Exploring the anthelmintic activity of Olea europaea L (Olive) leaves extract and oleuropein in mice naturally infected with Aspiculuris tetraptera

Oxyuriasis, caused by the nematode Enterobius vermicularis, is one of the cosmopolitan intestinal infections of humans. Aspiculuris tetraptera commonly infects mice and it is morphologically similar to E. vermicularis. Parasitic resistance reduces the efficiency of synthetic drugs and poses economic impacts on the dairy sector, thus necessitating novel anthelmintic agents. Olea europaea L. (Olive) is a bioactive plant with potent pharmacological activities. However, its effects on oxyurids are poorly known, and no studies are currently exploring olives' anthelmintic potential. In this study, we investigated the pharmacokinetic behaviors of O. europaea leaves extract (OLE) and its phenolic compound oleuropein in mice infected with A. tetraptera, in comparison with Albendazole (ABZ), a standard drug used to treat parasitic worms. Fecal flotation method was used to identify the infestation with A. tetraptera eggs by examining the stool samples from mice. Infected animals were divided into 7 groups. 250 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg, and 1000 mg/kg doses of OLE, 5 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg doses of oleuropein, 10 mg/kg of ABZ and tap water were orally administered by gavage for 7 days during treatments. Drug efficacies and statistical differences between the treatments and controls were evaluated. Our results revealed 92.43 % efficacy of ABZ, similar to 92.19 % efficacy of 1000 mg/kg of OLE. At the same time, 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg concentrations of OLE remained 70.03 % and 63.18 % effective in reducing worm counts. Efficacy percentages of 5 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg of oleuropein were 9.27 % and 70.56 %, respectively. Statistical analysis of ABZ was significant compared to 1000 mg/kg of OLE, which was almost equal but insignificant. In general, our results confirm the anthelmintic potential of OLE and oleuropein against mice pinworms and open the way for targeted extraction of bioactive compounds from plants to optimize its use in human and veterinary medicine.

The effect of photodynamic therapy on the salivary flow rate, IgA concentration and C-reactive protein levels in active smokers: a case-control study

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of photodynamic therapy (PDT) on the salivary flow rate, secretory immunoglobulin A, and C-reactive protein levels in active smokers.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The present study is a prospective case-control study. Twenty active smokers were allocated to two groups randomly of ten participants each: the experimental group was irradiated while the control was exposed to sham irradiation by turning off the equipment. In the experimental group, methylene blue mediated PDT was applied both intra- and extra-orally over the major and minor salivary glands using a diode laser. 780 nm wavelength and 4 J/cm2 of energy were used to irradiate the 10 points of major salivary glands (6 for parotid and 2 for submandibular glands and 2 for sublingual glands). On the other hand, 660 nm was used to apply 10 J/cm2 of energy over the minor salivary glands at numerous points. The samples of the stimulated and unstimulated saliva were collected from both groups to assess the SFR. ELISA method was used to assess the level of salivary IgA levels, statistical analysis was done using a one-way ANOVA, and a p-value of <0.05 was considered significant.

RESULTS

The results showed a significant increment in salivary and secretory immunoglobulin A levels of subjects undergone photodynamic therapy. C-reactive protein levels were significantly decreased in subjects exposed to irradiation.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study concludes that photodynamic therapy significantly improves the salivary flow rate, secretory Immunoglobulin A, and oral health quality of life in smokers. The inflammatory salivary marker C-reactive protein, which is usually raised in smokers, is also reduced.

Natural and synthetic photosensitizers activated by photodynamic therapy on enamel reconditioning rebonded to metallic brackets: an in vitro study

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the bond efficacy and failure rates of rebonded metallic brackets after enamel reconditioning with chemical 37% phosphoric acid (PA) and natural and synthetic photosensitizers activated by PDT.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 50 non-cavitated, and cautiously extracted human premolars were congregated after sample size calculation. The enamel exterior was etched, washed, dried for adhesive application, and cured. Metallic brackets were then oriented and adapted to enamel surface using composite. Later, brackets were debonded from the surface via a Weingart plier. Enamel was finished for ensuing surface reconditioning. Ultimately, specimens were randomly distributed into five groups (n=10). Enamel surface before rebonding was reconditioned with curcumin photosensitizer (CP), riboflavin photosensitizer (RP), rose bengal photosensitizer (RBP), methylene blue photosensitizer (MBP), and 37% PA (control) respectively. After following reconditioning protocol, brackets were rebonded to the enamel exterior employing a composite adhesive system. Then, specimens were subjected to the universal testing machine for analyzing shear bond strength (SBS), and bond failures were predicted using an ARI index. One-way ANOVA and Tukey multiple comparison tests were used for statistical analysis at a variance value of p < 0.05.

RESULTS

Enamel reconditioned with 37% PA demonstrated the highest SBS for bracket rebonding, and the lowest SBS was presented by CP actuated by PDT. Enamel reconditioned with RP and RBP corroborated the analogous SBS outcome to 37% PA. Likewise, enamel surface treatment with MBP revealed a statistically significant result to CP for metallic bracket rebonding. The most prevalent failure scores anticipated among groups were 0 and 1 indicating an adhesive failure with the exemption of group 5 (control) that encountered more score 2 cohesive failure on debonding metallic brackets from enamel exterior.

CONCLUSIONS

Rose bengal and riboflavin photosensitizers activated by photodynamic therapy with low ARI scores have the potential to be used as viable enamel reconditioning alternatives to 37% phosphoric acid for rebonding metallic brackets.

Association of HMGBP1 expression with clinical periimplant parameters among smokers and never-smokers with and without peri-implantitis

OBJECTIVE

With our study we aimed at investigating the levels of high mobility group box chromosomal protein-1 (HMGB-1), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin (IL)-1β in periimplant crevicular fluid (PICF) of smokers and never-smokers, with and without periimplantitis, and correlate these levels with the clinical and radiographic periimplant parameters.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Sixty participants (n=15/group) were recruited and divided into 4 groups: cigarette smokers with periimplantitis (CSPI); cigarette smokers without periimplantitis (CSNPI); never-smokers with periimplantitis (NSPI); and never-smokers without periimplantitis (NSNPI). Clinical and radiographic periimplant parameters, including plaque scores (PS), bleeding on probing (BOP), probing depth (PD) and crestal bone level (CBL), were assessed. Crevicular levels of HMGB-1, TNF-α, and IL-1β were quantified using human enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. p-values were generated using Kruskal-Wallis' test for comparison between the study groups, while correlations between HMGB-1, TNF-α, IL-1β levels and clinical variables were analyzed using Spearman rank correlation coefficient analysis.

RESULTS

Bleeding on probing was least in NSNPI and CSNPI followed by CSPI and NSPI (p<0.05). The highest PD and CBL was recorded for CSPI and NSPI groups, while the least PD and CBL were recorded among non-periimplantitis groups. HMGB-1 and IL-1β were found to be significantly highest in CSPI groups followed by NSPI and CSNPI groups with no statistically significant difference between CSPI and NSPI groups (p<0.05). CSPI groups reported the highest TNF-α levels in the PICF in comparison to other groups (p<0.05). A significant negative correlation was observed between plaque scores (p=0.0187) and CBL (p=0.0049) in NSNPI and CSPI groups with HMGB-1, respectively. A significant positive correlation was seen for HMGB-1 in groups CSPI (p=0.0023) and NSPI (p=0.0018) for BOP. In CSPI group, a significant positive correlation was observed between TNF-α and PD (p=0.0443). On correlating IL-1β, a significant positive correlation was observed for CBL in CSPI (p=0.0006) and NSPI (p=0.0275) groups, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

HMGB-1 could play a significant role in periimplant inflammatory response and inflammation. Higher crevicular fluid HMGB-1 levels are indicative of a possible surrogate biomarker for peri-implantitis.

Lead in blood and tissues of mice after administration of low lead doses

Lead levels in whole blood could be determined reliably up to a lower limit of 2 micrograms/100 ml blood, using a modified micromethod of the graphite tube furnace technique. Lead contents of various tissues were also determined by using the automated graphite tube furnace after wet ashing of the organs with nitric acid in autoclaves. Animal experiments with mice showed no measurable increase in blood lead level after a single, 10- or 30-days oral administration of lead in doses of 10--1000 micrograms lead acetate/kg body weight/day. However, these doses led to a rise in tissue lead content. There was a clear dependence of tissue lead content on type of organ examined, lead dose and duration of lead exposure. According to our experiments, the threshold dose which leads to a long-term increase in tissue lead content is assumed to be about 100 micrograms lead acetate/kg body weight/day, orally administered.