Defect-mediated ferromagnetism in ZnO:Mn nanorods

In this work, the structural, chemical and magnetic properties of ZnO:Mn nanorods were investigated. Firstly, well-aligned ZnO nanorods with their long axis parallel to the crystalline c-axis were successfully grown by the vapor phase transport technique on Si substrates coated with a ZnO buffer layer. Mn metal was then diffused into these nanorods at different temperatures in vacuum. From SEM results, ZnO:Mn nanorods were observed to have diameters of ~100 nm and lengths of 4 µm. XPS analysis showed that the Mn dopant substituted into the ZnO matrix with a valence state of +2. Magnetic measurements performed at room temperature revealed that undoped ZnO nanorods exhibit ferromagnetic behavior which may be related to oxygen vacancy defect-mediated d0 ferromagnetism. ZnO:Mn samples were seen to show an excess room temperature ferromagnetism that is attributed to the presence of oxygen vacancy defects forming bound magnetic polarons involving Mn

Efficacy of 10% whole Azadirachta indica (neem) chip as an adjunct to scaling and root planning in chronic periodontitis: A clinical and microbiological study

Introduction: Anti-microbial therapy is essential along with conventional therapy in the management of periodontal disease. Instead of systemic chemical agents, herbal products could be used as antimicrobial agents. Herbal local drug delivery systems are effective alternative for systemic therapy in managing the chronic periodontal disease. In this study, 10% neem oil chip was used as a local drug delivery system to evaluate the efficacy in the periodontal disease management. Materials and Methods: Twenty otherwise healthy patients with the bilateral periodontal probing depth of 5-6 mm were included in the study. After scaling and root planning (SRP), 10% nonabsorbable neem chip was placed in the pocket in one side of the arch. Other side was done with SRP only. Clinical parameters were recorded on the baseline, 7th day, and 21st day. Plaque samples were obtained for a microbiological study on the baseline and 21st day. Porphyromonas gingivalis strains were seen using quantitative and qualitative polymerase chain reaction assay. All results were statistically evaluated. Results: Clinical parameters showed statistically improved on the neem chip sites and presence of P. gingivalis strains were significantly reduced on the neem chip sites. Conclusion: Hence, 10% neem oil local delivery system delivers desired effects on P. gingivalis. Further research is needed to evaluate the neem oil efficacy on other periodontal pathogens

Antiatherogenic effect of taurine in high fat diet fed rats

1169-1172<span style="font-size: 15.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:9.0pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif";="" color:black"="">The role of taurine on atherogenesis induced by high fat diet in rats, a species which depends entirely on taurine for conjugation of bile acids has been investigated. Wistar male rats were fed on (po) taurine in addition to high fat diet <span style="font-size:14.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt; font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif";color:black"="">(11% <span style="font-size:15.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:9.0pt; font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif";color:black"="">coconut oil w/w) for 6 months. High fat diet caused significant increase of serum total cholesterol (2 fold), serum triglycerides <span style="font-size:14.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 8.5pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif";color:black"="">(92 .6%), LDL cholesterol <span style="font-size:14.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 8.5pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif";color:black"="">(92.3 %) and body weight gain <span style="font-size:14.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif";color:black"="">(2.8 fold ). Taurine administration significantly reduced serum cholesterol <span style="font-size:14.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt; font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif";color:black"="">(37%). triglycerides <span style="font-size:14.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 8.5pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif";color:black"="">(94.5%), LDL cholesterol <span style="font-size:14.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 8.5pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif";color:black"="">(34%). body weight <span style="font-size:14.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 8.5pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif";color:black"="">(46%). It <span style="font-size:15.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:9.0pt; font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif";color:black"="">also significantly <span style="font-size: 15.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:9.0pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif";="" color:black"="">reduced aortic cholesterol and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and there was a significant increase of reduced glutathione. Taurine significantly increased fecal bile acids which may have resulted in significant decrease of serum cholesterol. Aortic lesion index was significantly decreased in the taurine administered group suggesting the anti atherogenic effect of taurine. <span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.0pt; font-family:" arial","sans-serif";color:black"="">It <span style="font-size: 15.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:9.0pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif";="" color:black"="">is concluded that taurine attenuated the atherogenesis possibly by its hypocholesterolemic and antioxidant property . </span