Introduction: Salivary melatonin is a critical antioxidant that contributes to oral health by mitigating oxidative stress. Psychological stress linked to thumb sucking may disrupt oral homeostasis, leading to conditions such as dental caries and fungal infections. Aim: This study explores the relationships between thumb sucking, salivary melatonin levels, dental caries, and the presence of Candida albicans (CA) in children. Materials and methods: A case-control study was conducted with 60 children aged 4-5 years at the University of Baghdad’s College of Dentistry. Participants were divided into thumb-sucking (n=30) and non-thumb-sucking (n=30) groups. Salivary melatonin levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), dental caries were assessed via the dmfs index, and CA counts were quantified on Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA). Statistical analyses were performed, including t-tests, ANOVA, and correlation assessments. Results: Thumb-sucking children exhibited significantly lower salivary melatonin levels (28.620±2.278 pg/mL) compared to controls (34.525±2.142 pg/mL; p=0.044). The thumb-sucking group also had higher dmfs scores (15.033±1.449 vs. 8.667±0.899; p=0.000) and greater CA counts (18.900±1.048 vs. 13.583±0.549; p=0.000). Negative correlations were observed between salivary melatonin levels and the severity of dental caries, while positive correlations linked CA with dental caries. Conclusions: Thumb sucking adversely affects pediatric oral health by reducing salivary melatonin, increasing dental caries risk, and promoting fungal overgrowth. Early intervention to curb thumb-sucking behaviors may mitigate these risks and improve oral health outcomes.
The nephrotoxicity induced by methotrexate is a severe condition that greatly affects its therapeutic potential and has a significant inflammatory component. Fimasartan is an angiotensin receptor blocker that offers organ-protective effects and may be useful in mitigating renal injury. The present study explored the anti-inflammatory potential of two doses of fimasartan against methotrexate-mediated nephrotoxicity. Albino rats were intraperitoneally administered a single methotrexate (20 mg/kg). Intraperitoneal treatment with fimasartan (5 or 10 mg/kg/day) was initiated on day two after methotrexate injection and continued for seven consecutive days. Methotrexate significantly increased serum urea, creatinine, and NGAL concentrations. It al
... Show MoreThe research was performed in order to investigate the prevalence of Eimeria spp in buffalo. Coccidiosis, is a common livestock disease include water buffaloes and nothing is known about the most pathogenic species of Eimeria. Since the highest prevalence of oocyst shedding and incidence of disease occurs in buffalo calves less than one year of age. The omnipresent occurrence and negative effects of the infection on health and buffalo growth output are taken into account. Therefore, both farmers and veterinarians should pay greater attention to infections with Eimeria spp. And there is little analysis of data reported in Iraq and the world regarding Eimeria infection in river buffalo spp.
The present study aimed to evaluate the concentration of Malon dialdehyde (MDA) in pregnant women during different stages of pregnancy (stage of pregnancy, abortion, contraceptives and parity number).The study included (120) blood samples from normal pregnant women in age of the procreating were subdivided into three trimesters of pregnancy (40/group), and (40) samples from non-pregnant women as a control group. The results showed a significant increase in MDA in three stages of pregnancy compared with the control group. The concentration of MDA increased significantly in pregnant women with multipregnancy when compared with pregnant women for the first time, and in pregnant women whom was using contraceptions compared with p
... Show MoreNewcastle Disease is one of the most important disease world wide distributions which invade the flock in different age resulting in large economic losses. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of treatment with 4 different concentrations (0.25, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 %) of Sodium deoxycholate (SDC) on the vaccinal virus (La Sota) using inoculation in the fragments of Chorioallantoic membrane. The treatment with each of the above 4 concentrations of SDC resulted in an increase in the Hemagglutination titer (HA) of the virus (28, 29.6, 211.6, 214.6) respectively as compared to the HA titer value for the untreated virus (26.6). No significant differences were noticed among all concentrations with regard to their effect on the HA titer, except
... Show MoreBackground: Nanotechnology represents a new science that promises to provide a broad range of uses and improved technologies for biological and biomedical applications. One of the reasons behind the intense interest is that nanotechnology permits synthesis of materials that have structure is less than 100 nanometers. The present work revealed the effect of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) on Streptococcus mutans of Human Saliva in comparison to de-ionized water. Materials and methods: Streptococcus mutans were isolated from saliva of forty eight volunteers of both sexes their age range between 18-22 years and then purified and diagnosed according to morphological characteristic and biochemical tests. Different concentrations of ZnO NPs w
... Show MoreDouble drum dryer is operated for producing pregelatinized maize starches using feed starch slurries of different
solids(7, 10 and13 g/100 g )content . Steam pressure (2,3,and 4 bar), the level of pool between the drums (4,7,and 10
cm) , and speed of drums rotation (3,4,and 6 rpm) are varied together with the feed solids content in a practical range of
values. The response of the dryer is registered by measuring several output variables, i.e. external drum temperature,
product moisture content, mass flow rate.
The significance of the research conducted in northern Iraq comes despite the expansion of afforestation projects; yet, the suffering of the forests has increased due to their lack of scientific study, unpredictability of the climate, and adverse effects on the spread and growth of plant species Therefore, the goal of the study is to understand the effects of afforestation through a statistical analysis of plant diversity in northern Iraq and its distinctivenessThe analysis revealed that natural groupings had improved qualitatively more than other groups, particularly some dwindling species that are able to compete and occupy new areas. drought-prone vegetation, vegetation, and climat
The article examines metaphors as one of the fundamental means used by D. Rubina when writing the novel “Parsley Syndrome” to form images of dolls as equal heroes of the work. The author of the article continues research related to the work of Dina Ilinichna Rubina, a representative of modern Russian prose.
Receipt date:3/13/2021 accepted date:5/26/2021 Publication date:12/31/2021
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
energy is one of the strategic resources within international politics, and this is through the existing competition between the international powers on it, and the global powers have begun to rely on interest in new areas, such as import, depending on new projects an
... Show MoreObjective: To evaluate the antibacterial effect of mastic gum against the most common aerobic oral bacteria and
emphasized on oral streptococci.
Methodology: In this study 10 persons (males and females of 18-60 years old) were randomly assigned to chew
mastic gum (1.5 gm for 45 minutes). Mouth washes were collected before and after gum chewing .The two mouth
washes were diluted (10-1 – 10-6) and cultivated aerobically for 24 hours at 37C0 on BHI agar for total bacterial
count and on MSF agar for counting the oral streptococci.
Results: The results showed that the total bacterial count for staphylococci, Neisseria and oral streptococci on BHI
agar and MSF agar for oral streptococci after mastic chewing were highly r