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Aim:This study aims to evaluate and compare the efficacy of various irrigation regimens on push-out bond strength of AH Plus/gutta-percha, Real Seal/Resilon, and MetaSeal/gutta-percha at three different root levels.Materials and Methods:Single-rooted mandibular premolars (n = 120) were prepared and divided into four groups (n = 30) based on irrigation regimen used: I: 5.25% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl)-17% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA); II: 5.25% NaOCl-2.25% Peracetic acid (PAA); III: 5.25% NaOCl-18% 1-hydroxyethylidene-1, 1-bisphosphonate (HEBP) (Etidronic Acid); and IV: Distilled Water. Each group was further divided into three subgroups (n = 10); A: AH Plus/gutta-percha; B: MetaSEAL/gutta-percha; C: RealSeal/Resilon. After obturation, roots were sectioned at 3 levels and push-out tests were performed. One-way ANOVA with post hoc Tukey-honestly significant difference tests were applied to assess the significance among various groups.Results:Among irrigants, 2.25% PAA showed significantly lower values when compared with rest of the irrigants. There was no significant difference found among EDTA and HEBP. The push-out bond strength of AH Plus was significantly higher among all sealers. The bond strength values were significantly decreased in apico-coronal direction.Conclusions:There was superior efficacy of EDTA and HEBP on the bond strength of AH Plus at apical root level when compared with other irrigants and sealers at various root levels.

A newer class of Gemini amphiphiles was prepared using D-glucitol as a template. C 18 alkyl chains are incorporated on the template to confer hydrophobicity while monomethoxy polyethylene glycol (mPEG) moiety of varied size imparts hydrophilicity. An acetonide group mounted on glucitol moiety is used to maintain rigidity in the amphiphilic architecture and to study its impact on aggregation and transport ability.The aggregation behavior of the synthesized amphiphiles was studied through fluorescence spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and cryo-transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM). Their nanotransport potential was demonstrated using hydrophobic model guests like the fluorescent dye Nile red and the pharmacologically active agent curcumin. Cytotoxicity and cellular uptake studies were carried out over HeLa cancer cells to evaluate their biological applicability. The ester functionalities in the amphiphiles enable them to exhibit sensitivity towards hydrolases. Candida antarctica lipase (Novozym-435) has been successfully utilized to facilitate the enzyme-assisted release of the encapsulated dye.

Coumarin is a heterocyclic scaffold and its derivatives namely Schiff bases, esters, and hydrazides, etc, play an important role in the field of agrochemical and pharmaceutical industry due to its structure. Over the years, various biological activities like antifungal, antimicrobial, anti-viral, anti-cancerous, anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, anti-filarial, enzyme inhibitors, anti-aflatoxigenic, analgesics, antioxidant and Oestrogenic, etc had been analyzed. This review covers the latest literature and knowledge on the synthetic procedures for various coumarin and its derivatives, biological and pharmacological applications.

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Background Donor breast milk (DBM) feeding has been associated with less growth than formula in preterm infants. Zinc content in DBM is insufficient to support growth in preterm infants. Objective To compare growth from birth to discharge, macro- and micronutrient intake and the frequency of poor growth before (Epoch-1) and after (Epoch-2) implementing a DBM program. Methods Retrospective cohort study of 1069 infants born at < 33 weeks’ gestational age or birthweight < 1500 g and fed using our adjustable feeding protocol with accurate serial length measurements. Growth was assessed by changes in Z-scores of weight, length and fronto-occipital circumference from birth to discharge. Results Growth did not decrease significantly in Epoch-2. However, energy and protein intake increased by 5% and frequency of zinc and vitamin D supplementation increased by >30%. Conclusions DBM implementation did not significantly decrease growth from birth to discharge using our adjustable feeding protocol.

Newer non-ionic amphiphiles have been synthesized using biocompatible materials and by following a greener approach i.e., D-glucitol has been used as a template, and hydrophobic and hydrophilic segments were incorporated on it by using click chemistry. The hydrophilic segments in turn were prepared from glycerol using an immobilized Candida antarctica lipase (Novozym-435)-mediated chemoenzymatic approach. Surface tension measurements and dynamic light scattering studies reflect the self-assembling behavior of the synthesized amphiphilic architectures in the aqueous medium. The results from UV-Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy establish the encapsulation of guests in the hydrophobic core of self-assembled amphiphilic architectures. The results of 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium (MTS) assay indicate that the amphiphiles are well tolerated by the used A549 cell lines at all tested concentrations.

The unique segregation and self-assembly properties of fluorinated amphiphiles into supramolecular architectures have attracted substantial attention in recent years. In this study, we report the design and synthesis of six newer hybrid nonionic amphiphiles with hydrophobic alkyl/fluoroalkyl chains and hydrophilic polyethylene glycol (PEG) units of different lengths and evaluate and compare their drug delivery applications. On the hydrophobic side, the amphiphiles differ in having either two alkyl chains, two fluoroalkyl chains, or one alkyl and one fluoroalkyl chain. This allowed for a systematic comparison of the physicochemical and transport abilities. The aggregation phenomenon of the amphiphiles was monitored with Cryo-TEM. Cytotoxicity and cellular uptake studies were performed to evaluate the pharmacological potential. Candida antarctica lipase (Novozym-435) immobilized on solid support was used to facilitate the release of the encapsulated cargo. Our study highlights the potential and properties of the fluoroalkyl-based nanocarriers.