KAP Study Regarding the Oral Health

Objective: To assess the knowledge, attitudes and practice regarding the oral health in our community. Study Design: Cross Sectional Study. Study Place and Study Duration: from January 2016 to June 2018, in Dental Section Allied Hospital, Faisalabad, Fatima Jinnah Hospital, Multan and THQ Sillanwali. Material and methods: A total number of 378 patients were enrolled in this study. A questionnaire was developed to gather the information required for the determination of knowledge, attitudes and behavior of the patient towards oral health. The questionnaire comprised of thirty three questions regarding different aspects of oral health care. It involved questions regarding demographic information, knowledge, attitudes and behavior of the patients. Results: Regarding oral care, n=213 (56.3%) used tooth paste, n=260 (68.8%) patients brush once a day, n=178 (47.1%) used vertical technique for brushing. n=138 (36.5%) changed their brush every six months while n=60 (15.9%) changed their brush after one year. n=189 (50%) patients brush their teeth in morning, n=166 (43.9%) brush their teeth for cleaning purpose. n=144 (38.1%) visited to dentist when they felt pain. n=170 (45%) ignore, n=98 (25.9%) go to the dentist and n=110 (29.1%) use home remedies when they felt dental decay. n=239 (63.2%) patients’ family members brush their teeth regularly. Self-medication was observed as n=269 (71.2%). Conclusion: Although majority of the patients had good knowledge about health care but it was not associated with better attitudes, behavior and practicing of healthy habits. It can be suggested that poor socioeconomic conditions of majority of the public and lack of motivation for oral hygiene are the cause of poor behavior, attitude and practicing of dental care. Keywords: Knowledge, Attitudes, Behavior, Oral Health DOI: 10.7176/JMPB/52-1

ROLE OF LYCOPENE IN THE MANAGEMENT OF ORAL SUBMUCOUS FIBROSIS.

Objective: In this study we investigate the effectiveness of lycopene in the management of oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) when intralesional steroids also given in combination. Methodology: This cross sectional study was done in Dental Section Allied Hospital, Faisalabad, Fatima Jinnah Hospital, Multan and Nishtar Institute of Dentistry, Multan  in duration of six months from September 2017 to April 2018. This cross sectional study was initiated after approval from hospital ethical board. Collected Information was entered in SPSS computer software version 23.1 and analyzed for possible results. Mean and SD was calculated and presented for quantitative data like age, VAS score and mouth opening. Frequency (percentages) were calculated and presented for qualitative data such as gender. Post stratification statistical chi square test was used to see effect modification. P value ≤ 0.05 was considered as significant. Results: Overall, there were 100% (n=354) patients. Total patients who were selected for the study had the habit of chewing areca nut either in natural form or in the form of Pan Masala, gutkha or mawa. Gutkha is the most common form of areca nut used, i.e. 65.8% (n=233) patients were using it. In pour study average increase in mouth opening from baseline (before treatment) was 2.34±1.03 mm in group A. 4.20±1.26 mm in group B and 3.40±0.19 mm in group C at six week. Conclusion: When Lycopene used combined with intralesional steroids and Hyaluronidase its effectiveness is better in improving the mouth opening its symptoms in patients with Oral Submucous Fibrosis (OSF). It was also found that there was no side effects. Keywords: Lycopene, OSF, Mouth opening, burning sensation. DOI: 10.7176/JMPB/52-15

Ficus benghalensis as Potential Inhibitor of 5α-Reductase for Hair Growth Promotion: In Vitro, In Silico, and In Vivo Evaluation

The screening of hair follicles, dermal papilla cells, and keratinocytes through in vitro, in vivo, and histology has previously been reported to combat alopecia. Ficus benghalensis has been used conventionally to cure skin and hair disorders, although its effect on 5α-reductase II is still unknown. Currently, we aim to analyze the phytotherapeutic impact of F. benghalensis leaf extracts (FBLEs) for promoting hair growth in rabbits along with in vitro inhibition of the steroid isozyme 5α-reductase II. The inhibition of 5α-reductase II by FBLEs was assessed by RP-HPLC, using the NADPH cofactor as the reaction initiator and Minoxin (5%) as a positive control. In silico studies were performed using AutoDock Vina to visualize the interaction between 5α-reductase II and the reported phytoconstituents present in FBLEs. Hair growth in female albino rabbits was investigated by applying an oral dose of the FBLE formulation and control drug to the skin once a day. The skin tissues were examined by histology to see hair follicles. Further, FAAS, FTIR, and antioxidants were performed to check the trace elements and secondary metabolites in the FBLEs. The results of RP-HPLC and the binding energies showed that FBLEs reduced the catalytic activity of 5α-reductase II and improved cell proliferation in rabbits. The statistical analysis (p 70%) suggested that hydroalcoholic FBLE has more potential in increasing hair growth by elongating hair follicle’s anagen phase. FAAS, FTIR, and antioxidant experiments revealed sufficient concentrations of Zn, Cu, K, and Fe, together with the presence of polyphenols and scavenging activity in FBLE. Overall, we found that FBLEs are potent in stimulating hair follicle maturation by reducing the 5α-reductase II action, so they may serve as a principal choice in de novo drug designing to treat hair loss

MILK: carrier of heavy metals from crops through ruminant body to human beings

Exposure of heavy metals to humans is higher today than ever before in modern history due to continuously increasing industrialization around the globe. Industrial wastes are rich in heavy metals and these wastes are discharged near agricultural fields or mixed with soil, from where these metals are taken up by the crops and are finally transported to humans. Due to this increasing threat of heavy metals contamination in food, it is necessary to analyze the food before consumption. Content of selected metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn) in cow milk is determined in this study. To investigate the possible pathways of these metals to reach in milk; fodder supplied to these cows was analyzed besides analysis of soil samples on which this fodder was grown. Pearson correlation among metal contents in soil-forage and forage-milk was also determined to check the route of transfer of these metals from soil to forage and from forage to milk. It was found that a strong correlation (p < 0.5) exists for Cr, Cd, Cu and Zn. This shows that these metals are mainly transferred through soil. However, a weak correlation was found for Pb, which shows that Pb is introduced into forage through some other source (automobile exhaust etc.). A comparison of present study is also done with previously reported work from other countries on metal contents in milk and findings of both the studies were in good agreement mutually

A novel pH-responsive hydrogel system based on Prunus armeniaca gum and acrylic acid: Preparation and evaluation as a potential candidate for controlled drug delivery

pH-responsive hydrogels have become effective and attractive materials for the controlled release of drugs at pre-determined destinations. In the present study, a novel hydrogel system based on Prunus armeniaca gum (PAG) and acrylic acid (AA) was prepared by a free radical mechanism using N, N-methylene bisacrylamide (MBA) as cross-linker and potassium persulfate (KPS) as initiator. A series of hydrogels varying PAG, AA, and MBA concentration was developed to determine the impact of these components. Formulated hydrogels were characterized for pH-responsive swelling, drug release, gel content, and porosity. Structural analysis was performed by FTIR, XRD, and SEM analysis. TGA study was applied to assess thermal stability. Oral acute toxicity and in vivo drug release were performed in rabbits. Hydrogels exhibited pH-dependent swelling and drug release. Swelling, drug loading and release, and porosity increased by increasing PAG and AA concentration while decreased by increasing MBA. The gel content of formulations was increased by increasing all three components. FTIR studies confirmed the development of copolymeric networks and the loading of drug. XRD studies revealed that hydrogels were amorphous, and the crystalline drug was changed into an amorphous form during loading. TGA results indicated that hydrogels were stable up to 600 °C. Acute oral toxicity results confirm that hydrogels were nontoxic up to a dose of 2 g/kg body weight in rabbits. The pharmacokinetic evaluation revealed that hydrogels prolonged the availability of the drug and the peak plasma concentration of the drug was obtained in 6 h as compared to the oral solution of the drug. Tramadol hydrochloride (THC) was used as a model drug. Hence, pH-responsive swelling and release, nontoxic nature and improved pharmacokinetics support that PAG-based hydrogels may be considered as potential controlled-release polymeric carriers

Effects of Ribavirin on Thickness of Testicular Capsule in Albino Rats

Background and Objective: Ribavirin (RBV), due to its mutagenic property, exerts cytotoxic effects on the testicular seminiferous tubules and its interstitium in various experimental animals. However, no study was done on the morphology of testicular capsule. Therefore, the present experimental study is designed to observe the transient effects of RBV in different doses on the testicular capsule thickness in albino rats.Methods: A total of 72 sexually mature adult male albino rats were divided into four groups: A (control) and, B, C, D where RBV was administered intraperitoneally for 5 days in different doses (20, 100, and 200 mg/kg body weight, respectively). Group received distilled water intraperitoneally. Each group was further divided into three subgroups according to three sacrificial time points that were 20th, 40th, and 60th day from the last exposure to drug. Randomly selected rats from each group were sacrificed on every time point. Histological slides were prepared and changes were observed microscopically.Results: On 20th sacrificial day, the increase in the thickness of capsules was seen in all groups with subcapsular edema in comparison to control group (p &lt; 0.001). After discontinuation of drug, histological evidence of recovery in the form of decrease in the thickness of capsule with decrease in subcapsular edema were observed in low dose groups on 40th and 60th sacrificial days as compared to high dose groups which showed late recovery on both time points (p &lt; 0.001).Conclusion: The testicular capsular thickening induced by RBV is reversible after cessation of treatment. &nbsp;</p

Predicting retention times of naturally occurring phenolic compounds in reversed-phase liquid chromatography: a quantitative structure-retention relationship (QSRR) approach

Quantitative structure-retention relationships (QSRRs) have successfully been developed for naturally occurring phenolic compounds in a reversed-phase liquid chromatographic (RPLC) system. A total of 1519 descriptors were calculated from the optimized structures of the molecules using MOPAC2009 and DRAGON softwares. The data set of 39 molecules was divided into training and external validation sets. For feature selection and mapping we used step-wise multiple linear regression (SMLR), unsupervised forward selection followed by step-wise multiple linear regression (UFS-SMLR) and artificial neural networks (ANN). Stable and robust models with significant predictive abilities in terms of validation statistics were obtained with negation of any chance correlation. ANN models were found better than remaining two approaches. HNar, IDM, Mp, GATS2v, DISP and 3D-MoRSE (signals 22, 28 and 32) descriptors based on van der Waals volume, electronegativity, mass and polarizability, at atomic level, were found to have significant effects on the retention times. The possible implications of these descriptors in RPLC have been discussed. All the models are proven to be quite able to predict the retention times of phenolic compounds and have shown remarkable validation, robustness, stability and predictive performance

Study of Isothermal, Kinetic, and Thermodynamic Parameters for Adsorption of Cadmium: An Overview of Linear and Nonlinear Approach and Error Analysis

Reports about presence and toxicity of Cd2+ in different chemical industrial effluents prompted the researchers to explore some economical, rapid, sensitive, and accurate methods for its determination and removal from aqueous systems. In continuation of series of investigations, adsorption of Cd2+ onto the stem of Saccharum arundinaceum is proposed in the present work. Optimization of parameters affecting sorption potential of Cd2+ including pH, contact time, temperature, sorbent dose, and concentration of sorbate was carried out to determine best suited conditions for maximum removal of sorbate. To understand the nature of sorption process, linear and nonlinear forms of five sorption isotherms including Freundlich and Langmuir models were employed. Feasibility and viability of sorption process were evaluated by calculating kinetics and thermodynamics of the process, while error analysis suggested best fitted sorption model on sorption data. Thermodynamic studies demonstrated exothermic nature of reaction, while kinetic studies suggested pseudo-second order of reaction

Utilization of a Newly Developed Nanomaterial Based on Loading of Biochar with Hematite for the Removal of Cadmium Ions from Aqueous Media

In order to conserve the energy used for remediation of harmful metals from aqueous media, an adsorption process was performed. It is efficient and low-cost method with zero carbon emissions as compared to other methods. A hematite-based novel nanomaterial loaded onto biochar was utilized for the remediation of toxic cadmium metal ions from aqueous media. Saccharum munja has been employed as low-cost feedstock to prepare the biochar. Three adsorbents i.e., raw Saccharum munja (SM), Saccharum munja biochar (SMBC) and hematite-loaded Saccharum munja bichar (HLSMBC) were used in batch adsorption tests to study uptake of metal ions by optimizing the experimental parameters. Experimental data and calculated results revealed maximum sorption efficiency of Cd(II) removal was given by HLSMBC (72 ppm) and SMBC (67.73 ppm) as compared with SM (48.7 ppm). Among adsorption isotherms applied on work best fit for Cd(II) adsorption on SM was found for a Freundlich isotherm with high values of correlation coefficient R2 ≥ 0.9 for all sorbents and constant 1/n values between 0–1. Equilibrium results were evaluated using five different types of errors functions. Thermodynamic studies suggested feasible, spontaneous and endothermic nature of adsorption process, while, the ∆H parameter R2 ≥ 0.98 and rate constants K2 (0–1). Desorption process was also performed for storage, conservation and reuse of sorbent and sorbate materials