ABSTRACT
Background: Honey bee venom is an important toxin which has various useful properties. Bee venom possesses various peptides including melittin, apamin, adolapamin and mast cell degranulating peptide. It appears to stimulate cortisone secretion, enhances antibody production, and affects cytokine production
Aim: The aim of the work is to study changes in levels of complement system proteins, C3 and C4, together with C-reactive proteins and rheumatoid factors [CRP and RF] in response to bee venom in subjects exposed naturally to sting with honey bee workers
Subjects and Methods: Subjects [12] were randomly selected from patients visiting El-Mostafa bee house, Elmarg, Cairo, Egypt; to get natural bee venom therapy for various diseases. Blood samples [24] were collected from these volunteers, before and after honey bee sting, at the laboratory of Egypt Air Hospital, Cairo, Egypt following the standard protocol. Serum levels of C3 and C4 were measured by radial immunodiffusion technique. CRP was quantitatively measured by in vitro diagnostic test using auto analyzer [Dimension® EXEL] clinical chemistry system. Serum RF was measured by Rapid latex agglutination test for qualitative screening
Result: After exposure of patients to bee sting: all abnormal levels of C3 returned to normal values while abnormal C4 levels did not change; Half of cases that were showing abnormal high CRP levels have dropped to normal levels and All RF positive cases have become negative
Conclusion: The complement system has been activated, in patients, by both classical and alternative pathways before treatment with bee venom where it became only classically activated after treatment. Improved values of both CRP and RF indicate reduction in the inflammatory immune response after exposure of patients to honey bee venom
ABSTRACT
The present study performed at evaluating the potency of methanol, acetone, chloroform and petroleum ether extracts of Lagenaria siceraria leaves against the 3rd instar larvae of the housefly, Musca domestica [Diptera: Muscidae] which consider as a diseases vector. The repellent efficacy of the prepared plant extracts against M. domestica adults was examined. All plant extracts showed a larvicidal activity against the 3rd instar larvae of M. domestica larvae; however, the petroleum ether extract was found that to be the more effective than chloroform, acetone and methanol extracts. The LC50 values of methanol, acetone, chloroform and petroleum ether extracts recorded 468.5, 432.1, 433.8 and 101.4ppm; respectively. As well, at the LC50 values of the tested extracts exhibited repellent activity against M. domestica adults. The effective plant extract that exhibited high antifeedant or repellency action was petroleum ether extract as compared to chloroform, acetone and methanol extracts. These results demonstrated that methanol, acetone, chloroform and petroleum ether extracts of L. siceraria leaves can be used as pest control even in their crude form. These results may provide an opportunity to develop alternatives to costly organic pesticides with some available cheap plants which are usually safe to the environment and to living organisms
ABSTRACT
A central goal in adhesive dentistry is to obtain a permanent intimate adaptation between cavity walls and restorative material. This in-vitro study was done to compare the interfacial adaptation of a densely-filled posterior resin composite in high C-factor class I cavities packed either manually or ultrasonically. The teeth were sectioned at the center buccolingually and examined under light microscope for quantitative assessment of interfacial adaptation. The results showed that ultrasonic packing resulted in better adaptation of Alert condensable composite resin than manual packing technique. Meanwhile, this difference was not statistically significantly different [P<0.05]. It was concluded that packing of densely filled resin composites in high C-factor cavities is essential to improve the interfacial adaptation. Moreover, ultrasonic packing of densely filled resin composite was not advantageous over manual packing technique. Dental clinician has to pay a great attention during handling and insertion of packable resin composite in high C-factor cavities, especially with deep and wide versions
ABSTRACT
This in-vitro study was done to evaluate the phototoxic effects [if any] of visible blue light emit-ted from quartz-tungsten-halogen [QTH] and light emitting diode [LED] light-curing units [LCDs] at clinically relevant durations and distances on Streptomyces microorganisms. Locally isolated Streptomyces and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus [MRSA] were selected for this study. Two commercially available visible blue light sources were used in the current study: Optilux 501 QTH and Ultra-Lume LED 5 dental LCDs. The study was designed used to test the ability of cultivated Streptomyces isolates to produce antibiotics after exposure to QTH and LED light sources for clinically relevant times [40, 80 and 120 seconds] at different distances [1,5 and 10 mm]. Extra discs of Streptomyces not exposed to light were served as control for comparison. LED and QTH LCUs [at 1 and 10 mm distances] showed negative results [no antibiotic inhibition zones] around Streptomyces isolate disks at different interacted exposure distances and durations similar to that of control group. Meanwhile, QTH light source at 5 mm distance showed positive results [production of inhibition zones] with the different tested exposure durations. Applying Tukey HSD Post-hoc multiple comparison test to this positive group, it was shown that, there was a statistical significant difference [P <0.5] between the mean values of inhibition zone diameter recorded at 40 and 80 seconds and also between those recorded at 80 and 120 seconds. Contrarily, there was no statistical significant difference [P <0.5] between the mean values of inhibition zone diameter recorded at 40 and 120 seconds. The results of the present study might be served as a break-through finding on both beneficial therapeutic and detrimental phototoxic effects of blue visible light emitted from dental LCUs
ABSTRACT
Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of a novel Microcid Etchant Gel [Saremco] on enamel-composite shear bond strength [SBS] as compared to a traditional 35% phosphoric acid etching gel [3M ESPE]. The etching patterns and elemental compositions of the tested enamel surfaces were also assessed using scanning electron microscopy [SEM] and energy dispersive X-ray [EDX] spectrometric analysis
Methods: The labial surfaces of human incisors were ground flat. The surface of each specimen was divided into two halves; the first half was etched using the traditional etchant white the other half was etched with the Microcid etchant. The SBMP[+] [3M] bonding system was applied and a specially constructed split mold and holder were used during resin composite [Z250, 3M] insertion
Results: On using t-test, there was no statistically significant difference between the recorded mean SBS values of the traditional [16.3+/-4.9] and the Microcid [14.5+/-3.9 MPa] etching gels groups [P>0.05]. Chi-squared [x[2]] analysis of failure modes revealed also no statistically significant difference between both groups [P>0.05]. In this study the tested etching gels resulted in different micromorphological changes at enamel surfaces. Qualitative comparison of the elemental profiles of both etched and control groups using EDX analysis showed no conspicuous variations
Conclusion: The utilization of the novel Microcid Etchant Gel with its advantagous Visual Etch Control concept for enamel etching did not provide unique characteristics encouraging its use as a traditional etchant substitute
ABSTRACT
Purpose: This study was to examine the bond strength of a resin composite restorative material to coronal and radicular dentine treated with two "all-in-one" bonding systems [Prompt-L-Pop [PL]; IBond [IB]]; in comparison to two and three steps bonding systems [Single Bond [SB]; Scotchbond Multipurpose Plus [SBMP+]]. SEM was used to examine the tooth-restoration interface [hybrid layers and resin tags]
Methods: Sixty human mandibular premolars were selected for this study. The proximal surface of each mounted tooth was ground hat exposing underline dentine. The prepared teeth were randomly assigned into the proposed four groups [10 teeth each]. Each evaluated bonding system was applied on the coronal and radicular dentine for each test sample then the composite was applied using a split molds with two close circular holes [2 X 2.5mm each]. Samples were tested in shear in an Instron at a cross-head speed of 0.5mm/min. After that, the mode of failure was identified. For each group, five representative samples were prepared for SEM
Results: In general, the SBS values of all tested groups to coronal dentine were higher than the corresponding radicular ones except with PL. ANOVA test revealed statistically significant difference [P
Conclusions: "All-in-one" bonding systems have compromised bonding potentials not only to coronal but also to radicular dentine. Moreover; there is no correlation between the resin tags infiltration or hybrid layer thickness, and the SBS values