MoO3 nanoplates reinforced the structural, electrical, mechanical, and antibacterial characteristics of polyvinyl pyrrolidone/sodium alginate polymer blend for optoelectronics and biological applications.

Organic/Inorganic nanostructures enable the development of new functional materials for optoelectronics and biological applications. In this work, nanocomposite films of polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) and sodium alginate (NaAlg) blend matrix (30/70 wt%) filled with molybdenum trioxide (MoO3) nanoplates were prepared using solution casting procedure. The effect of MoO3 nanoplates on structural, optical, electrical and antibacterial characteristics of pure PVP/NaAlg blend was investigated. The sizes of MoO3 nanoplates had dimensions between 90 and 420 nm with orthorhombic phase as indicated by the TEM and XRD techniques. Also, the XRD patterns of filled films suggested that the presence of crystalline phases of MoO3 within PVP/NaAlg matrix. FTIR analysis revealed the primary vibrational peaks of PVP and NaAlg, whose strength altered randomly after filling. The UV absorption increased gradually and shifted to the higher wavelength side. The alternating current (AC) conductivity and dielectric parameters were improved with increasing MoO3 concentration. The antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli increased with increase of MoO3 nanoplates concentration. The filled PVP/NaAlg-MoO3 samples displayed considerable enhancements in the values of Young's modulus (Y), tensile stress (σt) and elongation at break (εB). The obtained results imply that these nanocomposite films can be potentially used in optoelectronics and biological applications.

GC-MS and in vitro antibacterial potential of Cinnamomum camphora essential oil against some clinical antibiotic-resistant bacterial isolates.

OBJECTIVE: Antibiotic resistance is increasing alarmingly in all parts of the world. Cinnamomum camphora (Linn.) Presl (C. camphora) is one of the earliest herbal remedies still in use today in traditional medicine. This study aimed to analyze the component of C. camphora grown widely in Saudi Arabia (Qassim region) using GC-MS. Also, this study evaluates the in vitro antibacterial properties of C. camphora against certain clinical bacteria obtained from hospitals, including multi-drug resistant pathogens. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Leaves of C. camphora tree were collected and essential oil was extracted for this study. The extract was subjected to GC-MS analysis. Eight clinical antibiotic-resistant pathogens were used in this study for the following assays: antibiotics susceptibility assay, determination of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), determination of minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) and MIC index (MBC/MIC). RESULTS: The results show that the main components of the essential oil (EO) from the leaves of C. camphora were Eucalyptol. The EO had good antibacterial activity against eight clinical antibiotic-resistant pathogens, namely, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii (two strains), Klebsiella pneumonia (two strains), Escherichia coli (one strain), Staphylococcus aureus (two strains). CONCLUSIONS: These findings may lead to a more complete knowledge of this aromatic plant's antibacterial action against antibiotic-resistant pathogens (in vitro).

Newborn screening for certain treatable inborn errors of metabolism in Alexandria.

The study was conducted on two groups of newborn infants: Group A; a random sample of 3000 infants attending different Health offices in Alexandria for BCG vaccination. Their ages ranged from 5-120 days with a mean age of 39.9 days. Group B; included all the infants born to high risk families attending the clinic of Human Genetics Department, Medical Research Institute (9 infants; 7 with family history of PKU and 2 with family history of congenital hypothyroidism). Their ages ranged from 7 to 60 days with a mean age of 18 days. The newborn infants of the two groups were screened for three treatable inborn errors of metabolism, phenylketonuria "PKU", galactosemia and congenital hypothyroidism with the aim of early detection and therapy to prevent mental retardation. In group A; one baby with transient hyperphenylalaninemia (HPA) (0.33%) and one presumptive case of galactosemia (0.33%) were found. Initial positive results were found in eleven infants they had high levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). On reevaluation of nine infants of them they were all euthyroids. In Group B, four infants were detected among the infants of PKU families. After confirmation of these results breast feeding was stopped at once and the infants started their dietary management and were kept on it with follow up and periodic evaluation of the adequacy of treatment.

Comparisons of mesiodistal and buccolingual crown dimensions of the permanent teeth in three populations from Egypt, Mexico, and the United States.

The purpose of this study is to examine the mesiodistal and buccolingual crown dimensions in three populations--57 subjects (35 boys and 22 girls) from Iowa City, Iowa; 54 subjects (30 boys and 24 girls) from Alexandria, Egypt; and 60 subjects (26 boys and 34 girls) from Chihuahua, Mexico. All subjects had normal Class I occlusion, with no history of orthodontic treatment. Comparisons of single teeth as well as sums of groups of teeth were performed between boys and girls within and between the two populations. The analysis of variance general linear models procedure was used for statistical comparisons. The findings from this investigation indicated that (1) differences between antimeres are of small magnitude and of no statistical significance; (2) all populations have significant differences in tooth dimensions between the sexes with boys having larger canines and first molars; (3) there is greater variation in the buccolingual than in the mesiodistal dimensions among the three populations; (4) there is a greater similarity in tooth dimensions among the boys from the three populations than among the girls, but the magnitude of these differences is considered to be of little clinical significance; and (5) standards for the buccolingual diameters were developed for the three populations. As a result, it was concluded that prediction equations used for space analysis in the mixed dentition to determine tooth size-arch length discrepancies in the Iowa population can also be used for persons from Egypt and from the northern part of the Mexican Republic, with some suggested modifications.