35 research outputs found
Impact of thumb sucking on salivary melatonin, Candida albicans, and dental caries in children
No full textIntroduction: Salivary melatonin is a critical antioxidant that contributes to oral health by mitigating oxidative stress. Psychological stress linked to thumb sucking may disrupt oral homeostasis, leading to conditions such as dental caries and fungal infections. Aim: This study explores the relationships between thumb sucking, salivary melatonin levels, dental caries, and the presence of Candida albicans (CA) in children. Materials and methods: A case-control study was conducted with 60 children aged 4-5 years at the University of Baghdad’s College of Dentistry. Participants were divided into thumb-sucking (n=30) and non-thumb-sucking (n=30) groups. Salivary melatonin levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), dental caries were assessed via the dmfs index, and CA counts were quantified on Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA). Statistical analyses were performed, including t-tests, ANOVA, and correlation assessments. Results: Thumb-sucking children exhibited significantly lower salivary melatonin levels (28.620±2.278 pg/mL) compared to controls (34.525±2.142 pg/mL; p=0.044). The thumb-sucking group also had higher dmfs scores (15.033±1.449 vs. 8.667±0.899; p=0.000) and greater CA counts (18.900±1.048 vs. 13.583±0.549; p=0.000). Negative correlations were observed between salivary melatonin levels and the severity of dental caries, while positive correlations linked CA with dental caries. Conclusions: Thumb sucking adversely affects pediatric oral health by reducing salivary melatonin, increasing dental caries risk, and promoting fungal overgrowth. Early intervention to curb thumb-sucking behaviors may mitigate these risks and improve oral health outcomes
Effect of perinatal outcomes on the stage of primary dentition eruption
No full textBackground/Aim: Understanding how perinatal outcome variations affect dentition eruption can lead to healthcare providers monitoring and managing dental health in infants and children. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of gestational age, mode of delivery and birth weight on the stage of primary dentition eruption in children. Methods: A sample of 304 children aged 6-24 months from Baghdad City was studied. Information about gestational age, delivery method (vaginal vs Caesarean) and birth weight were evaluated through a parent-answered sheet. The stage of dental eruption was estimated based on the criteria established by Damodar P Swami. Statistical and descriptive analyses were utilised to compare the dental eruption stages across different groups. Results: Most of the study population (62.8 %) exhibited eruption stage 3 and statistical analysis revealed no significant differences in eruption stage when compared across variable groups, including gestational age, delivery method and birth weight. Conclusion: Results indicate the possible early effects of birth weight during eruption of deciduous teeth in young infants (6-11 months). This potential effect appears to decrease with age and was not statistically significant in older age. In contrast, gestational age and mode of delivery showed no significant effects on the stage of deciduous teeth eruption. These results provide valuable insights to paediatric dentists
Comparison of Immunoglobulin IgA Level in the Stimulated Saliva of Caries-Free and Caries-Active Children Aged 7-10 Years
No full textBackground: Salivary immunoglobulin IgA plays an essential role in the immune response against dental caries. This studywas conducted to compare the salivary IgA levels and flow rate of stimulated saliva in caries active and caries free children.
Materials and methods: The present study included sixty healthy children age 7-10 yearswho were divided into two groups. They were caries free and caries active children (30 children in each group). Assessment and recording of caries – experience were through the application of Decayed, Missing and Filled Tooth Index (DMFT) and (dmft) index, for permanent and deciduous teeth respectively. After dental examination, stimulated saliva samples were collected from the subjects and performed under standard condition following instruction cited by Tenovuo and Lagerlof, and chemically analyzed for the detection of salivary immunoglobulin (IgA).In addition, salivary flow rate for the children were evaluated. Data was then statistically analyzed using SPSSversion 18.
Results: Salivary IgA levels were significantly higher in caries free children than caries active children and the flow rate were lower in caries active children in both gender as compared to caries free children.
Conclusions: Within the limitation of this study, it can be concluded that that the flow rate and salivary IgA levels of the whole stimulated saliva have some role in protection against dental caries
Statelessness and Tribal Identity on Lebanon's Eastern Borders
No full textLebanon's eastern borders are a particularly understudied region of the country. This area is home to a number of refugee communities (Palestinian and Armenian) as well as recently settled and displaced Bedouin from the June 1967 war. This tribal community is both invisible in some regards and prominent in others. Barred from citizenship for many years, the Bedouin community is increasingly playing an active role in Lebanon's political scene while maintaining its cross-border connections transcending the nation-state. This paper examines the multi-layered Bedouin identities in the context of Lebanon's varied citizenship categories. It assesses the significance of cross-border attachments as well as recent developments in local, national and regional politics. © 2013 © 2013 Taylor and Francis.Barth F., 1969, ETHNIC GROUPS AND BO; Burckhardt J., 1822, TRAVELS IN SYRIA AND; Chatty D., 1978, WOMEN IN THE MUSLIM; CHATTY D, 1977, ETHNOLOGY, V16, P385, DOI 10.2307-3773263; Chatty D., 1986, FROM CAMEL TO TRUCK; Chatty D., 2006, NOMADIC SOCIETIES IN; Cole DP, 2003, ANTHROPOL QUART, V76, P235, DOI 10.1353-anq.2003.0021; Diab A., 2008, INTIFDAT AL ASHAIR S; Donnan H., 1999, BORDERS FRONTIERS OF; Gupta S., 1992, CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOG, V7, P6; HAJ S, 1991, SOC HIST, V16, P45, DOI 10.1080-03071029108567788; Hopwood D., 1988, SYRIA 1945 1986 POLI; Horsman M., 1995, AFTER THE NATION STA; Thomas M, 2003, J CONTEMP HIST, V38, P539, DOI 10.1177-00220094030384002; Von Oppenheimer M., 1939, DIE BEDUINEN, V10
Structural adjustment in Egypt : the case of agriculture
No full textThis thesis assesses the appropriateness and effectiveness of the economic reform and structural adjustment programme adopted by Egypt in 1991. It also examines the main political and economic constraints of such policies. It argues that it is unlikely to provide sustainable or equitable growth. It also argues that privatisation
programmes in Egypt have a limited effect on improving levels of investment and growth. It stresses the need to encourage new investment to increase the productive
capacity of the Egyptian economy in order to generate sustainable growth. The thesis examines in particular, economic reforms in the agricultural sector. It focuses
on assessing price reforms so as to enquire how evenly distributed the benefits have been among farmers with different sizes of land holding. Those with big farms are
likely to gain more while very small farmers and the landless are likely to lose. Within agriculture the thesis assesses the impact of structural adjustment on Egypt's
agribusiness community. This sector is economically fragmented, has limited effectiveness and is politically weak regarding its participation and its influence on
economic policy. The thesis argues that the success Df this sector is based on the availability of a strong and effective state to provide the legal and regulatory.
infrastructure needed for an effective market economy, to abolish administrative obstacles and to enhance investors' credibility. In short, the thesis maintains that sustaining the economic reform is based on reviving productive investments and enhancing state capacity and democratisation
Talon cusp affecting primary dentition in two siblings: a case report
No full textThe term talon cusp refers to a rare developmental dental anomaly characterized by a cusp-like structure projecting from the cingulum area or cement-enamel junction. This condition can occur in the maxillary and mandibular arches of the primary and permanent dentitions. The purpose of this paper is to report on the presence of talon cusps in the primary dentition of two southern Chinese siblings. The 4 years and 2 months old girl had a talon cusp on her maxillary right primary central incisor, while her 2 years and 9 months old brother had bilateral talon cusps on the maxillary primary central incisors. The presence of this rare dental anomaly in two siblings has scarcely been reported in the literature and this may provide further evidence of a hereditary etiology.Article Link:
http://www.rjme.ro/RJME/resources/files/540113211213.pd
Fabrication and In Vitro/In Vivo Appraisal of Metronidazole Intra-Gastric Buoyant Sustained-Release Tablets in Healthy Volunteers
No full textHelicobacter pylori is thought to be the most common cause of peptic and duodenal ulcers. Eradication of this organism is now considered one of the lines of treatment of gastric and duodenal ulcers. This can be achieved via local delivery of antibacterial agents in high concentrations. Accordingly, our objective was to fabricate and evaluate sustained release floating tablets for metronidazole to extend the gastric residence period and control the release rate of metronidazole. Floating tablets containing cellulose derivatives and Avicel were prepared using direct compression. The rate of metronidazole release from the floating tablets (K = 6.278 mg min−1/2) was significantly lower than that from conventional tablets (K = 10.666 mg min−1/2), indicating sustained drug release, according to the Higuchi model, for more than 6 h in an acidic medium of 0.1 N HCl. In vivo study in healthy volunteers revealed significantly improved bioavailability; increased Tmax, AUC, and MRT; and significantly lower absorption rate constant after a single oral dose of 150 mg metronidazole as floating tablets. In addition, the significant increase in MRT indicated an in vivo sustained drug release. The floating tablets provided several benefits, including ease of preparation, absence of effervescent ingredients, and reliance on a pH-independent gel-forming agent to deliver metronidazole in a sustained manner. In conclusion, the prepared tablets could be promising for enhancing both local and systemic metronidazole efficacy
Evaluating a community based participatory approach to research with disadvantaged women in the southern suburbs of Beirut
No full textThis manuscript presents the evaluation of a 3 year community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach involving the testing of a psychosocial intervention to improve reproductive and mental health of married women in a disadvantaged community in Beirut, Lebanon. The community-based participatory approach involved a community advisory committee (CAC), a local women committee (LWC), and university researchers. The evaluation of the CBPR approach followed qualitative assessment which included: analysis of compiled field notes and minutes of meetings of CAC and LWC throughout the 3 years of the intervention, and focus group discussions and individual interviews conducted with the CAC and the LWC members following completion of the trial. The CBPR approach confirmed feasibility, cultural adequacy, as well as representation of community needs. Five main emerging themes came out of the FGD and interviews with CAC and LWC. The community and women involved viewed that the CBPR approach allowed for a good understanding of the community, they felt ownership of the study, acknowledged that participation gave the women voices, and established trust, and acknowledged the challenges faced. This manuscript describes how the community was involved, reports on their evaluation of the CBPR process, and discusses challenges to CBPR in this particular context. © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2011.El-Kak F, 2009, INT J GYNECOL OBSTET, V104, P60, DOI 10.1016-j.ijgo.2008.09.006; Israel A., 1998, ANNU REV PUBL HEALTH, V19, P173; Kaddour A, 2005, REPROD HEALTH MATTER, V13, P34, DOI 10.1016-S0968-8080(05)25170-4; Leung MW, 2004, INT J EPIDEMIOL, V33, P499, DOI 10.1093-ije-dyh010; Makhoul J, 2003, PHYS SOCIAL CO UNPUB; Viswanathan M, 2004, EVIDENCE REPORTS TEC; Washington OGM, 2009, CONTEMP NURSE, V33, P140; Zurayk Huda, 2007, Health Care Women Int, V28, P614, DOI 10.1080-0739933070146201722
Candidemia and its risk factors in neonates and children
No full textObjectives: The present study was conducted to raise attention to the frequency of Candida spp. and evaluation of risk factors of candidemia in hospitalized neonates and children. Methods: Identification of Candida at species level was done using the PCR-RFLP method. The Candida albicans complex and Candida parapsilosis complex were differentiated using the HWP1 gene amplification and PCR-RFLP with NlaIII restriction enzyme, respectively. Results: Out of 75 blood culture specimens, 42 (84) cases were positive for Candida spp. of whom 30 (71.42) and 12 (28.57) cases were female and male, respectively. Thirty-two (76) candidemia were presented in pediatrics with 6 years up to 12 years, 10 (23.80) in neonates of one month or less. In the present study, Candida parapsilosis (n =25; 59.52) was the most prevalent isolated species followed by C. albicans (n =11; 26.19), C. tropicalis (n =4; 9.52), and Candida glabrata (n =2; 4.76). Conclusions: According to potentially dangerous complications of bloodstream infection by Candida spp. in neonates and children, it is necessary to identify and eliminate the underlying conditions and risk factors of this disease. © 2020, Author(s)
Integrating Microbiome Analysis, Metabolomics, Bioinformatics, and Histopathology to Elucidate the Protective Effects of Pomegranate Juice against Benzo-alpha-pyrene-Induced Colon Pathologies
No full textPolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, e.g., benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), are common dietary pollutants with potential carcinogenic activity, while polyphenols are potential chemopreventive antioxidants. Although several health benefits are attributed to polyphenol-rich pomegranate, little is known about its interaction with BaP. This study integrates histochemical, microbiomic, and metabolomic approaches to investigate the protective effects of pomegranate juice from BaP-induced pathologies. To this end, 48 Sprague–Dawley rats received, for four weeks, either pomegranate, BaP, both, or neither (n = 12 rats per group). Whereas histochemical examination of the colon indicated tissue damage marked by mucin depletion in BaP-fed animals, which was partially restored by administration of pomegranate juice, the fecal microbiome and metabolome retained their resilience, except for key changes related to pomegranate and BaP biotransformation. Meanwhile, dramatic microbiome restructuring and metabolome shift were observed as a consequence of the elapsed time (age factor). Additionally, the analysis allowed a thorough examination of fecal microbiome–metabolome associations, which delineated six microbiome clusters (marked by a differential abundance of Lactobacillaceae and Prevotellaceae, Rumincococcaceae, and Erysipelotrichaceae) and two major metabolome clusters (a sugar- and amino-acids-dominated metabotype vs. a cluster of fatty acids and hydrocarbons), with sugar alcohols maintaining a unique signature. In conclusion, using paired comparisons to minimize inter-individual animal variations allowed the dissection of temporal vs. treatment-derived variations. Microbiome–metabolome association clusters may be further exploited for metabotype prediction and gut-health biomarker discovery
