Background: Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) is a prototypical resistant bacterium in root canal infections and a leading cause of endodontic treatment failure. German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) flower extract has been used as a traditional medicine to treat infections. The aim of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial efficacy of chamomile extract on the removal of E. faecalis root canal biofilm. Materials and Methods: Chamomile flower extract was prepared and subjected to detailed chemical analysis. For the in vitro biofilm model, human mandibular premolars (n=48) with 18-20mm working length were used. Root canal preparation was performed using the ProTaper® Next system. Each sample was split longitudinally and reassembled within a pre-prepared silicone matrix, and a mature E. faecalis biofilm was grown for seven days. Samples were randomised into four groups (n=12 for each arm) based on the type of irrigant protocol comprising normal saline, 3% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), dual irrigation with 17% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and 3% NaOCl, and chamomile extract. After irrigation, residual biofilms were measured in (n=9/group) using densiometric measurements. Observational analysis of residual biofilm was performed in (n=3/group) using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Results: Phytochemical investigations showed that chamomile extract is rich in antimicrobial components such as flavonoids, polyphenolic compounds, tannins, and others. Spectrophotometry analysis showed a statistically significant difference between the normal saline group with mean optical density (OD)= 0.63044; ±0.106 and each of EDTA and NaOCl group (mean OD=0.35922; ±0.091), chamomile group (mean OD=0.37611; ±0.106) at p<0.001, and the NaOCl group (mean OD=0.46344; ±0.096) at p<0.01. No statistically significant difference between chamomile group and NaOCl and the dual EDTA and NaOCl irrigation protocol. SEM images showed removal of E. faecalis biofilm and smear layer was in the order: dual EDTA and NaOCl irrigation>chamomile extract>NaOCl. Conclusions: Chamomile flower extract has an apparent removal efficacy of E. faecalis biofilm from root canals. It may be a promising antimicrobial material to be used as a natural endodontic irrigation solution.
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a global pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2. Infection with SARS-CoV-2 primarily occurs through binding to angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2), which is abundantly expressed in various anatomical sites, including the nasopharynx, lungs, cardiovascular system, and gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracts. This study aimed to nurses' knowledge and protective health behaviors about prevention of covid-19 pandemic complications.
A descriptive design stud
Platinum (Pt) supported on sulfated zirconia (SZ) and HY-zeolite as a solid acid catalyst was synthesized successfully for isomerization reaction using precipitation and impregnation method. The physicochemical properties of the catalyst were characterized using various techniques including X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transformation infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR), BET Surface area and pore volume, and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM). The prepared composite catalyst Pt/SZ-HY consisted of high Bronsted acidic sites and Lewis acidic sites. The addition of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) to SZ increased the surface area and pore volume, resulting in smaller crystal sizes and a narrower particle size dist
... Show MoreThe present work reports on the performance of three types of nanofiltration membranes in the removal of highly polluting and toxic lead (Pb2+) and cadmium (Cd2+) from single and binary salt aqueous solutions simulating real wastewaters. The effect of the operating variables (pH (5.5-6.5), types of NF membrane and initial ions concentration (10-250 ppm)) on the separation process and water flux was investigated. It was observed that the rejection efficiency increased with increasing pH of solution and decreasing the initial metal ions concentrations. While the flux decreased with increasing pH of solution and increasing initial metal ions concentrations. The maximum rejection of lead and cadmium ion
... Show MoreIn the present work, the phthalic acid (phthH2) and 1.10 phenonthroline (phen), and their complexes were synthesized and isolated as [M(phth)(phen)2], Mn(II), Fe(II), Co(II), Ni(II) Cu(II), Zn(II), and Cd(II) ions. These complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, melting point, conductivity, percentage metal, UV–Vis, FT-IR, and magnetic moment measurements. The molar conductance indicates that all the metal complexes in DMSO are nonelectrolytic. phthalic acid (phtha), and 1,10-Phenanthroline (phen), behaved as bidentate, coordinating to the metal ion through their two oxygen and two pyridinyl nitrogen atoms respectively, as corroborated by. Electronic spectra, FTIR, spectroscopy amusement indicated that all the metal complexes ad
... Show MorePure grade II titanium disks were coated with a thin coating of polyetherketoneketone (PEKK) polymer by RF magnetron sputtering using either nitrogen or argon gas. Sputtering technique was employed at 50 W for one hour at 60°C with continuous flow of nitrogen or argon gas. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) showed a continuous, homogeneous, rough PEKK surface coating without cracks. In addition, cross-sectional FE-SEM revealed an average coat thickness of 1.86 μm with argon gas and 1.96 μm with nitrogen gas. There was homogenous adhesion between the coating layer and substrate. The elemental analysis of titanium substrate revealed the presence of carbon, titanium, and oxygen. The RF magnetron sputtering with argon or ni
... Show MoreStaphylococcus Sp.is the most common type of bacteria found in contamination place, we design this
study to compare the contamination accident between two hospitals in Baghdad.One of them isthe Burns
Specialist Hospital in the Medical CityinRusafa and another one is Al-Karama Hospital in Karkh. The
samples were collected fromOperativeWard No1 (OW1), Operative Ward No2 (OW2), Consulting Pharmacy
(CP), Emergency Room (ER), Reception Room (RR), Women's Ward (WW) and Men's Ward (MW).The
samples were taken from inside each clinical unit, surfaces, food, and air. The results showed that the
number of samples containing Staphylococcus sp. bacteria is 81, including 45 belonging to Al-Karama Burns
Ward Ho