Orthodontic Treatment Need among Nepalese High School Students

Abstract Objective: To assess the need for orthodontic treatment among Nepalese high school students. Material and Methods: This is a quantitative, cross-sectional descriptive study. The sample comprises 938 children (537 males and 401 females) with an age group above 14 years. The subjects were selected voluntarily from seven different schools of Kathmandu valley using a multistage sampling technique. The Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need comprises two components: Dental Health Component (DHC) and Aesthetic Component (AC). Two trained and calibrated examiners performed the oral examination. Results: On analysis of the DHC component, it was found that 21% had no need, 18.1% had mild/little need, 24.3% had moderate/borderline need, 35.8% had severe need, and 0.7% had extreme treatment need. Similarly on analysis of AC component, it was found that 33% were AC-1, 30.8% were AC-2, 7.2% were AC-3, 8.2% were AC-4, 2.1% were AC-5, 3.6% were AC-6, 1.8% were AC-7, 7.4% were AC-8, 1.8% were AC-9, and 3.9% were AC-10. Conclusion: The Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need can be used as a tool for planning dental health resources and prioritizing the treatment need of different populations (AU).

Study on the effect of combined action of topical silicone gel and pressure therapy in hypertrophic scar management

Background: Widespread hypertrophic scars usually resulting from burn injuries or extensive soft tissue trauma is a common problem presented to plastic OPD. Non-invasive treatment like Pressure/compression therapy and siliconee sheets and gels are well-accepted, evidence-based recommendations for a long time. Very few studies are there for their combined effect on hypertrophic widespread scars. Aims and objectives of the study was to see the outcome of hypertrophic scar management following application of combined therapy of silicone gel and pressure garment.Methods: In the present study we have taken patients, who were randomly allotted in two groups. In one group only silicone gel was used for scar management while other group we applied silicone gel along with customized pressure garment locally for 6 months. Patients are seen in OPD monthly and after 6 months final results were analyzed, to see the effect of combined therapy.Results: Although silicone gel is alone is effective in widespread post burn scar, pressure garment provides a synergistic effects when used together. There is no significant change in colour and vascularity, but changes in scar thickness and pliability are most significant in combined therapy group.Conclusions: For small linear scar silicone gel treatment is alone sufficient, but for widespread hypertrophic scar this should always be used along with pressure garment therapy.

Bioprospecting of phosphorus solubilizing bacteria from Renuka Lake Ecosystems, Lesser Himalayas

In the present study, diversity and plant growth promoting traits of bacteria isolated from Renuka Lake,Himachal Pradesh was investigated. A total of three samples, including sediment (pH-7.3), sub-surface water(pH-8.1), and surface water (pH-8.2), were collected. A total of 65 bacterial isolates were obtained on differentgrowth media. Among 65 isolates 18 isolates were found to be solubilizers of phosphorus. The maximumamount of phosphorus was solubilized by EU-RL 54 (7,976 ± 0.01 µg/l) followed by EU-RL 53 (6,322 ± 0.01µg/l). Phosphorus solubilizers also possessed other plant growth promoting traits, such as the production ofammonia, hydrogen cyanide, zinc solubilization, production of hydrolytic enzymes. The isolates were identifiedbelonging to different genera Acinetobacter, Bacillus, Enterobacter, Klebsiella, Proteus, Pseudomonas, andStaphylococcus. This is the first report for these plant growth promoting bacteria to solubilize a considerableamount of phosphorus isolated from Ecosystems, Lesser Himalayas.

Biodiversity of psychrotrophic microbes and their biotechnological applications

The extreme cold environments harbor novel psychrotrophic microbes. The psychrotrophic microbes have been reportedas plant growth promoters and biocontrol agents for sustainable agriculture, in industry as cold-adapted hydrolyticenzymes and in medicine as secondary metabolites and pharmaceutical important bioactive compounds. Inoculationwith psychrotrophic/psychrotolerant strains significantly enhanced root/shoot biomass and nutrients uptake as comparedto non-bacterized control. The psychrotrophic microbes play important role in alleviation of cold stress in plant growingat high hill and low temperature and conditions. The psychrotrophic microbes have been reported from worldwidefrom cold habitats and belong to all three domain archaea, bacteria, and eukarya including different phylum such asActinobacteria, Ascomycota, Bacteroidetes, Basidiomycota, Chloroflexi, Chlamydiae, Planctomycetes, Cyanobacteria,Euryarchaeota, Firmicutes, Gemmatimonadetes, Verrucomicrobia, Mucoromycota, Proteobacteria, Spirochaetes,Thaumarchaeota and Nitrospirae. The most dominant genera belong to Arthrobacter, Bacillus, Exiguobacterium,Paenibacillus, Providencia, Pseudomonas, and Serratia have been reported from the cold habitats. The Psychrotrophicmicrobes have biotechnological applications in agriculture, medicine, industry, food, and allied sectors

Bone marrow cells contribute to tubular epithelium regeneration following acute kidney injury induced by mercuric chloride.

Background & objectives: Acute tubular necrosis (ATN) caused by renal ischaemia, renal hypo-perfusion, or nephrotoxic substances is the most common form of acute kidney injury (AKI). There are a few treatment options for this life-threatening disease and the mortality rate exceeds 50 per cent. In critical cases of AKI the only option is renal transplantation. In the present study we evaluated whether bone marrow cells (BMCs) are involved in regeneration of kidney tubules following acute tubular necrosis in the mouse. Methods: Six to eight week old C57BL6/J and congenic enhanced green fluorescence protein (eGFP) mice were used. The relative contributions of eGFP-expressing BMCs were compared in two different approaches to kidney regeneration in the mercuric chloride (HgCl2)-induced mouse model of AKI: induced engraftment and forced engraftment. In vitro differentiation of lineage-depleted (Lin-) BMCs into renal epithelial cells was also studied. Results: In the forced engraftment approach, BMCs were found to play a role in the regeneration of tubules of renal cortex and outer medulla regions. About 70 per cent of donor-derived cells expressed megalin. In vitro culture revealed that Lin- BMCs differentiated into megalin, E-cadherin and cytokeratin-19 (CK-19) expressing renal epithelial cells. Interpretation & conclusions: The present results demonstrate that Lin- BMCs may contribute in the regeneration of renal tubular epithelium of HgCl2-induced AKI. This study may also suggest a potential role of BMCs in treating AKI.

Efficient protocol for in vitro direct plant regeneration in chickpea Cicer arietinum L.

An efficient plant regeneration system was developed for two important Indian chickpea cultivars, C-235 and HC-1. Immature cotyledons (7-8 mm) directly formed shoots without an intervening callus phase on MS medium containing B5 vitamins, BAP (2.0 mg/l), IBA (0.125 mg/l), AgNO3 (1.69 mg/l) and phytagel (2.5 g/l). The regenerated shoots had normal morphology and were successfully rooted in half strength MS medium under partial dark conditions. Regenerated plants were transferred to potted soil. However, the survival rate of pot house transferred plants was 17.6 per cent.