Prevention and amelioration of erythrocyte instability observed under deficiency of vitamin B12 alone or combined with micronutrient limitation through dietary supplementation with Chlorella and Spirulina

Micronutrient rich microalgae, Chlorella and Spirulina, could be natural food supplements to overcome the micronutrient deficiency, increasingly recognised as a global health issue. In two independent experiments, the Spirulina and Chlorella were evaluated as prophylactic and ameliorative dietary supplements of vitamin B12. Erythrocyte stability (relative osmotic fragility and haemolysis percentage), haematological parameters, micronutrient deficiency (serum levels of iron, zinc), plasma vitamin B12 and vitamin B12 biomarker (methylmalonic acid) were analysed. The deficient groups receiving Spirulina and Chlorella as prophylactic dietary supplements showed a 1.34 to 1.41 folds increase in serum iron and a 2.13 to 2.19 folds increase in plasma vitamin B12, compared to B12 deficient group. Supplementation of Spirulina to ameliorate vitamin B12 deficiency combined with micronutrient limitation showed an increase of 1.14 folds and 1.2 folds in serum iron and zinc respectively and 1.51 folds in plasma vitamin B12 compared to the deficient group. The relative osmotic fragility of erythrocytes in deficient experimental animals was 17 to 45% higher compared to the control. The osmotic fragility and deformation in the morphology of erythrocytes observed under vitamin B12 deficiency, alone or in combination with micronutrient limitation, were prevented and ameliorated on dietary supplementation with the microalgal biomass.

Effect of different stripping techniques on pulpal temperature: in vitro study

ABSTRACT Introduction: Proximal stripping of enamel is a routine clinical procedure employed in orthodontics to create space or for balancing tooth size discrepancies. This procedure may result in heat transfer to the pulp, predisposing it to histopathological changes and necrosis of the pulp tissue. Objective: To measure the temperature changes in the pulp chamber during different stripping procedures. Methods: 80 proximal surfaces of 40 extracted human premolar teeth were stripped using four techniques: diamond burs in air-rotor handpiece with air-water spray; diamond burs in micromotor handpiece, with and without a coolant spray; and hand-held diamond strips. A J-type thermocouple connected to a digital thermometer was inserted into the pulp chamber for evaluation of temperature during the stripping procedure. Results: An increase in the pulpal temperature was observed for all stripping method. Diamond burs in micromotor handpiece without coolant resulted in the higher increase in temperature (3.5oC), followed by hand-held diamond strips (2.8oC), diamond burs in air-rotor with air-water spray (1.9oC); and the smallest increase was seen with diamond burs in micromotor handpiece with coolant (1.65oC). None of the techniques resulted in temperature increase above the critical level of 5.5oC. Conclusion: Frictional heat produced with different stripping techniques results in increase in the pulpal temperature, therefore, caution is advised during this procedure. A coolant spray can limit the increase in temperature of the pulp.

RESUMO Introdução: o desgaste proximal do esmalte é um procedimento clínico rotineiro utilizado na Ortodontia para se criar espaços ou equilibrar discrepâncias de tamanho dentário. Esse procedimento pode resultar em transferência de calor para a polpa, predispondo-a a mudanças histopatológicas e necrose do tecido pulpar. Objetivo: medir as mudanças de temperatura na câmara pulpar durante diferentes procedimentos de desgaste interproximal. Métodos: 80 superfícies proximais de 40 pré-molares humanos foram desgastadas utilizando-se quatro técnicas diferentes: brocas diamantadas em motor a ar (alta rotação) com spray de água e ar; brocas diamantadas em micromotor (baixa rotação) com e sem spray de resfriamento; e tiras diamantadas manuais. Um par termoelétrico do tipo J conectado a um termômetro digital foi inserido na câmara pulpar para avaliação da temperatura durante o desgaste proximal. Resultados: foi observado um aumento da temperatura da câmara pulpar em todos os métodos de desgaste proximal. As brocas diamantadas em micromotor sem resfriamento foram responsáveis pelo maior aumento da temperatura (3,5oC), seguidas pelas lixas diamantadas manuais (2,8oC) e brocas diamantadas em motor a ar (alta rotação) com spray de água e ar (1,9oC). O menor aumento foi observado com as brocas diamantadas em micromotor (baixa rotação) com resfriamento (1,65oC). Nenhuma das técnicas elevou a temperatura acima do nível crítico de 5,5oC. Conclusão: o aquecimento friccional produzido pelas diferentes técnicas de desgaste proximal levou ao aumento da temperatura da câmara pulpar; assim, cuidados devem ser tomados durante esse procedimento. O spray de água e ar pode limitar o aumento da temperatura da polpa.

Growth and biochemical response of an indigenous oleaginous microalga Scenedesmus obtusus cultivated in outdoor open ponds

Understanding the response of microalgae to outdoor culture conditions is necessary for the development of large open pond cultivation system for various value added applications. In this context, we evaluated the response of an indigenous oleaginous green microalga Scenedesmus obtusus CFR 1-09/FW to outdoor culture conditions. The microalga was cultivated in open ponds at various culture depths under nutrient replete condition. The pond with 3 cm culture depth showed highest biomass productivity (49.05±11.74 mg L-1 day-1). The high surface solar irradiance (1831 µmol m-2 s-1) led to a decrease in chlorophyll content (from 12.21 to 4 µg mg-1). The long duration exposure to lower temperatures (≤20°C) during night led to an increase in poly unsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) content (47.21±2.83% w/w mass fraction of FAME). The omega-3 alpha linolenic acid (ALA) content rose significantly reaching 31.01±3.79% (w/w) mass fraction of FAME. The high content of carbohydrate (23.4±0.64% w/w), protein (37.62 ± 2.15% w/w), lipid (21.55±1.43% w/w), palmitic acid (30.97±4.02% w/w mass fraction of FAME) and ALA in outdoor cultures makes this microalga a potential candidate for outdoor cultivation for food and feed applications. The study provides valuable insights for developing outdoor open pond cultivation protocol.