Evaluation of innovative polyvinyl alcohol/ alginate/ green palladium nanoparticles composite scaffolds: Effect on differentiated human dental pulp stem cells into osteoblasts.

Three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds are attracting great concern for bone tissue engineering applications. However, selecting an appropriate material with optimal physical, chemical, and mechanical properties is considered a great challenge. The green synthesis approach is essential to avoid the production of harmful by-products through textured construction, sustainable, and eco-friendly procedures. This work aimed at the implementation of natural green synthesized metallic nanoparticles for the development of composite scaffolds for dental applications. In this study, innovative hybrid scaffolds of polyvinyl alcohol/alginate (PVA/Alg) composite loaded with various concentrations of green palladium nanoparticles (Pd NPs) have been synthesized. Various characteristic analysis techniques were used to investigate the synthesized composite scaffold's properties. The SEM analysis revealed impressive microstructure of the synthesized scaffolds dependent on the Pd NPs concentration. The results confirmed the positive effect of Pd NPs doping on the sample stability over time. The synthesized scaffolds were characterized by the oriented lamellar porous structure. The results confirmed the shape stability, without pores breakdown during the drying process. The XRD analysis confirmed that doping with Pd NPs does not affect the crystallinity degree of the PVA/Alg hybrid scaffolds. The mechanical properties results (up to 50 MPa) confirmed the remarkable effect of Pd NPs doping and its concentration on the developed scaffolds. The MTT assay results showed that the incorporation of Pd NPs into the nanocomposite scaffolds is necessary for increasing cell viability. According to the SEM results, the scaffolds with Pd NPs provided the differentiated grown osteoblast cells with enough mechanical support and stability and the cells had a regular form and were highly dense. In conclusion, the synthesized composite scaffolds expressed suitable biodegradable, osteoconductive properties, and the ability to construct 3D structures for bone regeneration, making them a potential option for treating critical deficiencies of bone.

Assessing the bone-healing potential of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in jawbone osteoporosis in albino rats.

BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis is one of the most common yet difficult to treat diseases. It affects millions of people and costs the health care systems billions worldwide. All of the available kinds of pharmacological treatment have multiple side effects, which is why a need for safer treatment options has emerged. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the bone-healing potential of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM­MSCs) in jawbone osteoporosis in Wistar albino rats. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Osteoporosis was induced with a daily intraperitoneal injection of 200 µg/100 g dexamethasone for 1 month. The rats were then randomly distributed into 2 groups: the osteoporotic group (left untreated); and the BM­MSCs group (received an intravenous injection of 50 million cultured BM­MSCs). Half of the rats from each group were sacrificed 2 weeks and the other half 6 weeks after the introduction of treatment. Bone regeneration was assessed by means of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT­PCR), as well as the histopathological and histomorphometric analyses. RESULTS: As for the 1st sacrifice time, there were no significant differences between the osteoporotic and BM­MSCs groups with regard to all parameters except for bone mineral density (BMD), which was significantly higher in the BM­MSCs group. Regarding the 2nd sacrifice time, the DEXA analysis showed a significant increase in BMD in the BM­MSCs group (p < 0.001). The RT­PCR analysis showed a significant decrease in RANKL gene expression (p < 0.001) and a significant increase in OPG gene expression (p < 0.001) in the BM­MSCs group. In addition, the histopathological examination of the BM­MSCs group showed pronounced healing progress in the jawbone microarchitecture. The histomorphometric analysis also revealed that the bone area percentage significantly increased in the BM­MSCs group (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study proved that BM­MSCs could be effective in the treatment of osteoporosis.

Mesenchymal stem cells-derived microvesicles versus platelet-rich plasma in the treatment of monoiodoacetate-induced temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis in Albino rats.

Temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJ-OA) is a serious disease, designated by severe joint pain and dysfunction. Limitations of current therapeutics have led to an increased interest in regenerative strategies. Recently, the non-surgical treatment of OA has seen increased use of biologic injectable therapies like mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP). Although these biotherapies represent an admirable effort, more studies are necessary to determine their efficacy. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the curative potential of a single intra-articular injection of bone marrow MSCs-derived microvesicles (BM-MSCs-MVs) versus a single intra-articular injection of PRP in monoiodoacetate (MIA)-induced TMJ-OA model in Albino rats. Forty-eight male rats were used. A single intra-articular unilateral MIA injection was utilized to induce TMJ-OA. One week post induction, rats were sorted into 3 groups (16 rats each): group (I): received no treatment, groups (II) & (III): received BM-MSCs-MVs and PRP respectively. Scarification was done at 2 and 4 weeks from onset of treatment. Histological changes of the condylar TMJ were examined with H&E staining. Expression of IL-1ß, TNF-α, NF-κB, MMP-13, MMP-3, and collagen ΙΙ markers was detected using real-time PCR. Histologically, the osteoarthritic group exhibited degenerated condylar tissues which were aggravated at 4 weeks. Oppositely, a marked improvement in the condylar TMJ histology was noticed in both the BM-MSCs-MVs-and PRP-treated groups at both time intervals. Additionally, the treated groups showed a decrease in IL-1ß, TNF-α, NF-κB, MMP-13 and MMP-3 and an increase in collagen ΙΙ genes expression in contrast to the untreated group. Moreover, this difference was significant in the BM-MSCs-MVs group as compared to the PRP-treated group. Our results concluded that BM-MSCs-MVs as well as PRP treatments were able to target the key pathological features in OA, mainly inflammation and matrix degradation, and helped in restoring condylar structure in TMJ-OA rat model. However, BM-MSCs-MVs treatment exhibited more efficient therapeutic potential as compared to PRP treatment.

The efficacy of Origanum majorana nanocubosomal systems in ameliorating submandibular salivary gland alterations in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Diabetes mellitus is a challenging health problem. Salivary gland dysfunction is one of its complications. Current treatments possess numerous adverse effects. Therefore, herbal extracts have emerged as a promising approach for safe and effective treatment. However, they are required in large doses to achieve the desired effect. Accordingly, Origanum majorana extract (OE) was incorporated into nano-sized systems to enhance its biological effects at lower dosages. OE was standardized against rosmarinic acid (RA) and then loaded into nano-cubosomal (NC) systems via a 23 full-factorial design. Two optimum nano-systems at different drug loads (2.08 or 1.04 mg-RA/mL) were selected and assessed in vivo to compare their effects in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats against conventional OE (2.08 mg-RA/mL). Blood glucose was evaluated weekly. Submandibular salivary glands were processed for histopathological examination and nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1), and p38-MAPK gene expression analysis. NC systems were successfully prepared and optimized where the optimum systems showed nano-sized vesicles (210.4-368.3 nm) and high zeta potential values. In vivo results showed a significant lower blood glucose in all treated groups, with an exceptional reduction with NC formulations. Marked histopathological improvement was observed in all OE-treated groups, with OE-NC4 (2.08 mg-RA/mL) demonstrating the best features. This was supported by RT-PCR; where the OE-NC4 group recorded the highest mean value of Nrf2 and the least mean values of Keap1 and p38-MAPK, followed by OE-NC3 and OE groups. In conclusion, OE-loaded NC enhanced the anti-hyperglycemic effect of OE and ameliorated diabetic gland alterations compared to conventional OE. Thus, cubosomal nano-systems could be anticipated as potential carriers for the best outcome with OE.

Biocompatibility of hydroxyethyl cellulose/glycine/RuO2 composite scaffolds for neural-like cells.

Fabrication of scaffolds for nerve regeneration is one of the most challenging topics in regenerative medicine at the moment, which is also interlinked with the development of biocompatible substrates for cells growth. This work is targeted towards the development of green biomaterial composite scaffolds for nerve cell culture applications. Hybrid scaffolds of hydroxyethyl cellulose/glycine (HEC/Gly) composite doped with different concentrations of green ruthenium oxide (RuO2) were synthesized and characterized via a combination of different techniques. X-rays diffraction (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analyses showed a crystalline nature for all the samples with noticeable decrease in the peak intensity of the fabricated scaffolds as compared to that for pure glycine. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) tests revealed an increase in the vibrational bands of the synthesized RuO2 containing scaffolds which are related to the functional groups of the natural plant extract (Aspalathuslinearis) used for RuO2 nanoparticles (NPs) synthesis. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results revealed a 3D porous structure of the scaffolds with variant features attributed to the concentration of RuO2 NPs in the scaffold. The compressive test results recorded an enhancement in mechanical properties of the fabricated scaffolds (up to 8.55 MPa), proportionally correlated to increasing the RuO2 NPs concentration in HEC/Gly composite scaffold. Our biocompatibility tests revealed that the composite scaffolds doped with 1 and 2 ml of RuO2 demonstrated the highest proliferation percentages (152.2 and 135.6%) compared to control. Finally, the SEM analyses confirmed the impressive cells attachments and differentiation onto the scaffold surfaces as evidenced by the presence of many neuron-like cells with apparent cell bodies and possessing few short neurite-like processes. The presence of RuO2 and glycine was due to their extraordinary biocompatibility due to their cytoprotective and regenerative effects. Therefore, we conclude that these scaffolds are promising for accommodation and growth of neural-like cells.

Oral manifestations in mild-to-moderate cases of COVID-19 viral infection in the adult population.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a serious worldwide threat presented by a broad range of symptoms, from mild flu to severe pneumonia. A rising number of atypical infections have been reported. Thus, scientists and clinicians are doing hard work to unravel scientific knowledge about this novel pandemic. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present work was to highlight the oral manifestations which could be observed in mild-to-moderate cases of COVID-19. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A questionnaire survey was performed on 665 Egyptian patients who were confirmed COVID-19-positive based on the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. After applying the exclusion criteria, cases with mild-to-moderate symptoms were included in the study. The questionnaire consisted of 4 sections. The 1st section included demographic data, smoking, alcohol consumption, and general health status. The 2nd section contained questions regarding the oral hygiene status of the patients, and additionally a question about the hygienic measures they took while being infected with COVID-19. The 3rd section included questions about the most commonly reported COVID-19 symptoms the patients suffered from. The 4th section included questions that referred to the oral manifestations the patients complained of while being infected with COVID-19. RESULTS: A total of 573 patients were included in this survey. It was reported that 71.7% of COVID-19 patients presented with some oral manifestations at a level of significance, with variable incidence - oral or dental pain (23%), pain in jaw bones or joint (12.0%), halitosis (10.5%), ulcerations (20.4%), and xerostomia (47.6%). Some patients (28.3%) showed 2 or 3 manifestations simultaneously. CONCLUSIONS: It was proven that mild-to-moderate cases of COVID-19 infection are associated with oral symptoms, and thus the significance of dental examination of patients with communicable diseases should be emphasized.

The impact of oral health status on COVID-19 severity, recovery period and C-reactive protein values.

Objectives The oral cavity is a potential reservoir for respiratory pathogens which can predispose patients to bacterial super-infection. Several trials have correlated poor oral hygiene with hyper-inflammation. Similarly, COVID-19 severity has been linked to hyper-inflammatory responses. Hence, in this study, we assumed that increased COVID-19 severity may be linked to poor oral health status. This was achieved through assessing oral health status, severity of COVID-19 symptoms, C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and duration of recovery.Methods Cross-sectional study based on a questionnaire; 308 Egyptian patients with confirmed positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests were included in the study after exclusion criteria. The questionnaire was designed with two sections: the first section for oral health evaluation and the second section for COVID-19 severity evaluation. Assessment of the effect of oral health on COVID-19 severity was performed using an oral health score. The effect of oral health on CRP and recovery period were evaluated as secondary endpoints. Data of CRP levels and COVID-19 PCR tests were collected via the questionnaire and confirmed by reviewing medical records.Results The correlation between oral health and COVID-19 severity showed a significant inverse correlation (p <0.001, r = -0.512). Moreover, the correlation between oral health with recovery period and CRP values also revealed a significant inverse correlation (p <0.001, -0.449 and p <0.001, -0.190, respectively), showing that poor oral health was correlated to increased values of CRP and delayed recovery period.Conclusions Our study provided some evidence that oral health could have a potential impact on the severity of COVID-19. However, the correlation is limited by the study design. A more substantial research project is required to address this relation.

Salivary exosomes as a new therapy to ameliorate diabetes mellitus and combat xerostomia and submandibular salivary glands dysfunction in diabetic rats.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the major metabolic diseases. Xerostomia and salivary gland dysfunction are of its common oral complications. Exosomes, as a new therapeutic potential containing nucleic acids, proteins and lipids, act as effective vehicles for target molecules delivery. Accordingly, their therapeutic use is gaining much interest. Therefore, this work aimed to assess the therapeutic efficacy of salivary exosomes in ameliorating DM and combating xerostomia as a complication of salivary gland dysfunction in diabetic rats. In the current study, salivary exosomes were injected intravenously to rats of group II (Salivary Exo-treated group) one week after diabetes induction. Group I (Diabetic group) was left untreated. Blood sugar level was checked weekly. Water intake, salivary flow rate, salivary amylase and serum nitric oxide were assessed before and after diabetes induction and at the end of the study. After 5 weeks from the beginning of the study, salivary gland tissues were dissected and examined histologically and ultrastructurally. Gene expression of the inflammatory markers NFκB/p65 and TNFα was assessed by polymerase chain reaction. The results showed that salivary exosomes reduced blood glucose levels and enhanced salivary glands' function. This was indicated by a decrease in water intake, salivary amylase and serum nitric oxide in addition to an increase in salivary flow rate. This was confirmed histologically, ultrastructurally and via downregulation of NFκB/p65 and TNFα gene expression. Our results concluded that salivary exosomes could be considered as a novel cell free based therapy in treatment of xerostomia and salivary gland dysfunction in DM.

Cell-Based Transplantation versus Cell Homing Approaches for Pulp-Dentin Complex Regeneration.

Regenerative dentistry has paved the way for a new era for the replacement of damaged dental tissues. Whether the causative factor is dental caries, trauma, or chemical insult, the loss of the pulp vitality constitutes one of the major health problems worldwide. Two regenerative therapies were introduced for a fully functional pulp-dentin complex regeneration, namely, cell-based (cell transplantation) and cell homing (through revascularization or homing by injection of stem cells in situ or intravenously) therapies, with each demonstrating advantages as well as drawbacks, especially in clinical application. The present review is aimed at elaborating on these two techniques in the treatment of irreversibly inflamed or necrotic pulp, which is aimed at regenerating a fully functional pulp-dentin complex.

Comparative evaluation of the ultrastructural morphology and distribution of filiform and fungiform tongue papillae in Egyptian mice, fruit bats and long-eared hedgehogs.

The tongue is a specialized vital organ. It aids in mastication, deglutition and food digestion. It also shares in the perception of taste sensation as it possesses various gustatory papillae. It is being subjected to numerous anatomical and histological examinations aiming at exploring the correlation between its morphological features and animal adaptations to various types of nutrition and environmental conditions. The goal of the present work was to compare the ultrastructural features of the filiform and fungiform papillae of three various mammals possessing different feeding habits; Egyptian mice, fruit bats and long-eared hedgehogs. Specimens were obtained from the tongues of four healthy adult animals from each mammalian type. Tongues were fixed and all the appropriate procedures were done to perform scanning electron microscopic investigation. Scanning electron microscopic examination demonstrated that in mice, there were four different sub-types of filiform papillae (spike, leaf, conical and tongue-shaped). In bats, there were two sub-types (flower and leaf-like) and in hedgehogs, there was only one type (tongue-like). These filiform papillae showed different distribution and orientation. As for the fungiform papillae, they were cylindrical in mice, rounded or conical in bats and dome-shaped in hedgehogs. Fungiform papillae possessed taste pores containing taste buds. Ultrastructural variations of the filiform and fungiform papillae were suggested to be probably due to adaptation to various feeding habits and different environmental conditions of these animals.

Functional and histological evaluation of bone marrow stem cell-derived exosomes therapy on the submandibular salivary gland of diabetic Albino rats through TGFß/ Smad3 signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND: To prevail over diabetes mellitus and its numerous complications, researchers are seeking new therapies. Exosomes are natural cargo of functional proteins and can be used as a therapeutic delivery of these molecules. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of exosomes derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) as a therapeutic intervention in salivary gland diabetic complications. METHODS: Ten adult healthy male Albino rats, weighing about 150-200 g were grouped into 2 groups. Diabetic group I: consisted of 5 streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Exosomes treated group II: consisted of 5 STZ-induced diabetic rats, each animal received a single injection of exosomes (100 µg/kg/dose suspended in 0.2 ml PBS) through the tail vein. All animals were sacrificed after 5 weeks from the beginning of the experiment. Submandibular salivary gland samples were excised and processed for histological, ultrastructural examination and PCR for TGFß, Smad2 and Smad3. Blood glucose level was monitored weekly, salivary IgA and serum amylase were evaluated before and after diabetes induction and at the end of the experiment. RESULTS: Histological and ultrastructural results of the exosomes treated group were promising regarding the glandular and ductal elements with less fibrosis observed. Results of PCR supported the role of exosomes to inhibit the diabetic sequalae in salivary gland and its complications through inhibiting TGFß and its related pathway via Smad2 and Smad3. Blood glucose levels were reduced. In addition, salivary glands' function was improved as evidenced by reduction in serum amylase and salivary IgA. CONCLUSION: BM-MSC-derived exosomes could be a novel therapeutic strategy for diabetic complications involving salivary glands.

Effect of smoking on the proliferation capacity and osteogenic potential of human dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs).

BACKGROUND: Recently, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have proven to have a high potentiality in tissue regeneration. However, genetic diseases or certain environmental risk factors, such as smoking, may compromise the functioning of MSCs, thus leading to a change in the expected clinical outcomes. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the proliferation capacity and osteogenic potential of dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) in smokers in comparison with non-smokers. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Mesenchymal stem cells were isolated from the cultured dental pulp tissue from the third molars of 5 smokers and 5 non-smokers. The proliferation capacity of DPSCs derived from both groups was measured using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) proliferation assay. Alizarin red staining and the gene expression analysis of the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and osteocalcin (OC) genes were performed in order to assess osteogenic differentiation. RESULTS: The MTT proliferation assay revealed that the mean absorbance rate of the DPSCs of the nonsmokers was significantly higher than that of the group of smokers (p < 0.0001). When stained with alizarin red after 21 days of osteogenic induction, fewer calcium deposits were observed among the smokers. Moreover, the ALP and OC gene expression was significantly higher in the differentiated DPSCs of the nonsmokers (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The group of smokers showed a reduced cell viability. The expression of the ALP and OC genes was lower in the DPSCs of the smokers. Therefore, smoking has a negative impact on the proliferation and regenerative potential of human MSCs.

Tissue Engineering Approaches for Enamel, Dentin, and Pulp Regeneration: An Update.

Stem/progenitor cells are undifferentiated cells characterized by their exclusive ability for self-renewal and multilineage differentiation potential. In recent years, researchers and investigations explored the prospect of employing stem/progenitor cell therapy in regenerative medicine, especially stem/progenitor cells originating from the oral tissues. In this context, the regeneration of the lost dental tissues including enamel, dentin, and the dental pulp are pivotal targets for stem/progenitor cell therapy. The present review elaborates on the different sources of stem/progenitor cells and their potential clinical applications to regenerate enamel, dentin, and the dental pulpal tissues.

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells in Dental and Nondental Tissue Regeneration: A Review of an Unexploited Potential.

Cell-based therapies currently represent the state of art for tissue regenerative treatment approaches for various diseases and disorders. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), reprogrammed from adult somatic cells, using vectors carrying definite transcription factors, have manifested a breakthrough in regenerative medicine, relying on their pluripotent nature and ease of generation in large amounts from various dental and nondental tissues. In addition to their potential applications in regenerative medicine and dentistry, iPSCs can also be used in disease modeling and drug testing for personalized medicine. The current review discusses various techniques for the production of iPSC-derived osteogenic and odontogenic progenitors, the therapeutic applications of iPSCs, and their regenerative potential in vivo and in vitro. Through the present review, we aim to explore the potential applications of iPSCs in dental and nondental tissue regeneration and to highlight different protocols used for the generation of different tissues and cell lines from iPSCs.

The prevalence of dental caries among Egyptian children and adolescences and its association with age, socioeconomic status, dietary habits and other risk factors. A cross-sectional study.

Background: Dental caries is a chronic, multifactorial disease, with limited data available for the Egyptian population. The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence of dental caries among Egyptian children and adolescents in correlation with age, gender, body mass index, socioeconomic status, parental education, biological risk factors and dietary habits. Methods: A total number of 369 Egyptian children and adolescents (age ranges from 3-18 years) were examined over the period from 15 th November 2017 to 13 th January 2018. Socio-demographic data, oral hygiene measures and dietary habits for children were recorded. Dental status was analyzed using decayed, missing and filled tooth index (dmft) for deciduous dentition and (DMFT) index for permanent dentition. For mixed dentition (deft) index was used, d (decayed tooth indicated for filling), e (decayed tooth indicated for extraction) and f (filled tooth). Results: 74% of the children had dental caries with mean dmft: 3.23±4.07; deft: 4.21±3.21; DMFT: 1.04±1.56. In primary dentition, dmft of the children was positively correlated with age, beans, candies, crackers, chocolates and inversely correlated with gender, socio-economic status (SES), parental education, brushing frequency of the parent, brushing frequency of the parent to the child teeth, brushing frequency of the child and consumption of eggs, fruits/vegetables, milk and milk products. In mixed dentition, deft was positively correlated with candies, crackers, citric juices, while negatively correlated with age, SES, parental education, brushing frequency of the parent to the child, brushing frequency of the child, fruits/vegetables. In permanent dentition, DMFT in children was positively correlated with age and chocolates while not correlated with any of the remaining risk factors. Conclusion: The present study clarifies the significant risk factors associated with dental caries amongst Egyptian children. This will help in planning strategies to prevent and treat such disease.

The potential impact of age, gender, body mass index, socioeconomic status and dietary habits on the prevalence of dental caries among Egyptian adults: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Dental caries is a major public health problem and the most widespread chronic disease to affect individuals throughout their lifetime. Little information exists about the prevalence of dental caries among Egyptian adults. Therefore, this study investigated the dental caries experience among Egyptian adults in correlation with different risk factors. Methods: A total of 359 Egyptian adults (age range, 18-74 years) were examined over a period of 3 months, starting on the 15 th of November 2017 until the 13 th of January 2018. Socio-demographic data, brushing frequency, body mass index (BMI) and eating habits were recorded and collected using a questionnaire. Dental examination was performed using the Decayed, Missing and Filled tooth (DMFT) index. Results: In total, 86.63% of participants had dental caries experience. Of the participants, 60.45%, 48.47% and 55.43% had at least one decayed, missing and filled tooth, respectively. The mean number of decayed, missing, filled or DMFT for the whole sample were 2.4±3.6, 1.98±3.99, 1.79±2.45, 6.09±5.7, respectively. Decayed teeth were inversely correlated with socio-economic status (SES), education level, brushing frequency and milk consumption and positively correlated with grains, junk food and soda drinks consumption. Missing teeth were inversely correlated with SES, education level and brushing frequency, while positively correlated with age, BMI and caffeinated drink consumption. Conversely, filled teeth were positively correlated with age, BMI, SES and education level, while negatively correlated with grains and sugars in drinks. Conclusion: The present study clarifies that age, BMI, SES, education level and brushing frequency are risk factors significantly associated with dental caries prevalence amongst Egyptian adults. Egyptian adults' dietary habits might lead to obesity, which indirectly causes dental caries rather than directly as in children.

The occurrence of periodontal diseases and its correlation with different risk factors among a convenient sample of adult Egyptian population: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Even though extensive studies on the prevalence of periodontal diseases in various populations worldwide have been carried out, data for the Egyptian population is limited.  The present study was carried out to evaluate the occurrence and the severity of periodontal disease and its correlation with different risk factors. Methods: Periodontal examination was performed on 343 adults attending the outpatient clinics of the Faculty of Dentistry, Cairo University, as well as three private clinics. Socio-demographic data, brushing frequency, body mass index (BMI) and dietary habits were recorded using a questionnaire. Results: It was found that 58.9% of participants had calculus deposits. The occurrence of periodontitis was 89.8%, where 70.8% of participants had stage I and 15.2% had stage II, while only 4.4% and 2.05% suffered from stage III and stage IV, respectively. Calculus was positively correlated with age, grains, and sugar in drinks and negatively correlated with socioeconomic status, education level, brushing frequency and milk. Calculus was not correlated with gender and BMI. Periodontitis was positively correlated with age, carbohydrates other than bread, grains, and crackers, as well as caffeinated drinks, while negatively correlated with gender, socioeconomic status, brushing frequency. Periodontitis was not correlated with BMI or education level. Conclusion: The present study clarifies that age, brushing frequency, carbohydrates and caffeinated drinks consumption are significant factors influencing the occurrence and the severity of periodontal diseases.

Comparative evaluation of the early effects of the low-level laser therapy versus intra-articular steroids on temporomandibular joint acute osteoarthritis in rats: A histochemical, molecular and imaging evaluation.

BACKGROUND: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a serious degenerative joint disease. It is one of the main causes of disability in the world. Current treatment modalities have numerous side effects. Subsequently, health experts are looking for alternative therapies. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to evaluate the early effects of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) vs intraarticular (IA) corticosteroids (CS) on acute temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJOA). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sixty rats were divided into 3 groups: group 1- untreated OA; group 2 - OA treated with CS; and group 3 - OA treated with LLL. Half of the animals in each group were sacrificed at 1 and 4 weeks post treatment. The temporomandibular joint was dissected and evaluated histochemically, using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and radiographically. RESULTS: Histochemically, Safranin-O staining revealed an obvious reduction in proteoglycans in the untreated osteoarthritic group. However, both of the treated groups showed a moderate increase in glycosaminoglycan (GAG) staining. As for the qRT-PCR results, caspase-3 showed the highest mean value in the untreated OA group, followed by the CS group, while the lowest mean value was recorded in the LLL group. Radiographically, the condyle showed erosion, flattening, osteophyte formation, and sclerosis in the untreated group, but there was great improvement in both of the treated groups. CONCLUSIONS: Both laser and cortisone showed reparative and formative effects, as evidenced by the increases in the proteoglycan content. However, LLL was superior in its anti-apoptotic effects. Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) is a valuable tool in assessing osseous abnormalities.

The anti-osteoporotic effect of Moringa oleifera leaves extract on glucocorticoids-induced jawbone osteoporosis in Albino rats / Efeito anti-osteoporótico dos extratos de folhas de Moringa oleifera em osteoporose maxilar induzida por glicocorticóides em ratos albinos

Objective: Glucocorticoids induced osteoporosis and its related fragility fractures represent a costly human and socioeconomic load worldwide. All the current pharmacological therapies possess multiple adverse effects and high cost. Thus, the pesent study aimed to evaluate the bone healing ability of Moringa oleifera (MO) on glucocorticoids induced osteoporosis in the jawbone of Albino rats. Material and Methods: Osteoporosis was prompted by a daily intraperitoneal injection of 200 µg/ 100 g dexamethasone for 30 days. Next,the animals were randomly divided into 2 groups; osteoporotic and MO treated group. The treated group receivd a daily oral dose of 200mg/kg of MO. Rats from the MO group were sacrificed after 4 weeks from the beginning of treatment, and the same sacrifice date was used for the osteoporotic group. Bone regeneration was evaluated by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), histopathological and histomorphometric examination. Results: After the sacrifice, the DEXA analysis revealed a significant upregulation in the BMD in the MO treated group (p <0.001). The RT-PCR test showed a significant decline in RANKL gene expression and a significant rise in OPG gene expression in the MO group (p < 0.001, p = 0.002, respectively). The histopathological examination of the MO group displayed a marked healing of the jawbone micro-anatomy. The histomorphometric analysis also showed that the bone area percentage increased significantly in the MO group (p <0.05). Conclusion: A cheap, easy to get, yet a powerful plant like MO leaves, can be cosidered an effective treatment for osteoporosis (AU).

Objetivos: A osteoporose induzida por glicocorticóides e suas fraturas por fragilidade relacionadas representam um custo humano caro e carga socioeconômica em todo o mundo. Todas as terapias farmacológicas atuais possuem múltiplos efeitos adversos e alto custo. Assim, o presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a capacidade de cicatrização óssea de Moringa oleifera (MO) em osteoporose induzida na mandíbula de ratos albinos. Material e Métodos: A osteoporose foi induzida por uma injeção intraperitoneal diária de 200 µg / 100 g de dexametasona por 30 dias. A seguir, os animais foram divididos aleatoriamente em 2 grupos; grupo tratado com osteoporose e MO. O grupo tratado recebeu uma diária dose oral de 200 mg / kg de MO. Os ratos do grupo MO foram eutanasiados após 4 semanas do início do tratamento, e a mesma data de eutanásia foi usada para o grupo osteoporótico. A regeneração óssea foi avaliada por espectrometria de raio-x de energia dupla (DEXA), reação em cadeia da polimerase em tempo real (RT-PCR), análise histopatológica e histomorfométrica. Resultados: Após a eutanásia, a análise DEXA revelou uma regulação positiva significativa na DMO no grupo tratado com MO (p <0,001). O teste RT-PCR mostrou um declínio significativo na expressão do gene RANKL e um aumento significativo na expressão do gene OPG no grupo MO (p <0,001, p = 0,002, respectivamente). O exame histopatológico do grupo MO revelou uma cicatrização acentuada da microanatomia do maxilar. A análise histomorfométrica também mostrou aumento significativo na porcentagem de área óssea no grupo MO (p <0,05). Conclusão: A MO é uma planta barata, de fácil obtenção, e suas folhas ainda podem ser consideradas poderosas como tratamento eficaz para a osteoporose. (AU)