Larvicidal and repellent effects of essential oils on the brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus Sensu lato) with description of new larval repellent activity test method.

The aim of this research was to investigate the larvicidal and repellent effects of essential oils (EOs) obtained from two Lamiaceae plant species, Origanum minutiflorum O. Schwarz & P.H. Davis and Dorystoechas hastata Boiss. & Heldr. ex Bentham, both endemic to Turkey, on Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l. Latreille (Acari: Ixodidae). The study also introduces a new test method that can be used to assess the repellent effects against ticks. Both plant EOs exhibited the highest larvicidal activity against brown dog tick larvae after 24 h and LC50 and LC90 values were determined as 0.101% and 0.125% for O. minutiflorum essential oil and 0.937% and 2.1% for D. hastata essential oil, respectively. In this study, we have described a detailed protocol for a novel larval repellent activity test (LRAT) for essential oils and extracts, using simple equipment. The advantages and limitations of LRAT, when compared to other tests commonly used to determine repellent effect against ticks, are also included in this study. The LRAT was developed with modifications of the larval immersion test (LIT) and proves to be a highly efficient and easily observable method. It can be used to test any active substance that may be toxic to humans and animals. According to the LRAT, at the end of 3 h, O. minutiflorum essential oil showed a high repellent effect, varying between 84.14% and 100% at 1% concentration. This result was not statistically different from the DEET, the positive control. When comparing the larvicidal and repellent activities, O. minutiflorum essential oil was found to be more effective than D. hastata essential oil.

Effects of solid and aqueous dietary diflubenzuron ingestion on some biological parameters in synthetic pyrethroid-resistant German cockroach, Blattella germanica L. (Blattodea: Ectobiidae).

Cockroaches, widespread pests found in metropolitan areas, are known as vectors of various disease agents, including viruses, fungi and antibiotic-resistant bacteria, as well as causing allergies in humans. Insect growth regulators have been used in pest management for several decades. These insecticides disrupt insect development and reproduction. Chitin synthesis inhibitors interfere with chitin biosynthesis in insects, causing abortive moulting and mortality, as well as inhibiting egg fertility, and larval hatching in insects. In this research, we evaluated the various effects of diflubenzuron, a chitin synthesis inhibitor, on synthetic pyrethroid-resistant German cockroach (Blattella germanica L. Blattodea: Ectobiidae), including ootheca production, oothecal viability, ootheca incubation time, the number of nymphs emerging from the ootheca and survivorship of nymphs. The cockroaches were fed diets that contained diflubenzuron, which was added to solid bait (impregnated fish food) and ingestible aqueous bait (impregnated cotton). Three concentrations (0.5%, 1% and 2%) were used in the experiments. As a result, diflubenzuron treatment led to ootheca production ranging from 60% to 100%; statistically, no difference was found between the treatment and the control groups. The number of nymphs emerging from the first and second ootheca was reduced by 40%-100% in the diflubenzuron-treated groups compared with the control. Nymphs exposed to diflubenzuron-impregnated solid bait and ingestible aqueous bait experienced mortality exceeding 92.1% and 66.27% within 15 days, respectively. In conclusion, diflubenzuron is a potential insecticide for use in cockroach baits to control B. germanica, as it caused high nymphal and embryonic mortality in the synthetic pyrethroid-resistant population and decreased the number of nymphs emerging from the ootheca.

Exploring the Larvicidal and Repellent Potential of Taurus Cedar (Cedrus libani) Tar against the Brown Dog Tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato).

This study investigated the potential acaricidal and repellent effects of tar obtained from the Lebanon cedar (Cedrus libani A. Rich.) against the brown dog tick species Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato Latreille (Acari: Ixodidae). The goal was to find an alternative, safe, and effective way to eliminate ticks. Tar is traditionally extracted from cedar trees in the Antalya region of Türkiye. The composition of the tar is primarily characterized by a diverse mixture of terpenes, with ß-himachalene (29.16%), α-atlantone (28.7%), ar-turmerone (8.82%), longifolene-(V4) (6.66%), α-himachalene (5.28%), and ß-turmerone (5.12%) emerging as the predominant constituents. The toxic effects of tar on tick larvae were studied through larval immersion tests (LIT), and its repellent activity was evaluated using a new larval repellent activity test (LRAT). The results revealed significant acaricidal effects, with mortality rates of 77.7% and 82.2% for the Konyaalti and Kepez strains of the brown dog tick, respectively, in response to a 1% concentration of tar. LC50 and LC90 values were determined as 0.47% and 1.52% for the Kepez strain and 0.58% and 1.63% for the Konyaalti strain, respectively. When comparing the repellent effect of tar to the widely used synthetic repellent DEET, repellency rates of up to 100% were observed. As a result, this study establishes, for the first time, the larvicidal and repellent effects of C. libani tar on ticks.

Effect of casein phosphopeptide amorphous calcium fluoride phosphate and calcium glycerophosphate on incisors with molar-incisor hypomineralization: A cross-over, randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Within the scope of minimally invasive dentistry, the use of different biocompatible remineralization agents on incisors affected by molar-incisor hypomineralization (MIH) gains importance. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of casein phosphopeptide amorphous calcium fluoride phosphate (CPP-ACFP) and calcium glycerophosphate (CaGP) in mineral density (MD) of white/creamy and yellow/brown demarcated opacities on incisors affected by MIH by means laser fluorescence (LF). METHODS: As a cross-over, randomized trial, twenty-two children with 167 incisors affected by MIH were recruited and randomly assigned to one of the two different agents and crossed over to other agents with two weeks washout in between. Incisors were examined by using LF at all before and after three months periods. RESULTS: The results of the paired t-tests for determining the period effect between the baseline findings showed significant difference in white/creamy and yellow/brown demarcated opacities of LF values for both groups (p < 0.05). The difference between both groups according to after categorization of 20% increasing in MD in the percent of change before and after application on LF values; was not found statistically significant in white/creamy (p = 0.970) and yellow/brown (p = 0.948) opacities. CONCLUSIONS: The primary outcome was CPP-ACFP and CaGP had a positive effect in decreasing hypomineralization on MIH-affected enamel for three months period.

Changes in oral health-related quality of life after treatment of molar incisor hypomineralisation using Glass Hybrid Restorations.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the changes in children's oral health-related quality of life following the treatment of severely affected molar-incisor hypomineralisation with Glass Hybrid Restorative System (GH) after selective caries removal. METHODS: The observational cross-sectional study was conducted at the Marmara University, School of Dentistry, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Istanbul, Turkey.. Children aged 11-14 years (n = 55) who were diagnosed with MIH and had finished their dental treatment from November 2018 to December 2019, were included. The children's MIH-affected teeth were treated with GH after SCR. Participants answered the Child Perceptions Questionnaire (CPQ11?14) prior to their dental treatment and 6 months after the treatment. RESULTS: Of the fifty-five patients, 40 patients (24 girls-16 boys) completed baseline and follow-up data. The mean age of the children was 11.85 ±1.02 years. The overall CPQ score ranged from 3-83 (average 33.27 ± 16.46) at baseline and 0-61 (average 11.67 ± 11.21) at follow up. The emotional well-being among children was the highest score at baseline. A significant decrease (p < 0.001) in the mean values was observed for both the overall CPQ scores and for the scores of the oral symptoms, functional limitations, and social-emotional well-being limitation. All subdomains showed large effect sizes and oral symptom limitation domain presented the greatest effect. Wilcoxon Rank test was used to determine the statistical significance of the changes and the magnitude of change was determined by calculating and classifying the effect size. CONCLUSIONS: Restorative treatment with GH following selective caries removal positively influenced the oral health-related quality of life of children with severe molar-incisor hypomineralisation.

Two-Year Survival of High-Viscosity Glass Ionomer in Children with Molar Incisor Hypomineralization.

OBJECTIVE: We assessed the clinical survival of a high-viscosity glass ionomer (HVGI) at the 2-year follow-up to restore molar incisors severely affected by hypomineralization after selective carious tissue removal (SCR). The null hypothesis tested was that there are no differences in the overall survival times in the categories of the variables of interest. METHODS: A total of 134 fully erupted first molar incisors with hypomineralization, cavitated and with moderate-to-deep carious lesions without hypersensitivity or pain (MIH treatment need index 2a-c), were included in the study. HVGI (Equia Forte®; GC, Tokyo, Japan) restorations were applied after SCR to soft carious dentin. The follow-up lasted 2 years. The end point was defined as the absence of endodontic and restorative complications. Two-year, and 18-, 12-, and 6-month survival probabilities and standard errors were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Survival probabilities according to patient gender, jaw, and lesion severity groups were compared using the log-rank test. Restorations were evaluated using the modified US Public Health Service criteria. RESULTS: HVGI restorations showed cumulative survival probabilities of 95.5% at 6 months, 94% at 12 months, 87.5% at 18 months, and 87.5% at 24 months. Survival probabilities according to patient gender, jaw, and lesion severity groups were not statistically significantly different (p > 0.05). Therefore, the null hypothesis was accepted. CONCLUSION: Following SCR, HVGI restoration provided moderate survival probabilities, suggesting that the SCR technique is effective.

Synergistic effect of ponatinib and epigallocatechin-3-gallate induces apoptosis in chronic myeloid leukemia cells through altering expressions of cell cycle regulatory genes.

PURPOSE: Ponatinib (P) has been used for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and it is known that inhibition of BCR-ABL fusion protein by ponatinib induces apoptosis of CML cells. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), which is a polyphenol in green tea, induces apoptosis in different types of cancer cells. The purpose of this study was to determine the cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of ponatinib and EGCG combination in K562 CML cell line. This study also aimed to detect alterations of the expression levels of cell cycle-regulation related genes after ponatinib and EGCG combination in K562 CML cell line. METHODS: The cytotoxic effects of the compounds on K562 cells were determined in a time-and dose-dependent manner by using WST-1 analysis. The combination index (CI) isobologram was used to analyze the data. Apoptotic effects of P-EGCG were defined by flow cytometry and gene expressions were detected by RT-qPCR. RESULTS: IC50values of ponatinib and EGCG were 87.13 nM and 50µM, respectively. CI value of the P-EGCG was 0.658 and the combination showed synergistic effect (ED90 value: 28.39 nM ponatinib, 117.12 µg/ml EGCG). Ponatinib, EGCG and P-EGCG induced apoptosis compared to control cells. CyclinD1 and CDC25A were downregulated by P-EGCG by 2.49 and 2.63-fold, respectively. TGF-ß2 was upregulated by 4.57-fold. CONCLUSION: EGCG possesses cytotoxic and apoptotic properties and may cooperate with the growth inhibiting activity of ponatinib synergistically against CML cells. P-EGCG mediated apoptosis might be associated with upregulation of TGF-ß2 gene and downregulation of cyclinD1 and CDC25A genes.