Assessment of geometrical characteristics of dental endodontic micro-instruments utilizing X-ray micro computed tomography

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to quantify the surface area, volume and specific surface area of endodontic files employing quantitative X-ray micro computed tomography (mXCT). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Three sets (six files each) of the Flex-Master Ni-Ti system (Nº 20, 25 and 30, taper .04) were utilized in this study. The files were scanned by mXCT. The surface area and volume of all files were determined from the cutting tip up to 16 mm. The data from the surface area, volume and specific area were statistically evaluated using the one-way ANOVA and SNK multiple comparison tests at α=0.05, employing the file size as a discriminating variable. The correlation between the surface area and volume with nominal ISO sizes were tested employing linear regression analysis. RESULTS: The surface area and volume of Nº 30 files showed the highest value followed by Nº 25 and Nº 20 and the differences were statistically significant. The Nº 20 files showed a significantly higher specific surface area compared to Nº 25 and Nº 30. The increase in surface and volume towards higher file sizes follows a linear relationship with the nominal ISO sizes (r²=0.930 for surface area and r²=0.974 for volume respectively). Results indicated that the surface area and volume demonstrated an almost linear increase while the specific surface area exhibited an abrupt decrease towards higher sizes. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that mXCT can be effectively applied to discriminate very small differences in the geometrical features of endodontic micro-instruments, while providing quantitative information for their geometrical properties

Adoption of new endodontic technology by dental practitioners in Saudi Arabia

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to assess the adoption of new endodontic technology by a population of endodontists (ENs) and general dental practitioners (GPs) practicing in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A total of 250 self-administered questionnaires were distributed to 50 randomly selected private dental clinics. The questionnaire consisted of questions regarding the use of NiTi rotary instruments, Digital radiography, and Electronic Apex Locators. Follow-up questions investigated the reason for not using the specified technology by selecting one or more of the stated choices. In addition, the type of rotary NiTi instrument system and the type of apex locator used were explored. The response rate was 56.4%; 121 GPs and 20 EN participated in the study. The percentage of dentists (GPs+ENs) who used NiTi rotary instruments was 46.1%, Digital radiography was 40.7%, and Electronic Apex Locators was 48.9%. The percentage of ENs who used the three technologies was higher than that of GPs, the difference was statistically significant (P=0.001). The most common reason for not using the three new technologies was the lack of availability. In addition to unavailability, NiTi rotary instruments and Electronic Apex Locators were not used because of lack of training and concern about instrument fracture (rotary NiTi) and patient safety (Electronic Apex Locators). The fact that more than 50% of dentists (GPs+ENs) practicing in Saudi Arabia have never used rotary NiTi instrumentation systems, Digital radiography, or Electronic Apex Locators underlines the importance of supporting increased utilization of new endodontic technologies by providing professional training opportunities for current and future dentists

Screening for the antimicrobial activity of Salvadora persica extracts against Enterococcus faecalis and Candida albicans

Antimicrobial resistance of Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) and Candida albicans (C.albicans), frequently implicated in dental infections, remains a challenge. Using a variety of solvents this study was performed to screen the antimicrobial activity of Salvadora persica (S. persica) extracts against these two organisms. Seven extracts of S. Persica were prepared using hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, methanol-soluble, methanol-insoluble, ethanol, and water. Antimicrobial activities against E. faecalis and C.albicans were assessed by colony forming unit (CFU) counts after 1, 3, 6 and 24 hours of exposure using doubling dilutions of the extracts ranging between 125 µg to 1mg/ml. Among the extracts of S. persica tested, hexane extract induced a steady and progressive reduction in CFUs of both the E. faecalis (p<0.001) and C. albicans (p<0.01) at all concentrations beginning after 3 hours until 24 hours. Progressive inhibition of E. faecalis CFUs was also observed for ethanol beginning at 3 hours until 24 hours  (p <0.001) and chloroform only at 24 hours (p<0.001) at all concentrations. Ethyl acetate extract of S. persica was effective against C. albicans at 250µg/mg after 6 hours (p<0.02) and 24 hours (p <0.002). No significant changes were observed in any of the other tested extracts of S. persica. Hexane extract of S. persica was found to exhibit maximum antimicrobial activity against E. faecalis and C.albicans. Further studies are recommended for evaluation of this extract as an effective anti-microbial agent

Biomarkers of non-communicable chronic disease: an update on contemporary methods

Chronic diseases constitute a major global burden with significant impact on health systems, economies, and quality of life. Chronic diseases include a broad range of diseases that can be communicable or non-communicable. Chronic diseases are often associated with modifications of normal physiological levels of various analytes that are routinely measured in serum and other body fluids, as well as pathological findings, such as chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Identification of at-risk populations, early diagnosis, and prediction of prognosis play a major role in preventing or reducing the burden of chronic diseases. Biomarkers are tools that are used by health professionals to aid in the identification and management of chronic diseases. Biomarkers can be diagnostic, predictive, or prognostic. Several individual or grouped biomarkers have been used successfully in the diagnosis and prediction of certain chronic diseases, however, it is generally accepted that a more sophisticated approach to link and interpret various biomarkers involved in chronic disease is necessary to improve our current procedures. In order to ensure a comprehensive and unbiased coverage of the literature, first a primary frame of the manuscript (title, headings and subheadings) was drafted by the authors working on this paper. Second, based on the components drafted in the preliminary skeleton a comprehensive search of the literature was performed using the PubMed and Google Scholar search engines. Multiple keywords related to the topic were used. Out of screened papers, only 190 papers, which are the most relevant, and recent articles were selected to cover the topic in relation to etiological mechanisms of different chronic diseases, the most recently used biomarkers of chronic diseases and finally the advances in the applications of multivariate biomarkers of chronic diseases as statistical and clinically applied tool for the early diagnosis of chronic diseases was discussed. Recently, multivariate biomarkers analysis approach has been employed with promising prospect. A brief discussion of the multivariate approach for the early diagnosis of the most common chronic diseases was highlighted in this review. The use of diagnostic algorithms might show the way for novel criteria and enhanced diagnostic effectiveness inpatients with one or numerous non-communicable chronic diseases. The search for new relevant biomarkers for the better diagnosis of patients with non-communicable chronic diseases according to the risk of progression, sickness, and fatality is ongoing. It is important to determine whether the newly identified biomarkers are purely associations or real biomarkers of underlying pathophysiological processes. Use of multivariate analysis could be of great importance in this regard

Screening for the antimicrobial activity of Salvadora persica extracts against Enterococcus faecalis and Candida albicans

Antimicrobial resistance of Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) and Candida albicans (C.albicans), frequently implicated in dental infections, remains a challenge. Using a variety of solvents this study was performed to screen the antimicrobial activity of Salvadora persica (S. persica) extracts against these two organisms. Seven extracts of S. Persica were prepared using hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, methanol-soluble, methanol-insoluble, ethanol, and water. Antimicrobial activities against E. faecalis and C.albicans were assessed by colony forming unit (CFU) counts after 1, 3, 6 and 24 hours of exposure using doubling dilutions of the extracts ranging between 125 µg to 1mg/ml. Among the extracts of S. persica tested, hexane extract induced a steady and progressive reduction in CFUs of both the E. faecalis (p<0.001) and C. albicans (p<0.01) at all concentrations beginning after 3 hours until 24 hours. Progressive inhibition of E. faecalis CFUs was also observed for ethanol beginning at 3 hours until 24 hours  (p <0.001) and chloroform only at 24 hours (p<0.001) at all concentrations. Ethyl acetate extract of S. persica was effective against C. albicans at 250µg/mg after 6 hours (p<0.02) and 24 hours (p <0.002). No significant changes were observed in any of the other tested extracts of S. persica. Hexane extract of S. persica was found to exhibit maximum antimicrobial activity against E. faecalis and C.albicans. Further studies are recommended for evaluation of this extract as an effective anti-microbial agent