Reinforcement of Unsupported Enamel by Restorative Materials and Dentin Bonding Agents: An In Vitro Study

Objective: Preservation of unsupported occlusal enamel after removal of underlying carious dentin may result in maintenance of aesthetics as well as wear resistance against the opposing enamel. This study investigates the influence of different restorative materialsand bonding agents on reinforcement of unsupported enamel in molars and compares it with sound dentin.Materials and Methods: In this in vitro study, forty- five extracted human molars were selected and randomly divided into five groups of nine. All lingual cusps were cut off. The dentin underlying the buccal cusps was removed in all groups except the positive control.The negative control group received no restorations. After application of varnish and Panavia F, spherical amalgam (Sina) and after application of Single-Bond (3M), composite resin (Tetric Ceram) was used to replace missing dentin.All specimens were thermocycled, then mounted in acrylic resin using a surveyor. Lingual inclination of facial cusps was positioned horizontally. Load was applied by an Instron machine at a crosshead speed of 10 mm/min until fracture.Data were subjected to ANOVA (one way) and Post hoc Test (Duncan).Results: Statistically significant differences were found between the five groups (P<0.001); however, no significant difference was revealed between bonded amalgam and the positive control groups (P=0.762). Composite and amalgam had the same effect (P=0.642), while the composite and negative group had no significant difference(P=0.056).Conclusion: Bonded amalgam systems (Panavia F) could reinforce the undermined occlusal enamel effectively

Chemotype of damask rose with oleic acid (9 octadecenoic acid) and its antimicrobial effectiveness

Essential oils are natural products that have great antimicrobial potential value against many fungi and bacteria. Rosa damascena Mill. is one of the most important aromatic species of the Rosaceae family from which essential oil and economically valuable products can be obtained. The present study was designed to investigate the major compositions of the essential oil of this plant in Isfahan region of Iran and to identify its antibacterial and antifungal effects against 11 microorganisms causing human diseases and food spoilage. The essential oil was extracted by using the Clevenger apparatus and was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) technique. Its antimicrobial activity was evaluated by well diffusion, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericide concentration (MBC). The results showed that the most important compounds of the essential oil were nonadecane (24.72%), heneicosane (19.325%), oleic acid (17.63%), and citronellol (12.61%). The results also showed that the highest inhibition zone of rose essential oil was against Aspergillus brasiliensis (15.00 ± 0.00&nbsp;mm) and had a significant effect on Klebsiella pneumoniae (~ 8.00&nbsp;mm). Also the rose oil had a significant inhibition and lethal effect against Candida albicans (MIC and MBC ~ 125&nbsp;μg/mL), which is equivalent to the nystatin antibiotic (~ 125&nbsp;μg/mL). Therefore, the essential oil of Damask rose can be considered as an alternative natural product for the prevention and treatment of fungal diseases in humans and against food spoilage as well

Effects of ecological factors on the antioxidant potential and total phenol content of Scrophularia striata Boiss

Scrophularia striata, commonly known as figwort, is one of the most important medicinal plants that mainly grows in cold regions of the Zagros Mountains (West of Iran). Although the chemical composition of this plant species has not yet been explored, people living in Ilam province (W Iran) have used it for many years to treat different illnesses. The present study aims to analyze the effect of some ecological factors on the antioxidant potential and the amount of phenol present in this plant species, using a random factorial design with two factors (elevation and region) and three replicates. The fruits of the plant were gathered from three different elevations. They were collected from three regions of the Ilam province (Badreh, Dareshahr, and Dehloran) in June 2016, when the fruits appear. Moreover, to analyze different soil chemical and physical features, soil samples were gathered from a depth of 0.5 m under the shrubs. The antioxidant action of the methanol extract from the plant samples and the total amount of phenol compounds were measured using 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and the Folin-Ciocalteu method, respectively. The results showed that the effects of site and elevation, and the interaction between these factors, on the antioxidant potential and total phenol amount were significant with a probability of error of 1%. The maximum extract efficiency (19.37 ± 3.07%), antioxidant potential (126.5656 ± 0.96 µg/mL), and total amount of phenol (55.7689 ± 3.17 µg/mL) were obtained from Dareshahr at an elevation of 600 m above mean sea level. The minimum amount of total phenol (24.6544 ± 3.21 µg/ml) was recorded at the lowest elevation of Badreh, at which phosphorus, potassium, organic carbon, organic material, nitrogen, acidity, lime, and silt were present at the lowest amount. However, the antioxidant activity and total amount of phenol had a strong direct correlation in the two districts of Dareshahr and Badreh, but were reversely and strongly correlated in Dehloran. Therefore, it can be stated that Scrophularia striata has the potential for antioxidant activity, however, the complexity of the effect of ecological factors on one hand, and the emergence of different chemical processes in the plant under such effects on the other hand, has led to the synthesis of different compounds with antioxidant potential in the plant in different regions

INVESTIGATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PHASE ANGLE AND MICRO-ALBUMINURIA IN TYPE 2 DIABETIC PATIENTS WITH A HISTORY OF MORE THAN 5 YEARS OF THE DISEASE IN ILAM PROVINCE, IRAN

Introduction: Phase angle is the ratio between cell mass and fat-free tissue and a cell health indicator which is measurable through bio-impedance analysis with 50 KHZ alternating current and can be interpreted as a voltage and a wave-form current. Diabetes mellitus contains a group of metabolic disorders that are in common in terms of appearance characteristic of hyperglycemia. Micro-albuminuria of urine albumin amounts 30-300mg/24h and the higher values are for diagnostic diabetic nephropathy. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between Phase angle and micro-albuminuria in type 2 diabetic patients with a history of more than 5 years of the disease in the city of Ilam. Materials and methods: This is an analytical-practical case-control study and statistical society includes two case and control groups with an average age 52.06 +/- 6.69 years in case group and 50.02 +/- 5.42 years in the control group. The sample size in each group has been designated equal to 50 and data analysis is performed using SPSS and parametric and Non-parametric statistical methods and the related tests. Conclusion: The average Ph. A was obtained equal to 5.87 +/- 1.42 in the case group and 7.29 +/- 0.355 in the control group which statistically significant relationship exists between the two groups in Ph. A value (P<0.000). Average micro-albuminuria was 67.32 +/- 75.92 in the case group and 0.276 +/- 0.147 in the control group which there was a significant relationship statistically between the amount of micro-albuminuria within the both groups (P< 0.000). Discussion: By investigation of the relationship between ph. Angle and micro-albuminuria in diabetic patients it can be concluded that the amount Ph. A reduces with the increase of micro-albuminuria and by increasing micro-albuminuria, the variables of overall body water volume, intracellular water and extracellular water relatively increase and fat mass relatively decreases

Evaluation of the composition and antimicrobial activities of essential oils from four species of Lamiaceae Martinov native to Iran

In this study the essential oils obtained from four different plant species belonging to the Lamiaceae family were extracted by means of hydrodistillation and their composition and antimicrobial activity were evaluated. About 66 components were identified by using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and among all, thymol (67.7%), oleic acid (0.5-62.1%), (-)-caryophyllene oxide (0.4-24.8%), α-pinene (1.1-19.4%), 1,8-cineole (0.2-15.4%), palmitic acid (0.32-13.28%), ( +)spathulenol (11.16%), and germacrene D (0.3-10.3%) were the most abundant in all the species tested (i.e. Thymus daenensis, Nepeta sessilifolia, Hymenocrater incanus, and Stachys inflata). In particular, only the composition of essential oils from H. incanus was completely detected (99.13%), while that of the others was only partially detected. Oxygenated monoterpenes (75.57%) were the main compounds of essential oil from T. daenensis; sesquiterpenes hydrocarbons (26.88%) were the most abundant in S. inflata; oxygenated sesquiterpenes (41.22%) were mainly detected in H. incanus essential oil, while the essential oil from N. sessilifolia was mainly composed of non-terpene and fatty acids (77.18%). Due to their slightly different composition, also the antibacterial activity was affected by the essential oil tested. Indeed, the highest antibacterial and antifungal activities were obtained with the essential oil from T. daenensis by means of the inhibition halo (39 ± 1 and 25 ± 0&nbsp;mm) against Gram-positive strains such as Staphylococcus aureus and Aspergillus brasiliensis. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal bactericidal/fungicidal concentration (MBC/MFC) of the essential oils obtained from the four species varied from 16 to 2000&nbsp;μg/mL and were strictly affected by the type of microorganism tested. As an example, the essential oils from H. incanus and S. inflata were the most effective against the Gram-negative bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MIC 16 and 63&nbsp;μg/ml, respectively), which is considered one of the most resistant bacterial strain. Therefore, the essential oils obtained from the four species contained a suitable phytocomplexes with potential applications in different commercial area such as agriculture, food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. Moreover, these essential oils can be considered a valuable natural alternative to some synthetic antibiotics, thanks to their ability to control the growth of different bacteria and fungi

Population genetic structure of the white sardine, Sardinella albella, in the Persian Gulf and Sea of Oman by analysis of mitochondrial control region

Several studies on the white sardine: Sardinella albella, have focused on the identification of stock composition and behavior. In this study population genetic structure and historical demography of S. albella along the cost of the Persian Gulf and Sea of Oman were investigated with a 500-bp segment of mt-DNA control region. In total 40 samples were collected from 3 locations: Jask in Sea of Oman, Qeshm in Strait of Hormuz and Lengeh in the Persian Gulf during 2012-2013. 33 haplotype were obtained none of which were presented in all sampling sites. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) indicated low genetic differentiation among regions (F_ST=0.024, p<0.05). The average pair wise differences between regional population were small but significant (0.0158-0.165). Molecular variance explained by differences among three regions was significantly different from zero but the F_ST did not show clear phylogeographic isolation. This observation can support the conclusion that S. albella has a widespread dispersal potential

Comparison of antibacterial activities of Ircinia mutans extracts in two different seasons from Kish Island, Persian Gulf, Iran

Sponges, which constitute the phylum Porifera, are the most primitive of the multicellular animals, among all marine organisms screened. Marine sponges produce the largest number of structurally diversified natural products. In this study we investigated in vitro antimicrobial activity of Ircinia mutans collected from the Kish Island in the Persian Gulf against strains of bacteria Escherichia coli (ATCC 15224), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 25619), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 1764), and Bacillus subtilis spizizenii (ATCC 6633). Diethyl etter, methanol and aqueous extracts of sponge were evaluated by using the Bacterial Broth Dilution Method. The results showed that the aqueous extracts didn’t have any antibacterial activity. Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MIC) of the winter diethyl etter extract was 2 mg/ml for E.coli and 20 mg/ml for P. aeruginosa, whereas the summer diethyl etter extract and both of methanol extracts did not show any activity. The MIC and MBC (Minimum Bacterial Concentration) of summer diethyl etter extracts were 2 mg/ml and 3mg/ml against S. aureus; and 5mg/ml and 10mg/ml when tested on B. subtilis. The MIC and MBC of winter diethyl etter extracts were measured as 1.5 mg/ml and 2mg/ml against S. aurous; and 5mg/ml and 10mg/ml when examined on B. subtilis. Summer and winter methanol and aqueous extracts of I. mutans did not show any activity against these bacteria. Therefore secondary metabolite solutions in diethyl etter contain components with antibacterial properties and can be used as antibiotics products

Sustainable ammonia production processes

Due to the important role of ammonia as a fertilizer in the agricultural industry and its promising prospects as an energy carrier, many studies have recently attempted to find the most environmentally benign, energy efficient, and economically viable production process for ammonia synthesis. The most commonly utilized ammonia production method is the Haber-Bosch process. The downside to this technology is the high greenhouse gas emissions, surpassing 2.16 kgCO2-eq/kg NH3 and high amounts of energy usage of over 30 GJ/tonne NH3 mainly due to the strict operational conditions at high temperature and pressure. The most widely adopted technology for sustainable hydrogen production used for ammonia synthesis is water electrolysis coupled with renewable technologies such as wind and solar. In general, a water electrolyzer requires a continuous supply of pretreated water with high purity levels for its operation. Moreover, for production of 1 tonne of hydrogen, 9 tonnes of water is required. Based on this data, for the production of the same amount of ammonia through water electrolysis, 233.6 million tonnes/yr of water is required. In this paper, a critical review of different sustainable hydrogen production processes and emerging technologies for sustainable ammonia synthesis along with a comparative life cycle assessment of various ammonia production methods has been carried out. We find that through the review of each of the studied technologies, either large amounts of GHG emissions are produced or high volumes of pretreated water is required or a combination of both these factors occur

Nanotechnology for natural medicine: Formulation of neem oil loaded phospholipid vesicles modified with argan oil as a strategy to protect the skin from oxidative stress and promote wound healing

Neem oil, a plant-derived product rich in bioactives, has been incorporated in liposomes and hyalurosomes modified by adding argan oil and so called argan-liposomes and argan-hyaluro-somes. Argan oil has also been added to the vesicles because of its regenerative and protective effects on skin. In the light of this, vesicles were specifically tailored to protect the skin from oxidative stress and treat lesions. Argan-liposomes were the smallest vesicles (~113 nm); the addition of sodium hyaluronate led to an increase in vesicle size (~143 nm) but it significantly improved vesicle stability during storage. In vitro studies confirmed the free radical scavenging activity of formula-tions, irrespective of their composition. Moreover, rheological investigation confirmed the higher viscosity of argan-hyalurosomes, which avoid formulation leakage after application. In vitro studies performed by using the most representative cells of the skin (i.e., keratinocytes and fibroblasts) un-derlined the ability of vesicles, especially argan-liposomes and argan-hyalurosomes, to counteract ox-idative stress induced in these cells by using hydrogen peroxide and to improve the proliferation and migration of cells ensuring the more rapid and even complete closure of the wound (scratch assay)