The approach of drug delivery systems emphasizes the use of nanoparticles as a vehicle, offering the optional property of delivering drugs as a single dose rather than in multiple doses. The current study aims to improve antioxidant and drug release properties of curcumin loaded gum Arabic-sodium alginate nanoparticles (Cur/ALG-GANPs). The Cur/ALG-GANPs were prepared using the ionotropic gelation technique and further subjected to physico-chemical characterization using attenuated total reflectance–Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), size distribution, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The size of Cur/ALG-GANPs ranged between 10 ± 0.3 nm and 190 ± 0.1 nm and the zeta potential was –15 ± 0.2 mV. The antioxidant study of Cur/ALG-GANPs exhibited effective radical scavenging capacity for 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) at concentrations that ranged between 30 and 500µg/mL. Cytotoxicity was performed using MTT assay to measure their potential in inhibiting the cell growth and the result demonstrated a significant anticancer activity of Cur/ALG-GANPs against human liver cancer cells (HepG2) than in colon cancer (HT29), lung cancer (A549) and breast cancer (MCF7) cells. Thus, this study indicates that Cur/ALG-GANPs have promising anticancer properties that might aid in future cancer therapy.

Introduction: Alveolar bone is critical in supporting natural teeth, dental implants as well as a removable and fixed prosthesis. Alveolar bone volume diminishes when its associated natural tooth is lost. Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of bovine bone granules on alveolar bone socket augmentation for ridge preservation following atraumatic tooth extraction. Materials and Methods: Twenty medically fit patients (12 males and 8 females aged between 18 and 40 years) who needed noncomplicated tooth extraction of 1 mandibular premolar tooth were divided randomly and equally into 2 groups. In control group I, the empty extraction socket was left untreated and allowed to heal in a conventional way. In group II, the empty extraction socket wound was filled with lyophilized bovine bone xenograft granules 0.25 to 1 mm of size, 1 mL/vial. A resorbable pericardium membrane was placed to cover the defect. Clinical and 3-dimensional radiological assessments were performed at day 0, 3 months, and 9 months postoperative. Results: There were no clinical differences in general wound healing between the groups. Comparisons within the groups showed a significant difference of bone resorption of 1.49 mm (95% confidence interval, 0.63–2.35) at 3 months, and further resorption of 1.84 mm (P ≤ 0.05) at 9 months in the control group. No significant changes of bone resorption were observed in group II during the same time interval. Comparison between groups showed a significant difference of bone resorption at 3 and 9 months (2.40 and 2.88 mm, respectively). Conclusion: The use of lyophilized demineralized bovine bone granules in socket preservation to fill in the extraction socket seems essential in preserving the alveolar bone dimension as it showed excellent soft and hard tissue healing. This study concludes that the alveolar bone socket exhibited a dynamic process of resorption from the first day of tooth extraction. Evidence shows the possibility of using bovine bone granules routinely in socket volume preservation techniques following tooth extraction.

Salivary gland diseases include a variety of conditions (inflammatory, immunological, infectious, or neoplastic pathologies). Salivary gland diseases hold the interest of clinicians and pathologists due to their varied clinical presentation and histological diversity. In this study, we aimed to assess the various aspects of clinical and pathological characteristics of salivary gland diseases. We reviewed the records of patients with various salivary gland diseases at Ramadi Teaching Hospital, Rashid Hospital, Razi Hospital, and Zuhur Hospital in Iraq. The study covered the years 2010 to 2021. Of 159 patients, there were 61.64% female patients. The age group most affected was 51-60 years (26.4%). The most involved salivary gland was the parotid (44.65%). Swelling was seen in 74% of the patients. Obstructive lesions were seen in 52.2% of patients. Obstructive pathologies occurred exclusively in the age group 51-60 years, infective cases involved the age group 71-80 years (64.3%), and tumors affected the age group 41-50 years (77.4%). Women were affected more than men by all pathologies. The parotid gland was mostly affected by tumors (32/71), while other glands were mostly affected by obstructive lesions (17/18). A significant association was found between salivary gland pathologies with age and the affected gland. The most common clinical entity of the obstructive lesions was xerostomia (20.1%). While pleomorphic adenoma was the most common tumor (n = 40/50). The most common cause of xerostomia was smoking (31.2%) and the least cause was antidepressants (9.4%). Salivary gland diseases were mostly seen in women and in the age group 51-60 years. Parotid was the most involved gland. A three-quarter of the cases presented with swelling and obstructive pathologies comprise above 50% of causes. The age and the involved gland can determine the type of salivary gland diseases. Xerostomia was the common clinical entity of obstructive pathologies. The most common tumor was pleomorphic adenoma and the most common cause for xerostomia was smoking.

Hypoxia plays a significant role in solid tumors by the increased expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), which is known to promote cancer invasion and metastasis. Cancer-cell invasion dynamically begins with the degradation of the extracellular matrix (ECM) via invadopodia formation. The chemical substrates that are utilized by hypoxic cells as fuel to drive invadopodia formation are still not fully understood. Therefore, the aim of the study was to maintain MDA-MB-231 cells under hypoxia conditions to allow cells to form a large number of invadopodia as a model, followed by identifying their nutrient utilization. The results of the study revealed an increase in the number of cells forming invadopodia under hypoxia conditions. Moreover, Western blot analysis confirmed that essential proteins for hypoxia and invadopodia, including HIF-1α, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), metallopeptidase-2 (MMP-2), and Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factor 7 (β-PIX), significantly increased under hypoxia. Interestingly, phenotype microarray showed that only 11 chemical substrates from 367 types of substrates were significantly metabolized in hypoxia compared to in normoxia. This is thought to be fuel for hypoxia to drive the invasion process. In conclusion, we found 11 chemical substrates that could have potential energy sources for hypoxia-induced invadopodia formation of these cells. This may in part be a target in the hypoxic tumor and invadopodia formation. Additionally, these findings can be used as potential carrier targets in cancer-drug discovery, such as the usage of dextrin.

Background: The study examined the oral microbiota, physiological and immunological changes in patients using thermoplastic retainers during three months of use. Methods: The study included several steps. Firstly, 10 swabs were collected from the buccal and palatal surfaces of the teeth of the patients, approximately 2 mL of saliva was collected from the same patients and 2 mL of saliva was collected from 10 healthy people to measure the pH and secretory IgA level. This was followed by the isolation and identfication of the bacterial isolates in the patient samples. Then, isolate susceptibility toward chlorhexidine (CHX) and their adhesion ability to thermoplastic retainer surfaces was measured. In addition to that the study estimated the numbers of Lactobacillus and Streptooccus mutans colonies during three months and finally, a comparsion of pH acidity and IgA level between the patients and healthy people was performed. The results showed the predominant bacteria during the three months were Lactobacillus spp. and Streptococcus spp. followed by different rates of other bacteria. Raoultella ornithinolytica showed more resistance to CHX while Lactobacillus spp. showed more sensitivity. Streptococcus mutans colony levels were higher than Lactobacillus spp. colonies during the three months, also S. mutans had the highest value in adherence to retainer thermoplastic. Finally, pH acidity showed a highly significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) in the third month, like IgA levels (p ≤ 0.05). Conclusions: According to the results obtained from the current study, the researchers noted that the thermoplastic retainers helped change the oral cavity environment.

For a reconstructive surgeon in oral and maxillofacial surgery, repair of massive bone defects in craniofacial region and mandible caused by different types of trauma, extensive bone destruction by cancer or metabolic diseases is amongst one of the most difficult tasks to handle. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness and potential effect of incorporating Strontium (Sr) with locally delivered epidermal growth factor (EGF) on osteoclastogenesis and osteoblastogenesis gene expressions of dental stem cells (DSCs) in an in vitro study. Sr, EGF, and dental stem cells (DSCs) with all materials (reagents and drugs) were commercially purchased from companies. Viability test (cytotoxicity test) was carried out to determine compatibility and optimal concentrations of Sr scaffold and EGF in accordance with the protocol of the current study. DSCs were treated with three modalities of drugs base time points, control-0 concentration, DSCs treated with Sr only, DSCs treated with EGF only DSCs treated with Sr/ EGF. RNA from DSCs were extracted from all treated groups. RT-PCR was used to amplify the specific osteoblast/ osteoclast genes markers. Electrophoresis of the RT-PCR products was followed by gel image capturing. Significant enhanced osteoblast markers responsible for bone healing were observed in the DSCs group that were treated with Sr/ EGF as compared with the other studied group. This strategy seems to be a reliable new tool for bone tissue engineering by mean using bone graft material potentiates inducing high capacity of bone wound healing and could be effective strategy in reconstructive surgery when used in in vivo study used stem cellsbased therapy.