Suppression of Growth Differentiation Factor 15 Gene Expression by Curcumin in Patients with Beta-Thalassemia Intermedia.

BACKGROUND: ß-thalassemia is an inherited disorder caused by defects in the synthesis of the beta-globin chain. One of the significant clinical complications in ß-thalassemia intermedia is iron overload toxicity, which may be attributed to reduced levels of hepcidin. This reduction in hepcidin leads to increased absorption of iron in the intestines, ultimately resulting in iron overload. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of curcumin on the expression of growth differentiating factor-15 (GDF-15) and hepcidin genes in patients with beta-thalassemia intermedia. METHODS: This study was designed as a randomized controlled double-blind clinical trial. Prior to and after the intervention period with curcumin, a blood sample of 5 mL was collected from both the placebo and curcumin-treated groups for the assessment of hepcidin and growth differentiating factor-15 gene expression. RESULTS: This study revealed a significant reduction in the expression of growth differentiating factor-15 in the curcumin group compared to the placebo group during the 3-month treatment period. Furthermore, curcumin supplementation led to a remarkable 10.1-fold increase in the levels of hepcidin in the curcumin group compared to the placebo group. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study show that curcumin administration increases the mRNA levels of hepcidin in whole blood of thalassemia intermedia patients and supports the idea that curcumin could be a potential treatment to reduce suppression of hepcidin in thalassemias and other iron-loading anemias. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study show that curcumin administration increases the mRNA levels of hepcidin in whole blood of thalassemia intermedia patients and supports the idea that curcumin could be a potential treatment to reduce suppression of hepcidin in thalassemias and other iron-loading anemias.

Clinical, Immunological, and Genetic Findings in Iranian Patients with MHC-II Deficiency: Confirmation of c.162delG RFXANK Founder Mutation in the Iranian Population.

PURPOSE: Major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC-II) deficiency is a rare inborn error of immunity (IEI). Impaired antigen presentation to CD4 + T cells results in combined immunodeficiency (CID). Patients typically present with severe respiratory and gastrointestinal tract infections at early ages. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is the only curative therapy. METHODS: We describe the clinical, immunologic, and genetic features of eighteen unrelated Iranian patients with MHC-II deficiency. RESULTS: Consanguinity was present in all affected families. The median age at the initial presentation was 5.5 months (range 7 days to 18 years). The main symptoms included failure to thrive, persistent diarrhea, and pneumonia. Autoimmune and neurologic features were also documented in about one-third of the patients, respectively. Thirteen patients carried RFXANK gene mutations, two carried RFX5 gene mutations, and three carried a RFXAP gene mutation. Six patients shared the same RFXANK founder mutation (c.162delG); limited to the Iranian population and dated to approximately 1296 years ago. Four of the patients underwent HSCT; three of them are alive. On the other hand, nine of the fourteen patients who did not undergo HSCT had a poor prognosis and died. CONCLUSION: MHC-II deficiency is not rare in Iran, with a high rate of consanguinity. It should be considered in the differential diagnosis of CID at any age. With the limited access to HSCT and its variable results in MHC-II deficiency, implementing genetic counseling and family planning for the affected families are mandatory. We are better determined to study the c.162delG RFXANK heterozygous mutation frequency in the Iranian population.

Evaluation and comparison of vitamin A supplementation with standard therapies in the treatment of patients with COVID-19.

Background: Incomplete data are often presented for determining the role of vitamin A supplement therapy for improving treatment outcomes in patients with COVID-19. Aims: We compared treatment effects between a group that received vitamin A added to the standard COVID-19 treatment and another group that received the standard drug treatment alone. Methods: Participants in this triple-blind controlled trial comprised 182 COVID-19 outpatients in Saveh City, Markazi Province, Islamic Republic of Iran, in 2020. Patients were randomly divided into experimental (n = 91) and control (n = 91) groups. Patients in the control group received the national standard treatment for COVID-19 (hydroxychloroquine), and those in the intervention group received 25 000 IU/d oral vitamin A for 10 days in addition to the standard treatment recommended by the national protocol. We evaluated the clinical symptoms, paraclinical criteria, and hospitalization status before and after 10 days of interventions. Results: The treatment groups did not differ significantly in clinical and paraclinical symptoms before the intervention. However, clinical symptoms such as fever, body ache, weakness and fatigue, paraclinical symptoms, white blood cell count, and C-reactive protein showed significantly greater decreases in the experimental group 10 days post-intervention compared with the standard treatment alone (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Vitamin A supplementation demonstrated efficacy in improving some clinical and paraclinical symptoms in patients with COVID-19. Future studies should evaluate vitamin A supplementation with a larger sample size and compare different dosages, especially in hospitalized patients.

Association between Maternal Birth Weight and Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background and Aims: Gestational diabetes mellitus is one of the most important issue related to health status of mothers and their children throughout life. This meta-analysis has been conducted to assess relationship between maternal birth weight and gestational diabetes. Methods and Results: This article is written using PRISMA guideline for systematic review and meta-analysis. We searched epidemiological studies without a time limit from following databases-Scopus, PubMed, Science Direct, Embase, Web of Science, CINAHL, Cochrane, EBSCO, and Google Scholar search engine using MESH keywords. Heterogeneity was determined using the Cochran Q test and I 2 index. Data were analyzed using comprehensive meta-analysis, version 2. The significance level of the tests was considered as P < 0.05. Results: The result of combining ten studies with a sample size of 228,409 cases using a fixed-effect model showed that low maternal birth weight increased the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (1.71 [95% CI 1.43-2.06, P < 0.001]). In addition, the result of combining nine studies with a sample size of 227,805 cases using a random-effects model showed that macrosomia did not increase the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus, and there was no significant relationship between them (1.04 [95% CI 0.79-1.38; p value: 0.730]). Conclusion: The results of this systematic review and meta-analysis showed that low maternal birth weight could be a risk factor for gestational diabetes in adulthood.

In vitro antibacterial effect of Pimpinella anisum essential oil on Enterococcus faecalis, Lactobacillus casei, Actinomyces naeslundii, and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans.

INTRODUCTION: Pimpinellaanisum is a medicinal plant with antimicrobial, antifungal, and anti-oxidative properties. Limited studies have assessed the antibacterial properties of Pimpinellaanisum on oral and dental pathogens.

Investigating the Mediating Role of Procrastination in the Relationship between Positive and Negative Perfectionism and Mobile Phone Addiction in Gifted Students.

Objective: Adolescence is a critical period in terms of development and education, in which there are numbers of high-risk behaviors that can negative effects on personal and educational life. One of these high-risk behaviors is mobile phone addiction that is a sociopsychological phenomenon, and the lack of control in the use of this technology by students can cause damage to various aspects of their personal and educational lives. The aim of the present study was to investigate the mediating role of procrastination in the relationship between positive and negative perfectionism and addiction to mobile phone in gifted students. Method : This was a descriptive and correlational study in which 200 gifted students from gifted students' high school of Meshghinshahr were selected using cluster sampling in 2020. Tri-Shot Perfectionism questionnaires, Tuckman Procrastination Scale, and Savari Mobile Phone Addiction questionnaire were applied to collect data. Descriptive statistics, correlation matrix, and path analysis (Structural Model) were used to analyze data. Results: The findings revealed positive and negative perfectionism was not directly related to cell phone addiction. However, positive perfectionism through procrastination meditation had a negative and indirect relationship with mobile phone addiction (ß = -0.18), and negative perfectionism through procrastination meditation had a positive and indirect relationship with mobile phone addiction (ß = 0.17). In other words, procrastination is a complete mediation in the relationship between negative and positive perfectionism and cell phone addiction in students (ß = 0.29). Conclusion: The results emphasized the effect of procrastination on the relationship between positive and negative perfectionism and mobile phone addiction in gifted students. Therefore, these findings can help school and rehabilitation counselors to prepare programs for reducing students' addictive and avoidant behaviors.

The prevalence of depression in Iranian children: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: The present study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of depression in Iranian children. METHOD: This meta-analysis was registered in PROSPERO with code (CRD42020216632) and performed based on the MOOSE protocol and PRISMA guidelines. Title and abstract of articles were searched without time limit until April 2020 in international databases PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Embase, Science Direct, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, EBSCO, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Iranian databases. RESULTS: In 34 studies with a sample size of 23,779 Iranian children, the prevalence of depression was estimated 42.3 % (95 %CI: 34.9-50.0). Prevalence of depression in girls in 20 studies with a sample size of 11,170 was estimated 42.1 % (95 %CI: 32.7-52.1) and the prevalence of depression in males in 20 studies with a sample size of 4678 was estimated 29.6 % (95 %CI: 21.2-39.7). The odds ratio of female to male depression was 1.33 (95 %CI: 1.07-1.65, P < 0.011). Prevalence of mild, moderate, major and deep depression was 20.3 % (95 %CI: 16.4-24.9), 15.0 % (95 %CI: 11.3-19.7), 14.5 % (95 %CI: 10.8-19.1), and 4.3 % (95 %CI: 1.8-9.8), respectively. In subgroup analysis for prevalence of depression in Iranian children, the variables of geographical area (P = 0.258), quality of studies (P = 0.186), type of questionnaire (P = 0.907), sample size (P = 0.500) and year of studies (P = 0.538) were not significant, but subgroup analysis of province (P < 0.001) and school grade (P < 0.001) were significant. CONCLUSION: The results of the present meta-analysis showed that depression is common in Iranian children and is much higher than global estimates. These findings emphasize the importance of identifying and providing treatment to children who are most in need.

Investigating the Antibacterial Effect of Passive Ultrasonic Irrigation, Photodynamic Therapy and Their Combination on Root Canal Disinfection.

Introduction: Enterococcus faecalis is a gram-positive, facultative anaerobic bacterium associated with persistent endodontic infections. Conventional disinfection methods may not completely eradicate the bacteria within the root canal system. Therefore, novel modalities have been suggested to optimize root canal disinfection. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the antibacterial effect of photodynamic therapy (PDT), passive ultrasonic irrigation (PUI) and their combination in addition to conventional endodontic irrigation against E. faecalis biofilms in root canals. Methods: Root canals of 50 single-rooted extracted human teeth were prepared and incubated with E. faecalis for 21 days. They were then divided into 4 treatment groups and a control group as follows: (1) NaOCl-Syringe irrigation with 2.5% NaOCl, (2) PUI-Passive ultrasonic irrigation with NaOCl, (3) NaOCl+PDT-Photodynamic therapy following syringe irrigation with NaOCl, (4) PUI+PDT, (5) Control-Syringe irrigation with saline. Colony-forming units were counted and bacterial reduction was calculated for each treatment group. Results: All treatments led to significant reductions in the bacterial load compared to the control group. PUI and PUI+PDT led to the complete elimination of the bacteria from the root canals. NaOCl and NaOCl+PDT treatments reduced the bacteria by 99.9% and 99.5% respectively. NaOCl+PDT was significantly less effective in reducing the bacteria compared to other treatment groups. There were no significant differences between the NaOCl, PUI, and PUI+PDT groups. Conclusion: Passive ultrasonic irrigation with or without the combination of Photodynamic therapy completely eradicated the bacteria. The use of PDT as an adjunction to NaOCl syringe irrigation and PUI did not enhance their antibacterial effect.

Effects of Electrolyzed Water on the Growth of Oral Pathologic Bacteria Species and its Cytotoxic Effects on Fibroblast and Epithelial Cells at Different pH Values.

BACKGROUND: Microbial plaque-induced oral diseases are among the most common diseases worldwide. The present study aimed to compare the antimicrobial effect of electrolyzed water (EW), (acidic, mildly basic, and basic) on the growth of bacterial species producing dental plaque and to assess their cytotoxicity on fibroblasts and epithelial cells. METHODS: The study was performed at Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in 2019. Several bacterial species (Streptococcus salivarius, Staphylococcus aureus, Lactobacillus casei, and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans) were treated with different EW types at three pH values (3, 9, and 11) for 30 seconds and subsequently, the colonies were counted. The cytotoxic effect of these EW types was evaluated on HeLa and L929 cell lines at 30 seconds, 1 minute, and 5 minutes. GraphPad Prism 6.0 was used for statistical analysis. The Kruskal-Wallis test followed by Mann-Whitney U and one-way analysis of variance followed by Tukey's test were used to analyze bacterial activity and cell cytotoxicity, respectively. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: EW types significantly inhibited bacterial growth at all pH values. The strongest antibacterial activity of EW was against A. actinomycetemcomitans (P<0.001) and the least significant antibacterial activity was against S. aureus (P<0.001). The EW types showed increased cytotoxic activity against L929 cells as the treatment time increased. The most cytotoxic effect was seen at 5 minutes of treatment in all EW types compared with the negative control group (P<0.0001). This negative cytotoxic effect on HeLa cells was shown just after 30 seconds and viable cell counts increased over time, reaching its highest value at 5 minutes of treatment with basic EW (P<0.0001). CONCLUSION: The contradictory effects of the EW types on both HeLa and fibroblasts, in addition to variable results at different exposure times, indicated that the effect of EW could vary depending on cell types and treatment periods.

Phenylketonuria screening in Iranian newborns: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Phenylketonuria (PKU), which is characterized by a deficiency of phenylalanine hydroxylase activity, is an autosomal recessive disorder of phenylalanine (Phe) metabolism. Newborn screening is the main population-based public health screening program that allows successful identification and treatment of PKU with low-Phe diet. The aim of this study was to evaluate the epidemiology of PKU screening in Iranian newborns. METHODS: The present study was designed based on MOOSE protocol and reporting was done in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. The protocol of this systematic review was published in PROSPERO before it was performed (CRD42020162626). A comprehensive search was done in 10/10/2019 to find related literature on international online databases Web of Science, Scopus, EMBASE, Science Direct, PubMed/Medline, EBSCO, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, national online databases and the Google Scholar search engine. Heterogeneity among studies was assessed by I2 index and Q test. All meta-analyses were performed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis Software ver. 2. P < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULT: Finally, 18 studies with 3,339,327 Iranian neonates were included. The prevalence of suspected hyperphenylalaninemia (HPA) was estimated to be 45.6/100,000 (95% CI: 23.9-87.1). The prevalence of suspected HPA in girls and boys infants in Iran was estimated to be 38.0/100,000 (95% CI: 15.1-95.5) and 43.3/100,000 (95% CI: 16.2-116.2), respectively. The prevalence of PKU was estimated to be 16.5/100,000 (95% CI: 12.9-21.2). The prevalence of PKU in girls and boys infants was estimated to be 13.3/100,000 (95% CI: 7.5-15.8) and 10.9/100,000 (95% CI: 7.5-15.8), respectively. The prevalence of mild to moderate HPA was estimated 9.7/100,000 (95% CI: 5.1-18.4) and the prevalence of classical PKU was estimated 4.4/100,000 (95% CI: 2.5-7.8). Sensitivity analysis for all meta-analysis with the omission of one study showed that overall estimation is still robust. CONCLUSION: The results of this meta-analysis showed that PKU is prevalent in Iranian neonates. It should be considered that for PKU there is a highly effective dietary treatment which can prevent the clinical symptoms of PKU if initiated early after detection by newborn screening.

Thyroid dysfunction in Iranian pregnant women: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Thyroid dysfunction during pregnancy is associated with adverse outcomes for both mother and fetus. The present meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate thyroid dysfunction in Iranian pregnant women. METHODS: We registered this review at PROSPERO (registration number: CRD42020166655). The research steps in this systematic review and meta-analysis were performed according to the MOOSE protocol, and finally, reports were provided based on the PRISMA guidelines. The literature search was performed in October 2019 using the international online databases, including Web of Science, Ovid, Science Direct, Scopus, EMBASE, PubMed/Medline, Cochrane Library, EBSCO, CINAHL, Google Scholar as well as national databases were reviewed. Data were extracted after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria and qualitative evaluation of the studies. I2 index and Q test were used to assess differences in studies. All analyses were performed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis Software. P-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. We identified 1261 potential articles from the databases, and 426 articles remained after removing the duplicate and unrelated studies. After evaluating the full text, 52 articles were removed. RESULTS: Finally, 19 eligible studies including 17,670 pregnant women included for meta-analysis. The prevalence of thyroid dysfunction in Iranian pregnant women was 18.10% (95%CI: 13.89-23.25). The prevalence of hypothyroidism, clinical hypothyroidism, and subclinical hypothyroidism in Iranian pregnant women was respectively estimated to be 13.01% (95%CI: 9.15-18.17), 1.35% (95%CI: 0.97-1.86) and 11.90% (95%CI: 7.40-18.57). The prevalence of hyperthyroidism, clinical hyperthyroidism, and subclinical hyperthyroidism in Iranian pregnant women was respectively estimated to be 3.31% (95%CI: 1.62-6.61), 1.06% (95%CI: 0.61-1.84) and 2.56% (95%CI: 0.90-7.05). The prevalence of anti-thyroperoxidase antibody was estimated to be 11.68% (95%CI: 7.92-16.89). CONCLUSION: The results of this meta-analysis showed a high prevalence of thyroid disorders, especially hypothyroidism. The decision to recommend thyroid screening during pregnancy for all women is still under debate, because the positive effects of treatment on pregnancy outcomes must be ensured. On the other hand, evidence about the effect of thyroid screening and treatment of thyroid disorders on pregnancy outcomes is still insufficient. Nevertheless, a large percentage of general practitioners, obstetricians and gynecologists perform screening procedures in Iran.

Epidemiology of low birth weight in Iran: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Low birth weight (LBW) is an important general health indicator. The present study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence and risk factors of LBW in Iran. METHOD: This meta-analysis was reported based on the PRISMA guidelines. All stages were independently performed by two authors. This review is registered with PROSPERO (CRD42020163446). We searched epidemiological studies at international databases of Scopus, Embase, Science Direct, PubMed/Medline, CINAHL, EBSCO, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Google Scholar search engine, as well as Iranian databases of SID, IranDoc, Iranian National Library, Barakat Knowledge Network System, RICST and Magiran using MeSH keywords without time limit until 2019. After selecting the studies, applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, data extraction and qualitative assessment, the data were analyzed based on random effects model using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis Software version 2. P < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: The prevalence of LBW in Iran was 7.95% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 7.36-8.58) in 62 studies with a sample size of 301,839 newborns. The prevalence of LBW in girls and boys was 8.41% (95%CI: 7.47-9.45) and 6.67% (95%CI: 5.86-7.59), respectively. The girls-to-boys odds ratio of LBW was 1.25 (95%CI: 1.13-1.39, P < 0.001) very LBW and extremely LBW prevalence was estimated to be 0.61% (95%CI: 0.40-0.93) and 0.29% (95% CI: 0.18-0.45), respectively. The risk factors for LBW were age of >35 versus [vs.] ≤35 (P = 0.024), age of <18 vs. ≥18 (P < 0.001), education of middle school and lower vs. high school and higher (P < 0.001), weight under 50 kg (P = 0.001), employed vs. housekeeper (P < 0.001), inadequate prenatal care (P = 0.046), interval with previous pregnancy <2 vs. >2 (P < 0.001), prematurity (P < 0.001), history of LBW (P < 0.001), multiple birth (P < 0.001), abortion (P < 0.001), vaginal bleeding (P < 0.001), hypertension (P = 0.001) and preeclampsia (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The results of this meta-analysis showed that LBW is prevalent in Iran. This study can be a national database for LBW that would be of interest to Iranian health policy-makers and planners.

Biomedical applications of yeasts - a patent view, part two: era of humanized yeasts and expanded applications.

INTRODUCTION: Yeast humanization, ranging from a simple point mutation to substitution of yeast gene(s) or even a complete pathway by human counterparts has enormously expanded yeast biomedical applications. AREAS COVERED: General and patent-oriented insights into the application of native and humanized yeasts for production of human glycoproteins (gps) and antibodies (Abs), toxicity/mutagenicity assays, treatments of gastrointestinal (GI) disorders and potential drug delivery as a probiotic (with emphasis on Saccharomyces bulardii) and studies on human diseases/cancers and screening effective drugs. EXPERT OPINION: Humanized yeasts cover the classical advantageous features of a 'microbial eukaryote' together with advanced human cellular processes. These unique characteristics would permit their use in the production of functional and stable therapeutic gps and Abs in lower prices compared to mammalian (CHO) production-based systems. Availability of yeasts humanized for cytochrome P450 s will expand their application in metabolism-related chemical toxicity assays. Engineered S. bulardii for expression of human proteins might expand its application by synergistically combining the probiotic activity with the treatment of metabolic diseases such as phenylketonuria via GI-delivery. Yeast models of human diseases will facilitate rapid functional/phenotypic characterization of the disease-producing mutant genes and screening of the therapeutic compounds using yeast-based high-throughput research techniques (Yeast one/two hybrid systems) and viability assays.

Investigating psychological problems in caregiver of pediatrics with cancer: A systematic review.

PURPOSE: Cancer is a type of chronic illness that causes many issues for patients and their caregivers, including a wide range of psychological problems. This study was conducted to determine the status and psychological problems of caregivers of pediatric patients with cancer who live in Iran. METHODS: All articles from 2000 to March 2019 related to the psychological of caregivers and their child's cancer were included in the search. Domestic websites in Iran and international databases were searched. Keywords of the search included child, cancer, malignancy, care burden, stress, anxiety, depression, coping strategies, psychological hardiness, posttraumatic stress, parents, father, mother, and pediatric. The search, data extraction, quality assessment and screening were conducted independently by two researchers. RESULTS: In the initial search, 345 articles were extracted regarding the psychological problems of caregivers. After final screening 15 articles were selected; from these four referred to care burden, four articles for coping skills, three articles for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and four articles for stress, anxiety, and depression among carers of children with cancer. CONCLUSION: Considering the existence of psychological problems such as caregiver burden, PTSD, stress, anxiety, and depression in caregivers of children with cancer, it is necessary to provide nursing interventions for this group of parents; particularly interventions that provide the necessary ground for reducing psychological problems and improving caregivers' mental health.

Effects of leukocyte-platelet-rich fibrin and advanced platelet-rich fibrin on the viability and migration of human gingival fibroblasts.

BACKGROUND: Platelet products play a fundamental role in the process of healing. The new generation of platelet-rich fibrin (PRF), namely advanced PRF (A-PRF), has different biological and mechanical properties compared to those of leukocyte-PRF (L-PRF). This study aimed to compare the effects of L-PRF and A-PRF on the viability and migration of human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this in vitro study, the effects of A-PRF and L-PRF on the viability and migration of HGFs after 24 and 48 h were evaluated using the methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assay. The viability of the negative control culture medium was considered to be 100%. The mean optical density of the test groups was divided by that of the negative control group and reported as percentage. One-way ANOVA was applied to assess the effects of time and type of PRF on the viability and migration of HGFs. Pairwise comparisons were made using the Tukey's test. RESULTS: At 24 h, cell viability in the L-PRF group was significantly higher than that in the A-PRF group (P < 0.05). However, no significant difference was noted between the two groups at 48 h. At 24 h, L-PRF caused significantly higher cell migration compared to the negative control group, whereas at 48 h, both A-PRF and L-PRF significantly increased cell migration compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: Within the limitations of this study, L-PRF and A-PRF had significant effects on the viability and migration of HGFs. Further studies on these platelet concentrates are warranted.

Comparing the Efficacy of Toluidine Blue, Methylene Blue and Curcumin in Photodynamic Therapy Against Enterococcus faecalis.

Introduction: Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) as a supplement to the conventional root canal preparation has shown promising results. Previous studies have adopted various combinations of light sources and photosensitizers, which makes it difficult to compare the disinfection efficacy of different PDT protocols. The aim of the present study was to compare the efficacy of three photosensitizers (toluidine blue, methylene blue, and curcumin) in PDT using LED against Enterococcus faecalis in root canal disinfection. Methods: Root canals of 54 single-rooted extracted teeth were prepared using the ProTaper Gold rotary system and were incubated with E. faecalis for three weeks. They were then randomly divided into five experimental groups and a control group: (1) Irrigation with 2.5% NaOCl for 30 seconds, (2) NaOCl irrigation followed by TB-PDT, (3) NaOCl irrigation followed by MB-PDT, (4) NaOCL irrigation followed by curcumin-PDT, (5) Curcumin solvent (1% ethanol+1% BSA), (6) Control (irrigation with normal saline). Sampling was done by collecting dentin shavings from the root canals, and colony-forming units were determined for each treatment group. The data were analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests. The significance level was set at P<0.05. Results: In all treatment groups, the mean values of colony forming unit (CFU) decreased by 99% compared to the control group. The lowest mean values of CFU were observed in groups 2 and 4, followed groups 3, 1, and 5 respectively. The mean CFU count in group 2 was significantly lower than that of group 1 (P value=0.011), while there were no significant differences among groups 1, 3, and 4 (P value >0.05). Conclusion: The adjunction of toluidine blue-mediated PDT by means of a light-emitting diode to NaOCl irrigation increased its antibacterial efficacy against E. faecalis and could be an effective complementary method in root canal disinfection.

Comparison of Antibacterial Effects of Photodynamic Therapy, Modified Triple Antibiotic Paste and Calcium Hydroxide on Root Canals Infected With Enterococcus faecalis: An In Vitro Study.

Introduction: A pivotal issue to achieve success in the treatment of the root canal is root canal disinfection. One of the most important bacteria that infect the root canal is Enterococcus faecalis. This study seeks to examine the effectiveness of 3 methods for disinfecting the root canal: photodynamic therapy, modified triple antibiotic paste (MTAP), and calcium hydroxide. Methods: Sixty-two single-rooted extracted anterior teeth were collected. After cleaning and disinfecting the teeth, their crowns were cut at the CEJ point. The root canals were shaped to the working length up to file F3 ProTaper (F1, F2, F3). EDTA 17% and sodium hypochlorite 2.5% were used for 5 minutes to wash and remove the smear layer, and then the apical foramen was sealed using composite. After that, the teeth were sterilized in an autoclave at 121°C for 15 minutes. Then 10 samples were taken randomly as the negative control. The remaining samples were immersed and cultivated in a suspension containing E. faecalis for 21 days. Then the samples were divided into 5 groups: 2 positive control groups, 1 group treated with the antibiotic paste with the concentration of 1 mg/mL, 1 group treated with calcium hydroxide, and 1 group treated with photodynamic therapy. Then, to collect the biofilm, the ProTaper file F4 was used. After that, the microbial suspension was provided and counting the colonies was carried out to compare the groups. Results: The findings indicated that the amount of CFU/mg of MTAP samples, including clindamycin, metronidazole, ciprofloxacin in the concentration of 1 mg/mL and photodynamic therapy and calcium hydroxide was lower than that in the control group. Antibiotic paste cleansed the root canal up to 99.9%. Photodynamic therapy reduced the amount of CFU/mg to 98.8%, and calcium hydroxide reduced the amount of CFU/mg to 94.13%. Conclusion: Using photodynamic therapy causes a reduction in the biofilm and inhibits the growth of the E. faecalis bacterium. In addition, in this study, MTAP with a concentration of 1 mg/mL was used, which expunged the bacteria completely. Meanwhile, calcium hydroxide had the weakest effect of all on the E. faecalis bacterium.

Anti-bacterial properties of calcium hydroxide in combination with silver, copper, zinc oxide or magnesium oxide.

Prevention of bacterial growth among root canal treatment sessions is a prerequisite for successful root canal treatment. The most common way to achieve this is to use calcium hydroxide in the treatment sessions. Some studies have shown calcium hydroxide inefficiency in this field. The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the effects of silver, copper, zinc oxide and magnesium oxide nanoparticles on the inhibitory effects of calcium hydroxide based on Enterococcus faecalis species. Enterococcus faecalis bacteria having 0.5 McFarland concentration were prepared. Plates containing BHI agar medium were prepared. In each plate, four wells were created and the plate was cultured using a sterile swab. Afterwards, calcium hydroxide composition of 1% and 2% concentration from silver, copper, zinc oxide and magnesium oxide nanoparticles were prepared separately, as well as the combination of calcium hydroxide with 1% silver in combination with 1% of copper, zinc oxide and magnesium oxide nanoparticles, which were then transferred to the wells. After 24 hours of incubation, the inhibition zone diameter was measured. Data were analyzed by Mann-Withney test. At 1% concentration, only the combination of copper nanoparticles with calcium hydroxide could significantly create an inhibition zone larger than calcium hydroxide alone (P value <0.5). At 2% concentration, the combination of copper nanoparticles with calcium hydroxide, and the combination of silver nanoparticles with calcium hydroxide, were significantly higher than calcium hydroxide alone (P value <0.5). The calcium hydroxide composition containing 1% silver nanoparticles in combination with 1% copper, zinc oxide and magnesium oxide nanoparticles significantly increased the growth inhibition zone more than calcium hydroxide alone. (P Value <0.5). Copper nanoparticles showed the best antibacterial properties among silver, copper, magnesium oxide and zinc oxide nanoparticles in combination with calcium hydroxide. Also, the combination of 1% of nanoparticles with each other increases antibacterial properties.

Cell Toxicity and inhibitory effects of Cyperus rotundus extract on Streptococcus mutans, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and Candida albicans.

Periodontitis and tooth decay are common dental diseases. There are some bacterial risk factors such as Streptococcus mutans, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and Candida albicans complications, tubers of Cyperus rotundus was used to determine the antimicrobial effect of fungi. Considering the increasing resistance of bacteria and fungi to antibiotics and their alcoholic and aqueous extracts and essential oil on Streptococcus mutans, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and Candida albicans, as well as an examination cytotoxicity on gingival fibroblast cells. Alcoholic and aqueous extracts and essential oil prepared from tubers of Cyperus rotundus. After bacterial and fungal cultures, the inhibition zone, Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC), and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC), were studied. Cytotoxicity was also evaluated using the Methyl tetrazolium test (MTT).The results showed that Cyperus rotundus alcoholic extract had the greatest effect on inhibition of growth and death of Streptococcus mutans, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans. According to the present study, Cyperus rotundus extract can be considered as a suitable candidate for the treatment and prevention of periodontitis and tooth decay.

Biomedical applications of yeast- a patent view, part one: yeasts as workhorses for the production of therapeutics and vaccines.

INTRODUCTION: Yeasts, as Eukaryotes, offer unique features for ease of growth and genetic manipulation possibilities, making it an exceptional microbial host. Areas covered: This review provides general and patent-oriented insights into production of biopharmaceuticals by yeasts. Patents, wherever possible, were correlated to the original or review articles. The review describes applications of major GRAS (generally regarded as safe) yeasts for the production of therapeutic proteins and subunit vaccines; additionally, immunomodulatory properties of yeast cell wall components were reviewed for use of whole yeast cells as a new vaccine platform. The second part of the review will discuss yeast- humanization strategies and innovative applications. Expert opinion: Biomedical applications of yeasts were initiated by utilization of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, for production of leavened (fermented) products, and advanced to serve to produce biopharmaceuticals. Higher biomass production and expression/secretion yields, more similarity of glycosylation patterns to mammals and possibility of host-improvement strategies through application of synthetic biology might enhance selection of Pichia pastoris (instead of S. cerevisiae) as a host for production of biopharmaceutical in future. Immunomodulatory properties of yeast cell wall ß-glucans and possibility of intracellular expression of heterologous pathogen/tumor antigens in yeast cells have expanded their application as a new platform, 'Whole Yeast Vaccines'.