Women's knowledge, perception, practice, and experience of using of skin-lightening products in the United Arab Emirates (UAE): A cross-sectional survey.

Background: Skin lightening products (SLPs) are popular among women for medical and non-medical reasons. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the extent of SLP use among women, identify their sources of information, explore factors associated with SLP use and SLP related knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) among women in the UAE. Methods: A structured questionnaire in English and Arabic was distributed to women in the UAE. The questionnaire included demographic characteristics, knowledge (10 items), attitudes (10 items), practices (9 items), and four additional questions on SLP use. Adequate KAP scores were defined as a score of ≥70% out of the maximum score for each KAP section. Chi-square tests were used to test associations between demographic characteristics, dichotomized KAP scores, and SLP use. Results: The study included 370 participants, 50% of the respondents were aged 18-24, and 40% were from the Middle East, 64.8% were unmarried, 91% had university degrees, and 50% had healthcare related profession. Among the respondents 25% use SLPs, the majority use SLPs for non-medical reasons. Employment status is significantly associated with SLP use. The percentage of participants with a knowledge, attitude, and practice score of ≥70% is 66.48%, 76.75%, and 74.72% respectively. Type of profession was significantly associated knowledge and practice. In addition, nationality was also associated with practice. Conclusion: This study highlighted knowledge, attitude and practice gaps and varied levels of SLP-related KAP among women in the UAE. To promote the rational use of SLPs, educational campaigns and stricter regulations are necessary.

Estimation of Platelet Count and Bleeding Time of Mice Treated with Musa paradisiaca var. sapientum (L.) Kuntze Extract.

Objective: The aim of this study was to estimate the platelet count and bleeding time on peripheral blood smear of mice tail wound using Musa paradisiaca var. sapientum (L.) Kuntze (ambonese banana stem extract). Design: Randomized post-test-only control group design. Materials and Methods: Twenty-four male mice (Mus Musculus) were randomly divided into 4 groups. A negative control group was treated with carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), a positive control group (K+) treated aspirin 100 mg/kg body weight, group P1 treated with aspirin 100 mg/kg body weight and tranexamic acid 50 mg/kg body weight, and group P2 treated with 30% of ambonese banana stem extract (ABSE). The mean and standard deviation data of platelet counts and bleeding time were analyzed by one-way ANOVA statistical software. Results and Discussion: Tranexamic acid had no significant effect on platelets count compared to CMC group (p = 0.871), but administration of aspirin resulted in low platelets count significantly (p = 0.003). The platelet counts of ABSE and CMC groups were not significant different (p = 0.937). Aspirin has significantly shown prolonged bleeding time than CMC, tranexamic acid, and ABSE groups. However, there was no difference between the tranexamic acid and ABSE groups (p=0.934). The bleeding time of tranexamic acid and ABSE groups was similar, although the platelet count in the ABSE group was lower than in the CMC group. Conclusion: This study proved that ambonese banana stem extract has a potency to shorten the bleeding time in mice tail wound without interfering to platelet count.

Topical Medicine Potency of Musa paradisiaca var. sapientum (L.) kuntze as Oral Gel for Wound Healing: An In Vitro, In Vivo Study.

OBJECTIVE: Topical application of ambonese banana (Musa paradisiaca var. sapientum (L.) kuntze) stem sap gel (GEGPA) on the socket wound area showed an increase in the expression of platelet-derived growth factor-BB, while decrease in the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and 9. The aim of this study is to achieve standard formulation of GEGPA through stability, viscosity, distribution area, and drugs release for oral gel wound healing. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is an in vitro and in vivo study with the randomized posttest only control group design. The gel was formulated according to the composition of each group by adding hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), Lexgard, propylene glycol, and cold water to obtain 100 g of gel. Observations were made through the following tests: stability, viscosity, distribution area, drug release, and histopathological analysis of tooth extraction wound healing. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Data were analyzed using a one-way analysis of variance (α = 0.05) with GraphPad Prism-8 statistical software. RESULTS: The study showed that the GEGPA formulation was stable against changes in consistency, color, smell, homogeneity, and pH value. There is a significant difference between groups with respect to viscosity (p = 0.0001), adhesion (p = 0.004), dispersion (p = 0.000), and fibroblast cell numbers on days 3 and 5 (p = 0.007 and p = 0.001). There is no interaction between the active ingredients and the gel base of all formulations. Formulation 3 had better properties in terms of viscosity, broad distribution, and drug release compared with other groups. Application of GEGPA to tooth extraction wounds showed a significant proliferation of fibroblast cells on days 3 and 5. CONCLUSIONS: The formulation of M. paradisiaca var. sapientum (L.) kuntze extract with HPMC and propylene glycol obtained a gel preparation, GEGPA, that was organoleptically stable and met the topical gel standard for wounds in the oral cavity.

Cytokines and Chemokines in Periodontitis.

Periodontitis is a common inflammatory periodontal disease affecting a wide range of population all over the world. The causing bacteria releases chemicals which activate the innate immune system to release proinflammatory cytokines contributing to more progression. This activates the acquired immune system leading to more progression of periodontitis. As the immune response goes on, released cytokines and chemokines can damage the periodontal ligaments, gingiva, and alveolar bone. There are many types of cytokines and chemokines in periodontitis. Cytokines are peptide mediators who are responsible for cell signaling and communication. Chemokines are a large subfamily of cytokines having the ability to coordinate leukocyte recruitment and activation. This paper is a narrative review of the literature.This review ensures that inflammatory mediators in the case of periodontitis can cause a noticeable damage in the whole apparatus of the periodontium. It causes soft tissue inflammation and bone damage affected by the mediators of both innate and acquired immune system.The inflammatory process is accompanied by large network of cytokines and chemokines. There is high expression of proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1α, IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-12, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and regulatory cytokines such as IL-4, IL-1(RA) receptor antagonist, IL-10, and induced protein (IP)-10. There is also increased production of cytokines IL-10, IL-12, interferon-γ, IP-10, IL-1RA, and IL-4. Cytokines IL-17, IL-6, IL-1ß, TNF-α, macrophage colony-stimulating factor, and prostaglandin E2 trigger the osteoclast activity causing bone resorption.

Correlation between Antioxidant/Antimutagenic and Antiproliferative Activity of Some Phytochemicals.

BACKGROUND: Chemotherapeutic drugs have high toxicity associated with undesirable side-effects. Now, natural products are the most important anti-cancer agents because of their low toxicity and potential effectiveness. METHODS: The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of amygdalin, naringenin and ellagic acid against breast, colon, and liver cell lines was estimated. The antimutagenic, free radical-, superoxide radical-, and hydroxyl radical- scavenging activities of these phytochemicals were measured. The expression of p53, bid, bax, bcl2, and caspases 9, 3, and 7 was measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) in breast and liver cells. In addition, the active Caspase 3 protein was estimated in liver cells. RESULTS: Ellagic acid showed the highest antioxidant and antiproliferative activities. Amygdalin and naringenin with low and moderate antioxidant profiles showed a corresponding low and moderate cytotoxicity against cancer cell lines, respectively. Naringenin and ellagic acid had a significant antimutagenic activity which was detected by the Salmonella test. Ellagic acid offered a much better antimutagenic activity than naringenin. The apoptotic pathway evoked by ellagic acid in HepG2 and MCF-7 cells was investigated. The results showed that a caspase-dependent and a caspase-independent apoptosis occurred in MCF-7 and HepG2, respectively. CONCLUSION: The antimutagenic/antioxidant properties are well correlated with the antiproliferative activity of the phytochemicals investigated. This study proved that some easy, quick and cheap assays could predict the antiproliferative activity of many nutraceuticals. Finally, this platform could help in the discovery of new anticancer agents where hundreds of compounds are investigated in the pipeline of drug discovery.