Effect of temperature on antibiotic properties of garlic (Allium sativum L.) and ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.)

Garlic and ginger are the two most common herbs used in traditional medicine practice for their antimicrobial activities. Moreover, in many countries, they are also used with boiled food preparations, which can destroy their important medicinal properties. We conducted an agar well diffusion assay with aqueous extracts of  garlic and ginger to observe the effect of temperature on their antibiotic properties against three human  pathogenic bacteria namely Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The results  show that in general, garlic has significantly greater zone of inhibition (mean = 23.3 mm) than ginger (mean = 19.0 mm) at both, room temperature (26°C) (t = 4.91; á = 0.05; P < 0.01) and at higher temperature  (100°C); garlic (mean = 15.6 mm); ginger (mean = 0 mm) (t = 17.76; df = 2; á = 0.05; P < 0.001). On  observation, it was found that although higher temperature significantly reduced the antibacterial properties of both plants, nevertheless it affected ginger more (t = 32.9, df = 2; á = 0.05; P < 0.001) than garlic (t = 11.5, df = 2; á = 0.05; P < 0.01). From our study, we can conclude that garlic has more prevailing and sustainable antibiotic properties than ginger under normal and higher temperature regimes. We recommend that garlic not only has very promising potential for a broad-spectrum antibiotic drug against many pathogenic bacteria, but  also significantly sustains its antibacterial property than ginger even with boiled food preparations. In addition, it can be used as an effective source of natural herbal antibiotics with or without boiling.Key words: Garlic, ginger, medicinal plants, antibiotic properties, naturopathy

Critical analysis of artificial teeth for endodontic teaching

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of artificial teeth for endodontic teaching. A questionnaire was prepared and submitted to 18 professors of Endodontics from different Brazilian universities to evaluate the following features of five cloudy resin artificial teeth: internal and external anatomy; coronal chambers regarding their size, shape and canal path; root canal regarding their size, shape and position; fulfillment of the pulp chamber and root canals by considering the texture, quantity, color, and ease of handling; resin hardness and visualization of the radiographic image. The results presented favorable opinions, in terms of internal and external anatomy, coronal pulp chambers and root canal and handling and radiographic imaging. The contents of the pulp space and hardness of the teeth were considered satisfactory. The average grade assigned to the artificial tooth quality was 8.4, in a 0-10 scale. In conclusion, the artificial teeth have potential to replace the natural teeth in endodontic teaching; however, improvements are still necessary to reach a better quality model

Prognostic power of conventional echocardiography in individuals without history of cardiovascular diseases: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Echocardiographic abnormalities are associated with a higher incidence of adverse cardiovascular outcomes. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate whether echocardiographic abnormalities are predictors of cardiovascular events in individuals without previous cardiovascular diseases. The PubMed, Scopus, and SciELO databases were searched for longitudinal studies investigating the association between echocardiographic abnormalities and cardiovascular events among individuals without known cardiovascular diseases. Two independent reviewers analyzed data on the number of participants, age and sex, echocardiographic alterations, follow-up time, and cardiovascular outcomes. The meta-analysis estimated the risk ratio (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Heterogeneity was assessed using I2 test. Twenty-two longitudinal studies met the eligibility criteria, comprising a total of 55,603 patients. Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) was associated with non-fatal cardiovascular events (RR 2.16; 95% CI 1.22-3.84), death from cardiovascular disease (RR 2.58; 95% CI 1.83- 3.64), and all-cause mortality (RR 2.02; 95% CI 1.34-3.04). Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) and left atrial dilation (LA) were associated with fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular events (RR 2.01; 95% CI 1.32-3.07) and (RR 1.78; 95% CI 1.16-2.73), respectively. Aortic root dilation was associated with non-fatal cardiovascular events (RR 1.25; 95% CI 1.09-1.43). In conclusion, LVH, LVDD, dilations of the LA, and of the aortic root were associated with an increased risk of adverse events in individuals without previous cardiovascular diseases. This study suggests that simple data obtained on conventional echocardiography can be an important predictor of cardiovascular outcomes in a low-risk population

Salt effect on physiological, biochemical and anatomical structures of two Origanum majorana varieties (Tunisian and Canadian)

In this study, we evaluated the salt concentration effect on plant growth, mineral composition, antioxidant responses and anatomical structure of two varieties of Origanum majorana after exposure to NaCl treatment. Our results show an inclusive behaviour of the two varieties, since the majority of sodium was exported and accumulated in their aerial parts. The Canadian variety (CV) appeared relatively more tolerant to salt than the Tunisian one (TV). Transversal section of leaves showed a thickening of dorsal and ventral cuticle, more importantly in CV than in TV, in the presence and in absence of salt. This was accompanied by an increase in the length of palisade cells, and the width of spongy collenchyma lacuna. The stem had a subquadrangular shape in TV and quadrangular in the Canadian variety. At mature stage, the stem pit was reabsorbed in the TV and replaced by a large cavity, whereas it remained unchanged in CV. The relative salt tolerance of the CV was related to: (1) a good selectivity in favour of K+: (2) a strong peroxidase activity and (3) an increase in the lengthening of palisade cell accompanied with an increase of lacunae in spongy parenchyma in CV.Key words: Origanum majorana, salinity, growth, mineral nutrition, leaves, stems, anatomical, antioxidant

Análise da resposta tecidual de dois cimentos endodônticos

On the present study, two root canal sealers have been comparatively analysed, Sealapex® and Apexit®, in relation to its biological compatibility to subcutaneous tissue. For this analysis, twelve male rats weighing in average 250 g have been used, divided in three groups, according with its experimental time, 7, 21 and 45 days. Making part of the study, four incisions on the dorsal area of each rat have been made, where were implanted four polyetilene tubes, filled with the testing root canal sealers. After seven, twenty-one and forty-five days of the surgery, the animals have been sacrified and the tissues have been laboratory processed to obtain the histological cut coloured by hematoxilin-eosin, and subsequent quality analysis of the results. From this results, were verified that both sealers caused tissue's intense macrofagic activity, in the experimental time. Apexit caused a more agressive tissue reaction, in relation to the Sealapex, with also higher macrofagic activity. Sealapex showed better results in comparison to inflamatory intensitivity and tissue repair level.No presente estudo foram analisados comparativamente dois cimentos endodônticos, Sealapex® e Apexit®, em relação à sua compatibilidade biológica, em tecido subcutâneo. Para tanto, foram utilizados doze ratos, machos, pesando em média 250g, divididos em três grupos, de acordo com o tempo de observação de 7, 21 e 45 dias. Como parte do estudo, foram feitas quatro incisões na região dorsal de cada rato, onde foram implantados quatro tubos de polietileno preenchidos com os cimentos em teste. Decorridos sete, vinte e um e quarenta e cinco dias da cirurgia, os animais foram sacrificados e os tecidos passaram por tramitação laboratorial para obtenção de cortes histológicos corados por hematoxilina-eosina, e posterior análise qualitativa dos resultados. Verificou-se que houve constante atividade macrofágica com o uso dos dois materiais, tendo o cimento Apexit® provocado uma reação tecidual mais agressiva em relação ao cimento Sealapex®, ao mesmo tempo em que, este último, mostrou melhores resultados quando analisadas a intensidade inflamatória provocada e a evolução da reparação tecidual

MRI Findings in People with Epilepsy and Nodding Syndrome in an Area Endemic for Onchocerciasis: An Observational Study.

Onchocerciasis has been implicated in the pathogenesis of epilepsy. The debate on a potential causal relationship between Onchocerca volvulus and epilepsy has taken a new direction in the light of the most recent epidemic of nodding syndrome. To document MRI changes in people with different types of epilepsy and investigate whether there is an association with O. volvulus infection. In a prospective study in southern Tanzania, an area endemic for O. volvulus with a high prevalence of epilepsy and nodding syndrome, we performed MRI on 32 people with epilepsy, 12 of which suffered from nodding syndrome. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of O. volvulus was performed in skin and CSF. The most frequent abnormalities seen on MRI was atrophy (twelve patients (37.5%)) followed by intraparenchymal pathologies such as changes in the hippocampus (nine patients (28.1%)), gliotic lesions (six patients (18.8%)) and subcortical signal abnormalities (three patients (9.4%)). There was an overall trend towards an association of intraparenchymal cerebral pathologies and infection with O. volvulus based on skin PCR (Fisher's Exact Test p=0.067) which was most pronounced in children and adolescents with nodding syndrome compared to those with other types of epilepsy (Fisher's Exact Test, p=0.083). Contrary to skin PCR results, PCR of CSF was negative in all patients. The observed trend towards an association of intraparenchymal cerebral pathological results on MRI and a positive skin PCR for O. volvulus despite negative PCR of CSF is intriguing and deserves further attention

Labor Waste in Housing Construction Projects: An empirical study

Purpose - High-level labor waste is a major challenge in construction projects. This paper aims to identify, quantify and categorize labor waste in the context of Iranian housing construction projects. Design/methodology/approach – This research uses a case study approach, with empirical data collected through direct observations and semi-structured interviews. Findings – Having triangulated the findings from the literature review and empirical studies, a list of eight types of waste was derived for the thirteen observed laborers in ten case study projects. The empirical studies allowed the labor waste identified from the literature to be verified and refined by considering it in the context of the observed activities, and led to two new types of waste being identified which were not considered in the literature. Findings indicate that nearly 62% of laborers’ time is spent on non-value adding activities. It appeared that ‘unnecessary movement’, ‘waiting’ and ‘indirect work’ make up the highest labor waste. Research limitations/implications - This research focuses only on onsite resource flows in a housing construction site. It does not include offsite flows such as material delivery to site. Originality/value - The findings have provided substantial evidence on type and amount of labor waste and provide a solid basis to stimulate construction actors to participate in reducing labor waste and improving productivity

Retinal Vascular Occlusion after COVID-19 Vaccination : More Coincidence than Causal Relationship? Data from a Retrospective Multicentre Study

Background: To investigate whether vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 is associated with the onset of retinal vascular occlusive disease (RVOD). Methods: In this multicentre study, data from patients with central and branch retinal vein occlusion (CRVO and BRVO), central and branch retinal artery occlusion (CRAO and BRAO), and anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (AION) were retrospectively collected during a 2-month index period (1 June–31 July 2021) according to a defined protocol. The relation to any previous vaccination was documented for the consecutive case series. Numbers of RVOD and COVID-19 vaccination were investigated in a case-by-case analysis. A case– control study using age- and sex-matched controls from the general population (study participants from the Gutenberg Health Study) and an adjusted conditional logistic regression analysis was conducted. Results: Four hundred and twenty-one subjects presenting during the index period (61 days) were enrolled: one hundred and twenty-one patients with CRVO, seventy-five with BRVO, fifty-six with CRAO, sixty-five with BRAO, and one hundred and four with AION. Three hundred and thirty-two (78.9%) patients had been vaccinated before the onset of RVOD. The vaccines given were BNT162b2/BioNTech/Pfizer (n = 221), followed by ChadOx1/AstraZeneca (n = 57), mRNA1273/Moderna (n = 21), and Ad26.COV2.S/Johnson & Johnson (n = 11; unknown n = 22). Our case–control analysis integrating population-based data from the GHS yielded no evidence of an increased risk after COVID-19 vaccination (OR = 0.93; 95% CI: 0.60–1.45, p = 0.75) in connection with a vaccination within a 4-week window. Conclusions: To date, there has been no evidence of any association between SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and a higher RVOD risk