Risk Factors Associated with Denture Stomatitis in Healthy Subjects Attending a Dental School in Southeast Iran

Objectives: There is scant information regarding the multifactorial aetiology of denture stomatitis (DS) in the world and, despite its frequency, associated factors are not completely understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the risk factors that may be associated with this lesion. Methods: A total of 70 edentulous patients, all wearing removable dentures, were divided into two groups. The test group comprised 43 patients with DS and the control group comprised 27 subjects with clinically healthy palatal mucosa. A thorough history-taking and physical examination were carried out; the subjects also answered a questionnaire. The serum level of vitamin A for each subject was assayed from a blood sample taken after the examination. Results: This study showed a significant relationship between the incidence of DS and three major factors: denture age (in terms of years), the practitioner manufacturing the dentures (general dental practitioner versus dental hygienist), and the nightlong wearing of dentures. Also, the vitamin A serum level was low in 94.29% of all subjects (cases and controls). Conclusion: Although many predisposing conditions were related to this situation, the most important risk factor was the continuous use of the dentures

Influence of menstrual cycle and salivary ß-estradiol on volatile sulfur compound

BACKGROUND: ß -estradiol is a steroid sex hormone that plays important role in oral physiology. The aim of this study was to determin the association of the menstrual cycle and salivary ß-estradiol with the production of volatile sulfur compounds (VSC). METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, twenty female dental students in good oral and general health were recruited for evaluation of VSC, salivary flow, ß-estradiol concentration, oral dryness feeling and dysmenorrhea. Data were analyzed by marginal homogeneity test and xtgee model. RESULTS: The only covariates that significantly related to VSC were being at the follicular phase (B = -0.21, P = 0.02), being at the pre-menstrual phase (B = -0.25, P = 0.01), stressfulness (B = 0.02, P = 0.01) and oral dryness feeling (B = 0.34, P = 0.02). Salivary ß-estradiol was at the level of 59.7 31.2 in those having halitosis (VSC ≥ 75) while in the others (VSC < 75) it was about 40.8 18.0 (P < 0.009). This difference was not statistically significant in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The menstrual cycle, stress and oral dryness were the most important determinants of halitosis. The salivary ß-estradiol level could not explain such relationship as its effect was eliminated considering the other factors. KEY WORDS: Halitosis, menstrual cycle, ß-estradiol, volatile sulfur compound

Hypoglycemic effects of Welsh onion in an animal model of diabetes mellitus

Tight control of blood glucose is the most important strategy for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. Here, we investigated the beneficial effects of Welsh onion on fasting and postprandial hyperglycemia. Inhibitory activities of hot water extracts from the green stalk and white bulb, which are the edible portions of the Welsh onion, and the fibrous root extract against yeast α-glucosidase were measured in vitro. To study the effects of Welsh onion on postprandial hyperglycemia, a starch solution (1 g/kg) with and without Welsh onion fibrous root extract (500 mg/kg) or acarbose (50 mg/kg) was administered to streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats after an overnight fast. Postprandial plasma glucose levels were measured and incremental areas under the response curve were calculated. To study the hypoglycemic effects of chronic feeding of Welsh onion, five-week-old db/db mice were fed an AIN-93G diet or a diet containing either Welsh onion fibrous root extract at 0.5% or acarbose at 0.05% for 7 weeks after 1 week of adaptation. Fasting plasma glucose and blood glycated hemoglobin were measured. Compared to the extract from the edible portions of Welsh onion, the fibrous root extract showed stronger inhibition against yeast α-glucosidase, with an IC50 of 239 µg/mL. Oral administration of Welsh onion fibrous root extract (500 mg/kg) and acarbose (50 mg/kg) significantly decreased incremental plasma glucose levels 30-120 min after oral ingestion of starch as well as the area under the postprandial glucose response curve, compared to the control group (P < 0.01). The plasma glucose and blood glycated hemoglobin levels of the Welsh onion group were significantly lower than those of the control group (P < 0.01), and were not significantly different from those fed acarbose. Thus, we conclude that the fibrous root of Welsh onion is effective in controlling hyperglycemia in animal models of diabetes mellitus

Expression of divIB of Bacillus subtilis during vegetative growth

Expression of the division initiation gene, divIB, of Bacillus subtilis vegetative growth was examined. lacZ fusion studies and transcription start point mapping have established that a sigma A promoter proximal to divIB is utilized in vivo. The -10 region of this promoter, which is located 93 bp upstream of the start codon, has been defined precisely by site-directed mutagenesis that destroys the promoter. Examination of transcripts by Northern (RNA) blotting has shown that there are at least two transcripts for divIB. The established proximal promoter was found to give rise to a very minor transcript which could not be convincingly demonstrated in wild-type cells but which became apparent upon insertion of a plasmid into the chromosome just upstream of this promoter. The major transcript for divIB originated from a site several kb upstream of the gene and is probably the same as the long polycistronic message also traversing the murD-spoVE-murG genes that was identified previously by others (A.D. Henriques, H. de Lencastre, and P.J. Piggot, Biochimie 74:735-748, 1992). Transcription from the proximal promoter alone, in an upstream-deletion mutant strain, provided sufficient DivIB for normal growth and division as well as sporulation

Antioxidant plants and diabetes mellitus

The incidence of diabetes mellitus (DM) is increasing rapidly and it is expected to increase by 2030. Other than currently available therapeutic options, there are a lot of herbal medicines, which have been recommended for its treatment. Herbal medicines have long been used for the treatment of DM because of the advantage usually having no or less side-effects. Most of these plants have antioxidant activities and hence, prevent or treat hard curable diseases, other than having the property of combating the toxicity of toxic or other drugs. In this review other than presenting new findings of DM, the plants, which are used and have been evaluated scientifically for the treatment of DM are introduced

The Satisfaction Rate of Authors from Journal of Kerman University of Medical Sciences in 2005 and 2006

Abstract: Introduction: Scholarly activities as well as growth in Science and technology have been well established as the basis for development in every country. In recent years due to more attention to research the number of research projects and published articles in Iranian and International journals has gained a rapid increase. Therefore, the evaluation of Medical journals as sources of publishing the results of research projects is necessary. This study was performed to assess the satisfaction rate of authors from Journal of Kerman University of Medical Sciences and compare it with their satisfaction rate from other Iranian journals. Methods: In this descriptive-analytic study a three-part questionnaire was designed and distributed among corresponding authors whose manuscripts were accepted or were under consideration by Journal of Kerman University of Medical Sciences. The questionnaire’s reliability was confirmed by using alpha-Cronbach and validity was confirmed by getting experts opinions. Data analysis was done by using Wilcoxon and Chisquare tests. Results: The response rate was 78.2%, and the mean age of the participants was 43.7 (28-62) years and mean number of their published articles was 18.9±2.3. In regard to satisfaction rate, 14.8% were very satisfied, 40.7% were satisfied and 44.4% were neither satisfied nor dissatisfied. The satisfaction rate of the same authors for other journals was as follows: 14.3% were very satisfied, 35.7% were satisfied, 47.6% were neither satisfied nor dissatisfied and 2_4% were dissatisfied. There was no significant difference in this regard between Kerman and other journals. There was only a significant difference in regard to journal office performance between Journal of Kerman University of Medical Sciences and other journals. Conclusion: Although Journal of Kerman University of Medical Sciences is in the same level or better than the other Iranian journals, by considering the great background of this journal it is necessary to schedule for its rapid promotion as well as its inclusion in valid indexing services. Keywords: Assessment, Journal of Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Author, Satisfactio

Anti-hyperglycemic Activity of Four Plants Extracts Effective against Alpha Glucosidase in Normal and Diabetic Rats

Abstract: Background & Aims: Postprandial hyperglycemia results in the development of chronic complications. Therefore, its control is critical in the treatment of diabetes. One of the main therapeutic approaches for reducing postprandial hyperglycemia is to reduce the absorption of carbohydrates by enzyme inhibitors such as Acarbose which have already been clinically used as a medicine for diabetic patients. Methods: Aqueous and methanolic extracts of Zataria multiflora, Pistachio hulls, Myrtle leaves and Quercus infectoria which had inhibited alpha glucosidase (>90%) in our previous study were prepared by maceration method. Male wistar rats were divided into two, streptozotocin-induced diabetic group and non-diabetic group. Then each group subdivided into 6 groups of control receiving 2g/kg maltose, positive control receiving 2g/kg maltose as well as Acarbose and 4 other groups receiving 2g/kg maltose and one of the prepared extracts (1000mg/kg) after deprivation of food. Blood glucose level was measured before and 30, 60 and 120 min. after extract administration. Results: In non-diabetic rats, Quercus infectoria and Myrtle extracts significantly reduced the postprandial glucose levels (60 and 50% respectively, P0.05) but showed a reveres effect on plasma glucose and remained at high level up to 60 minutes. Conclusion: Further studies must be done for proving the efficacy of Zataria multiflora and Quercus infectoria for hyperglycemic patients with uncontrolled diets. Keywords: Diabetes mellitus, Alpha glucosidase, Multiflotriol, Pistachio, Myrtle, Quercu