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Objectives This study aimed to investigate the cytotoxic and antibacterial properties of essential oils and hydroalcoholic extracts from Elettaria cardamomum fruit (E. cardamomum). Methods Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (A. actinomycetemcomitans) was used as the test subject for the agar diffusion test in this in-vitro investigation to determine the antibacterial effect of the extract and essential oil. The broth microdilution method was used to calculate their minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). The methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay was used to assess their cytotoxicity against human gingival fibroblasts. Tukey's test (alpha=0.05) and ANOVA were used to evaluate the data. Results The E. cardamomum hydroalcoholic extracts and essential oil demonstrated strong antibacterial activity on A. actinomycetemcomitans. E. cardamomum essential oil (91.5±1.1 mm) and E. cardamomum extract (9.5±0.4 mm) had the highest and lowest growth inhibition zones, respectively. For E. cardamomum essential oil, the MIC and MBC were 1.45%, and for E. cardamomum extract, they were 11.5% (v/v). The essential oil exhibited appreciable cytotoxicity at low doses, while the extract did not. Conclusion Because of its antibacterial properties and low cytotoxicity at low concentrations, the hydroalcoholic extract of E. cardamomum, one of the compounds examined, may have applications as an organic mouthwash. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Mouthwashes are one of the most effective non-mechanical methods for removing bacteria from the mouth. This study aimed to assess the cytocompatibility, antimicrobial effects (compared to chlorhexidine mouthwash), and antioxidant activity of an experimental herbal mouthwash made from sumac (Rhus coriaria L.) and rose water. Methods The sensitivity of Streptococcus mutans, S. sanguinis, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans to the experimental mouthwash was estimated by measuring the diameter of the inhibition zones. Additionally, the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined using the redox dye resazurin, as well as the minimum bactericidal/fungicidal concentrations (MBCs/MFCs) using the standard spot inoculation method. Cytotoxicity was evaluated using the methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay, while antioxidant activity was assessed using the 2,2-diphenyl-1- picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. Results The MIC and MBC of the sumac mouthwash for the bacteria under study (except S. mutans) ranged from 0.13 to 16.65 mg/mL. For the yeast C. albicans, the MIC and MFC of the sumac mouthwash were determined to be 0.52 mg/mL. Furthermore, the sumac mouthwash showed no cytotoxicity and demonstrated significant antioxidant effects at various concentrations. Conclusion Sumac/rose water mouthwash, which is a safe, natural, biocompatible, and antioxidant product, may serve as a viable alternative to chemical antibacterial mouthwashes like chlorhexidine. This is particularly true when it is used in conjunction with regular oral hygiene practices over extended time periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the important issues in urban areas is air pollution which causes respiratory disorders. A signifi cant association between exposure to inhaled particulate matter (PM), mainly ultrafi ne particles, and increased neurological and pulmonary morbidity and mortality was observed in some research. This study aimed to demonstrate the relation between multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) inhalation and the carcinogenic effect of these materials in the brain and lungs. For this purpose, we investigated gene expression in rat brain and lung tissues induced by exposure to MWCNTs. Rats were exposed to MWCNTs in diameters of 10 and 100 nm (pure and impure) at a concentration of 5 mg/m3 . Exposure was done through a whole-body exposure chamber for 5 h/day, 5 days/week for 14 days. After exposure, both brain and lung tissues were isolated to evaluate certain gene expressions including Bax, Bcl2, Rac1, Tp53, Mmp12, and Arc. The results showed that exposure to impure and pure MWCNTs (10 and 100 nm) at a concentration of 5 mg/m3 causes up-regulation or down-regulation of some of these genes. The results suggest that impure and pure MWCNTs (10 and 100 nm) can increase the risk of central nervous system disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease and increase the risk of carcinogenesis in the lung tissues of rats exposed to MWCNTs (Tab. 2, Fig. 2, Ref. 64). Text in PDF www.elis.sk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective(s): Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a fatal lung disease. Despite the promising antifibrotic effect, the toleration of pirfenidone (PFD) by the patients in full dose is low. Combination therapy is a method for enhancing the therapeutic efficiency of PFD and decreasing its dose. Therefore, the present study evaluated the effect of a combination of losartan (LOS) and PFD on oxidative stress parameters and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process induced by bleomycin (BLM) in human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells. Materials and Methods: The non-toxic concentrations of BLM, LOS, and PFD were assessed by the MTT assay. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and anti-oxidant enzyme activity including catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were assessed after co-treatment. Migration and western blot assays were used to evaluate EMT in BLM-exposed A549 after single or combined treatments. Results: The combination treatment exhibited a remarkable decrease in cellular migration compared with both single and BLM-exposed groups. Furthermore, the combination treatment significantly improved cellular anti-oxidant markers compared with the BLM-treated group. Moreover, combined therapy markedly increased epithelial markers while decreasing mesenchymal markers. Conclusion: This in vitro study revealed that the combination of PFD with LOS might be more protective in pulmonary fibrosis (PF) than single therapy because of its greater efficacy in regulating the EMT process and oxidative stress. The current results might offer a promising therapeutic strategy for the future clinical therapy of lung fibrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Titanium implants are one of the most durable and conventional orthopedic and dental implants. The aim of this research was to improve the bio-compatibility of these implants by implementing nano-dimension coating of titanium oxide nanotubes (TNT). For this purpose, the effect of dimension and atomic structure of titanium oxide nanotubes on the surface properties and biological performance were examined. TNTs were synthesized by anodizing method on the surface of titanium sheets. Dimension of TNT was controlled by anodizing process parameters. Heat treatment affected the atomic structure of TNTs. Contact angle measurement as one of the important surface properties was conducted on different dimensions and structures of TNTs, to study human blood's physical interaction with the implant surface. In addition, the quality and quantity of bone material sediment on the surface were examined by SBF test and SEM analysis. Finally, cell culture provided informative data on bone cells' response to these nanotubular coatings by analyzing MTT results and SEM photography of cells. As a result, the optimum dimension and atomic structure of TNTs were defined and the required process parameters were introduced to obtain this state. This setup may be used as an optimum state of TNT as a nano-dimension coating on titanium implant with orthopedic functions to enhance the cell adhesion and acquire the highest proliferation rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Xenograft and allograft bone substitutes are widely used to replace the missing bone in defects. Since removing the packaging of these grafts can nullify their sterilization, this study aimed to evaluate the sterility and bioactivity changes of an allograft and a xenograft following uncapping/recap. Methods. Two types of commercial allograft and xenograft vials were unpacked and further exposed to operating room air, where implant surgery was performed for one second, ten minutes, and one hour. After three repetitions, samples were analyzed using microbiological tests and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive x-ray analysis (EDX) for sterility and bioactivity evaluation. Results. None of the bone graft samples showed microbial growth or bioactivity-negative changes after seven days of unpacking the vials. Conclusion. Despite the positive results of this study, future studies and more analysis considering influential factors are required. Also, disinfection and air exchange must still be observed during biomaterial application and bone grafting procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different degrees of clinical success have been reported for synthetic, allograft, and xenograft bone substitutes in human trials. Although these substitutes have been clinically investigated, their in vitro effects on cell differentiation remain unclear. Proliferation, differentiation, and attachment of dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) to β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP), freeze-dried bone allograft (FDBA), and deproteinized bovine bone mineral (DBBM) were compared in this study. MTT assay, measurement of total DNA, and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction were performed. β-TCP had the highest potential for DPSC attachment and proliferation, while FDBA induced osteoblastic differentiation of DPSCs. Further in vivo investigations are necessary to select a clinically appropriate scaffold. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]