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Chickpea (Cicer arietinum) is a grain crop that is an important source of protein, vitamins, carbohydrates and minerals. It is highly sensitive to salt stress, and salt damage to cellular homeostasis and protein folding affects production. Plants have several mechanisms to prevent cellular damages under abiotic stresses, such as proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (protein isulfide somerases (PDIs) and PDI-like proteins), which help prevent the build-up of mis-folded proteins that are damaged under abiotic stresses. In this study, we completed initial comprehensive genome-wide analysis of the chickpea PDI gene family. We found eight PDI genes are distributed on six out of eight chromosomes. Two pairs of paralogous genes were found to have segmental duplications. The phylogenetic analysis showed that the PDIs have a high degree of homology in C. arietinum, Cicer reticulatum, Lens culinaris, Phaseolus acutifolius, Pisum sativum and Oryza sativa. The gene structure analysis displayed that CaPDI1-CaPDI8 have 9-12 exons except for CaPDI5, which has 25 exons. Subcellular localisation indicated accumulation of CaPDIs in endoplasmic reticulum. Protein-conserved motifs and domain analysis demonstrated that thioredoxin domains of PDI family is present in all CaPDIs. CaPDI proteins have strong protein-protein interaction. In silico expression analysis showed that four out of eight PDI genes (CPDI2, CaPDI6, CaPDI7 and CaPDI8) were expressed under salt stress. Of these, expression of CaPDI2 and CaPDI8 was the highest. This work indicated that PDI genes are involved in salt stress tolerance in chickpea and the CaPDIs may be further studied for their role of inducing salt tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A ‘Cyclotron’ is a proton particle accelerator, broadly used for short-lived isotopes (like F-18) production for imaging in radiation oncology. In Pakistan, Fluorine (F-18) is being produced by the cyclotrons installed in various hospitals. F-18 emits two gamma photons through the annihilation phenomenon, having 511 keV energy each. F-18 has converted into (18F) Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) through the synthesis process. This high-intensity gamma photon may be dangerous to radiation workers if radiation safety regulations are not followed. A study was conducted for the measurement of ambient radiation levels in the controlled areas and supervised areas of cyclotron facilities using Thermoluminescent Dosimeters (TLDs). The results obtained from TLDs were formulated and evaluated. All measured values were meeting the criteria of classification of areas i.e., the radiation doses will receive greater than 6mSv/year in a Controlled area and the radiation dose will receive greater than 1mSv/year in a Supervised area as mentioned in Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA’s) Regulations on Radiation Protection (PAK/904). It is concluded that all workers received radiation doses within limits and the facilities had implemented clause 26 of PNRA Regulations through effective shielding in the design of the cyclotron facilities, and dose monitoring. The effective implementation of PNRA regulations is verified through regulatory oversight and through such type of cross-verification in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: Dry Socket (DS) is one of the complications following tooth extraction, reported usually 2-4 days postoperatively with moderate to severe pain. The concept of Dry Socket is not clear and there is disagreement among dental practitioners about diagnosis and management. The objective of this survey was to evaluate the knowledge of dry socket and its treatment among General Practitioners. METHODOLOGY: One hundred and twenty-nine structured questionnaires were distributed among Dental Practitioners (DP) of Riyadh city with 78% response rate. This study was composed of two part; first about knowledge and second regarding treatment options. Data was collected, tabulated and analyzed using updated SPSS version 22. RESULTS: According to the results, 75.2% (n=76) practitioners agreed that dry socket is dislodgment of clot in socket, and 20.8% (n=21) agreed that dry socket could be due to contamination of socket. Moreover, 32.7% (n=33) dental practitioners claimed that dry socket patients experienced discomfort symptom but most of the dentists 75.2% (n=76) reported acute and stabbing pain in dry socket. CONCLUSION: The overall knowledge of diagnosis and treatment of general practitioners was adequate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The purpose of this study is to determine the type and frequency of pathological conditions around third molar teeth among randomly selected patient's records in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh. Materials and Methods: Totally, 281 patient panoramic radiographs were selected with detectable pathology among 570 files of patients seen in oral and maxillofacial surgery clinics 2 years retrospectively. Almost 17-55 years age (mean age 25.43) was selected. The following radiographs were analyzed for all pathology associated impacted teeth; dental caries, bone resorption, periodontitis, and apical pathology. Results: The study found caries, external bone resorption and periodontitis are highly frequent to mesioangular and horizontal in mandibular impacted third molar compared to maxillary impacted third molar. Overall result evaluated that tooth #28 related periodontitis is significant (P = 0.021), and tooth #38 related bone resorption, tooth #48 related root caries, bone resorption and apical pathology are highly significant (P = 0.000) comparing to others. This study also concluded the high frequency of root caries, bone resorption and apical pathology reported in relation to mandibular impacted third teeth. Significant results were also achieved with periodontitis in relation to mesiangular and vertical angulation of left impacted maxillary third molars. Conclusion: Prophylactic removal of impacted third molars is recommended in many studies to avoid future risk of associated pathology. Retained asymptomatic impacted third molars imply pathology that could be difficult in later ages as less morbidity in younger ages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare laser fluorescence (LF), using DIAGNOdent tool and visual examination (VE) methods for diagnosis of early occlusal caries in permanent molars and premolars. Two hundred occlusal surfaces were randomly selected in permanent molars and premolars of 54 female patients (17-25 years old), visited Dental Hygiene Clinics of College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Clinical examination for dental caries using LF and VE methods was conducted by two examiners. The agreement between the two examiners was almost perfect (Kappa.87 and 1.0) using LF and VE for diagnosis of the occlusal caries. There was no significant difference in sensitivity and specificity value of the two methods. It is also concluded that the laser fluorescence can be used as an adjunct tool in the diagnosis of occlusal dental caries in permanent molars and premolars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]