Antibiotics prescribing practices in oral implantology among jordanian dentists. A cross sectional, observational study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In oral implantology, there is no consensus on the most appropriate regimen for antibiotics prescribing, the decision to prescribe antibiotic is usually based on procedure, patient and clinician related factors. The aim of this study was to investigate the rationale of antibiotic prescribing among Jordanian clinicians who practice oral implantology.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>The target sample for the study was the 250 Jordan Dental Implant Group members. A five page questionnaire contained 41 questions, both closed and open questions were used to collect data. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS Windows 16.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Descriptive statistics were generated.</p> <p>The response rate was (70.4%) 176/250. Mean age was 37.2 yrs, 49.4% always prescribe antibiotics mainly oral amoxicillin and amoxicillin with clavulinic acid. Antibiotics prescribing increased with flap raising, multiple implants and sinus or bone augmentation. Patient medical condition, periodontitis and oral hygiene were the most important clinical factors in antibiotic prescribing, non-clinical factors were; reading scientific materials, courses and lectures, knowledge gained during training, and the effectiveness and previous experience with the drug.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Wide variations in antibiotics types, routes, dose and duration of administration were found. Recommendations on antibiotic prescribing are needed to prevent antibiotic overprescribing and misuse.</p

The synthetic peptide P111-136 derived from the C-terminal domain of heparin affin regulatory peptide inhibits tumour growth of prostate cancer PC-3 cells

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Heparin affin regulatory peptide (HARP), also called pleiotrophin, is a heparin-binding, secreted factor that is overexpressed in several tumours and associated to tumour growth, angiogenesis and metastasis. The C-terminus part of HARP composed of amino acids 111 to 136 is particularly involved in its biological activities and we previously established that a synthetic peptide composed of the same amino acids (P111-136) was capable of inhibiting the biological activities of HARP. Here we evaluate the ability of P111-136 to inhibit <it>in vitro </it>and <it>in vivo </it>the growth of a human tumour cell line PC-3 which possess an HARP autocrine loop.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A total lysate of PC-3 cells was incubated with biotinylated P111-136 and pulled down for the presence of the HARP receptors in Western blot. <it>In vitro</it>, the P111-136 effect on HARP autocrine loop in PC-3 cells was determined by colony formation in soft agar. <it>In vivo</it>, PC-3 cells were inoculated in the flank of athymic nude mice. Animals were treated with P111-136 (5 mg/kg/day) for 25 days. Tumour volume was evaluated during the treatment. After the animal sacrifice, the tumour apoptosis and associated angiogenesis were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. <it>In vivo </it>anti-angiogenic effect was confirmed using a mouse Matrigel™ plug assay.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Using pull down experiments, we identified the HARP receptors RPTPβ/ζ, ALK and nucleolin as P111-136 binding proteins. <it>In vitro</it>, P111-136 inhibits dose-dependently PC-3 cell colony formation. Treatment with P111-136 inhibits significantly the PC-3 tumour growth in the xenograft model as well as tumour angiogenesis. The angiostatic effect of P111-136 on HARP was also confirmed using an <it>in vivo </it>Matrigel™ plug assay in mice</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our results demonstrate that P111-136 strongly inhibits the mitogenic effect of HARP on <it>in vitro </it>and <it>in vivo </it>growth of PC-3 cells. This inhibition could be linked to a direct or indirect binding of this peptide to the HARP receptors (ALK, RPTPβ/ζ, nucleolin). <it>In vivo</it>, the P111-136 treatment significantly inhibits both the PC-3 tumour growth and the associated angiogenesis. Thus, P111-136 may be considered as an interesting pharmacological tool to interfere with tumour growth that has now to be evaluated in other cancer types.</p

Climate Variability and Agricultural Policy in Morocco

Two distinctive features seem to be driving the agricultural sector in Morocco. The first is what appears to be an increased frequency of drought, with six of the last ten years characterized as drought years. The second is the continued protective policy that the government maintains on different agricultural commodities, primarily cereals. We employ an enhanced general equilibrium model that examines the long run impacts of trade liberalization policy under alternative climate outcomes. Our results indicate that returns to factors of production are bid up under favorable climate and decline dramatically in the bad state of nature. This behavior is transmitted to households’ welfare. With complete wheat trade liberalization, we find that landowners are the primary losers irrespective of the state of nature realized. The urban sector gains. There is also evidence that livestock capital help mitigate the negative impacts of liberalization in the event of drought, especially for small farmers

Preincisional administration of intravenous or subcutaneous infiltration of low-dose ketamine suppresses postoperative pain after appendectomy

Azim Honarmand, Mohammadreza Safavi, Hasan KarakyAnesthesiology and Critical Care Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, IranBackground: Ketamine, an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist, can suppress hyperalgesia and allodynia. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of preincisional intravenous or subcutaneous infiltration of ketamine for postoperative pain relief after appendectomy.Methods: Ninety patients, aged 18&amp;ndash;60 years, scheduled for appendectomy was enrolled in this study. Patients were divided into three groups of 30 each and received subcutaneous infiltration of ketamine 0.5 mg/kg (KS), intravenous ketamine 0.5 mg/kg (KI), or subcutaneous infiltration of normal saline 3 mL (C) before surgery. Visual analog scale (VAS) values and analgesic consumption were evaluated for 24 hours after surgery.Results: VAS scores were significantly lower at the time of arrival in the recovery room, and at 10, 20, and 30 minutes thereafter in group KI and group KS compared with group C (P &amp;lt;&amp;nbsp;0.05). VAS scores were not significantly different between group KI and group KS at these intervals. Postoperative VAS scores were significantly lower at 6, 12, 18, and 24 hours in group KI compared with group C (P &amp;lt; 0.05). In group KS, the postoperative VAS score was significantly lower at 6 hours (P &amp;lt; 0.05). VAS scores were significantly lower at 12, 18, and 24 hours after surgery in group KI compared with group KS (P &amp;lt; 0.05).Conclusion: A 0.5 mg/kg dose of ketamine given at approximately 15 minutes before surgery by the intravenous route provided analgesia for 24 hours after surgery in patients undergoing appendectomy.Keywords: pain, postoperative, analgesia, ketamine, appendectom

Development and Validation of a New Zero-Dimensional Semi-Physical NOx Emission Model for a D.I. Diesel Engine Using Simulated Combustion Process

International audienc

New structural insights into mechanically interlocked polymers revealed by ion mobility mass spectrometry

Mechanically interlocked polymers can possess significant additional physical properties, in comparison to those associated with their constituent parts. Their unique properties make them attractive for a range of potential applications, such as as biomaterials and molecular machines. Their efficient and reproducible synthesis is therefore of much interest. Both their synthesis and subsequent characterization are intriguing yet demanding. The properties of mechanically interlocked polymeric systems depend not only on the properties of their individual components but also on the topology of the subsequent product. Here traveling wave ion mobility mass spectrometry has been used to investigate the structural properties of a polyrotaxane system. Ion mobility studies reveal that this system remains linear in form with increase in size. Both ion mobility studies and tandem mass spectrometry studies indicate that the macrocycle preferentially remains associated with the ammonium moiety of the polymeric repeat unit and is impeded from moving freely along the axle. This is consistent with NMR observations of the average structure. Analysis of mechanically interlocked polymers by ion mobility mass spectrometry provides additional structural insights into these systems relating to dynamics, heterogeneity, and topology. This molecule-specific information is vital in order to understand the origin of a system’s functional properties