Evaluation of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Dental Interns about Using Antibiotics in Pediatric Dentistry

Introduction: Antimicrobial resistance is one of the ten threats identified by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2019, since it affects modern healthcare and the effective prevention and treatment of an ever-increasing range of infections. Recent estimates of the burden of antimicrobial resistance are very significant, with more than half a million cases of infection with selected antibiotic-resistant bacteria or new emerging resistant pathogens occurring in Europe; of note, data regarding antimicrobial resistance in low-income countries are largely unknown, increasing the overall risk of mortality, in particular in surgical procedures Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practice of dental interns at Future University toward antibiotic drug use. Subjects and Methods: The study included 71 dental students (interns) from the Faculty of Oral and Dental Medicine, Future University. Previous validated questionnaire was distributed amongst the participants so as to assess their knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding antibiotic use and its resistance. Data was analysed using chi square test and SPSS 20®. Results: Out of a total 71 dental interns, 47.9 % were males and 52.1% were females. On average, interns scored higher in practice score followed by attitude and knowledge scores. The average practice score was 80.3% compared to 54.9% for attitude and 49.3% for knowledge. The results suggest that overall, female interns scored better than male interns on KAP of antibiotic use. Conclusion: It was concluded that participants were well aware of the issue of bacterial resistance. Their practices demonstrated varying degrees of deviation from the AAPD\u27s antibiotic prescription recommendations, especially in the form of over-prescriptions in instances when antibiotics were unnecessary

Fraudulence Risk Strategic Assessment of Processed Meat Products

 A total of 450 samples of different meat products (luncheon chicken, luncheon meat, sausage, beef burger, minced meat, and kofta) were examined. Fifty samples of each type of product were collected from different supermarkets in Assiut City. All of the samples were analysed by different microscopy techniques (light, fluorescence, histochemical microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM)) for the detection of meat adulteration. Haematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used for general histological examinations. Different histochemical techniques were used to stain paraffinised sections. The adulterated tissues detected were the nuchal ligament, large elastic blood vessels, muscular artery, elastic fibers, lung, cardiac muscle fibers, tendon, spongy bone, bone of immature animals, adipose tissue, cartilage (hyaline and white fibrocartilage), and smooth muscle of visceral organs. SEM detected contamination of the minced meat by bacteria and yeast. Fluorescence microscopy was used as an effective method for the detection of bone and cartilage. Interestingly, the stained acidophilic cytoplasm of skeletal muscle changed to basophilic, and the skeletal muscle was suspected to be diseased. The findings of the present work provide qualitative evaluations of the detection of unauthorised tissues in different meat products using different effective histological techniques

Species adulteration in raw milk samples using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism

Background and Aim: Milk adulteration is pivotal because it leads to worse effects in public health as human adverse reactions with clinical signs ranged from gastrointestinal signs to anaphylactic shock. This study was carried out to estimate the prevalence of adulteration in buffalo's milk sold in Assiut City, Egypt. Materials and Methods: A total of 50 raw buffalo's milk samples were collected and examined for adulteration by addition of cow's milk. The examination carried out by applying polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism technique using cytochrome b (cyt b) gene primers and Hinf I enzymes. The size of target gene was 360 bp in both animal species and amplicon can be digested using Hinf I enzyme, this restriction enzyme divided the essential band to clear three bands at 360, 210, and 150 bp in cows' milk, while, the enzyme could not be cleaved the amplicon in buffalo's samples. Results: The obtained results cleared that the incidence of adulteration of buffalo's milk very high percentage reaches 90%. Conclusion: It could be concluded that the raw buffalo's milk sold in Assiut City subject to fraudulent practice and thus can lead to public health hazards

Nanostructured lipid carriers loaded with simvastatin: effect of PEG/glycerides on characterization, stability, cellular uptake efficiency and <i>in vitro</i> cytotoxicity

<p><b>Objective:</b> The aim of this study is to evaluate the use of PEG/glycerides of different HLB; oleoyl macrogol-6-glycerides (Labrafil^® M 1944 CS) and caprylocaproylmacrogol-8-glycerides (Labrasol^®), compared to Labrafac lipophile^® as PEG-free glyceride in the preparation of nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs). PEG/glycerides are suggested to perform a dual function; as the oily component, and as the PEG-containing substrate required for producing the PEGylated carriers without physical or chemical synthesis.</p> <p><b>Methods:</b> Lipid nanocarriers were loaded with simvastatin (SV) as a promising anticancer drug. An optimization study of NLC fabrication variables was first conducted. The effect of lyophilization was investigated using cryoprotectants of various types and concentrations. The prepared NLCs were characterized in terms of particle size (PS), size distribution (PDI), zeta potential (ZP), drug entrapment, <i>in vitro</i> drug release, morphology and drug–excipient interactions. The influence of glycerides ± PEG on the cytotoxicity of SV was evaluated on MCF-7 breast cancer cells, in addition to the cellular uptake of fluorescent blank NLCs.</p> <p><b>Results:</b> The alteration between different oil types had a significant impact on PS, ZP and drug release. Both sucrose and trehalose showed the lowest increase in PS and PDI of the reconstituted lyophilized NLCs. The <i>in vitro</i> cytotoxicity and cellular uptake studies indicated that SV showed the highest antitumor effect on MCF-7 cancer cells when loaded into Labrasol^® NLCs demonstrating a high cellular uptake as well.</p> <p><b>Conclusion:</b> The study confirms the applicability of PEG/glycerides in the development of NLCs. Encapsulating SV in Labrasol^®-containing NLC could enhance the antitumor effect of the drug.</p

Fecal Calprotectin: A Screening Marker for the Early Detection of Necrotizing Enterocolitis among Children in Egypt

Background: Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a lethal disease affecting newborns with significant morbidity and mortality rates. Moreover, it is the most eminent gastrointestinal threat affecting premature newborns. Unfortunately, early symptoms and signs are usually vague; therefore, there is a special demand for sensitive biomarkers in this regard. This study aimed to investigate the role of fecal calprotectin in stage I NEC and identify specific cut off value at this stage to differentiate stage I NEC from other gastrointestinal disorders.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at New Children Hospital, Cairo University, Egypt. In total, 100 newborns were included in this study who were assigned to the patient group with stage I NEC (n=60) and control group (n=40)with age and gender-matched newborns.Fecal calprotectin level was assessed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in both groups. Follow up of the patient group was performed for the development of stage II or III NEC.Results: The patient group obtained significantly elevated levels of fecal calprotectin, compared to the control group (P=0.000). Within the patient group, 43 (71.66%) newborns developed stage II or III NEC, whereas 17 (28.33%) cases developed no NEC. In addition, the level of fecal calprotectin was significantly higher in the group who developed stage II or III NEC (P=0.001). According to the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, the cutoff value of 109.5 μg/g feces showed 100% sensitivity and specificity, and the area under the ROC curvewas equal to 1 in differentiating NEC from other conditions.Conclusion: The study showed that fecal calprotectin can be used as a sensitive and specific marker for the early detection of necrotizing enterocolitis

Treatment of premature ejaculation: a new combined approach

Background Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are utilized to treat premature ejaculation (PE). However, their effect is moderate, with no universally adopted schedule. A possible role for pelvic floor dysfunction in the pathogenesis of PE was reported previously. Objective The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of combined sertraline and pelvic floor rehabilitation with either line in patients with an unsatisfactory response to SSRIs. Design, setting, and participants From June 2009 to December 2012, 74 PE patients with an unsatisfactory response to sertraline 50 mg were enrolled and subjected to pelvic floor rehabilitation as an alternative therapy, and then a combination of both was tested on the same group. Outcome measurements and statistical analysis Relationships with outcome were analyzed using the Student t-test, Pearson′s correlation, and linear regression. Results and limitations The baseline intravaginal ejaculatory latency time (IELT) was 20-110 s (mean ± SD = 56.35 ± 21.67). With sertraline 50 mg therapy alone, IELT reached 90-180 s (mean ± SD = 121.69 ± 21.76, P = 0.0001). Of them, 44 (59.46%) patients failed to exceed an IELT of 120 s. With pelvic floor rehabilitation alone, IELT reached 90-270 s (mean ± SD = 174.73 ± 45.79, P = 0.0001). Of them, 13 (17.56%) patients failed to exceed an IELT of 120 s. Using a combination therapy of both, IELT reached 180-420 s (mean ± SD = 297.57 ± 59.19, P = 0.0001). This response was significantly higher than the baseline IELT and that of either lines alone (P = 0.0001, for all tests). Conclusion Pelvic floor rehabilitation is an important addition when treating PE, particularly in patients with pelvic floor dysfunction. We recommend this combination in patients with an unsatisfactory response to SSRIs. Patient summary Causes of PE differ considerably. In this paper, we compared the outcomes of two single treatment lines together with a combination of both. The combination therapy was more effective than either line alone

Molecular Docking and Dynamics Simulation Study of Hyrtios erectus Isolated Scalarane Sesterterpenes as Potential SARS-CoV-2 Dual Target Inhibitors

Presently, the world is under the toll of pandemic coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) outbreak caused by SARS-CoV-2. Lack of effective and safe therapeutics has stressed the scientific community for developing novel therapeutics capable of alleviating and stopping this pandemic. Within the presented study, molecular docking, ADME properties and all-atom molecular dynamic (MD) simulation, along with two standard antiviral agents (lopinavir and benzopurpurin-4B), were applied to investigate 15 scalaranes sesterterpenes natural compounds, purified from the Red Sea marine sponge Hyrtios&nbsp;erectus, as potential COVID-19 dual-target inhibitors. Following multi-step docking within COVID-19 main protease and Nsp15 endoribonuclease cavities, nine promising drug-like compounds exhibited higher docking scores as well as better interactions with the target’s crucial residues than those of reference ligands. Compounds 2, 6, 11, and 15, were predicted to simultaneously subdue the activity of the two COVID-19 targets. Dynamics behavior of the best-docked molecules, compounds 15 and 6, within COVID-19 target pockets showed substantial stability of ligand-protein complexes as presented via several MD simulation parameters. Furthermore, calculated free-binding energies from MD simulation illustrated significant ligand’s binding affinity towards respective target pockets. All provided findings supported the utility of scalarane-based sesterterpenes, particularly compounds 15 and 6, as promising lead candidates guiding the development of effective therapeutics against SARS-CoV-2

Moderating Gut Microbiome/Mitochondrial Axis in Oxazolone Induced Ulcerative Colitis: The Evolving Role of &beta;-Glucan and/or, Aldose Reductase Inhibitor, Fidarestat

A mechanistic understanding of the dynamic interactions between the mitochondria and the gut microbiome is thought to offer innovative explanations for many diseases and thus provide innovative management approaches, especially in GIT-related autoimmune diseases, such as ulcerative colitis (UC). &beta;-Glucans, important components of many nutritious diets, including oats and mushrooms, have been shown to exhibit a variety of biological anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating actions. Our research study sought to provide insight into the function of &beta;-glucan and/or fidarestat in modifying the microbiome/mitochondrial gut axis in the treatment of UC. A total of 50 Wistar albino male rats were grouped into five groups: control, UC, &beta;-Glucan, Fidarestat, and combined treatment groups. All the groups were tested for the presence of free fatty acid receptors 2 and 3 (FFAR-2 and -3) and mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) mRNA gene expressions. The reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and ATP content were found. The trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) levels were also examined. Nuclear factor kappa &beta; (NF-k&beta;), nuclear factor (erythroid-2)-related factor 2 (Nrf2) DNA binding activity, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma co-activator-1 (PGC-1) were identified using the ELISA method. We observed a substantial increase FFAR-2, -3, and TFAM mRNA expression after the therapy. Similar increases were seen in the ATP levels, MMP, SCFA, PGC-1, and Nrf2 DNA binding activity. The levels of ROS, TMAO, and NF-k&beta;, on the other hand, significantly decreased. Using &beta;-glucan and fidarestat together had unique therapeutic benefits in treating UC by focusing on the microbiota/mitochondrial axis, opening up a new avenue for a potential treatment for such a complex, multidimensional illness