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Abstract This study aimed to design sustained released biodegradable calcium carbonate nanoparticles loaded with chlorhexidine (CHX-loaded NPs) and to investigate the early osteogenic differentiation and antimicrobial effects on the important bacteria involved in infections of dental implants. The microemulsion method was used to prepare the calcium carbonate nanoparticles loaded with chlorhexidine. The prepared nanoparticles were characterized using conventional methods. The release pattern determination and the biodegradation test were performed for the prepared nanoparticles. For the early osteogenic differentiation test of the prepared nanoparticles, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was detected in human dental pulp stem cells (HDPSCs). The antimicrobial effects of the nanoparticles were evaluated against Escherichia coli, Streptococcus mutans, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The sizes of free calcium carbonate nanoparticles and CHX-loaded NPs were 105 ± 1.63 and 118 ± 1.47 nm and their zeta potentials were − 27 and − 36, respectively. A 50% degradation of nanoparticles was achieved after 100 days. These nanoparticles showed a two-stage sustained release pattern in vitro. Microscopic images revealed that the morphology of free calcium carbonate nanoparticles primarily took on a spherical calcite form, while CHX-loaded NPs predominantly exhibited a cauliflower-like vaterite polymorph. The nanoparticles increased the activity of ALP in cells in two weeks significantly (p

Background A well-known complication of laparoscopic management of gynaecologic masses and cancers is the need to perform an intraoperative conversion to laparotomy. The purpose of this study was to identify novel patient risk factors for conversion from minimally invasive to open surgeries for gynaecologic oncology operations.Methods This was a retrospective cohort study of 1356 patients ≥18 years of age who underwent surgeries for gynaecologic masses or malignancies between February 2015 and May 2020 at a single academic medical centre. Multivariable logistic regression was used to study the effects of older age, higher body mass index (BMI), higher American Society of Anaesthesiologist (ASA) physical status, and lower preoperative haemoglobin (Hb) on odds of converting from minimally invasive to open surgery. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis assessed the discriminatory ability of a risk prediction model for conversion.Results A total of 704 planned minimally invasive surgeries were included with an overall conversion rate of 6.1% (43/704). Preoperative Hb was lowest for conversion cases, compared to minimally invasive and open cases (11.6 ± 1.9 vs 12.8 ± 1.5 vs 11.8 ± 1.9 g/dL, p50 years, BMI ≥30 kg/m2, ASA physical status >2, and preoperative haemoglobin

Osteomyelitis caused by drug-resistant pathogens is one of the most important medical challenges due to high rates of mortality and morbidity, and limited therapeutical options. The application of novel nano-scaffolds loaded with antibiotics has widely been studied and extensively evaluated for in vitro and in vivo inhibition of pathogens, regenerating damaged bone tissue, and increasing bone cell proliferation. The treatment of bone infections using the local osteogenic scaffolds loaded with antimicrobial agents may efficiently overcome the problems of the systemic use of antimicrobial agents and provide a controlled release and sufficient local levels of antibiotics in the infected sites. The present study reviewed various nano-scaffolds delivery systems of antimicrobial drugs evaluated to treat osteomyelitis. Nano-scaffolds offer promising approaches because they simulate natural tissue regeneration in terms of their mechanical, structural, and sometimes chemical properties. The potential of several nano-scaffolds prepared by natural polymers such as silk, collagen, gelatin, fibrinogen, chitosan, cellulose, hyaluronic, alginate, and synthetic compounds such as polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid, poly (lactic acid-co-glycolic acid), poly-ɛ-caprolactone have been studied for usage as drug delivery systems of antimicrobial agents to treat osteomyelitis. In addition to incorporated antimicrobial agents and the content of scaffolds, the physical and chemical characteristics of the prepared delivery systems are a determining factor in their effectiveness in treating osteomyelitis.

ObjectiveBreast cancer, a global concern predominantly impacting women, poses a significant threat when not identified early. While survival rates for breast cancer patients are typically favorable, the emergence of regional metastases markedly diminishes survival prospects. Detecting metastases and comprehending their molecular underpinnings are crucial for tailoring effective treatments and improving patient survival outcomes.MethodsVarious artificial intelligence methods and techniques were employed in this study to achieve accurate outcomes. Initially, the data was organized and underwent hold-out cross-validation, data cleaning, and normalization. Subsequently, feature selection was conducted using ANOVA and binary Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO). During the analysis phase, the discriminative power of the selected features was evaluated using machine learning classification algorithms. Finally, the selected features were considered, and the SHAP algorithm was utilized to identify the most significant features for enhancing the decoding of dominant molecular mechanisms in lymph node metastases.ResultsIn this study, five main steps were followed for the analysis of mRNA expression data: reading, preprocessing, feature selection, classification, and SHAP algorithm. The RF classifier utilized the candidate mRNAs to differentiate between negative and positive categories with an accuracy of 61% and an AUC of 0.6. During the SHAP process, intriguing relationships between the selected mRNAs and positive/negative lymph node status were discovered. The results indicate that GDF5, BAHCC1, LCN2, FGF14-AS2, and IDH2 are among the top five most impactful mRNAs based on their SHAP values.ConclusionThe prominent identified mRNAs including GDF5, BAHCC1, LCN2, FGF14-AS2, and IDH2, are implicated in lymph node metastasis. This study holds promise in elucidating a thorough insight into key candidate genes that could significantly impact the early detection and tailored therapeutic strategies for lymph node metastasis in patients with breast cancer.

Productivity has been modest in construction due to many reasons, especially project-specific operations and fragmentation. The main aim of this research is to map the challenges toward industrialization in construction through a comparative study of the manufacturing industry. An inductive approach and a qualitative method are followed by applying semi-structured interviews and node-based thematic analysis. The key elements of industrialization in mature manufacturing companies are benchmarked. The findings indicate a specific order of steps for industrialization in construction. Data and information management with achieved systematization have been sources of productivity in manufacturing companies. However, the systematization starts from the offering, and construction companies need to define their offering, that is, their products, and define their respective data. Only accurate and good quality data on products enable the systematization of order delivery processes, which are the engine for a company’s success or failure. Continuous efficiency improvement is only possible with systematized processes and the respective data related to these processes. The originality involves clarifying the industrialization of construction companies via products, respective data, and processes, considering industrialized manufacturing companies.

Abstract Hesperetin (HS), a metabolite of hesperidin, is a polyphenolic component of citrus fruits. This ingredient has a potential role in bone strength and the osteogenic differentiation. The bone loss in the orofacial region may occur due to the inflammation response of host tissues. Nanotechnology applications have been harshly entered the field of regenerative medicine to improve the efficacy of the materials and substances. In the current study, the hesperetin nanocrystals were synthesized and characterized. Then, the anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects of these nanocrystals were evaluated on inflamed human Dental Pulp Stem Cells (hDPSCs) and monocytes (U937). Moreover, the osteoinduction capacity of these nanocrystals was assessed by gene and protein expression levels of osteogenic specific markers including RUNX2, ALP, OCN, Col1a1, and BSP in hDPSCs. The deposition of calcium nodules in the presence of hesperetin and hesperetin nanocrystals was also assessed. The results revealed the successful fabrication of hesperetin nanocrystals with an average size of 100 nm. The levels of TNF, IL6, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in inflamed hDPSCs and U937 significantly decreased in the presence of hesperetin nanocrystals. Furthermore, these nanocrystals induced osteogenic differentiation in hDPSCs. These results demonstrated the positive and effective role of fabricated nanocrystal forms of this natural ingredient for regenerative medicine purposes.

Regarding the importance of preventing peri-implantitis in dental implants, the current study aimed to coat a healing abutment with gelatin–curcumin nanocomposites, and the stability of this coating on the healing abutment was evaluated. A cell viability measuring test was used to determine the cytotoxicity of nanocomposites against dental pulp stem cells. To show the pattern of curcumin release from nanocomposites, drug dissolution apparatus two was applied. Then, 16 healing abutments were examined in vitro. Titanium healing abutments were coated with the gelatin–curcumin nanocomposite. The dip coating method was applied for coating and the consistency of coated cases was evaluated at intervals of one, 30, and 60 days after coating inside the simulated body fluid (SBF) solution. A scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used for investigating the microstructure and morphology of coatings, and an energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) was applied for determining the combination of the coating. Moreover, the healings were weighed before and after coating via an accurate digital scale with an accuracy of 0.0001. Finally, the data were analyzed using SPSS software. The prepared nanocomposite was non-cytotoxic against tested cells. The nanocomposite showed a relatively rapid release pattern in the first 10 days for curcumin. The release of curcumin from the nanoparticles continued slowly until the 30th day. The weight changes were statistically significant (p-value < 0.001) during this time. Based on the post hoc test, the weight between two times immediately after coating and 30 days after coating, and also one day after coating and 30 days after coating, was statistically insignificant. The results revealed that the coating of the gelatin–curcumin nanocomposite on the healing was successful and this consistency was kept for at least one month. It is necessary to investigate more evaluations in different fields of physicochemical, mechanical, and antimicrobial aspects for coated healing abutments.

The antibacterial and anti-biofilm effects of Hypericum perforatum oil against the common pathogens of periodontitis (Escherichia coli, Streptococcus mutans, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Porphyromonas gingivalis) was investigated. Disk diffusion (DD), minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) approaches were applied to test the antimicrobial effects. In order to determine the anti-biofilm effects, the amount of bacterial biofilm formation was assessed using the microtiter plate technique. The anti-biofilm effects were then confirmed by determining the minimum biofilm inhibitor concentration (MBIC). The MIC, MBC, MBIC, and DD values were 64, 256, 512 μg/mL, and 14 mm for Staphylococcus aureus; 128, 256, 512 μg/mL, and 16 mm for Streptococcus mutans; 256, 512, 256 μg/mL, and 20 mm for Escherichia coli; 32, 128, 512 µg/mL, and 16 mm for Enterococcus faecalis; and 64, 128, 256 µg/mL, and 15 mm for Porphyromonas gingivalis, respectively. According to our results, Hypericum perforatum oil has antibacterial and anti-biofilm properties against the common bacteria associated with periodontitis.

Purpose: One of the most significant contributors to lower extremity degeneration alterations and its effects on balance and sports performance is dynamic knee valgus (DKV) as a faulty movement pattern. Different exercise interventions have been conducted to improve DKV. Extensive research and meta-objective analysis were conducted to assess how exercise interventions affected people with lower extremity functional indicators of DKV. Methods: The electronic databases Scopus, Web of Science (WoS), PubMed, Google Scholar, and Iranian databases SID and Magiran were systematically searched from inception to September 2021. Only full-text articles published in English/Persian peer-reviewed journals that met this study criterion were tracked. Two researchers evaluated the methodological quality of research findings separately, employing the Downs and Black Checklist. After collecting significant data from eligible studies, the results were integrated by applying a random-effects meta-analysis approach. Results: The final systematic review and meta-analysis comprised seven of the 3470 papers deemed potentially relevant. The outcome illustrates that different exercise interventions may be effective in improving dynamic balance (SD=0.93 degrees, 95%CI: 0.54-1.32, P

Curcumin is an active ingredient isolated from Curcuma longa. It has several pharmacological effects, including anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects. Due to its low bioavailability, chemical structure instability, and easy oxidation, the application of curcumin has been limited. In this study, to overcome these limitations, curcumin-loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles (Cur-MSN) were prepared, and the anticancerous effect of Cur-MSNs on head and neck cancer cells, HN5, was investigated. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed rod-shaped mesoporous nanoparticles with average particle size smaller than 100 nm. Higher cytotoxicity of Cur-MSNs was seen in treated cancer cells compared with free curcumin. The expression of Bcl-2 was significantly reduced in the presence of Cur-MSNs compared to the control (untreated HN5 cells) (p < 0.05). A 3.43-fold increase in the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio was seen in Cur-MSNs treated HN5 cells at the IC50. Cur-MSNs increased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Based on these novel results, we suggest that Cur-MSNs offer efficacy for cancer treatment and future studies should further characterize their properties in various experimental cancer models.

Background. Despite their benefits, dental implants may sometimes fail for a diversity of causes; the most common reasons of failure are infection and bone loss. Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) bacteria show a major role in peri-implantitis infection and dental implant failure. Methods. In this study, the prevalence of P. gingivalis isolated from the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) of fifteen Iranian patients with implant failure (more than 1/3 of the implant length), who had average oral and dental hygiene and no antibiotic use for at least one month, was determined. Moreover, the antimicrobial effects of curcumin nanocrystals against isolated P. gingivalis were investigated. The collected samples from patients were transferred to a microbiology laboratory to culture. The presence of P. gingivalis in the culture media was confirmed using a trypsin reagent test. An isolate from a patient with the highest colony count was selected to evaluate the antibacterial effects of curcumin nanoparticles. The inhibition zone diameter, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were determined. Results. Out of fifteen patients, eight (53.33%) were positive for the presence of P. gingivalis. The results of the microbial tests showed that curcumin nanoparticles had an MIC of 6.25 µg/mL and an MBC of 12.5 µg/mL. Conclusions. The use of curcumin nanoparticles may control the bacterial infection around the implant.

Background and Objective: Helicobacter pylori infection is of widespread diseases in the world. The most common treatment for remediation of its symptoms is administration of antibiotics, which are not efficient enough in some patients and resulted in antibiotic resistance. Given the adverse effects arising from antibiotics in clinical studies, we aimed to fabricate chitosan- and pectin-based micro-particles containing Zataria multiflora extract for suppression of Helicobacter pylori in the laboratory. Materials and Methods: Chitosan and pectin micro-capsules alone and in combination with Zataria multiflora extract were prepared by spray dryer. The powders were further characterized by FT-IR, zeta sizer, and scanning electron microscope. Simulated gastric fluid was also prepared for evaluation of anti-Helicobacter potency of the samples. Results and Conclusion: Chitosan 1% w v-1 + 0.5 ml Zataria multiflora extract (CE0.5), pectin 1% w v-1 + 0.3 ml Zataria multiflora extract (PE0.3), and pectin 1% w v-1 (P1) could significantly suppress the bacteria under simulated gastric condition. The least survivability of Helicobacter pylori was 45.4% and achieved for CE0.5, followed by 45.70% and 46.6% for PE0.3 and P1, respectively. Electrostatic charge of the biopolymers and phenol compounds of the extract greatly affected the integrity of bacterial cell wall. According to FT-IR spectra, Zataria multiflora extract was physically entrapped in chitosan and pectin layers, which helped its better antimicrobial activity in vitro. Regarding the significant anti-Helicobacter activity of our selected formula, they would be considered as complementary treatment for antibiotics in eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection. Although further in vivo experiments are required to validate the current findings. Conflict of interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Thymol and carvacrol are aromatic compounds derived from plants that exhibit considerable broad-spectrum antimicrobial effects. They have also shown extensive biological effects, including antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-carcinogenic. Carvacrol and thymol also have pleasant smells, tastes, and potent antioxidant effects. Therefore, biological effects, along with their favorable toxicity, make thymol and carvacrol an option as an additive to inhibit microbial spoilage of foods and potent antimicrobial agents against antibiotic-resistant bacteria. However, volatility, low stability, and high hydrophobicity are some of the limitations of carvacrol and thymol, which limit their application. To increase the efficacy of thymol and carvacrol, especially antimicrobial properties, using a drug delivery system might be a practical option. Encapsulation of the essential oils into appropriated nanocarriers may decrease their potential limitations. Carvacrol and thymol-encapsulated nanomaterials have been shown to have more solubility and increased antibacterial effects. Here, we provide a brief review of the antimicrobial effects of carvacrol and thymol nanoformulation to give a prospect on their applications for future studies as natural antimicrobial agents and food additives.

The rising prevalence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria, mainly Gram-negative bacteria, challenges their effective treatment. Graphene oxide (GO) represents antibacterial activities; however, the synergistic effect of GO with conventional antibiotics remains unclarified. Here, meropenem-loaded GO (Mrp-GO) was prepared and its physicochemical and biocompatibility properties along with its inhibitory effect against carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria were evaluated. Cytotoxicity of Mrp-GO on human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBM-MSCs) was examined as well. The prepared nanoparticles had suitable and acceptable physicochemical properties. The antibacterial activity of Mrp-GO increased in comparison to the GO and Mrp alone. Moreover, the Mrp-GO had low hemolytic effects at the concentrations required for bacterial inhibition. The cell viability of hBM-MSCs at toxic Mrp-GO concentrations for bacterial isolates was almost 90–100%. The combination of nanostructure and conventional antibiotics can be a promising treatment modality against carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria.

Objectives: Vitamin D deficiency appears to have a major effect on periodontal tissue health. The present study aimed to assess the association of the serum level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and chronic periodontitis in postmenopausal women. Materials and Methods: This research was done on 30 postmenopausal women with chronic periodontitis who all had at least 20 natural teeth. Intravenous blood samples were taken from the study population at baseline and after completion of non-surgical periodontal treatment. This was followed by assessment of serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D. Next, clinical parameters of all teeth except for third molars were measured, which included pocket depth (PD), gingival index (GI), and plaque index (PI). Data were analyzed by paired t-test and its non-parametric equivalent, the Wilcoxon test. P0.05). Conclusion: According to the results obtained in the present study, there is no association between serum vitamin D concentrations and chronic periodontitis in postmenopausal women.

The main purpose of this paper is to explore the phonotactic structure of the Turkish phonological system on the basis of an extensive Turkish linguistic corpus. In a descriptive study, the distribution of Turkish consonants in onset and coda positions as well as consonantal sequences across syllable boundary (in c.c) and coda clusters (in cvcc syllable were examined. Results showed that stops and affricates in syllable onset position are most frequent, which is in line with the hierarchy of sonority scale assumed by the constraint *ONSET/X (Selkirk, 1984). Furthermore, the study of sound sequences in various syllable structures revealed that sonorants are more frequent than stops in coda position (in cvc), and also closer to syllable head than stops in coda clusters (in cvcc). This finding contradicts the predictions assumed by the constraint *CODA/X. Further results indicated that the distribution of Turkish consonants in coda clusters (in cvcc) are in conformity with the Sonority Sequencing Principle with the least marked phonotactic structure. However, the distribution of consonants across syllable boundary (in c.c) involves various consonantal sequences including those which belong to the same or similar natural class of consonants.

Abstract Acoustic correlates of consonantal place of articulation are numerous and varied. Burst information, onset spectra, and formant transition motion have all been implicated as the significant cues for consonant place of articulation within each labial, alveolar, and velar place category. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the transition rate of a vowel formant, which was the ascending or descending slope of the formant in CV syllables. Therefore, this analysis offered additional insights to the role of F2 transition at the onset and mid-points when serving as predictor variables. The results showed that F1 vowel transitions had an ascending slope. Increasing the value of F1 vowel transition after the releases of labial, alveolar, and velar consonants was an acoustic clue to the opening of the oral cavity and absence of obstruction/closure in the vocal tract. The statistical analyses demonstrated that only in the vowels [o, u, æ], there was a significant difference between the second formant frequencies at the two onset and the mid-points of the transition after all coronals, labials, and velars. The difference between these two variables was not significant in the other cases. Keywords: Vowel, Transition, Formant, Syllable, Ascending or Descending Slope Introduction Azerbaijani language is mainly spoken in Azerbaijan and Iran (Johanson, 2010). After Farsi as the official language, Azerbaijani has the most (approximately 15-20 million) speakers in Iran (Crystal, 2010). Most of the speakers inhabit in four provinces of the northwestern part of Iran. In the literature, two striking features of Turkic morphology has been presented: first, its agglutinative nature (low level of fusion in Sapir's terminology), indicating the fact that there is basically one-one correspondence between grammatical categories and their exponents and second, its highly synthetic nature (high level of synthesis again by using Sapir's terminology), demonstrating the fact that a given word can contain a large number of morphemes. Furthermore, the syllable structure of Azeribaijani language is consonant-vowel-consonant (consonant). This indicates that tautosyllabic consonant clusters with sonority drop are acceptable. In Turkic languages, the stress falls on the final syllables of all parts of speech (noun, adjectives, adverbs, and verbs). Most of the derivational and inflectional suffixes carry the stress. However, some of the derivational suffixes and clitics are unstressed. When roots combine with an unstressed suffix, the stress falls on the immediately preceding syllable and stress shift may not take place. According to these stress-placement rules, we used target vowels in simple words with the cvc.cvc syllables. Materials and Methods Generally, the first 3 formants of vowels are the most important indicators providing information for distinguishing vowels from each other (Hagino et al., 2008). There is a close relation between the first formant frequency (F1) and articulatory and/or perceptual dimension(s) of vowel height. The second formant frequency (F2) corresponds with the place of maximal constriction during the production of vowels (Wang and Van Heuven, 2006). Measurement of formants is one of the elements of the acoustic analysis of vowels. The first two formants are most important for identifying a vowel (Raina, Chakraborty, and Velankar, 2014). A formant is a concentration of acoustic energy around a particular frequency in the speech wave and corresponds to a resonance in the vocal tract. Formants can be seen very clearly in a wideband spectrogram where they are displayed as dark bands. They are labeled as F1, F2, F3, F4, etc. starting with the lowest frequency (Gunasekar et al., 2017). F1 is primarily related to tongue height with high vowels having a low F1 frequency and low vowels having a high F1 frequency. F2 is mostly related to tongue advancement with back vowels having a low F2 frequency and front vowels having a high F2 frequency (Ludlow, Kent, and Gray, 2019). This study included 10 native Turkish speakers aged 20-45 years. They pronounced Turkish vowels following consonants like xɯr.dɑ, nɑ.xɯr, rɯ.zɑ, and sɑ.rɯ. Acoustic analysis of the WAV files was performed in the computer program Praat, Version 6.1.08 (Boersma and Weenink, 2019). Segmentation of vowels in words was carried out in a manual approach. Formant frequency analysis was conducted using the Formant Pro (Xu, 2018) available in Praat with its default standard settings (range of 5,000 Hz for 5 formants). We used International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) symbols for Turkish sounds. Discussion of Results and Conclusion Coarticulation is generally defined as the influence of one phonetic segment on another segment (Marchal, 2009). It is an overlap between the articulations of neighboring phonemes. Articulators constantly move as we talk so that the shape of the vocal tract for a particular phoneme is influenced by the shapes for the phonemes that both precede and follow it (Goldstein, 2010). Vocal tract movements produce transitions of formant frequencies. Formant transitions reflect the overall change in the shape of the vocal tract during speech production (Story and Bunton, 2010). The study objective was to analyze F1 and F2 transitions in Turkish vowels in a consonant context with different places of articulation (labials: m, b, p, f, and v; coronals: s, z, d, t, n, and l; alveolo-palatals: ʃ, ʒ, ʣ, r, and ʦ; palatals: ɟ, c, and j; uvulars: ɣ and x. Therefore, this analysis offered additional insights into the role of F2 transition at the onset and mid-points when serving as predictor variables. Formant transitions in consonant-vowel sequences from real words were analyzed. Consonants with different places of articulation were included in the analysis. Finally, statistical analysis of T-test was performed for two similar groups by calculating the significance level of the difference between the F2 frequency values of the onset and the mid-points of the target vowels after the consonants. The results revealed that F1 vowel transitions had an ascending slope. Increasing the value of F1 vowel transition after the releases of labial, alveolar, and velar consonants was an acoustic clue to the opening of the oral cavity and absence of obstruction/closure in the vocal tract. The statistical analyses demonstrated that only in vowels [o, u, æ], there was a significant difference between the frequencies of the second formant at the two onset and mid-points of the transition after all coronals, labials, and velars. The difference between these two variables was not significant in the other cases.

Stroke is currently one of the primary causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Unfortunately, there has been a lack of effective stroke treatment. Therefore, novel treatment strategies are needed to decrease stroke-induced morbidity and promote the patient’s quality of life. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been recognized as one of the major causes of brain injury after ischemic stroke. Antioxidant therapy seems to be an effective treatment in the management of oxidative stress relevant to inflammatory disorders like stroke. However, the in vivo efficacy of traditional anti-oxidative substances is greatly limited due to their non-specific distribution and poor localization in the disease region. In recent years, antioxidant nanoparticles (NPs) have demonstrated a clinical breakthrough for stroke treatment. Some NPs have intrinsic antioxidant properties and act as antioxidants to scavenge ROS. Moreover, NPs provide protection to the antioxidant agents/enzymes while effectively delivering them into unreachable areas like the brain. Because of their nanoscale dimensions, NPs are able to efficiently pass through the BBB, and easily reach the damaged site. Here, we discuss the challenges, recent advances, and perspectives of antioxidant NPs in stroke treatment.

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNPs) have been reported as an effective system to co-deliver a variety of different agents to enhance efficiency and improve biocompatibility. This study was aimed at the preparation, physicochemical characterization, antimicrobial effects, biocompatibility, and cytotoxicity of vancomycin and meropenem co-loaded in the mesoporous silica nanoparticles (Van/Mrp-MSNPs). The prepared nanoparticles were explored for their physicochemical features, antibacterial and antibiofilm effects, biocompatibility, and cytotoxicity. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of the Van/Mrp-MSNPs (0.12–1 µg/mL) against Staphylococcus aureus isolates were observed to be lower than those of the same concentrations of vancomycin and meropenem. The minimum biofilm inhibitory concentration (MBIC) range of the Van/Mrp-MSNPs was 8–64 μg/mL, which was lower than the meropenem and vancomycin MBICs. The bacterial adherence was not significantly decreased upon exposure to levels lower than the MICs of the MSNPs and Van/Mrp-MSNPs. The viability of NIH/3T3 cells treated with serial concentrations of the MSNPs and Van/Mrp-MSNPs were 73–88% and 74–90%, respectively. The Van/Mrp-MSNPs displayed considerable inhibitory effects against MRSA, favorable biocompatibility, and low cytotoxicity. The Van/Mrp-MSNPs could be a potential system for the treatment of infections.

Introduction: This study aimed to prepare a new root repair material including Portland cement, bismuth oxide, and nano-hydroxyapatite and analyze its physicochemical properties and its effects on the proliferation and differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs). Material and Methods: Bismuth oxide as a radiopaque component and nano-hydroxyapatite particles were added to white Portland cement at 20% and 5% weight ratio, respectively. Characterization of the prepared cement was done using con-ventional methods. To examine the bioactivity of this new material, atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) was used for the investigation of the rate of calcium ions dissolution in simulated body fluid media. The viability of hDPSCs was assessed by an MTT assay after 1, 3 and 7 days. The odontogenic potential of this substance was evaluated by measuring alkaline phosphatase activity and alizarin red S staining. Results: Based on the bioactivity results, the cement presented high bio-activity, corroborating sufficiently with the calcium release patterns. The cell viability was significantly increased in new root repair ma-terial containing hydroxyapatite nanoparticles after 3 and 7 days (p

Background. Scaffolds are one of the key components of tissue engineering that play an important role in cell growth. The present study aimed to prepare hydroxyapatite-gelatin nanoscaffolds containing vanilla. Methods. In this in vitro examination, the scaffolds were prepared using the precipitation method. Then, vanilla was loaded into the prepared structures. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to evaluate the size and morphology of the scaffold. The surface charge of the scaffold (zeta potential) was also assessed by employing a Zetasizer. The loading of vanilla was evaluated via ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry at 372 nm. Results. The results showed that the scaffold was well prepared and had good physicochemical properties, including appropriate particle size (110.23±0.42 nm), good particle distribution, high drug loading (65.03± 0.25%), and acceptable suspension stability (zeta potential equal to 36.42±0.80 mV). Descriptive statistics (mean ± SD) were used to report the results. Conclusion. Based on the obtained results of the current study, we suggest that the prepared scaffolds can be used for in vitro and in vivo applications in future studies for tissue engineering. More investigations are needed to test the usefulness of these scaffolds.

Solid tumors are composed of a complex organ-like structure, comprising tumor, immune and stromal cells, extracellular matrix (ECM), and blood vessels. Tumor microenvironments (TME), including ECM, make up the majority of the tumor and greatly influence the intratumor signaling, metabolism, and oxygen supply. As the ECM volume increases in the tumor, blood vessels do not penetrate the solid tumor, malignant cells in the hypoxic layer enter a dormant state, and the anticancer drug cannot penetrate the inner mass of the tumor to inhibit tumor activity. As a result, the effectiveness of radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy is reduced. Nanozyme is a type of nanomaterial with enzymatic properties that can play a role in reducing the ECM stiffness of tumor mass in a process which is called Nanocatalytic Tumor Therapy. This emerging technology is based on nontoxic inorganic nanoparticles (NPs) that kill the tumor by creating oxygen toxicity and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the inner part of the tumor. Research into the therapeutic effect of these nanozymes is in its infancy and is growing, which could open a new window into overcoming tumor drug resistance.

Tissue engineering methods may be applied for the repair or regeneration of damaged teeth by inducing cell proliferation and differentiation in endodontic regeneration. One of the main factors in tissue engineering is the scaffold used. An ideal scaffold should be able to facilitate predictable tissue development in endodontic regeneration. Thus, tissue engineering requires consideration for the composition and functionality of the scaffold suited for biological applications. The objective of this study was to assess the morphological, physico-chemical, and biological properties of a new gelatin (Gel)-nano-hydroxyapatite (nHA)-based scaffold to be applied in endodontic regeneration. The scaffold containing gelatin and nHA was prepared by a freeze-drying method. Conventional techniques, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), and dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis were used to evaluate the physico-chemical properties of the fabricated Gel-nHA sponge scaffold. Biological examination for cell survival and differentiation of dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) was evaluated by the MTT assay and ALP activity techniques, respectively. The produced Gel-nHA scaffold had spongy properties that all functional groups of gelatin and hydroxyapatite were present in the sponge. In biological studies, the viability of the cells grown on Gel-nHA scaffold had no different change from the control group on days 2nd, 4th, and 6th. Besides, after 14 days of cells cultured on Gel-nHA, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity showed a significant increment. In summary, the Gel-nHA scaffold revealed favorable effects on odontogenic activity, implying a potential future for application in endodontic regeneration.

During the last two decades, new drug delivery strategies have been invented that have been able to solve microbial resistance against antibiotics. The goal of the current report was to assess the antimicrobial effects of nano-catechin gels against clinically isolated Porphyromonas gingivalis, one of the main causes of periodontal disease. Catechin-loaded chitosan nanoparticles were prepared by adding a catechin solution to a chitosan solution. Then, the mean particle size and the mean surface charge (zeta potential) of the nanoparticles were detected through photon correlation spectroscopy and zeta sizer, respectively. Nano-catechin gels (1000, 500, 250, 125, 62.5, and 31.2 µg/mL) were prepared, and the antimicrobial assay was performed against clinically isolated Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis). The clinically obtained P. gingivalis isolates were obtained from periodontitis patients (N = 15). The consequences are specified as descriptive indices. The normality of data was detected by the Shapiro–Wilk test. Then, to compare the data between groups (with a p value < 0.05 as the significance level), SPSS software (version 22) was used via a Mann–Whitney U test. The results showed a nanometer particle size range and a positive zeta potential for the prepared nanoparticles. All the concentrations (1000, 500, 250, 125, 62.5, and 31.2 µg/mL) of nano-catechin gels showed sustained release patterns and were non-toxic against dental pulp stem cells as well. There were no significant differences between the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for nano-catechin gel (test group) and Chlorhexidine (control group) against 15 isolates (p > 0.05). Then, two groups showed similar antimicrobial effects. The similar antimicrobial activity of catechin nanoparticles and Chlorhexidine, as a potent antimicrobial agents, against clinically isolated P. gingivalis showed that catechin nanoparticles can be used as a potent antimicrobial material for the treatment of periodontal diseases in the near future.

1. INTRODUCTION The Turkish language is mainly spoken in Azerbaijan and Iran (Johanson 2010). After Farsi as the official language, Turkish, with approximately 15–20 million speakers, has the most speakers in Iran (Crystal 2010). Most of the speakers inhabit in the four provinces of the northwestern part of Iran. In the literature two striking features of Turkic morphology were presented: first, its agglutinative nature (low level of fusion, in Sapir's terminology), i.e. the fact that there is basically one-one correspondence between grammatical categories and their exponents, and second, its highly synthetic nature (high level of synthesis, again using Sapir's terminology), i.e. the fact that a given word can contain a large number of morphemes. Turkish morphemes have allomorphs with clear-cut boundaries. Among the few problematic morpheme boundaries are the following: bek-le 'wait', get-ir 'bring', yar-iʃ 'race'. The bound base forms bek-, get-, yar- are considered morphemes on account of further suffixation. Their meaning may be said to be determinable by subtracting the meaning of the suffixes -le, -ir, and -iʃ from the meaning of the total form. Furthermore, the syllable structure of Turkish is consonant-vowel-consonant (consonant). That is, tautosyllabic consonant clusters with the sonority drop are acceptable. In Turkic languages stress falls into final syllables of all parts of speech (noun, adjectives, adverbs, verbs), most of the derivational and inflectional suffixes carry stress. However, some of the derivational suffixes and clitics are unstressable, when roots combine with an unstressable suffix, stress falls on the immediately preceding syllable, and stress shift may not take place. In other cases, however, the primary stress is shifted to another syllable of the same word. This appear to the idiolectical variations of stress-placement rules and the change in the rhythem pattern also influences word stress. There are only a few forms where stress change affects the subclass (adjectival or adverbial) membership of substantives. Within the subclass of nominals, place names are set apart from other nominals by stress change: yildiz 'star', Yildiz 'a place name'. In suffixed forms where the place of stress is determined by morphophonemic rules, the stress of place names falls on the syllable that precedes the regularly stressed one: armutlu 'having pears', Armutlu 'a place name' (Nash, 1973). According to these stress-placement rules, we used target vowels in simple words with the cvc.cvc syllables. 2. MATERIALS AND METHODSGenerally, the first three formants of the vowels are the most important indicators providing information for distinguishing vowels from each other (Hagino et al. 2008). There is a close relation between first formant frequency (F1) and articulatory and/or perceptual dimension of vowel height. The second formant frequency (F2) corresponds with the place of maximal constriction during the production of the vowels (Wang and Van Heuven 2006). Distribution of the vowels in a F1 by F2 plane is given in two Figures that provide the overviews of the acoustic vowel space for Turkish formants. In the study on formant measurements of vowels, analysis revealed no significant effect of gender on the variables (stress pattern and syllable position); hence, the formant values of the male and female participants were pooled and reported one average value of F1 and F2 for each vowel. Formant frequency analysis was performed using the Formant Pro (Xu, 2018) available in Praat with its default standard settings (range of 5,000 Hz for five formants). Descriptive statistics were performed to describe mean and standard deviation values for output measures (F1, F2, F3, duration). In this research, participants were recruited from among Turkish speakers aged 20-45 years old. There were 10 participants, including 5 male and 5 female. We had 144 target words for analysis. Participants were asked to read the list of carrier phrases two times. A total of 2880 vowel tokens were recorded. Describing the acoustic properties of the Turkish vowels, and developing the vowel space plot based on F1and F2 values of vowels can be utilized in analyzing the Phonetic system of Turkish language. 3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONAn attempt was made to the investigate the acoustic characteristic of target vowels in the different syllabic positions (open and close syllables, stressed and unstressed syllables). Results showed that these different positons have no significant effect on the distribution of the vowels in the vowel space presented by the combination of two spectral parameters F1, F2. Vowel reduction was examined in unstressed syllables using duration and F1 and F2 spectral values across different consonantal contexts. 4. CONCLUSIONResults of the phonetic aspects of vowel reduction showed that vowel formant changes in unstressed condition as compared to stressed condition had not non-significant effect. That is the vowels had no significant spatial reduction in the direction of the center of the vowel space.

It seems quite challenging in tissue engineering to synthesize a base material with a range of essential activities, including biocompatibility, nontoxicity, and antimicrobial activities. Various types of materials are synthesized to solve the problem. This study aimed to provide the latest relevant information for practitioners about antibacterial scaffolds in dental tissue engineering. The PubMed search engine was used to review the relevant studies with a combination of the following terms as search queries: tissue engineering, scaffolds, antimicrobial, dentistry, dental stem cells, and oral diseases. It is noteworthy to state that only the terms related to tissue engineering in dentistry were considered. The antimicrobial scaffolds support the local tissue regeneration and prevent adverse inflammatory reactions; however, not all scaffolds have such positive characteristics. To resolve this potential defect, different antimicrobial agents are used during the synthesis process. Innovative methods in guided tissue engineering are actively working towards new ways to control oral and periodontal diseases.

Abstract Objectives Infections after implant placement are the main reasons for the failure of implant treatments. The present study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial effects of nanocurcumin inside the implant fixture against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Enterococcus faecalis. Materials and Methods Twenty seven implants were classified in three groups for testing the antibacterial effect of nanocurcumin, chlorhexidine (as negative control), and distilled water (as negative control). Each group was then divided into three subgroups to study the effect of the applied torque on the antimicrobial effect of nanocurcumin. All implant abutment assemblies were submerged in bacteria suspension and were incubated at 37°C for 24 hours. The contents of each implant were removed to count the colony of bacteria on the surface of plates containing nutrient agar. Results Results indicated that the inhibitory rate of bacteria by nanocurcumin was above 99% in all bacteria. Besides, by increasing the amount of applied torque from 10 to 35 N.cm, the CFU of bacteria in exposure to nanocurcumin significantly were decreased (p‐value

The placement of orthodontic appliances into the oral area can lead to infection, inflammatory and gingival collapse. Using an antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory material in the matrix of orthodontic appliance may help to reduce these issues. This study aimed to assess the release pattern, the antimicrobial action and the flexural strength of self-cured acrylic resins after adding different weight percentages of curcumin nanoparticles (nanocurcumin). In this in-vitro study, 60 acrylic resin samples were divided into five groups (n = 12) based on the weight percentage of curcumin nanoparticles added to the acrylic powder (0 for control, 0.5, 1, 2.5, and 5%). Then, the dissolution apparatus was used for the release assessment of nanocurcumin form the resins. For antimicrobial action assessment, the disk diffusion method was used and a three-point bending test was performed with a speed of 5 mm/min to determine the flexural strength. Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Post-Hoc Tukey tests (with p < 0.05 as significant level). The microscopic images showed the homogeny distribution of nanocuricumin in self-cured acrylic resins in varied concentrations. The release pattern showed a two-step release pattern for all concentrations of nanocurcumin. The one-way ANOVA outcomes indicated that adding curcumin nanoparticles to self-cured resin increased the diameter of the inhibition zones for the groups against Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) significantly (p < 0.0001). Additionally, as the weight percentage of curcumin nanoparticles increased, the flexural strength decreased (p < 0.0001). However, all strength values were higher than the standard value (50 MPa). No significant difference was detected between the control group and the group with 0.5 percent (p = 0.57). Considering the proper release pattern and the potent antimicrobial activity of curcumin nanoparticles, then the preparing self-cured resins containing curcumin nanoparticles can be beneficial for antimicrobial aims without damaging the flexural strength to use in orthodontic removable applications.

Purpose: The implementation of building information modeling (BIM) has been previously approached from various perspectives, but confusion regarding BIM's full potential and on how to apply it remains. The whole is viewed from distinct perspectives to reflect the full potential and explain the tentatively unused potential. Study design/methodology/approach: The study follows a conceptual research approach in conjunction with a single case study. The BIM iceberg model is utilized as an explanatory synthesis frame to reflect perspectives describing BIM utilization. Findings: A BIM implementation status framework is developed to describe the BIM utilization maturity in a typical case company. The framework is tested, and indications of support for the logic of the BIM iceberg model are gained. To date, BIM has been used successfully in the early construction project stages (tip of the iceberg, primary BIM). The below-sea-level parts, the collaborative BIM and integrative BIM - the full potential - are rarely recognized. Originality/value: The presented BIM implementation status shows that there is a gap between the full potential of BIM and the level of BIM utilization in practice.

Persian relative construction which can be followed by a demonstrative has Det N RC word order. Persian relative clause is a post-nominal subordinate clause that is the most common type in the world. The relative clause has a complex structure which can illustrate the relationship between typology and generative grammar and develop a set of generalization that describes formal grammatical structures. Through a general survey of relative construction, the present study attempts to present the types and patterns of Persian relative clauses through data-based and theory-oriented approaches. This language-internal study also aims to find the range of possibilities which consists of (a) different strategies for the configuration of relative structure (raising analysis: movement of relative head noun from the relativized site to the Spec, CP which is coindexed with trace left behind by movement, or base generated analysis: head noun base generated in the Spec, DP which is coindexed with pronoun inside the relative clause), (b) presence of head (headed or head incorporated (free) relatives), hierarchical position of head (externally/internally headed relatives), linear order of head and RC (head-initial/final relatives), types of head (generic, specific, definite or indefinite noun) in restrictive and non-restrictive relatives, (c) position of Det with respect to N and RC, (d) position of relativisation occurance (subject, object, object of preposition…), (e) presence or absence of resumptive pronoun, that is relative clause underlyingly contains a pronominal which may be filled by a gap, and (f) possibility of embedding relatives within DP.

Background. Periodontitis can lead to progressive destruction of periodontal tissues supporting the tooth. Developing biomaterials for tissue engineering has noticeably improved the existing treatment options. The present study investigated the gelatin-hydroxyapatite nano-fibers as promising scaffolds for guided tissue regeneration (GTR). Methods. The scaffolds were prepared through electrospinning technique, and then the physicochemical properties and the cytotoxic effects on dental-derived mesenchymal stem cells were assessed. Results. The nano-scaffolds were successfully prepared with a mono-dispersed nano-scale diameter (102±0.10 nm), negative surface charge (-20±0.17 mV), and uniform network-shaped morphology. The mesenchymal stem cells derived from the human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSC) with gelatin-hydroxyapatite nano-fibers showed that the prepared scaffolds had a significant proliferative effect. Besides, the applied method can be used to prepare fiber-based structures via other polymeric materials. Conclusion. The incorporation of different materials to decrease the degradation rate of the fibers can match the speed of tissue regeneration. In this case, the prepared nano-fibers can be applied as a membrane biomaterial.

Background The ever-increasing resistance to antimicrobial agents among bacteria associated with nosocomial infections indicate the necessity of new antimicrobial therapy. The nanoparticles are considered as new drug delivery systems to increase the efficiency and decrease the unfavourable effects of the antimicrobial agents.Methods Herein we report the preparation and characterization of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) loaded with meropenem against carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae. The antimicrobial effect of meropenem-loaded MSNs was determined against Enterobacteriaceae using the minimum inhibitory (MIC) method. The biocompatibility of meropenem-loaded MSNs was studied by the impact on the haemolysis and sedimentation rates of human red blood cells (HRBCs). Cytotoxicity of the meropenem-loaded MSNs was studied by the MTT test (hBM-MSC cell viability).Results The meropenem-loaded MSNs have shown antibacterial activity on all isolates at different MIC values lower than MICs of meropenem. Free MSNs did not show any significant antibacterial effect. Meropenem-loaded MSNs have no significant effect on haemolysis and ESR of HRBCs. The viability of hBM-MSC cells treated with serial concentrations of meropenem-loaded MSNs was 92–100%.Conclusion Due to the desirable biocompatibility, low cytotoxicity and the improved antibacterial effect, MSNs can be considered as a promising drug delivery system for meropenem as a potential antimicrobial agent.

As a category of small peptides frequently found in nature, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) constitute a major part of the innate immune system of various organisms. Antimicrobial peptides feature various inhibitory effects against fungi, bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Due to the increasing concerns of antibiotic resistance among microorganisms, development of antimicrobial peptides is an emerging tool as a favorable applicability prospect in food, medicine, aquaculture, animal husbandry, and agriculture. This review presents the latest research progress made in the field of antimicrobial peptides, such as their mechanism of action, classification, application status, design techniques, and a review on decoration of nanoparticles and polymers with AMPs that are used in treating multidrug resistance. Lastly, we will highlight recent progress in antiviral peptides to treat emerging viral diseases (e.g., anti-coronavirus peptides) and discuss the outlook of AMP applications.

Teledentistry is a new technology in the dentistry field, which has great benefits during pandemic such as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The overall purpose of the study was to assess the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of virtual (mobile phone teledentistry) compared with clinical examinations during COVID-19. The basic design of the study was based on the comparison treatment plans by the students and the gold standard (clinical treatment plan of an expert pedodontist with 10 years of clinical experience). This double-blind clinical trial was conducted on 20 children (aged 6 to 12 years) with a chief complaint of dental caries with or without pain. An appropriate radiograph and five standard intraoral photographs (frontal view occlusion, maxillary occlusal view, mandibular occlusal view, right lateral view, and left lateral view) were prescribed for each patient according to the guidelines of the American Association of Pediatric Dentistry. Then, the treatment plan for the carious teeth was recorded for each patient. Each patient underwent a clinical examination at first and was followed randomly by a virtual examination by two dental students. Then, the clinical and virtual treatment plans were compared with each other, and also with the gold standard. The sensitivity and specificity values were calculated for each group. The accuracy of the diagnosis was measured by applying Cohen’s kappa. Interexaminer reliability was measured using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Cronbach’s alpha. The mean kappa coefficient for the interexaminer agreement (for 24 teeth) was 0.62 in clinical and 0.69 in virtual examinations. The results showed no significant difference in the treatment plans of students and the gold standard (P>0.05). The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were 73.22% and 95.8% for clinical and 76.44% and 92.9% for virtual treatment plans showing no significant differences between virtual (mobile phone teledentistry) and clinical examinations (P>0.05). The intraexaminer reliability of the examiners was found to be 0.92 by calculating the ICC. Then, teledentistry can be considered as a supplement to clinical examinations of pediatric dentistry, finally resulting in better patient management. However, more studies are necessary for teledentistry.

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of adding silica nanoparticles on the physicochemical properties, antimicrobial action, and the hardness of dental stone type 4. Dental stone type 4 powder was physically mixed with nanoparticle powder at weight percentages (0, 0.5, 1, and 2 percent). The required amount of powder was added to water according to the manufacturer's instructions. The prepared set materials were subjected to the physicochemical studies; Fourier transmission infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was taken up to investigate the functional groups and X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used to evaluate the crystallinity. Also, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to examine the morphology of the prepared samples. Agar diffusion test was carried out for the prepared samples against the Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) to test the average growth inhibition zones. Finally, the Vickers surface hardness test was performed for each group using a hardness tester. The adding silica nanoparticles to dental stone type 4 increased the diameter of inhibition zones for the groups in both bacteria significantly (p

Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) is a widely used material in prosthetics and is used to fabricate denture bases. The main disadvantage of this material is its polymerization shrinkage which causes clinical problems during use. The present study aimed to investigate and compare the microhardness, surface roughness, and water sorption of a commercial acrylic resin denture, which were processed by two different methods including conventional and pressure-packed injection molding techniques. A total of 60 polymethyl methacrylate samples were prepared in two groups: conventional acrylic resin (vertex) for the compression molding method and injection acrylic resin (vertex) for the injection molding method (10 samples of each material per test). The microhardness test was performed using a Vickers microhardness test device, the surface roughness test was performed by using a profilometer, and the water sorption test was performed using a digital scale. Data were analyzed using an independent sample t-test with Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), version 17. The significant level was considered to be 0.05. According to the results, there was a significant difference between microhardness, surface roughness, and water sorption of the samples in the two groups. The results of the independent t-test showed that the microhardness of injection vertex acrylic resin samples was significantly higher than that of conventional pressure-packed vertex acrylic resin samples (P value

The aim of this study was to assess the multi-phasic use of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) as an adjuvant treatment to accelerate the osseointegration of titanium dental implants. Initially, twelve titanium mini-screws were inserted in femur bones of six New Zealand rabbits in three groups; the one-time treated group, the three-time treated group, and the control group (without ESWT). Then, 1800 focused shockwaves with an energy flux density of 0.3 mJ/mm2 in every phase were used. Fourteen days after the last phase of ESWT, the animals were sacrificed to assess the osseointegration of screws via micro-computed tomography scan (micro-CT scan), biomechanical pull-out test, and histopathological analysis. Pull-out and histopathology analysis showed that the ESWT significantly increased bone regeneration and osseointegration around the implants compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Moreover, the pull-out test confirmed that the three-time treated screws needed more force to pull the bone out compared to the other two groups (p < 0.05). The mean bone volume fraction between the control group, the one-time treated group, and the three-time treatment group were not statistically significant (p > 0.05) according to the micro-CT scan results. Based on our results, ESWT can be suggested as a non-invasive and cost-effective adjuvant for osseointegration of dental implants. However, more in vivo studies and clinical trials are needed for validation of this finding.

Background. Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) has always been one of the leading causes of periodontal disease, and antibiotics are commonly used to control it. Numerous side effects of synthetic drugs, as well as the spread of drug resistance, have led to a tendency toward using natural antimicrobials, such as curcumin. The present study aimed to prepare and physicochemically characterize curcumin-loaded silica nanoparticles and to detect their antimicrobial effects on P. gingivalis. Methods. Curcumin-loaded silica nanoparticles were prepared using the chemical precipitation method and then were characterized using conventional methods (properties such as the particle size, drug loading percentage, and release pattern). P. gingivalis was isolated from one patient with chronic periodontal diseases. The patient’s gingival crevice fluid was sampled using sterile filter paper and was transferred to the microbiology laboratory in less than 30 min. The disk diffusion method was used to determine the sensitivity of clinically isolated P. gingivalis to curcumin-loaded silica nanoparticles. SPSS software, version 20, was used to compare the data between groups with a p value of in vitro antimicrobial tests showed that P. gingivalis was sensitive to the curcumin-loaded silica nanoparticles at concentrations of 50, 25, 12.5, and 6.25 µg/mL. One-way ANOVA showed that there was a significant difference between the mean growth inhibition zone, and the concentration of 50 µg/mL showed the highest inhibition zone (p ≤ 0.05). Conclusion. Based on the obtained results, it can be concluded that the local nanocurcumin application for periodontal disease and implant-related infections can be considered a promising method for the near future in dentistry.

ersian relative clause is a post-nominal subordinate clause; that is, Persian relative construction which can be followed by a demonstrative has ‘Det N RC’ word order. The configuration of relative structure follows the base generated analysis: head noun base generated in the Spec, DP which is co-indexed with pronoun inside the relative clause. In the present study, it is proposed that a base generation analysis of the head noun and its optional determiner in the Spec of the complex DP accounts more adequately for Persian data than raising analysis. Unlike English relative construction which uses the null operator, Persian relative construction allows a gap and an optional clitic pronoun to represent the head noun within the relative clause. The study sought to provide evidence supporting the above mentioned analysis. It was found that the relative element which occupies the relative gap is the pronoun clitic agreeing ɸ-features with that of relative head noun

Introdution: Parent-child interactive therapy is considered as an emerging approach to reduce child behavioral problems, which relies on improving parent-child relationship. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of parent-child interactive group therapy on the improvement of affective index in children with methadone-treated parents. Methods: In a clinical trial in the form of a semi-experimental study during the period from June to November 2015, among families who were referred to Bijan Center for Substance Abuse Treatment in Tehran who had children of preschool age, 40 children were chosen after screening based on the positive and negative affect schedule (PANAS) and the child behavior checklist (CBCL), they were randomly assigned to two experimental and control groups. The treatment program was presented to the experimental group for 8 sessions per week. The validity of urines samples was investigated by immunochromatography. Adherence to treatment in the form of urine test was considered as the primary outcomes and affective index was considered as secondary outcomes. Data were analyzed using chi square and multivariate analysis of covariance. Results: The primary outcomes showed that the frequency of positive urine tests was not significant during the treatment process (p = 0.88). Secondary outcomes showed that interactive treatment in the experimental group was associated with an increase in positive mood (p = 0.44) and a decrease in negative mood in comparison with the control group (p = 0.48). Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate the importance of parent-child interactive styles in the prevention and treatment of psychological disorders during the development periods, and it can be considered in designing appropriate interventions.

A biodegradable micro/nano-structured porous hemostatic gelatin-based sponge as a dentistry surgery foam was prepared using a freeze-drying method. In vitro function evaluation tests were performed to ensure its hemostatic effect. Biocompatibility tests were also performed to show the compatibility of the sponge on human fetal foreskin fibroblasts (HFFF2) cells and red blood cells (RBCs). Then, 10 patients who required the extraction of two teeth were selected, and after teeth extraction, for dressing, the produced sponge was placed in one of the extracavities while a commercial sponge was placed in the cavity in the other tooth as a control. The total weight of the absorbed blood in each group was compared. The results showed a porous structure with micrometric and nanometric pores, flexibility, a two-week range for degradation, and an ability to absorb blood 35 times its weight in vitro. The prepared sponge showed lower blood clotting times (BCTs) (243.33 ± 2.35 s) and a lower blood clotting index (BCI) (10.67 ± 0.004%) compared to two commercial sponges that displayed its ability for faster coagulation and good hemostatic function. It also had no toxic effects on the HFFF2 cells and RBCs. The clinical assessment showed a better ability of blood absorption for the produced sponge (p-value = 0.0015). The sponge is recommended for use in dental surgeries because of its outstanding abilities.

Curcumin has multiple properties that are used to cure different diseases such as cancer, infections, inflammatory, arthritic disease, etc. Despite having many effects, the inherent physicochemical properties—such as poor water solubility, chemical instability, low bioavailability, photodegradation, fast metabolism, and short half-life—of curcumin’s derivatives have limited its medical importance. Recently, unprecedented advances in biomedical nanotechnology have led to the development of nanomaterial-based drug delivery systems in the treatment of diseases and diagnostic goals that simultaneously enhance therapeutic outcomes and avoid side effects. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) are promising drug delivery systems for more effective and safer treatment of several diseases, such as infections, cancers, and osteoporosis. Achieving a high drug loading in MSNs is critical to the success of this type of treatment. Their notable inherent properties—such as adjustable size and porosity, high pore volume, large surface area, functionality of versatile surfaces, as well as biocompatibility—have prompted extraordinary research on MSNs as multi-purpose delivery platforms. In this review, we focused on curcumin-loaded silica nanoparticles and their effects on the diagnosis and treatment of infections as well as their use in food packaging.

Medicinal plants are considered colossal producers of bioactive therapeutics agents. The genus Mentha possesses commercial values owing to its aromatic species. Despite its traditional applications in food flavoring, Mentha spp. such as Mentha piperita (peppermint), M. aquatica (water mint), M. spicata (spearmint), and M. arvensis (wild mint) are widely used for treating not only cold and fever but also gastro-intestinal and cardiovascular disorders as folk medicines. It has revealed a plethora of biological traits viz. antimicrobial, antioxidant, anticancer, anti-ulcer, anti-diabetic, insecticidal, and anti-inflammatory activities. Generally, the presence of bioactive phytochemicals is the prime reason for the traditional pharmacological activities of Mentha spp. A rich source of potential phytoconstituents of Mentha spp. is an important agent for designing nutrapharmaceuticals. The current review paper discusses the different phytochemical, traditional medicinal features, and prime therapeutic properties of some of the most commonly used Mentha spp. Also, this paper summarizes the role of various metabolites of Mentha towards the development of therapeutic drugs in the future.

Postoperative pain after root canal therapy (RoCT) is an unpleasant experience for patients, and it could be affected by different factors. The times of visits could be one of these factors that were evaluated in various studies. However, there is inconsistent evidence on the relation between postoperative pain and the times of visits. Therefore, the current systematic review aimed to summarize the results of these studies and meta-analyze them. For this purpose, a comprehensive search was conducted in four main databases (Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus databases) for related English articles from 1978 to August 2020. The quality of studies was evaluated using the Delphi checklist. The heterogeneity of studies was determined by I2 statistic, and publication bias was assessed using the funnel plot and the Begg test. The results were presented by using relative ratio (RR) estimates and standard mean difference (SMD) with its 95% confidence intervals (CI) using a random-effects model. Initial searches from mentioned databases identified 1480 papers; of which only 27 of them met the inclusion criteria. In quality assessment, thirteen studies had quality scores of more than 7, two studies had 4 scores, and the rest had 5 scores. Overall, based on the available evidence, the meta-analysis showed that the risk of postoperative pain in single-visit was 1.02 times (CI 95% (0.99, 1.19), I2 = 60.7%, p=0.001) higher than that of the multiple-visit treatment. The mean difference of postoperative pain in single-visit was −0.30 (CI 95% (−0.36, −0.25), I2 = 0.94.4, p=0.001) compared with the multiple-visit treatment. Based on the results of this meta-analysis, the risk of postoperative pain in single-visit RoCT was higher than that in multiple-visit RoCT with acceptable statistical heterogeneity and moderate quality of the studies.

Curcumin, as a natural phenolic substance, is extracted from the rhizome of Curcuma longa (turmeric), which is effective in bone healthfulness. Calcitriol is an effective hormone in regulating bone remodeling and mineral homeostasis and immune response. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are found in most dental tissues and resemble bone marrow-derived MSCs. In this work, we investigated the effect of combination and individual treatment of curcumin and calcitriol on early osteogenic differentiation of dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs). Early osteogenic differentiation was evaluated and confirmed by the gene expression level of ALP and its activity. Curcumin individually and in combination with calcitriol increased ALP activity and osteoblast-specific mRNA expression of ALP when DPSCs were cultured in an osteogenic medium. Calcitriol alone increased the enzyme more than in combination with curcumin. These findings demonstrate that curcumin can induce early osteogenic differentiation of DPSCs like calcitriol as a potent stimulant of osteogenesis.

The diverse pleiotropic pharmacological effects of curcumin nanoformulations have turned it into an attractive natural compound in different health-related problems. A great body of evidence has shown the impact of curcumin and its nanoformulations on the differentiation of stem cells. The current review highlights cellular and molecular mechanisms connected with the osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in the scaffolds benefiting from the presence of nanocurcumin pointing toward the role of inhibitory or stimulant signal transduction pathways in detail. Moreover, the effects of different concentrations as well as the structural modifications of curcumin on the differentiation of MSCs have been addressed.

ABSTRACT Background and Objectives: Elevated blood lipid levels are correlated with risk of cardiovascular disease, especially in overweight individuals. The beneficial effect of strength training on lipid profile has been well documented. However, the effect of strength training with flow blood restriction has not been established. The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of eight weeks of strength training with and without blood flow restriction on some of the cardiovascular risk factors in overweight females. Methods: In this study, 28 overweight females aged 18 to 24 years were randomly assigned into three groups of blood flow restriction strength training (BFRT), traditional strength training (TRT) and control. Participants in the BFRT group performed eight weeks of strength training three sessions per week at 30% of 1-repetetion maximum, while participants in the TRT group performed the training at 65-80% of 1-repetetion maximum. Cardiovascular variables, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure were measured before and after the exercise training. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, paired t-test and one-way analysis of variance. Results: Triglyceride level decreased significantly in the BFRT (p=0.022) and TRT (p=0.038) groups compared with the control group. Moreover, there were no significant differences in the body mass, waist-to-hip ratio, body mass index, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, and cholesterol levels between the study groups (P≥0.05). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the BFRT and TRT may not be suitable for preventing or even reversing the physiological changes induced by obesity. Keywords: Resistance Training, Lipids, lipoprotein, overweight.

In this study, we prepared and evaluated hydroxyapatite–gelatin/curcumin nanofibrous composites and determined their antimicrobial effects against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus mutans. Hydroxyapatite–gelatin/curcumin nanofibrous composites were prepared by the electrospinning method. The prepared nanocomposites were then subjected to physicochemical studies by the light scattering method for their particle size, Fourier transmission infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to identify their functional groups, X-ray diffraction (XRD) to study their crystallinity, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to study their morphology. For the microbial evaluation of nanocomposites, the disk diffusion method was used against Streptococcus mutans, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli. The results showed that the nanofibers were uniform in shape without any bead (structural defects). The release pattern of curcumin from the nanocomposite was a two-stage release, 60% of which was released in the first two days and the rest being slowly released until the 14th day. The results of the microbial evaluations showed that the nanocomposites had significant antimicrobial effects against all bacteria (p = 0.0086). It seems that these nanocomposites can be used in dental tissue engineering or as other dental materials. Also, according to the appropriate microbial results, these plant antimicrobials can be used instead of chemical antimicrobials, or along with them, to reduce bacterial resistance.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a dilapidating problem that causes great global burden since the current therapeutic options are mostly ineffective. Early diagnosis and efficient treatment are essential to prevent the progression of CKD. Nanoparticles as technological drivers of innovation have emerged in biomedical studies for different theranostic applications. Several nanoparticles have been developed, which can be labeled with targeting moieties for both drug delivery and/or imaging systems and are investigated to detect different pathological conditions. The focus of this review is to demonstrate the current research and clinical applications for nanoparticles in the diagnosis of CKD and other renal diseases that will probably result in CKD.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are still one of the main causes of death. In recent years, nanotechnology has offered new materials and strategies for more effective and safe treatment as well as diagnosis of CVDs. This review highlights the recent advances in nanotechnology applications in CVD therapy. The manipulation and the production of biomedical implantable devices based on nanomedicine approaches as well as drug delivery concepts for diagnosing and treatment of CVDs are discussed in this paper.