Scleral acrylic resin is widely used to synthesize ocular prosthesis. However, the properties of this material change over time, thus requiring the prosthesis to be refabricated. Many studies were conducted to improve these properties by reinforcing this material with nanoparticles. This study aims to evaluate the effect of silver nanoparticle powder on the mechanical properties (transverse flexural strength, impact strength, shear bond strength, surface microhardness, and surface roughness) of scleral acrylic resin used for ocular prostheses. Two concentrations were selected from the pilot study and evaluated for their effects on scleral acrylic resin properties. According to the pilot study, 0.01 and 0.02wt% AgNPs powder improved the transverse flexural strength, microhardness, and surface roughness compared with other percentages. The specimens in the main study were divided into (3) main groups, (50) specimens without additives (control group A), (50) experimental specimens (with 0.01wt% AgNPs group B), and (50) experimental specimens (with 0.02 wt% AgNPs group C). Each group was subdivided into (5) equal subgroups depending on the tests used. The data were studied using one way ANOVA and post hoc LSD test. At 0.01 wt% AgNPs addition, the mean values of transverse flexural strength insignificantly increased (p> 0.05), and those of impact strength and shear bond strength significantly increased (p< 0.05) compared with those of the control group. At 0.02 wt% AgNPs addition (group C), the mean value of transverse flexural strength significantly increased (p< 0.05), that of impact strength insignificantly increased (p> 0.05), and that of shear bond strength increased with high significance (p< 0.01) compared with those of the control group. Group C showed insignificant increase in the mean values of transverse flexural strength, impact strength, and shear bond strength (p. 0.05) compared with group B. The scleral acrylic resin added with 0.01 and 0.02 wt% AgNPs showed insignificant increase in microhardness and insignificant decrease in surface roughness. The addition of AgNPs powder in both concentrations improved the mechanical properties of scleral acrylic resin used for ocular prostheses.
Background: Dolutegravir sodium (DTG), used to treat HIV, faces challenges in delivering effective therapeutic concentrations to the brain due to the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) combined with in situ gels present a promising strategy for enhancing brain drug delivery via the intranasal route. Objective: To compare brain pharmacokinetics of DTGs delivered via NLC-loaded in situ gel intranasal administration with the conventional intravenous (IV) drug solution. Methods: 80 Wistar rats, which were divided into three groups: two groups consisting of 39 animals each and a control group with 2 animals. Rats were administered with a dose of 1.0 mg/kg of DTGs IV, and DTGs NLC-loaded in situ gel were admin
... Show MoreBlastocystis is a ubiquitous human and animal protozoa that inhabit the gastrointestinal tract. Metronidazole is considered the standard drug for the treatment of Blastocystis infection; however, there is growing evidence of treatment failure, hazardous side effects, and appearance of strains resistant to metronidazole. In the last era, many studies have been implicated in the quest for new treatments for Blastocystis infection, especially natural products. Attention has been focused on the effect of Amygdalin (B17) and pumpkin seed on eradicating parasitic infections. The current work was built up to explore the in vitro efficacy of two natural compounds, Amygdalin (B17) and pumpkin seeds against
... Show MoreCombining different treatment strategies successively or simultaneously has become recommended to achieve high purification standards for the treated discharged water. The current work focused on combining electrocoagulation, ion-exchange, and ultrasonication treatment approaches for the simultaneous removal of copper, nickel, and zinc ions from water. The removal of the three studied ions was significantly enhanced by increasing the power density (4–10 mA/cm2) and NaCl salt concentration (0.5–1.5 g/L) at a natural solution pH. The simultaneous removal of these metal ions at 4 mA/cm2 and 1 g NaCl/L was highly improved by introducing 1 g/L of mordenite zeolite as an ion-exchanger. A remarkable removal of heavy metals was reported
... Show MoreIn this paper, some series of new complexes of Mn(II), Co(II), Ni (II) Cu(II) and Hg(II) are prepared from the Schiff bases (L1,L2). (L1) derived from 4-aminoantipyrine and O-phenylene dia mine then (L2) derived from (L1) and 2-benzoyl benzoic acid. Structural features are obtained from their elemental microanalyses, molar conductance, IR, UV–Vis, 1H, 13CNMR spectra and magnetic susceptibility. The magnetic susceptibility and UV–Vis, IR spectral data of the ligand (L1) complexes get square–planar and tetrahedral geometries and the complexes oflig and (L2) get an octahedral geometry. Antimicrobial examinations show good results in the sharing complexes.
This study expands the state of the art in studies that assess torsional retrofit of reinforced concrete (RC) multi-cell box girders with carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) strips. The torsional behavior of non-damaged and pre-damaged RC multi-cell box girder specimens externally retrofitted by CFRP strips was investigated through a series of laboratory experiments. It was found that retrofitting the pre-damaged specimens with CFRP strips increased the ultimate torsional capacity by more than 50% as compared to the un-damaged specimens subjected to equivalent retrofitting. This indicated that the retrofit has been less effective for the girder specimen that did not develop distortion beforehand as a result of pre-loading. From
... Show MoreActivated carbon prepared from date stones by chemical activation with ferric chloride (FAC) was used an adsorbent to remove phenolic compounds such as phenol (Ph) and p-nitro phenol (PNPh) from aqueous solutions. The influence of process variables represented by solution pH value (2-12), adsorbent to adsorbate weight ratio (0.2-1.8), and contact time (30-150 min) on removal percentage and adsorbed amount of Ph and PNPh onto FAC was studied. For PNPh adsorption,( 97.43 %) maximum removal percentage and (48.71 mg/g) adsorbed amount was achieved at (5) solution pH,( 1) adsorbent to adsorbate weight ratio, and (90 min) contact time. While for Ph adsorption, at (4) solution pH, (1.4) absorbent to adsorbate weight ratio, and (120 min) contact
... Show MoreCharge transfer in styryl dyes STQ-1, STQ-2,and STQ-3 with organic media system has been studied theoretically depending on the Franck- Condon rule and continuum dielectric model . The reorientation energies (eV) were evaluated theoretically depending on dipole momentum, dielectric constant , and refrective index n. The rate constant of charge transfer has been calculated depending on the reorientation energy (eV) ,effective free energy , potential height barrier , and coupling coefficient . A matlap program has been written to calculated the rate constant of charge transfer and other parameter. The results of calculations show that STQ-2 dye is more reaction for charge transfer compare with STQ-1 and STQ-3 dyes
Breast carcinoma is one of the greatest popular neoplasms in females. It is a major reason of demise in the world, and it is the first cancer in ranking diagnosed in Iraqi women. This study aimed to determine aminoacyltRAN-synthetase complex interacting multifunctional protein 1 and liver enzymes levels in Iraqi females with stage II breast malignance, and study the effect of chemotherapy (after surgery) on these markers. This study included 50 females patients with stage II breast malignance (before and after surgery and second dose of chemotherapy) attending the Oncology Teaching Hospital in Medical City/ Baghdad, in addition to 20 persons as controller group were chosen without any chronic diseases. Their ages ranged from (30-55) years.
... Show MoreBackground: Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is an autoimmune vesiculobullous mucocutaneous disease with life-threatening consequences. Rituximab (RTX) has recently emerged as an effective treatment for PV. Objectives: This study aims to determine changes in neutrophil and platelet counts for PV patients treated with RTX or corticosteroids combined with Imuran (azathioprine). Materials and Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Dermatology at Baghdad Teaching Hospital, Baghdad, Iraq. Thirty PV patients received two types of treatment: 15 patients were administered RTX and 15 patients took corticosteroids with Imuran (azathioprine). Neutrophil and platelet counts were detected at the hospital laboratory. Results
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