Ammonium-Charged Sterically Hindered Phenols with Antioxidant and Selective Anti-Gram-Positive Bacterial Activity.

The increase in the resistance of pathogens, in particular Staphylococcus aureus, to the action of antibiotics necessitates the search for new readily available and non-toxic drugs. In solving this problem, phenolic acylhydrazones have high potential. In this communication, the synthesis of quaternary ammonium compounds containing a differently substituted phenolic moiety has been performed. An initial study of antimicrobial activity showed that these compounds are highly selective against S. aureus and B. cereus. The highest activity (MIC 2.0 µm) was shown by hydrazones containing a catechol fragment. These compounds are more than 3-fold more active against S. aureus and 3-10-fold more active against B. cereus than norfloxacin. Low hemolytic and high antioxidant activities of all new compounds were also established.

Chitosan/Poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) Films with Ciprofloxacin for Application in Vaginal Drug Delivery.

Chitosan (CHI) and chitosan/poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) (CHI/POZ)-based films were prepared by casting from aqueous solutions of polymer blends with different compositions. Ciprofloxacin was used as a model drug in these formulations. The weight, thickness, folding endurance and transparency of blend films were measured and characterised. All films had a uniform thickness (0.06 ± 0.01 mm) and exhibited sufficient flexibility. The surface pHs of films ranged from 3.76 ± 0.49 to 4.14 ± 0.32, which is within the pH range suitable for vaginal applications. The cumulative release of the drug from the films in experiments in vitro was found to be 42 ± 2% and 56 ± 1% for pure CHI and CHI/POZ (40:60) films, respectively. Drug-free chitosan/poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) films showed weak antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli. Drug-loaded CHI and CHI/POZ films showed good antimicrobial properties against both Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli. Mucoadhesive properties of these films with respect to freshly excised sheep vaginal mucosa were evaluated using a tensile method. It was established that all films were mucoadhesive, but an increase in POZ content in the blend resulted in a gradual reduction of their ability to stick to vaginal mucosa. These films could potentially find applications in vaginal drug delivery.

Evaluation of oral health status of children in pretreatment and after treatment for 18 month.

OBJECTIVE: Dental caries is an important public health issue worldwide. In developing countries preventive dentistry is not common; hence, oral and dental health problems continue to generate serious economic and social issues. The aim of this study was to assess oral health and the incidence of dental caries in systemically healthy children aged 3-14 years, provide education on oral hygiene motivation, conduct the necessary preventive and restorative procedures, and reassess caries development at the 6-, 12-, and 18-month post-treatment follow-up. METHODS: Systemically healthy children aged 3-14 years who applied to the Paediatric Dentistry Clinic, Faculty of Dentistry, Adnan Menderes University (ADU) were included in the study. The subjects were evaluated for oral health status and incidence of dental caries based on surveys and clinical examination, motivation for oral hygiene with necessary training, completion of preventive and restorative treatments, and development of dental caries at the 6-, 12-, and 18-month post-treatment follow-up. RESULTS: The study included 320 patients, aged 3-14 years (mean age 8.08 ± 3.45 years). In children included in the study, the average decayed (d), missing (m) and filled (f) primary teeth (dmft) value was 3.81 (min-max: 0-16), decayed (D), missing (M) and filled (F) permanent teeth (DMFT) value, 1.49 (min-max: 0-6), decayed (d), missing(m) and filled(f) primary teeth surface (dmfs) value, 10.11 (min-max: 0-40), and decayed (D), missing (M) and filled (F) permanent teeth surface (DMFS) value, 2.09 (min-max: 0-12). CONCLUSIONS: For the protection and maintenance of oral and dental health in dentistry, preventive approaches should be the first concern and conservative therapeutic methods should be given priority after occurrence of any dental pathology. In addition, one-time examinations are not sufficient, and children should be examined at least twice a year. This study showed that the incidence of dental caries declined in children who underwent periodical examination and preventive dental treatment.

Evaluation of dentin permeability of fluorotic permanent teeth.

OBJECTIVE: The in vitro permeability characteristics of dentin have been studied extensively and used to evaluate the efficacy of various preventative and restorative procedures. The aim of this in vitro study was to precisely determine the dentin permeability of fluorotic premolar teeth using an electronic hydraulic conductance measurement system with photosensors and to compare the data with healthy premolars. METHODS: In total, 40 fluorotic and healthy premolar teeth with complete root formation that were extracted for orthodontic purposes and had no caries, restoration, fractures, or cracks were selected for this study. Teeth were classified according to a modified form of the dental fluorosis index of Thylstrup and Fejerskov. The dentin discs were placed in an electronic hydraulic conductance measurement system equipped with photosensors, which was designed for measurements of dentin permeability. The amount of distilled water passed through each dentin disc (µL/min) under a constant pressure was determined. Dentin permeability data of the fluorotic and healthy teeth were recorded and analyzed statistically. RESULTS: The present study showed that fluorosis influenced the volume of fluid that passed through the dentin and the dentin permeability was decreased, whereas dental fluorosis severity was increased in permanent teeth. CONCLUSION: The number of teeth with fluorosis is increasing, depending on fluorine sources, so more appropriate treatments will need to be evaluated by standardizing the methods employed in related studies.

Assessment of monomer release from 3 different fissure sealants.

BACKGROUND: Light-activated resin-based dental fissure sealants are the most widely accepted among clinicians. The objective of this study was to determine monomer release of 3 different light-curing fissure sealants in vitro: Control Seal (Voco, Germany), Fissurit FX (Voco, Germany) and R&D Series Fissured Nova (Imicrly, Turkey). METHODS: Each material was polymerized with a curing light: Valo Cordless (Ultradent) LED in standard mode for 20 seconds (n = 27) and 40 seconds (n = 27) and in Xtra power mode (plasma arc) for 3 seconds (n = 27). High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to measure the amount of monomers released over 1, 3 and 7 days. RESULTS: Plasma arc groups showed the highest release of monomers at 1, 3 and 7 days in the 3 fissure sealant groups (p<0.001). The greatest release of bisphenol A glycidyl methacrylate (bis-GMA) determined for R&D Series Fissured Nova both with LED 20 seconds and LED 40 seconds and for Control Seal was with the plasma arc. With time, release of the monomer was reduced for all polymerization systems. CONCLUSIONS: Efficiency of the polymerization system and applying the recommended curing time for light-activated resin-based dental materials are very important to protect the patient from potential hazards of residual monomers.

Dentin permeability of carious primary teeth.

BACKGROUND: Many in vitro studies have used dentine permeability to evaluate the efficacy of various restorative and preventative procedures. The easiest way to evaluate dentine permeability is to calculate its hydraulic conductance (Lp) using fluid filtration methods. Research has examined electronic hydraulic conductance measurement methods that give more precise and reliable results for the permeability of dentine than the classical method. To our knowledge, no study has examined the dentine permeability of carious primary teeth. AIM: This in vitro study determined the dentine permeability of carious primary molars precisely with a new electronic hydraulic conductance measurement system and compared them with healthy primary molars. DESIGN: The study examined 60 carious and noncarious primary second molars with no restorations, fractures, or cracks at different root resorption stages. RESULTS: The results showed that the dentine permeability increased with the severity of caries in primary teeth. CONCLUSION: The dentine permeability of carious primary teeth was higher than that of noncarious primary teeth. Therefore, treatment of primary teeth should be performed more quickly.

Small bowel obstruction due to anomalous congenital peritoneal bands - case series in adults.

BACKGROUND: Congenital bands cause 3 % of all intestinal obstruction and almost always lead to small bowel obstruction. In adults, obstruction due to bands is even rarer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A multicenter study in Turkey. From January 2000 to December 2010 inclusive - a period of 10 years - all adult patients admitted to the emergency departments with a clinical diagnosis of acute intestinal obstruction due to congenital peritoneal band were included in the study. Surgery was defined as emergency. Recorded operative findings included the site of obstruction, and the operative procedure to relieve it. In the present study, the findings in adult patients with congenital band reported in the literature together with findings in ten cases operated at four center were retrospectively assessed with respect to their demographic, preoperative, peroperative, and postoperative characteristics. RESULTS: There were 8 males and 2 females aged between 18 and 72 year. There were no history of abdominal or inguinal surgery. Plain abdominal X-rays radiography revealed air- fluid levels in all patients. All the bands were ligated and divided. On histopathological examination, the bands were composed of loose connective tissue containing blood vessels. There were no calcification in the bands. CONCLUSION: an anomalous congenital band could be included in the differential diagnosis of intestinal obstruction. This clinical situation requires early surgical intervention that will be diagnostic and therapeutic (Tab. 1, Fig. 4, Ref. 21).

Are postoperative drains necessary with the Karydakis flap for treatment of pilonidal sinus? (Can fibrin glue be replaced to drains?) A prospective randomized trial.

PURPOSE: Different surgical techniques for pilonidal disease have been described in the literature. In this study, our aim was to evaluate the influence of routine cavity drainage in the Karydakis flap technique. METHODS: As much as 50 male patients with pilonidal sinus who underwent the Karydakis flap operation were evaluated prospectively.The patients were assigned randomly into two groups (Group 1 with suction drain; Group 2 fibrin glue). RESULTS: Fluid collection was encountered in 8 out of 50 patients (6.25%): 6 in Group 2 (24%) of which 4 experienced superficial, healed with simple dressing, the other 2 with substantial dehiscence healed with wound dressing; 2 in Group 1 (8%) were treated with wound punctures.There has been no recurrence in any of the patients during the follow-up period.The Karydakis flap operations can be performed with a near zero recurrence rate with the use of drains. CONCLUSION: We recommend the use of fibrin sealant with Karydakis flap procedure, but further studies are needed to confirm this conclusion.

Application of constant-current coulometry for estimation of plasma total antioxidant capacity and its relationship with transition metal contents.

Simple and express coulometric method for the evaluation of the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of human plasma based on the reaction with electrogenerated bromine is applied. TAC of plasma from patients with different ethiology of chronic renal failure was observed. The levels of antioxidant capacity for venous and arterial plasma are authentically different (15+/-1 kCl/L versus 11.7+/-0.7 kCl/L, p<0.01). The application of Vitamin E and ximedon as an antioxidant treatment significantly increase TAC level of plasma. Free liposoluble antioxidants in plasma in alpha-tocopherol units was determined. Redox potential of plasma is measured and its correlation with lg(TAC) is obtained. Transition metal contents of Fe, Cu, Mn, Ni, and Cr in plasma of patients with chronic renal failure is significantly higher than that for a control group. Correlation analysis has shown negative linear regression between TAC value and transition metals concentration in plasma. This confirms interrelation of processes with participation of free radicals, antioxidants and transition metals as donors of electrons in chain radical processes. Moreover, it shows utility of common parameters, TAC for example, for estimation of efficiency of antioxidant defense system in living organism, in particular its antioxidant status.

The application of coulometry for total antioxidant capacity determination of human blood.

New coulometric method for estimation of blood and plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC) based on using electrogenerated bromine was proposed. TAC of blood from patients with chronic renal disease undergoing long-term hemodialysis was investigated. Statistical significant changes in TAC level of venous and arterial blood were found. Catalase activity and low density lipoproteins (LDL) concentrations were determined. Linear correlation between TAC and parameters mentioned was found. Contribution from some individual antioxidants was investigated. The developed method for TAC assay is expressive, simple, stable and reliable, and successfully could be used for TAC determination of some biological fluids. This method could be applied in clinic for estimation of blood TAC from patients.

Leiomyosarcoma of the small intestine found within an inguinal hernia sac: a case report.

Inguinal hernias and intra-abdominal malignancy are both common phenomena and their co-existence cannot be rare. Colon carcinomas are reported to be the most common cause of both intrasaccular and saccular tumours (1) but the occurrence of small intestine carcinoma inside an inguinal hernia has not been reported. We describe the first case--a leiomyosarcoma of the ileum--which was also complicated by irreduction.

Isolated hydatid cyst of the breast.

Although common in sheep-breeding communities, hydatid disease is actually found worldwide. Man is an occasional intermediate host in whom the disease is manifested by the presence of one or more hydatid cysts, usually located in the liver or lung and rarely at other sites such as the breast, as in our patient. A case of an isolated breast involvement that was diagnosed during surgery is presented and is followed by a brief discussion on the topic.