The comparison of predictive value of cervical length in singleton spontaneous preterm labor with in vitro fertilization pregnancies: A cohort study

Background: Preterm labor (PTL) is one of the most important factors in neonatal mortality. Some studies have revealed a reverse relationship between cervical length (CL) and PTL, however, further evidence is needed to confirm it. Objective: To investigate the predictive value of CL in spontaneous and in vitro fertilization (IVF) pregnancies. Materials and Methods: This prospective cohort study was performed on 154 pregnant women from 16-26 wk of gestation with a singleton fetus in spontaneous delivery (n = 77) and IVF pregnancies (n = 77) and followed up until delivery. Women with multiple pregnancy, placenta previa, cerclage, and congenital anomalies were excluded from the study. The cut-off determination was done according to the Roc analysis. Results: The mean CL in term delivery and PTL groups were 37 ± 7 mm and 31 ± 6 mm, respectively (p < 0.001). The frequency of PTL in spontaneous and IVF pregnancies were 7.8% and 23.27%, respectively (p = 0.007). According to the Roc analysis, the best cut-off for normal pregnancy was ≤ 36 mm with the negative predictive value of 97.9%, the positive predictive value of 11.4%, sensitivity 83.3%, and specificity of 46.5%. While for the IVF group, the cut off was ≤ 30 mm, with a negative predictive value of 88.4%, a positive predictive value of 57.8%, sensitivity of 63.2%, and a specificity of 86%. Conclusion: In this study, IVF had a significant direct correlation with PTL. CL also had a significant indirect relationship with PTL. Key words: Cervix, IVF, Preterm delivery, PTL

Antibacterial Efficacy of Polymer Coated Ceramic Microparticles loaded with a novel combination of antibiotics on the Enterococcus Faecalis Biofilm

Introduction: Nano-technology applied for the local delivery of different agents and/or drugs has made its path to endodontics. In the current study, the antibacterial efficacy of biopolymer-coated ceramic microparticles loaded with a modified combination of triple antibiotics, i.e. Penicillin G, Metronidazole and Ciprofloxacin (PMC), was evaluated against two strains of Enterococcus faecalis (E.faecalis); a standard clinical strain obtained from previously root-filled teeth with persistent periapical lesions, and compared to the most common antimicrobials used in endodontics. Methods and Materials: After synthesis of the polymer-coated microparticles loaded with antibiotics, the 21-day release of antibiotics were evaluated and a stock solution was produced using the maximum released amount of drugs and distilled water. The antibacterial activity of PMC, triple antibiotic paste (TAP), calcium hydroxide (CH), chlorhexidine (CHX) and sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) against two bacterial strains was determined using “Minimum Inhibitory Concentration” and “Agar Diffusion Test”. Additionally, “Microtiter Plate Assay” was performed to assess anti-biofilm properties. Results: Minimum inhibitory concentration values reported for TAP and PMC were 1/256. PMC showed the maximum diameter of growth inhibition in both strains (33 mm and 35 mm), while CH had the minimum diameters (13 mm and13 mm). Based on microtiter plate assay, TAP showed higher biofilm formation than PMC. Biofilm formation was higher in the standard strain for PMC; however, NaOCl, CHX and CH completely inhibited biofilm formation. Conclusions: Based on the findings of the present study, it could be concluded that PMC and TAP were the most effective medicaments against E.faecalis in its planktonic form; however, none could inhibit its biofilm formation. Further studies using larger sample size and “Confocal Scanning Laser Microscopy” are recommended

The Effect of Smear Layer on Antimicrobial Efficacy of Three Root Canal Irrigants

Introduction: One of the main goals of endodontic treatment is to decrease the harboring bacteria within the root canal system and dentinal tubules. This experimental study attempted to investigate the antibacterial efficacy of three root canal irrigants in the presence and absence of smear layer (SL). Methods and Materials: A total of 210 sound extracted human single-rooted teeth were prepared. After creating the SL and its removal in half of the samples, they were infected with Candida albicans (C. albicans) and Actinomyces israelii (A. israelii). A total of 180 specimen were used to assess the antimicrobial efficacy of the three irrigants in presence and absence of SL, 24 specimen were placed in the positive and negative controls, 2 samples were utilized for scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis and 2 were used for Gram staining. Then, they were exposed to irrigants including 2.61% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), 0.2% chlorhexidine gluconate (CHX) and 1% povidone-iodine (PI) for 5, 30 and 60 min. Presence/absence of test microorganisms was determined by incubation of specimens in test tubes containing brain-heart infusion (BHI) broth and then measuring the colony forming units (CFU) on BHI agar. A cumulative logistic model was used to analyze the ordinal response. Results: The 2.61% solution of NaOCl was significantly more effective than 0.2% CHX and the latter was more efficient than 1% PI for decreasing fungal and microbial infection of dentinal tubules in the presence and absence of SL. Conclusion: The presence of smear layer decreased the efficacy of antimicrobial irrigants. The minimum time required for elimination of fungal/microbial infection was 30 min.Keywords: Actinomyces israelii; Candida albicans; Chlorhexidine; Povidone-Iodine; Smear Layer; Sodium Hypochlorit

The Association between Interleukin-10 Gene Polymorphisms and Hepatitis B Virus: Evidence in Iran

Background and Aim: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a human carcinogenesis agent. Interleukin 10 (IL-10) is a key anti-inflammatory cytokine, and single nucleotide polymorphisms in IL-10 gene promoter are correlated with infections caused by HBV. This research intended to assess the prevalence and genotype of HBV as well as the association between the polymorphisms of -819 and -1082 in the IL-10 gene with HBV in individuals with HBV infection in Qom Province, Iran Methods: In this cross-sectional research, 360 individuals with chronic HBV infection and control group were involved between July 2018 and March 2019. HBV diagnosis was evaluated using ELISA and nested PCR assays. To determine polymorphisms in the IL-10 gene promoter in HBV positive and control samples, an allele-specific polymerase chain reaction technique was employed. Results: The constructed phylogenetic trees for the HBsAg gene revealed that all sequences under study belong to genotype D and also, the majority of HBV samples presented similar sequences to the Iranian samples. Genotype frequencies of TT, TC and CC (polymorphism -819) were 82.2%, 11.6% and 6.1% for patients and 85%, 10.5% and 4.4% in control groups, respectively. Also, frequency of genotypes of AA, AG and GG (polymorphism -1082) were 45%, 43.8% and 11.1% for patients and 42.2%, 46.1% and 11.6% in control groups, respectively. Conclusion: Here, we found no association among IL-10 gene polymorphisms in control and HBV-infected groups. However, more studies about the frequency of chronic HBV infection are necessary to be conducted. *Corresponding Author: Mohsen Zargar; Email: [email protected] Interleukins-10 Gene Polymorphism and Hepatitis B Virus: Evidence in Iran. Arch Med Lab Sci. 2021;7:1-7 (e7). https://doi.org/10.22037/amls.v7.3355

In Vitro

Arnebia benthamii is a major ingredient of the commercial drug available under the name Gaozaban, which has antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and wound-healing properties. In the present study, in vitro antioxidant and anticancer activity of different extracts of Arnebia benthamii were investigated. Antioxidant potential of plant extracts was evaluated by means of total phenolics, DPPH, reducing power, microsomal lipid peroxidation, and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity. The highest phenolic content (TPC) of 780 mg GAE/g was observed in ethyl acetate, while the lowest TPC of 462 mg GAE/g was achieved in aqueous extract. At concentration of 700 µg/mL, DPPH radical scavenging activity was found to be highest in ethyl acetate extract (87.99%) and lowest in aqueous extract (73%). The reducing power of extracts increased in a concentration dependent manner. We also observed its inhibition on Fe2+/ascorbic acid-induced lipid peroxidation (LPO) on rat liver microsomes in vitro. In addition, Arnebia benthamii extracts exhibited antioxidant effects on Calf thymus DNA damage induced by Fenton reaction. Cytotoxicity of the extracts (10–100 µg/mL) was tested on five human cancer cell lines (lung, prostate, leukemia, colon, and pancreatic cell lines) using the Sulphorhodamine B assay

Treatment of Peri-Invagination Lesion and Vitality Preservation in Type III Dens Invaginatus in Bilateral Immature Maxillary Lateral Incisors: A Case Report: dens invaginatus

The superior lateral incisors are primarily affected by the developmental deformity known as dens invaginatus (DI). Oehler’s type III DI has the highest complexity rendering a root canal treatment (RCT) an arduous challenge for this type, so early diagnosis and treatment before pulp involvement are important. This report presents two maxillary lateral incisors with type IIIb DI, the left one being associated with a periapical lesion and the right one with normal pulp. A nine-year-old boy was referred to our clinic complaining of mobility of the maxillary left lateral incisor (LLI) associated with gumboil throughout the previous two months. Periapical radiolucency was visible on radiographs, as well as an invagination that crosses the apical foramen from the pulp chamber in both maxillary lateral incisors. The pulp of the main canal of LLI was vital and pseudo canals were necrotized and associated with chronic apical abscess. Based on the condition of the main pulp of maxillary lateral incisors, two separate treatments were carried out. RCT was done only for the pseudo canals in the LLI, while the main root canal was preserved. The right maxillary lateral incisor (RLI) had vital pulp with normal periapical tissue So the invagination was sealed as the tooth was erupting. During the one-year follow-up period, the development of the root in LLI with a thick root wall and closed apex was observed in the periapical radiograph but pseudo canals became infected and the tooth became symptomatic, therefore retreatment for pseudo canals was carried out. The RLI root was developed and the tooth was clinically asymptomatic, so it didn’t need further treatment.  Maintaining pulp vitality is crucial for type III Dens invaginated young permanent teeth since it could support root formation and improve long-term prognosis, and in cases with pulp involvement, non-surgical RCT is clinically predictable

Encapsulation of orange peel oil in biopolymeric nanocomposites to control its release under different conditions

Orange peel oil (OPO) is one of the most common flavorings used in the food industry, but it is volatile under environmental conditions (the presence of light, oxygen, humidity, and high temperatures). Encapsulation by biopolymer nanocomposites is a suitable and novel strategy to improve the bioavailability and stability of OPO and its controlled release. In this study, we investigated the release profile of OPO from freeze-dried optimized nanocomposite powders as a function of pH (3, 7, 11) and temperature (30, 60, and 90 °C), and within a simulated salivary system. Finally, its release kinetics modelling was performed using experimental models. The encapsulation efficiency of OPO within the powders, along with the morphology and size of the particles, were also evaluated by an atomic force microscopy (AFM) analysis. The results showed that the encapsulation efficiency was in the range of 70–88%, and the nanoscale size of the particles was confirmed by AFM. The release profile showed that the lowest and the highest release rates were observed at the temperatures of 30 and 90 °C and in the pH values of 3 and 11, respectively, for all three samples. The Higuchi model provided the best model fitting of the experimental data for the OPO release of all the samples. In general, the OPO encapsulates prepared in this study showed promising characteristics for food flavoring applications. These results suggest that the encapsulation of OPO may be useful for controlling its flavor release under different conditions and during cooking