There is a growing realization that endodontic infections are often polymicrobial, and may contain Candida spp. Despite this understanding, the development of new endodontic irrigants and models of pathogenesis remains limited to mono-species biofilm models and is bacterially focused. The purpose of this study was to develop and optimize an interkingdom biofilm model of endodontic infection and use this to test suitable anti-biofilm actives. Biofilms containing Streptococcus gordonii, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Candida albicans were established from ontological analysis. Biofilms were optimized in different media and atmospheric conditions, prior to quantification and imaging, and subsequently treated with chlorhexidine, EDTA, and chitosan. These studies demonstrated that either media supplemented with serum were equally optimal for biofilm growth, which were dominated by S. gordonii, followed by C. albicans. Assessment of antimicrobial activity showed significant effectiveness of each antimicrobial, irrespective of serum. Chitosan was most effective (3 log reduction), and preferentially targeted C. albicans in both biofilm treatment and inhibition models. Chitosan was similarly effective at preventing biofilm growth on a dentine substrate. This study has shown that a reproducible and robust complex interkingdom model, which when tested with the antifungal chitosan, supports the notion of C. albicans as a key structural component.

Background: About 39-59% of individuals with idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) have cranial nerve impairments of some kind, including single or multiple cranial nerve (CN) palsies. Objective: The aim of the current study was to assess clinical outcome after cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tapping through blink reflex (BR). Patients and methods: A comparative study was carried out on 40 female patients with IIH, aged between 18 and 60 years, and 40 age and sex matched normal volunteers as a control group, between 2019 and 2021. Participants were subjected to blink reflex before and after therapeutic CSF tapping at Neuro-Diagnostic & Research Center (NDRC), Beni-Suef University Hospital. Results: Patients with IIH after CSF tapping showed significant decrease of latencies of BR {the ipsilateral R2 (R2i) from 31.6 (2.8) to 30.6 (2.1) ms (P=0.019) and contralateral R2 (R2c) from 35.2 (3.3) to 33.8 (2.5) ms (P=0.023). After CSF tapping, when compared patients to controls, the latencies of R2i 30.6 (2.1) to 29 (2.6) ms (P=0.005) and R2c 33.8 (2.5) to 32.2 (2.8) ms (P=0.007). Conclusion:The therapeutic CSF tapping improves latencies of R2i and R2c of BR and clinical outcome IIH.

Background: Selective COX-2 inhibitors (celecoxib) are effective anti-inflammatory drugs, though they may increase cardiovascular risk. Objectives: To verify the possible pathophysiological role of COX-2 inhibitors on experimental atherosclerosis and its clinical outcomes in patients with unstable angina (UA). Methods: Atherosclerosis was induced in twenty four Boscat rabbits and celecoxib was administered as a prophylactic and therapeutic agent. At the end of experiment, the animals were killed and their serum and aortic tissues were evaluated for lipid profile and histopathological examination. In the human study, forty UA patients (group I: received the usual regimen of UA and aspirin for 30 days and group II: additionally received celecoxib and ten controls were incorporated into the study. Estimation of CRP, IL-6 and lipid profiles was carried out at the baseline and 30 days after. Results: Celecoxib administration attenuated the progression of atherosclerosis. Also, after 30-days, group II of UA patients showed a significant reduction of inflammatory markers, risky lipids and CV events with a raise in HDL levels when compared to group I. Conclusion: Celecoxib has beneficial lowering effect on the levels of inflammatory markers, risky lipids and on the size of atheromatous patches. This may explain its potential role in decreasing CV events in UA patients.

The goal of our study was to clarify the possible effect of increased intracranial pressure on electrophysiological blink reflex in idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) pateints . Subjects & Methods: 40 females;20 IIH patients and 20 age matched controls , after through neurological examination , were subjected to electrically elicited blink reflex (BR) . Results: There was a significant delay in ipsilatral R2 (R2i) and contralateral R2 (R2c) latencies with 31.6 (±2.8) msec and 35.2 (±3.3) msec among cases when compared to controls with 29 (±2.6) msec and 32.2 (±2.8) msec respectively with (P-value<0.001), while R1 latencies were 10.4(±1) msec in cases and 10.5(±0.6) in controls with no signifcant difference between the two groups (p-value=0.726) Conclusion: the increased intracranial pressure was proved to increase R2i and R2c latencies of blink reflex studies which may suggest subclinical facial nerve dysfunction in IIH patients whether through peripheral nerve compression or at the level of the reflex centers (lateral medullla)in IIH patients.

Objective. Systemic administration of folic acid (FA) in rats was used for studying the pathogenesis associated with acute renal damage. However, the mechanism by which FA induces renal damage remains poorly understood. Up to our knowledge, no effective preventive or therapeutic drugs have been developed to protect against acute kidney injury. Curcumin (CUR) is commonly used worldwide as a spice and has been demonstrated to possess various biological activities. The present study was planned to investigate the effect of folic acid administration on renal function, inflammatory cytokines and associated histological as well as ultrastructural changes in renal tissue. In addition, we examined the possible protective effect of curcumin on a rat model of folic acid (FA)-induced acute kidney injury (AKI). Methods. Rats were divided into 3 groups; (FA) folic acid treated group rats were exposed to FA (250 mg/kg) i.p. injection as a single dose. (FA+CUR) folic acid plus curcumin treatment group rats were given curcumin (200 mg/kg) orally administered by gavage daily for 11 days prior to folic acid (250 mg/kg) i.p injection and the last dose of curcumin was given one day after folic acid injection. Control group are given distilled water orally by gavage daily for 12 days and saline i.p. as a single dose on the 11 th day. Animals were scarified one day following i.p. injection in all groups. Deterioration of kidney function was detected by blood urea and creatinine levels. Inflammatory response was monitored with blood levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α). Results. We found that FA treatment significantly raised blood urea, creatinine,