Background: Plaque retention during fixed orthodontic therapy is an important cause of developing enamel demineralization. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of different brackets types on the count of Streptococcus Mutans in orthodontic patients using conventional fluoridated toothpaste. Materials and Methods: Plaque samples were collected from maxillary 1st premolar teeth of twenty right handed patients (using split mouth technique) before bonding, after 48 hrs of bonding using tooth brush only, and after 2 weeks of using fluoridated toothpaste. Stainless steel bracket was bonded on right first premolar while the left one was bonded with sapphire bracket. The calculation of the Streptococcus Mutans count was done using the plate counting method utilizing colony counter. The differences between the two types of brackets were determined using the Wilcoxon signed ranks test. Results: The median bacterial count on the right side was insignificantly higher than the left side; streptococcus mutans in the plaque sample around the sapphire brackets showed insignificantly less counts than around the stainless steel one, when the patients used tooth brush only or fluoridated toothpastes. Fluoridated toothpastes reduced streptococcus mutans insignificantly around both types of brackets. Conclusion: Fluoridated toothpaste acts effectively in reducing streptococcus mutans colony counts around sapphire and stainless steel brackets. Keywords: Streptococcus mutans, Stainless steel brackets, Sapphire brackets.
The antibacterial effect of (Eruca sativa) extract was evaluated by an in vitro study testing the growth of various Gram-Positive and Gram-Negative bacteria . The bactericidal activity of this extract was analyzed by serial dilution in tubes. This study,found that Gram-Negative and Gram-Positive bacteria susceptible to very low eruca concentrations. On the other hand, Gram-positive bacteria were more susceptible than Gram-negative bacteria, the minimal bactericidal concentration of Gram-positive bacteria was 5 mg ml-1 but minimal bactericidal concentration of Gram-negative bacteria was 10 mg ml-1 that mean duble inhibation concentration of Gram-positive bacteria . this study suggest that Eruca sativa leaves have inhibation effect on Gra
... Show MoreThe Films of CdTe:Zn were prepared on a glass by using vacuum vapor deposition technique .The x-ray diffraction pattern revealed that the films have polycrystalline with FCC structure and the preferred orientation was along (111) plane. The films were exposed to a low dose of gamma ray.(5µCi for 30 days) Transmission and absorptance spectra were recorded in the range of (400-1100) nm before and after irradiation. It was found that irradiation has a clear effect on the optical and structural properties which include the transmition and absorption spectra, extinction coefficient, refractive index, and the energy gap.
CuAlTe2 thin films were evaporation on glass substrates using the technique of thermal evaporation at different range of thickness (200,300,400and500) ±2nm. The structures of these films were investigated by X-ray diffraction method; showing that films possess a good crystalline in tetragonal structure. AFM showed that the grain size increased from (70.55-99.40) nm and the roughness increased from (2.08-3.65) nm by increasing the thickness from (200-500) nm. The optical properties measurements, such as absorbance, transmtance, reflectance, and optical constant as a function of wavelength showed that the direct energy gap decreased from (2.4-2.34) eV by the gain of the thickness.
There have been many advances in the solar chimney power plant since 1930 and the first pilot work was built in Spain (Manzanares) that produced 50 KW. The solar chimney power plant is considered of a clean power generation that needs to be investigated to enhance the performance by studying the effect of changing the area of passage of air to enhance the velocity towards the chimney to maximize design velocity. In this experimental and numerical study, the reduction area of solar collector was investigated. The reduction area that mean changing the height of glass cover from the absorbing plate (h1=3.8cm, h2=2.6cm and h3=1.28cm). The numerical study was performed using ANSYS Fluent software package (version 14.0) to solve go
... Show MoreOver the last few decades, many instructors have been trying all kinds of teaching methods, but without benefit. Nevertheless, in the 1986, a new technique is appeared which called K-W-L technique, it is specified for reading comprehension passages because reading skill is not easy matter for students for specific purposes (ESP).therefore, the K-W-L technique is a good one for thinking and experiences. To fulfill the aims and verify the hypothesis which reads as follows" it is hypothesized that there are no significant differences between the achievements of students who are taught according to K-W-L technique and those who are taught according to the traditional method
... Show MoreElectrospun nanofiber membranes are employed in a variety of applications due to its unique features. the nanofibers' characterizations are effected by the polymer solution. The used solvent for dissolving the polymer powder is critical in preparing the precursor solution. In this paper, the Polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-based nanofibers were prepared in a concentration of 10 wt.% using various solvents (NMP, DMF, and DMSO). The surface morphology, porosity, and the mechanical strength of the three prepared 10 wt.% PAN-based nanofibers membranes (PAN/NMP, PAN/DMF, and PAN/DMSO) were characterized using the Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Dry-wet Weights method, and Dynamic Mechanical Analyzer (DMA). Using DMF as a solvent resulted in a lon
... Show MoreAlterations of trace element concentrations adversely affect biological processes and could promote carcinogenesis. Trace element deficiency or excess is implicated in the development or progression of some cancers like colorectal cancer. The aim of the present study was to compare the serum copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) concentrations in patients with colorectal cancer from Iraqi male patient with those of healthy subjects. During the period of March 2015 until august 2015, a total of 25 patients with metastatic colon cancer and 20 healthy volunteers were enrolled from the Al-Kadhimia Teaching Hospital after the diagnosis using a histopathological examination for the malignant tumor; their age was between (38-60) years. Higher levels o
... Show MoreRenal function tests are commonly used in clinical practice to look for renal disease, the most common includes the serum urea, uric acid and creatinine. Heart failure patients have a higher incidence of renal function test abnormalities than individuals who do not have heart failure disease. Fifty subjects of adults (male) were divided in to two groups, 25 subjects (healthy) as control (group1) and 25 subjects with heart failure (group 2). Our results indicate that serum uric acid, urea, and creatinine values were significantly elevated (P≤0.05) in patients group (2) compared with healthy group (1). The results also showed, the effect of age categories on uric acid blood urea nitrogen and creatinine values (P≤0.05) and there were no si
... Show MoreBackground: Arylesterase activity of Paraoxonase-1 (ARE-PON-1) exhibits an antioxidant role which protects lipoprotein from oxidation. It is known that ARE-PON-1 antioxidant activity associated with high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) reduces the oxidative damage mediated by low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). The present study was aimed to examine the level of serum ARE-PON1 in Iraqi patients with β-thalassemia minor and its relationship with lipid profile (total cholesterol (TC), HDL-C, very low density lipoprotein (VLDL-C), and LDL-C) and hematologic changes as a part of antioxidant system action. Methods: In the present study, the ARE-PON-1 activity was investigated in serum of patients with β-thalassemia minor. Resu
... Show MoreThis study was established to investigate the correlation between the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-1) and the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis (OA). Blood samples were collected from 55 female patients with inflammatory OA and controls for estimation of serum (MMP-1) levels. In the current study, there is significant increase (p<0.001) in the mean of serum MMP-1 levels in osteoarthritis females (4027.73 ± 1345.28 pg/ml) than that in control females (798.76 ± 136.79 pg/ml). It was concluded that MMP-1 may be associated with the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis.