Objectives: Bromelain is a potent proteolytic enzyme that has a unique functionality makes it valuable for various therapeutic purposes. This study aimed to develop three novel formulations based on bromelain to be used as chemomechanical caries removal agents. Methods: The novel agents were prepared using different concentrations of bromelain (10–40 wt. %), with and without 0.1–0.3 wt. % chloramine T or 0.5–1.5 wt. % chlorhexidine (CHX). Based on the enzymatic activity test, three formulations were selected; 30 % bromelain (F1), 30 % bromelain-0.1 % chloramine (F2) and 30 % bromelain-1.5 % CHX (F3). The assessments included molecular docking, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), viscosity and pH measurements. The efficiency of caries removal was assessed by DIAGNOdent pen, measuring the excavation time and number of applications, followed by a morphological evaluation of the remaining dentine using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results were compared to Brix 3000 as a control. Results: The chloramine and chlorhexidine were chemically compatible with bromelain without compromising the enzyme activity. All experimental formulations showed higher viscosity and pH in comparison to Brix 3000. The DIAGNOdent readings were <20 in all groups, and the lowest readings were observed in F2. The excavation time and number of applications were lowest in F2 and F1. Both F2 and F3 produced smooth dentine surfaces with less tissue debris, but more patent dentine tubules were observed in F1 and F2. Conclusions: The bromelain-contained formulations showed a potential to be used as chemomechanical caries removal agents in vitro. Further laboratory and clinical studies are needed to validate this claim. Clinical significance: The bromelain from pineapple stem has broad specificity for cleavage the peptide bonds in denatured protein to facilitate their removal. The study proved the efficiency of this enzyme to remove the dental caries chemomechanically when used alone or conjugated with chloramine and/or chlorhexidine to enhance the disinfecting and cleansing properties.
In the present study, a powder mixture of elements Ti and Ni was mechanically alloyed in a high energy ball mill. Microstructure of the nanosized amorphous milled product in different stages of milling has been characterized by X- ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and differential thermal analysis. We found that time of mechanical alloying is more significant to convert all crystalline structure to the amorphous phase. Nanocrystalline phase was achieved as a result of the mechanical alloying process. The results also indicates that the phase transformation and the grain size occurs in these alloys are controlled by ball milling time
Bobbin friction stir welding (BFSW) is a variant of the conventional friction stir welding (CFSW); it can weld the upper and lower surface of the work-piece in the same pass. This technique involves the bonding of materials without melting. In this work, the influence of tool design on the mechanical properties of welding joints of 6061-T6 aluminum alloy with 6.25 mm thickness produced by FSW bobbin tools was investigated and the best bobbin tool design was determined. Five different probe shapes (threaded straight cylindrical, straight cylindrical with 3 flat surfaces, straight cylindrical with 4 flat surfaces, threaded straight cylindrical with 3 flat surface and threaded straight cylindrical with 4 flat surfaces) with various dimensio
... Show MoreThis investigation was carried out to study the treatment and recycling of wastewater in the Battery industry for an effluent containing lead ion. The reuse of such effluent can only be made possible by appropriate treatment method such as electro coagulation.
The electrochemical process, which uses a cell comprised aluminum electrode as anode and stainless steel electrode as cathode was applied to simulated wastewater containing lead ion in concentration 30 – 120 mg/l, at different operational conditions such as current density 0.4-1.2 mA/cm2, pH 6 -10 , and time 10 - 180 minute.
The results showed that the best operating conditions for complete lead removal (100%) at maximum concentration 120 mg/l was found to be 1.2 mA/cm2 cur
Background: Entamoeba histolytica is the causative agent of amoebic dysentery and hepatic abscesses. Despite the efficacy of metronidazole in alleviating infectious diseases, the global dissemination of drug-resistant parasites raises the possibility that Punica granatum could serve as an effective natural alternative treatment. Objective: To evaluate the effect of P. granatum methanolic and aqueous extracts of various parts against E. histolytica trophozoites in an in vitro setting. Methods: Various concentrations (0.14, 0.7, 1.4, and 2.8 mg/ml) of P. granatum extracts of the flowers, leafs, peels, and seeds were chosen for this purpose. A culture medium containing 0.05x106/ml E. histolytica trophozoites was treated with different
... Show MoreBackground: Cleaning and shaping of root canals successfully requires high volumes of irrigation solutions that can only be applied to the apical third of root canal after enlargement with instrument, so the aim of this study was to evaluate and to compare the efficiency of Maxi-I-probe (side-vented needle), in the amount of root canal irrigant penetration for five different master apical file sizes (MAF) and four different degrees of coronal and middle thirds flaring. Materials and Methods: Two hundred resin blocks with simulated root canals were used in this study and divided into 5 major groups (40 for each) based on the size of master apical files (#20, #25, #30, #35, and #40). Each major group was subdivided into 4 subgroups depending
... Show MoreCovalent modification of protein by drugs may disrupt self-tolerance, leading to lymphocyte activation. Until now, determination of the threshold required for this process has not been possible. Therefore, we performed quantitative mass spectrometric analyses to define the epitopes formed in tolerant and hypersensitive patients taking the β-lactam antibiotic piperacillin and the threshold required for T cell activation. A hydrolyzed piperacillin hapten was detected on four lysine residues of human serum albumin (HSA) isolated from tolerant patients. The level of modified Lys541 ranged from 2.6 to 4.8%. Analysis of plasma from hypersensitive patients revealed the same pattern and leve
A geological model was built for the Sadi reservoir, located at the Halfaya oil field. It is regarded as one of the most significant oilfields in Iraq. The study includes several steps, the most essential of which was importing well logs from six oil wells to the Interactive Petrophysics software for conducting interpretation and analysis to calculate the petrophysical properties such as permeability, porosity, shale volume, water saturation, and NTG and then importing maps and the well tops to the Petrel software to build the 3D-Geological model and to calculate the value of the original oil in place. Three geological surfaces were produced for all Sadi units based on well-top data and the top Sadi structural map. The reservoir has
... Show MoreBenign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), non-cancerous enlargement of prostate, is the most prevalent disease entity in elderly men. BPH affects 40% of men after the age of 60year worldwide. BPH causes problems for patients with significant lower urinary tract obstructive symptoms, if not responding to medical therapy, surgical intervention is instituted. One method of the treatment of symptomatic BPH is laser prostatectomy. The understanding of tissue effects by laser radiation is very important for the safe clinical application of laser. Objective: study the 2100 nm Ho: YAG laser gross tissue effects in the prostate at different laser dose settings in an vitro model prostate tissue samples harvested from same specimen of open surgery prostat
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