Background: Manuka honey (MH) is a mono-floral honey derived from the Manuka tree (Leptospermum scoparium). MH is a highly recognized for its non-peroxide antibacterial activities, which are mostly related to its unique methylglyoxal content (MGO) in MH. The beneficial phytochemicals in MH is directly related to their favorable health effects, which include wound healing, anticancer, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. Aims: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of MH on pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-8 and TNF-α) in patients with gingivitis and compare it with chlorhexidine (CHX) and distilled water (DW). Materials and Methods: This study was a randomized, double blinded, and parallel clinical trial. Forty-five young participants aged (20–40) years were randomly selected and allocated into three groups: MH, CHX, and DW mouthwash groups. Each participant was given a random bottle. Five milliliters each of honey-based mouthwash formulation, CHX mouthwashes (0.2%) and DW were used twice daily for 21 days. All the participants were examined twice, once on the zero day (base line) and once after 21 days. Before and after each participant's mouthwash use IL-8 and TNF-α were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: The results revealed a drop in the level of interleukin-8 in the manuka honey group which was statistically significant, but the decrease in the same biomarker in the chlorhexidine group was insignificant statistically. TNF-α levels were found to be insignificantly reduced in both the MH and CHX groups (P˃0.05). The DW group, on the other hand, obtained the opposite outcome in both biomarkers. Conclusion: Mouthwash containing MH had an anti-inflammatory impact, indicating an immunomodulatory action. These signs may be encouraging and promising for the use of MH in treating gingivitis.
The stability and releasing profile of 2:1 core: wall ratio ibuprofen microcapsules prepared by aqueous coacervation (gelatin and acacia polymers coat) and an organic coacervation methods (ethyl cellulose and sodium alginate polymers coat) in weight equivalent to 300mg drug, were studied using different storage temperatures 40°C, 50°C ,60°C and refrigerator temperature 4°C in an opened and closed container for three months (releasing profile) and four months (stability study).It was found that, these ibuprofen microcapsules were stable with expiration dates of 4.1 and 3.1 years for aqueous and an organic method respectively.Aqueous prepared ibuprofen microcapsules were found more stable than those microcapsules prepared by or
... Show MoreThe objective of the research is to identify the nature of voluntary disclosure of insurance services and its impact on the financial performance of Iraqi insurance companies by knowing the relationship between increasing disclosure of financial services and financial performance indicators of insurance companies.In order to achieve this objective, the research was applied to a sample of the Iraqi insurance companies listed in the Iraqi Stock Exchange (Al Amin Insurance Company, Al Ahlia Insurance, Dar Al Salam Insurance, Gulf Insurance, Al Hamra Insurance) and based on their published financial statements (2014-2015) ) And by analyzing the sample lists were connected to the research objectives.The main conclusion of the study is that in
... Show MoreThis paper examines the mechanical properties of a composite material made of modified Iraqi gypsum (juss) reinforced with polypropylene fibers. The modified juss was prepared by adding two percentages of cement (5, 10) %. Two percentages of polypropylene fibers were used, to reinforce the modified juss (1, 2) %. The water/dry compound ratio used was equal to 0.53%. The composite was evaluated based on compressive strength, flexural strengths, absorption percentage, density, acoustic impedance, ultra - pulse velocity, longitudinal shrinkage and setting time tests. The results indicated that the inclusion of cement on to juss increases the compressive strength, absorption percentage, density, acoustic impedance, ultra - pulse velocit
... Show MoreDuring the last quarter century, many changes have taken place in the tanks industry and also in the materials that used in its production، while concrete is the most suitable material where concrete tanks has the benefits of strength, long service life and cost effectiveness. So, it is necessary improvement the
conventional concrete in order to adapt the severe environment requirements and as a result high
performance concrete (HPC) was used. It is not fundamentally different from the concrete used in the past, although it usually contains fly ash, ground granulated blast furnace slag and silica fume, as well as
superplasticizer. So, the content of cementitious material is high and the water/cement ratio is low. In this
stu
Two grades of paving asphalt with penetration of 46 and 65 are studied for determining changes in their physical and chemical properties caused by ageing.
The ageing process has been conducted on two petroleum paving asphalt cement using thin film oven test at 150, 163 and 175 C, and ageing time 5, 10,15, 20, 25 and 30 hours. The effect of ageing time and temperature on penetration, kinematic viscosity, softening point, solubility in trichloroethylene, heat loss and changes in chemical composition are investigated. The results of thin film oven test process indicte that the asphaltenes concentration of all aged asphalt increases with increasing ageing time, while the opposite was observed for polar-aromatic and naphthene-aromatic. The
Sheets of Epoxy (EP) resin with addition of TiO2 of grain size (1.5μm, and 50nm) and weight percentage (1%, 3%, and 5%) were prepared. Discs of 20mm diameter and 3mm thickness were cut for dielectric measurements. Dielectric properties (dielectric constant, dispassion factor and electrical conductivity) over the frequency range 102 -106 Hz were measured.
Comparison was made between the effect of micro and nano particles of TiO2 on the dielectric properties of EP composites with different weight percentage. Epoxy composites with micro sized particles of TiO2 were observed to have the better values of dielectric properties.
Cobalt substituted nickel copper ferrite samples with general formula Ni0.95-xCoxCu0.05Fe2O4, where (x= 0.00, 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04 and 0.05) were prepared by solid-state reactions method at 1373 K for 4h. The samples prepared were examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD(, atomic force microscope (AFM), Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR) and Vickers hardness. X-ray diffraction patterns confirm the formation of a single phase of cubic spinel structure in all the prepared samples . XRD analysis showed that the increase in the cobalt concentration causes an increase in the lattice constant, bulk density (ρm) and the x-ray density (ρx), whereas porosity (p) and crystallite size (D) decrease. The Topography of the surface observed
... Show MoreEP/ metal composites were prepared as adhesives between two steel rods. Epoxy resin (EP) was used as a matrix with metal as fillers (Al, Cu, Fe,).
The preparation method for tensile adhesion tests includes two steel rods with adhesive composites between the rods to measure adhesion strength Sad and adhesion toughness Gad.
Results of tensile adhesion tests show that EP/ metals composite have maximum strength Sad for certain weight percentage of metals 2.95 and 9MPa at 10% for EP/Al and EP/Cu composite and 8.2MPa at 40% for EP/Fe composites
The dielectric constant of most polymers is very low; the addition of TiO2 particles into the polymers provides an attractive and promising way to reach a high dielectric constant. Polymer-based materials with a high dielectric constant show great potential for energy storage applications. Four samples were prepared, one of them was polyurethane (PU) and the other were PU with different weight percent (wt %) of TiO2 (0.1, 0.2, 0.3) powder AFM test was used to distinguish the nanoparticles. The result shows that the most shape of these nanoparticles are spherical and the roughness average is 0.798 nm. The dielectric properties were measured for all samples before and after the exposure to the UV radiation. The result illustrates that the
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