ASSESSMENT OF DENTAL FLUOROSIS IN CHILDREN OF JAIPUR DISTRICT, RAJASTHAN, INDIA

Objective: The objective of the present study was carried out to explore the potential association between fluoride concentration in drinking water and severity of dental fluorosis (DF) in the children.Methods: The study of dental fluorosis (DF) in the children (6-14 years old) was conducted in the two blocks (a) Jamwaramgarh block ;Heerawala, Palera ,Nayabas, Saipur and Birasana, (b) Amber block; Jugalpura, Chitanukalan, Sunder ka bas, Peelwa and Sirsali of Jaipur district, Rajasthan, India of the study villages. Total 150, children were surveyed. The role of fluoride (F) levels in drinking water in the etiology of dental fluorosis (DF) and the cases of dental fluorosis (DF) in both dentitions and teeth were also assessed using DEAN'S classification. The fluoride (F) concentration in source of drinking water was estimated by fluoride (F) ion specific electrode (Thermo Scientific Orion Star A329, USA).Results: The F concentration in (Tube well and Hand pump) water ranges from 0.7 to 15.0 parts per million (ppm) in Jamwaramgarh block and 1.40 to 5. 10 parts per million (ppm) in Amber block. Prevalence of dental fluorosis (DF) 27 (36%) in Jamwaramgar block and 26 (34.66%) in Amber block out of 75 children were examined in each block. Significantly increase in levels of F in drinking water is positively correlated with dental fluorosis.Conclusion: This study finding has shown the relation of dental fluorosis (DF) to high fluoride (F) levels in drinking water sources. A higher fluoride (F) levels in source of drinking water is a major risk factor for dental fluorosis. In view of the severity of the problem the intake of calcium rich foods and defluoridation techniques may help reducing risk of dental fluorosis (DF) in the children.Â

Contrasting Micro/Nano Architecture on Termite Wings: Two Divergent Strategies for Optimising Success of Colonisation Flights

Many termite species typically fly during or shortly after rain periods. Local precipitation will ensure water will be present when establishing a new colony after the initial flight. Here we show how different species of termite utilise two distinct and contrasting strategies for optimising the success of the colonisation flight. Nasutitermes sp. and Microcerotermes sp. fly during rain periods and adopt hydrophobic structuring/‘technologies’ on their wings to contend with a moving canvas of droplets in daylight hours. Schedorhinotermes sp. fly after rain periods (typically at night) and thus do not come into contact with mobile droplets. These termites, in contrast, display hydrophilic structuring on their wings with a small scale roughness which is not dimensionally sufficient to introduce an increase in hydrophobicity. The lack of hydrophobicity allows the termite to be hydrophilicly captured at locations where water may be present in large quantities; sufficient for the initial colonization period. The high wettability of the termite cuticle (Schedorhinotermes sp.) indicates that the membrane has a high surface energy and thus will also have strong attractions with solid particles. To investigate this the termite wings were also interacted with both artificial and natural contaminants in the form of hydrophilic silicon beads of various sizes, 4 µm C18 beads and three differently structured pollens. These were compared to the superhydrophobic surface of the planthopper (Desudaba psittacus) and a native Si wafer surface. The termite cuticle demonstrated higher adhesive interactions with all particles in comparison to those measured on the plant hopper

Minimal regulation of platelet activity by PECAM-1

PECAM-1 is a member of the superfamily of immunoglobulins (Ig) and is expressed on platelets at moderate level. PECAM-1 has been reported to have contrasting effects on platelet activation by the collagen receptor GPVI and the integrin, αIIbβ3, even though both receptors signal through Src-kinase regulation of PLCγ2. The present study compares the role of PECAM-1 on platelet activation by these two receptors and by the lectin receptor, CLEC-2, which also signals via PLCγ2. Studies using PECAM-1 knockout-mice and cross-linking of PECAM-1 using specific antibodies demonstrated a minor inhibitory role on platelet responses to the above three receptors and also under some conditions to the G-protein agonist thrombin. The degree of inhibition was considerably less than that produced by PGI2, which elevates cAMP. There was no significant difference in thrombus formation on collagen in PECAM-1-/- platelets relative to litter-matched controls. The very weak inhibitory effect of PECAM-1 on platelet activation relative to that of PGI2 indicate that the Ig-receptor is not a major regulator of platelet activation. PECAM-1 has been reported to have contrasting effects on platelet activation. The present study demonstrates a very mild or negligible effect on platelet activation in response to stimulation by a variety of agonists, thereby questioning the physiological role of the immunoglobulin receptor as a major regulator of platelet activation

Optical Coherence Tomography and Fibrous Cap Characterization

The pathophysiology of acute coronary syndromes has long been associated with atherosclerotic plaque rupture. Inflammation, thinning, and disruption of the fibrous cap have been implicated with the final processes leading to plaque rupture, but confirmation of these mechanisms of coronary thrombosis in humans has been hampered by the lack of imaging methods with sufficient resolution to resolve fibrous cap characterization and thickness in vivo. Intravascular optical coherence tomography (OCT) provides images with micron-level axial and lateral resolution, enabling detailed visualization of micro-structural changes of the arterial wall. The present article provides an overview of the potential role of OCT in identifying and characterizing fibrous cap morphology, thickness, and inflammation in human coronary plaques

Antiinflammatory Therapy with Canakinumab for Atherosclerotic Disease

Background: Experimental and clinical data suggest that reducing inflammation without affecting lipid levels may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Yet, the inflammatory hypothesis of atherothrombosis has remained unproved. Methods: We conducted a randomized, double-blind trial of canakinumab, a therapeutic monoclonal antibody targeting interleukin-1β, involving 10,061 patients with previous myocardial infarction and a high-sensitivity C-reactive protein level of 2 mg or more per liter. The trial compared three doses of canakinumab (50 mg, 150 mg, and 300 mg, administered subcutaneously every 3 months) with placebo. The primary efficacy end point was nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or cardiovascular death. RESULTS: At 48 months, the median reduction from baseline in the high-sensitivity C-reactive protein level was 26 percentage points greater in the group that received the 50-mg dose of canakinumab, 37 percentage points greater in the 150-mg group, and 41 percentage points greater in the 300-mg group than in the placebo group. Canakinumab did not reduce lipid levels from baseline. At a median follow-up of 3.7 years, the incidence rate for the primary end point was 4.50 events per 100 person-years in the placebo group, 4.11 events per 100 person-years in the 50-mg group, 3.86 events per 100 person-years in the 150-mg group, and 3.90 events per 100 person-years in the 300-mg group. The hazard ratios as compared with placebo were as follows: in the 50-mg group, 0.93 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.80 to 1.07; P = 0.30); in the 150-mg group, 0.85 (95% CI, 0.74 to 0.98; P = 0.021); and in the 300-mg group, 0.86 (95% CI, 0.75 to 0.99; P = 0.031). The 150-mg dose, but not the other doses, met the prespecified multiplicity-adjusted threshold for statistical significance for the primary end point and the secondary end point that additionally included hospitalization for unstable angina that led to urgent revascularization (hazard ratio vs. placebo, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.73 to 0.95; P = 0.005). Canakinumab was associated with a higher incidence of fatal infection than was placebo. There was no significant difference in all-cause mortality (hazard ratio for all canakinumab doses vs. placebo, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.83 to 1.06; P = 0.31). Conclusions: Antiinflammatory therapy targeting the interleukin-1β innate immunity pathway with canakinumab at a dose of 150 mg every 3 months led to a significantly lower rate of recurrent cardiovascular events than placebo, independent of lipid-level lowering. (Funded by Novartis; CANTOS ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01327846.

ICAR: endoscopic skull‐base surgery

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ASSESSMENT OF SKELETAL FLUOROSIS AMONG CHILDREN IN TWO BLOCKS OF RURAL AREA, JAIPUR DISTRICT, RAJASTHAN, INDIA

Objective: The objective of the present study was carried out to explore the potential association between fluoride (F) concentration in drinking water and severity of skeletal fluorosis (SF) among the children of rural area.Methods: SF survey was conducted among the children (6-14 years) in two blocks such as (a) Jamwa Ramgarh block in Heerawala, Palera, Nayabas, Saipur, and Birasana and (b) Amber block in Sunder Ka Bas, Chitanukalan, Jugalpura, Peelwa, and Sirsali in Jaipur district of Rajasthan, India, of the study villages. A total of 150 (93 male and 57 female) children were surveyed. The role of fluoride (F) concentration in drinking water in the etiology of SF and the cases of SF was assessed using. The United Nations Children's Fund three clinical test. The fluoride content in the source of drinking water was estimated by fluoride ion-specific electrode (Thermo Scientific Orion Star A329, USA).Results: The fluoride concentration in hand pump (Hp) water which ranges from 2.1 to 15 parts per million (ppm) and tube well (Tw) water ranges from 0.7 to 6.2 ppm in Jamwa Ramgarh block and Amber block, Hp water which ranges from 0.8 to 5.1 ppm and Tw water ranges from 0.8 to 4.8 ppm. The prevalence of SF 9 (12%) in Jamwa Ramgarh block and 6 (8%) in Amber block out of 75 children were examined in each block. Significantly increase in fluoride level in drinking water is positively correlated with SF.Conclusion: This study has shown the relation of SF to high fluoride levels in the source of drinking water is a major risk factor for SF among the children. SF is a threat among the children in two blocks of rural area, Jaipur district, Rajasthan