Effects of sprouted and nonsprouted wheat and barley with and without enzyme on intestinal morphometry of broiler chickens

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of sprouted and nonsprouted wheat and barley with and without enzyme on the histomorphology of small intestinal mucosa. Three hundred and thirty-six 1-day-old male broiler chicks (Ross 308) were divided randomly into seven treatments and four replications (12 chicks in each replicate). The experimental treatments were as follows: (1) corn-based diet (control), (2) wheat-based diet?+?0.1 % enzyme (a multienzyme product), (3) sprouted wheat-based diet?+?0.1 % enzyme, (4) sprouted wheat-based diet without enzyme, (5) barley-based diet?+?0.1 % enzyme, (6) sprouted barley-based diet?+?0.1 % enzyme, and (7) sprouted barley-based diet without enzyme. For enteric morphometric analysis, the small intestines of the four broilers for each treatment were collected at 42 days. The traits evaluated were villus length, villus width, and crypt depth. The addition of multienzyme to wheat- and barley-based diets and the use of sprouted wheat in the diet increased the villus height in the ileum compared with the control. The addition of multienzyme to wheat- and barley-based diets and the use of sprouted wheat in the diet increased (P?<?0.05) the villus height in the ileum compared with the control. The villus crypt depth was significantly decreased for sprouted barley supplementations compared with the control. The sprouted wheat with enzyme supplementation increased the villus length/crypt depth ratio compared with the control. According to results of this experiment, it can be concluded that wheat and barley with multienzyme or sprouting wheat and barley can be used as replacement grains for corn in broiler production.     

Effectiveness of arginine-containing toothpastes in treating dentine hypersensitivity: A systematic review

Objectives

To evaluate by way of a systematic review the effectiveness of arginine-containing desensitising toothpastes in comparison to control agents in reducing dentine hypersensitivity.

Data sources

Electronic databases were searched including: Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, EMBASE, LILACS (30/03/2012). Reference lists of eligible studies and systematic reviews were cross-checked in an attempt to identify additional studies. Strategies to identify grey literature were employed.

Study selection inclusion criteria

Controlled Clinical Trials (CCTs) and Randomised Controlled Trials (RCTs) comparing arginine-containing desensitising toothpastes to non-arginine-containing control toothpastes.Two review authors independently screened the titles and abstracts of studies identified. Data collection forms were completed for included studies.

Outcomes

Changes in sensitivity to tactile and air-blast stimuli. A subjective assessment of sensitivity was also sought.

Conclusion

Data identified indicates a potential role for arginine-containing toothpastes in managing dentine hypersensitivity. However, this conclusion is based on small sample sizes and the studies identified did not follow patients up in the medium to long term. The authors recommend that there is a need for well-designed RCTs to be conducted prior to any definitive recommendations being made.

Clinical significance

Dentine hypersensitivity is a common condition. Its multi-factorial aetiology has led to several treatment modalities being advocated. The continued introduction of new desensitising agents suggests that no product has yet proven ultimately successful. Arginine-containing toothpastes have recently been introduced, this article systematically reviews the evidence relating to their effectiveness.     

Clinical manifestations and dental management of dentinogenesis imperfecta associated with osteogenesis imperfecta: Case report

Dentinogenesis imperfecta (DI) associated with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a genetic disorder that affects the connective tissues and results in dentine dysplasia. This case report discusses the systemic and dental manifestations of OI and DI in a 4-year-old child, with moderate presentation of both disorders, who was treated at King Fahd Military Medical Complex in Dhahran. Dental treatment included the use of strip and stainless-steel crowns under local anesthesia, as well as behavior modification techniques. Rigorous home care instructions, including reinforcement of the oral hygiene practice and avoidance of any episode that may lead to bone fracture, were discussed with the parents. The case was reevaluated at 3-month follow-up visits, wherein the medical and dental histories were updated, the child’s growth was monitored, periodic clinical and radiographic examinations were performed, and the oral hygiene was evaluated via the debris index score and caries risk assessment. Further treatment of the permanent dentition may be needed in the future.     

Oral health status in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Leukemia is a malignancy of the bone marrow. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common pediatric malignancy and accounts for nearly 75% of all newly diagnosed leukemias and 25% of all malignancies in childhood. The aim of the present study was to review the oral health status in children with ALL. Databases were explored using various combinations of the following keywords: "acute lymphoblastic leukemia", "children", "inflammation", "pediatric", "periodontal disease" and "periodontitis". Oral inflammatory conditions including chelitis, gingivitis, herpetic gingivostomatitis, mucositis, oral candidiasis, periodontitis and ulcerations are common manifestations in children with ALL. RESULTS: Periodontal inflammatory conditions and oral mucositis were reported to be significantly higher in children with ALL as compared to healthy controls. Tooth morphological disorders including agenesis, microdontia, short roots and developmental defects in the enamel and dentin were more often observed in children with ALL as compared to healthy controls. Children with ALL have a reduced salivary flow rate, which makes them more susceptible to dental caries as compared to healthy children. Malocclusion due to microdontia may also trigger temporomandibular joint disorders in children with ALL; however, this relationship needs further investigations. CONCLUSION: Oral inflammatory conditions including mucositis and gingivitis are common in children with ALL as compared to healthy children. Tooth morphological disorders including microdontia and enamel and dentin are common manifestations in children with ALL.     

A position anchor sinks the double-drift illusion

When the internal texture of a Gabor patch moves orthogonally to its envelope''s motion, the perceived path, viewed in the periphery, shifts dramatically in position, and direction relative to the true path (the double-drift illusion). Here, we examine positional uncertainty as a critical factor underlying this illusory shift. We presented participants with an anchoring line at different distances from the drifting Gabor''s physical path. Our results indicate that placing an anchor (a fixed line) close to the Gabor''s path halved the magnitude of the illusion. This suppression was symmetrical for anchors placed on either side of the Gabor. In a second experiment, we used crowding to degrade the anchoring line''s position information by embedding it in a set of parallel lines. In this case, despite the presence of the same lines that reduced the illusion when presented in isolation, the illusory shift was now largely restored. We suggest that the adjacent lines crowded each other, reducing their positional certainty, and thus their ability to anchor the location of the moving Gabor. These findings indicate that the positional uncertainty of the equiluminant Gabor patch is critical for the illusory position offset.     

The Aquilegia pubiflora (Himalayan columbine) mediated synthesis of nanoceria for diverse biomedical applications

Herein, we report an eco-friendly, facile, one-pot, green synthesis of nanoceria for multiple biomedical applications. In the study, cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO₂-NPs) were synthesized using a simple aqueous extract of Aquilegia pubiflora as an effective reducing and capping agent. The biosynthesized nanoparticles were characterized via UV-vis spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Raman spectroscopy. The NPs were highly stable, exhibited high purity, and had a spherical morphology and mean size of 28 nm. FTIR and HPLC studies confirmed the successful capping of bioactive compounds on the nanoparticles. The well-characterized NPs were evaluated for a number of biomedical applications, and their antimicrobial (antifungal, antibacterial, and antileishmanial), protein kinase inhibition, anticancer, antioxidant, anti-diabetic and biocompatibility properties were studied. Our results showed that the Aquilegia pubiflora mediated CeO₂-NPs were highly active against fungal strains, compared to the tested bacterial strains, with Aspergillus niger resulting in the largest zone of inhibition (15.1 ± 0.27 mm). The particles also exhibited dose dependent leishmanicidal activity with significant LC₅₀ values toward both the amastigote (114 μg mL⁻¹) and promastigote (97 μg mL⁻¹) forms of the parasite Leishmania tropica (KWH23). The NPs were found to be moderately active against the HepG2 cell line, showing 26.78% ± 1.16% inhibition at 200 μg mL⁻¹. Last but not least, their highly biocompatible nature was observed with respect to freshly isolated human red blood cells (hRBCs), making the greenly synthesized CeO₂-NPs a novel candidates for multidimensional medical applications.

Graphical illustration of eco-friendly, facile, one-pot, green synthesis of nanoceria for multiple biomedical applications.