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Abstract Background To evaluate the physical properties of bioactive glass-modified universal multimode adhesive and its micro-tensile bond strength (µTBS) to artificially induced caries-affected dentin. Methods All bond universal adhesive was used in the study. Specimens were divided into 2 main groups: control unmodified adhesive and 5 wt% BAG modified adhesive. The degree of conversion, pH, bioactivity, and viscosity of the adhesives were tested with n = 5 for each test. Micro-tensile bond strength evaluation was done in etch & rinse (ER) and selective-etch (SE) modes, where 24 human molar teeth were used (n = 3), 12 teeth for immediate bond strength, and the other 12 were tested after 6 months of storage in simulated body fluid (SBF). Results No significant difference was found between the control and the 5wt% BAG groups regarding the degree of conversion (61.01 ± 0.43 and 60.44 ± 0.61 respectively) and the viscosity (109.77 ± 22.3 and 124.3 ± 9.92 respectively). The control group revealed significantly lower pH values than the 5wt% BAG group (3.16 ± 0.5 and 4.26 ± 0.09 respectively). Immediate bond strength results revealed that the 5wt% BAG in the ER mode had the highest bond strength followed by the control group in the ER mode (44.16 ± 7.53 and 44.00 ± 7.96 respectively). SE groups showed that the immediate strength of the 5wt% BAG group was higher than the control group (42.09 ± 6.02 and 39.29 ± 6.64 respectively). After 6 months of storage, bond strength results revealed a decrease in bond strength values for the control groups but not for the 5wt% BAG in both application modes. Conclusions The incorporation of BAG (5wt%) improved the universal adhesive micro-tensile bond strength and bond durability for both adhesive application modes without affecting its degree of conversion or viscosity.

The use of medicinal plant preparations to clean and disinfect root canal infection is gaining popularity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the bioactive composition of leaf extracts of Moringa oleifera plants cultivated in Iraq (specifically Baghdad) and their antimicrobial activity against selected root canal pathogens for potential application in endodontic treatment. Materials and Methods. Moringa leaf extracts were prepared either through cold maceration or warm digestion techniques to perform an ethanolic or aqueous extraction, respectively. Phytochemical detection was performed before thin layer chromatography (TLC) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to measure flavonoids and phenolic compounds within both extracts. Then, their antimicrobial activities were investigated against Streptococcus mutans, Enterococcus faecalis, and Candida albicans through minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC), and agar well diffusion assay in comparison to NaOCl and Ca(OH)2. Results. Phytochemical screening showed several active ingredients but with higher expression of flavonoids and phenolic compounds. Also, different types of these compounds were detected through TLC and quantified by HPLC. MIC values for ethanolic extract against Streptococcus mutans, Enterococcus faecalis, and Candida albicans were 60, 65, and 55, respectively, while for aqueous extract, MIC values were 70, 80, and 50, respectively. Aqueous extract showed a higher inhibition zone than ethanolic extract for both Streptococcus mutans and Enterococcus faecalis with a statistically significant difference (p≤0.001) for all tested materials except with NaOCl and Ca(OH)2 in Streptococcus mutans and Enterococcus faecalis, respectively. The ethanolic extract showed a higher inhibition zone against Candida albicans, with a statistically significant difference (p≤0.001) for all tested materials. Conclusion. Ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Moringa oleifera leaves cultivated in Baghdad contain considerable quantities of phytochemicals, especially flavonoid and phenolic compounds, and demonstrated antimicrobial activities against selected endodontic pathogens. Therefore, Moringa leaf extracts could be suggested as an alternative antimicrobial material in endodontic treatment.

Phytomedicine refers to the use of naturally derived products to cure and mitigate human conditions. Natural products have the advantages of causing minimum side effects, being biocompatible, available, and economical, with a wide array of biological activities. Reports have described the use of natural products with antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties to treat oral conditions and promote wound healing. Moringa oleifera, known as the “drumstick” or “horseradish” tree, is believed to have medicinal properties regarding a range of medical conditions, though there is limited information on its use in oral medicine. This narrative review focuses on the use of Moringa extracts in the management of oral conditions, including oral infections, inflammatory conditions, the remineralization of hard tissues, oral wound healing, and tissue regeneration, drawing from both in vitro and in vivo studies which indicate that the potential of Moringa extracts in supporting dentin-pulp regeneration after caries or trauma is worthy of more careful consideration.

Background and Objectives: During the COVID-19 pandemic, lockdown and distance learning affected physical activity (PA) levels among college students. The aims were to assess the effectiveness of a tele-health PA promotion program for 6 weeks, among junior college students, on PA level and on the proportion of physically active students during the pandemic. Materials and Methods: A pre–post study design was conducted on 46 students aged 19 (±0.9) years old in Saudi Arabia. The study consisted of online introductory and educational PA classes, followed by a 6-week course during which students received daily online PA promotive messages. Wilcoxon signed-rank and McNemar’s tests were used to measure the mean differences in PA level and the changes in proportion of physically active students before and after the program, respectively. Results: The proportion of students who perform walking increased significantly from 47.4% to 68.4% (p = 0.02), while the number of students who perform moderate PA in their leisure time increased significantly from 38.9% to 69.4% (p = 0.02). No significant differences were detected between other PA levels. Conclusions: This program is effective in encouraging more college students to be physically active, but not in improving PA levels. Larger scale studies using PA objective measurement tools are needed.

الملخص: أهداف البحث: فحص تأثير التدريب بمقياس التنفس المحفز على الوظائف العضلية للفم، ووظائف التنفس عند أطفال متلازمة داون. طرق البحث: تم تقسيم ٣٤ طفلا مصابين بمتلازمة داون من الجنسين من عمر ٦ -٢١ سنة عشوائيا لمجموعتين. المجموعة أ تلقت تمرينات عضلية للفم، والمجموعة ب تلقت تمرينات عضلية للفم بالإضافة إلى التدريب بمقياس التنفس المحفز. تم استخدام قياس التنفس المحوسب ذي شاشة رئيسة لاختبار وظيفة الرئة لقياس وظائف التنفس (القدرة الحيوية القسرية، وتدفق الزفير القسري في ثانية واحدة والزفير)، واستخدام التقييم العضلي الفموي بالدرجات لتقييم الوظائف العضلية للفم قبل وبعد تلقي العلاج. النتائج: نتائج ما بعد العلاج أوضحت فرقا إحصائيا واضحا في الوظائف العضلية للفم ووظائف التنفس في كل من المجموعتين ولكن لم يوجد فرق واضح بين المجموعتين في النتائج. الاستنتاجات: التمرينات العضلية للفم أكثر تأثيرا من التدريب بمقياس التنفس المحفز في تحسين كلا من وظائف التنفس والوظائف العضلية للفم لدى أطفال متلازمة داون. Abstract: Objectives: This study investigated the effect of incentive spirometry training on oromotor and pulmonary functions in children with Down's syndrome. Methods: Thirty-four children with Down's syndrome were randomly divided into two groups; the children were of both sexes and aged between 6 and 12 years. Group A received only oromotor exercises, while Group B received oromotor exercises and incentive spirometry training. The pulmonary function test was performed using computerized spirometry model master screen that assessed pulmonary functions (peak expiratory flow, forced vital capacity, and forced expiratory volume in 1s), while the orofacial myofunctional evaluation with score (OMES) was used to evaluate oromotor function before and after treatment. Results: The post treatment results showed significant difference in oromotor and pulmonary functions within both groups, but no significant differences were found between the two groups. Conclusions: Oromotor exercises are more effective than incentive spirometry training in improving both pulmonary and oromotor functions in children with Down's syndrome. الكلمات المفتاحية: متلازمة داون, وظائف التنفس, الوظائف العضلية للفم, القدرة الحيوية القسرية, التقييم العضلي الفموي بالدرجات, Keywords: Down's syndrome, Oromotor functions, Orofacial myofunctional evaluation with score, Peak expiratory flow, Pulmonary functions

This paper aims to improve SHA-512 security without increasing complexity; therefore, we focused on hash functions depending on DNA sequences and chaotic maps. After analysis of 45 various chaotic map types, only 5 types are selected in this proposal—namely, improved logistic, cosine logistic map, logistic sine system, tent sine system, and hybrid. Using DNA features and binary coding technology with complementary rules to hide information is a key challenge. This article proposes improving SHA-512 in two aspects: the modification of original hash buffer values, and the modification of additive constants Kt. This proposal is to make hash buffer values (a, b, c, d, e, f, g, and h) and Kt dependent on one-dimensional discrete chaotic maps and DNA sequences instead of constant. This modification complicates the relationship between the original message and hash value, making it unexpected. The performance of the proposed hash function is tested and analyzed the confusion, diffusion, and distributive and compared with the original SHA-512. The performance of security is analyzed by collision analysis, for which the maximum number of hits is only three, showing that the proposed hash function enhances the security and robustness of SHA-512. The statistical data and experimental analysis indicate that the proposed scheme has good properties and satisfies high-performance requirements for secure hash functions.

HER4 is a receptor tyrosine kinase that is required for the evolution of normal body systems such as cardiovascular, nervous, and endocrine systems, especially the mammary glands. It is activated through ligand binding and activates MAPKs and PI3K/AKT pathways. HER4 is commonly expressed in many human tissues, both adult and fetal. It is important to understand the role of HER4 in the treatment of many disorders. Many studies were also conducted on the role of HER4 in tumors and its tumor suppressor function. Mostly, overexpression of HER4 kinase results in cancer development. In the present article, we reviewed the structure, location, ligands, physiological functions of HER4, and its relationship to different cancer types. HER4 inhibitors reported mainly from 2016 to the present were reviewed as well.

Objective: This study aims to assess the orthodontic diagnostic skills, referral patterns, and the perceptions of orthodontic benefits of pediatric and general dentists in comparison with orthodontists. Materials and methods: Two online surveys were e-mailed to pediatric dentists, general dentistry practitioners, and orthodontists registered as members of the Saudi Dental Society and the Saudi Orthodontic Society. The surveys included questions about the type of orthodontic treatment provided, referral trends, and timing; presumed benefits associated with successful orthodontic treatment; and diagnosis and treatment plans of seven cases representing different malocclusions. Results: In total, 25 orthodontists, 18 pediatric dentists, and 14 general practitioners completed the survey. Only 38.8% of pediatric dentists and 7.1% of general practitioners reported that they practiced orthodontics clinically. The perceptions of the three groups toward the benefits of orthodontic treatment were comparable in the psychosocial areas. However, the orthodontists perceived significantly lesser effects of orthodontic treatment on the amelioration of temporomandibular disorder (TMD) symptoms. Pediatric dentists tended to rate the need and urgency of treatment higher, while general practitioners tended to rate the need of treatment lower. The selected treatment plans for three early malocclusion cases showed the greatest discrepancies between the orthodontists and the other two groups. Conclusions: The orthodontists consistently and significantly downplayed the perceived benefit of orthodontic treatment to reduce TMD symptoms. Also, while there was a similarity in the diagnosis, there were notable differences in the proposed treatment approaches, perceived treatment need, and timing of intervention between the three groups of practitioners. Keywords: Orthodontist, Pediatric dentist, General practitioners, Perception, Knowledge

Elevated serum levels of cystatin C are found to be related to poor outcome and metastatic potential of some malignant disorders. To evaluate the clinical prominence of serum cystatin C in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), blood samples were obtained from 58 patients at the time of diagnosis and paired blood samples were obtained from 22 patients at the time of remission. Also, serum cystatin C level was measured in matched healthy controls. Serum cystatin C levels were significantly more elevated in DLBCL patients than in controls (p < 0.0001). Furthermore, paired-sample analysis revealed that pretreatment cystatin C levels were reduced significantly in patients who achieved remission after therapy (p = 0.016). High serum cystatin C levels were correlated with age over 60 years (p = 0.049), extra-nodal involvement (p = 0.005) and with high serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (p < 0.013). Elevated serum cystatin C levels were associated with extra-nodal involvement and they were significantly reduced to normal range after the remission. However, Kaplan–Meier curves revealed no survival difference in the pretreatment serum cystatin C levels. Therefore, serum cystatin C may be a novel biomarker that reflects tumor burden in DLBCL but bears no prognostic significance regarding survival.

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Background: Numerous immune cells are involved in developing multiple sclerosis (MS). Monocytes are believed to be the first to enter the brain and initiate inflammation. The role of monocyte subtypes in MS needs to be better understood. Objective: The current study aims to investigate the presence of different subsets of monocytes in relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) Egyptian patients and their correlation with disease activity. Methods: This study included 44 RRMS patients (22 patients in relapse, 22 patients in remission), diagnosed according to the 2017 MacDonalds criteria, and 44 matched healthy controls. Personal and medical histories were taken from the patients, and the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) was used to evaluate the degree of impairment. Characterization of peripheral blood monocyte subsets was done by flow cytometry for all participants. Results: The percentage of classical, intermediate, and non-classical monocyte subsets showed a significant increase in RRMS patients than controls with p -values of 0.029, 0.049, and 0.043, respectively. In the RRMS patients, there were no statistically significant correlations (p -values >0.05) between the EDSS scores, the duration of disease, and number of relapses in the past year and the percentages of the various monocyte subsets. Furthermore, there were no significant differences in the percentage of each monocyte subset between RRMS patients in remission and those experiencing a relapse (p -values >0.05). However, patients with evidence of activity in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) had a significantly high percentage of non-classical monocytes with a p -value of 0.002. Conclusion: In RRMS patients, the three monocyte subsets (classical, non-classical and intermediate) increase significantly regardless of the disease activity. This increase denotes the vital role of monocytes and innate immunity in MS pathology, especially the non-classical monocyte subset. These findings suggest that monocytes might be a promising MS therapeutic target. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Gonial angle is an important craniofacial parameter providing information about symmetry and vertical dimensions of the facial skeleton. It can be measured on panoramic radiographs and lateral cephalograms. Reliable assessment of the gonial angle is challenged by the superimpositions associated with lateral cephalograms. The aim of the current study was to assess the precision of panoramic imaging in measuring the gonial angles compared to lateral cephalograms in adult patients with different mandibular divergence patterns. Methods: Panoramic radiographs and lateral cephalograms of 448 adults (18– 30 years old) were utilized in the study. The gonial angle was determined on the lateral cephalograms using an online AI-driven assessment tool (WebCephTM) and compared to the panoramic measurements among the different gender, malocclusion, and mandibular divergence groups. Results: Statistically significant differences were recorded between measurements taken on lateral cephalograms or panoramic radiographs (p=0.022). In addition, statistically significant differences were reported in gonial angle measurements on panoramic radiographs among the different mandibular divergence groups (p=0.004) for FMA (p=0.002) for Sn-GoMe. Conclusion: While cephalometry is considered the gold standard tool for reliable gonial angle assessment, panoramic radiographs were more accurate in detecting the differences between the divergence groups in the current study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to identify the motivations behind orthodontic re‑treatment in Saudi Arabia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a cross‑sectional study performed through a patient questionnaire. The questionnaire elicited data on the respondents’ socio‑demographic data, type of previous orthodontic treatment, retention, satisfaction level, and reasons for undergoing orthodontic re‑treatment. RESULTS: Four hundred and nineteen responses were received during the study period from June to July 2022. The result showed a pre‑dominant female predilection (83, 29%), with the majority belonging to the 21–25 age group (47.26%). Most participants had had one previous orthodontic treatment (77%), with an active treatment time of approximately 1–3 years (55.85%). There was no significant difference between the satisfaction of outcomes after the initial treatment and at the time of the survey. Most participants received retention appliances (69.45%) and were informed about the importance of appliances. The type of retention was mainly removable retainers (47.5%). Around one‑third of the sample (31.98%) were interested in seeking orthodontic re‑treatment, with self‑motivation as the primary drive and improving the smile as the predominant reason. CONCLUSION: The study’s findings show that a large portion of the population is seeking orthodontic re‑treatment, which must be considered. Self‑motivation was a driving force rather than external motivation. The most common reason for seeking orthodontic re‑treatment was to improve their smile and the increased esthetic demand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]