Background: Saliva is a specific bio-fluid with important biomarkers. Analyzing any alternation in these markers could give valuable information, in relation to oral health status parameters. The aim of this study was to investigate the level of α -amylase in unstimulated whole saliva of healthy, primary school children in relation to some oral health parameters. Materials and Methods: A questionnaires consisted of demography and medical histories of participants were filled by children families. Saliva samples were collected for 5- minutes between 9:00 -11:00 AM from 114 healthy students aged 6-13 years, divided into four age groups. Flow- rate, Plaque and Gingival Index were assessed and dentition status was investigated by DMFT/dmft using WHO criteria. Salivary amylase was analyzed in unite per litter, using quantitative colorimetric amylase determination at 585nm. Results: A significant positive correlation was found between age and salivary flow-rate, (r=0.362, P < 0.001). Salivary α-amylase concentration increased significantly with age (P< 0.001). For each one year there is an increase in age, amylase level is expected to increase by 5.2 U/L. A male gender is expected to reduce salivary α -amylase level by 10.6 U/L compared to female, however the effect was not significant. Gingival index was positively, although non-significantly associated with salivary α -amylase concentration. DMFT showed a significant weak positive linear correlation with salivary amylase level (r=0.309, P<0.001), while deciduous teeth decay experience and plaque index were significantly and negatively associated with salivary amylase. Conclusion: Results emphasize the importance of salivary amylase, as a non-invasive biomarker in regulating oral and dental health status in children.
Density Functional Theory at the generalized-gradient approximation level coupled with large unit cell method is used to simulate the electronic structure of (II-VI) zinc-blende cadmium sulfide nanocrystals that have dimensions 2-2.5 nm. The calculated properties include lattice constant, conduction and valence bands width, energy of the highest occupied orbital, energy of the lowest unoccupied orbital, energy gap, density of states etc. Results show that lattice constant and energy gap converge to definite values. However, highest occupied orbital, lowest unoccupied orbital fluctuates indefinitely depending on the shape of the nanocrystal.
An environmentally begnin second derivative spectrometric approach was developed for the estimation of the dissociation constants pKa(s) of metformin, a common anti-diabetic drug. The ultraviolet spectra of the aqueous solution of metformin were measured at different acidities, then the second derivative of each spectrum was graphed. The overlaid second derivative graphs exhibited two isobestic points at 225.5 nm and 244 nm pointing out to the presence of two dissociation constants for metformin pKa1 and pKa2, respectively. The method was validated by evaluating the reproducibility of the acquired results by comparing the estimated values of the dissociation constants of two different strategies that show excellent matching. As we
... Show MoreThe drying process is considered an effective technique for preserving foods and agricultural products from spoilage. Moreover, the drying process lessens the products' weight, volume, and packaging, which prompts a reduction in the products' transportation costs. The drying technique with solar energy represents an ancient method, still alluring due to solar energy abundance and cost‐effectiveness. In this article, the previous manuscripts concerned with studying and analyzing indirect solar dryer systems that utilize innovative solar air heaters (SAHs) are reviewed. The results and conclusions are discussed intensively to clarify the significance of utilizing this type of drying technique. The ef
To investigate the efficacy of polyether‐ether‐ketone (PEEK) wire as a fixed orthodontic retainer, by comparing its performance to other retainer wires and optimizing its adhesion to composite bonding materials.
Retainer wires of 15 mm segments were used, PEEK wires were prepared in cylindrical form with 0.8 mm diameter, and had two surface treatments namely air‐abrasion and conditioning with adhesive system. Three different metallic retainer wires were used for comparison and three tests were performed; two tests measured debonding force and associated wire deflec
This research aimed to identify the level of English language knowledge among the students of scientific colleges and the preparatory year (scholarship students) at the Islamic University of Madinah. The research was limited to identifying students at the meanings of vocabulary and grammar of the English language. The researcher used a descriptive approach to achieve study goals. It applied three tools to collect information from the targeted sample; first, a test for determining the level of students in the achievement of vocabulary which applied to (69) students. Second, a test to determine the level of students in the English language grammar, (73) students took part. Third, a survey to get students’ opinions about the program of te
... Show MoreThe aim of this paper is to find out the effects of the strategy of productive thinking upon the student’s achievement for the subject of research methodology in the College of Islamic Sciences. Achieving this objective, the researchers set the null hypotheses: (1) No difference is noticed to be statistically significant at the level of significance (0.05) among the student’s mean scores in the experimental group who were taught by the strategy of productive thinking, and the student’s mean scores in the control group who studied by the traditional method in the achievement test. (2) At level of sig. (0.05), there is no statistically significant difference in the mean of scores of the pre-tests and post ones in the achievement test of
... Show MoreThe aim of this paper is to find out the effects of the strategy of productive thinking upon the student’s achievement for the subject of research methodology in the College of Islamic Sciences. Achieving this objective, the researchers set the null hypotheses: (1) No difference is noticed to be statistically significant at the level of significance (0.05) among the student’s mean scores in the experimental group who were taught by the strategy of productive thinking, and the student’s mean scores in the control group who studied by the traditional method in the achievement test. (2) At level of sig. (0.05), there is no statistically significant difference in the mean of scores of the pre-tests and post ones in the achievement test of
... Show MoreThe amino acids in the liver of chick embryo was analysed for ages (7, 11, 14 and 19) days incubation and small chicken aged (14) days after hatching and adult. The study recorded (18) amino acid, the highest concentration of amino acids in the liver of embryo age (7) days incubation was Cysteine (Cys) and in small chicken aged (14) day after hatching, the following amino acids were found: Asparagine (Asn), Alanine (Ala), Histidine (His), Threonine (Thr), Valine (Val), Lysine (Lys), as well as in adult the following amino acids were recorded the highest concentration: Aspartic (Asp), Glutamic (Glu), Serine (Ser), Arginine (Arg), Proline (Pro), Glycine (Gly), Tyrosine (Tyr), Methionine (Met), Isoleucine (Ile), Leucine (Leu) and phenyl alanin
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