Fabrication of a Low Cost Superhydrophobic Substrate for Surface Enhanced Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy and Its Utility through Identification of Electrolyte Variation for Oral Cancer Detection.

Ultratrace elemental detections from a limited volume of samples can offer significant benefits in biomedical fields. However, it can be challenging to concentrate the particles being analyzed in a small area to improve the accuracy of detection. Ring-like deposits on the edges of colloidal droplets are a vexing problem in many applications. Herein, we report ultratrace elemental detection using a superhydrophobic surface-enhanced laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (SELIBS) substrate fabricated by laser ablation followed by a soft lithography technique. In this work, the SELIBS spectra on a superhydrophobic polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrate replicated from a laser-patterned master Teflon substrate are investigated. This work highlights the application of this newly created superhydrophobic substrate for detecting trace elements in body fluids using SELIBS. The developed PDMS substrate was successfully adopted to investigate the electrolyte variation in serum samples of oral cancer patients and normal volunteers. Principal component analysis (PCA) and match-no-match analysis were used to distinguish the elemental variation in cancer and control groups.

Elemental Composition of Betel Leaves Using a Novel Optical Spectroscopic Technique.

Objective: Assess trace elements in betel leaves and slaked lime from different regions of Karnataka, India using Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS). Materials and Method: Betel leaves from six different regions of Karnataka were obtained and named (for the purpose of the study) BL1, BL2, BL3, BL4, BL5, and BL6 and they were sun-dried. A single tube of slaked lime was obtained from the local 'paan' shop. Each dried leaf and a single blob of slaked lime was subjected to elemental analysis using Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy. Results: A ten-trial experiment was carried out in all six leaves and a blob of the slaked lime. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) database was used to assess the emission lines. The elements that were predominantly present in all six betel leaves from different regions of Karnataka are calcium, copper, and iron. Slaked lime showed only the presence of calcium. Conclusion: It is widely accepted that the consumption of betel quid causes various changes in the oral mucosa including oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) and oral cancer. It is important to analyze each component of betel quid to understand the disease progression. Copper is found to be relatively higher in betel leaves, and it is known that copper-induced fibrogenesis via the lysyl oxidase pathway in oral submucous fibrosis.

Versatile application of BiVO4/TiO2 S-scheme photocatalyst: Photocatalytic CO2 and Cr(VI) reduction.

Herein, the synthesis, characterization, and reduction properties of 2D TiO2 aerogel powder decorated with BiVO4 (TiO2/BiVO4) were investigated for versatile applications. First, 2D TiO2 was prepared via lyophilization and subsequently modified with BiVO4 using a wet impregnation method. The morphology, structure, composition, and optical properties were evaluated using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), respectively. Significantly enhanced photocurrent densities (by 3-15 times) were obtained for TiO2/BiVO4 compared to those of pure TiO2 and BiVO4. The reduction of toxic Cr(VI) to Cr(III) was assessed, including the effect of pH on overall photocatalytic efficiency. Under acidic conditions (pH âˆ¼ 2), Cr(VI) reduction efficiency reached 100% within 2 h. For photocatalytic CO2 reduction, the highest yields of CH4 and CO were obtained using TiO2/BiVO4. A higher efficiency for both applications was achieved because of the better separation of the electron-hole pairs in TiO2/BiVO4. The excellent stability of TiO2/BiVO4 over repeated runs highlights its potential for use in versatile environmental applications. The efficiency of TiO2/BiVO4 is due to the interplay of the structure, morphology, composition, and photoelectrochemical properties that favour the material for the presented herein photocatalytic applications.

LASER as a tool for surface modification of dental biomaterials: A review.

In recent years, the application of lasers for modifying the surface topography of dental biomaterials has received increased attention. This review paper aims to provide an overview of the current status on the utilization of lasers as a potential tool for surface modification of dental biomaterials such as implants, ceramics, and other materials used for restorative purposes. A literature search was done for articles related to the use of lasers for surface modification of dental biomaterials in English language published between October 2000 and March 2023 in Scopus, Pubmed and web of science, and relevant articles were reviewed. Lasers have been mainly used for surface modification of implant materials (71%), especially titanium and its alloys, to promote osseointegration. In recent years, laser texturing has also emerged as a promising technique to reduce bacterial adhesion on titanium implant surfaces. Currently, lasers are being widely used for surface modifications to improve osseointegration and reduce peri-implant inflammation of ceramic implants and to enhance the retention of ceramic restorations to the tooth. The studies considered in this review seem to suggest laser texturing to be more proficient than the conventional methods of surface modification. Lasers can alter the surface characteristics of dental biomaterials by creating innovative surface patterns without significantly affecting their bulk properties. With advances in laser technology and availability of newer wavelengths and modes, laser as a tool for surface modification of dental biomaterials is a promising field, with excellent potential for future research.

Post-COVID syndrome screening through breath analysis using electronic nose technology.

There is an urgent need to have reliable technologies to diagnose post-coronavirus disease syndrome (PCS), as the number of people affected by COVID-19 and related complications is increasing worldwide. Considering the amount of risks associated with the two chronic lung diseases, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), there is an immediate requirement for a screening method for PCS, which also produce symptoms similar to these conditions, especially since very often, many COVID-19 cases remain undetected because a good share of such patients is asymptomatic. Breath analysis techniques are getting attention since they are highly non-invasive methods for disease diagnosis, can be implemented easily for point-of-care applications even in primary health care centres. Electronic (E-) nose technology is coming up with better reliability, ease of operation, and affordability to all, and it can generate signatures of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in exhaled breath as markers of diseases. The present report is an outcome of a pilot study using an E-nose device on breath samples of cohorts of PCS, asthma, and normal (control) subjects. Match/no-match and k-NN analysis tests have been carried out to confirm the diagnosis of PCS. The prediction model has given 100% sensitivity and specificity. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) has been plotted for the prediction model, and the area under the curve (AUC) is obtained as 1. The E-nose technique is found to be working well for PCS diagnosis. Our study suggests that the breath analysis using E-nose can be used as a point-of-care diagnosis of PCS.Trial registrationBreath samples were collected from the Kasturba Hospital, Manipal. Ethical clearance was obtained from the Institutional Ethics Committee, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal (IEC 60/2021, 13/01/2021) and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) (CTRI/2021/02/031357, 06/02/2021) Government of India; trials were prospectively registered.

Spatial and seasonal variation of microplastics and possible sources in the estuarine system from central west coast of India.

The versatile use of various synthetic polymers, including plastics, generates a large volume of non-degradable waste, which is eventually responsible for forming microplastics (MPs) in aquatic environments. The present study describes the significant spatial and seasonal variation on the abundance of MPs and their physiochemical nature along the Mandovi-Zuari estuarine system of Goa, west coast of India. During the wet season (September), the average abundance of MPs was found relatively higher in water (0.107 particles/m3) and sediment (7314 particles/kg) than those found in the dry season (April) (0.099 particles/m3 in water and 4873 particles/kg in sediment). During the wet season, heavy rain and excessive riverine freshwater influx carry more terrestrial plastic debris in the estuarine system which causes higher averages MPs density in surface water and sediment. <300 µm sized particles and black colored MPs were predominant equally in water and sediment during both seasons. MPs of different shapes like fragments, fibres, films and beads accounted for most collected samples. The Micro-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (µ-FTIR) based compositional analysis identified approximately 33 types of polymers, of which polyacrylamide (PAM), polyacetylene, polyamide (PA), polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polyimide (PI) were abundant. Fragmentation of larger plastic particles due to mismanaged treated and untreated STPs and washing machine effluents are the primary sources of these MPs in the estuarine system. Moreover, these estuaries also receive a variety of domestic, industrial and other wastes from local cities, ports, and fishing jetties. Thus the present study enlightens the current distribution of MPs and their sources in the Mandovi-Zuari estuarine system and thus provides very useful information to the stakeholder and concerned departments for initiating the mitigation measures.

Effectiveness of blended learning in pharmacy education: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Though blended learning (BL), is widely adopted in higher education, evaluating effectiveness of BL is difficult because the components of BL can be extremely heterogeneous. Purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of BL in improving knowledge and skill in pharmacy education. METHODS: PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus and the Cochrane Library were searched to identify published literature. The retrieved studies from databases were screened for its title and abstracts followed by the full-text in accordance with the pre-defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Methodological quality was appraised by modified Ottawa scale. Random effect model used for statistical modelling. KEY FINDINGS: A total of 26 studies were included for systematic review. Out of which 20 studies with 4525 participants for meta-analysis which employed traditional teaching in control group. Results showed a statistically significant positive effect size on knowledge (standardized mean difference [SMD]: 1.35, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.91 to 1.78, p<0.00001) and skill (SMD: 0.68; 95% CI: 0.19 to 1.16; p = 0.006) using a random effect model. Subgroup analysis of cohort studies showed, studies from developed countries had a larger effect size (SMD: 1.54, 95% CI: 1.01 to 2.06), than studies from developing countries(SMD: 0.44, 95% CI: 0.23 to 0.65, studies with MCQ pattern as outcome assessment had larger effect size (SMD: 2.81, 95% CI: 1.76 to 3.85) than non-MCQs (SMD 0.53, 95% CI 0.33 to 0.74), and BL with case studies (SMD 2.72, 95% CI 1.86-3.59) showed better effect size than non-case-based studies (SMD: 0.22, CI: 0.02 to 0.41). CONCLUSION: BL is associated with better academic performance and achievement than didactic teaching in pharmacy education.

Antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of aerobes in diabetic foot ulcers in a South-Indian tertiary care hospital.

PURPOSE: Diabetic foot infections (DFIs) are major public health concerns. In the view of the ever increasing burden of multidrug-resistant (MDR) organisms, improving the use of antimicrobial agents (AMAs) is a national priority. Objective of the study was to determine antimicrobial susceptibility (AMS) pattern of aerobes in DFIs. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted for a period of 3 years at Department of Surgery, Kasturba hospital, Manipal, India during which, 260 diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) patients admitted in the general surgery wards were enrolled for the study. These patients' culture specimens were observed as Gram-stained smears and cultured aerobically on blood agar and MacConkey agar plates. AMS test was performed by disc diffusion technique according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines. RESULTS: A total of 354 microbes were isolated from the ulcer wounds of 213 diabetic foot patients, with an average of 1.7 organisms per lesion. Monomicrobial infections were less common (n=81; 31.2%) than polymicrobial infections (n=132; 50.7%). Gram-negative bacteria were the most common among the isolates (n=192; 54.2%). Aerobic Gram-positive Cocci accounted for 162 (45.8%) of all isolates. On the other hand, Staphylococcus aureus was the most frequently isolated aerobe (n=106; 29.9%) followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n=91; 25.7%). CONCLUSION: AMS data from our study recommends that doxycycline would be the appropriate choice as single drug for empirical coverage for Gram-positive organisms. The most appropriate antibiotic for Gram-negative organisms is meropenem. One of the critical observations is the presence of Acinetobacter, an MDR isolated from DFIs, which is either relatively or totally resistant to all the AMAs tested.