Fabrication of Microbicidal Silver Nanoparticles: Green Synthesis and Implications in the Containment of Bacterial Biofilm on Orthodontal Appliances

Among various metal-based nanoparticles, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) manifest superior inhibitory effects against several microorganisms. In fact, the AgNP-based treatment has been reported to inhibit both sensitive and resistant isolates of bacteria and other disease-causing microbes with equal propensity. Keeping this fact into consideration, we executed bio-mediated synthesis of AgNPs employing extract of flower and various other parts (such as bud and leaf) of the Hibiscus rosa-sinensis plant. The physicochemical characterization of as-synthesized AgNPs was executed employing transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and UV-Vis spectroscopy, etc. The as-synthesized AgNPs demonstrated strong antimicrobial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria with equal propensity. The as-synthesized AgNPs successfully inhibited Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans), one of the main causative bacteria responsible for dental caries. Considering the fact that orthodontic appliances facilitate infliction of the oral cavity with a range of microbes including S. mutans, we determined the growth inhibitory and anti-adherence activities of AgNPs on orthodontic appliances. We performed microbiological assays employing AgNPs adsorbed onto the surface of nickel–titanium (Ni-Ti) orthodontic wires. A topographic analysis of the decontaminated Ni-Ti orthodontic wires was performed by scanning electron microscopy. In addition to antimicrobial and anti-biofilm activities against oral S. mutans, the as-fabricated AgNPs demonstrated significant inhibitory and anti-biofilm properties against other biofilm-forming bacteria such as Escherichia coli and Listeria monocytogenes

Stable relocation of the radial head without annular ligament reconstruction using the Ilizarov technique to treat neglected Monteggia fracture: two case reports

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>A Monteggia facture dislocation is not an uncommon injury, and the diagnosis can often be missed. Long-term follow-up of untreated Monteggia fracture dislocations reveals development of premature arthritis, pain, instability, and loss of pronation and supination. Methods involving annular ligament reconstruction require post-operative immobilization and use of transcapitellar pinning for maintenance of reduction, and thus a delay in rehabilitation. The literature reports satisfactory results with methods that involve ulnar osteotomy and open reduction of the radial head without annular ligament reconstruction. We used the Ilizarov method in two cases with neglected Monteggia fracture dislocations to stably reduce the radial head without open reduction and annular ligament reconstruction.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We report two cases of neglected Monteggia fracture dislocation, in two Kashmiri boys aged four and six years. Using ulnar osteotomy with distraction osteogenesis, we were able to relocate the radial head gradually and maintain the reduction without a requirement for open reduction and annular ligament reconstruction.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Distraction lengthening and hyperangulation in different planes by use of the Ilizarov technique effectively reduces the radial head without open reduction and annular ligament reconstruction.</p

Dissociation of CAK from Core TFIIH Reveals a Functional Link between XP-G/CS and the TFIIH Disassembly State

Transcription factor II H (TFIIH) is comprised of core TFIIH and Cdk-activating kinase (CAK) complexes. Here, we investigated the molecular and cellular manifestation of the TFIIH compositional changes by XPG truncation mutations. We showed that both core TFIIH and CAK are rapidly recruited to damage sites in repair-proficient cells. Chromatin immunoprecipitation against TFIIH and CAK components revealed a physical engagement of CAK in nucleotide excision repair (NER). While XPD recruitment to DNA damage was normal, CAK was not recruited in severe XP-G and XP-G/CS cells, indicating that the associations of CAK and XPD to core TFIIH are differentially affected. A CAK inhibition approach showed that CAK activity is not required for assembling pre-incision machinery in vivo or for removing genomic photolesions. Instead, CAK is involved in Ser5-phosphorylation and UV-induced degradation of RNA polymerase II. The CAK inhibition impaired transcription from undamaged and UV-damaged reporter, and partially decreased transcription of p53-dependent genes. The overall results demonstrated that a) XP-G/CS mutations affect the disassembly state of TFIIH resulting in the dissociation of CAK, but not XPD from core TFIIH, and b) CAK activity is not essential for global genomic repair but involved in general transcription and damage-induced RNA polymerase II degradation

Original Article - Role of methylprednisolone in acute cervical cord injuries

BACKGROUND: Management of acute cervical cord injury with neurodeficit continues to evoke debate. Glucocorticoid steroid methylprednisolone has been found to be effective in preventing secondary cord injury. Aims: This study was done to evaluate the role of methylprednisolone in acute cervical cord injury. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty patients of acute cervical cord injury with demonstrable neurological deficit were administered methylprednisolone within 8 hours of acute cervical cord injury while eighteen others were not administered this drug. The patients were assessed for neurological recovery. RESULTS: Patients who received methylprednisolone within 8 hours of injury had more motor recovery (P<0.001) than those who were not given the drug. Improvement in the pinprick scores and light touch scores were also greater at 6 weeks (P<0.001). Similar effect was also seen after 6 months. CONCLUSION: Methylprednisolone prevents secondary cord injury to a great extent and hence its administration in the immediate post injury period results in a better functional (motor and sensory) outcom

Original Article - Role of methylprednisolone in acute cervical cord injuries

BACKGROUND: Management of acute cervical cord injury with neurodeficit continues to evoke debate. Glucocorticoid steroid methylprednisolone has been found to be effective in preventing secondary cord injury. Aims: This study was done to evaluate the role of methylprednisolone in acute cervical cord injury. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty patients of acute cervical cord injury with demonstrable neurological deficit were administered methylprednisolone within 8 hours of acute cervical cord injury while eighteen others were not administered this drug. The patients were assessed for neurological recovery. RESULTS: Patients who received methylprednisolone within 8 hours of injury had more motor recovery (P<0.001) than those who were not given the drug. Improvement in the pinprick scores and light touch scores were also greater at 6 weeks (P<0.001). Similar effect was also seen after 6 months. CONCLUSION: Methylprednisolone prevents secondary cord injury to a great extent and hence its administration in the immediate post injury period results in a better functional (motor and sensory) outcome

Quantitative and qualitative evaluation of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) for genetic variability, character association and path analysis: Genetic variability, character association and path analysis in saffron

Different accessions of saffron were studied to analyze genetic diversity and heritable component of variation in yield and yield related traits. Dry pistil weight, fresh pistil weight, fresh flower weight corm-1 line-1, number of flowers corm-1 line-1, and big corm index, all had high genotypic coefficient of variation, heritability and genetic advance. The traits included in the selection scheme, correlation among traits (floral and agronomic) are important as varieties must have high yield associated with exemplary quality parameters. At both phenotypic and genotypic levels, the association was found significant among the traits. Stigma length and fresh flower weight had strong direct effect with respect to dry pistil weight followed by number of flowers corm-1 line-1, fresh pistil weight and big corm index. Therefore, these parameters can be taken as criteria for selection