Recent Articles

Gentian violet dye is no longer commonly used for infant oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC) and maternal nipple candidiasis, largely due to safety concerns, the emergence of modern treatment options, and lack of clarity on dosing. Current treatments for candidiasis include nystatin, azoles such as ketoconazole and fluconazole, and amphotericin B. However, OPC may resist treatment, and mothers may prefer gentian violet as an alternative OTC product. This literature review aims to assess the safety and efficacy of gentian violet in treating OPC and nipple candidiasis. Two search strings in Embase yielded 22 primary research articles, case reports, and commentaries. In terms of efficacy, gentian violet is as effective as standard of care treatments, and functions as a fungicidal agent against Candida albicans through biofilm manipulation. Safety concerns include skin and mucosal membrane irritation, airway obstruction, and, most concerning to regulatory agencies, animal carcinogenicity. However, the literature found that there was great variation in the dose and strength of gentian violet applied. Case reports with adverse events usually used high strengths of gentian violet applied more frequently than recommended. A lower strength of gentian violet solution applied as needed is less likely to result in adverse events. Patients may self-select higher strengths of gentian violet or apply more frequently than recommended. If recommended for treatment-resistant OPC and nipple candidiasis, counseling should accompany OTC use of gentian violet

This study evaluated the nutritional value and chemical composition of five selected fodder; Boma Rhodes, lucerne, greenleaf Desmodium, chicory, and sweet potato vines which were collected from three geographically distinct regions: Bomet, Nyandarua, and Nyeri, and taken for chemical analysis in the Animal Nutrition laboratory in Animal Science department at Egerton University. These fodder species were analysed for their proximate composition, metabolisable energy, and van Soest composition. All these analyses were done on a dry matter basis. All these results were analysed at P

Over three decades, the mean daily milk production per cow in these regions has remained stagnant at a mere 6 kg/day with most smallholder farmers yielding a mere 3.67 litres of milk per cow daily, it's evident that their productivity falls well below par. In an effort to address this issue, a study conducted delves into the second objective, which revolves around assessing the effects of diverse dietary supplements on milk yield across the distinct geographical areas of Nyandarua, Bomet, and Nyeri. The study involved the utilization of a supplementary feed mixture which was 400 g/kg DM of dry matter content, comprising; lucerne, greenleaf desmodium, sweet potato vines, and chicory, which was chopped and mixed in a ratio of 1:2:3:1. Supplementation was done at the following inclusion levels; T1 (0%), T2 (10%), T3 (20%) and T4 (30%) of the estimated daily dry matter intake of 4% of the live body weight of the dairy cow. A basal diet of boma Rhodes which was 400 g/kg DM of dry matter content was used. This study ran for nine weeks in each region; one week of backgrounding all the animals, followed by fourteen days of adaptation and a month and a half of data collection. The research scrutinizes the outcomes of milk production resultant from diets featuring supplementation levels ranging from 10% to 30% in Friesian dairy cows. The findings reveal that, in Bomet, There isn't a significant variation in milk production between diets exhibiting 10% and 30% supplementation, suggesting a potential plateau in response to heightened supplementation levels. Conversely, in Nyandarua, diets supplemented with 20% and 30% show no significant variance in milk yield, spotlighting the efficacy of a moderate supplementation level. In Nyeri, noteworthy disparities in milk yield emerge between diets with 10% and 30% supplementation levels

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play an important role in pathological processes and provide hope for the development of treatments aimed at suppressing the effects of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2 ). However, attempts to inhibit superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), the main antioxidant enzyme that converts superoxide anion into H2O2 and water during ROS metabolism, have not yielded significant results. To understand the reason for the failure, we studied the behavior of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in cancer cells exposed to H2O2 -generating compounds. EGFR can be activated by binding of EGF ligand to the extracellular region of the receptor and by interaction of H2O2 -generating chemicals with the catalytic cysteine in the intracellular domain of the receptor. Both mechanisms independently trigger downstream signaling pathways in cells. EGFR expression can also be reduced by the protein tyrosine phosphatase PTP-1B, which itself is activated by H2O2 . A simple in-gel fluorescence technique demonstrates the rapid binding of H2O2 -generating molecules to hundreds of proteins in cancer cells. The natural defense system Nrf2 takes longer to break down target proteins and therefore cannot prevent H2O2 released by chemical agents from affecting unwanted proteins. It can be concluded that cytoplasmic SOD1 and other H2O2 -producing proteins that protect cells from oxidative damage are not suitable targets for the development of practical drugs for the treatment of human diseases.

Background: Isotretinoin helps to control acne which is partly due to Cutibacterium acnes infection. Objective: Assess whether Isotretinoin may also help to control other types of infections which may directly or indirectly be associated with biofilms containing Cutibacterium acnes such as periodontitis, herpetic infections or HPV-infections. Methods: All relevant medical and biological data were collected during routine consultations for Small Intestinal Bowel Overgrowth from 2021 March 1st to 2024 March 1st

The use of plant-derived products for medicinal purposes, known as phytotherapy, is gaining increasing interest as a complementary approach to traditional protocols in endodontics. This literature review examines the various clinical applications of phytotherapy in endodontics, with a particular focus on its potential utility in all stages of conservative or surgical endodontic management. This analysis draws upon in vivo and in vitro data to examine the specific indications of phytotherapy, with a particular focus on its advantages in terms of antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and regenerative activity. As a supplementary approach, phytotherapy offers a natural and promising alternative to enhance the outcomes of endodontic treatments, while providing a sustainable perspective on oral healthcare

Background: To investigate the clinical performance of minimally invasive surgical approaches for interdental tissue preservation in association with enamel matrix derivatives in the treatment of intraosseous defects. Materials and Methods: A systematic literature review was carried out (PROSPERO: CRD42020135131) through research, extraction and analysis of data in duplicate, according to the PICOS strategy. The Ovid MEDLINE databases were consulted; Ovid EMBASE; Open Gray and in the journals Journal of Periodontology, Journal of Clinical Periodontology, Journal of Periodontal Research and Journal of Dental Research, the search covered an unlimited period until May 2019, following the guide PRISMA. For assessment was used Cochrane Collaboration's risk. Results: Eight randomized controlled trials reporting 557 subjects and 698 defects were identified. Among in techniques for preserving interdental tissues, there were no differences between them. However, in the meta-analysis obtained by the studies, the results were superior in clinical gain of insertion in favor of the test group [n = 119; MD= 0.92; 95%; IC (0.35; 1.50); p = 0.002 I² 78%], with these results statistically significant Conclusions: the open flap debridement technique using interdental tissue preservation approaches in association with EMD promote slightly superior clinical results in insertion gain. Clinical Relevance: Assist the professional in their clinical practice in traeatment of periodontal defects with minimally surgical approachs and Furthermore, demonstrate the possibility and the benefits of using the biomaterials like the enamel derivative proteins in the regeneration these periodontal defects

Introduction: A condition where one or more teeth are missing in the mouth is referred to as partial edentulism. These missing teeth could be replaced by removable partial denture (RPD) or fixed partial denture. Factors that determine choice of replacing missing teeth includes but not limited to; esthetic, mastication and prevention of further tooth loss. The aim of this study was to compare factor that motivate male denture wearers to replace their missing teeth with the female counterpart Method: This cross-sectional self-administered questionnaire-based study was conducted in University of Calabar Teaching Hospital and Nigeria Navy Reference Hospital, Calabar. The respondents comprise of patients who presented at the dental clinic of both Hospital. Inclusion criteria were patients who requested for the replacement of their missing teeth and gave inform consent, while exclusion criteria were those who requested for tooth extraction etc. Questionnaires was delivered to each participant by hand and collected after it was filled. The questionnaire was divided into two sections. The first is for information of the respondents while the second was on reason for seeking tooth replacement

Australian scientists have recently uncovered a groundbreaking discovery suggesting that diabetes, specifically type 1 diabetes, may be effectively treated using existing cancer drugs. The research indicates that two types of drugs commonly employed in cancer treatments have demonstrated the potential to prevent type 1 diabetes, with the remarkable capability of inducing insulin hormone production within the pancreas in as little as 48 hours. The experimental validation of this approach involved a successful trial conducted on three individuals, providing encouraging results that could revolutionize diabetes treatment. With more than 420 million people worldwide grappling with diabetes, this discovery holds significant promise for addressing a global health challenge. Further research and clinical trials are warranted to explore the full potential and safety of these cancer drugs as a potential cure for diabetes. If successful, this innovative approach may offer new hope to millions living with diabetes and pave the way for transformative advancements in diabetes care

Background: Urinary tract infection is one of the most common bacterial infections encountered by clinicians in developing countries. A biofilm is a structured consortium of bacteria embedded in a self-produced polymer matrix consisting of polysaccharide, protein and DNA. Antibiotic resistance is a problem of deep scientific concern both in hospital and community settings. This study was aimed to determine the biofilm producers among multidrug uropathogenic bacteria isolated from urine cultures

Maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) is the most effective interventional therapy for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Our aim was to investigate the serum levels of aluminum (Al) and arsenic (As) in CKD patients. Methods: A total of 29 CKD patients receiving MHD were surveyed for selected biochemical, and dialysis quality indices. Serum Al and As levels were measured before and after MHD. Statistical analyses included independent samples t-test or Mann-Whitney, Kaplan-Meier, Pearson, or Spearman's rho correlations

Wilt disease of tomato is caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici and it is an important disease which causes significant yield reduction in the crop throughout the world. A study was undertaken to isolate, identify and test the pathogenicity of F. oxysporum f. sp. Lycopersici on tomato; and to evaluate the bioactivity of Azadirachta indica leaf, Piper guineense seed and Zingiber officinale rhizome extracts as well as the synthetic fungicide, mancozeb at different concentrations and combinations for the management of F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici in vitro. Results revealed that the percentage frequency of the fungus isolated and identified was more on the roots (35.56 %) than the stems (26.67 %), fruits (20.00 %) and leaves (17.77 %). Results of the pathogenicity test showed more virulence in the roots than in other parts of the tomato plant. Extracts of the three plants and mancozeb proved effective in controlling the mycelial growth of the fungus either alone or when combined. Mancozeb consistently gave 100 % growth inhibition irrespective of the concentration used. Among the plant extracts applied alone at 40 g/L, Z. officinale (66.69 %) was the most effective followed by P. guineense (53.52 %) while A. indica was the least (36.99 %). The mycelial growth inhibition increased from 40 g/L to 120 g/L irrespective of the combination of the treatments used. A combination of mancozeb with any plant extract was more effective than a combination of the plant extracts. It is therefore, recommended that the plant extracts be applied either alone or in combination with other plant extracts or the fungicide to control F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici, increase tomato yield and reduce postharvest rots associated with the pathogen

The mastitis carcinomatosa or inflammatory breast carcinoma is an aggressive form of mammary tumors. Diagnosis is made on clinical, cytology and histology correlation. Imaging is performed to look for the extent of disease. Breast carcinoma with osteoclastic giant cells (OGCs) are uncommon. Here, we report a 35 year old woman with a painless lump in her left breast that has been proved clinically and radiologically. Microscopic examination reveal differential diagnosis of Inflammatory breast carcinoma and Infiltrating carcinoma with osteoclastic giant cells.

The application of AI has become known as a disruptive technology in a variety of industries, and its possible application in the field of law enforcement has gained traction. The purpose of the aforementioned study is to investigate the reach of artificial intelligence in the field of criminal justice, focusing on its possible benefits, problems, and ethical implications. This study sheds light on the existing and potential consequences of AI within the court system by examining a variety of use cases such as predictive law enforcement, profiling of offenders, proof evaluation, and legal investigation

Plasmodium parasites, which cause malaria, continue to pose a serious threat to global health, necessitating the continuous search for novel antimalarial agents. Entada africana is a plant known for its ethnomedicinal uses in treating various ailments associated with inflammation including malaria. Due to its reported antiplasmodial potentials, we studied the effect of the methanol bark extract of the plant. HPLC chromatogram of the methanol bark extract showed the presence of eight phyto-compounds namely coumaric acid, gallic acid, catechin, ferulic acid, quercetin, apigenin, rutin, and kaemferol. Thus, the study aimed at evaluating the antiplasmodial potential of methanol bark extract of Entada africana (MBEEA) through heme polymerase inhibition via in silico approaches. The in silico studies showed favourable binding affinities and stable interactions with heme polymerase, with rutin (-9.9 kcal/mol), apigenin (-8.0 kcal/mol) and catechin (-7.8 kcal/mol) having higher binding affinities compared to the standard drug, chloroquine (-6.7 kcal/mol). Hydrogen bond analysis reveals that ferulic acid (Asp 77, Ile 73 and Ala 29) and kaemferol (Arg 40, Arg 27 and Leu 74) form three hydrogen bonds. On the other hand, compounds like coumaric acid (Ala 291 and Arg 27), gallic acid (Ala 29 and Ser 76), catechin (Arg 40 and Arg 40), and quercetin (Ser 76 and Ser 76) form two hydrogen bonds with the amino acid residues, rutin forms two hydrogen bonds with Ser 76 and Leu 74, while apigenin forms one hydrogen bond with Arg 27 when compared to the standard drug, chloroquine (-6.7 kcal/mol) which forms no hydrogen bonds with the amino acid residues. Based on their pharmacokinetic characteristics, safety profiles, and appropriate drug-like ability, seven compounds were shown to have antiplasmodial properties by computational ADMET tests

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is now a global public health epidemic with increasing rates reported all over the world. Currently, more than 850 million people are estimated to live with CKD worldwide. Bone and mineral disorders (CKD-MBD) form an integral part of the management of CKD patients. CKD-MBD encompasses distinct abnormal pathology within the spectrum of Renal Osteodystrophy (ROD), including osteitis fibrosa cystica, osteomalacia, adynamic bone disease (ABD), mixed lesions, and osteoporosis. ABD is primarily characterized by decreased or absent bone formations along with low cellularity of both osteoblasts and osteoclasts as well as thin osteoid seams and minimal or absent peri trabecular/marrow fibrosis. ADB is also associated with a greater risk of vascular calcification and fractures negatively affecting patient outcomes. It is unclear if all forms of ABD are truly pathological or milder forms of ADB could be a compensatory mechanism to guard against bone loss. In this article, we describe a hemodialysis patient profile of ADB with a review of this entity

In this research work, a new class of heavy-tailed mixture cure rate models; Type 1 Heavy-Tailed Gamma (T1HT-G) mixture cure rate model was introduced using a new class of heavy-tailed distributions; Type 1 Heavy-Tailed Gamma (T1HT-G) distribution as baseline. The maximum likelihood parameters estimation approach was adopted for estimating the model parameters. Also, the Monte Carlo simulation approach was adopted to assess the performance of the maximum likelihood parameter estimation. Deviance information criteria such as AIC, BIC and CAIC were adopted to measure the models’ performance. The simulation studies were conducted using three different sample sizes and 50 replications. Results from the model applications using real life biological and biomedical data. Comparative measures from the models TI-HTG mixture cure rate (AIC=51.60, BIC=61.55, CAIC=52.08) were smaller which showed the adequacy of the models to provide better fit for heavy-tailed data than the well-- known standard distributions. These results have supported the fact that heavy tailed models provide better fits than the usual standard distributions when analyzing heavy-tailed data.

School students and staff can encounter a wide range of health-related emergencies, which, without proper management, can result in life-threatening consequences. Nurses, being the first health providers, should be well-prepared and equipped to handle these emergencies before emergency medical services arrive

Humanity has been wondering about the mechanisms of hearing for over 2,000 years. Many theories have been developed trying to solve this problem. The organ of hearing is still the only sense organ that is not fully understood. There is no doubt that the truth about hearing is different from the one proclaimed by the orthodox theory of hearing under the name of Bekesy's traveling wave. In order to change the seemingly erroneous status quo in explaining the mechanisms of hearing, I propose to start an analysis of all the circumstances that appeared after the announcement of the traveling wave theory. A new picture of hearing is emerging, significantly different from that described in textbooks and numerous publications. Censorship by orthodox reviewers can no longer inhibit new knowledge about hearing. This paper indicates the gaps in the current hearing theory and presents a new philosophy of hearing

SARS-CoV-2 evolution has undergone several mutations since its initial emergence in late 2019. Successive mutations are a common characteristic of RNA viruses like coronavirus. The emergence of new variants is a result of mutations that differ in their characteristics such as their infectiousness and mortality. Several variants of concern have been identified since the start of the pandemic, including Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, and Omicron. Each of these variants showed unique mutations that raised concerns about their transmission rate, disease severity, and vaccine efficacy. The omicron variant (XBB 1.6), also known as B.1.1.529, attracted significant attention due to its high number of mutations, particularly in the spike protein. These mutations have raised concerns about potential impacts on vaccine efficacy and their ability to evade immunity.