Multiplex PCR-based genotyping of Salmonella Enteritidis and Salmonella Typhimurium from food sources and assessment of their antimicrobial resistance profiles in Egypt.

BACKGROUND: Salmonellosis is a widespread zoonotic disease that poses a significant threat to livestock and public health. This study aimed to serotype 20 Salmonella isolates obtained from sixty retail chicken meats, assess Salmonella contamination from eggs, and evaluate antibiotic resistance profiles. METHODS AND RESULTS: Twenty eggs were randomly collected in the new Borg El Arab market. Bacterial isolation was carried out utilizing both traditional culture, biochemical, and PCR methods. Among the twenty eggs analyzed, three (15%) tested positive for Salmonella, while the remaining seventeen (85%) were confirmed as negative. Genotyping through multiplex PCR revealed the presence of two S. Enteritidis and other serovar, with the use of three specific gene sets: a random sequence for Salmonella spp., sdfI gene for S. Enteritidis, and flagellin (fliC gene) for S. Typhimurium. Out of the 20 isolates obtained from chicken meat, five (25%) were identified as S. Typhimurium, and three (15%) were classified as S. Enteritidis. All isolates sourced from chicken meat exhibited resistance to Rifampicin and Amoxicillin, with 90% displaying sensitivity to cefotaxime, gemifloxacin, and Erythromycin. Importantly, S. Blegdam, identified via serological methods, displayed resistance to all tested antibiotics. For the three isolates obtained from eggs, 66.6% showed sensitivity to cefotaxime, erythromycin, cefuraxime, and cefaclor, while displaying complete resistance (100%) to Amoxicillin, rifampicin, clarithromycin, and cefadroxil. Notably, one serovar exhibited absolute resistance to all tested drugs. CONCLUSION: Stakeholders must implement strict control measures and rationalize antibiotic use in veterinary and human medicine due to the rise of antibiotic-resistant strains.

Toxicity of bisphenol A and p-nitrophenol on tomato plants: Morpho-physiological, ionomic profile, and antioxidants/defense-related gene expression studies.

Bisphenol A (BPA) and p-nitrophenol (PNP) are emerging contaminants of soils due to their wide presence in agricultural and industrial products. Thus, the present study aimed to integrate morpho-physiological, ionic homeostasis, and defense- and antioxidant-related genes in the response of tomato plants to BPA or PNP stress, an area of research that has been scarcely studied. In this work, increasing the levels of BPA and PNP in the soil intensified their drastic effects on the biomass and photosynthetic pigments of tomato plants. Moreover, BPA and PNP induced osmotic stress on tomato plants by reducing soluble sugars and soluble proteins relative to control. The soil contamination with BPA and PNP treatments caused a decline in the levels of macro- and micro-elements in the foliar tissues of tomatoes while simultaneously increasing the contents of non-essential micronutrients. The Fourier transform infrared analysis of the active components in tomato leaves revealed that BPA influenced the presence of certain functional groups, resulting in the absence of some functional groups, while on PNP treatment, there was a shift observed in certain functional groups compared to the control. At the molecular level, BPA and PNP induced an increase in the gene expression of polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase, with the exception of POD gene expression under BPA stress. The expression of the thaumatin-like protein gene increased at the highest level of PNP and a moderate level of BPA without any significant effect of both pollutants on the expression of the tubulin (TUB) gene. The comprehensive analysis of biochemical responses in tomato plants subjected to BPA and PNP stress illustrates valuable insights into the mechanisms underlying tolerance to these pollutants.

Genome-Wide Association Study of Rice Diversity Panel Reveals New QTLs for Tolerance to Water Deficit Under the Egyptian Conditions.

Drought has a significant impact on rice yield by restricting the crop's ability to grow and develop. Producing rice cultivars adapted to water deficit conditions is still the main interest of rice breeders and geneticists. To address this challenge, a set of 413 highly diverse rice populations were evaluated under normal and water deficit conditions for two growing seasons of 2021 and 2022. High genetic variation was found among genotypes for all studied traits. The heritability estimates ranged from 0.82 (panicle length) to 0.95 (plant height). Sterility percentage (SET%) was the most trait affected by water deficit in two growing seasons. 22 Rice genotypes were classified as drought tolerant in both years. Genome-wide association mapping was performed for all traits in the two growing seasons under both conditions using a total of 700,000 SNPs. The GWAS results revealed important and major SNPs associated with all traits. 26 Significant SNPs with stable allele effects were found to be associated with yield traits under water deficit conditions in both years. The results of this study provided rice genotypes that can be adapted under water deficit conditions and important stable SNP markers that can be used for marker-assisted selection after validation in different genetic backgrounds.

Biodegradation of polystyrene nanoplastics by Achromobacter xylosoxidans M9 offers a mealworm gut-derived solution for plastic pollution.

Nanoplastics pose significant environmental problems due to their high mobility and increased toxicity. These particles can cause infertility and inflammation in aquatic organisms, disrupt microbial signaling and act as pollutants carrier. Despite extensive studies on their harmful impact on living organisms, the microbial degradation of nanoplastics is still under research. This study investigated the degradation of nanoplastics by isolating bacteria from the gut microbiome of Tenebrio molitor larvae fed various plastic diets. Five bacterial strains capable of degrading polystyrene were identified, with Achromobacter xylosoxidans M9 showing significant nanoplastic degradation abilities. Within 6 days, this strain reduced nanoplastic particle size by 92.3%, as confirmed by SEM and TEM analyses, and altered the chemical composition of the nanoplastics, indicating a potential for enhanced bioremediation strategies. The strain also caused a 7% weight loss in polystyrene film over 30 days, demonstrating its efficiency in degrading nanoplastics faster than polystyrene film. These findings might enhance plastic bioremediation strategies.

Targeted therapies for breast and lung cancers by using Propolis loaded albumin protein nanoparticles.

BACKGROUND: Cancer is a popular disease among many others that can threaten human life. This is not only because of its invasiveness but also because of its resistance and the highly effective cost of its treatments. Propolis is rich in natural bioactive and polyphenolic compounds that have proven their strong effect on cancer cells such as MCF-7 and A549 cell lines. METHODS: Propolis extract was immobilized into the bovine serum albumin (BSA) conjugated to folic acid (FA), to increase control of its delivery and to strengthen its cellular uptake. RESULTS: The growth of MCF-7 was significantly decreased by propolis extract and BSA-propolis NPs after their incubation for 48 and 72 h by (54 ± 0.01 %, and 45 ± 0.005 %, P ≤ 0.001) and (20 ± 0.01 % and 10 ± 0.005 %, P ≤ 0.0001), respectively. Similarly, there is a significant inhibition in the growth of A549 obtained after their incubation with (propolis extract and albumin-propolis NPs) for 72 h (15 ± 0.03 % and 5 ± 0.01 %, P ≤ 0.00001). Propolis extract and BSA-propolis NPs exhibited a greater effect on protein expression of MCF-7 and A549, showing significant modulation of caspase-3, cyclin D1, and light chain 3 (LC3II). The result was supported by nuclear fragmentations and activation of acidic/neutral autophagosomes in acridine orange/ethidium bromide (AO/EB) and 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) nuclear stains. According to this study, the expression of phospho-GSK3ß (Ser9) (p < 0.001) increased significantly in MCF-7 and A549 cells after their exposure to propolis extract and BSA-propolis NPs. CONCLUSION: Results support the potency application of propolis and its encapsulation as an alternative therapeutic agent for cancer treatments instead of chemotherapies because of its action on multi-signaling pathways.

Dual phytoremediation and biochar production by Eichhornia crassipes in hydroponic system receiving different 1,4-dioxane dosages.

This study focuses on applying phytoremediation as a low-effective and simple process to treat wastewater laden with 1,4 dioxane (DIOX). A floating macrophyte (Eichhornia crassipes) was cultivated under hydroponic conditions (relative humidity 50-67%, photoperiod cycle 18:6 h light/dark, and 28-33 °C) and subjected to different DIOX loads between 0.0 (control) and 11.5 mg/g fresh mass (FM). The aquatic plant achieved DIOX and chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiencies of 76-96% and 67-94%, respectively, within 15 days. E. crassipes could tolerate elevated DIOX-associated stresses until a dose of 8.2 mg DIOX/g, which highly influenced the oxidative defense system. Malondialdehyde (MDA) content, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and total phenolic compounds (TPC) increased by 7.3, 8.4, and 4.5-times, respectively, in response to operating the phytoremediation unit at a DIOX load of 11.5 mg/g. The associated succulent value, proteins, chlorophyll-a, chlorophyll-b, and pigments dropped by 39.6%, 45.8%, 51.5%, 80.8%, and 55.5%, respectively. The suggested removal mechanism of DIOX by E. crassipes could be uptake followed by phytovolatilization, whereas direct photodegradation from sunlight contributed to about 19.36% of the total DIOX removal efficiencies. Recycling the exhausted E. crassipes for biochar production was a cost-efficient strategy, making the payback period of the phytoremediation project equals to 6.96 yr.

Eichhornia crassipes could be used in phytoremediation of 1,4 dioxane (DIOX)-laden water at DIOX load< 8.2 mg/g FM. E. crassipes removed 77­97% DIOX via uptake and phytovolatilization. Recycling exhausted-plant to produce biochar was cost-efficient with 7 yr-payback period.

Impacts of kinetin implementation on leaves, floral and root-related traits during seed production in hybrid rice under water deficiency.

BACKGROUND: Water deficit is one of the most significant abiotic factors affecting rice and agricultural production worldwide. In hybrid rice, cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) is an important technique for creating high-yielding crop based on heterosis. The phytohormone kinetin (Kin) regulates cell division in plant during the early stages of grain formation, as well as flow assimilation and osmotic regulation under water stress. The present study performed to estimate the effects of irrigation intervals (irrigation each six days (I6), nine days (I9), twelve days (I12) and fifteen days (I15) against continuous flooding (CF, each three days)) and kinetin exogenously application (control, 15 mg L-1 and 30 mg L-1) on hybrid rice (L1, IR69625A; L2, G46A and R, Giza 178 R) seed production. RESULTS: Leaves traits (Chlorophyll content (CHC), relative water content (RWC), stomatal conductance (SC), Leaf temperature (LT) and transpiration rate (TR)), floral traits such as style length (SL) and total stigma length (TSL), in addition to root traits (i.e., root length (RL), root volume (RV), root: shoot ratio (RSR), root thickness (RT), root xylem vessels number (RXVN) and root xylem vessel area (RXVA) were evaluated and a significant enhancement in most traits was observed. Applying 30 mg L-1 kinetin significantly and positively enhanced all growth, floral and roots traits (RV and RXVA recorded the most increased values by 14.8% and 23.9%, respectively) under prolonging irrigation intervals, in comparison to non-treated plants. CONCLUSIONS: Subsequently, spraying kinetin exogenously on foliar could be an alternative method to reduce the harmful influences of water deficiency during seed production in hybrid rice.

Molecular docking appraisal of Dysphania ambrosioides phytochemicals as potential inhibitor of a key triple-negative breast cancer driver gene.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a lethal and aggressive breast cancer subtype. It is characterized by the deficient expression of the three main receptors implicated in breast cancers, making it unresponsive to hormone therapy. Hence, an existing need to develop a targeted molecular therapy for TNBC. The PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway mediates critical cellular processes, including cell proliferation, survival, and angiogenesis. It is activated in approximately 10-21% of TNBCs, emphasizing the importance of this intracellular target in TNBC treatment. AKT is a prominent driver of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, validating it as a promising therapeutic target. Dysphania ambrosioides is an important ingredient of Nigeria's traditional herbal recipe for cancer treatment. Thus, our present study explores its anticancer properties through a structure-based virtual screening of 25 biologically active compounds domiciled in the plant. Interestingly, our molecular docking study identified several potent inhibitors of AKT 1 and 2 isoforms from D. ambrosioides. However, cynaroside and epicatechin gallate having a binding energy of - 9.9 and - 10.2 kcal/mol for AKT 1 and 2, respectively, demonstrate considerable drug-likeness than the reference drug (capivasertib), whose respective binding strengths for AKT 1 and 2 are - 9.5 and - 8.4 kcal/mol. Lastly, the molecular dynamics simulation experiment showed that the simulated complex systems of the best hits exhibit structural stability throughout the 50 ns run. Together, our computational modeling analysis suggests that these compounds could emerge as efficacious drug candidates in the treatment of TNBC. Nevertheless, further experimental, translational, and clinical research is required to establish an empirical clinical application. Graphical Abstract: A structure-based virtual screening and simulation of Dysphania ambrosioides phytochemicals in the active pocket of AKT 1 and 2 isoforms.

Exploring Genetics by Environment Interactions in Some Rice Genotypes across Varied Environmental Conditions.

Rice production faces challenges related to diverse climate change processes. Heat stress combined with low humidity, water scarcity, and salinity are the foremost threats in its cultivation. The present investigation aimed at identifying the most resilient rice genotypes with yield stability to cope with the current waves of climate change. A total of 34 rice genotypes were exposed to multilocation trials. These locations had different environmental conditions, mainly normal, heat stress with low humidity, and salinity-affected soils. The genotypes were assessed for their yield stability under these conditions. The newly developed metan package of R-studio was employed to perform additive main effects and multiplicative interactions modelling and genotype-by-environment modelling. The results indicated that there were highly significant differences among the tested genotypes and environments. The main effects of the environments accounted for the largest portion of the total yield sum of squared deviations, while different sets of genotypes showed good performance in different environments. AMMI1 and GGE biplots confirmed that Giza179 was the highest-yielding genotype, whereas Giza178 was considered the most-adopted and highest-yielding genotype across environments. These findings were further confirmed by the which-won-where analysis, which explained that Giza178 has the greatest adaptability to the different climatic conditions under study. While Giza179 was the best under normal environments, N22 recorded the uppermost values under heat stress coupled with low humidity, and GZ1968-S-5-4 manifested superior performance regarding salinity-affected soils. Giza 177 was implicated regarding harsh environments. The mean vs. stability-based rankings indicated that the highest-ranked genotypes were Giza179 > Giza178 > IET1444 > IR65600-77 > GZ1968-S-5-4 > N22 > IR11L236 > IR12G3213. Among them, Giza178, IR65600-77, and IR12G3213 were the most stable genotypes. Furthermore, these results were confirmed by cluster-analysis-based stability indices. A significant and positive correlation was detected between the overall yield under all the environments with panicle length, number of panicles per plant, and thousand grain weight. Our study sheds light on the notion that the Indica/Japonica and Indica types have greater stability potential over the Japonica ones, as well as the potential utilization of genotypes with wide adaptability, stability, and high yield, such as Giza178, in the breeding programs for climate change resilience in rice.

Clinical and radiographic prospective study of customized one-piece titanium and one-piece fusion-sputtered zirconia implants: five-year mean follow-up.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the clinical and radiographic assessment of customized fusion-sputtered one-piece zirconia implants. METHODS: Twenty-eight patients received either fusion sputtered one-piece zirconia implants (n = 14) or one-piece titanium implants (n = 14). All implants were one-piece designs. After 4 months of immediate loading, all implants were restored with a monolithic zirconia crown. All implants were evaluated at baseline, 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, and 5 years. Implant mobility, plaque index, and gingival index evaluations were performed. The measurements of marginal bone level were calculated radiographically. RESULTS: All implants were well maintained through the evaluation period with a 100% survival rate without any clinical complications. Regarding gingival index, there was no statistically significant difference (P = .364) between zirconia (3.3 ± 0.7 mm) and titanium (3.5 ± 0.6 mm) implants, after 5 years. There was no statistically significant difference (P = .470) between zirconia (1.77 ± 0.039 mm) and titanium (1.80 ± 0.28 mm) implants regarding marginal bone loss, after 5 years. CONCLUSIONS: One-piece fusion-sputtered zirconia implant represents a reliable treatment modality in replacing a missing tooth in the esthetic zone.

Computed tomography study of bovine arch in patients with coarctation of aorta: A retrospective report analysis.

The objective of this study was to define the frequency of the bovine aortic arch in patients with coarctation using the tomographic studies. This is a descriptive retrospective study involving analysis of reports of computed tomographic angiography done at the Prince Sultan Cardiac center for 700 children with congenital heart diseases over a span of about 10 years from April 1, 2008, to August 1, 2018. Cases with coarctation of aorta were chosen to determine the frequency of the bovine aortic arch using the tomographic studies. From a total of 700 cases which underwent computed tomographic angiography, 117 (16.71%) were diagnosed with coarctation and 19 (2.71%) had bovine arch. Among the 117 patients with coarctation, the total number of patients with bovine arch was 7 patients representing 5.98%, while in patients without coarctation we found a total number of bovine arches of 12 out of 583 patients representing 2.06%. Patients having coarctation with normal branching pattern were at a slight increased incidence of atrial septal defect, ventricular septal defect and anomalous pulmonary venous return than patients having coarctation with bovine arch. In the face of increased incidence of bovine aortic arch in patients with coarctation, we recommend multislice computed tomographic angiography as a noninvasive and potentially safe and accurate method to precisely delineate the branching pattern of the arch of aorta in patients with coarctation before the interventional procedures and surgeries.

Retention strength of monolithic zirconia crowns cemented with different primer-cement systems.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this in vitro study was to assess the influence of different cement systems with different ceramic primers on the retention strength of zirconia crowns. METHODS: Thirty extracted molars were prepared with flat occlusal surfaces, 20 degrees taper, and 3 mm axial wall height. A zirconia crown with an occlusal bar was fabricated for each tooth. All specimens were divided (n = 10) into; Group M: Multilink Speed/Monobond N, Group P: Panavia V5/Clearfil Ceramic Primer Plus, Group D: Duo-Link universal/Z-Prime Plus. The intaglio surfaces of crowns were air-abraded using 50 µm alumina at 2.5 bar for 10 s. Then each crown was cemented onto its corresponding tooth. All specimens were thermocycled for 10,000 cycles between 5 and 55 °C. Each crown was subjected to gradually increasing vertical load along the path of insertion through hooks engaging the occlusal bar using a universal testing machine until failure. The force at dislodgment was recorded and retention strength was calculated for each specimen. The failure modes were recorded for each specimen. The data were statistically analyzed using one way ANOVA test followed by Tukey HSD test (α = .05). RESULTS: Group D showed lowest strength (1.42 ± 0.23 MPa) and differed significantly (P < .001) from Group M (2.71 ± 0.45 MPa) and Group P (2.47 ± 0.41 MPa). There was no significant difference (P = .34) between Group M and Group P. The failure modes for Groups M and Group P were mainly cohesive, while Group D showed adhesive failure. CONCLUSIONS: The retention strength of zirconia crowns was improved with Multilink Speed and Panavia V5 cement systems, while the use of the Duo-Link Universal cement system only showed half of those retention strength values.

Growth Regulators Improve Outcrossing Rate of Diverse Rice Cytoplasmic Male Sterile Lines through Affecting Floral Traits.

Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) provides an irreplaceable strategy for commercial exploitation of heterosis and producing high-yielding hybrid rice. The exogenous application of plant growth regulators could improve outcrossing rates of the CMS lines by affecting floral traits and accordingly increase hybrid rice seed production. The present study aimed at exploring the impact of growth regulators such as gibberellic acid (GA3), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), and naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) on promoting floral traits and outcrossing rates in diverse rice CMS lines and improving hybrid rice seed production. The impact of foliar applications of growth regulators comprising GA3 at 300 g/ha or GA3 at 150 g/ha + IAA at 50 g/ha + NAA at 200 g/ha versus untreated control was investigated on floral, growth, and yield traits of five diverse CMS lines. The exogenously sprayed growth regulators, in particular, the combination of GA3, IAA, and NAA (T3) boosted all studied floral, growth, and yield traits in all tested CMS lines. Moreover, the evaluated CMS lines exhibited significant differences in all measured floral traits. L2, L3, and L1 displayed the uppermost spikelet opening angle, duration of spikelet opening, total stigma length, style length, stigma brush, and stigma width. In addition, these CMS lines exhibited the highest plant growth and yield traits, particularly under T3. Consequently, exogenous application of GA3, IAA, and NAA could be exploited to improve the floral, growth, and yield traits of promising CMS lines such as L2, L3, and L1, hence increasing outcrossing rates and hybrid rice seed production.

Molecular Genetic Diversity and Combining Ability for Some Physiological and Agronomic Traits in Rice under Well-Watered and Water-Deficit Conditions.

Water deficit is a pivotal abiotic stress that detrimentally constrains rice growth and production. Thereupon, the development of high-yielding and drought-tolerant rice genotypes is imperative in order to sustain rice production and ensure global food security. The present study aimed to evaluate diverse exotic and local parental rice genotypes and their corresponding cross combinations under water-deficit versus well-watered conditions, determining general and specific combining ability effects, heterosis, and the gene action controlling important traits through half-diallel analysis. In addition, the research aimed to assess parental genetic distance (GD) employing simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers, and to determine its association with hybrid performance, heterosis, and specific combining ability (SCA) effects. Six diverse rice genotypes (exotic and local) and their 15 F1 hybrids were assessed for two years under water-deficit and well-watered conditions. The results revealed that water-deficit stress substantially declined days to heading, plant height, chlorophyll content, relative water content, grain yield, and yield attributes. Contrarily, leaf rolling and the sterility percentage were considerably increased compared to well-watered conditions. Genotypes differed significantly for all the studied characteristics under water-deficit and well-watered conditions. Both additive and non-additive gene actions were involved in governing the inheritance of all the studied traits; however, additive gene action was predominant for most traits. The parental genotypes P1 and P2 were identified as excellent combiners for earliness and the breeding of short stature genotypes. Moreover, P3, P4, and P6 were identified as excellent combiners to increase grain yield and its attributes under water-deficit conditions. The hybrid combinations; P1 × P4, P2 × P5, P3 × P4, and P4 × P6 were found to be good specific combiners for grain yield and its contributed traits under water-deficit conditions. The parental genetic distance (GD) ranged from 0.38 to 0.89, with an average of 0.70. It showed lower association with hybrid performance, heterosis, and combining ability effects for all the studied traits. Nevertheless, SCA revealed a significant association with hybrid performance and heterosis, which suggests that SCA is a good predictor for hybrid performance and heterosis under water-deficit conditions. Strong positive relationships were identified between grain yield and each of relative water content, chlorophyll content, number of panicles/plant, number of filled grains/panicle, and 1000-grain weight. This suggests that these traits could be exploited as important indirect selection criteria for improving rice grain yield under water-deficit conditions.

Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Asphalt Mixtures Using Composite Admixtures of Lignin and Glass Fibers.

Lignin and glass fiber were used as additives to improve the quality of road pavements and minimize moisture damage and cracking at low temperatures on asphalt pavement, according to a previous laboratory study. The aim of this paper is to make a significant contribution to the environmental assessment of the construction of road pavements using four types of asphalt mixtures based on the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology according to the requirements of ISO 14040, considering the impact of raw material extraction, asphalt mixture manufacturing, transportation, and wearing surface construction. The results of the environmental assessment showed that all studied asphalt mixtures do not offer any improvement in all impact categories, and three modified asphalt mixtures have a slight negative effect in all impact categories. The composite mixture has the highest negative effect of the studied three modified asphalt mixtures in all categories except in the marine aquatic ecotoxicity potential category and freshwater aquatic ecotoxicity potential category, where the lignin modified asphalt mixture has the highest negative effect in these two categories but has the best environmental impacts on most of other impact categories. Furthermore, the negative effect caused by composite asphalt mixtures is minimal and thus can be used to improve the overall performance of asphalt pavement.

Fracture Resistance and Failure Mode of Mandibular Molar Restored by Occlusal Veneer: Effect of Material Type and Dental Bonding Surface.

This study assesses the effect of the material type (lithium disilicate, zirconia, and polymer-infiltrated ceramic) and dental bonding substrates (dentin, dentin with intra-coronal cavity, and dentin with composite filling) on the fracture resistance and failure mode of molars restored by occlusal veneers. METHODS: Ninety occlusal veneers, fabricated from either lithium disilicate, zirconia, or polymer-infiltrated ceramic, were adhesively bonded to teeth prepared with either dentin, dentin with intra-coronal cavity, or dentin with composite filling. All specimens were thermally aged (5000 cycles), then load cycled (120,000 cycles). Each specimen was subjected to a compressive load through fracture, then was examined (×20) to identify the fracture type. Data were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: Material type and dental substrate had no significant effect on the fracture resistance of adhesively retained occlusal veneer restorations. For each material, no significant differences were found between veneers bonded to dentin, dentin with intra-coronal cavity, and dentin with composite filling. Additionally, within each bonding substrate, there were no significant differences between lithium disilicate, zirconia, and polymer-infiltrated ceramic veneers. The adhesive failure was recorded mainly with zirconia occlusal veneer restorations. CONCLUSIONS: Considering the fracture results, lithium disilicate, zirconia, and polymer-infiltrated ceramic occlusal veneers perform well whatever the type of dental bonding surface. When the dental bonding surface varies, different occlusal veneer materials should be considered. Occlusal veneers bonded to dentin, dentin with composite filling, or dentin with an intra-coronal cavity exhibited a fracture resistance exceeding the average human masticatory forces in the molar area.

Quercetin stimulates the non-amyloidogenic pathway via activation of ADAM10 and ADAM17 gene expression in aluminum chloride-induced Alzheimer's disease rat model.

AIMS: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by declined cognitive functions in the elderly. Quercetin (Q) is a potent flavonol that has neuroprotective effects on AD derangements. The present study aimed to evaluate the α-secretase stimulatory function of Q through activation of ADAM10 and ADAM17 gene expression in the aluminum chloride (AlCl3)-induced AD rat model. MAIN METHODS: After induction of AD in rats by oral administration of AlCl3 (50 mg/kg) for 28 days, the Q doses (25 and 50 mg/kg) were orally administered for 28 days. Rats performed the behavioral assessments during the last week of the treatment period. Hippocampi were harvested for assessments of the neurochemical and histopathological examinations and gene expression analysis. KEY FINDINGS: Administration of Q to AlCl3-induced AD rat model attenuated behavioral deficits, improved cholinergic and dopaminergic dysfunctions, and diminished insoluble amyloid ß (Aß) plaques aggregation in the hippocampus. These ameliorative effects of Q were associated with down-regulation of APP, BACE1, APH1, and PSEN1 and up-regulation of ADAM10 and ADAM17 gene expression levels in the hippocampus. SIGNIFICANCE: The present study suggests that Q might attenuate neurotransmission impairment, Aß aggregation in the hippocampus, and behavioral deficits in the AlCl3-induce AD rat model via up-regulating ADAM 10 and ADAM 17 (α-secretase) gene expression, leading to the inhibition of the amyloidogenic pathway. In support of the present finding, we suggest that ADAM10 and ADAM17 activation might be potential drug targets for AD to counteract the Aß aggregation and cognitive deterioration.

Torque Maintenance of Screw-Retained Implant-Supported Anterior Fixed Dental Prosthesis with Different Abutment Angulations After Aging.

PURPOSE: To assess the impact of abutment angulation on loosening torque, torque loss, and percentage of torque loss in the prosthesis and abutment screws after aging of the implant-supported prosthesis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty epoxy maxillary casts with missing central, lateral, and canine teeth were used, and each cast received two implants. All casts were divided into five groups (n = 10): (1) both implants received straight abutments (0-0); (2) the central implant received a straight abutment and the canine implant received a 17.5-degree angled abutment (0-17.5); (3) the central implant received a straight abutment and the canine implant received a 35-degree angled abutment (0-35); (4) both implants received 17.5-degree angled abutments (17.5-17.5); and (5) both implants received 35-degree angled abutments (35-35). For each cast, a three-unit zirconia restoration was fabricated, and a torque meter was utilized to tighten the abutment screw (25 Ncm) and prosthesis screw (18 Ncm). The reverse torque value was recorded for each screw. All restorations were subjected to 3,500 thermal cycles between 5°C and 55°C and load cycled for 150,000 cycles with 50-N load. After the loosening torque was measured for each screw, the torque loss and percentage of torque loss were calculated. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference in the torque loss of the central prosthesis screw (P < .001) and canine prosthesis screw (P < .001) between study groups. The 35-35 group showed the highest percentage of torque loss, while the 0-0 group showed the lowest value. A significant difference was found regarding the torque loss of the central abutment screw (P < .001) and canine abutment screw (P < .001). The abutment screws of the 35-35 group showed the highest percentage of torque loss, while the 0-0 groups showed the lowest percentage of torque loss. CONCLUSION: Screw loosening of the prosthesis and abutment screws increases with increasing abutment angulation after aging. In the same fixed prosthesis, the torque loss in the prosthesis and abutment screws was higher in canine screws employing different angled abutments.

Utilization of genetic diversity and marker-trait to improve drought tolerance in rice (Oryza sativa L.).

Drought stress is one of the main problems for the rice crop, as it reduces the production and productivity of the grain yield significantly. In Egypt, many restrictions were made on the cultivation of rice due to its high-water demand. Producing promising drought-tolerant rice cultivars combined with high yielding is one of the main targets for rice breeders. A set of 22 highly diverse rice genotypes were evaluated under normal and drought conditions. Morphological, physiological, and yield traits were recorded on each genotype. Drought susceptibility index (DSI) was estimated for six yield traits to identify the most drought-tolerant rice genotypes. A high genetic variation was found among genotypes tested in the experiment. Under normal conditions, the highest phenotypic correlation was found between grain yield (GY) and sterility percentage (SP) (- 0.73**), while it was among GY and chlorophyll content (CC) (0.82**) under drought conditions. To identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) controlling yielding traits under drought and normal, a single marker analysis was performed between all yield traits under both conditions and a set of 106 simple sequence repeat (SSR) marker alleles. The genetic association analysis revealed 14 and 17 QTL under drought and normal conditions, respectively. The most drought-tolerant genotypes were selected based on phenotypic traits, the number of QTL in each selected genotype, and the level of genetic diversity existed among the genotypes. As a result, five genotypes (Giza 178, IET1444, GZ1368-S-5-4, Nahda, Giza 14) were identified as the most promising drought-tolerant rice genotypes. Eight QTL controlling drought tolerance were identified in Giza 178, Nahda, and GZ1368-S-5-4, while four QTL were found in IET1444. The number of different QTLs were estimated among the five selected genotypes. Giza 178 and GZ1368-S-5-4 shared the same QTLs. Seven different QTLs were found among Nahda, IET1444, GZ1368-S-5-4, and Giza 14. Combining information from phenotypic traits, genetic diversity analysis, and QTL analysis was very useful in identifying the true drought-tolerant rice genotypes that can be used for crossing in the future breeding program.

Hybrid-abutment-restoration: effect of material type on torque maintenance and fracture resistance after thermal aging.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the tightening torque maintenance with zirconia, lithium disilicate, and polyetheretherketone (PEEK) hybrid-abutment-crowns after thermal aging, in addition to assess the fracture resistance of hybrid-abutment-crowns fabricated with different materials. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty implants were restored with identical hybrid-abutment-crowns, resembling the maxillary first premolar, fabricated from zirconia (Zr), lithium disilicate (L2), or ceramic-reinforced PEEK (PE). The three groups (n = 10) were constructed utilizing a Ti-base. After bonding, each restoration was secured in its respective implant with a torque of 25 Ncm. All restorations were subjected to thermal aging for 7000 cycles. The loosening torque was assessed utilizing the digital torque meter. Each restoration was subjected to fracture testing and the mode of failure was determined. RESULTS: Zr group displayed the highest mean torque loss value (2.70 ± 0.59 Ncm) with the mean loosening torque value of 22.38 ± 0.68 Ncm. PE group displayed the lowest mean torque loss (2.55 ± 0.50 Ncm) with mean loosening torque value of 22.61 ± 0.59 Ncm. There was no significant difference between study groups regarding loosening torque (p = 0.68), torque loss (p = 0.80), and percentage of torque loss (p = 0.79). There was significant difference regarding the mean fracture load value between Zr and PE groups. However, there was no significant difference (p = 0.05) regarding mean fracture load value between L2 and PE groups. CONCLUSION: The hybrid-abutment-crown material does not affect the torque maintenance after thermal aging. Based on fracture load, zirconia hybrid-abutment-crown can be used, while lithium disilicate and PEEK hybrid-abutment-crowns may cautiously serve in premolar region.