Diagnostic accuracy of cone-beam computed tomography using different voxel sizes versus digital intraoral radiography in detection of vertical root fractures of teeth with metallic post

Background: Conventional radiographs are not an efficient diagnostic method to detect vertical root fracture (VRF). Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) overcomes the limitations of conventional radiography in the detection of VRF. In CBCT, metallic structures can cause artifacts in the images. Aim: This study aimed to determine the diagnostic accuracy of CBCT using different voxels in the detection of VRFs of teeth with metallic posts compared to digital intraoral radiography. Materials and Methods: A total of 120 single-rooted extracted human teeth were obtained and endodontically treated, then placed in an acrylic block and metallic posts were inserted. After post insertion, the teeth roots were divided into two groups one with induced VRFs and the other having intact roots with the posts inserted. Then, each tooth was coded and imaged 3 times using CBCT and digital periapical radiography (DPR). Results: DPR showed statistically significantly lower diagnostic accuracy than CBCT, and changing the voxel did not improve the diagnostic accuracy. Conclusion: In case of suspicious VRFs, CBCT is recommended to detect the presence of fractures. Clinical Significance: Since most teeth suspected to have VRFs are endodontically treated and have a metallic post in the root canal, fracture detection may pose a challenge CBCT resolves this issue

An Investigation of the Sensing Capabilities of Magnetotactic Bacteria

We investigate the sensing capabilities of magnetotactic bacteria (Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense strain MSR1) to MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Cancer cells are allowed to grow inside a capillary tube with depth of 200 μ m and motion of magnetotactic bacteria is investigated under the influence of oxygen gradient and geomagnetic field. The influence of cancer cells is modeled to predict the oxygen gradient within the capillary tube in three-dimensional space. Our experimental motion analysis and count of motile magnetotactic bacteria indicate that they migrate towards less-oxygenated regions within the vicinity of cancer cells. Bands of magnetotactic bacteria with average concentration of 18.8±2.0% are observed in close proximity to MCF-7 cells (h = 20~ μ m), whereas the concentration at proximity of 190~ μ m is 5.0 ± 6.8%

DFT, TD-DFT and Biological Activity Studies of Some Maleanilic Acid Derivatives Ligands and Their Organometallic Complexes

This study is a complementary study to our previous study that included the synthesis and characterization of some maleanilic acid derivatives ligands (L1-4) and their metal carbonyl complexes (2-4)a-d as effective compounds for cancer cell inhibition against three cancer cell lines: HCT-116 (colon cancer), HepG-2 cells (Hepatocellular cancer) and MCF-7 (breast cancer). The activity data manifested that p-nitrophenyl maleanilic acid ligand (L2) and its chromium complex (2b) showed higher inhibitory than the other complexes against the tested cancer cells. Additionally, DFT and TD-DFT studies were performed to investigate their frontier molecular orbital (FMO), optical properties, and the correlation between the structure and biological activity. The calculated optical energy gap (Eg) was in the range of 1.78- 2.13 eV, and electron cloud delocalization of HOMO/LUMO levels revealed that all complexes show effective charge separation. DFT results show a great relation between Eg values of the carbonyl complexes and their experimental biological activity. Where it was obvious that complex (2b) with the lowest (Eg) value exhibits the highest inhibition potency against cancer cells. In contrast, complex (2d) with the highest (Eg) value exhibits the lowest inhibition potency. These results translate the reverse relationship between Eg values of the complexes and the inhibition potency against cancer cells

Left atrial and left atrial appendage functional recovery after cardioversion in patients with recent atrial fibrillation: Serial echocardiographic study

Background: The aim of this study is to point out timing of left atrium and its appendage functional recovery after cardioversion (CV) in recent onset atrial fibrillation (AF). Methods: Fifty patients; 27 within 48-h (group I) and 23 after 48-h (group II), of AF onset, who had successful CV underwent transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), before and im­mediately after CV, then 15, 30 and 90 days later. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) was performed for group II before and for all patients immediately after CV and 1 month later. Mitral peak A velocity and left atrial (LA) reversal (Ar) velocity, tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) of septal mitral annular velocity (A1) and LA free wall velocity (A3) were recorded. Absence or peak A velocity < 50 cm/s was taken as a cut off value for atrial stunning. Intra-atrial conduction time (IACT) was measured. LA appendage late emptying (LAALE) velocity was measured by TEE-pulsed TDI of LA appendage. Results: Post CV, all group II and 34% of group I experienced stunning. In both groups, peak A, Ar, A1, A3 and LAALE velocities increased (p = 0.000), while IACT decreased (p = 0.000) progressively over time. Partial recovery occurred after 15 and 30 days, while full recovery occurred 30 and 90 days post CV in groups I and II, respectively. IACT1 and IACT2 correlated with LA diameter (r = 0.2778 and r = 0.227, respectively, p < 0.01). Conclusions: Stunning and functional recovery of the LA and its appendage are strongly determined by the duration being in AF. Serial IACT by TDI was a good new parameter for detection of functional recovery of LA and LA appendage

Evaluation of immunomodulatory effects of lamotrigine in BALB/c mice

Modulation of the immune system has recently been shown to be involved in the pharmacological effects of old antiepileptic drugs and in the pathogenesis of epilepsy. Therefore, the most recent guidelines for immunotoxicological evaluation of drugs were consulted to investigate the immunomodulatory effects of lamotrigine, a newer antiepileptic drug, in BALB/c mice. These included the in vivo effects of lamotrigine on delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) response to sheep red blood cell (SRBC) antigens, hemagglutination titer assays and hematological changes. In vitro effects of lamotrigine on ConA-induced splenocyte proliferation and cytokine secretion were assessed. The results showed that lamotrigine treatment significantly increased the DTH response to SRBC in the mouse model of this study. This was accompanied by a significant increase in relative monocyte and neutrophil counts and in spleen cellularity. Lamotrigine significantly inhibited ConA-induced splenocyte proliferation in vitro and it significantly inhibited IL-2 and TNF-α secretion in ConA-stimulated splenocytes. In conclusion, the results demonstrated significant immunomodulatory effects of lamotrigine in BALB/c mice. These data could expand the understanding of lamotrigine-induced adverse reactions and its role in modulating the immune system in epilepsy

Evaluation of six aromatic rice varieties for yield and yield contributing characters

A study was undertaken to evaluate the growth performance and grain quality of six aromatic rice varieties BR34, BR38, Kalizira, Chiniatop, Kataribhog and Basmati grown under rainfed conditions. The rice varieties differed significantly (P<0.05) with respect to leaf chlorophyll content, plant height, internode length, thousand grain weight and grain and straw yields. Varieties differed in morphological and yield and yield contributing traits. Thousand grain weight and grain yield both were highest in BR38. Basmati required shorter days to maturity and Kalizira longest days to maturity

Methodological rigor and temporal trends of cardiovascular medicine meta-analyses in highest-impact journals

Background Well-conducted meta-analyses are considered to be at the top of the evidence-based hierarchy pyramid, with an expansion of these publications within the cardiovascular research arena. There are limited data evaluating the trends and quality of such publications. The objective of this study was to evaluate the methodological rigor and temporal trends of cardiovascular medicine-related meta-analyses published in the highest impact journals. Methods and Results Using the Medline database, we retrieved cardiovascular medicine-related systematic reviews and meta-analyses published i

Dual band antenna design using stacked series array for Ka-band application

In this paper, a dual band stack series array antenna is designed for the future 28 GHz Ka-band application. Dual-layer substrate Technology is used to achieve multiple resonant frequencies with higher bandwidths. Antenna is designed based on stack array of double layer with patches and resonators in different layers. Designed dual-band antennas can resonate at single band of (28 GHz) and dual band (28 and 30 GHz). All results of the simulation are fabricated and tested. The test result shows that the antennas have high gain, wide bandwidth and higher efficiencies. Both the proposed antenna configurations have shown a good candidate for 5G millimetre wave (mmWave) application

DFT, TD-DFT and biological activity studies of some maleanilic acid derivatives ligands and their organometallic complexes

1564-1573This study is a complementary study to our previous study that included the synthesis and characterization of some maleanilic acid derivative ligands (L1-4) and their metal carbonyl complexes (2-4)a-d as effective compounds for cancer cell growth inhibition against three cancer cell lines: HCT-116, HepG-2 cells and MCF-7. The activity data has manifested that the p-nitrophenyl maleanilic acid ligand (L2) and its chromium complex (2b) inhibited the tested cancer cells more effectively than the other complexes. Additionally, DFT and TD-DFT studies are performed to investigate their frontier molecular orbital (FMO), optical properties, and the correlation between the structure and biological activity. The calculated optical energy gap (Eg) is in the range of 1.78- 2.13 eV, and electron cloud delocalization of HOMO/LUMO levels revealed that all complexes show effective charge separation. The DFT results show a strong relation between Eg values of the carbonyl complexes and their experimental biological activity, where it is obvious that complex (2b) with the lowest Eg value has the greatest inhibitory potency against cancer cells. In contrast, complex (2d) with the highest Eg value exhibits the lowest inhibition potency. These findings translate the inverse relationship between Eg values of the complexes and the inhibition potency against cancer cells

Multiband antenna using stacked series array for Ka-Band application

In this paper, a multiband stack series array antenna is designed in order to attain solutions for the future 28 GHz Ka-band application. Double layer substrate Technology is utilized to accomplish multiple resonant frequencies with higher data transfer capacities due to high bandwidth. The designed antenna is dependent on twofold layer consisting patches and resonators in different layers stacked together. The designed multiband antennas can resonate at single band of (28 GHz), dual band of (28 and 30 GHz) and triple band of (24.18, 26 and 28.453). The results achieved in the simulation are later fabricated and tested. The test result illustrates that the antennas have wide bandwidth, high gain and even higher efficiencies. All the proposed antenna configurations have demonstrated a decent possibility for 5G millimeter wave (mmwave) application