Acceptance of COVID-19 Vaccines in India: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

This systematic review and meta-analysis sought to evaluate the acceptability levels for COVID vaccine(s) in various states in India. Published articles in PubMed/Scopus/Cochrane/DOAJ/the Web of Science that focused on assessing COVID-19 vaccine hesitation/vaccine acceptance using a survey/questionnaire were included. After extensive research, 524 records were found, and after screening on the basis of eligibility criteria, only 23 papers were added to this review. Increased vaccine assumption percentage (>70%) among the population was found in two surveys nationwide (92.8%) and in Delhi (79.5%). For pooled estimates of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and heterogeneity, twenty-three studies (23) consisting of 39,567 individuals reported for acceptance of COVID 19 vaccine in India.. Out of these, 26,028 individuals accepted the COVID-19 vaccine, giving a pooled estimate of 62.6% (95% CI: 55.6-69.4) with considerable heterogeneity (χ2 = 3397.3, p < 0.0001; I2 = 99.40%). The results of this study give a brief insight into the percentage acceptance and hesitancy among the Indian population regarding COVID-19 vaccine immunisation. Future research and vaccine education initiatives can be steered by the findings of this work as a starting point.

Gingival Biotype and Its Relation with Malocclusion.

Objective: To systematically review the relationship between gingival biotype (GT) and malocclusion. Methods: The review followed PRISMA standards of quality for systematic reviews and meta-analyses reporting with PROSPERO registration number CRD42020126543. The systematic database search included MEDLINE, Scopus, Embase, PsychINFO, CINAHL, and other key journals; the article search was performed until February 2020. Cochrane's risk of bias in non-randomized studies-of interventions (ROBINS-I) was used to grade the methodological quality of the included studies. Results: The systematic search identified 105 studies, six studies satisfied the inclusion criteria for eligibility. The study participants ranged from 26 to 200 (total n=812), with a mean of 135. Study participants were aged between 14 and 32 years. Five studies were graded as the moderate risk of bias and one study as low risk of bias. Two studies showed thin GT among individuals with severe crowding compared to mild crowding. Three studies showed a thin GT with a narrow zone of the keratinized gingival width compared to a thick GT. No relationship was found between GT and Angle's classification of malocclusion. Conclusion: No relationship was observed between Angle's classification of malocclusion and GT. Thin GT was prevalent among individuals with pro-inclination of incisors. Keratinized gingival width was narrow among individuals with thin GT.

Prevalence of Carbapenemase and Extended-Spectrum ß-Lactamase Producing Enterobacteriaceae: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Enterobacteriaceae have been classified as severely drug resistant bacteria by the World Health Organization due to their extensive production and dissemination of carbapenemases (CPs) and extended-spectrum ß-lactamases (ESBL). The current study was conducted with the aim to determine the prevalence of CP- and ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae, as well as their antibiotic susceptibility profiles. For this, a hospital-based study was conducted which included 384 participants with bacterial infections. The collection and processing of specimens was conducted per standard microbiological protocol. The samples were inoculated on agar media plates to obtain the bacterial growths, and if they were positive for any bacterial growth, the antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed using disk diffusion method to check their antibiotic susceptibility patterns. The double disc diffusion as well as carbapenem inhibition techniques were used to examine the CP enzymes. Multiplex real-time PCR technique was performed to identify three distinct genetic types of CPs that have been identified in the Enterobacteriaceae (KPC, NDM, and OXA-48). A majority of participants (58.3%) in the current study were living in urban areas. A total of 227 (59.1%) patients were hospitalized. Furthermore, 26.04% of the patients were determined to be suffering from infections with Enterobacteriaceae. Escherichia coli was the most prevalent (9.1%) isolate overall, followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (8.07%), Acinetobacter baumannii (2.6%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (3.1%), Enterobacter cloacae (1.3%), Proteus spp. (1.3%), and Morganella spp. (0.5%). The studied patients were suffering from urinary tract infections (48.6%), blood stream infections (32.2%), wounds infection (11.9%), and respiratory infections (7.03%), confirmed with bacterial cultures. The resistance against carbapenems was seen in 31.4% of E. coli isolates, 25.8% in K. pneumoniae, 50% in P. aeruginosa, 25% in A. baumannii, and 20% in E. cloacae isolates. Such high rates of CP- and ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae are alarming, suggesting high spread in the study area. It is advised to implement better infection prevention and control strategies and conduct further nationwide screening of the carriers of these pathogens. This might help in reducing the burden of highly resistant bugs.

Evaluation of Social Media Usage by Dental Practitioners of Pakistan for Professional Purposes - A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: In the past couple of years, the use of social media has been on a tremendous rise with greater attention in the field of healthcare, including dentistry. The use of social media for professional purposes is emphasized as unprofessional use can be detrimental. This study aims to evaluate the use of social media by dentists for professional purposes. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out between December 2021 and March 2022. An online questionnaire was formulated using Google Forms and distributed to the dental professionals through various social media platforms such as Twitter©, Facebook©, Instagram©, Snapchat©, WhatsApp©, and Email©. The questionnaire consisted of two parts: demographic characteristics and questions about the use of social media for professional purposes. For data analysis, SPSS version 25.0 was used, where a multiple linear regression test was used to compare the responses of the participants with their demographic characteristics. A p-value of ≤0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results: A total of 404 dentists participated in this study with a response rate of 89.7%. The majority of the 276 (68.3%) dentists believed to have a professional account to use social media for professional purposes. Most of the 280 (69.3%) dentists agreed social media improved knowledge and communication skills with the patients. About 248 (61.4%) dentists considered the use of social media for general purposes during clinical hours led to wastage of time. About 160 (39.6%) dentists considered connecting with patients on social media to be inappropriate. Conclusion: The use of social media is on the rise at a tremendous rate in different fields of work, including dentistry. Social media is a great tool for dentists to help expand and grow their clinical practice. However, the professional use and ethics whilst using social media should be considered by the dentists.

Effect of Erosive Agents on Surface Characteristics of Nano-Fluorapatite Ceramic: An In-Vitro Study.

Erosive beverages cause dissolution of natural teeth and intra-oral restorations, resulting in surface characteristic changes, particularly roughness and degradation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the surface roughness and topography of a dental ceramic following immersion in locally available erosive solutions. A total of 160 disc specimens of a nano-fluorapatite type ceramic (12 mm diameter and 2 mm thickness) were fabricated and equally distributed into two groups (n = 80) and then evenly distributed among the following five testing groups (n = 16): lemon juice, citrate buffer solution, 4% acetic acid, soft cola drink, and distilled water which served as a control. The surface roughness (Ra) and topography were evaluated using a profilometer and scanning electron microscope at baseline, 24 h, 96 h, and 168 h respectively. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and Tukey's multiple comparisons (p ≤ 0.05). Surface changes were observed upon exposure to all acidic beverages except distilled water. Amongst all immersion media, 4% acetic acid produced the most severe surface roughness across all time periods (i.e., baseline, 24 h, 96 h, and 168 h). A statistically significant difference in the surface roughness values between all immersion media and across all four time intervals was observed. Erosive agents had a negative effect on the surface roughness and topography of the tested ceramic. The surface roughness increased with increased storage time intervals.

Comparative Evaluation of Tensile Bond Strength of Poly Ether Ether Ketone (PEEK) and Zirconia Copings Using Resin Cement with or without Adhesive: An In Vitro Study.

This in vitro research aimed to evaluate the Tensile Bond Strength of Poly Ether Ether Ketone and Zirconia copings using resin cement with or without Visio.link adhesive. From commercially available Zirconia and PEEK, blocks were machined milled using (CAD)/(CAM) to obtain 20 Zirconia and 20 PEEK copings. These specimens were sandblasted using 110 µm of alumina. The two main groups (20 Zirconia and 20 PEEK copings) were divided further into 4 subgroups, GROUP 1 (n = 10) PEEK substructure with self-adhesive resin cement without pretreatment, and GROUP 2 (n = 10) PEEK substructure with self-adhesive resin cement pre-treated with Visio.link adhesive. GROUP 3 (n = 10) Zirconia copings with self-adhesive resin cement without pretreatment. GROUP 4 (n = 10) Zirconia copings with self-adhesive resin cement pre-treated with Visio.link adhesive. Universal testing machine was used to evaluate the tensile bond strength of these copings. The results were analyzed using SPSS software Version 25.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). One-way ANOVA and independent t-test were used to compare the mean scores. Statistically significant increase was observed in Tensile Bond Strength of samples when Visio.link adhesive was used. Tensile Bond Strength of PEEK copings and Zirconia copings with Visio.link adhesive is considerably greater than PEEK copings and Zirconia copings without adhesive. The mean Tensile Bond Strength of Zirconia (with or without adhesive) is less as compared to Tensile Bond Strength of PEEK (with or without adhesive), but the difference is not statistically significant.

Comparison and Advanced Antimicrobial Strategies of Silver and Copper Nanodrug-Loaded Glass Ionomer Cement against Dental Caries Microbes.

Caries lesions during cement repairs are a severe issue, and developing a unique antimicrobial restorative biomaterial can help to reduce necrotic lesion recurrence. As a result, Thymus vulgaris extract was used to biosynthesize copper nanoparticles (TVE-CuNPs) exhibiting different characteristics (TVE). Along with TVE-CuNPs, commercial silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and metronidazole were combined with glass ionomer cement (GIC) to test its antibacterial efficacy and compressive strength. FTIR, XRD, UV-Vis spectrophotometry, and TEM were applied to characterize the TVE-CuNPs. Additionally, AgNPs and TVE-CuNPs were also combined with metronidazole and GIC. The modified GIC samples were divided into six groups, where groups 1 and 2 included conventional GIC and GIC with 1.5% metromidazole, respectively; group 3 had GIC with 0.5% TVE-CuNPs, while group 4 had 0.5% TVE-CuNPs with metronidazole in 1.5%; group 5 had GIC with 0.5% AgNPs, and group 6 had 0.5% AgNPs with metronidazole at 1.5%. An antimicrobial test was performed against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) by the disc diffusion method and the modified direct contact test (MDCT). GIC groups 4 and 6 demonstrated a greater antimicrobial efficiency against the two tested strains than the other groups. In GIC groups 4 and 6, the combination of GIC with two antimicrobial agents, 1.5% metronidazole and 0.5% TVE-CuNPs or AgNPs, enhanced the antimicrobial efficiency when compared to that of the other groups with or without a single agent. GIC group specimens combined with nanosilver and nanocopper had similar mean compressive strengths when compared to the other GIC groups. Finally, the better antimicrobial efficacy of GIC boosted by metronidazole and the tested nanoparticles against the tested strains may be relevant for the future creation of more efficient and modified restorations to reduce dental caries lesions.

COVID-19 Contraction Among Dental Healthcare Workers in the Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics - A Retrospective Analysis During the Pandemic.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to major challenges for the healthcare sector across the globe including dental healthcare workers (DHCWs) due to the increased risk of transmission of virus during aerosol-generating procedures. We conducted the present retrospective analysis determining the risk of contraction of COVID-19 infection among DHCWs since the outbreak of the pandemic for a year (March 2020 through March 2021) in Mumbai. Methods: In total, 18,058 patients visited the Nair Hospital Dental College for dental treatment related to the Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics during the assessed year. All the patients were subjected to intensive triage, which included recording their body temperature, oxygen saturation level, travel, and COVID-19 exposure history. Results: A total of 26 DHCWs were responsible for attending and treating the patients with all the standard infection control measures. Seventy-four (0.40%) patients out of 18058 were referred for a nasal rapid antigen test (RAT) on giving a positive affirmation about COVID-19 like symptoms when screened at the triage. Of those 74 patients referred, 20 reported a positive nasal rapid antigen test and the infection was confirmed by Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR). Among 26, 9 (34,7%) DCHWs were found to have contracted the infection during the assessed year. Conclusion: The analysis found that the risk of COVID-19 infection contraction amongst the DHCWs is considerably less. This could be attributed to the intensive triage and the preventive measures taken while rendering treatment.

Morphological Comparison of the Maxillary Arch in Buccal and Palatal Canine Impaction among Asian Population of Gujarati Origin: A Hospital-Based Study.

Aim: To estimate the differences in the maxillary arch morphology in buccal and palatal canine impaction in an Asian population of Gujarati origin. Methodology: An institutional ethics committee's approval was acquired before the commencement of this study. Sixty subjects were enrolled in the study. Thirty subjects (20 females and 10 males) had a maxillary impacted canine either buccal or palatal and thirty control group participants were selected aged 13 to 18 years who sought orthodontic treatment at the tertiary health care center in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, in western India. Routine pre-treatment radiographs and dental plaster models with good anatomic details were recorded. Measurements of the inter-molar width, palatal depth, arch length, sum of the mesio-distal width of the upper incisors, and available arch space were recorded from prepared orthodontic study models using digital vernier calipers with an accuracy of 0.01 mm and brass wire. The ratio of palatal depth to inter-molar width (Ratio 1), arch length to inter-molar width (Ratio 2), and width of the maxillary incisors to available arch space (Ratio 3) were also secondarily calculated. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21, IBM Inc. The normality of the data was assessed by the Shapiro−Wilk test. As the data was found to be normally distributed, bivariate analyses were also performed (one-way ANOVA test, Bonferroni post hoc correction). The level of statistical significance was set at a p-value less than 0.05. Results: The comparison of the inter-molar width, palatal depth, arch length, sum of the mesio-distal width of the upper incisors, available arch space, Ratio 1, Ratio 2, and Ratio 3 among controls and subjects with buccal and palatal canine impaction showed overall significant differences in the inter-molar width, palatal depth, arch length, sum of the mesio-distal width of the upper incisors, and available arch space when compared using one-way ANOVA as p < 0.05. Ratios 1, 2, and 3 also showed significant differences between the buccal and palatal canine impaction. Conclusion: An inadequate arch length (p < 0.0001) and a higher degree of crowding with reduced available arch space (p < 0.0001) may be considered as early risk factors for buccal maxillary canine impaction. An inadequate inter-molar width (p < 0.0001), and an increased palatal depth (p < 0.0001) with a clinically reduced mesiodistal width of the sum of maxillary incisors may be considered as risk factors for palatal maxillary canine impaction in an Asian population of Gujarati origin.

The Molecular Characterization of Virulence Determinants and Antibiotic Resistance Patterns in Human Bacterial Uropathogens.

The high rates of bacterial infections affect the economy worldwide by contributing to the increase in morbidity and treatment costs. The present cross-sectional study was carried out to evaluate the prevalence of bacterial infection in urinary tract infection (UTI) patients and to evaluate the antimicrobial resistance rate (AMR) in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Lahore, Pakistan. The study was conducted for the period of one year from January 2020 to December 2020. A total of 1899 different clinical samples were collected and examined for bacterial cultures using standard procedures. Samples were inoculated on different culture media to isolate bacterial isolates and for identification and susceptibility testing. A total of 1107/1899 clinical samples were positive for Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa), Escherichia coli (E. coli) and other bacterial isolates. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) prevalence was 16.93% from these positive cases. MRSA strains were found to be highly resistant to amikacin, clindamycin, fusidic acid, gentamicin and tobramycin, while highest sensitivity was noted against vancomycin (100%) and linezolid (100%). MRSA and high rates of multidrug resistance (MDR) pose a serious therapeutic burden to critically ill patients. A systematic and concerted effort is essential to rapidly identify high-risk patients and to reduce the burden of AMR.

Association between gastric reflux, obesity and erosive tooth wear among psychiatric patients.

ABSTRACT: The prevalence of erosive tooth wear and obesity are high in psychiatric patients and soft drink consumption is a common risk factor associated with both diseases. This study aimed to assess the association between soft drink consumption, gastric reflux, erosive tooth wear, and obesity among resident patients at the Psychiatric Hospital, Taif, Saudi Arabia.This descriptive, cross-sectional study included 223 adult psychiatric inpatients (126 male, 97 female) with a mean age of 42.3 years (± 2.2). Dental erosion detection was performed according to World Health Organization criteria. The medical evaluation included assessment of the body mass index (BMI). With appropriate sample weighting, relationships between erosive tooth wear, gastric reflux, and obesity were assessed using multivariable logistic regression.Ninety eight patients (43.9%) presented with erosive tooth wear. The mean BMI for the entire study population was 27.7 ±â€Š6.3 kg/m2. Regression analysis showed a strong association between erosive tooth wear and chronic vomiting or bulimia (adjusted odds ratio = 2.11; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.98-5.07, P < .001), gastric reflux (adjusted odds ratio = 2.13; 95% CI = 1.34-6.23, P < .001), consumption of soft drinks (adjusted odds ratio = 2.14; 95% CI = 1.03-6.08, P < .001), and schizophrenia and delusional disorders (adjusted odds ratio = 2.07; 95% CI = 1.98-5.08, P < .001).This study demonstrates a significant association between erosive tooth wear prevalence and chronic vomiting or bulimia, consumption of soft drinks, and gastric reflux among resident patients at psychiatric hospital.

Association Between Early Childhood Caries and Obesity among Preschool Children.

PURPOSE: Early childhood caries (ECC) and childhood obesity are among the most prevalent health conditions affecting children. ECC is associated with obesity through the common risk factor of sugar consumption. The present study aimed to assess the association between ECC and obesity in preschool children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1250 preschool children (698 girls, 552 boys; mean age: 4.3 [1.1] years). The children's body mass index was determined (BMI: weight/height in kg/m2). The World Health Organization criteria were used for the diagnosis of caries. Multivariable logistic regression was used to analyse the relationship between ECC prevalence and childhood obesity. RESULTS: ECC was detected in 929 (74.3%) children. The mean dmft and dmfs was 5.91 (1.13) and 8.92 (2.07), respectively. The multiple regression model showed a statistically significant association between ECC prevalence and obesity with an adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 2.59 (95% CI: 1.88 - 3.57; P = 0.001). The logistic regression model showed that in children with a monthly family income > $2666, sugar consumption, preterm low birth-weight/full-term low birth-weight (PTLBW/FTLBW), and toothbrushing frequency ≤ 1 time/day were statistically significantly associated with ECC prevalence. CONCLUSION: ECC was positively associated with obesity.

An In-Vitro Evaluation of Microleakage in Resin-Based Restorative Materials at Different Time Intervals.

A vital feature of conservative dentistry is the adhesion of the restorative material to the tooth structure for restoration of the tooth substance lost due to dental decay, trauma, or dental imperfections. In a perfect world, a restorative material should generate a lasting adhesion by bonding the restoration with tooth tissues. The ingress of micro-organisms, oral fluids, molecules, and ions through microscopic spaces due to faulty adhesion between restoration and tooth structure is known as microleakage. This study is focuses on the evaluation of adhesive failures between the restorative materials. In the past, studies have focused more on the bonding potential of a restorative material with the tooth surface. Therefore, there is need to carry out a study that compares the microleakage between resin-based restorative materials in a sandwich manner with and without the intermediate bonding layer after immersion in 2% methylene blue dye at different time intervals. The restorative materials used were composite Ceram X Mono plus (DENTSPLY) and Z350 (3M ESPE), Vitremer resin modified glass ionomer cement (RMGIC) (3M ESPE), smart dentine replacement SDR (3M ESPE), Bond NT (DENTSPLY), and Universal Bond (3M ESPE). A light emitting diode (LED) was used to cure the specimens. Artificial saliva was used as a storage medium for the specimens. Thermocycling of specimens was carried out at 500 cycles/30 s and 1000 cycles/30 s. The world health organization (WHO) grading tool for microleakage was used to analyze fluid ingress in the specimens through disclosing by 2% methylene blue dye. The statistical analysis was carried out with one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey post hoc test, keeping the level of significance at p ≤ 0.05. In Grade 0 = 85 samples, Grade 1 = 10 samples, Grade 2 = 7 samples, Grade 3 = 16 samples, and in Grade 4 = 2 samples were identified. This study describes that no microleakage was observed in SDR and resin composite groups as compared to Vitremer and resin composite groups.

Antimicrobial Efficacy of Glass Ionomer Cement in Incorporation with Biogenic Zingiber officinale Capped Silver-Nanobiotic, Chlorhexidine Diacetate and Lyophilized Miswak.

In the present study, Zingiber officinale is used for the synthesis of Zingiber officinale capped silver nanoparticles (ZOE-AgNPs) and compares the antimicrobial efficacy and compressive strength of conventional glass ionomer cement (GIC) combined with ZOE-AgNPs, lyophilized miswak, and chlorhexidine diacetate (CHX) against oral microbes. Five groups of the disc-shaped GIC specimens were prepared. Group A: lyophilized miswak and GIC combination, Group B: ZOE-AgNPs and GIC combinations, Group C: CHX and GIC combination, Group D: ZOE-AgNPs + CHX + GIC; Group E: Conventional GIC. Results confirmed the successful formation of ZOE-AgNPs that was monitored by UV-Vis sharp absorption spectra at 415 nm. The X-ray diffractometer (XRD) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) results revealed the formation of ZOE-AgNPs with a mean size 10.5-14.12 nm. The peaks of the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were appearing the involvement of ZOE components onto the surface of ZOE-AgNPs which played as bioreducing, and stabilizing agents. At a 24-h, one-week and three-week intervals, Group D showed the significantly highest mean inhibitory zones compared to Group A, Group B, and Group C. At microbe-level comparison, Streptococcus mutans and Staphylococcus aureus were inhibited significantly by all the specimens tested except group E when compared to Candida albicans. Group D specimens showed slightly higher (45.8 ± 5.4) mean compressive strength in comparison with other groups. The combination of GIC with ZOE-AgNPs and chlorhexidine together enhanced its antimicrobial efficacy and compressive strength compared to GIC with ZOE-AgNPs or lyophilized miswak or chlorhexidine combination alone. The present study revealed that The combination of GIC with active components of ZOE-AgNPs and chlorhexidine paves the way to lead its effective nano-dental materials applications.

Combined effect of CO2 concentration and low-cost urea repletion/starvation in Chlorella vulgaris for ameliorating growth metrics, total and non-polar lipid accumulation and fatty acid composition.

Different CO2 concentration such as 0.03, 5, 10 and 15% and low-cost urea repletion/starvation in Chlorella vulgaris on growth, total and non-polar lipid content and fatty acid composition was studied. Chlorella vulgaris grown at 0.03% CO2 apparently revealed inferior biomass yield 0.55 g/L on 14th day compared to CO2 supplemented cells. In the case of CO2 supply, 15% CO2 has unveiled higher biomass yield at about 1.83 g/L on day 12 whereas biomass yield for 5 and 10% CO2 supplemented cells was 1.61 and 1.73 g/L, respectively on 12th day of cultivation. The biomass productivity (g) per liter per day was 32 mg in control condition whereas it was 125, 134 and 144 mg/L/d in 5, 10 and 15% CO2 supplied cells, respectively. Lipid content of the strain grown at control, 5, 10 and 15% CO2 was 21.2, 22.1, 23.4 and 24.6%, respectively and however, without CO2 addition in low-cost urea repleted and urea depleted medium grown cells revealed 21.2 and 24.2%, respectively. Interestingly, strain grown at 15% CO2 supply in urea deplete medium yielded 28.7% lipid and contribution of non-polar lipids in total lipids is 69.7%. Further, the fatty acid composition of the strain grown in 15% CO2 supply in urea depleted medium showed C16:0, C16:1, C18:1 and C18:3 in the level of 30.12, 9.98, 23.43, and 11.97%, respectively compared to control and urea amended condition.

Effect of surface treatment on the mechanical stability of orthodontic miniscrews.

OBJECTIVES: To provide collective quantitative evidence about the effect of surface treatments on the mechanical stability of orthodontic miniscrews (MSs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was registered in PROSPERO (No. CRD42020209652). The research question was defined according to the PICO (population, intervention, control, and outcomes) format. Various research databases were searched for animal and human studies on effects of surface treatment on the mechanical stability of MSs. Both prospective and retrospective in vivo clinical studies published in English were included. The risk of bias was assessed using SYRCLE's risk of bias tool for animal studies. The meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan 5.4. RESULTS: A total of 109 articles were identified; 14 were included in the systematic review, and seven studies with sandblasting, acid etching (SLA) methods of surface treatment were included for meta-analysis. The number of study participants ranged from 6 to 24 (total n = 185), with a mean of 13.2. A total of 949 MSs were used with a mean of 67.8. The overall success rate for surface-treated MSs ranged from 47.9% to 100%. Forest plot of removal torque values showed significantly higher values for SLA surface-treated MSs compared with controls with a standard mean difference of 2.61 (95% confidence interval = 1.49-3.72, I2 = 85%). Forest plot of insertion torque showed a standard mean difference of -6.19 (95% confidence interval = -13.63-1.25, I2 = 98%, P = .10). CONCLUSIONS: Surface treatment of MSs improved primary and secondary stability with good osseointegration at the bone-implant surface. However, significant heterogeneity across the studies included in the meta-analysis made it difficult to draw conclusions.

Bio-based algal (Chlorella vulgaris) refinery on de-oiled algae biomass cake: A study on biopolymer and biodiesel production.

In this study, a novel bio-refinery concept was designed for efficient utilization of de-oiled algae cake as bio-resource for biopolymer (Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHB)) production and thereby making the biorefinery process more economical and sustainable by completely utilizing the algal biomass without the production of waste algal residues. Algal oil was extracted from Chlorella vulgaris biomass via Bligh and Dyer method for biodiesel production through parabolic solar trough collector. Maximum lipid yield was 27.5 wt% at a temperature of 45 °C with de-oiled cake (DC) yield of 0.37 g. Maximum algal oil conversion efficiency was 89% and 94% for 0.3 wt% of clam shell waste and commercial calcium oxide catalyst at 90 min. After a reaction time of 120 h, the glucose, soluble sugars, xylose, and arabinose in the DC was reduced by 53%, 21%, 63%, and 69% respectively. The maximum PHB yield was 0.41 g PHB/g DC. This study provides additional support for the algal refineries on sustainability and circular usage of algae biomass for production of multiple products.

An assessment of agricultural waste cellulosic biofuel for improved combustion and emission characteristics.

The need for an alternative fuel has been growing swiftly owing to the extravagant use of fossil fuels as a sole energy source for all purposes. This paper investigates the performance, emission and noise characteristics of cellulosic biofuel. A series of tests were conducted in a single cylinder, four stroke DI engine to determine the performance measuring factors such as brake thermal efficiency (BTE), brake power (BP), brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC) and emission factors such as CO emission, NO emission, CO2 emission and smoke and then, the HC emission rates were also measured. All tests were carried out at different load conditions of 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% with the constant speed of 1500 rpm. The fuel blends taken for the tests were diesel, E5, E10, E15 and E20. The E20 comparatively showed lower performance than all other fuel blends. However, when considering CO and smoke emission, the E20 fuel blends produced better reduced emission. The lower-level ethanol diesel blend showed better BT as well as BTE and BSFC. From the above findings, it is clear and evident that cellulosic biodiesel blends can be an optimal solution to meet the ongoing energy demands.

Hypomineralized Primary Teeth in Preterm Low Birth Weight Children and Its Association with Molar Incisor Hypomineralization-A 3-Year-Prospective Study.

The present prospective study was conducted to assess the prevalence of enamel hypomineralization (EH) in primary dentition among preterm low birth weight (PT-LBW) children, incidence of molar incisor hypomineralization (MIH) in the same cohorts, and to determine associations between PT-LBW, hypomineralization in primary second molars, and MIH. A total of 287 PTLBW study subjects and 290 control full-term normal birth weight subjects were followed up for 36 months. Enamel defects were recorded at baseline. The same cohorts were examined after 3 years for MIH using the European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry (EAPD) criteria. Multiple variable logistic regression models were developed. A total of 279 children (48.4%) presented with EH in primary dentition and 207 (35.9%) children presented with MIH. Children with primary second molar hypomineralization had 2.13 (R2 = 0.19, 95% CI = 0.98-4.19, p = 0.005) times higher frequency of MIH. Children with PT-LBW had 3.02 times (R2 = 0.31, 95% CI = 1.01-5.94, p = 0.005) higher frequency of MIH incidence after adjusting for childhood infection, prenatal history, and presence of hypomineralized primary second molars. To conclude, the present study showed significant association between PT-LBW, hypomineralized second primary molars, and incidence of MIH.

Dental Erosion Prevalence and Its Association With Obesity Among Children With and Without Special Healthcare Needs.

PURPOSE: Dental erosion and childhood obesity are associated with a common risk factor, soft drink consumption. The present study aims to assess the prevalence of dental erosion and its association with obesity among children with and without special healthcare needs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 1,200 school children (400 children with special needs (CSHN) and 800 children without special needs) in the age group of 6 to 16 years. Dental erosion was diagnosed according to World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. Body mass index (BMI; weight/height in kg/m2) was recorded for each child. The association of dental erosion and obesity was analysed using multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 331 (27.6%) children presented with dental erosion. Dental erosion prevalence among CSHN was 33.5% and among children without special needs was 24.6%. In the final fully adjusted model, children with obesity presented 2.32 times (95%CI 1.17-4.89, P = 0.001) higher odds ratio (OR) of having dental erosion than normal-weight children. Children who consumed soft drinks ≥ 1 time/day and 2-6 times a week presented with an OR of 2.65 (95%CI 1.23-5.21, P = 0.001) times of dental erosion. Children with chronic vomiting and bulimia presented with a 3.27 (95%CI 1.72-6.12, P = 0.001) times higher OR of dental erosion. Children with gastric reflux presented with a 3.21 (95%CI 1.52 - 5.86, P = 0.001) times higher OR of dental erosion. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of dental erosion was slightly higher for special needs children compared to children without special needs. The study outcome suggests that obesity, chronic vomiting, consumption of soft drinks, and gastric reflux are statistically significantly associated with dental erosion.