Evaluation of antibacterial efficacy of Chitosan, Chlorhexidine, Propolis and Sodium hypochlorite on Enterococcus faecalis biofilm : an in vitro study

Long term successful root canal treatment requires effective debridement and disinfection of root canal system. Persistent periradicular lesions are usually associated with Enterococccus faecalis. Prompt research for natural alternatives for irrigation is mainly due to the constant increase in antibiotic resistant strains and side effects caused by synthetic drugs. Sodium hypochlorite; the gold standard for irrigation has many disadvantages. Therefore, the present study was aimed to explore newer irrigants probably be as more effective and at the same time would be less irritating to the tissues than NaOCl. Ninety extracted human mandibular premolars were biomechanically prepared, vertically sectioned, placed in tissue culture wells exposing the root canal surface to E. faecalis to form a biofilm. At the end of 3rd week, all groups were irrigated with 3 ml of test solutions and control for 10 minutes. The samples were then scraped with a scalpel, inoculated on tryptone soy agar plates and incubated for 24 hours at 37ºC. The plates were then subjected to digital colony counter and evaluated for E. faecalisgrowth. The growth was statistically analysed by ANOVA and Post Hoc Tukey tests. Chitosan + Chlorhexidine, NaOCl and Chlorhexidine showed no statistically significant difference, whereas all the other inter?group differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). Chitosan + Chlorhexidine, Chlorhexidine and Propolis were found to be as efficacious as sodium hypochlorite. The use of natural alternatives as root canal irrigation solutions might prove to be advantageous considering several unfavorable properties of NaOCl

Interactions between the jet and disk wind in a nearby radio intermediate quasar III Zw 2

Disk winds and jets are ubiquitous in active galactic nuclei (AGN), and how these two components interact remains an open question. We study the radio properties of a radio-intermediate quasar III Zw 2. We detect two jet knots J1 and J2 on parsec scales, which move at a mildly apparent superluminal speed of $1.35\,c$. Two $\gamma$-ray flares were detected in III Zw 2 in 2009--2010, corresponding to the primary radio flare in late 2009 and the secondary radio flare in early 2010. The primary 2009 flare was found to be associated with the ejection of J2. The secondary 2010 flare occurred at a distance of $\sim$0.3 parsec from the central engine, probably resulting from the collision of the jet with the accretion disk wind. The variability characteristics of III Zw 2 (periodic radio flares, unstable periodicity, multiple quasi-periodic signals and possible harmonic relations between them) can be explained by the global instabilities of the accretion disk. These instabilities originating from the outer part of the warped disk propagate inwards and can lead to modulation of the accretion rate and consequent jet ejection. At the same time, the wobbling of the outer disk may also lead to oscillations of the boundary between the disk wind and the jet tunnel, resulting in changes in the jet-wind collision site. III Zw 2 is one of the few cases observed with jet-wind interactions, and the study in this paper is of general interest for gaining insight into the dynamic processes in the nuclear regions of AGN.Comment: accepted by Ap

Design and evaluation of virtual human mediated tasks for assessment of depression and anxiety

Virtual human technologies are now being widely explored as therapy tools for mental health disorders including depression and anxiety. These technologies leverage the ability of the virtual agents to engage in naturalistic social interactions with a user to elicit behavioural expressions which are indicative of depression and anxiety. Research efforts have focused on optimising the human-like expressive capabilities of the virtual human, but less attention has been given to investigating the effect of virtual human mediation on the expressivity of the user. In addition, it is still not clear what an optimal task is or what task characteristics are likely to sustain long term user engagement. To this end, this paper describes the design and evaluation of virtual human-mediated tasks in a user study of 56 participants. Half the participants complete tasks guided by a virtual human, while the other half are guided by text on screen. Self-reported PHQ9 scores, biosignals and participants' ratings of tasks are collected. Findings show that virtual-human mediation influences behavioural expressiveness and this observation differs for different depression severity levels. It further shows that virtual human mediation improves users' disposition towards tasks

Circulating microparticles: square the circle

Background: The present review summarizes current knowledge about microparticles (MPs) and provides a systematic overview of last 20 years of research on circulating MPs, with particular focus on their clinical relevance. Results: MPs are a heterogeneous population of cell-derived vesicles, with sizes ranging between 50 and 1000 nm. MPs are capable of transferring peptides, proteins, lipid components, microRNA, mRNA, and DNA from one cell to another without direct cell-to-cell contact. Growing evidence suggests that MPs present in peripheral blood and body fluids contribute to the development and progression of cancer, and are of pathophysiological relevance for autoimmune, inflammatory, infectious, cardiovascular, hematological, and other diseases. MPs have large diagnostic potential as biomarkers; however, due to current technological limitations in purification of MPs and an absence of standardized methods of MP detection, challenges remain in validating the potential of MPs as a non-invasive and early diagnostic platform. Conclusions: Improvements in the effective deciphering of MP molecular signatures will be critical not only for diagnostics, but also for the evaluation of treatment regimens and predicting disease outcomes

Smoke and the eyes : A review of the harmful effects of wildfire smoke and air pollution on the ocular surface

Wildfires are occurring worldwide with greater frequency and intensity. Wildfires, as well as other sources of air pollution including environmental tobacco smoke, household biomass combustion, agricultural burning, and vehicular emissions, release large amounts of toxic substances into the atmosphere. The ocular surface is constantly exposed to the ambient air and is hence vulnerable to damage from air pollutants. This review describes the detrimental effects of wildfire smoke and air pollution on the ocular surface and resultant signs and symptoms. The latest relevant evidence is synthesised and critically evaluated. A mechanism for the pathophysiology of ocular surface damage will be proposed considering the existing literature on respiratory effects of air pollution. Current strategies to reduce human exposure to air pollutants are discussed and specific possible approaches to protect the ocular surface and manage air pollution induced ocular surface damage are suggested. Further avenues of research are suggested to understand how acute and chronic air pollution exposure affects the ocular surface including the short and long-term implications.</p

Airway epithelial cells prime plasmacytoid dendritic cells to respond to pathogens via secretion of growth factors.

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (PDCs) are critical for defense against respiratory viruses because of their propensity to secrete high levels of type I interferons (IFN). The functions of PDCs in the lung can be influenced by airway epithelial cells. We examined the effect of human primary bronchial epithelial cells (PBECs) on PDC functions by performing RNA-sequencing of PDCs after co-culture with air liquid interface differentiated PBECs. Functional analysis revealed that PDCs co-cultured with PBECs displayed upregulation of type I IFN production and response genes. Upregulated transcripts included those encoding cytosolic sensors of DNA, ZBP-1,IRF-3, and NFkB as well as genes involved in amplification of the IFN response, such as IFNAR1, JAK/STAT, ISG15. In keeping with the RNA-seq data, we observe increased secretion of type I IFN and other cytokines in response to influenza in PDCs co-cultured with PBECs. The PDCs also primed Th1 responses in T cells. The enhanced response of PDCs co-cultured with PBECs was due to the action of growth factors, GMCSF, GCSF, and VEGF, which were secreted by PBECs on differentiation. These data highlight possible mechanisms to enhance the production of type-I IFN in the airways, which is critical for host defense against respiratory infections

Correction: Airway epithelial cells prime plasmacytoid dendritic cells to respond to pathogens via secretion of growth factors.

The original version of this Article contained an error in the spelling of the author Hannah Nguyen, which was incorrectly given as Hannah Ngyuen. This has now been corrected in both the PDF and HTML versions of the Article

Antibacterial efficacy of Melaleuca alternifolia (Tea tree oil), Curcuma longa (Turmeric), 2% chlorhexidine, and 5% sodium hypochlorite against Enterococcus faecalis: An in vitro study

Aim: To evaluate and compare the antibacterial efficacy of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree oil), Curcumalonga (turmeric), 2% chlorhexidine (CHX), and 5% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) against Enterococcus faecalis. Materials and Methods: Agar plates were prepared using tryptone soya agar. Cultures of E. faecalis were grown in tryptone soya broth. Agar well diffusion method was performed and the plates were incubated at 37΀C for 24 h. The zones of inhibition were recorded. The readings were subjected to statistical analysis using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey′s post hoc test. P-value was considered significant at P < 0.05. Results: Maximum antibacterial efficacy was exhibited by 2% CHX, followed by 5% NaOCl and C. longa with no statistically significant difference between them. It was followed by M. alternifolia (Tea tree oil). Ethanol and saline showed the least antibacterial action. Conclusion: According to the results of this study, C. longa and M. alternifolia can be used as an alternative root canal irrigant, although long-term in vivo studies are warranted

Changing Care: Applying the Transtheoretical Model of Change to Embed Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Long-Term Care Research in Canada

Healthcare policy reform is evident when considering the past, present and future of long-term care (LTC) in Canada. Some of the most pressing issues facing the LTC sector include the changing demographic composition in Canadian LTC homes, minimal consideration for the role of intersectionality in LTC data collection and analysis, and the expanding need to engage diverse participants and knowledge users. Using the Transtheoretical Model of Change (TTMC) as a framework, we consider opportunities to address intersectionality in LTC research. Engaging diverse knowledge users in LTC (e.g., unpaid caregivers, paid care staff), community (e.g., advocacy groups, service providers) and policy decision-makers (e.g., provincial government) is crucial. Empowering individuals to participate, modifying environments to support engagement, and facilitating ongoing partnerships with knowledge users are critical aspects of change efforts. Addressing structural barriers (e.g., accessibility, capacity, jurisdictional policies, and mandates) to research in LTC is also essential. The TTMC offers a framework for planning and enacting individual, organizational, and system-level changes for the future of LTC