Saveetha University

IMPORTANCE: The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2019 (GBD 2019) provided systematic estimates of incidence, morbidity, and mortality to inform local and international efforts toward reducing cancer burden. OBJECTIVE: To estimate cancer burden and trends globally for 204 countries and territories and by Sociodemographic Index (SDI) quintiles from 2010 to 2019. EVIDENCE REVIEW: The GBD 2019 estimation methods were used to describe cancer incidence, mortality, years lived with disability, years of life lost, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) in 2019 and over the past decade. Estimates are also provided by quintiles of the SDI, a composite measure of educational attainment, income per capita, and total fertility rate for those younger than 25 years. Estimates include 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs). FINDINGS: In 2019, there were an estimated 23.6 million (95% UI, 22.2-24.9 million) new cancer cases (17.2 million when excluding nonmelanoma skin cancer) and 10.0 million (95% UI, 9.36-10.6 million) cancer deaths globally, with an estimated 250 million (235-264 million) DALYs due to cancer. Since 2010, these represented a 26.3% (95% UI, 20.3%-32.3%) increase in new cases, a 20.9% (95% UI, 14.2%-27.6%) increase in deaths, and a 16.0% (95% UI, 9.3%-22.8%) increase in DALYs. Among 22 groups of diseases and injuries in the GBD 2019 study, cancer was second only to cardiovascular diseases for the number of deaths, years of life lost, and DALYs globally in 2019. Cancer burden differed across SDI quintiles. The proportion of years lived with disability that contributed to DALYs increased with SDI, ranging from 1.4% (1.1%-1.8%) in the low SDI quintile to 5.7% (4.2%-7.1%) in the high SDI quintile. While the high SDI quintile had the highest number of new cases in 2019, the middle SDI quintile had the highest number of cancer deaths and DALYs. From 2010 to 2019, the largest percentage increase in the numbers of cases and deaths occurred in the low and low-middle SDI quintiles. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: The results of this systematic analysis suggest that the global burden of cancer is substantial and growing, with burden differing by SDI. These results provide comprehensive and comparable estimates that can potentially inform efforts toward equitable cancer control around the world.

The use of nanotechnology has the potential to revolutionize the detection and treatment of cancer. Developments in protein engineering and materials science have led to the emergence of new nanoscale targeting techniques, which offer renewed hope for cancer patients. While several nanocarriers for medicinal purposes have been approved for human trials, only a few have been authorized for clinical use in targeting cancer cells. In this review, we analyze some of the authorized formulations and discuss the challenges of translating findings from the lab to the clinic. This study highlights the various nanocarriers and compounds that can be used for selective tumor targeting and the inherent difficulties in cancer therapy. Nanotechnology provides a promising platform for improving cancer detection and treatment in the future, but further research is needed to overcome the current limitations in clinical translation.

Lead is a prevalent heavy metal that pollutes the environment and accumulates in the human body via absorption, bioavailability, bioconcentration, and biomagnification disrupts the neurological, skeletal, reproductive, hematopoietic, renal, and cardiovascular systems. Lead's distinctive physical and chemical characteristics make it ideal for a variety of uses. It has been linked to human activities for ages and is harmful to health. This review article examines the long-term health consequences of lead exposure in humans. Acute and chronic symptoms of lead poisoning include kidney, brain, reproductive organ, and CNS/PNS damage. Toxic metals have a long half-life in the bone matrix and brain (2–3 years), causing neurological problems and bone loss. The article also shows the problems of high BPb in both men and women during pregnancy. Renal system blood lead levels of 30–60 g/dL may cause kidney failure in severe circumstances. The oxidative stress that occurs in human cells has also been explored. Finally, lead poisoning and lead buildup prevention and therapy have been reviewed. The use of micronutrients and antioxidants has demonstrated a reduction in harmful effects. Adults with BPb >45 g/dL should have chelation, whereas children should receive succimer.

Phytosterols are bioactive compounds that are naturally present in plant cell membranes with chemical structure similar to the mammalian cell- derived cholesterol. They are highly present in lipid-rich plant foods such as nuts, seed, legumes and olive oil. Among various phytosterols, β-sitosterol (SIT) is the major compound, found plentiful in plants. It has been evidenced in many in-vitro and in-vivo studies that SIT possesses various biological actions such as anxiolytic & sedative effects, analgesic, immunomodulatory, antimicrobial, anticancer, anti – inflammatory, lipid lowering effect, hepatoprotective, protective effect against NAFLD and respiratory diseases, wound healing effect, antioxidant and anti-diabetic activities. In this review, in order to compile the sources, characterization, biosynthesis, pharmacokinetics, antioxidant and anti-diabetic activities of SIT, classical and online-literature were studied which includes the electronic search (Sci Finder, Pubmed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science etc) and books on photochemistry. The experimental studies on SIT gives a clear evidence that the potential phytosterol can be used as supplements to fight against life threatening diseases. High potential of this compound, classifies it as the notable drug of the future. Therefore, immense researches regarding its action at molecular level on life threatening diseases in humans are highly endorsed.

Background The COVID-19 pandemic is found to affect the mental health of the population. Undergraduate medical students are especially prone to mental health disorders and hence could be more vulnerable to the impact of the pandemic. Methods A prospective longitudinal study was conducted on 217 undergraduate medical students in a medical college at Chennai, India. Depression, anxiety, and stress levels were recorded using Depression Anxiety Stress Scale 21 Items (DASS21) before and during the COVID-19 outbreak in India in December 2019 and June 2020, respectively. In the follow-up survey, in addition to DASS21, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index to assess sleep quality and a self-administered questionnaire to assess the impact of COVID-19 related stressors were used. The self-administered questionnaire assessed the status of COVID-19 testing, interactions with COVID-19 patients, self-perceived levels of concerns and worries related to academics (COVID-19-AA (academic apprehensions)) and those pertaining to the self and family/friends (COVID-19-GA (general apprehensions)). Cross-sectional and longitudinal comparison of overall scores of depression, anxiety, and stress and scores stratified by gender, year of study, place of residence and monthly family income were performed. Predictors for depression, anxiety, and stress during COVID-19 were investigated using adjusted binary logistic regression analysis and results were expressed as adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence interval (CI). A P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results The average scores of depression, anxiety, and stress during the baseline survey were 7.55 ± 7.86, 4.6 ± 6.19 and 7.31 ± 7.34 with the prevalence (95% Cl) of 33.2% [27–39.9%], 21.2% [16–27.2%] and 20.7% [15.5–26.7%]; in follow-up survey, the mean scores were 8.16 ± 8.9, 6.11 ± 7.13 and 9.31 ± 8.18 with the prevalence being 35.5% [29.1–42.2%], 33.2% [27–39.9%] and 24.9% [19.3–31.2%] for depression, anxiety, and stress respectively. There was a significant increase in both the prevalence and levels of anxiety and stress ( P < 0.001), with depression remaining unchanged during COVID-19, irrespective of gender, year of study, place of residence and family’s monthly income. Poor sleep quality, higher levels of baseline depression, anxiety, and stress, higher COVID-19-GA, COVID-19 patients in family/friends and direct interactions with COVID-19 patients were found to be significant predictors of negative mental health in undergraduate medical students. COVID-19-AA was not significantly associated with depression, anxiety, and stress. Conclusion The COVID-19 pandemic appears to negatively affect the mental health of the undergraduate medical students with the prevalence and levels of anxiety and stress being increased, and depression symptoms remaining unaltered. Addressing and mitigating the negative effect of COVID-19 on the mental health of this population is crucial.

BACKGROUND: Metabolomics is the study of metabolome which describes the full repertoire of small molecules, and the analysis of salivary metabolomics may help in identifying tumor-specific biomarkers for early diagnosis and prediction of tumor progression. The aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical utility of salivary metabolites in oral leukoplakia and oral squamous cell carcinoma. METHODS: Salivary metabolomic profile of patients diagnosed with oral leukoplakia (n = 21) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (n = 22) was compared with apparently normal controls (n = 18) using Q-TOF-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. MassHunter profile software and Metlin database were used for metabolite identification. ANOVA to identify the regulation of metabolites between the three groups, t test (P < 0.05) to signify the changes between two groups, and chi-square test (P < 0.05) to indicate the presence or absence of metabolites in the study participants of the three groups were performed. RESULTS: Significant upregulation of 1-methylhistidine, inositol 1,3,4-triphosphate, d-glycerate-2-phosphate, 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide, 2-oxoarginine, norcocaine nitroxide, sphinganine-1-phosphate, and pseudouridine in oral leukoplakia and OSCC was noted. Downregulated compounds in the diseased groups included l-homocysteic acid, ubiquinone, neuraminic acid, and estradiol valerate. CONCLUSION: A range of salivary metabolites were significantly altered in oral leukoplakia and oral squamous cell carcinoma. Further, it is necessary to evaluate the clinical utility of the individual metabolites in preventing malignant transformation of oral leukoplakia and to improve prognosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma.

This review evaluates the literature on nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems for cancer treatment and assesses their efficacy. Nanoparticles have shown potential for improving anticancer agent delivery, reducing systemic toxicity, and enhancing therapeutic outcomes. Extensive studies have shown promising results in preclinical and clinical trials. However, challenges such as limited drug loading capacity, stability issues, and potential side effects need to be addressed to enhance clinical translation. Researchers are exploring strategies to improve drug loading capacity, such as modifying nanoparticle surfaces or developing novel drug encapsulation techniques. By increasing drug loading, the therapeutic efficacy of these systems can be significantly enhanced. Stability issues also pose a hurdle in clinical translation. To overcome stability issues, researchers are investigating methods to enhance the stability of nanoparticles, such as using protective coatings or optimising the formulation. Additionally, efforts are being made to minimise potential side effects by carefully selecting biocompatible materials for nanoparticle synthesis and conducting rigorous toxicity studies before moving forward with clinical trials.

BACKGROUND: CARs are simulated receptors containing an extracellular single-chain variable fragment (scFv), a transmembrane domain, as well as an intracellular region of immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motifs (ITAMs) in association with a co-stimulatory signal. MAIN BODY: Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells are genetically engineered T cells to express a receptor for the recognition of the particular surface marker that has given rise to advances in the treatment of blood disorders. The CAR T cells obtain supra-physiological properties and conduct as "living drugs" presenting both immediate and steady effects after expression in T cells surface. But, their efficacy in solid tumor treatment has not yet been supported. The pivotal challenges in the field of solid tumor CAR T cell therapy can be summarized in three major parts: recognition, trafficking, and surviving in the tumor. On the other hand, the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) interferes with T cell activity in terms of differentiation and exhaustion, and as a result of the combined use of CARs and checkpoint blockade, as well as the suppression of other inhibitor factors in the microenvironment, very promising results were obtained from the reduction of T cell exhaustion. CONCLUSION: Nowadays, identifying and defeating the mechanisms associated with CAR T cell dysfunction is crucial to establish CAR T cells that can proliferate and lyse tumor cells severely. In this review, we discuss the CAR signaling and efficacy T in solid tumors and evaluate the most significant barriers in this process and describe the most novel therapeutic methods aiming to the acquirement of the promising therapeutic outcome in non-hematologic malignancies.

BACKGROUND: Growing evidence suggests that oxidative stress forms a key component in the etiopathogenesis of periodontitis. Studies have shown potential antioxidants responsible for combating the pro-oxidants which stress the periodontium. But, peroxiredoxin-sulfiredoxin system is the least explored in periodontal disease. METHODS: A case-control study was conducted on 30 participants who fulfilled the inclusion criteria from the Department of Periodontics, Saveetha Dental College and Hospital, Chennai, India. The patients were divided into two groups: 1) Group A- healthy controls (n = 18), 2) Group B- patients with generalized chronic periodontitis (n = 17). Following clinical examination, gingival tissue samples were procured from both the groups and subjected to protein quantification by Lowry method. The samples with adequate protein concentration (n = 30) from the two groups were further analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for estimation of sulfiredoxin levels. RESULTS: Sulfiredoxin levels were significantly higher in the gingival tissues of chronic periodontitis patients (171.20 ± 16.97 ng/mL) than in healthy controls (131.20 ± 22.87) with P < 0.001. Also, the levels of sulfiredoxin in gingival tissue of periodontitis patients positively correlated with site-specific probing depth (r = 0.67; P = 0.007) and clinical attachment level (r = 0.55; P = 0.035). CONCLUSIONS: The present study was a novel attempt to estimate the levels of sulfiredoxin which was significantly elevated in the diseased sites of patients with chronic periodontitis. Future studies are required to probe the role of sulfiredoxin in the etiopathogenesis of periodontal disease.

Polymer-based materials are increasingly produced through fused deposition modelling (FDM) – an additive manufacturing process, due to its intrinsic advantages in manufacturing complex shapes and structures at low overhead costs. The versatility of this technology has attracted several industries to print complex geometrical structures. This underlines the importance of studying the mechanical strength of FDM printed polymeric materials, especially their fatigue behaviour in cyclic loading conditions. Conventionally manufactured polymeric materials (e.g. injection moulding) have superior fatigue performance than FDM printed materials. Unlike conventionally manufactured polymers, FDM-made polymers have layer by layer adhesion and the influence of printing parameters make fatigue analysis complex and critical. The influences of printing parameters and printing material characteristics have a significant impact on the fatigue behaviour of these materials. The underlying mechanism behind the fatigue of FDM printed polymers is crucial for the assessment of these materials in structural applications. However, the fatigue behaviour of FDM printed polymeric materials has not been reviewed in detail. Therefore, this article aims to evaluate 3D printed polymeric materials’ fatigue properties. The importance of fatigue in the FDM printed biomedical materials is also reviewed, and more importantly, the novel FDM printed architected cellular material fatigue properties are also introduced.

BACKGROUND: Acetaminophen (APAP) and ibuprofen (IB) are drugs commonly used to alleviate pain due to their anti-inflammatory, anti-pyretic, and analgesic effect. The aim of the present study is to unravel the molecular mechanisms underlying the antimicrobial potential of these two drugs against red complex pathogens, namely, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Treponema denticola, and Tannerella forsythia, by using in silico tools, since they are potentially associated with inflammatory conditions related to periodontal infections. METHODS: The STITCH v5.0 pipeline was primarily used for identifying drug-protein interactions; VirulentPred and VICMPred were used for elucidating the virulence property and functional class of the proteins. The subcellular localization of virulent proteins was assessed using PSORTb v3.0 and the epitopes were identified using BepiPred v1.0 Linear Epitope Prediction tool. RESULTS: APAP and IB were found to interact with proteins involved in cellular process, metabolism, and virulence. The virulent proteins targeted by the drugs were located in the cytoplasm, which would further add to the effectiveness of the drugs to serve as antimicrobial agents. Finally, epitope prediction revealed multiple epitopes in the virulent proteins which can be specifically focused on. CONCLUSIONS: APAP and IB were found to target vital proteins involved in the cellular process, metabolism, and virulence of red complex pathogens. An in-depth knowledge on the interaction of these drugs and their antibacterial activity would add to the plethora of merits gained by these drugs in clinical settings. Further in vitro studies on a wide range of pathogens are warranted to substantiate the true interactions between the drugs and the protein repertoire of pathogens.

The direct impacts of climate change involve a multitude of phenomena, including rising sea levels, intensified severe weather events such as droughts and flooding, increased temperatures leading to wildfires, and unpredictable fluctuations in rainfall. This comprehensive review intends to examine firstly the probable consequences of climate change on extreme weather events such as drought, flood and wildfire. This review subsequently examines the release and transformation of contaminants in terrestrial, aquatic, and atmospheric environments in response to extreme weather events driven by climate change. While drought and flood influence the dynamics of inorganic and organic contaminants in terrestrial and aquatic environments, thereby influencing their mobility and transport, wildfire results in the release and spread of organic contaminants in the atmosphere. There is a nascent awareness of climate change's influence of climate change-induced extreme weather events on the dynamics of environmental contaminants in the scientific community and decision-making processes. The remediation industry, in particular, lags behind in adopting adaptive measures for managing contaminated environments affected by climate change-induced extreme weather events. However, recognizing the need for assessment measures represents a pivotal first step towards fostering more adaptive practices in the management of contaminated environments. We highlight the urgency of collaboration between environmental chemists and climate change experts, emphasizing the importance of jointly assessing the fate of contaminants and rigorous action to augment risk assessment and remediation strategies to safeguard the health of our environment.

The main breakthrough in tumor immunotherapy was the discovery of immune checkpoint (IC) proteins, which act as a potent suppressor of the immune system by a myriad of mechanisms. After that, scientists focused on the immune checkpoint molecules mainly. Thereby, much effort was spent to progress novel strategies for suppressing these inhibitory axes, resulting in the evolution of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Then, ICIs have become a promising approach and shaped a paradigm shift in tumor immunotherapies. CTLA-4 plays an influential role in attenuation of the induction of naïve and memory T cells by engagement with its responding ligands like B7-1 (CD80) and B7-2 (CD86). Besides, PD-1 is predominantly implicated in adjusting T cell function in peripheral tissues through its interaction with programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) and PD-L2. Given their suppressive effects on anti-tumor immunity, it has firmly been documented that ICIs based therapies can be practical and rational therapeutic approaches to treat cancer patients. Nonetheless, tumor inherent or acquired resistance to ICI and some treatment-related toxicities restrict their application in the clinic. The current review will deliver a comprehensive overview of the ICI application to treat human tumors alone or in combination with other modalities to support more desired outcomes and lower toxicities in cancer patients. Video Abstract.

Biodiesel is an alternate renewable, biodegradable, non-toxic fuel similar to conventional fossil fuel. It is usually produced from vegetable oil, animal fat, tallow, non-edible plant oil and waste cooking oil. Biodiesel emits fewer air pollutants, greenhouse gases other than oxides of nitrogen and easier to treat when compared with fossil fuels. However, with all these environmental benefits, biodiesel could not be extensively used as a complete alternative fuel to conventional diesel. Accordingly in this study apart from the scope and need of biodiesel, an attempt has been made to address the number of parameters that influence the production process of biodiesel. Lipid/fat content, type and catalyst concentration, oil to alcohol ratio and other purification process has been discussed to reduce the unit operation involved in biodiesel production.

Aluminium alloy is the popular material in the world to produce lot of light weight parts with high strength, in additionally reinforcement is consider to these alloy is improve its strength. In this investigation consider the AA7050 aluminium alloy as a base material with reinforcement of Silicon Carbide (SiC) at various percentage level like as 0%, 4 % and 6 %. The wear of this composites are analysed through the design of experiments (Taguchi approach) for optimize the process parameters. This wear study is considered the parameters are Sliding velocity in m/s (1, 2 and 3), Sliding distance in m (1000, 1400 and 1800) and percentage of composition (0%, 43% and 6%). For this experimental investigation the sliding distance as most significant factor among three. The microstructure analysis demonstrated that there is a SiC particles which reduces wear of the samples.

With the increased momentum of knowledge generation in the field of research, systematic reviews are essential to epitomise the state of extant literature and for theory building.In this article, we discuss the advantages of synthesising and reporting findings using a more impactful type of systematic review, the framework-based review.Additionally, we list and summarise some of the popularly used frameworks, TCCM (theories-contexts-characteristics-methods;

Curcuma longa Linn. ( C. longa ), popularly known as turmeric, belongs to the Zingiberaceae family and has a long historical background of having healing properties against many diseases. In Unani and Ayurveda medicine, C. longa has been used for liver obstruction and jaundice, and has been applied externally for ulcers and inflammation. Additionally, it is employed in several other ailments such as cough, cold, dental issues, indigestion, skin infections, blood purification, asthma, piles, bronchitis, tumor, wounds, and hepatic disorders, and is used as an antiseptic. Curcumin, a major constituent of C. longa , is well known for its therapeutic potential in numerous disorders. However, there is a lack of literature on the therapeutic potential of C. longa in contrast to curcumin. Hence, the present review aimed to provide in-depth information by highlighting knowledge gaps in traditional and scientific evidence about C. longa in relation to curcumin. The relationship to one another in terms of biological action includes their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, anticancer, hepatoprotective, cardioprotective, immunomodulatory, antifertility, antimicrobial, antiallergic, antidermatophytic, and antidepressant properties. Furthermore, in-depth discussion of C. longa on its taxonomic categorization, traditional uses, botanical description, phytochemical ingredients, pharmacology, toxicity, and safety aspects in relation to its major compound curcumin is needed to explore the trends and perspectives for future research. Considering all of the promising evidence to date, there is still a lack of supportive evidence especially from clinical trials on the adjunct use of C. longa and curcumin. This prompts further preclinical and clinical investigations on curcumin.

Abstract In the modern age of nanotechnology, the discovery of graphene has opened up the way to study and develop of several novel 2D materials. The unique physical and chemical properties of 2D materials have enhanced their research, making them superior to the commercial bulk materials used in various applications. Efforts have been made in the current study to present an overview of the intrinsic properties of these materials. Furthermore, synthesis and applications are also reviewed and discussed. Finally, the future outlook of 2D materials is discussed to enhance the research and performance of these materials, which can result in broader applications benefitting the electrical and electronics industries and society. Intensive research into 2D materials is expected to lead to the discovery of new materials with enhanced properties that will benefit the industry and society at large.

BACKGROUND: Anterior loop of the mental nerve is a very important anatomic landmark in implant placement and anterior mandibular osteotomies. PURPOSE: Two-dimensional imaging techniques are not competent enough to locate and measure the mental nerve loop in majority of the cases. Any injury to this loop results in pain/paresthesia/numbness in the region supplied by the mental nerve. The aim of this study is to analyze the prevalence and measure the length of the loop using cone beam computerized tomography (CBCT) and calculate the average length and prevalence so that a safe margin can be given while placing the implants or the osteotomy cuts in the premolar region. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was done using CBCT images of 85 patients taken for impaction surgery. The length of the loop was measured in mm using standardized lines drawn along specific anatomic landmarks. RESULTS: In our study 11.76% of patients had anterior loop in their mental nerve. Mean length of the mental nerve loop was calculated and found to be 2.79 mm. CONCLUSION: A margin of 4 mm anterior to the mental foramen should be safe to avoid any damage to the mental nerve loop bundle in majority of the cases where the loop is present.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the effectiveness of school-based interventions to prevent early childhood caries (ECC) among preschool children from very low socioeconomic background over a period of 2 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four hundred and twenty preschool children between the ages of 3-5 years participated in this double blind, three parallel arm clinical trial. School only interventions such as prohibition of sugary snack consumption in school, teacher supervised daily brushing using fluoridated toothpaste, and oral health education were implemented with regular follow-up at 6 months, 1, and 2 years. The study group had all three interventions, in active control-tooth brushing and oral health education, and in negative control, only oral health education. Decay at d1/d2 using World Health Organization criteria, visible plaque and gingival inflammation were assessed at all follow-ups. The value of P < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Absolute caries risk reduction in the study group was 20 percent and 12 percent when compared to active, negative controls after 2 years. Mean caries increment in the study group was 0.4 for d1/d2, for the active control group was 0.9 and negative control 0.8. The effect of interventions to prevent ECC in each group was calculated using the Çohen's d, and the study group had a score of 0.6 when compared with active controls and 0.9 in comparison to the negative control group. CONCLUSIONS: Prohibition of sugary snacking in school and daily supervised tooth brushing, with or without oral health education is effective in preventing ECC among preschool children with health neglect in very low-resource settings.