Endodontic Rotary Systems: Comparison between Gentlefile and Pro Taper Universal for removal of Enterococcus faecalis.

Background: As a resistant bacterium species in infected root canals, Enterococcus faecalis needs to be removed in any endodontic treatment. So, we aimed to compare the effectiveness of two rotary systems, Gentlefile and Pro Taper Universal, in removing Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) from the infected root canal system. Material and Methods: Forty single-root premolar teeth were collected and randomly divided into two groups: Gentlefile (n=18) and Pro Taper Universal (n=18). In addition, four teeth were used as a negative control. The root canals were prepared and infected with E. faecalis and incubated for 4 weeks. Samples were obtained from the root canal immediately before and after instrumentation. A reduction in bacteria was determined by the colony count method. Results: Colony numbers of E. faecalis were significantly different before and after instrumentation in all groups (p<0.001). Furthermore, Gentlefile group illustrated a higher percentage of bacterial reduction (96.1%) compared to Pro Taper Universal group (90%). Accordingly, Gentlefile group was found to be significantly (p<0.001) more effective in decreasing bacterial populations than Pro Taper Universal group. Conclusions: Although both rotary systems were highly effective in bacterial reduction from root canals, Gentlefile demonstrated better bacterial reduction percentage from root canals than Pro Taper Universal. Key words:Enterococcus faecalis, Gentlefile, Pro Taper Universal, Rotary systems.

Synthesis and Potential Antidiabetic Properties of Curcumin-Based Derivatives: An In Vitro and In Silico Study of α-Glucosidase and α-Amylase Inhibition.

BACKGROUND: Over the past twenty years, the prevalence of diabetes as one of the most common metabolic diseases has become a public health problem worldwide. Blood glucose control is important in delaying the onset and progression of diabetes-related complications. α-Glycosidase (α- Glu) and α-amylase (α-Amy) are important enzymes in glucose metabolism. Diabetic control through the inhibition of carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzymes is established as an effective strategy. METHODS: In this study, curcumin-based benzaldehyde derivatives with high stability, bioavailability, and favorable efficiency were synthesized. RESULTS: The results showed that L13, L8, and L11 derivatives have the highest inhibitory effect on α-Glu with IC50 values of 18.65, 20.6, and 31.7 µM and, also L11, L13, and L8 derivatives have the highest inhibitory effect on α-Amy with IC50 value of 14.8, 21.8, and 44.9 µM respectively. Furthermore, enzyme inhibitory kinetic characterization was also performed to understand the mechanism of enzyme inhibition. CONCLUSION: L13, compared to the other compounds, exhibited acceptable inhibitory activity against both enzymes. The L13 derivative could be an appropriate candidate for further study through the rational drug design to the exploration of a new class of powerful anti-diabetic drugs considering the antioxidant properties of the synthesized compounds. The derivative helps reduce the glycemic index and limits the activity of the major reactive oxygen species (ROS) producing pathways.

An overview of immune checkpoint therapy in autoimmune diseases.

Immune checkpoint receptors are critical regulators of initiation and termination of effective immune responses as well as maintain self-tolerance. Since the successful use of immune checkpoint inhibitors in cancer immunotherapy, they gained huge interest to be used in autoimmune diseases treatment. Indeed, abatacept (CTLA4-Ig), as immune checkpoint inhibitors has made major advancement in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis patients who have failed to respond to csDMARDs or TNF-α inhibitor. Over the past decade, an increasing number of new immune checkpoints have been detected and lots of investigations are in progress to address their potential as possible targets of effective novel immunotherapy. Here we focus on the biological functions and structures of these immune checkpoints, their pharmacological mechanisms, pathogenesis, therapeutic effects, and their related adverse events. We also discuss the application of agonistic or antagonistic agents targeting co-inhibitory or co-stimulatory checkpoints for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. Furthermore, we summarize previous and recent clinical trials utilizing these immune checkpoints in autoimmune diseases. Obviously, the characterization of such processes might help to develop more effective therapeutic agents in the future.

Bacterial starter cultures induce suitable changes in milk fatty acid profiles at different fermentation conditions.

This study aimed to compare the effect of different ratios of Streptococcus thermophilus to Lactobacillus bulgaricus (3 : 1, 1 : 1, and 1 : 3) under the various stressful temperatures (37 and 45°C) on the fatty acid profiles quality of Kermanshahi roghan (yogurt by-product) and sour cream to obtain a formula for producing a kind of animal fat healthier than milk and cream. Stresses such as fermentation play an important role in bacterial behavior and consequently in food quality. Our findings presented a significant difference between roghan and sour cream fatty acid levels only at 37°C. Furthermore, starter culture 3 : 1 was the best starter for producing products with a higher quality of fatty acid profile at 37°C, and a 1 : 1 S. thermophilus to L. bulgaricus ratio was optimal at 45°C. It seems that bacteria adapt to harsh growth conditions by changing the fatty acid profiles, and these changes warrant consideration in the production of a kind of animal fat with the best fatty acid profiles. In conclusion, the roghan fatty acid profile is more suitable than sour cream only at 37°C.

The plasma Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α) does not have any correlation with disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs)

We performed this study to measure the Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α) plasma level and to survey its correlation with disease activity in the newly diagnosed Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) patients and those who were under treatment with the combination of Disease-Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drug (DMARD) plus Prednisolone (PSL).We enrolled 30 newly diagnosed RA patients who received no treatment regarding their disease, 30 patients under treatment with the combination of Methotrexate (MTX) + Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) + PSL and 30 healthy subjects in this case-control study from September 2017 to December 2017. The level of plasma TNF-α was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in each group. For assessment of disease severity, we used Disease Activity Score-28 (DAS-28) formula, and regarding DAS-28, we divided patients into four groups, including remission, low, moderate and high disease activity. There were no significant differences in the plasma level of TNF-α between the newly diagnosed RA patients and subjects who received MTX + HCQ + PSL, as well as healthy controls (p>0.05). There was a significant correlation between plasma levels of TNF-α and DAS-28 in the newly diagnosed patients with RA (r = 0.594, P = 0.001). Targeting TNF-α at the early stage of RA could have more beneficial effects on the amelioration of disease activity

Effect of fermentation temperature and different Streptococcus thermophilus to Lactobacillus bulgaricus ratios on Kermanshahi roghan and yoghurt fatty acid profiles.

The objective of the study reported in this Research Communication was to investigate the effect of fermentation temperature (37 and 45 °C) and different ratios of Streptococcus thermophilus to Lactobacillus bulgaricus (3 : 1, 1 : 1 and 1 : 3) on Kermanshahi roghan and yoghurt fatty acid profiles (FAP) in order to obtain a product with optimized fatty acid profiles. Kermanshahi roghan is a yoghurt by-product in western Iran (Kermanshah). The results revealed that incubation temperature at 37 °C as compared to 45 °C had a better effect on fatty acid profiles of roghan and yoghurt. Furthermore, the results showed that fatty acid profile of roghan is better than yoghurt at two experimental temperatures. On the other hand, the roghan products made by equal ratio of S. thermophilus and L. bulgaricus (1 : 1) had the best quality of fatty acid profiles. Although a lower incubation temperature increases incubation time, our finding suggests that inoculation ratio 1 : 1 at 37 °C as compared to 45 °C can affect the quality of roghan and yoghurt fatty acid profiles.

Shikonin Production by Callus Culture of Onosma bulbotrichom as Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient.

The objective of this research was in-vitro germination and callus induction of Onosma bulbotrichum (O.bulbotrichum) as a medicinal herb which belongs to Boraginaceae family. For germination, the seeds were cultured on growth regulator-free MS medium and for callus induction, seeds were sown on modified MS medium containing different concentrations of kinetin (kn)- Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and kn- 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid), respectively. The plates were maintained in the dark at growth chamber. After 7 days seed germination on hormone-free medium and after 10 days callus initiation on modified medium in the presence of hormones was occurred. The maximum pigmented callus (100%) was observed on modified MS medium with a combination of 0.2 mg.L-1 IAA + 2.10 mg.L-1 kn. Shikonin determination was performed by HPLC method. In addition, total hydroxynaphtoquinons as polyphenols in sum of callus and culture medium were measured by spectrophotometric method and revealed that total naphtoquinones content at IAA was more than 2, 4-D.

Proteolytic activities of kiwifruit actinidin (Actinidia deliciosa cv. Hayward) on different fibrous and globular proteins: a comparative study of actinidin with papain.

Actinidin, a member of the papain-like family of cysteine proteases, is abundant in kiwifruit. To date, a few studies have been provided to investigate the proteolytic activity and substrate specificity of actinidin on native proteins. Herein, the proteolytic activity of actinidin was compared to papain on several different fibrous and globular proteins under neutral, acidic and basic conditions. The digested samples were subjected to sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and densitometry to assess the proteolytic effect. Furthermore, the levels of free amino nitrogen (FAN) of the treated samples were determined using the ninhydrin colorimetric method. The findings showed that actinidin has no or limited proteolytic effect on globular proteins such as immunoglobulins including sheep IgG, rabbit IgG, chicken IgY and fish IgM, bovine serum albumin (BSA), lipid transfer protein (LTP), and whey proteins (α-lactalbumin and ß-lactoglobulin) compared to papain. In contrast to globular proteins, actinidin could hydrolyze collagen and fibrinogen perfectly at neutral and mild basic pHs. Moreover, this enzyme could digest pure α-casein and major subunits of micellar casein especially in acidic pHs. Taken together, the data indicated that actinidin has narrow substrate specificity with the highest enzymatic activity for the collagen and fibrinogen substrates. The results describe the actinidin as a mild plant protease useful for many special applications such as cell isolation from different tissues and some food industries as a mixture formula with other relevant proteases.

EBV and CMV in chronic periodontitis: a prevalence study.

Periodontitis is an infectious disease involving specific bacteria and viruses. Herpesviruses believed to play roles in it. The present study examines the presence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) in subgingival and supragingival plaque of 61 patients with chronic periodontitis and 40 healthy controls. A nested polymerase chain reaction method was used. The clinical parameters, clinical attachment level (CAL), probing depth (PD) and bleeding on probing (BOP) were examined. Prevalence of EBV- 1, EBV-2 and CMV were 73.8%, 4.9% and 59%; respectively. There was no association between the presence of EBV-1, EBV-2 and CMV with bleeding on depth.

Kiwifruit actinidin: a proper new collagenase for isolation of cells from different tissues.

Actinidin is a cysteine protease abundant in Kiwifruit. This enzyme is known as a meat-tenderizing protease. In this project, actinidin was purified from kiwifruit by salt precipitation and ion exchange chromatography. Collagenolytic effect of the purified enzyme was tested in four different buffer systems. Thereafter, the enzyme was used for isolation and culture of cells from three different tissues: endothelial cells from human umbilical vein, hepatocytes from rat liver, and thymic epithelial cells from rat thymus. Our results revealed that actinidin can hydrolyze collagen types I and II at neutral and alkaline buffers. Furthermore, actinidin compared with type II or IV collagenase isolated intact human umbilical vein endothelial cells, hepatocytes, and thymic epithelial cells with viability more than 90%. These results address a novel and valuable collagenase, which can be used efficiently for hydrolysis of collagen and isolation of different cell populations from various solid tissues.