Reduction In Microbial Counts Research Articles

Characterization and antimicrobial activity of a chitosan-selenium nanocomposite biosynthesized using Posidonia oceanica.

Nanobiotechnological approaches can provide effective solutions for overcoming food products' contamination and spoilage. The development of rapid and eco-friendly approaches for synthesizing nanocomposites from chitosan nanoparticles (Cht), Neptune grass "Posidonia oceanica" extract (NG), and NG-mediated selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) was targeted, with their investigation as potential antimicrobial, antioxidant, and biopreservatives of fresh chicken fillets. SeNPs were biosynthesized with NG, and their conjugates with Cht were composited. Characterization approaches, including infrared analysis, physiognomic analysis, and electron microscopy of synthesized nanomaterials and composites, were applied. The nanomaterials' antibacterial properties were assessed against Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhimurium, and Escherichia coli qualitatively, quantitatively, and with ultrastructure imaging. The antimicrobial and antioxidant potentialities of nanomaterials were employed for preserving chicken fillets, and the sensorial and microbiological parameters were assessed for coated fillets. SeNPs were effectively biosynthesized by NG, with mean diameters of 12.41 nm; the NG/SeNPs had homogenous spherical shapes with good distribution. The prepared Cht/NG/SeNPs nanoconjugates had a mean diameter of 164.61 nm, semi-spherical or smooth structures, and charges of +21.5 mV. The infrared analyses revealed the involvement of biochemical groups in nanomaterial biosynthesis and interactions. The antibacterial actions of nanomaterials were proven against the entire challenged strains; Cht/NG/SeNPs was the most active agent, and Salmonella typhimurium was the most susceptible bacteria. Scanning micrographs of Cht/NG/SeNPs-treated Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella typhimurium indicate the severe time-dependent destruction of bacterial cells within 8 h of exposure. The antioxidant potentiality of Cht/NG/SeNPs was the highest (91.36%), followed by NG/SeNPs (79.45%). The chicken fillets' coating with Cht, NG, NG/SeNPs, and Cht/NG/SeNPs resulted in a remarkable reduction in microbial group count and raised the sensorial attributes of coated fillets after 14 days of cold storage, with increased potentialities in the order: Cht/NG/SeNPs > NG/SeNPs > NG > Cht > control. The inventive, facile biosynthesis of Cht, NG, and SeNPs could provide effective antimicrobial and antioxidant nanocomposites for prospective applications in food biopreservation.

The impact of cold plasma innovative technology on quality and safety of refrigerated hamburger: Analysis of microbial safety and physicochemical properties

Atmospheric cold plasma (ACP) is an innovative non-thermal decontamination technology that is considered a great alternative to conventional preservation methods. Most importantly, improving microbial safety along with maintaining the sensory and quality properties of the treated foods, especially for perishable products. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the antimicrobial effects of novel dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) and Jet cold plasma systems and their impact on the physicochemical, color, and sensory properties of refrigerated hamburger samples. In the current study, hamburger samples were inoculated with Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Molds and Yeasts microbial suspension (~106 CFU/mL), and then were treated with argon (Ar), helium (He), nitrogen (N), and atmosphere (Atm) gases at different times (s) (0, 30, 60, 90, 180, 360). Similarly, uninoculated samples were considered for total viable count (TVC) testing. The results exhibited that plasma system type, gas type, and treatment time had a significant antimicrobial effect with a microbial reduction ranging from 0.01 to 2 log CFU/g and 0.04–1.5 log CFU/g for DBD and Jet plasma systems, respectively. Also, a treatment time longer than 90 s for DBD and 180 s for jet resulted in a significant reduction in microbial count. The ability of atmospheric cold plasma to inactivate tested foodborne pathogenic bacteria (E. coli and S. aureus) was stronger than other gases because the concentration of O3 and NO gases in atmospheric plasma is higher than other used plasma gases. Surface color measurements (L*, a* and b*) of samples in both methods (DBD and Jet) were not significantly affected. Moreover, samples treated with various plasma gases have indicated insignificant oxidation changes (Thiobarbituric acid assay). These outcomes can assist to reduce microbial contamination and oxidation of hamburgers as a high-consumption and perishable product using ACP technology. Owing to the non-thermal nature of ACP, samples treated with ACP have exhibited no or least effects on the physical, chemical, and sensory features of various food products. As a result, cold plasma innovative technology can be proposed and used as an efficient preservative method to increase the shelf life of food products.

A quasi-energetically costless novel food preservation methodology: Moderate pressure pasteurisation followed by hyperbaric storage, both at room temperature

Firstly, fish soup preservation by hyperbaric storage (HS; 25-100 MPa) at room temperature (RT; 20 °C) was compared to refrigeration (RF; 4 °C) as a way to restrain microbial growth. Additionally, to greater microbial growth restrain, HS at higher pressures (above 75 MPa) revealed also considerable levels of microbial inactivation, leading to study a possible new food pasteurisation methodology, moderate pressure pasteurisation (MPP; 150-250 MPa) at RT, followed by HS at 75 MPa (post-MPP/75 MPa).MPP (150-250 MPa; 12-24 h) at RT caused a significant reduction of microbial counts, either spoilage or pathogenic microorganisms, of at least 4.0 log CFU/g for total aerobic mesophiles (MPP; 24 h) and Salmonella Senftenberg (MPP; 6 h), while Listeria innocua reduction under MPP (24 h) was 6.9 log CFU/g. Additionally, post-MPP/RF showed microbial development (to above 8.5 log CFU/g), mainly after 21 days, contrarily to post-MPP/75 MPa, where microbial inactivation continued along storage, reaching the detection limit (< 1.0 log CFU/g). Accordingly, for MPP (200 MPa; 12-24 h), the pH, total soluble solids and colour of fish soup was equal or even better under post-MPP/75 MPa than post-MPP/RF.Overall, the present work opens the possibility of using HS/RT (75 MPa) for fish soup preservation and shows for the first time the use of MPP (125-250 MPa) at RT as an interesting methodology for food pasteurisation, followed by preservation storage by HS, resulting in enhanced safety and extended shelf-life compared to RF, as a novel quasi-energetically costless moderate food pasteurisation and storage (MPPS) methodology.

Microbiological and Sensorial Quality of Beef Meat (Longissimus dorsi) Marinated with Cinnamon Extract and Stored at Various Temperatures.

Meat spoilage caused by temperature abuse is a major problem for producers, retailers, and consumers that can generate large economic losses to industries. Microbial growth of Pseudomonas spp. is the main source of spoilage during storage. Cinnamon has antimicrobial properties that may potentially be used to reduce the spoilage caused by Pseudomonas. The objectives of this study were to determine the inhibitory effect of cinnamon extract (CE) against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853) and evaluate the treatment of CE on meat quality during different storage temperatures (5 °C, 10 °C, 15 °C, and 25 °C). The anti-Pseudomonas result showed that 100% (w/v) CE concentration produced a 13.50 mm zone of inhibition in a disc diffusion assay. The minimum inhibitor concentration (MIC) of CE was noted at 25% (v/v), whereas the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) value was observed at 50% (v/v) concentration of CE. The time-kill showed the growth of P. aeruginosa decreased from 7.64 to 5.39 log CFU/mL at MIC concentration. Total phenolic content and IC50 value of the cinnamon extract was expressed as 6.72 ± 0.87 mg GAE/g extract and 0.15 mg/mL, respectively. When the meat was marinated with 50% (v/v) CE and stored at various temperatures, the total viable count (TVC) and growth of Pseudomonas spp. were lowered as compared to the control sample. However, the reduction in microbial count in all samples was influenced by the storage temperature, where the lowered microbial count was noted in the sample treated with CE and stored at 5 and 10 °C for 48 h. The pH of meat treated with or without CE ranged from pH 5.74 to 6.48. The sensory attributes of colour, texture, and overall acceptability have a significant difference, except for odour, between marinated meat and control. The results indicate that the use of cinnamon extract as the marination agent for meat could reduce the growth of Pseudomonas spp. and therefore assist in extending the shelf life of meat at 5 and 10 °C storage temperatures.

The synergetic effects of radio-frequency electromagnetic field and pH adjustment on landfill leachate microbial inactivation

Landfill Leachate (LFL) treatment is a challenging and complex issue. One such difficulty is biofouling or bio-clogging caused by the rich microbiome of the LFL. In this study, the effect of Radio Frequency Electromagnetic Field (RFEMF) inductance on the microbial inactivation of LFL has been investigated for the first time, and it is shown that RFEMF alone can result in 24–35% reduction in LFL microbial count. Meanwhile, the application of the electromagnetic field alongside pH adjustment is shown to significantly reduce the bacterial count of the LFL, from over 9 × 104 CFU/mL to under 1.5 × 104 CFU/mL under optimum conditions. In other words, the application of RFEMF with pH adjustment shows very strong synergetic effects, increasing the effectiveness of the treatment more than two-fold. The reason for this observation is the damage caused to the cell membranes via pH adjustment, making the microorganisms particularly vulnerable to the effects of the RFEMF. This study offers a low-cost and simple method for disinfection, and highlights an avenue of research on microbial inactivation, not just for LFL but possibly for other wastewater streams as well.

In vitro evaluation of cytotoxicity in human osteoblastic cells and antimicrobial activity in the biofilm of different root canal sealers

Objective: Evaluate the cytotoxicity in human osteoblastic cells and antimicrobial activity in different root canal sealers in vitro. Methods: BioRoot RCS, TotalFill BC Sealer, and Bio-C Sealer were used in experimental groups, and AH Plus was used as a control. Human osteoblast-like cells and MTT quantitative colorimetric assay were used to evaluate cytotoxicity. Saos-2 cells were exposed to undiluted sealer extracts for 24 h. The supernatant was then collected and the formazan crystals resulting from MTT reduction were dissolved in pure dimethyl sulfoxide. Absorbance was measured in an automated spectrophotometer at a wavelength of 540 nm. Antimicrobial activity was analyzed by the direct contact test using a polymicrobial biofilm composed of Enterococcus faecalis, Candida albicans, and Streptococcus mutans. At 24, 48, and 72 h, colony-forming units were counted on agar plates. A nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis test was used for the statistical analysis. The level of significance was set at 5%. Results: AH Plus showed the lowest cytotoxicity after 24 h, with a significant difference in relation to BioRoot RCS and Bio-C Sealer (p ≤ 0.01). There was no significant difference in cytotoxicity between TotalFill BC Sealer and Bio-C Sealer (p &gt; 0.05). At 24 h, TotalFill BC Sealer and AH Plus showed the least microbial growth compared to Bio-C Sealer (p &lt; 0.05). At 48 and 72 h, there were no significant differences between sealers (p &gt; 0.05). Conclusions: AH Plus had the lowest cytotoxicity. TotalFill BC Sealer and AH Plus yielded greater reductions in microbial counts in the first 24 h compared to Bio-C Sealer. Clinical Relevance: 2c.

Skin Barrier Enhancing Alternative Preservation Strategy of O/W Emulsions by Water Activity Reduction with Natural Multifunctional Ingredients

Water activity (aw) as an important parameter for self-preservation can help to control microbial growth in cosmetic formulations. However, high amounts of water-binding substances are required to lower the aw enough to affect microbial growth. Since consequences for the skin barrier have been poorly studied so far, we investigated the effect of aw-lowering agents on both the antimicrobial properties of o/w emulsions and skin physiological parameters. A combination of selected natural humectants (Sodium lactate, Propanediol, Erythritol, Betaine and Sodium PCA) with a total concentration of 28 wt% in an o/w emulsion was able to reduce its aw from 0.980 ± 0.003 to 0.865 ± 0.005. The challenge test results of the aw-lowered emulsion showed a convincing microbial count reduction in potentially pathogenic microorganisms. The addition of as little as 0.5% of the antimicrobial multifunctionals Glyceryl Caprylate and Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract further enhanced the antimicrobial effect, resulting in adequate antimicrobial protection. Moreover, twice-daily application of the aw-lowered emulsion for a period of four weeks led to a skin barrier-enhancing effect: TEWL significantly decreased, and SC hydration significantly increased. Thus, we present an opportunity to replace conventional preservatives with a natural alternative preservation strategy that has been shown to offer benefits for the skin.

The Potential of α-Mangostin from Garcinia mangostana as an Effective Antimicrobial Agent-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

This systematic review aims to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of α-mangostin derived from Garcinia mangostana against different microbes. A literature search was performed using PubMed and Science Direct until March 2022. The research question was developed based on a PICO (Population, Intervention, Control and Outcomes) model. In this study, the population of interest was microbes, α-mangostin extracted from Garcinia mangostana was used as exposure while antibiotics were used as control, followed by the outcome which is determined by the antimicrobial activity of α-mangostin against studied microbes. Two reviewers independently performed the comprehensive literature search following the predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. A methodological quality assessment was carried out using a scoring protocol and the risk of bias in the studies was analyzed. Reward screening was performed among the selected articles to perform a meta-analysis based on the pre-determined criteria. Case groups where α-mangostin extracted from Garcinia mangostana was incorporated were compared to groups using different antibiotics or antiseptic agents (control) to evaluate their effectiveness. A total of 30 studies were included; they were heterogeneous in their study design and the risk of bias was moderate. The results showed a reduction in microbial counts after the incorporation of α-mangostin, which resulted in better disinfection and effectiveness against multiple microbes. Additionally, the meta-analysis result revealed no significant difference (p > 0.05) in their effectiveness when α-mangostin was compared to commercially available antibiotics. α-mangostin worked effectively against the tested microbes and was shown to have inhibitory effects on microbes with antibiotic resistance.

Optical Emission Spectra Characterization of Plasma Discharge During the Processing of Milk and Evaluation of its Quality Attributes

This study characterized the optical spectra of continuous low-pressure plasma system and evaluated its effect on milk processing. Plasma was characterized at different input power levels (24.8, 58.9, and 117.6 W which corresponds to the input voltage of 1, 1.5, and 2 kV) with a 1-cm electrode distance. Based on the characterization, the input power level 117.6 W was selected to produce maximum reactive species. The system was operated at 117.6 W to decontaminate milk flowing inside the quartz tube using three different milk flow rates 3, 6, and 9 mL/min (accounting for 5-, 2.5-, and 1-min plasma exposure time). The maximum reduction in total microbial count obtained after treatment was 1.2 log CFU/mL at an exposure time of 5 min (3-mL/min milk flow rate). Significant changes were observed in the physicochemical properties of milk after treatment. However, the only adverse effects observed were the viscosity and color of milk at 5- and 2.5-min treatment, which might be because of the use of unhomogenized milk. The continuous plasma system operated at 117.6 W reduced the microbial load in milk; further optimization of the process parameters is necessary for the complete elimination of microbial load and to increase the shelf life.

Antimicrobial Effect of Ozone Therapy in Deep Dentinal Carious Lesion: A Systematic Review.

AimThis systematic review aimed to answer the following focused question: Is ozone therapy more effective in reducing microbial count as compared to conventional methods in deep dentinal carious lesion?ObjectiveThe purpose of this systematic review was to perform a review on the effectiveness of ozone therapy in reduction of microbial count in deep dentinal carious lesion. Study eligibility criteria, participants, and interventions: The inclusion criteria comprised studies that compared effect on microbial count in deep dentinal carious lesion after treatments with ozone and other disinfectants in primary or permanent teeth in randomized clinical trials.Materials and methodsThis review was conducted according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRIMSA) guidelines. The searched databases included Medline (via PubMed), Cochrane, and Google scholar. Articles published until 29 February 2020 without year restriction but only in English language were included.ResultsThe search resulted in 359 published studies. After removal of duplicate studies and full-text analysis, seven studies were selected. Overall, the results demonstrated the promising effects of ozone therapy in reduction of microbial count as compared to other disinfectant.ConclusionsWithin the limitations of this review, it can be asserted that the ozone therapy is effective in reduction of microbial count in deep dentinal carious lesion.Clinical significanceOzone therapy can be a useful tool to reduce the microorganisms in deep dentinal carious lesion.How to cite this articleBadhe H, Kalaskar R, Balasubramanian S, et al. Antimicrobial Effect of Ozone Therapy in Deep Dentinal Carious Lesion: A Systematic Review. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2022;15(S-2):S252–S260.

Germi-X herbal-based spray disinfects smartphone surfaces: implication on fomite-mediated infection spread

Inanimate objects/surfaces become fomites upon contacting infectious agents such as disease-causing bacteria, fungi and viruses. Smartphones are one of the most prominent among these fomites. COVID-19 pandemic has raised the awareness on mobile sanitization, as an active measure to curb fomite-mediated viral transmission. Available mobile sanitizers and ultraviolet (UV) ray mediated mobile sanitization have their own sets of pros and cons, often being less user-friendly. This study explored the germicidal efficacy of an herbal-based sanitizer, Germi-X spray, on hands and mobiles, through microbiological techniques of micro-broth dilution and Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion assay, thumb print assay and swab test. Notably, Germi-X spray was found to be 6–67% more effective against surface pathogens, like, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas fluorescens and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, as compared to a very popular product in the Indian market, which was taken as a control for this study. The observed anti-bacterial activity of the spray from disc-diffusion assay suggests its greater surface retentivity as compared to the control. Germicidal potency of Germi-X spray, when used to sanitize hands, was found to be greater than 80%. There was ~ 17-fold reduction in microbial counts after sanitizing smartphones with Germi-X spray. The novelty of this study lies in providing experimental evidence for this herbal-based surface sanitizer in efficiently disinfecting one of the super contaminated fomite, the smartphones. In conclusion, having an herbal base with a high germicidal efficacy against surface pathogens, together with longer surface retention, Germi-X spray appears to be an eco-friendly and cost-effective sanitizer for the surfaces of electronic gadgets like smartphones.

Comparative Evaluation of Antimicrobial Effects of Herbal Extracts Incorporated in Dentifrices among Adults: An In-vitro Study and a Double Blinded Randomized Control Trial

Introduction: A positive correlation has been observed between Streptococcus mutans, Candida albicans and periodontal diseases. Several substances including synthetic chemicals and natural agents have shown promising antimicrobial activity against the S. mutans- C. albicans complex. Extracts of Aloe Vera, Triphala, Tulsi, Pomegranate, and Acacia catechu have established therapeutic effects in medicine. The aim of the study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity and the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of five herbal extracts in-vitro and to compare the antibacterial effects of 5 dentifrices containing the herbal extracts and a commercially available dentifrice on the plaque sample counts of S. mutans and C. albicans in-vivo&#x0D; Methodology: Extracts were obtained using a standardized method. Minimum inhibitory concentration was calculated for the test microorganisms using modified agar-well diffusion and macro broth dilution technique and the inhibition zone diameters were calculated. Dentifrices containing the extracts were formulated and the in vivo antimicrobial activity was evaluated by studying the CFU count from plaque samples of 420 participants. &#x0D; Results: Highest antimicrobial activity against S Mutans and C albicans was shown by Acacia catechu and Tulsi respectively and least was by pomegranate. Mean reduction in microbial counts (CFU/ml) by inoculating nutrient broth from baseline to 60 days was highest in Acacia catechu and Triphala for S Mutans and C albicans respectively. All herbal extracts performed better than the commercially available toothpaste.&#x0D; Conclusion: Dentifrices with herbal extracts of Aloe Vera, Triphala, Tulsi, Pomegranate, and Acacia catechu could serve as an alternative to commercially available dentifrices for treating oral diseases whose causative organisms are S. mutans and C. albicans.

EFFECT OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF THYME AND OLIVE LEAVE IN QUALITY CHARACTERISTIC OF LAMB PATTIES DURING STORAGE

The aim of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of adding different levels of each of olive leaf extract (OLE) and thyme leaf extract (TLE) and their combination in some physicochemical, microbial, and sensory characteristic of lamb patties stored either at 4c° for 12 days or at -18c° for 120 days. Results revealed that there are a steady rise (p&lt;0.01) in oxidative rancidity, microbial count and free fatty acid in control and treated samples with increasing time in both storage periods. Also, a significant (p&lt;0.01) reduction in TBA, microbial count and free fatty acid was observed in samples treated with OLE, TLE and their combination. Moreover, it was found that addition of 1% OLE and 1% OLE +0.05%TLE are more effective against formation of TBA and microbial count, respectively. Sensory characteristics were highest in patties treated with 0.05% TLE and the lowest was noticed in samples treated with 1% OLE.

Efficacy of a Commercially Available Herbal Formulation for the Disinfection of Elastomeric Heavy Body Impression Materials

Introduction: Cross infection refers to the transfer of harmful microorganisms from one person to another. Dental impressions are considered semi-critical as it directly comes in contact with patient’s saliva and oral mucosa. Improper handling of these dental impressions can potentially have the risk of transmitting infections especially to the dentist. The role of herbal preparation in disinfecting the dental impressions is sparse in the literature. Aim: To evaluate and compare the disinfection ability of a commercially available herbal formulation (HiOra®) with chlorhexidine digluconate solution (0.2%) and 1% sodium hypochlorite on dental impressions made using condensation silicone. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Outpatient Department of Periodontology and Implantology at Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, between June 2019 and November 2019. Sixty maxillary and mandibular dental impressions using condensation silicone material were obtained from 30 systemically healthy volunteers. The impressions were divided into three groups and were subjected to three antimicrobial agents for 10 minutes: 1% Sodium Hypochlorite (group I); 0.2% chlorhexidine digluconate (group II); HiOra® (group III), respectively. Following this, microbial culturing was performed to detect the presence of Streptococcal and Staphylococcus species in samples obtained both prior and after impression disinfection. One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was performed to assess the significance of the difference in microbial reduction between the groups. Results: Antimicrobial efficacy was similar against both Streptococcus spp., and Staphylococcus spp., for the three disinfectants tested. No statistically significant difference in the microbial colony count reduction between the three disinfectants tested was observed (Streptococcus spp, p-value=0.064, Staphylococcus spp., p-value=0.337). Conclusion: The herbal mouthwash was found to have an equivalent efficacy as chlorhexidine, sodium hypochlorite for disinfection of impressions made from condensation silicone.

Enhancing Disinfection of Contaminated Natural Water Using 40 kHz Frequency Cavitational Reactor

Natural water quality is continuously diminishing with human intervention and poses a major threat to the ecosystem. The present work investigated the treatment of contaminated lake water using a 40 kHz frequency cavitational reactor. The total colony count present in raw water was 1,300 ± 150 CFU with initial chemical oxygen demand (COD) of 100 ± 30 mg/L. The synergy of cavitation with a catalyst (titanium dioxide [TiO2]) and ozonation was studied. The comparative performance was analyzed by comparing individual and synergic effects. The combined effects of a catalyst with cavitation have shown the maximum removal of the microbial count and COD. Techno-economic feasibility analysis confirmed that the synergy of a catalyst with cavitation results in the maximum reduction in microbial count and COD. The percentage removal of coliform such as Enterobacter, Salmonella, and Escherichia coli (catalyst concentration: 25.0 μM/L and treatment time: 20 min) was 90.8, 92.6, and 100, respectively, with COD removal of 71.6%. Enhanced results may be obtained due to an increase in the cavitational effect in the presence of a solid catalyst. The synergy of cavitation with TiO2 enhanced the microbial removal rate by 45.8% compared to the individual effect. Investigation confirms that synergy effects produced from ultrasound and catalyst were highly beneficial for reducing microbial count from raw water with a substantial COD reduction.

Comparison of Antimicrobial Efficacy of Diode Laser, Ultrasonic Activated and Conventional Irrigation with 2.5% NaOCl during RCT: An Interventional Study

The aim and objective of the study was to evaluate and compare the antimicrobial efficacy of a diode laser irradiation, ultrasonic activated and conventional irrigation with 2.5% NaOCl on obligatory and facultative anaerobic bacteria in single-rooted canals. Total of 60 permanent maxillary and mandibular single-rooted (single canal) anterior teeth were selected. First microbial sample (S1) was collected after access opening and working length determination, using a sterile paper point. Cleaning and shaping were performed, with each instrument change accompanied by irrigation using 2 mL 2.5% NaOCl. After cleaning and shaping, disinfection protocol using diode laser (group1), ultrasonic activated irrigation with 2.5% NaOCl (group 2) and conventional irrigation with 2.5% NaOCl (group 3) was performed and second microbial sample (S2) was obtained. The colony characters of each type of growth on each media were noted and the organisms were identified using standard biochemical reactions. Gram-positive and gram-negative facultative anaerobe were predominantly isolated from the culture, and the highest reduction of the microbial count was seen in diode laser group with 60.92% followed by the ultrasonic group with 47.22% reduction and least reduction was observed in conventional irrigation with the ultrasonic group with 37.97%. The results were statistically significant with p-value <0.05. Diode laser disinfection showed the highest reduction of microbial count compared to ultrasonic activated and conventional needle irrigation with 2.5% NaOCl group. This study will help us to choose wisely between various irrigating methods and protocols. Diode laser in our study has shown superior disinfection of the root canals compared to others.

КОРОТКОТРИВАЛА АКУСТИЧНА ОБРОБКА ВОДИ

Purpose. To investigate the process of treatment of different waters with short-term action of acoustic cavitation and to establish the expediency of simultaneous bubbling of different gases into the reaction medium and cavitation. Methodology. The duration of the disaggregation process during the processing of the model medium is 2–3 minutes, while for natural water – 30 minutes. The number of microorganisms (NM) before and after the experiments was determined by counting the colonies that grew on the Petri dishes. For the research we used a model medium based on distilled water with the addition of bacillary cells and natural water. The model environment was exposed to gases of different nature and acoustic cavitation, and natural water was treated only by cavitation. Results. It was found that the process of water purification consists of two processes: the accumulation of microbial counts caused by the destruction of microbial aggregates and the reduction of microbial counts caused by the destruction of microbial cells. Such stages are revealed both at acoustic processing of the microbic water formed on the basis of disaerated distilled water, and natural. It has been experimentally shown that the use of bubbling gases accelerates the disaggregation process by almost 10 times. The proposed method of treatment of different waters with short-term exposure allowed to detect the process of disaggregation of microbial cells with their subsequent destruction in the aqueous medium and to achieve a high degree of water disinfection. Originality. The article proposes the supply of gases of different nature in the reaction medium for disinfection of water from bacteria under cavitation. It has been proven that gas supply during the first three minutes of the process accelerates the breakdown of aggregate aggregates in the aquatic environment under acoustic conditions, which is associated with the formation of additional cavitation nuclei, compared to the process in the absence of gas supply. It was found that at the initial moment of the reaction, the energy of cavitation was spent on breaking up clusters of bacterial aggregates into single cells, and death occurs more slowly than disaggregation. Practical value. It has been experimentally proved that the accumulation of microbial counts in the first stage of the water purification process with short-term action of acoustic cavitation is due to the processes of disaggregation of microorganisms. References 27, figures 2.

Sonolytic-ozonation technology for sanitizing microbial contaminants and pesticide residues from spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) leaves, at household level.

Increasing foodborne illnesses linked with the consumption of contaminated food pose serious health risks. Fresh fruits and vegetables can potentially be contaminated (microbes/chemicals) throughout the supply chain. Various chemical and thermal approaches have been used in the past to decontaminate fresh produce, which have had a negative impact on commodities and health hazardous. Henceforth, this conducted study was aim to test an ecofriendly/green decontamination technique, for impact on food safety and quality of spinach. Freshly harvested spinach leaves were treated with a combined application of ozone and ultrasound (O3+US) for different times (5, 10, and 15 min) in an aqueous medium. Different food safety (microbes and pesticide residues) and quality (VC content, TSS, TA, and weight loss) parameters were studied in comparison with tap washed samples. Total plate count method was used to evaluate microbial contamination and pesticide residues were determined by HPLC. There was gradual decrease in contaminants with increase in O3+US treatment time. Sonolytic-ozonation 10 and 15 min treatments were found optimal in reduction of microbial counts (TPC, E. coli, Salmonella, and Listeria) and pesticide residues (10 min 94.04% and 15 min 99.77% residue reduction). However, chlorophyll degradation was observed in 15 min treated sample under 1-week household storage. There was no significant detrimental impact on quality parameters of spinach during 1 week of storage under refrigerated conditions. So, it was concluded that O3+US treatment for 10 min can be employed for microbial and chemical decontamination in spinach leaves at household level without any negative effect on its quality up to 1 week under refrigerator storage (5 ± 2 ○C).

Known data on the effectiveness of silver nano particles on root canal disinfection.

The goal of endodontic treatment is the debridement and removal of the microbial ecosystem associated with the disease process. The need for root canal disinfectants increases especially in those cases where infection is resistant to the regular treatment and the outcome of endodontic therapy is often compromised. Therefore, it is of interest to document the known effectiveness of silver nanoparticle based root canal disinfectants with other root canal disinfectants on microbial load reduction during root canal disinfection. Known data shows that the overall risk of bias for the selected studies was moderate. Silver nanoparticle based root canal disinfectants showed superior reduction of microbial counts in majority of the studies. This data is limited to vitro studies with no clinical information to validate the use of antimicrobial properties of silver nanoparticles used as root canal disinfectant.

Evaluation of the Effect of Fluoride Application on Periodontal Health during Orthodontic Treatment (A Clinical Study)

Purpose: This study was carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of different fluoride applications on periodontal health (clinical and microbiological) during orthodontic treatment with fixed appliance. Patients & Methods: The study groups were designed randomly into three equal groups using the same type of (fluoride-free) toothpaste. Group I used PERIOMED contains stannous fluoride mouthwash, group II used LISTERINE® contains sodium fluoride Mouthwash and the control group used distilled water. All patients were put onto the recall schedule at zero, 7th, 14 and 28 days. Samples were collected for detection of the interleukin-1 beta level, determination of reduction in microbial count and assessment of the following clinical parameters: pocket depth, plaque index, and gingival index. They were recorded at these time intervals mentioned. Following Orthodontic treatment for all patients, Interleukin- 1 beta and Colony Forming Units (CFUs) were measured. Results: interleukin-1beta level and bacterial count were high at the onset of periodontal inflammation at the same range with no significant differences between the studied groups. At the end of the study, group I and group II showed a marked decrease in the interleukin-1beta level and bacterial count compared to the control group, and there was a statistically nonsignificant difference between group I & II. Conclusion: Stannous fluoride mouthwash showed the best results in the level of IL-1β, since in the reduction of the bacterial count also includes improving in the clinical parameters (PD, PI, GI) compared with the other samples of the study.