Use of Oral Mini Pulse Dexamethasone in Vitiligo Patients: Review Article

Background: One to two percent of the population globally suffers from vitiligo, an acquired depigmentation condition of multifactorial etiology. Macules and patches of depigmentation characterize vitiligo. People's moods are affected greatly and depressingly by it. As a result, prompt and effective therapy is necessary. Many individuals are able to slow the advancement of the disease, acquire repigmentation, and achieve cosmetically appealing results with proper therapy.There is a wide range of treatments for vitiligo, including topical corticosteroids (TCS) as monotherapy (as for vitiligo local therapy) or in conjunction with phototherapy or other topical medications in generalized vitiligo. Intermittent administration of large (pharmacological) dosages to maximize therapeutic benefit and prevent side effects is known as dexamethasone oral mini pulse (OMP) treatment. Objective: to determine the success of oral dexamethasone in vitiligo management. Conclusion: In vitiligo patients, when corticosteroids are provided at the onset or at early stages of disease, they can reduce disease progression and promote repigmentation and in some cases total repigmentation

Investigating Alopecia Areata and its Connection to The High-Mobility Group Box 1: Review Article

Background: It is a common and reversible hair loss illness known as alopecia areata (AA). Hair loss on the scalp and other regions of the body can begin as a patchy area of full hair loss which may develop to the entire loss of all hair on the body. It is uncertain what causes AA but it is characterized by hair cycle disruption and the presence of mononuclear cell infiltrates in the perifollicular, as well as peribulbar areas. There have been numerous studies that have shown that AA has been linked to various autoimmune illnesses, including vitiligo. Autoimmune disease is becoming more prevalent, and researchers have found a link between chronic inflammation and HMGB1 (high-mobility group box 1). Objective: To evaluate the role of (HMGB1) protein in pathogenesis of AA. Conclusion: HMGB1 is a promising predictor of prognosis and treatment responsiveness in the pathophysiology of alopecia areata

Evaluation of The Bio-Stimulatory Effect of Platelet Rich Fibrin Augmented by Diode LASER Compared to Platelet Rich Fibrin Alone on Dental Implant Replacing Posterior Mandibular Teeth. Randomised Clinical Trial: Split Mouth Study

BACKGROUND: Restoring masticatory function and replacing missing teeth with minimal pain and discomfort are the most important issues for the patient and clinician. Nowadays dental implants became the most popular line of treatment to replace missing teeth; offering a comfortable long lasting prosthesis. Osseo-integration reflects the long term success of a dental implant. Many bio-modulators are used aiming to improve the osseointegration and healing around dental implants such as Low-Level Laser treatment (LLLT) and Platelet Rich Fibrin (PRF). PRF has been proven to improve bone repair process around the dental implant. LLLT is considered a noninvasive, safe technique that stimulates osteogenesis and alleviates post-operative pain. AIM: Evaluation of the bio-stimulatory effect of LLLT on a dental implant with PRF compared to PRF alone clinically and radiographically. METHODS: A randomised clinical trial with the split-mouth design was conducted on nine patients with bilaterally missing lower posterior tooth. All patients received one dental implant on each side with PRF. LASER application was performed to one side twice weekly for one month starting on the day of insertion. Post-operative pain was assessed daily through the first week using numerical rating pain scale (NRS) as the primary outcome. Relative peri-implant bone density was measured using direct digital intraoral radiography immediately after insertion, one, four and nine months postoperatively. Implants stability were measured using radio frequency assessment immediately after insertion, four and nine months post-operative as secondary outcomes. RESULTS: The NRS for pain was significantly decreased by the end of the first-week postoperatively in the intervention and control group with a mean of (2.22 ± 1.56) (2.11 ± 1.83) respectively. However, there was no statistically significant difference between the test groups at P-Value (0.892). The relative bone density values were decreased by the end of the ninth month of follow-up in the intervention and control group with a mean of (134.42 ± 16.13) (128.77 ± 33.54) respectively. No statistically significant difference was observed between the two test groups at P-value (0.863). The radiofrequency values for implant stability showed no statically significant difference after nine months of follow up when compared to the initial stability values at the day of insertion in the intervention and control group. The mean radiofrequency values were (67.24 ± 1.79) and (66.9 ± 2.57) respectively, and no statistically significant difference was observed between the two test groups at P-value (0.793) CONCLUSION: There are no statistically significant differences in post-operative pain values, implant stability and bone density between the implant sites treated with PRF augmented by Diode laser compared to implant sites treated by PRF alone

Screening of quorum sensing and biofilm inhibitors among pseudomonas aeruginosa clinical isolates

Quorum sensing (QS) is a process that enables bacteria to communicate using secreted small pheromone-like signaling molecules called autoinducers (AIs). This process enables a population of bacteria to regulate gene expression collectively. These quorum sensing systems regulates biofilm formation, virulence factors expression, bioluminescence, motility patterns, exopolysaccharide production, antifungal or antibiotic production, endoglucanase production, pigmentation, competence, plasmid conjugal transfer and cross-signaling between strains and species. P. aeruginosa is an important and very dangerous opportunistic pathogen causing many fatal infections in patients with serious medical conditions. P. aeruginosa is associated with nosocomial infections mainly in immunocompromised patients, and it is rated the third-most-common microorganism associated with hospital-acquired infections representing about 10-15% of nosocomial infections recorded globally. Moreover, qRT-PCR revealed a significant reduction in expression of quorum sensing genes in virulence inhibitors-treated P. aeruginosa in comparison with untreated bacteria. Virulence inhibitors could play a role in reduction of Pseudomonas quorum sensing-dependent virulence factors production such as biofilm production, and therefore affect its pathogenesis in the host

Cross-linked chitosan/gelatin beads loaded with Chlorella vulgaris microalgae/zinc oxide nanoparticles for absorbing carcinogenic bisphenol-A pollutant from water

Water polluted by phenolic compounds is a global threat to health and the environment; accordingly, we prepared a green novel sorbent biological system from a chitosan (CS), gelatin (GT), an

Phytochemical Characterization and Evaluation of Biological Activities of Egyptian Carob Pods (<i>Ceratonia siliqua</i> L.) Aqueous Extract: In Vitro Study

Ceratonia siliqua (Carob) is an evergreen Mediterranean tree, and carob pods are potentially nutritive and have medicinal value. The present study was carried out to estimate the possible biological activities of phytochemical-characterized carob pod aqueous extract (CPAE). The phytochemical contents of CPAE were determined by using colorimetric methods and HPLC. In addition, the free radical scavenging properties and anti-diabetic, anti-hemolytic, and antimicrobial activities were estimated by using standardized in vitro protocols. The phytochemical analysis revealed that CPAE was rich in polyphenols, flavonoids, and alkaloids, where it contained a significant amount of gallic acid, catechin, and protocatechuic acid. Furthermore, CPAE exhibited strong antioxidant activity where it prevented the formation of 2, 2-Diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl, hydroxyl, and nitric oxide free radicals. Additionally, it had a potent inhibitory effect against digestive enzymes (amylase, maltase, sucrase, and lactase). Moreover, CPAE exhibited anti-Staph aureus, anti-Escherichia coli, anti-Candida albicans, and anti-herpes simplex type I virus (HSV-I). Finally, CPAE protected the erythrocyte membrane from hypotonic solution-induced hemolysis. Altogether, CPAE could be regarded as an interesting source of biologically active antioxidant, anti-diabetic, and antimicrobial preparation for a potential application in pharmaceutical and food supplement fields

Potential hazards and health assessment associated with different water uses in the main industrial cities of Egypt

Deterioration of water quality has become an ecological threat in many industrial areas worldwide due to unmanaged anthropogenic activities. Contaminants therein find out their ways to drinking water-pipes via broken or leak old- pipes. The current study aims at evaluating the suitability of tap water, collected from the main-ten-industrial cities of Egypt, for drinking purposes. Shallow and deep ground waters were also sampled from the same locations. This is one of the few research projects that are interested in quantifying the acrylamide in drinking water. The obtained results indicate that concentrations of COD, BOD, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Cd, Zn and Hg were within the permissible levels in tap water while surpassed these levels in both shallow and deep ground waters. Acrylamide levels did not exceed the acceptable levels in all water samples (drinking, surface and deep ground waters). Overall, no potential risks were associated with the oral ingestion of tap water in all studied locations for both adults and children (all hazard quotient (HQ) values, defined as exposure intake dose of contaminants relative to the maximum permissible daily intake dose were below “1″). However, inorganic pollutants that exist in ground waters may cause undesirable dermal impacts when used for irrigating the green areas in these cities (used for picnics and as playgrounds). In this context, most HQ values associated with ground water dermal contact were above “1”. Specifically, Mn, Ni, Pb and Cd hazards exist for children (HQ > 1) while Ni, Pb and Cd toxicity detected for adults. This result; therefore, highlights the indirect negative impacts of industrialization on human health

Three species of Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato infect camels on the Arabian Peninsula

We report on the genetic identity of 36 Echinococcus cysts that were collected during a recent slaughterhouse survey of 810 locally bred camels (dromedaries) in the Eastern Province of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Analysis of a partial nad1 gene sequence showed that the majority (n = 29) belonged to E. granulosus sensu stricto, four to E. canadensis G6/7, and three to E. ortleppi. Eight of the 29 E. granulosus s.s. cysts contained protoscoleces; all other cysts were calcified and non-viable. This is the first report of the presence E. ortleppi from the Arabian Peninsula, a parasite that is typically transmitted via cattle. The results indicate widespread infection of camels with CE in eastern Saudi Arabia and an active role of camels in the lifecycles of at least E. granulosus s.s.. Complete cox1 haplotype analysis of 21 E. granulosus s.s. isolates shows that the majority of variants circulating in eastern Saudi Arabia is distinct from but closely related to haplotypes from neighboring countries in the Middle East, which indicates the presence of this parasite in KSA for a longer period of time. All isolates of E. granulosus s.s. in this study belonged to the G1 cluster, although the G3 genotype has previously also been reported from the Middle East

The ESC ACCA EAPCI EORP acute coronary syndrome ST-elevation myocardial infarction registry

Aims: The Acute Cardiac Care Association (ACCA)-European Association of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (EAPCI) Registry on ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) of the EurObservational programme (EORP) of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) registry aimed to determine the current state of the use of reperfusion therapy in ESC member and ESC affiliated countries and the adherence to ESC STEMI guidelines in patients with STEMI. Methods and results: Between 1 January 2015 and 31 March 2018, a total of 11 462 patients admitted with an initial diagnosis of STEMI according to the 2012 ESC STEMI guidelines were enrolled. Individual patient data were collected across 196 centres and 29 countries. Among the centres, there were 136 percutaneous coronary intervention centres and 91 with cardiac surgery on-site. The majority of centres (129/196) were part of a STEMI network. The main objective of this study was to describe the demographic, clinical, and angiographic characteristics of patients with STEMI. Other objectives include to assess management patterns and in particular the current use of reperfusion therapies and to evaluate how recommendations of most recent STEMI European guidelines regarding reperfusion therapies and adjunctive pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments are adopted in clinical practice and how their application can impact on patients' outcomes. Patients will be followed for 1 year after admission. Conclusion: The ESC ACCA-EAPCI EORP ACS STEMI registry is an international registry of care and outcomes of patients hospitalized with STEMI. It will provide insights into the contemporary patient profile, management patterns, and 1-year outcome of patients with STEMI