Journal of Techniques

Evaluating the Effect of Artemisia Aerial Parts Extracts on Candida albicans growth and Shear Bond Strength of Soft Denture Liner

ayaat Nasser Abdul Nour — 2021-06-30

After a period of use in the oral cavity the bond between denture base and soft denture liner weaken or fails creating a suitable environment for fungal colonization. Traditional medical plants that have antifungal agents are considered more safe and with few side effects. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of oil and ethanol extracts of Artemisia aerial parts on Candida albicans growth and shear bond strength of soft denture liner. Candida albicans species were isolated and diagnosed, oil and ethanol extracts of Artemisia were prepared, the effect of the extracts on Candida albicans were tested by agar well diffusion test and micro dilution test. Finally, 30 specimens of soft denture liner were prepared for testing shear bond strength by Universal Instron machine before and after incorporation of the extracts. The results showed that all the concentrations of oil extract inhibit the growth of Candida albicans except (12.5 mg/ml) and there were significant differences (P≤0.05) between all concentrations compared with Nystatin except between (100 and Nystatin) mg/ml in which there were no significant difference. In ethanol extract only the concentrations (100 and 75) mg/ml inhibited the growth of Candida albicans and there were significant differences between all concentrations (P≤0.05) with Nystatin, while shear bond strength was increased in ethanol extract and there were significant differences with the control (P≤0.05), but it was not affected in oil extract and there were no significant differences with the control (P>0.05). Interestingly, it’s concluded that oil and ethanol extracts of Artemisia aerials parts had an effect on Candida albicans, while shear bond strength was not affected by oil extract but increased in ethanol extract.

Liver damage during infections with coronavirus

Iqbal Hanash Dhefer — 2021-06-30

The pathogen of the new 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the sever acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-Cov-2), presented a significant risk to health care. The WHO has described the SARS-CoV-2 infection outbreak as an international public health emergency. The main damage caused by the infection with SARS-CoV-2 was known to be lung infections. Previous research revealed that liver damage is prevalent in patients infected with the additional widely zoonotic coronaviruses, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), and has been reviewed in relation to the severity of MERS, SARS, and COVID-19 diseases. Likewise, the mechanism and features of liver damage and liver injury has also been observed, as outlined in this review, which results in extreme cases during the phases of the disease.

The Most Important Risk Factors Among Angina Patients in Thi-Qar Governorate in Iraq

Amel Mustafa Kamil — 2021-06-30

Angina is a chest pressure, discomfort, or pain like a squeeze. It may occur as an angina attack that typically lasts from 1 to 15 minutes; however, angina is not only a disorder, but is also a symptom of heart disease. There are various risk factors that lead to raising an angina pectoris attack which were designated in previous studies but no one detected the most significant one in Thi- Qar governorate. Because of the specific economic, lifestyle and environment characteristics of this governorate, the present study has aimed to determine the most important risk factors that trigger angina among patients of the Nasiriya Heart Center in Nasiriya city.

A cross-sectional study has been conducted in Nasiriya Heart Center which involved 200 angina patients that attended the hospital. The patients answered questioners’ form that has been designed by the researcher. The collecting data contained the demographic, lifestyle and family history information of patients.

The results showed no significant differences between male and female in angina occurrence. An age group 31- 60 year was considered the most susceptible to the incidence of angina. However, no significant impacts of the genetic, smoking, alcohol and obesity were found as risk factors. On the other hand, significant effects of diabetes, hypertension, eating habits and stress in the angina incidence were determined.

In conclusion, the specificity of the governorate has had the greatest impact on the determination of risk factors where, apart from eating habits, the stress in its various types was the most important factor; therefore, intensive studies must promote population health conditions in this governorate.