Comparison of the antibacterial effect of sodium hypochlorite and aloe Vera solutions as root canal irrigants in human extracted teeth contaminated with enterococcus faecalis

Statement of Problem: The main purpose of a root canal treatment is to eliminate the bacteria and their products from the pulp space. Sodium hypochlorite has excellent antibacterial properties but also some negative features

Purpose: The aim of the present study is to compare the antimicrobial effect of Aloe Vera solution with sodium hypochlorite on E.faecalis in the root canals of human extracted teeth

Materials and Method: Sixty human extracted single rooted teeth were selected for this in vitro study. Only teeth without conditions such as cracks, internal resorption, external resorption and calcification were included in the study. Enterococcus faecalis was injected in the root canals of all teeth. The teeth were then divided into three groups randomly. Each group consisted of 20 teeth that were all rinsed with one of the following solutions: sodium hypochlorite 2.5%, Aloe vera and normal saline. Subsequent to rinsing, root canals of all teeth were sampled. The samples were cultured and growth of the bacteria was assessed after 48 hours. The number colonies of the bacteria were then counted

Results: The difference between the inhibitory effect of Aloe vera and normal saline on E.faecalis was not significant according to independent T-test [p= 0.966]. The inhibitory effect of sodium hypochlorite on E.faecalis was much greater than that of Aloe vera and normal saline [p< 0.001]

Conclusion: Aloe vera solution is not recommended as a root canal irrigator but it is suggested for the future studies to investigate the antibacterial effect of Aloe vera for longer durations and as an intracanal medicament

[ study of seroprevalence of human cytomegalovirus in healthy blood donors referring to Fars blood bank]

Human cytomegalovirus [HCMV] infection is most often asymptomatic in immuno-competent individuals and has lifelong latency especially in leukocytes. However, CMV is a major cause of infection and death in immune-compromised patients. Transfusion transmitted HCMV [TT-HCMV] can cause serious morbidity and mortality in certain patients who are at risk. In this study, we evaluated the risk of TT-HCMV infection in a seroprevalence survey of HCMV. In this descriptive cross-sectional study that was performed in a period of eight months, the blood samples were collected from 360 healthy blood donors referring to the Fars blood bank in Shiraz, Iran. The IgG and IgM antibodies to HCMV were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA] test. Of 360 samples, IgG was detected in 356 sera [98.9%] samples and only 16 samples [4.4%] were IgM positive. No statistically significant association was observed between seropostivity rate, age, sex, number of children and educational level in the studied population, The high prevalence of HCMV observed in this study confirms the necessity of diagnosis, prevention and treatment of HCMV infection in immune-compromised blood recipients in our community

[Cataract etiology in children less than 3 years of age at Khalili hospital, Shiraz-Iran]

To evaluate the etiology of cataracts in children less than 3 years of age particularly the association of rubella virus infection and galactosuria with congenital cataracts at Khalili Hospital, Shiraz-Iran from 2003 to 2006. This prospective study included 46 patients less than 3 years undergoing lensectomy for the management of significant cataracts. Lens aspirate specimens were obtained from some cases. Serum samples for detection of anti-rubella IgM and IgG antibodies and urine samples for detection of galactose were also obtained. Out of 46 patients, 78.3% had congenital cataracts and 21.7% had traumatic cataracts. Patients with congenital cataracts were male in 45% and female in 55% with mean age of 5.12 +/- 5.23 months at the time of diagnosis. In the congenital cataract group, 2.8% had history of failure to thrive and 16.7% had low birth weight; 80.6% had bilateral and 19.4% had unilateral cataracts; 77.8% had isolated cataracts, 16.7% were associated with other ocular disorders and 5.6% were associated with systemic diseases; 11.1% had family history of congenital cataracts and 10.5% had galactosuria. Rubella virus was isolated from one [5.3%] of 19 cultured lens aspirates. No cases had anti-rubella IgM antibody. Congenital cataract is the most common type of cataracts in children under age 3 years in our area and most of them are idiopathic. The prevalence of rubella induced cataract in our country is less than developing countries but more than developed countries

Effects of sedium valproate on the replication of herpes simplex virus type 1: an in vitro study

Sodium valproate, an anticonvulsant drug, is reported to stimulate Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 and Human cytomegalovirus replication. Since epileptic patients undergoing sodium valproate therapy may suffer from various virus infections, the effect of this drug on replication of viruses especially those affecting neuronal tissues such as Herpes simplex virus type 1 is worthy of investigation. Viral replication was studied by quantal response method. Electron microscopy was also performed on cell monolayers treated with the drug and infected with the virus. Significant reduction in viral infectivity was observed in cell cultures exposed to 0.5-2 mM of sodium valproate either one hr before or after infection. The corresponding electron microscopic examination revealed a very few intracytoplasmic enveloped virions and a marked reduction in the number of intracytoplasmic nucleocapsids in drug-treated virus infected cells compared with those of infected control. However, significant stimulation of virus replication was found upon treatment of cells with 1 mM [p<0.01] and 2 mM [p<0.001] of the drug 24 hours prior to infection. No remarkable change was seen in corresponding electron micrographs. Although the ultimate outcome of this study awaits in vivo assessments, possible stimulation of Herpes simplex virus type 1 replication by sodium valproate should be considered by clinicians prescribing this drug

Sodium valproate-induced potentiation of antiherpetic effect of acyclovir

Sodium valproate [VPA], an anticonvalsant drug, has been reported to stimulate viral replication. A combination therapy with VPA and acyclovir [ACV] is used for the treatment of herpesvirus encephalitis, the commonest sporadic encephalitis of viral origin. To determine a possible interaction between VPA and ACV leading to a modification of antiviral activity of ACV. Cultured Hela cells were treated with 5 micro M of ACV and various concentrations of VPA followed by infection with herpes simplex virus type 1 [HSV-1]. Virus replication was monitored by quantal assay. Further investigations comprised electron microscopy, immunoperoxidase and immunoblot procedures. Possible chemical interaction between VPA and ACV was studied by nuclear magnetic resonance [NMR] spectrometer. Combined treatment of infected cells with ACV and VPA revealed 50- to 250-fold potentiation of antiviral activity of ACV by increasing VPA concentrations. Examination by NMR spectrometer showed a strong chemical interaction between amino groups of ACV and carboxyl part of VPA. The present in vitro studies should be paralleled by appropriate in vivo investigations, and if substantiated, a combination therapy with ACV and VPA may supersede single ACV therapy for herpesvirus encephalitis. Further studies are thus needed to establish which of VPA metabolites or newly-formed compounds is accountable for augmentation of antiviral effect of ACV