Efficacy of Lasers in Debonding Ceramic Brackets: Exploring the Rationale and Methods.

The development of ceramic brackets in orthodontics three decades ago emerged as a response to the increasing patient demand for less visible orthodontic appliances. While these brackets provide superior aesthetics, they are characterized by lower fracture toughness and higher bond strength in contrast to metal brackets. These properties present challenges during the debonding step, including the risk of enamel micro-fractures and cracks. Historically, various strategies have been developed to address challenges associated with debonding, reduce patient discomfort, and ensure that the bond failure site is confined to the bracket-adhesive interface. This included the use of specially designed debonding pliers, electrothermal debonding, ultrasonic technique, and chemical agents. Recently, there has been a shift towards utilizing different types of laser irradiation for this purpose. The burgeoning strategy, however, requires diligent scientific scrutiny to establish a standardized protocol with particular laser parameters and ultimately achieve the goal of enhancing the patient experience by reducing discomfort. This article offers a narrative review of laser-aided debonding of ceramic brackets, aimed at comparing different laser types, presenting their benefits and downsides, validating the efficiency of each method, and summarizing the published literature on this subject. It also provides insights for orthodontists on reducing patient discomfort that usually accompanies debonding ceramic brackets by delving into the science behind the use of lasers for this purpose.

Clinical Presentations and Risk Factors of Gastrointestinal Bleeding in the Emergency Department: A Multicenter Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Gastrointestinal bleeding is a major healthcare burden and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to assess the prevalence, clinical presentation, and risk factors of patients presenting with gastrointestinal bleeding in the emergency department. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted in two tertiary care hospitals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The medical records of patients who presented to the emergency department with gastrointestinal bleeding between January 2010 and January 2020 were reviewed. Patients aged 18 years or older, with gastrointestinal bleeding (upper or lower) regardless of underlying cause, lifestyle, location of bleeding, health status, or medication use, were included. Demographic characteristics, initial vital signs, medical history, physical examination findings, comorbidities, medications, laboratory and radiological investigations, cause and stage of liver disease, management, and complications were recorded. Endoscopic findings and management of the bleeding site were collected according to the presenting symptoms. RESULTS: A total of 760 patients were included. The mean age was 62.7 ± 17.8 years, and 61.4% were males. The most common comorbidities at presentation were hypertension (54.1%), diabetes mellitus (51.2%), and ischemic heart disease (18.2%). The origins of the bleeding were lower gastrointestinal in 52% and upper gastrointestinal in 48% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: Lower gastrointestinal bleeding was found to be more common than upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Hemorrhoids, polyps, diverticular disease, and colonic ulcers were the major risk factors for lower gastrointestinal bleeding. In contrast, upper gastrointestinal bleeding was predominantly caused by esophageal varices, gastritis, and peptic ulcers.

Green Synthesis of Uncoated and Olive Leaf Extract-Coated Silver Nanoparticles: Sunlight Photocatalytic, Antiparasitic, and Antifungal Activities.

The circular economy, which attempts to decrease agricultural waste while also improving sustainable development through the production of sustainable products from waste and by-products, is currently one of the main objectives of environmental research. Taking this view, this study used a green approach to synthesize two forms of silver nanoparticles: coated silver nanoparticles with olive leaf extract (Ag-olive) and uncoated pure silver nanoparticles (Ag-pure), which were produced by the calcination of Ag-olive at 550 °C. The extract and the fabricated nanoparticles were characterized by a variety of physicochemical techniques, including high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Adult ticks (Hyalomma dromedarii) (Acari: Ixodidae) were used in this study to evaluate the antiparasitic activity of synthesized nanoparticles and extract. Furthermore, the antifungal activity was evaluated against Aspergillus aculeatus strain N (MW958085), Fuserium oxysporum (MT550034), and Alternaria tenuissiuma (MT550036). In both antiparasitic and antifungal tests, the as-synthesized Ag-olive showed higher inhibition activity than Ag-pure and olive leaf extract. The findings of this research suggest that Ag-olive may be a powerful and eco-friendly antiparasitic and antifungal agent. Ag-pure was also evaluated as a photocatalyst under sunlight for the detoxification of Eri-chrome-black T (EBT), methylene blue (MB), methyl orange (MO), and rhodamine B (RhB).

Phytosynthesis via wasted onion peel extract of samarium oxide/silver core/shell nanoparticles for excellent inhibition of microbes.

The aqueous onion peel extract (OPE) was used to synthesize silver nanoparticles (Ag-onion), samarium oxide nanoparticles (Sm2O3-onion), and silver/samarium oxide core/shell nanoparticles (Ag@Sm2O3-onion). The produced nanoparticles were characterized by thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), infrared spectra (FT-IR), absorption spectra (UV-Vis), energy band gap, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), zeta potential, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). OPE and NPs were tested for the disinfection of some water microbes. XRD analysis exhibited an amorphous structure of samarium oxide in both Sm2O3-onion and Ag@ Sm2O3-onion. The isolated bacteria from the water sample were Bacillus subtilis (OQ073500) and Escherichia coli (MW534699), while the isolated fungi were Alternaria brassicae (MZ266540), Aspergillus flavus (MT550030), Aspergillus penicillioides (MW957971), Pythium ultimum (MW830915), Verticillium dahlia (MW830379), Fusarium acuminatum (MZ266538), Candida albicans (MW534712), and Candida parapsilosis (MW960416). High levels of antimicrobial activity were seen in both the nanoparticles and the aqueous onion peel extract. Based on experimental results, Ag@Sm2O3 demonstrated the highest activity as an effective disinfectant, indicating the effectiveness of the modification process.

Photocatalytic Degradation of Rhodamine-B and Water Densification via Eco-Friendly Synthesized Cr2O3 and Ag@Cr2O3 Using Garlic Peel Aqueous Extract.

The purification and densification of wastewater play an important role in water recycling, especially if the materials used in water recycling are other types of recycled waste. Therefore, considering this view in this study, the biosynthesis of silver-decorated chromium oxide nanoparticles utilizing a wasted Allium sativum (garlic) peel extract is investigated. The aqueous extract of garlic peel (GPE) was treated with silver nitrate, chromium nitrate, and a mixture of silver nitrate and chromium nitrate to synthesize silver nanoparticles (Ag-garlic), chromium oxide nanoparticles (Cr2O3-garlic), and silver-decorated chromium oxide nanoparticles (Ag@Cr2O3-garlic), respectively. The synthesized nanoparticles were elucidated via thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), infrared spectra (FT-IR), absorption spectra (UV-Vis), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Antimicrobial activity studies were conducted against waterborne germs, bacterial strains (Bacillus subtilis, Enterococcus faecium, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa), and fungal strains (Alternaria porri, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Fuserium oxysporum, and Trichoderma longibrachiatum) and showed significant levels of antimicrobial activity. The results revealed that Ag@Cr2O3 significantly improved antimicrobial activity due to their synergistic effect. The photocatalytic activity of nanoparticles was assessed using Rhodamine B dye (5 ppm) under solar irradiation. Cr2O3-garlic exhibited the best activity as a photocatalyst among the studied nanoparticles, with 97.5% degradation efficiency under optimal conditions.

A Pediatric Case of Spinal Intradural Epidermoid Cyst: A Rare Encounter.

Intradural epidermoid cysts of the spine are rare congenital lesions. Their etiology is thought to stem from ectodermal remnants during embryonic development. They result in a diverse clinical presentation, often marked by an insidious onset and variable neurological deficits. Timely diagnosis is crucial for optimizing patient outcomes. We present the case of a 10-year-old male child presenting a six-month history of worsening back pain, intermittent leg weakness, and urinary incontinence. The physical examination revealed tenderness over the lower thoracic and lumbar spine, lower limb weakness, hyperreflexia, and sensory deficits. The diagnostic work-up, including cerebrospinal fluid analysis and magnetic resonance imaging, confirmed the presence of an intradural epidermoid cyst in the lumbosacral region. Surgical excision resulted in complete resection, with subsequent improvement in neurological deficits. This pediatric case underscores the importance of maintaining a high index of suspicion for unexplained neurological deficits. Characteristic imaging findings played a pivotal role in the diagnosis, guiding successful surgical intervention and achieving favorable outcomes.

Preparation, Characterization of Pregabalin and Withania coagulans Extract-Loaded Topical Gel and Their Comparative Effect on Burn Injury.

The current study depicts the comparative effects of nanogel using Withania coagulans extract, pregabalin alone, and a co-combination gel. The gels prepared were then analyzed for conductivity, viscosity, spread ability, globule size, zeta potential, polydispersity index, and TEM. The globule size of the co-combination gel, determined by zeta sizer, was found to be (329 ± 0.573 nm). FTIR analysis confirms the successful development of gel, without any interaction. Drug distribution at the molecular level was confirmed by XRD. DSC revealed no bigger thermal changes. TEM images revealed spherical molecules with sizes of 200 nm for the co-combination gel. In vivo studies were carried out by infliction of third degree burn wounds on rat skin, and they confirmed that pregabalin and Withania coagulans heals the wound more effectively, with a wound contraction rate of 89.95%, compared to remaining groups. Anti-inflammatory activity (IL-6 and TNF-α), determined by the ELISA technique, shows that the co-combination gel group reduces the maximum inflammation with TNF-α value (132.2 pg/mL), compared to the control (140.22 pg/mL). Similarly, the IL-6 value was found to be (78 pg/mL) for the co-combination gel and (81 pg/mL) in the case of the control. Histopathologically, the co-combination gel heals wounds more quickly, compared to individual gel. These outcomes depict that a co-combination gel using plant extracts and drugs can be successfully used to treat burn injury.

Extraction Optimization of Mucilage from Seeds of Mimosa pudica by Response Surface Methodology.

Mimosa pudica seed mucilage (MPM) is composed of glucuronoxylan, which is a swellable, pH-responsive and non-toxic biomaterial. Herein, we aimed to extract MPM from M. pudica seeds (MP seeds) to ascertain optimization of extraction conditions to get highest yield by response surface methodology, via Box-Behnken design (RSM-BBD). MPM was extracted from MP seeds by a hot water extraction method. The effects of four different parameters on the extraction yield of MPM were evaluated: pH of the extraction medium (1-10), seed/water contact time (1-12 h), the temperature of extraction medium (30-90 °C), and seed/water ratio (1:5-1:35 w/v). The maximum yield of MPM obtained by Design-Expert software was 10.66% (10.66 g/100 g) at pH 7, seed/water contact time of 6 h, extraction temperature of 50 °C, and seed/water ratio of 1:20 w/v. The p values of ANOVA were found to be less than 0.0001, which indicated that the extraction yield of MPM was significantly affected by all the study parameters. The results revealed that pH and extraction temperature were the most significant factors affecting the yield of MPM. MPM in compressed tablet form showed pH-responsive on-off switching behavior at pH 7.4 and 1.2 in a reversible manner. MPM in compressed tablet form sustained the release of itopride for 16 h following a super case-II transport mechanism and zero-order release kinetics.

Eggshell recycling for fabrication of Pd@CaO, characterization and high-performance solar photocatalytic activity.

Recycling of waste materials into useful products is a promising strategy for environmental protection. Eggshell is one of the globally produced huge wastes. In this work, calcium oxide (CaO) nanoparticles were recycled via calcination of chicken eggshells at 1100 °C for 2 h. A novel nanocomposite, made of loading palladium nanoparticles on calcium oxide surface (Pd@CaO), is successfully fabricated through solid-solid interaction. The materials were characterized using different physicochemical techniques: Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), photoluminescence (PL) analysis, ultra-high resolution field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), transmittance electron microscope (TEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The study sheds light on the ability of the materials to be used for detoxification of crystal violet dye as pollutant model under solar irradiation. The effects of operational conditions, such as catalyst mass, initial dye concentration, pH, and illumination time, have been tested. The optimum conditions for crystal violet photocatalytic degradation in the presence of Pd@CaO were mild conditions. Control experiments studied the effect of sunlight in the absence of the catalyst, and the effect of the catalyst in the absence of sunlight does not provide the significant removal exhibited in the presence of catalyst under solar irradiation.