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.
Background: Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis (RAS) is the most common painful oral mucosal disease, affecting approximately 20% of the population. RAS presents with a wide spectrum of severity ranging from a minor nuisance to complete debility. Many of factors thought to have been involved in its etiology; that might have at the same time a direct or indirect impact upon oxidant/antioxidant system and trigger free radicals production. The aim of this study was to determine the possible association of oxidant/total antioxidant status and recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS). Subjects, materials and methods: The study consisted of thirty patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis and thirty healthy controls from which saliva and blood samples we
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Background: In human life, malnutrition may adversely affect various aspects of growth at different stages of life. Teeth are particularly sensitive to malnutrition. Malnutrition may affect odontometeric measurement involving arch width and length of primary dentition. The aim of this study is to estimate the effect of nutrition on arch width and length dimension measurements among children aged 5 years old. Material and methods: This study was conducted among malnourished group in comparison to well-nourished group matching with age and gender. The present study included 158 children aged 5 years (78 malnourished and 80 well-nourished). The assessment of nutritional status was done by using three nutritional indicators, namely Height-for-a
... Show MoreABSTRACT The importance and objectives of the study were an attempt to understand the methodology of disseminating radical thought and the reasons of social acceptability that make young people embrace this thought. It also sheds light on the impact of this phenomenon on the regional role of Egypt and examines the strategic means and standards that the Egyptian state focuses on in immunization and prevention of extremism.
Abstract
The research aims to determine the impact of the strategy performance evaluation and of the Standards (leadership, people, knowledge, processes, financial) in the achievement of organizational effectiveness in accordance with the dimensions (planning and setting goals, Exploitation of the Environment, achieve the goals, the ability to adapt, information management and communications) and the relationship between them, the problem of the research in the growing interest in the process of performance evaluation for organizations, the erroneous belief that the performance evaluation activity is useful, and the fact that performance evaluation process is one of the main tasks of the work of the Office of the Inspecto
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South Sudan is known by its tribal and racial variation .Tribal Perception represents the
procedure of dealings in Southern society .And that what make Sudan as a stable country that
suffer from divisions . Everybody wants to rule in spite of his inability and un qualification
which enables the establishment of an urbanized country .the frustration of the state in
handling the interior variety on religious, tribal and racial basis and contracting national
ideality in spared by shared ingredients between gathered groups in one state, all these reasons
make it hard to create a united national identity which is able to unite atheist and religious
parties together. Due to this ,the study is established to clarify the nat
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This research delves into the role of satirical television programs in shaping the image of Iraqi politicians. The research problem is summarized in the main question: How does satire featured in television programs influence the portrayal of Iraqi politicians? This research adopts a descriptive approach and employs a survey methodology. The primary data collection tool is a questionnaire, complemented by observation and measurement techniques. The study draws upon the framework of cultural cultivation theory as a guiding theoretical foundation. A total of 430 questionnaires were disseminated among respondents who regularly watch satirical programs, selected through a multi-stage random sampling procedure.
Th
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