Zizyphus mauritiana seed extract: Paving the way for next-generation bone constructs with nano-fluorohydroxyapatite/carboxymethyl chitosan nanocomposite scaffold.

This is the first study that explored the potential use of Zizyphus mauritiana seed extract (ZSE) to synthesize nano-fluorohydroxyapatite/carboxymethyl chitosan nanocomposite scaffolds at different concentrations (CFZ1, CFZ2 and CFZ3) using co-precipitation method. The proposed scaffolds showed presence of intermolecular H bonding interactions between the constituents, according to the FTIR. The mechanical studies revealed shore hardness of 72 ± 4.6 and optimal compressive modulus in case of CFZ3 [1654.48 ± 1.6 MPa], that was comparable with that of human cortical bone. The SEM, TEM and platelet adhesion images corroborated uniformly distributed needle like particles in case of CFZ3 with an average size ranging from 22 to 26 nm, linked rough morphology, and appropriate hemocompatibility. The markedly up regulation in the ALP activity and protein adsorption upon increasing ZSE concentration demonstrated that CFZ nanocomposite scaffolds were compatible with osteoblastic cells relative to CF nanocomposite. The cytotoxicity study indicated that CFZ nanocomposite do not induce toxicity over MG-63 and did not aggravate LDH leakage in contrast to CF. The histopathological investigations on albino rats confirmed significantly improved regeneration of bone in the repair of a critical-size [8 mm] calvarium defect. Therefore, CFZ3 nanocomposite scaffold represents a simple, off-the-shelf solution to the combined challenges associated with bone defects.

A non-language-specific speech test to evaluate the speech of cleft patients from different language and cultural backgrounds - A pilot study.

Cleft speech tests are not universally available. We developed a tool to fill this gap, especially in the context of a cleft mission setting. We performed a pilot study to evaluate the test's ability to differentiate between the speech of cleft patients and healthy individuals from three different language backgrounds. We used 78 made-up, nonsensical syllables to evaluate hypernasality, nasal emissions, and consonant errors. Cleft (n = 41) and non-cleft (n = 39) individuals from three countries were included in this study. Two speech and language pathologists, blinded to the examination, rated the audio recording independently. Patients from Germany (n = 12; mean age 15.2), Iran (n = 14; mean age 7), and India (n = 15; mean age 14.7 years) were evaluated. We observed a significant difference in each category (p < 0.05) between patients and control subjects of the same language and cultural background. Hypernasality was affected the most. The test proved to possess the correct phonetic characteristics to reveal and provoke relevant cleft speech pathologies independent of cultural and language backgrounds. The test sounds posed no articulatory difficulties to non-cleft individuals, with some exceptions regarding non-specific consonant errors. A comparison with other existing tests will further illuminate its value as a speech test.

Resol based chitosan/nano-hydroxyapatite nanoensemble for effective bone tissue engineering.

It is the first report where different amounts of resol resin (RS) were incorporated with chitosan-hydroxyapatite (CHA) to develop a triconstituent nanoensemble CHA-RS(0.5,1,2), via simple co-precipitation method. The results of SEM, TEM, TGA and mechanical analysis revealed irregular interconnected rough morphology with homogenous distribution of needle shaped particles having average size ranging between 12 and 19nm, possessing higher thermal stability and mechanical strength, respectively relative to CHA (binary) nanocomposite. The CHA-1RS nanocomposite showed enhanced protein adsorption and ALP activity with excellent apatite formation ability compared to CHA-RS(0.5,2) and CHA nanocomposites. Thus, CHA-1RS nanocomposite was selectively tested as bare implant in the repair of critical-size calvarium defect (8mm) in albino rat. The histopathological and radiological investigations indicated that CHA-1RS prompted the bone regeneration ability as early as 2 weeks postimplantation demonstrating remarkably faster healing of calvarial defect relative to Cerabone. These findings have placed CHA-1RS on the pedestal to be employed as a potential alternative biomaterial for bone tissue engineering.

A comparative study on evaluation of role of 1.5 mm microplates and 2.0 mm standard miniplates in management of mandibular fractures using bite force as indicator of recommendation.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To compare the maximum voluntary bite force generated at different periods during mandibular fracture healing using miniplates and microplates as means of rigid internal fixation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Maximum voluntary bite force was recorded in healthy young individuals of different age group from either gender. Patients suffering from symphyseal and parasymphyseal and body fractures were selected and randomly treated using miniplate and microplate osteosynthesis by open reduction and rigid internal fixation. Postoperative bite forces at intervals of 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 6th week were recorded and compared with control group. OBSERVATIONS AND RESULTS: It was noticed that bite forces were significantly reduced in the study groups in comparison to control group and at different intervals of treatment. There was a progressive improvement in the bite force with passage of time. There was no statistical significance in the observed bite force in both the study groups at different intervals of assessment. CONCLUSION: 1.5 mm microplates provide adequate stability comparable to miniplates for the treatment of fractured mandible and should be preferred over miniplates. We further suggest that bite forces should be considered for the assessment of clinical union of bone as well as studies pertaining to selection of hardware for rigid internal fixation.

Myiasis of Maxilla: Report of a Case.

Oral myiasis is a disease caused by larvae of housefly and associated with poor oral hygiene, mouth breathing and incompetent lips. The disease is characterized by presence of maggots in affected parts of the body and is usually seen in tropical countries, although cases have been reported from other parts of the world. There are various methods for treating this disease. In this case report, a combination of treatment modalities has been favored.

A comprehensive and compact n-heptane oxidation model derived using chemical lumping.

A detailed reaction mechanism for n-heptane oxidation has been compiled and subsequently simplified. The model is based on a kinetic model for C1-C4 fuel oxidation of Hoyermann et al. [Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2004, 6, 3824] and a detailed mechanism for n-heptane oxidation developed by Curran et al. [Combust. Flame, 1998, 114, 149]. The generated mechanism is kept compact by limiting the application of the low temperature oxidation pathways to the fuel molecule. The first reaction steps and the complex low temperature paths in the oxidation process have been simplified and reorganized by linear chemical lumping. The reported procedure allows a decrease in number of species and reactions with only a minor loss of model accuracy. The simplified model is of very compact size and gives an advantageous starting point for further model reduction. By this chemically lumped general mechanism without further adjustments the large set of experimental data for the high and low temperature oxidation (ignition delay times, species concentration profiles, heat release and engine pressure profiles, flame speeds and flame structure data) for conditions ranging from very low to high temperatures (550-2300 K), very lean to extremely fuel rich (0.22 < phi < 3) mixtures and pressures between 1 and 42 bar is consistently described providing a basis for reliable predictions for future applications, (i) building reaction mechanisms for similar but chemically more complex fuels (e.g. iso-octane, n-decane,...) and (ii) calculating complex flow fields ("fluid dynamics") after further simplification with advanced reduction tools.