Background: All diseases concerning bone destruction such as osteoporosis and periodontal diseases share common pattern in which the osteoclast cells are absolutely responsible for bone resorption that occurred when osteoclast activity exceeds osteoblast activity. Osteoprotegrin (OPG) considered as novel soluble decoy receptor known as “bone protector†since it prevents extreme bone resorption through inhibition of differentiation and activity of osteoclast by competing for binding site. It binds to receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL) and prevent its interaction with receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B (RANK), thus inhibits osteoclast formation. TNF-α is a pro-inflammatory cytokines having a broad range of important roles in regulation of immune system and bone resorption through the stimulation of osteoclastogenesis. Alendronate (ALN) diminishes the expression of osteoclast activating factors and cytokines such as RANKL and enhances the production of decoy receptor osteoprotegerin in osteoblast cells. Moreover, it decreases the production of proinflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α by macrophage, stimulates apoptosis of monocyte-macrophage cell lines derivative and reduces inflammatory response. Aims of the Study: 1. To assess the effect of alendronate treatment on salivary levels of osteoprotegrin and TNF-α in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis and periodontal disease 2. To find any possible correlation between salivary levels of osteoprotegrin and TNF-α in control and study groups. Materials and Methods: Total sample of 90 female subjects (55-65 years) were divided into 3 groups, (30 subjects in each group): first control group involved systemically healthy subjects with healthy periodontium, second group involved postmenopausal women with osteoporosis under alendronate treatment for(3-6)months (alendronate group), third group involved postmenopausal women with osteoporosis without alendronate treatment(osteoporosis group). The last two groups were sub- divided in- to two sub –groups (15 subjects in each sub-group) of gingivitis and periodontitis subjects respectively. Salivary samples were collected from all subjects and salivary levels of osteoprotegrin and TNF- α were determined by enzyme –linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA). Results: Highest median value of salivary (OPG) was found in alendronate group followed by control group while the lowest value was found in osteoporosis group. Highest median value of TNF- α was found in osteoporosis group followed by control group and alendronate group respectively with highly significant differences between them. Spearman correlation between salivary levels of TNF-α and OPG showed non- significant correlation at all subgroups. Conclusion: Subjects with osteoporosis in this study had greater levels of TNF-α and decrease in the level of OPG comparing with patients under alendronate treatment. Alendronate treatment for women with osteoporosis and periodontal disease may have beneficial outcome.
Multi-drug-resistant uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is considered a significant challenge due to its ability to resist antibiotics and form biofilms. UPEC biofilm formers are well protected and largely inaccessible to antibiotics, which leads to persistent infections and evasion of the host immune system. Understanding how ciprofloxacin and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole affect biofilm formation is essential for improving treatment strategies for urinary tract infections (UTIs). A total of 76 UPEC isolates were obtained from Iraqi patients and identified using morphological and biochemical characteristics, as well as the Vitek®-2 Compact system. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined using the Vitek®-2 system, whic
... Show MoreAnatomy studies were carried out in the experimental field, College of Agriculture, University of Baghdad to have better understanding of the influence of mulching with black polyethylene sheets, organic manure and chemical fertilizer on the anatomy changes in potato shoot and leaves tissues. Results showed that leaves area, leaves area index and chlorophyll percentage were significantly increased by using mulching and chemical fertilizer by (7463.70 cm2, 3.97, 45.33 SPAD units) respectively. Also this treatment significantly increased total stomata number and in both lower and upper sides of the leaf by (957,721,176) stomata /mm2 respectively. But by using mulching treatment with organic manure significantly increased vessels and sieve t
... Show MoreTo reduce solar radiation transmittance into buildings through windows facing east or west during summer, a window inclination from vertical position is suggested. The inclination of the window glazing and the rate of unwanted solar radiation during summer can be calculated knowing the dialy inclination of the sun rays. The inclination of window glazing depends on the latitude of the position required. For instance in Baghdad which is at about 33o north latitude a slope of 15o for window glazing is sufficient to prevent about 419 MJ/m2 of total solar radiation energy from penetration during summer for clear glazing of window facing east. This value drops to about 96 MJ/m2 during winter. Therefore the ratio between the energy saved for co
... Show MoreAlloys of InxSe1-x were prepared by quenching technique with
different In content (x=10, 20, 30, and 40). Thin films of these alloys
were prepared using thermal evaporation technique under vacuum of
10-5 mbar on glass, at room temperature R.T with different
thicknesses (t=300, 500 and 700 nm). The X–ray diffraction
measurement for bulk InxSe1-x showed that all alloys have
polycrystalline structures and the peaks for x=10 identical with Se,
while for x=20, 30 and 40 were identical with the Se and InSe
standard peaks. The diffraction patterns of InxSe1-x thin film show
that with low In content (x=10, and 20) samples have semi
crystalline structure, The increase of indium content to x=30
decreases degree o
This research is addressing the effect of different ferrocene concentration (0.00, 2.15x10-3, 4.30x10-3, 8.60x10-3, and 12.9x10-3) on the bulk free radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate monomer in benzene using benzoyl peroxide as initiator. The polymerization was conducted at 60º C under free oxygen atmosphere. The resulting polymers were characterized by FTIR. The results were compared with the presence and absence of ferrocene at 10% conversion. The %conversion was 3.04% with no ferrocene present in the polymerization medium and its increase to 9.06 with a first lowest ferrocene concentration added, i.e. 2.15 x10-3mol/l. This was positively reflected on the poly(methyl methacrylate) molecular weight measured by viscosity techniq
... Show MoreAn Investigation of estimated Mechanical Properties of AL-Alloys 2024-T3, which is the most commonly used in industrial applications, been established experimentally. A new novel Plasma Peening techniques had applied for the whole surfaces of the material by CNC-Plasma machine for 48 specimen, and then a new investigation were toke over to figure the amount of change in mechanical properties and estimated fatigue life. It found that improvement was showing a nonlinear behavior according to peening duration time, speed, peening distance, peening number, and amount of effected power on the depth of the material thickness. The major improvement was at medium speed long duration time normal peening distance. Which shows up t
... Show MoreRicinus communis L. is an important medical plant hence it contains many active compounds. The aim of this research is to study the effect of plant growth regulators on callus induction and Rutin concentration. A combination of Benzyle adenine (BA) and Indol Acetic acid (IAA) at (0.0,1.0,2.0) mg/L was added to the media, the highest fresh weight of the induced callus from stem explant was (4.97) gr . at (1.0,1.0) mg/L BA and IAA consenquently the same combination gave the highest dry weight of callus (0.42) gr. while the combination at (2.0,1.0) mg/L BA and IAA gave the highest fresh weight of induced callus from Leaves explant (5.28) gr., then (2.0,1.0) mg/L BA and IAA gave the highest dry weight for callus induced from leaves at (0.55
... Show MoreIn this study, the effect of the combination of micro steel fibers and additives (calcium hydroxide and sodium carbonate) on the size of cracks formation and healing them were investigated. This study aims to apply the use of self-healing phenomenon to repair cracks and to enhance the service life of the concrete structures. Micro steel fibers straight type were used in this research with 0.2% and 0.4% by volume of concrete. A weight of 20 and 30 kg/m3 of Ca(OH)2 and 2 and 3 kg/m3 of Na2CO3 were used as a partial cement replacement. The results confirm that the concrete cracks were significantly self-healed up to 30 days re-curing. Cracks width up to 0.2 mm were comp
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