Parasitic contamination of fresh vegetables sold in open markets: a public health threat

Vegetables eating raw are a leading source of transmission of infective forms of pathogenic internal parasites among human beings. This research was conducted from April to October, 2017 to assess the parasitic contamination of vegetables sold at main vegetable markets in districts Lower Dir and Peshawar, Pakistan. Eight hundred specimens of different vegetables were purchased and soaked in physiological saline solution, shaken with a mechanical shaker for 20 minutes and processed by sedimentation concentration method. Results revealed that only 19.7% (n=158/800) of the vegetables were found to be contaminated with single or multiple parasite species. Ascaris lumbricoides (the large round worm) 12.3% (n=99/800) was the most commonly detected pathogen and Taenia saginata (the beef tapeworm) 1.62% (n=13/800) was the least frequently detected one. Interestingly, significant p value (p>0.05 at 95%CI) between the number of examined and contaminated for all the variables studied including education status of the vendors, markets location, type of vegetables, means of display, washed before display, washing source of water and market type. The findings of this study evidenced that consumption of raw vegetables possesses great risk of getting parasitic infections in Lower Dir and Peshawar districts, Pakistan. Instructing the sellers and the public about parasitic disease transfer and their hygiene can reduce the infection rate of parasites of human origin.

Evaluation of vegetables grown in dry mountainous regions for soil transmitted helminths contamination

Infection caused by geo-helminth parasites are called geohelminthiasis are one of the global health problems. Vegetables eaten raw is the principal source of transmission of geo-helminth parasites. Pakistani people believe that eating raw vegetables are a significant source to get important vitamins and minerals. Based on the high incidence of pathogenic parasites and cultivating different vegetable types in the study areas, we conducted this study to evaluate the geo-helminth contamination of raw vegetables in northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. This is a descriptive study comprised, 1942 samples of 25 various types of vegetables. The samples were examined in physiological saline solution using sedimentation and centrifugation methods. The findings were analyzed by Graph-Pad version 5. P value less than 0.05 (95% CI) was considered significant. Results showed that 16.5% (n=322) of all vegetables were contaminated with one or more type of geo-helminth parasites. Garlic was the highest (35%) and cauliflower the lowest (4%) contaminated samples respectively. Ascaris lumbricoides was the most common geo-helminth found followed by hook worm species while Trichuris trichura was the least in all the vegetable samples. Leafy vegetables were highly contaminated 25.3% than vegetables with root parts 21.2% and fruity 9.09%. More than half of the contaminated vegetables were contaminated with single species of geo-helminth (P<0.05) while less than half with multiple types of geo-helminth contamination. Ninety two vegetables samples were contaminated with 2 species of parasites (P<0.05) and 45 with 3 (P>0.05) species of geo-helminth parasites. Education level of vendors and means of display were not significantly associated while types of vegetable used were significantly associated with the prevalence of parasites. The findings of this study provide evidence that consumption of raw vegetable has a high risk of acquiring geo-helminth infections. The authors believe that preventing the human to enter to the vegetable farmland for defecation, avoiding the irrigation of agricultural fields via night soil, and educating the people on proper washing and cooking of vegetables may be useful in reducing parasitic infections.

Mechanical Properties of Polylactide Admixed with Carbon Nanotubes or Graphene Nanopowder

The aim of this work was to verify the material properties of polylactic acid (PLA) with an addition of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) or graphene nanopowder (GNP). The pure polylactide and admixed polylactide samples were subjected to chemical–physical tests to determine their stiffness and strength parameters. The tensile and impact tests were performed on samples without UV (ultraviolet) treatment and after UV treatment, in a physiological saline solution. The investigations were composed of two stages. The first one was related to the examination of the properties of pure polylactide, denoted as the following: 3001D, 4032D, and 4043D. The second stage was based on an analysis of the properties of PLA 4032D with an admixture of GNP or CNTs, at 0.1 wt.% and 0.5 wt.%. By comparing the strength and the stiffness of pure samples with samples with the considered admixtures, an essential increase was not observed. However, it is stated that the presence of GNP and CNTs in the samples positively influenced the resistance of the materials to the ageing process.

Effects of some Peruvian non-distilled alcoholic beverages on dental erosion.

Objective: To determine the erosive effect of pieces of permanent teeth exposed to non-distilled alcoholic beverages. Material and Methods: This study takes a quantitative approach, with an explanatory scope, descriptive and correlational, with a pure experimental design. The sample consisted of 45 premolar permanent teeth, which were randomly allocated to five sample groups. Every sample group was submerged in dark beer Cuzqueña Negra, wheat beer Cuzqueña de Trigo, lager beer Cerveza Cristal, lager beer Pilsen Callao and physiological saline solution; every solution had a quantity of 110 mL. The experiment was performed for five minutes, with three repetitions every 12 hours over a period of 70 days. The sampling was performed every seven days, using an analytical scale and a data sheet. Results: The average weight loss of dental pieces put in dark beer Cuzqueña Negra (pH 4.0) was 239.4456 mg. In lager beer Pilsen Callao (pH 4.6), it was 146.7867 mg. In lager beer Cerveza Cristal (pH 3.7), it was 131.3567 mg. In wheat beer Cuzqueña de Trigo (pH 4.5), it was 121.7122 mg. Lastly, in physiological saline solution (pH 6.8), it was 14.3311 mg. When applied to the sample, the statistical test Student’s t-test resulted in a value of p≈0.000 (p<0.05). Conclusion: Non-distilled alcoholic beverages caused erosive effects in the pieces of permanent teeth.

Nanostructured Coatings (Ti,Zr)N as a Barrier to Hydrogen Diffusion into Ti0.16Pd (wt.%) Alloy

The results of a study of structure, phase, and chemical compositions of nanostructured (Ti,Zr)N coatings formed by vacuum arc deposition on Ti0.16Pd (wt.%) alloy substrates are reported. The coating composition was varied depending on the quasi-binary system δ—TiN—δ—ZrN. The coatings were formed in two modes: without (mode 1) and with (mode 2) rotation of the substrates in a plasma flow. It was shown that irrespective of the deposition regime, the coatings have a single-phase nanograined (grain size ≤ 20 nm) structure of δ-nitrides TiN, (Ti,Zr)N, and ZrN. It is found out that the coatings deposited in accordance with modes 1 and 2 significantly differ in their microstructure. It is demonstrated that in the case of electrolytic hydrogenation in a physiological saline solution (0.9% NaCl), the barrier properties of the coatings deposited via mode 2 are substantially better than those deposited via mode 1 (irrespective of the chemical coating compositions). In the coatings with a regular columnar structure (mode 1), there is a high concentration of hydrogen homogeneously distributed over the coating thickness. In the coatings formed via mode 2 (without columnar microstructure), a high concentration of hydrogen was observed in the subsurface area only. It is found out that there is no hydrogen diffusion into the substrate of these coating both immediately after hydrogenation and after storing for 430 h at room temperature. It was shown that the highest barrier properties were exhibited by the (Ti,Zr)N coatings with the least correlation of spatial distribution of nanograins and Zr/Ti ≤ 1. The hydrogen absorption in the coating based on zirconium nitride increases by a factor of 2.

Vitamin K alleviates bone calcium loss caused by Salmonella Enteritidis through carboxylation of osteocalcin

Background The present study aimed at evaluating the effect of vitamin K (VK) supplementation on bone health of laying hens challenged by Salmonella Enteritidis. Methods A total of 80 32-week-old double negative salmonella-free brown-egg laying hens were randomly assigned to 4 treatments with 20 replicates each (1 bird per replicate) according to a 2 × 2 factorial design with 2 dietary VK supplementation levels [0 mg/kg (VK0) vs 2 mg/kg VK (VK2) and 2 challenge treatments [Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) vs physiological saline solution (PS)]. During the last 3 days of week 43 of age, birds of both VK treatments were either orally challenged with 1.0 mL suspension of 109 cfu/mL S. Enteritidis daily or received the same volume of PS. Results The laying rate, daily egg mass, tibia strength, CT, cOC and cOC/(cOC + ucOC) of VK2 treatment increased (P < 0.05) in contrast to VK0, however, the medullary area and ucOC of VK2 treatment decreased (P < 0.05) in contrast to VK0. Mortality, medullary area, serum Ca content of SE treatments increased (P < 0.05) in contrast to PS treatments. In both SE treatments, the decrease (P < 0.05) in birds’ tibia strength was associated with higher (P < 0.05) Ca levels in serum. There is an interaction (P < 0.05) between SE challenge and VK levels with regard to tibia strength and serum Ca levels. At week 42, serum CT was positively correlated with cOC (R = 0.99, P = 0.009); at week 44, tibia strength was positively correlated with BMD (R = 0.95, P = 0.045), but negatively correlated with medullary area (R = − 0.98, P = 0.018). Conclusions VK (2 mg/kg) supplementation to diets of laying hens can enhance bone strength under challenge situations with Salmonella Enteritidis. Medullary area has proven to be a sensitive biomarker for bone calcium loss caused by SE infection.

BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE PREPARATIONS USE IN THE SCHEME FOR STIMULATING PMSG «FOLLIGON» SUPEROVULATION IN DONOR COWS

The purpose of scientific research was to study the effect of the developed biologically active drug «Stimulin» on the level of superovulatory treatment with PMSG «Folligon» and the quantitative yield of the number of transferable embryos. The experiments were conducted on donor cows of the Ukrainian Black-and-White breed. Experimental donor cows were intramuscular administration injected for 8, 9, 10, 11 days of the oestrous cycle by drug «Stimulin» in a single dose 20 ml. Control animals in these days were similarly administered 20 ml of physiological saline solution. It was established that, when gonadotropin PMSG “Folligon” of a polyovulatory reaction in donor cows, receiving an intramuscular administration of the drug "Stimulin" dose of 20 ml from day 8 to 11 after estrus , promotes a positive trend until its level and the number of embryos suitable for transplantation increase (by 28,5 %), and also reduces neovulated follicles by 27,5%. With induction of gonadotrophin PMSG“Folligon” by superovulation in donor cows, receiving an intramuscular administration from day 8 to day 11 after estrus of the drug "Stimulin", contributes to the tendency to increase the level of superovulation and the number of transferable embryos and reduces the number of non-ovulated follicles.

Influence of immunosuppression on the progression of experimental periodontitis and on healthy periodontal tissue: A rat in vivo study

Background. The potent anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties of glucocorticoids (GCs) might influence the progression of some disorders, such as periodontitis. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the influence of dexamethasone (DEX) on the alveolar bone loss (ABL) of healthy and periodontally compromised molars in rats. Methods. Thirty male rats were randomly assigned to two groups: physiological saline solution (PSS) and DEX. The animals received subcutaneous injections of either 0.5 mL of PSS) (group PSS) or 2 mg/kg of DEX (group DEX) from one day before experimental periodontitis (EP) induction until euthanasia. EP was induced through ligature placement around the mandibular lower first molars at day 0. Contralateral molars remained unligated. Ten animals per period were euthanized on days 3, 7, and 14. Morphometric analysis was performed to access the ABL. Data were statistically analyzed with ANOVA followed by post hoc Tukey tests (P≤0.05). Results. Higher ABL was observed in both groups on days 7 and 14 than on day 3 (P≤0.05). Concerning periodontitis, higher ABL was observed in group DEX on days 3, 7, and 14 days than group PSS at the same time intervals (P≤0.05). Also, even in the contralateral unligated molars, group DEX exhibited higher ABL on days 3, 7, and 14 days than group PSS at the same time intervals (P≤0.05). Conclusions. Collectively, it can be concluded that DEX aggravates EP and induces spontaneous ABL in the healthy periodontium.

Influence of the treatment with the antineoplastic agents 5-fluorouracil and Cisplatin on the severity of experimental periodontitis in rats

Purpose The determination on how antineoplastic agents interfere on the progression of periodontitis is critical for improvement and even development of novel therapeutic approaches for periodontal management. This study evaluated the influence of chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) or cisplatin (CIS) on healthy periodontal tissues and on the progression of experimental periodontitis (EP). Methods One-hundred-forty-four male rats were divided into six groups (n = 24). Each group was treated with physiological saline solution (PSS) 0.9%, 5-FU or CIS. Experimental periodontitis (EP) was induced by ligature placement. Animals were euthanized at 7, 15 and 30 days after treatment. Data were statistically analyzed (p ≤ 0.05). Results The groups with EP and treated with 5-FU or CIS showed lower percentage of bone volume in the furcation region and higher percentage of alveolar bone loss, higher number of TRAP-positive cells and lower number of PCNA-positive cells when compared group with EP and treated with PSS (p ≤ 0.05). Groups with EP and treated with 5-FU or CIS showed high immunolabelling pattern of RANKL, TNF-α, IL-1β, moderate of BAX and low of HIF-1α. Histological analysis showed severe tissue breakdown in the groups with EP and treated with 5-FU or CIS. Conclusions Chemotherapy with antineoplastic agents 5-FU and CIS increasing the intensity and duration of the inflammation; and compromising tissue repair by reduction in cellular and vascular turnover. The more severe periodontal breakdown was caused by 5-FU.