Severe periodontitis is ranked as the sixth most prevalent disease affecting humankind, with an estimated 740 million people affected worldwide. The diagnosis of periodontal diseases mainly relies upon assessment of conventional clinical parameters. However, these parameters reflect past, rather than current, clinical status or future disease progression and, likely, outcome of periodontal treatment. Specific and sensitive biomarkers for periodontal diseases have been examined widely to address these issues and some biomarkers have been translated as point-of-care (PoC) tests. The aim of this review was to provide an update on PoC tests for use in the diagnosis and management of periodontal diseases. Among the PoC tests developed so far, active matrix metalloproteinase-8 has shown promising results in terms of diagnostic and prognostic values. However, further studies are required to increase the sensitivity and specificity via combining more than one biomarker and merging these test kits with periodontal risk assessment tools. Furthermore, the validity of these test kits needs to be investigated by applying the results in further independent studies and the impact on these test kits’, together with the results of risk factors for periodontal diseases, such as diabetes and smoking, also needs to be examined.
The main objective of this study is to develop predictive models using SPSS software (version 18) for Marshall Test results of asphalt mixtures compacted by Hammer, Gyratory, and Roller compaction. Bulk density of (2.351) gm/cc, at OAC of (4.7) % was obtained as a benchmark after using Marshall Compactor as laboratory compactive effort with 75-blows. Same density was achieved by Roller and Gyratory Compactors using its mix designed methods.
A total of (75) specimens, for Marshall, Gyratory, and Roller Compactors have been prepared, based on OAC of (4.7) % with an additional asphalt contents of more and less than (0.5) % from the optimum value. All specimens have been subjected to Marshall Test. Mathematical model
... Show MoreThe differential protection of power transformers appears to be more difficult than any type of protection for any other part or element in a power system. Such difficulties arise from the existence of the magnetizing inrush phenomenon. Therefore, it is necessary to recognize between inrush current and the current arise from internal faults. In this paper, two approaches based on wavelet packet transform (WPT) and S-transform (ST) are applied to recognize different types of currents following in the transformer. In WPT approach, the selection of optimal mother wavelet and the optimal number of resolution is carried out using minimum description length (MDL) criteria before taking the decision for the extraction features from the WPT tree
... Show MoreFour rapid, accurate and very simple derivative spectrophotometric techniques were developed for the quantitative determination of binary mixtures of estradiol (E2) and progesterone (PRG) formulated as a capsule. Method I is the first derivative zero-crossing technique, derivative amplitudes were detected at the zero-crossing wavelength of 239.27 and 292.51 nm for the quantification of estradiol and 249.19 nm for Progesterone. Method II is ratio subtraction, progesterone was determined at λmax 240 nm after subtraction of interference exerted by estradiol. Method III is modified amplitude subtraction, which was established using derivative spectroscopy and mathematical manipulations. Method IIII is the absorbance ratio technique, absorba
... Show MoreFifty of urine samples were collected from patients with urinary tract infection
(UTI). The samples were collected from AL- Yarmuk hospital in Baghdad. All of
the isolates were diagnosed using biochemical test and vitek. The result showed that
30 (60%) isolates identified as E.coli from 50 urine samples. The colicinogenic
isolates were determined using cup assay methods. The results showed that 10 out of
30 isolates (33.3%) were detect as colicin producers from 30 isolate identified as
E.coli depending on the clear zone that observed against the sensitive isolate.
Colicin was extracted from the efficient isolate. Colicin activity (320 U/ml) was
determined by well assay method. The protein concentration (520 μg /m
Piezoelectric structures are nowadays used in many different applications. A better understanding of the influence of material properties and geometrical design on the performance of these structures helps to develop piezoelectric structures specifically designed for their application. Different equivalent circuits have been introduced in the literature to investigate the behaviour of piezoelectric transducers. The model parameters are usually determined from measurements covering the characteristic frequencies of the piezoelectric transducer. This article introduces an analytical technique for calculating the mechanical and electrical equivalent system parameters and characteristic frequencies based on material properties and geom
... Show MoreIntroduction:Serratia marcescens is a gram-negative pathogen of many species. Its pathogenicity and survival are linked to its capacity to build biofilms as well as its strong inherent resistance to antimicrobials and cleaning agents. Objectives: To analyse the impact of glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) on the gene expression of QS-related genes (rssB, rsmA,and pigP) of S. marcescens. Methodology: The broth microdilution technique estimated the bactericidal effectiveness of glyceryl trinitrate. The presence of rssB, rsmA,and pigP in S. marcescens isolates was detected using PCR. qRT-PCR was used to assess the effect of GTN on rssB, rsmA,and pigPgene expression. Results: The results demonstrated that GTN has no effect on S. marcesce
... Show MoreThe aim of this work is to study the histological and histochemical structure of the Harderian gland in indigenous pigeons. Samples were obtained from 10 males and 10 females of adult healthy pigeons. Hematoxylin and eosin, Alcian blue (pH 2.5), periodic acid-Schiff and promo phenol blue, stains were used for paraffin section examination. The gland was teardrop like in shape, light brown to pink in color, capsulated with thin connective tissue. It was multilobular compound acinotubular in structure and lined by columnar epithelial cells. Lymphocyte, plasma cells and plasma cells with Russell bodies were present underneath the epithelia of central collecting duct and around the secretory unite. Histochemically; the
... Show MoreCiprofloxacin is a broad spectrum fluoroquinolone, effective in the treatment of a wide range of infections, including genitourinary tract infections.In this study, bioadhesive vaginal tablets of ciprofloxacin hydrochloride were prepared by direct compression method using a combination of bioadhesivepolymers carbopol 934P(Cp), carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and sodium alginate (SA) in different ratios.The prepared tablet formulations were characterized by measuring their swelling capacity, surface pH, bioadhesive properties, and in-vitro drug dissolution. It was found that the bioadhesive force was directly proportional to carbopol 934P content in different formulae and was further enhanced by the inclusion of carboxymethylcellulose.
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