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.
Drug-induced acute kidney injury is a serious disorder. Oxidative stress has a key role in its initiation and progression. In this study, the possible ameliorative effect of fimasartan against methotrexate-induced nephrotoxicity was investigated in comparison with α-tocopherol in rats. Wistar rats were allocated into six groups and treated as follows: group Ӏ received water on a daily basis for 8 successive days; group ӀӀ received methotrexate (20 mg/kg) on day 1, followed by water for 7 successive days; group ӀӀӀ received fimasartan (3 mg/kg/day) for 7 successive days; group IV received α-tocopherol (1 g/kg/day) for 7 successive days; group V re
... Show MoreAims: This study was conducted to assess the effect of the addition of yttrium oxide (Y2O3) nanoparticles on the tensile bond strength, tear strength, shore A hardness, and surface roughness of soft-denture lining material. Materials and Methods: Y2O3 NPs with 1.5 and 2 wt.% were added into acrylic-based heat-cured soft-denture liner. A total of 120 specimens were prepared and divided into four groups according to the test to be performed (tensile bond strength, tear strength, surface hardness, and surface roughness). Results: There was a highly significant increase in tensile bond strength between the soft liner and the acrylic denture base, tear strength, and hardness at both concentrations as compared to the control group, whereas ther
... Show MoreA total of nine swab samples were collected from inflamed teeth and gingiva of human’soral cavity from a dentist clinic in Baghdad. All specimens were cultured in Mitis Salivarius agar medium and the isolated bacterial pure colonies werethen identified by using VITEK2. Three samples were diagnosed and identified as Staphylococcus lentus. One of the three isolates which showed a distinctive heavy growth on the media was selected for further analysis in this study. Paper disk diffusion method was used to detect the antibacterial activityof three of mouthwash solutions (Zak, Colgate and Listerine). The results showed that “Colgate†was the most active solution with antibacterial activity compared with the other two s
... Show MoreWaveform flow of non-Newtonian fluid through a porous medium of the non-symmetric sloping canal under the effect of rotation and magnetic force, which has applied by the inclined way, have studied analytically and computed numerically. Slip boundary conditions on velocity distribution and stream function are used. We have taken the influence of heat and mass transfer in the consideration in our study. We carried out the mathematical model by using the presumption of low Reynolds number and small wave number. The resulting equations of motion, which are representing by the velocity profile and stream function distribution, solved by using the method of a domain decomposition analysis a
Klebsiella pneumoniae are Gram-negative which cause many diseases such as urinary tract infections, respiratory tract infections and septicemia. Inulinase is an enzyme used in food manufacture and pharmaceuticals. Inulinase is used in decreasing lipid ratio and, cholesterol in blood and considered as a prebiotic factor inside intestine. Many microorganisms can produce inulinase, such as yeast, fungi and bacteria; among such bacteria: Bacillus spp., Arthrobacter spp., and Pseudomonas spp. but there are no studies about inulinase production by K. pneumoniae have been reported. So the current study aims at investing the ability of producing and purification inulinase by K. pneumoniae. Method: K. pneumoniae were isolated from many hospitals and
... Show MoreBackground: Alterations in the microhardness and roughness are commonly used to analyze the possible negative effects of bleaching products on restorative materials. This in vitro study evaluated the effect of in-office bleaching (SDI pola office +) on the surface roughness and micro-hardness of four newly developed composite materials (Z350XT –nano-filled, Z250XT-nano-hybrid, Z250-mico-hybrid and Silorane-silorane based). Materials and methods: Eighty circular samples with A3 shading were prepared by using Teflon mold 2mm thickness and 10mm in diameter. 20 samples for each material, 10 samples for base line measurement (surface roughness by using portable profillometer, and micro-hardness by usingDigital Micro Vickers Hardness Test
... Show MoreObjectives: This study aimed to evaluate and compare the effect of plasma treatment versus conventional treatment on the micro shear bond strength (μSBS), surface roughness, and wettability of three different CAD/CAM materials. Materials and methods: Sixty cylindrical specimens (5 mm diameter ×3 mm height) were prepared from three different CAD/CAM materials: Group A: Zirconia, Group B: Lithium disilicate, and Group C: Resin nano-ceramic. Each group was subdivided into two subgroups according to surface treatment used: Subgroup I: Conventional treatment, zirconia was sandblasted with Al2O3, while lithium disilicate and resin nano-ceramic were etched with hydrofluoric acid. Subgroup II: Plasma treatment, the surface of each material was tr
... Show MoreBackground: To evaluate the effect of antierosive agents (10% Nano-Hydroxyapatite (NHA), 10% Casein Phophopeptide-Amorphous Calcium Phosphate (CPP-ACP), and combination of 10% NHA and 10% CPP-ACP) on loss of minerals from enamel surface of permanent teeth treated with antierosive agents when exposed to an acidic beverage and investigate the morphological changes of treated enamel surface after demineralization with cola based beverage under Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Materials and Methods: Sixty maxillary first premolars were randomly divided into four groups, 15 teeth for each group. Group I treated with 10% NHA, Group II treated with 10% CPP-ACP, Group III treated with 10% NHA and 10% CPP-ACP, and Group IV did not treat with any
... Show MoreBackground: Esthetic treatment is the options of patient seeking orthodontic treatment. Therefore this study was conducted to measure the concentration of Aluminum, Nickel, Chromium and Iron ions released from combination of monocrysralline brackets with different arch wires immersed in artificial saliva at different duration, to evaluate the corrosion point on different parts of the orthodontic appliances before and after immersion in artificial saliva, and to evaluate the corrosion potential of each group of the orthodontic appliances. Material and methods: Eighty orthodontic sets prepared. Each set represents half fixed orthodontic appliance, from the central incisor to the first molar, for the maxillary arch, each set consisted of molar
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