of civil structures. This article presents a comprehensive review of the advancements, challenges, and applications of robotic drone arms for civil structure inspection over the last two decades. This article discusses the key developments in types of robotic drone arms, real-world applications, success stories, current challenges and future directions for civil and infrastructure inspection

Bioengineered membranes-past, present and future in tissue regeneration

Regeneration of soft and hard tissue defects, although not impossible, is not always a predictable outcome. Tissue Engineering has shown to be successful in regenerating such defects with the objective of development of a new functional tissue structure which is either scaffold-based or not. Currently, the barrier membranes are being used as a physical barrier for the growth of unwanted epithelial and connective tissue cells while promoting the growth of desired cells like those of periodontal ligament and bone cells, which is quite appreciable. But due to the various drawbacks of the conventional membranes, TE has led to the development of functionally enhanced membranes processed by a variety of techniques and materials which overcome the demerits of the currently used barrier membranes. The objectives of this review are to compare the resorbable and non-resorbable barrier membranes used in tissue regeneration, their properties, applications, merits and demerits and future advances