Development of a conceptual model of oral health for malocclusion patients

Objectives:To provide an empirical test of the applicability of Locker''s conceptual model of oral health for malocclusion patients, and to suggest alternative models of the effect of malocclusion on well-being.Materials and Methods:Data from a survey of 323 adolescents attending for orthodontic treatment were analyzed to develop a new oral health model for malocclusion patients. Oral health–related quality of life (OHRQoL) was measured using the 14-item Oral Health Impact Profile; malocclusion was measured using the Dental Health Component (DHC) of the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN). Using structural equation modeling, the relationship between conceptual domains in Locker''s model was explored and three models of their interrelationship tested for goodness of fit.Results:Fit indexes for Locker''s model indicated that it did not fit the data well. Therefore, a modified model was developed to incorporate additional paths between other levels to better fit the data. The best fit was provided by a model in which the direct effects of malocclusion on pain, discomfort, and handicapping—and the direct effect of pain on disability—were removed. A direct effect of functional limitation on disability was allowed. The modified Oral Health Impact Profile model proved to be a good fit to the data (root mean square error of approximation  =  0.069).Conclusion:The pathways identified in Locker''s (1988) conceptual model of oral health may not be appropriate for describing the relationships between OHRQoL constructs in individuals with malocclusion. An alternative model is proposed.     

Effect of postural angle on back muscle activities in aging female workers performing computer tasks

[Purpose] This study investigated the effects of postural angle on back muscle activity during a computer task in aging women. [Subjects] Seventeen women ≥50 years old participated. [Methods] The participants were instructed to perform computer-related tasks for 20 minutes on a workstation that simulated typical office working conditions. Back posture was measured from the measured trunk and pelvic angles. Electromyography activities were recorded simultaneously from the cervical erector spinae, longissimus, and multifidus muscles. [Results] The lowest mean percentages of maximum voluntary contraction for the cervical erector spinae and longissimus muscles were obtained when the upper trunk and pelvic angles were between 0° to −5° from the sagittal plane. The back muscle activities increased as the upper trunk and pelvic angles exceeded 0°. Statistical analysis showed significant correlations between upper trunk angle and cervical erector spinae and longissimus muscle activities. Similarly, pelvic angle was significantly correlated with cervical erector spinae and multifidus muscle activities. [Conclusion] A neutral back posture minimizes muscle activities in aging women performing computer tasks.Key words: Postural angle, Muscle activity, Aging     

Inferior glenohumeral joint dislocation with greater tuberosity avulsion

Inferior glenohumeral dislocation is the least common type of glenohumeral dislocations. It may be associated with fractures of the adjacent bones and neurovascular compromise. It should be treated immediately by close reduction. The associated neuropraxia usually recovers with time. Traction-counter traction method is commonly used for reduction followed by immobilization of the shoulder for three weeks. Here, we report a case of inferior glenohumeral joint dislocation with greater tuberosity fracture with transient neurovascular compromise and present a brief review of the literature.     

Effects of captopril on factors affecting gastric mucosal integrity in aspirin-induced gastric lesions in Sprague-Dawley rats

Introduction

Captopril is an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, which is used as an antihypertensive agent and has shown antioxidant properties. This study aims at determining the effects of captopril on factors affecting gastric mucosal integrity in aspirin-induced gastric lesions.

Material and methods

Eighteen male Sprague-Dawley (200-250 g) rats that were given aspirin (40 mg/100 g body weight) were divided into three groups: the control, captopril (1 mg/100 g body weight daily) and ranitidine (2.5 mg/100 g body weight twice daily) groups. Ranitidine and captopril were given orally for 28 days. Rats in all groups were sacrificed and the parameters measured.

Results

Captopril reduced gastric acidity, and increased gastric glutathione (GSH) and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) significantly in comparison to the control group. Captopril also reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) and gastric lesions insignificantly compared to the control group. Ranitidine healed the lesions significantly compared to the control group. There was no difference between ranitidine and captopril on the severity of lesions, gastric acidity, MDA and GSH. Captopril increased PGE₂ compared to ranitidine (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Captopril has desirable effects on the factors affecting gastric mucosal integrity (acidity, PGE₂ and GSH) and is comparable to ranitidine in ulcer healing.     

Comprehensive in silico modeling of the rice plant PRR Xa21 and its interaction with RaxX21-sY and OsSERK2

The first layer of defense that plants deploy to ward off a microbial invasion comes in the form of pattern-triggered immunity (PTI), which is initiated when the pattern-recognition receptors (PRRs) bind with the pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and co-receptor proteins, and transmit a defense signal. Although several plant PRRs have been discovered, very few of them have been fully characterized, and their functional parameters assessed. In this study, the 3D-model prediction of an entire plant PRR protein, Xa21, was done by implementing multiple in silico modeling techniques. Subsequently, the PAMP RaxX21-sY (sulphated RaxX21) and leucine-rich repeat (LRR) domain of the co-receptor OsSERK2 were docked with the LRR domain of Xa21. The docked complex of these three proteins formed a heterodimer that closely resembles the other crystallographic PTI complexes available. Molecular dynamics simulations and MM/PBSA calculations were applied for an in-depth analysis of the interactions between Xa21 LRR, RaxX21-sY, and OsSERK2 LRR. Arg230 and Arg185 from Xa21 LRR, Val2 and Lys15 from RaxX21-sY and Lys164 from OsSERK2 LRR were found to be the prominent residues which might contribute significantly in the formation of a heterodimer during the PTI process mediated by Xa21. Additionally, RaxX21-sY interacted much more favorably with Xa21 LRR in the presence of OsSERK2 LRR in the complex, which substantiates the necessity of the co-receptor in Xa21 mediated PTI to recognize the PAMP RaxX21-sY. However, the free energy binding calculation reveals the favorability of a heterodimer formation of PRR Xa21 and co-receptor OsSERK2 without the presence of PAMP RaxX21-sY, which validate the previous lab result.

This study exhausts bioinformatics tools to acquire the entire multi-domain rice Xa21 protein structure and analyzes its interactions with its PAMP RaxX21-sY and co-receptor OsSERK2.     

Discovery of 4-(2-(dimethylamino)ethoxy)benzohydrazide derivatives as prospective microtubule affinity regulating kinase 4 inhibitors

Microtubule affinity regulating kinase 4 (MARK4) is a Ser/Thr kinase, considered as a potential drug target for cancer, diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases. Due to its significant role in the development and progression of cancer, different in-house libraries of synthesized small molecules were screened to identify potential MARK4 inhibitors. A small library of hydrazone compounds showed a considerable binding affinity to MARK4. The selected compounds were further scrutinized using an enzyme inhibition assay and finally two hydrazone derivatives (H4 and H19) were selected that show excellent inhibition (nM range). These compounds have a strong binding affinity for MARK4 and moderate binding with human serum albumin. Anticancer studies were performed on MCF-7 and A549 cells, suggesting H4 and H19 selectively inhibit the growth of cancer cells. The IC₅₀ value of compound H4 and H19 was found to be 27.39 μM and 34.37 μM for MCF-7 cells, while for A549 cells it was 45.24 μM and 61.50 μM, respectively. These compounds inhibited the colonogenic potential of cancer cells and induced apoptosis. Overall findings reflect that hydrazones/hydrazone derivatives could be exploited as potential lead molecules for developing effective anticancer therapies via targeting MARK4.

Inhibition studies of MARK4 with selected hydrazone derivatives.     

Bi-doping improves the magnetic properties of zinc oxide nanowires

Room-temperature ferromagnetism in the large and direct bandgap diluted magnetic semiconductor zinc oxide (ZnO) is attributed to the intrinsic defects and p-orbital–p-orbital (p–p) coupling interaction. However, due to oxidation, the ferromagnetism induced by defects is unstable. In the present work, the solution process synthesis route was utilized to grow pristine and bismuth-doped, highly crystalline ZnO nanowire (ZnO NW)-based samples. The FE-SEM images showed that the grown ZnO NWs have a preferred orientation along the c-axis in the (001) direction due to the anisotropic crystal nature of ZnO. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) confirmed the presence of Bi, and at a higher doping content, the bismuth oxide phase appeared. The XRD patterns showed the wurtzite crystal structure, and the large intensity of the (002) peak suggests that most of the reflection was from the top hexagonal face of the NWs, and thus, the wires are predominantly aligned along the c-axis. The TEM analysis further confirmed the crystal growth direction along the (001) direction. The UV-Visible absorption and PL measurements also showed a decrease in the bandgap with an increase in doping concentration, which may be associated with the sp–d exchange interaction between the localized d-electrons and band electrons of the Bi ions. Bi-doping tended to increase the PL intensity in the visible region. The magnetic properties measured by SQUID at 4 and 300 K showed ferromagnetic behaviour for both the pristine and Bi-doped samples. However, the saturation magnetization for the Bi-doped samples was higher compared to that of the pristine ZnO samples until the threshold doping value. The obtained results demonstrated that Bi-doping can be used to tune both the optical and magnetic properties of ZnO NWs, hence paving the way for future spintronics and spin-polarized optoelectronics applications.

Room-temperature ferromagnetism in the large and direct bandgap diluted magnetic semiconductor zinc oxide (ZnO) is attributed to the intrinsic defects and p-orbital–p-orbital (p–p) coupling interaction.