Salivary MMP-9 Levels in Chronic Periodontitis Patients with Type-II Diabetes Mellitus

Chronic periodontitis and diabetes mellitus share a two-way relationship, the common factor being the inflammatory-mediated pathway, and various cytokines are released during this inflammatory cascade, one of which being matrix metalloproteinase-9. The aim of this study was to identify whether the levels of matrix metalloproteinase-9 are increased due to type-II diabetes mellitus in chronic periodontitis patients. It was an observational, analytical, case-control study. Thirty subjects were recruited in the test group, who were suffering from type-II diabetes mellitus and chronic periodontitis, and 30 subjects in the control group, who were subjects with chronic periodontitis but systemically healthy. Periodontal parameters, including the plaque score, gingival bleeding index, probing pocket depth and clinical attachment level of the subjects, were measured, saliva samples of all of the subjects were collected and salivary matrix metalloproteinase-9 levels were analyzed by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. The statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 24. Overall, the matrix metalloproteinase-9 levels of the diabetic patients with chronic periodontitis were increased almost twofold (156.95 ± 29.80 ng/mL) compared to the levels in the controls (74.96 ± 6.32 ng/mL) (p < 0.001). Similarly, the periodontal parameters were far worse in diabetics with chronic periodontitis compared to the controls. The average gingivitis score for the test subjects was 78.45 ± 8.93%), compared to 29.32 ± 12.96% in the controls (p < 0.001). The mean probing pocket depth for the test group was 5.39 ± 0.60 mm, and, for the control group, it was 4.35 ± 0.31 mm (p < 0.001). For the test subjects, the average clinical attachment level was 5.86 ± 0.58 mm, and it was 4.66 ± 0.32 mm for the controls (p < 0.001). It was ascertained that there is a two-fold increase in the levels of salivary matrix metalloproteinase-9 in the test group compared to the control group. In addition, the level of periodontal apparatus destruction was greater in the test group. This proved that type-II diabetes mellitus influences the levels of matrix metalloproteinase-9 in humans and elevates them, causing further periodontal destruction.     

Synthesis,Electrochemistry, and Spectroscopy of Blue Platinum(II) Polyynes and Diynes

The smallest band gap observed so far (1.77 eV) for an organometallic polymer is exhibited by the blue, rigid-rod polymer 2 , which is prepared by the reaction of trans-[PtCl₂(PnBu₃)₂] with one equivalent of 1 .     

A metal-free visible light promoted three-component facile synthesis of 4-oxo-tetrahydroindoles in ethanol–water

A mild and efficient visible light–mediated one-pot multicomponent tandem approach to construct 4-oxo-tetrahydroindoles in ethanol–water medium at room temperature has been described. The characteristics of reported methodology are the utilization of visible light, an ideal source of energy to generate C C and C N bonds from commercially available substrates namely dimedone, phenacyl bromides, and amines. The presented protocol is highly compatible for developing 4-oxo-tetrahydroindole derivatives with improved selectivity and high yields. Moreover, metal-free synthesis, environmental friendly solvent, easy workup process, high atom economy, cost-effectiveness, short reaction time, and broad substratescope are the major advantages of reported protocol.     

Inorganic Pb‐Free Perovskite Light Absorbers for Efficient Perovskite Solar Cells with Enhanced Performance

Recently, enormous efforts have been made to develop the efficient, lead (Pb) free and stable perovskite solar cells (PSCs). In this regards, various strategies were applied and the optoelectronic properties of various Pb free perovskites such as (CH₃NH₃)₃Sb₂I₉, (CH₃NH₃)₃Bi₂I₉, Cs₃Sb₂I₉, Cs₃Bi₂I₉, CH₃NH₃SnI₃ and CH₃NH₃GeI₃ etc have been investigated. However, the photovoltaic performance of the developed PSCs was still low and presence of organic moieties in common hole‐transport materials (HTMs) shows poor stability against moisture and heat. Herein, we have investigated the optoelectronic properties of all inorganic Pb free perovskites (Cs₃Sb₂I₉=1 and Cs₃Bi₂I₉=2) and employed novel strategies (dissolution‐recrystallization) to prepare the efficient Pb free PSCs. The band gaps of the 1 and 2 were found to be 2.2 eV and 2.0 eV, respectively. The developed PSCs with 1 and 2 exhibited the power conversion efficiency of 0.68% and 1.087%, respectively.     

Site selective [bmIm]OH catalyzed CC bond functionalization under green conditions

Effective methodology that activates selectively either end of a carbon–carbon triple bond requires key challenge of differentiating between the multitude of CC bonds present in complex organic molecule. The synthetic strategy exploited the electronic biases within the substrate and successfully achieved site–selective [bmIm]OH catalyzed CC bond functionalization under mild reaction conditions. This resulted in C-2-selective addition of phenacyl bromide on p-substituted phenyl acetylene and C-1 selective addition on the o-substituted phenyl acetylene leading to CC bond formation. The reaction proceeded smoothly with excellent yield under ambient conditions. This report demonstrates the progress on the catalytic activity of recyclable [bmIm]OH for selective CC bond formation.     

A Fuzzy Logic Approach for Determining Expected Values: A Project Management Application

This paper presents a methodology rooted in the general concepts of fuzzy logic theory with specific emphasis on belief functions and extension principles, and fuzzy probability distributions with fuzzy expectation based on fuzzy probability measures. This approach offers a useful alternative to the traditional approach in the estimation of probabilities in the absence of information about relative frequencies. An algorithm called BIPFET is developed and its application is demonstrated by utilizing data from a real-life research and development project.     

A low voltage time of flight electron emission microscope

This paper presents the design of a low voltage time of flight electron emission microscope (TOF-EEM), which should in principle be capable of acquiring spectral chemical information at nano-metre spatial resolution. The system will be able to operate as a photoelectron emission microscope (PEEM), an X-ray photoemission electron microscope (XPEEM), or a secondary electron emission microscope (SEEM). For each pixel in its highly magnified topographic image, the TOF-EEM column should be able to provide the emission spectrum with milli-electron-volt resolution. The system is designed to operate at secondary electron beam voltages of typically less than 100 V, and has the possibility of dynamically correcting for chromatic aberration. Provisional simulation results predict that the TOF-EEM column should be able to provide an image resolution of better than 2 nm.     

Influence of Halogen Substitution in the Ligand Sphere on the Antitumor and Antibacterial Activity of Half‐sandwich Ruthenium(II) Complexes [RuX(η6‐arene)(C5H4N‐2‐CH=N‐Ar)]+

New complexes [(η⁶‐p‐cymene)Ru(C₅H₄N‐2‐CH=N–Ar)X]PF₆ [X = Br ( 1 ), I ( 2 ); Ar = 4‐fluorophenyl ( a ), 4‐chlorophenyl ( b ), 4‐bromophenyl ( c ), 4‐iodophenyl ( d ), 2,5‐dichlorophenyl ( e )] were prepared, as well as 3a – 3e (X = Cl) and the new complexes [(η⁶‐arene)RuCl(N‐N)]PF₆ (arene = C₆H₅OCH₂CH₂OH, N‐N = 2,2′‐bipyridine ( 4 ), 2,6‐(dimethylphenyl)‐pyridin‐2‐yl‐methylene amine ( 5 ), 2,6‐(diisopropylphenyl)‐pyridin‐2‐yl‐methylene amine ( 6 ); arene = p‐cymene, N‐N = 4‐(aminophenyl)‐pyridin‐2‐yl‐methylene amine ( 7 )]. X‐ray diffraction studies were performed for 1a , 1b , 1c , 1d , 2b , 5 , and 7 . Cytotoxicities of 1a – 1d and 2 were established versus human cancer cells epithelial colorectal adenocarcinoma (Caco‐2) (IC₅₀: 35.8–631.0 μM), breast adenocarcinoma (MCF7) (IC₅₀: 36.3–128.8.0 μM), and hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) (IC₅₀: 60.6–439.8 μM), 3a – 3e were tested against HepG2 and Caco‐2, and 4 – 7 were tested against Caco‐2. 1 – 7 were tested against non‐cancerous human epithelial kidney cells. 1 and 2 were more selective towards tumor cells than the anticancer drug 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU), but 3a – 3e (X = Cl) were not selective. 1 and 2 had good activity against MCF7, some with lower IC₅₀ than 5‐FU. Complexes with X = Br or I had moderate activity against Caco‐2 and HepG2, but those with Cl were inactive. Antibacterial activities of 1a , 2b , 3a , and 7 were tested against antibacterial susceptible and resistant Gram‐negative and ‐positive bacteria. 1a , 2b , and 3a showed activity against methicillin‐resistant S. aureus (MIC = 31–2000 μg · mL^–1).