Efficacy of using chitosan and chitosan nanoparticles as final irrigating solutions on smear layer removal and mineral content of intraradicular dentin

Background

This study evaluated the effect of using chitosan, nano-chitosan, and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) as final irrigating solutions on smear layer cleanliness and Ca/P ratio of dentin.

Methodology

Forty-eight decoronated human single-rooted teeth were used. They were divided randomly into four groups (n = 12) based on the final irrigating solution used as follows: (a) control group (IA; n = 6) normal saline, (IB; n = 6) were left unprepared; group II - 0.2% chitosan; group III - 0.2% nano-chitosan; and group IV - 17% EDTA. Samples were prepared using ProTaper Next and irrigated with 2.6% NaOCl 5 ml after each instrument using 31-gauge needle. Final rinse was used 5 ml/3 min according to the assigned group. The specimens were prepared for evaluation.

Results

Best smear layer removal was observed in group IV. No statistically significant differences (P > 0.05) were observed between the experimental groups (II, III, and IV) coronally; however, a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05) was observed between groups II and IV at middle and apical thirds. Intragroup comparison showed that apical third exhibited the highest mean smear layer score among all experimental groups. The highest mean Ca/P ratio was in the 0.2% nano-chitosan group, while the highest calcium loss was in the 17% EDTA group.

Conclusions

17% EDTA is a potent chelating agent that can successfully remove the smear layer but compromises the Ca/p ratio of dentin. However, 0.2% chitosan and its nanoparticles have comparable chelating effects and induce remineralization of the root canal dentin.

Phenolics, tocopherols and fatty acid profiling of wild and commercial mushrooms from Pakistan

Mushrooms can be used as nutraceutical or functional foods to maintain and promote good health. In the present study, wild Ganoderma lucidum and four commercial mushrooms, Pleurotus ostreatus, Volvariella volvacea, Hericium erinaceus and Lentinus edodes, collected from Pakistan were screened for phenolics, tocopherols and fatty acid contents. High performance liquid chromatography analysis of phenolic acids showed that chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid, gallic acid, p-Coumaric and caffeic acids were observed in selected mushrooms. H. erinaceus contained high amounts of chlorogenic acid (11.49±0.1 µ/g of dry weight) and ferulic acid (7.84±0.7 µg/g of dry weight). γ-tocopherol and lutein were present in all studied mushrooms. Lutein contents were higher in H. erinaceus (2.42±0.087 µg/g of DW) followed by V. volvacea> P. ostreatus> L. edodes. γ-tocopherol was observed in the range of 74.25±3.01 to 29.65±1.2 µg/g of dry weight. GC/MS analysis of fatty acids showed that linoleic acid (18’:2n6c), oleic acid (18’:1n9c), palmitic acid (C16:0), stearic acid (C18:0), linolenic acid (18’:3n3) and nonadecanoic acid (C19-0), were the main fatty acids found in selected mushrooms. The unsaturated fatty acids were predominated over saturated fatty acids. It is concluded that selected mushrooms are good sources of antioxidant compounds and unsaturated fatty acids.

Surgical treatment of scrotal lymphedema: modified surgical technique

Lymphedema is a chronic disease in which lymph accumulates under the subcutaneous tissue. The condition may be due to either congenital or acquired lymphatic system abnormalities. Genital lymphedema (scrotal lymphedema) has a high psychological and functional impact, and many surgical techniques have been tried in an attempt to improve function and cosmetic appearance. The aim of this study is to present our experience in treatment of a series of patients with scrotal lymphedema. Twenty patients suffering from moderate to severe scrotal lymphedema underwent treatment by using three flaps technique (2 inguinoscrotal flap and one perineoscrotal flap). The technique showed improvement in cosmetic, sexual, and voiding function with low incidence of recurrence up to 23 months of followup.

Aflatoxin, proximate composition and mineral profile of stored broiler feed treated with medicinal plant leaves

OBJECTIVES

In the present investigation, the Morus alba (M. alba), Vitis vinifera (V. vinifera), Ficus religiosa (F. religiosa) and Citrus paradisi (C. paradisi) leaves anti-aflatoxigenic activities were evaluated in Aspergillus flavus (A. flavus) inoculated feed.

METHODS

The broiler feed inoculated with A. flavus was treated with selected medicinal plant leaf powder (5%, 10% and 15% w/w) and stored for the period of six months at 28°C and 16% moisture. The aflatoxins (AFTs) were estimated at the end of each month by Reversed Phase High Performance Liquid Chromatography (RP-HPLC) method along with proximate composition and mineral contents.

RESULTS

Plant leaves controlled AFTs efficiently without affecting the feed proximate composition and mineral contents. The M. alba leaves completely inhibition (100%) the AFTs (B₁ and B₂) in feed at very low concentration (5%). Other plants also showed significant (P<0.05) inhibition of AFTs production without affecting the feed quality over the storage period of six months.

CONCLUSION

Based on promising efficiency of selected medicinal plant leaves, A. flavus produced AFTs could possibly be controlled in stored poultry feed.

Immunomodulatory potential of Anacyclus pyrethrum (L.) and Mucuna pruriens (L.) In male albino rats

The present study was designed to investigate the immunomodulatory potential of Anacyclus pyrethrum roots and Mucuna pruriens seeds in male albino rats. The roots of A. pyrethrum and seeds of M. pruriens were extracted with methanolic solvent (70:30) and administered at dose concentrations of 50, 100 and 200 mg/Kg body weight to healthy male rats. The immune system of rats was suppressed by injecting carbon tetrachloride to animals in the toxic control group and test group animals. Cell-mediated immune response of animals was examined by performing neutrophil adhesion test and the humoral immune response was evaluated by determining serum immunoglobulin levels of the animals under study. The administration of methanolic extracts of A. pyrethrum roots and M. pruriens seeds significantly (p less than 0.05) increased the neutrophil adhesion to the nylon fiber. Increase in % neutrophil adhesion was observed in animals treated with 200 mg of each plant extract. Significant (p less than 0.05) improvement in immunoglobulin levels was recorded in the extract treated group animals, showing that the root extract of A. pyrethrum and seed extract of M. pruriens have immunomodulatory potential. We therefore conclude that the tested extracts can be used as immunomodulatory agents to stimulate the immune system.

The efficacy of Na-butyrate encapsulated in palm fat on performance of broilers infected with necrotic enteritis with gene expression analysis

Aim:

To study the efficacy of Na-butyrate encapsulated in palm fat on performance of broiler chickens experimentally infected with necrotic enteritis (NE) with the determination of its protective effect against the changes in the gene expression profiles and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) fragmentation.

Materials and Methods:

A total of 800 one-day-old male Arbor Acres Plus broiler chickens were randomly allocated into four groups for 5 weeks. Na-butyrate was supplemented at dosages of 1 kg/ton for starter diet, 0.5 kg/ton for grower diet, and 0.25 kg/ton for finisher diet (presence or absence). Birds of groups 1 and 2 were inoculated by crop gavages with 4×10⁸ CFU/ml/bird of Clostridium perfringens in phosphate buffered saline for 4 successive days, from 14 to 17 days of age to produce NE.

Results:

Addition of Na-butyrate, encapsulated in palm fat, to ration of experimentally infected broilers with NE resulted in increased final body weight, at 35 days of age, reduced total feed consumption, improved feed conversion ratio, reduced cumulative mortality, and increased production number. There were increased intestinal diameter, intestinal length, and significantly increased the weight of bursa of Fabricius(BF) with higher hemagglutination inhibition titers against Newcastle disease (ND) vaccination versus untreated infected and untreated negative control birds. The results showed increased expression levels of alpha-toxin and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase in the bursa tissues of broilers infected with C. perfringens. However, the expression levels of these genes in broilers treated with Na-butyrate were similar to the non-infected control group. Supplementation of broilers with Na-butyrate increased the expression level of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and decreased the DNA fragmentation induced by C. perfringens.

Conclusion:

Na-butyrate significantly improved chicken broiler body weights, increased relative weights of BF, increased antibody titers against ND vaccination, numerically lowered mortality due to C. perfringens infection, increased the expression level of IGF-1, and decreased the DNA fragmentation induced by C. perfringens. Obtained results point out the effectiveness of Na-butyrate encapsulated in palm fat in improving the production performance variables, immune response, and intestinal morphology in experimentally induced NE as well as in non-infected chicken broilers.

Changes in biologic features between primary and recurrent or relapsed breast cancers

OBJECTIVE

Changes in ER, PR and Her2 receptor status between primary and metastatic cancer tissue have been suggested in breast cancer. The frequencies of these changes are still not fully understood. The purpose of this study was to evaluate these changes in breast cancer population of Kuwait.

SUBJECTS AND METHOD

Changes in the biological features between primary and recurrent disease in 70 patients who presented between 2009 and 2012 was studied. Statistical comparisons between groups was done using chi square test while Kaplan Meier method was used to perform analysis of survival after relapse. All analysis was carried out using the IBM-SPSS statistical software.

RESULTS

There was a decrease in ER and PR positivity from 61.4% to 58.6% and 61.4% to 44.3% respectively. The overall change in ER and PR status was 28.5% and 25.7% respectively. There was an increase in the Her2 positivity as the tumor relapsed and overall changes were seen in 5.7% of cases.

CONCLUSION

Patients with breast cancer experience change in biological markers through the course of their disease. The changes are more with hormone receptors compared to Her2. Re-biopsy should be considered at relapse if feasible.

KEYWORDS

breast cancer, hormone receptors, Her2 neu, receptors, biological features, changes.

Kinetics of cell growth and cyclosporin A production by Tolypocladium inflatum when scaling up from shake flask to bioreactor

The kinetics of cell growth and Cyclosporin A (Cyc A) production by Tolypocladium inflatum were studied in shake flasks and bioreactors under controlled and uncontrolled pH conditions. In the case of the shake flask, the production time was extended to 226 h and the maximal antibiotic concentration was 76 mg/l. When scaling up the cultivation process to a bioreactor level, the production time was reduced to only 70 h with a significant increase in both the cell growth and the antibiotic production. The maximal dry cell weights in the case of the controlled pH and uncontrolled pH cultures in the bioreactor were 22.4 g/l and 14.2 g/l, respectively. The corresponding maximal dry cell weight values did not exceed 7.25 g/l with the shake flask cultures. The maximal values for Cyc A production were 144.72 and 131.4 mg/l for the controlled and uncontrolled pH cultures, respectively. It is also worth noting that a significant reduction was observed in both the dry cell mass and the antibiotic concentration after the Cyc A production phase, whereas the highest rate of antibiotic degradation was observed in the stirred tank bioreactor with an uncontrolled pH. Morphological characterization of the micromorphological cell growth (mycelial/pellet forms) was also performed during cultivation in the bioreactor.

Aspiration and tetracycline sclerotherapy for management of simple ovarian cysts

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the procedure of aspiration and tetracycline sclerotherapy in the management of simple ovarian cysts.

METHODS

Twenty-five cases of simple ovarian cysts were subjected to cyst fluid aspiration and 5% tetracycline injection under ultrasound guidance. Cytological examination of the aspirated fluid was carried out in 24 cases and the patients were followed for 6-36 months.

RESULTS

Cytology revealed a cellular sediment in 18 cases (simple cysts), follicular cells in four cases (follicular cysts), and blood and hemosiderin-laden macrophages in two cases (endometriosis); subsequent surgery was required in only one case (endometriosis).

CONCLUSIONS

The procedure of aspiration and tetracycline sclerotherapy was easy, safe and acceptable, with no recurrences. It appears to be a valid alternative to cyst aspiration in the management of simple ovarian cysts.