Mechanical Properties, Translucency, And Low Temperature Degradation (LTD) Of Yttria (3–6 Mol%) Stabilized Zirconia

The mechanical properties (hardness and biaxial flexural strength), optical properties (translucency and gloss), and low temperature degradation (LTD) of 3–6 mol% yttria stabilized zirconia have been investigated. The specimens were prepared by conventional solid-state sintering at 1400 °C. The mechanical and optical properties were evaluated for sintered and polished specimens. X-ray diffractometer (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) were used, respectively, for structural and microstructural investigation. LTD was determined by XRD analysis of the samples aged in a hydrothermal autoclave at 134 °C for 5–108 h. The mechanical and optical properties are found to be microstructure sensitive. The LTD, due to tetragonal to monoclinic phase transformation, decreases with increasing Y2O3 content. The mechanical strength, translucency, and LTD are the lowest for 6 mol% Y2O3 stabilized zirconia

Assessing the burden of Covid-19 in the slums of Bangalore city: Results of Rapid Community Survey

Background: Karnataka, more so Bangalore, reported an increase in number of COVID-19 cases in early April 2021. Objective: To assess the burden of COVID-19 in the slums of Bengaluru city. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional multi centre community-based study was done in the 2nd and 3rd week of April 2021 in 24 different slums in Bangalore city. WHO cluster random sampling technique was followed. Swabs for RTPCR test and 4 ml of venous blood was collected from 728 subjects more than 18 years of age. Results: A total of 51 (7%) subjects were positive for COVID-19 through RT-PCR. Majority 33 (56.9%) were in the age group of 18-44 years. 148 (20.3%) subjects were sero-positive on blood examination and 18-44 years was the (59.4%) preponderant age group. Overall seropositivity was 20.3% (95%CI; 17.4-23.2) and RT-PCR positivity is 7% (95%CI; 5.2-8.8%) among the subjects surveyed. In the inner core area of Bangalore, seropositivity was 24.2% (95%CI; 21.0 – 27.3) and RT-PCR positivity was 8% (95%CI; 6.1-9.9). Two doses of COVID-19 vaccine were taken only by 1.55% subjects during the study period. Conclusion: The study showed that one in 5 subjects were sero-positive to SARS-CoV-2 and one in 15 individuals had active COVID-19 infection

Potential of Ayurgenomics Approach in Complex Trait Research: Leads from a Pilot Study on Rheumatoid Arthritis

<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Inconsistent results across association studies including Genome-wide association, have posed a major challenge in complex disease genetics. Of the several factors which contribute to this, phenotypic heterogeneity is a serious limitation encountered in modern medicine. On the other hand, Ayurveda, a holistic Indian traditional system of medicine, enables subgrouping of individuals into three major categories namely <em>Vata</em>, <em>Pitta</em> and <em>Kapha,</em> based on their physical and mental constitution, referred to as <em>Prakriti</em>. We hypothesised that conditioning association studies on prior risk, predictable in Ayurveda, will uncover much more variance and potentially open up more predictive health.</p> <h3>Objectives and Methods</h3><p>Identification of genetic susceptibility markers by combining the <em>prakriti</em> based subgrouping of individuals with genetic analysis tools was attempted in a Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) cohort. Association of 21 markers from commonly implicated inflammatory and oxidative stress pathways was tested using a case-control approach in a total cohort comprising 325 cases and 356 controls and in the three subgroups separately. We also tested few postulates of Ayurveda on the disease characteristics in different <em>prakriti</em> groups using clinico-genetic data.</p> <h3>Results</h3><p>Inflammatory genes like <em>IL1β</em> (C-C-C haplotype, p = 0.0005, OR = 3.09) and CD40 (rs4810485 allelic, p = 0.04, OR = 2.27) seem to be the determinants in <em>Vata</em> subgroup whereas oxidative stress pathway genes are observed in <em>Pitta (SOD3</em> rs699473<b>,</b> p = 0.004, OR = 1.83; rs2536512 p<b> = </b>0.005; OR = 1.88 and <em>PON1</em> rs662, p = 0.04, OR = 1.53) and <em>Kapha</em> (<em>SOD3</em> rs2536512, genotypic, p = 0.02, OR = 2.39) subgroups. Fixed effect analysis of the associated markers from <em>CD40, SOD3</em> and <em>TNFα</em> with genotype X <em>prakriti</em> interaction terms suggests heterogeneity of effects within the subgroups. Further, disease characteristics such as severity was most pronounced in <em>Vata</em> group.</p> <h3>Conclusions</h3><p>This exploratory study suggests discrete causal pathways for RA etiology in <em>prakriti</em> based subgroups, thereby, validating concepts of <em>prakriti</em> and personalized medicine in Ayurveda. Ayurgenomics approach holds promise for biomarker discovery in complex diseases.</p> </div

<i>Prakriti</i>-wise distribution and demography of the study samples.

<p><i>Prakriti</i>-wise distribution and demography of the study samples.</p

Regression analysis of covariates showing significance (p<0.2) in different <i>prakriti</i> subgroups.

<p>Significant associations are indicated in bold.</p

Comparison of clinical parameters between <i>prakriti</i> subgroups.

*<p>Values not available for all the samples in the study, thus there are varying numbers in the group under the different parameters.</p>**<p>‘+’ and ‘−’ indicate higher and lower means of parameter between respective comparison groups; these are shown only for those comparisons showing significant differences.</p><p>Significant associations are indicated in bold.</p

Significant allelic/genotypic associations [p value; OR (95%CI)] of genes/markers tested in total sample set and <i>prakriti</i>-wise subgroups.

<p>NS = not significant.</p>#<p>was previously referred to as rs6954345.</p><p>‘*’stands significant at FDR <0.05.</p

Significant haplotypic# associations [p value; OR (95%CI)] of genes/markers tested in total sample set and <i>prakriti</i>-wise subgroups.

#<p>Order of markers constituting the haplotypes are indicated in parentheses after the genes.</p><p>NS = not significant.</p><p>‘*’adjusted p = 0.02.</p><p>‘**’adjusted p = 0.004.</p