Resilient polymeric materials such as silicone elastomers are currently used for maxillofacial prostheses construction but the strength of these materials and their clinical performance need to be optimized with the addition of reinforcing fillers. This study investigates the effect of zirconia nanopowder addition on tear strength, tensile strength, elongation at break, Shore A hardness, surface roughness and cytotoxicity of VST-50 maxillofacial silicone. Silicone base was mixed with different amounts (1%, 2% and 3%) of zirconia nanopowder using a vacuum mixer. Silicone without filler was used as control for comparison. Scanning Electron Microscopy and Atomic Force Microscopy were utilized to assess the efficiency of high-shear vacuum mixing as filler dispersion method and the surface topography, respectively. Both SEM and AFM images showed that the zirconia nanopowder were distributed fairly well within the polymer. Statistically, highly significant increase in tear strength, tensile strength and hardness with non-significant decrease in elongation at break and non-significant increase in surface roughness were seen with 1% and 2% groups. Whereas with 3% group, there was significant improvement in tear strength, tensile strength and hardness but there was significant undesirable decrease in elongation and increase in roughness. Cytotoxicity test revealed that the addition of zirconia nanopowder was nontoxic to Rat Embryonic Fibroblast (REF) cells and there was non-significant change in the cell viability of all study groups after 24- and 72-hours incubation periods. In conclusion, the addition of 2% by weight nano zirconia to VST-50 maxillofacial silicone could be beneficial in enhancing its performance.
Objective(s): The study aims at evaluating pregnancy-related health behaviors for pregnant women, and to identify the association between pregnancy-related health behaviors and their demographic characteristics of pregnant woman’s age, education, employment, residential area and monthly income.
Methodology: A descriptive study is carried out for the period from December 14th, 2020 to June 20th, 2021. This study was conducted through a non-probability (convenience) sample of 150 pregnant women attending, Abo Ghareeb primary health care sector in Abo Ghareeb spend. The sample has been collected by using the instrument to gather data and accomplish the study's objectives. A questionnaire is composed of (29) items and it is divided into
The effects of T-shaped fins on the improvement of phase change materials (PCM) melting are numerically investigated in vertical triple-tube storage containment. The PCM is held in the middle pipe of a triple-pipe heat exchanger while the heat transfer fluid flows through the internal and external pipes. The dimension effects of the T-shaped fins on the melting process of the PCM are investigated to determine the optimum case. Results indicate that while using T-shaped fins improves the melting performance of the PCM, the improvement potential is mainly governed by the fin’s body rather than the head. Hence, the proposed T-shaped fin did not noticeably improve melting at the bottom of the PCM domain; additionally, a flat fin is ad
... Show MoreObjective: The aim of this study was to compare the marginal microleakage between bulk-fill, preheated bulk-fill, and bulk-fill flowable composite resins above and below cemento-enamel junction (CEJ) using micro-computed tomography. Methods: Sixty freshly extracted premolar teeth were prepared with a slot shaped cavities of a total of 120 Class II: 3mm (bucco-lingual), 2mm (mesio-distal) with mesial-gingival margin located 1mm coronal to CEJ, and distal gingival margin located 1mm apical to the CEJ. The samples were randomly divided into two main groups according to the restorative material (Tetric EvoCeram and 3M Filtek), and each group was further sub-divided into three subgroups according to the consistency (bulk fill, preheated bulk fil
... Show MoreWe report here an innovative feature of green nanotechnology-focused work showing that mangiferin—a glucose functionalized xanthonoid, found in abundance in mango peels—serves dual roles of chemical reduction and in situ encapsulation, to produce gold nanoparticles with optimum in vivo stability and tumor specific characteristics. The interaction of mangiferin with a Au-198 gold precursor affords MGF-198AuNPs as the beta emissions of Au-198 provide unique advantages for tumor therapy while gamma rays are used for the quantitative estimation of gold within the tumors and various organs. The laminin receptor specificity of mangiferin affords specific accumulation of therapeutic payloads of this new therapeutic agent within prostate tumors
... Show MoreBackground: The isthmus is a difficult area in the root canal complex to manage. The research aimed to evaluate the efficiency of three different obturation techniques (lateral condensation, EandQ (thermoplasticized gutta percha system) and Soft Core (thermoplasticized core carrier gutta percha system)) to obturate the isthmus area of roots prepared by two different instrumentation techniques (rotary ProTaper universal and ProTaper Next systems). Material and method: Sixty freshly extracted teeth were randomly divided into two main groups (A and B) of 30 teeth each. Group A was prepared by rotary ProTaper Universal whereas group B was prepared by ProTaper Next system. Each main group was then randomly subdivided into three subgroups of 10 t
... Show MoreBackground: World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nation International Children Fund (UNICEF) developed a strategy known as Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI); which aims to reduce less than five years children morbidity and mortality in developing countries.
Objective: To assess the completion of the IMCI format status in primary health care centers, Baghdad.
Methods: A cross sectional study with analytic element was conducted during the period from 15th of January till 15th May 2016 in selected Primary health centers in Baghdad, Iraq. The sample consists of form of child files less than 2 months and form from 2
... Show MoreBackground: Removal of bacteria from the pulp system by instrumentation of an infected root canal, will be significantly reduced the number of bacteria, but it is well documented that instrumentation alone can-not clean and kill all bacteria found on the root canal walls. Antibacterial irrigants are needed to kill the remaining microorganisms. The aims of this study was to assess antibacterial effect of titanium tetrafluoride (TiF4) solution and brewing green tea against root canal bacteria and to compare with sodium hypochlorite and normal saline through microbiological and molecular studies. Materials and methods: Microbiological study was carried out to determine the concentration of titanium tetrafluoride and brewing green tea at which
... Show MoreThe existing investigation explains the consequence of irradiation of red laser on the optic properties of (CoO2) films. The film was equipped by the utilization of semi-computerized spray pyrolysis technique (SCSPT), it is the first time that this technique is used in the preparation and irradiation using a laser in this technique. From the XRD analysis, the crystalline existence with trigonal crystal system was when the received films were processed by continuous red laser (700 nm) with power (>1000mW)for different laser irradiation time using different number of times a laser scan (0, 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18 times) with total irradiation time(0,30,45,60,75,90 mi