Effectiveness of amine fluoride mouthwash in preventing white spot lesions during fixed orthodontic therapy - A randomized control trial.

Background and Aim: One of the main reasons that patients seek orthodontic treatment is aesthetics. Unfortunately, treatment with fixed orthodontic appliances can at times increase the chances of developing white spot lesions on the surfaces of teeth, thus creating a new aesthetic issue for the patient. The prevalence of white spot lesions (WSL) reported after treatment varies from 2% to 97%, and these lesions can occur despite increased attention to hygiene. Hence the aim of this study was to assess the effect of Amine fluoride mouthwash in preventing white spot lesions during fixed orthodontic therapy. Materials and Methods: Study participants were randomly divided into two groups (Group A - experimental 25 patients and Group B - control 25 patients). The pre-intervention and post-intervention intra-oral digital photographs were analysed by using ImageJ software to assess the percentage of the facial surface affected on the teeth (10 maxillary teeth), which had white spot lesions. Results: The mean value of WSLs showed significant difference between the experimental and control groups. Mean values of WSL in the experimental group decreased from 2 to 1.54 with a mean difference of 0.46 after 6 months of follow-up which indicated that amine fluoride mouthwash was effective in preventing WSLs during fixed orthodontic treatment. Conclusion: WSLs scores were significantly reduced in patients who received the mouthwash when compared to patients who followed standard oral hygiene regimen with fluoridated toothpaste only. In clinical practice, amine fluoride mouthwash is an effective method for the prevention of WSLs during fixed orthodontic treatment.

Do emissions from thermal power plants affect crop productivity? A study from the vicinity of Bellary Thermal Power Station, Karnataka, India.

In the present study, ambient air quality was monitored during July to November 2013 in the vicinity of Bellary Thermal Power Station (BTPS), Karnataka to assess the impact of pollutants emitted from power plant on the productivity of maize (Zea mays L.). Atmospheric pollutant load were measured in five different villages at varying distances and directions from thermal power plant, with the village farthest away from BTPS (Yelubenchi) as control. Maize yield was also estimated in these locations and correlated to the pollutant concentrations. It was found that, both particulate matter and SO2 which are indicators of emissions from coal-fueled power plants were highest in Thimmalapur village located in the predominant down wind direction. A significant reduction in maize yield was noticed (8197 to 6509 kg ha-1 for seed and 14041 to 9933 kg ha-1 for stover) across the gradient in distance and direction from BTPS which might be influenced by the pollutants emitted. The implications of these observations are further discussed in the paper.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of boswellic acid-NSAID hybrid molecules as anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic agents.

Methyl esters of the ß-boswellic acid (BA) and 11-keto-ß-boswellic acid (KBA) obtained from Boswellia serrata resin were subjected to Steglich esterification with the different non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) viz., ibuprofen, naproxen, diclophenac and indomethacin. The novel hybrids of methyl boswellate (5-8) and that of methyl 11-keto boswellate (9-12) were evaluated for anti-inflammatory activity by carrageenan-induced rat hind paw edema model and anti-arthritic activity by Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA) induced arthritis in Wister albino rat. Significant inhibition on carrageenan-induced paw edema has been observed with 5, 6 and 10 where as in CFA induced rats, hybrids 5, 8, 9 and 12 exhibited pronounced antiarthritic activity. Hybrid molecules 5 and 9 have been found to be more effective in inhibiting in-vivo COX-2 than ibuprofen by itself, thus showing the synergistic effect. Hybrid 5 and 9 tested for in-vitro lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase-2 (LOX/COX-2) inhibitory activity. The studies revealed that both 5 and 9 inhibited COX-2 relatively better than LOX enzyme.

High-resolution 3D-GRE imaging of the abdomen using controlled aliasing acceleration technique - a feasibility study.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the feasibility of high-resolution 3D-gradient-recalled echo (GRE) fat-suppressed T1-weighted images using controlled aliasing acceleration technique (CAIPIRINHA-VIBE), and compare image quality and lesion detection to standard-resolution 3D-GRE images using conventional acceleration technique (GRAPPA-VIBE). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty-four patients (41 males, 43 females; age range: 14-90 years, 58.8 ± 15.6 years) underwent abdominal MRI at 1.5 T with CAIPIRINHA-VIBE [spatial resolution, 0.76 ± 0.04 mm] and GRAPPA-VIBE [spatial resolution, 1.17 ± 0.14 mm]. Two readers independently reviewed image quality, presence of artefacts, lesion conspicuity, and lesion detection. Kappa statistic was used to assess interobserver agreement. Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used for image qualitative pairwise comparisons. Logistic regression with post-hoc testing was used to evaluate statistical significance of lesions evaluation. RESULTS: Interobserver agreement ranged between 0.45-0.93. Pre-contrast CAIPIRINHA-VIBE showed significantly (p < 0.001) sharper images and lesion conspicuity with decreased residual aliasing, but more noise enhancement and inferior image quality. Post-contrast CAIPIRINHA-VIBE showed significantly (p < 0.001) sharper images and higher lesion conspicuity, with less respiratory motion and residual aliasing artefacts. Inferior fat-suppression was noticeable on CAIPIRINHA-VIBE sequences (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: High in-plane resolution abdominal 3D-GRE fat-suppressed T1-weighted imaging using controlled-aliasing acceleration technique is feasible and yields sharper images compared to standard-resolution images using standard acceleration, with higher post-contrast image quality and trend for improved hepatic lesions detection. KEY POINTS: • High-resolution imaging of the upper abdomen is clinically feasible using 2D-controlled aliasing acceleration technique. • High-resolution imaging yields significantly sharper images and increased hepatic lesions conspicuity. • High-resolution imaging yields significantly less respiratory motion and residual aliasing artefacts. • Controlled-aliasing offers substantial acquisition-time reduction in patients with breath-holding difficulties.

Cationic amphiphiles with fatty acyl chain asymmetry of coconut oil deliver genes selectively to mouse lung.

Recent structure-activity studies have revealed a dramatic influence of hydrophobic chain asymmetry in enhancing gene delivery efficacies of synthetic cationic amphiphiles (Nantz, M. H. et al. Mol. Pharmaceutics2010, 7, 786-794; Koynova, R. et al. Mol. Pharmaceutics2009, 6, 951-958). The present findings demonstrate for the first time that such a transfection enhancing influence of asymmetric hydrocarbon chains observed in pure synthetic cationic amphiphiles also works for cationic amphiphiles designed with natural, asymmetric fatty acyl chains of a food-grade oil. Herein, we demonstrate that cationic amphiphiles designed with the natural fatty acyl chain asymmetry of food-grade coconut oil are less cytotoxic and deliver genes selectively to mouse lung. Despite lauroyl chains being the major fatty acyl chains of coconut oil, both the in vitro and In vivo gene transfer efficiencies of such cationic amphiphiles were found to be remarkably superior (>4-fold) to those of their pure dilauroyl analogue. Mechanistic studies involving the technique of fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) revealed higher biomembrane fusibility of the cationic liposomes of the coconut amphiphiles than that of the symmetric dilauroyl analogue. AFM study revealed pronounced fusogenic nonlamellar structures of the liposomes of coconut amphiphiles. Findings in the FRET and cellular uptake study, taken together, support the notion that the higher cellular uptake resulting from the more fusogenic nature of the liposomes of coconut amphiphiles 1 are likely to play a dominant role in making the coconut amphiphiles transfection competent.

Hydrogen ions in microaqueous phase during lipase catalysed esterification in non-aqueous media.

Lipase catalysed stearoyl lactic acid preparation in non-aqueous media was treated as a model system to study the microaqueous phase containing hydrogen ions arising from dissociation of water soluble lactic acid in it. The thermodynamic factors operating at the microaqueous enzyme-water-solvent phase on the lipase in non-polar solvents were investigated in terms of the water of reaction which constitutes the microaqueous phase, partitioning of acid between water of the microaqueous phase and the organic solvent, dissolution and dissociation of the acid and the resultant number of H+ present in the microaqueous phase and the extent of esterification for a given amount of enzyme at various substrate concentrations. Using mass transfer equations, the theoretical number of H+ at the microaqueous phase were calculated and expressed as hydrogen ion numbers to generate plots which indicated various thermodynamic processes operating at the microaqueous phase to maintain this concentration to a safe minimum.

Lipase catalyzed synthesis of organic acid esters of lactic acid in non-aqueous media.

Lipases from Rhizomucor miehei (Lipozyme IM20) and porcine pancreas (PPL) were employed as catalysts for the esterification reaction between the hydroxyl group of lactic acid and the carboxyl group of organic acids. Reactions were carried out at both shake-flask and bench-scale levels. Various parameters, such as solvent, temperature, substrate and enzyme concentrations, effect of buffer volume, buffer pH and water volume, were investigated for optimization of yields. While ethylmethyl ketone (EMK) was found to be the best solvent for shake-flask reactions, chloroform gave higher yields at bench-scale level. Detailed studies were carried out with respect to the synthesis of palmitoyl and stearoyl lactic acids. At shake-flask level, maximum yields of 37.5 and 40% were observed in case of palmitoyl and stearoyl lactic acids, respectively, with Lipozyme IM20; at bench-scale level, the maximum yields were 85.1 and 99% respectively, when PPL was employed. Of all the organic acids employed (C(2)--C(18)), only lauric, palmitic and stearic acids gave yields above 50%. At bench-scale level, PPL could be reused for up to three cycles with yields above 40%. Esters prepared were found to conform to Food Chemical Codex (FCC) specifications in terms of acid value, ester value, sodium and lactic acid contents.

Preparation of stearoyl lactic acid ester catalyzed by lipases from Rhizomucor miehei and porcine pancreas optimization using response surface methodology.

The esterification reaction between stearic acid and lactic acid using Rhizomucor miehei lipase and porcine pancreas lipase was optimized for maximum esterification using response surface methodology. The formation of the ester was found to depend on three parameters namely enzyme/substrate ratio, lactic acid (stearic acid) concentration and incubation period. The maximum esterification predicted by theoretical equations for both lipases matched well with the observed experimental values. In the case of R. miehei lipase, stearoyl lactic acid ester formation was found to increase with incubation period and lactic acid (stearic acid) concentrations with maximum esterification of 26.9% at an enzyme/substrate (E/S) ratio of 125 g mol-1. In the case of porcine pancreas lipase, esterification showed a steady increase with increase in incubation period and lactic acid (stearic acid) concentration independent of the E/S ratios employed. In the case of PPL, a maximum esterification of 18.9% was observed at an E/S ratio of 25 g mol-1 at a lactic acid (stearic acid) concentration of 0.09 M after an incubation period of 72 h.