The efficacy of Salvadora persica extract in the elimination of the intracanal smear layer: A SEM study

AimTo evaluate the efficacy of an ethanolic Salvadora persica extract in removing the smear layer following a root canal procedure.MethodsSixty extracted, single-rooted human teeth were cleaned, shaped, and divided into four groups. Experimental groups 1 (n = 20) and 2 (n = 20) were irrigated with 1 mg/ml and 5 mg/ml of S. persica, respectively. The positive controls (n = 10) were irrigated with 17% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), while the negative controls (n = 10) were irrigated with saline. Approximately 5 ml of the irrigating solution was delivered into the root canals for 5 min, and the final rinse was performed with 5 ml of 1% sodium hypochlorite. Scanning electron microscopy was used to evaluate the endodontic smear layer removal at the coronal, middle, and apical thirds of the specimens.ResultsA significant difference in smear layer removal between groups 1 and 2 at the coronal and middle thirds of the canal was observed, and no significant difference was seen between group 2 and the positive control at the coronal third. At the apical third, both concentrations of S. persica had similar effects and were less effective than the positive control in removing the smear layer.ConclusionThe 5 mg/ml S. persica solution was significantly more effective than the 1 mg/ml solution. In addition, the 5 mg/ml S. persica solution was as effective as 17% EDTA in removing the smear layer from the coronal third of the canal wall.     

Evaluating the effect of three newly approved overactive bladder syndrome treating agents on parotid and submandibular salivary glands: Modulation of CXCL10 expression

Background

Despite enormous progresses in understanding pathophysiology of the lower urinary tract, antimuscarinics remain the chief clinically well-established approach for improving symptoms of overactive bladder (OAB). Dry mouth on the other hand remains one of the most untolerated systemic side effects of these drugs that limits their uses and results in high discontinuation rate. Three novel drugs have been recently approved by US Food and Drug Administration for treatment of OAB: trospium, darifenacin, and solifenacin.

Performance of serum adenosine deaminase in measuring disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis patients

Background

Numerous tools to assess activity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are available to use. For any marker to be a more appropriate indicator of disease activity, it should be more authentic to the patho-physiologic basis of the disease.

Prospective Evaluation of the Toxicity Profile of Proteasome Inhibitor-Based Therapy in Renal Transplant Candidates and Recipients

BACKGROUND: A prospective intermediate-term evaluation of toxicities associated with bortezomib therapy for antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) and desensitization was conducted. METHODS: Patients were graded for bortezomib-related toxicities: hematologic and gastrointestinal toxicities by Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events and peripheral neuropathy by modified Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy questionnaire and Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events. RESULTS: Fifty-one patients treated for AMR and 19 patients treated for desensitization received 96 bortezomib cycles (1.3 mg/m ×4 doses); mean (SD) follow-up was 16.3 (9.0) months. Patients treated for AMR and patients treated for desensitization were similar in age, gender, ethnicity, and baseline peripheral neuropathy. Patients treated for AMR received a mean (SD) of 4.9 (2.0) bortezomib doses in 1.3 (0.5) cycles; and patients treated for desensitization, a mean of 7.3 (1.6) doses in 1.8 (0.4) cycles. Prevalence of diabetes and anemia were higher at baseline in patients treated for AMR. In the AMR cohort, two cases of cytomegalovirus infection, two cases of BK virus infection, and one case of Epstein-Barr virus infection were observed. No cases of viral infection were observed in the desensitization cohort. Malignancies were not observed. Significant bortezomib toxicities included anemia and peripheral neuropathy, which were manageable. Anemia was more common in patients treated for AMR; and peripheral neuropathy, more common in patients treated for desensitization. CONCLUSIONS: Bortezomib-related toxicities in kidney transplant candidates and recipients are low in incidence and severity and vary based on treatment population.     

A comparative study of oxidant–antioxidant status in stable and active vitiligo patients

The pathogenetic mechanisms in vitiligo have not been completely clarified. One of the major hypotheses in the pathogenesis of vitiligo is the oxidative stress hypothesis. The active or stable phase of vitiligo is defined on the basis of the progression or appearance of new lesions in the last 3 months and the absence of new lesions or their progression in the last 6 months, respectively. Eighteen patients with active vitiligo, 18 patients with stable vitiligo, and 40 controls were included in this study. We examined serum levels of malondialdehyde, selenium, vitamin E and A, and the erythrocyte activities of glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase. Our results revealed a significantly higher level of serum malondialdehyde, selenium in patients with active disease compared with the controls. Significant higher increase in erythrocytes superoxide dismutase activities was observed in active vitiligo group, erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase activity was decreased significantly in active disease, whereas erythrocyte catalase activity and plasma vitamin E and A levels were not different in vitiligo patients as compared with controls. Our study shows that oxidative stress is involved in the pathophysiology of both active and stable vitiligo but increased imbalance of antioxidants was observed in the blood of active vitiligo patients.I dedicate this article to our dear director (Mme Hentati Basma) who dead in 06/06/06. We will never forget you and you are always in our heart.     

High prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in type 1 diabetes mellitus and healthy children

Epidemiological studies suggest a link between vitamin D deficiency in early life and the later onset of type 1 diabetes. The aim of this matched case-control study was to find the association between vitamin D and T1DM then to study the difference in the level of vitamin D in T1DM and healthy subjects, and to determine the associated environmental risk factors in young Qatari population. The study was carried out among T1DM children and healthy subjects below 16 years at the pediatric endocrinology outpatient clinics of the Hamad General Hospital and the Primary Health care Clinics (PHCs). The survey was conducted over a period from 6 August to 25 December 2007. The subjects were Qatari nationals male and female aged below 16 years. The study is based on matching by age, gender and ethnicity of 170 cases with those of 170 controls. Face-to-face interviews were based on a questionnaire that included variables such as socio-demographic information, assessment of non-dietary covariates, assessment of dietary intake, vitamin D intake, type of feeding, clinical manifestations and laboratory investigations. Their health status was assessed by medical conditions, family history, BMI, past or present clinical manifestations, 25 (OH)D, Calcium, alkaline phosphatase, phosphorus, HbA1C, PTH, Mg and creatinine analysis. The study revealed that vitamin D deficiency was considerably higher in T1DM children (90.6%) compared to non-diabetic children (85.3%). There was a significant difference found in the mean value of vitamin D between T1DM and non-diabetic children (P = 0.009). There were statistically significant differences between type 1 diabetic and healthy subjects with respect to the occupation of parents (P < 0.001) and consanguinity rate (P < 0.047). Family history of vitamin D deficiency was considerably higher among T1DM children (35.3%) with a significant difference between diabetic and non-diabetic children (22.9) (P < 0.012). Vitamin D supplement with breast milk was very poor in diabetic children (37.4%) compared to non-diabetic children (47.7%). Majority of the studied subjects were breast-fed children (95.1% of diabetic children and 97.2% of healthy children). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that fathers and mothers occupation, family history of DM, physical activity, low duration of time under sun light, breast feeding less than 6 months and low vitamin D level were considered as the main factors associated with the T1DM. In conclusion, the present study revealed that vitamin D deficiency was higher in T1DM children compared to non-diabetic. Moreover, vitamin D deficiency was common in Qatari young population. Vitamin D intake was very poor in children and it shows that supplementing infants with vitamin D might be a safe and effective strategy for reducing the risk of T1DM.