Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) has favorable biomechanical properties to be used as an implant material. Unfortunately, it is hydrophobic and does not promote cellular adhesion, which could result in poor integration with bone tissue. Bio-functionalization of PEEK surface with osteogenic peptides derived from bone extracellular matrix proteins is an exciting approach to encourage bone formation around the implant. In the current study, bone-forming peptide-2 was immobilized on PEEK surface using two different methods, using dopamine and a diglycidyl ether as conjugate compounds, respectively. Peptide quantification test revealed that the two strategies resulted in the most amount of peptides were attached with 0.5 mM concentration and no further peptides were grafted with a higher peptide concentration. Both methods showed good peptide stability after agitation in aqueous solution. Peptide grafting was confirmed with ATR-FTIR. Surface characterizations with AFM and wettability tests resulted in a significant increase in surface roughness and surface area ratio for the peptide-grafted PEEK compared to unmodified PEEK, which led to a signifi-cant enhancement in the wettability of the modified PEEK surface
Background: Enterococcus faecalis is a causative agent for urinary tract infections (UTIs) in Iraq and worldwide, even though it is a commensal bacterium in human and animal intestines. It can cause different illnesses due to its ability to produce various virulence factors. A pore-forming toxin (cytolysin) is the most virulence factor in this bacterium. Objective: This study aims to molecularly investigate the frequency of cytolysin toxin among E. faecalis isolated from UTIs. Methods: A hundred and eighty urine specimens were collected from females diagnosed with UTIs. Traditional laboratory and molecular methods were used for bacterial identification and toxin detection using a modified DNA extraction method. Results: The findings reveal
... Show MoreBackground: Dental implants provide a unique treatment modality for the replacement of lost dentition .This is accomplished by the insertion of relatively inert material (a biomaterial) into the soft and hard tissue of the jaws, there by providing support and retention for dental prostheses. Low level laser therapy (LLLT) is an effective tool used to prompt bone repair and modeling post surgery; this has referred to the biostimulation effect of LLLT. The aims of this study were to evaluate the immmunohistochemical expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and transforming growth factor -beta (TGF-β) in experimental and control groups with mechanical test. Materials and Methods: Thirty two adult New Zealand white rabbits use
... Show MoreBackground: Humeral diaphyseal fracture usually
heals with closed methods but when nonunion
develops then it needs surgical intervention in the
form of plating and bone grafting, intramedulary
nailing (open or closed simple or interlocking nails)
and external fixators (circular or one plane fixator).
In our unit we treated non union humeral
diaphyseal fracture with plating and bone grafting
shortening of fracture ends up to 4 to 5cm when
needed. Methods: This study was conducted at
Orthopaedic Department of AL-Sadar General
Hospital from January 2004 till December2005 .
We included 20 cases with atrophic non-union in
12(60%) and hypertrophic non-union in 8 (40%)
patients. All atrophic non-union w
Recently, dental implants have experienced increasing demand as one of the most effective, permanent and stable ways for replacing missing teeth. However, peri-implant diseases that are multispecies plaque-based infections may ultimately lead to implant failure (i.e., late peri-implantitis). Therefore, the present study aims to detect the microbial diversity of subgingival plaque in peri-implantitis cases (N = 30) by comparing with healthy implants (N = 34) using culture-based identification methods, including VITEK 2 system. An increase in microbial diversity (29 species along with 1 and 7 isolates, which were classified as a genus and unidentified species, respectively) were observed in subgingival sites of diseased implants dominated by
... Show MoreBackground: Mini implant stability is primarily related to local bone density; no studies have evaluated bone density related to mini implant placement for orthodontic anchorage between different age groups in the maxilla and the mandible. The present research aims to evaluate side, gender, age, and regional differences in bone density of the alveolar bone at various orthodontic implant sites. Materials and method: Fifty three individuals who were divided into two groups according to their age into: group I (ages 16-20 years) and group II (ages 21-29 years) had subjected to clinical examination, then 64-multislice computed tomography scan data were evaluated and bone density was measured in Hounsfield unit at 102 points (51 in the maxilla
... Show MoreBackground: Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a common health problem that has a worldwide distribution. Apart from the direct effect of the virus on the liver, there are many extrahepatic manifestations among which the probable effect on bone turnover associated with low bone mineral density (BMD). Objectives: This study aimed to determine the association between treated and untreated chronic HBV infection with BMD. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study which included a total of 48 patients with chronic HBV (28 patients treated with tenofovir-disoproxil-fumarate [TDF] antiviral drug and 20 patients have not yet started treatment). Other age- and sex-matched 30 apparently healthy individuals were recruited to represent the hea
... Show MoreIn this research a local adsorbent was prepared from waste tires using two-step pyrolysis method. In the carbonization process, nitrogen gas flow rate was 0.2L/min at carbonization temperature of 500ºC for 1h. The char products were then preceded to the activation process at 850°C under carbon dioxide (CO2) activation flow rate of 0.6L/min for 3h. The activation method produced local adsorbent material with a surface area and total pore volume as high as 118.59m2 /g and 0.1467cm3/g, respectively. The produced . local adsorbent (activated carbon) was used for adsorption of lead from aqueous solution. The continuous fixed bed column experiments were conducted. The adsorption capacity performance of prepared activated carbons in this work
... Show MoreThe Iraqi culture faced a set of challenges that can be diagnosed with the most prominent features as follows:
- The dominance of authoritarian political systems which entails authoritarian regimes with the absence of contemporary political concepts of human rights.
- The prevalence of non- informed cultural systems which have the shortage of capabilities that enable them to activate cultural elements in positive references, historical, or seclusion on itself and not be able to interact with the current active cultures.
- Stagnant economic conditions have not had a decent life for individuals, or a certain level of well-being, as well as poor services and others.
- Social life controlled by the prevai