October University of Modern Sciences and Arts

Aim This study aimed to assess how three different treatment protocols affect the survival of teeth and the survival of teeth without further interventions after root canal treatment (RCT), while also considering additional factors that could potentially influence the treatment outcome. Methodology Data were collected from an outpatient clinic database from July 1999 to January 2024 and 14 233 treated teeth could be included in a retrospective cohort study. Treatment protocols incorporated hand files (Protocol 1), multiple‐file rotary NiTi systems added with passive ultrasonic irrigation (PUI), citric acid and occasionally chlorhexidine (Protocol 2) and reciprocating instruments added with PUI, EDTA, warm vertical compaction and calcium silicate‐based sealer (Protocol 3). Survival analysis coupled with Cox proportional hazard regression and Kaplan–Meier curves took into account several variables including treatment, patient demographics and experience of the treatment provider. Confounding was addressed by entropy balancing and gradient boosted logistic regression. Multistate analysis was conducted to evaluate the influence of treatment protocols on the transition between various intervention states. Results Survival analysis revealed that Protocol 3 significantly enhanced survival rates and survival rates without further interventions by 30%–40% compared to both other protocols. Additionally, higher patient age was identified as a negative predictor of treatment outcomes. Supportive periodontal treatments were a positive predictor. Factors such as tooth type, vitality, number of visits, experienced treatment provider, calcium silicate‐based sealer and patient gender did not significantly affect outcomes in the adjusted models. Multistate analysis confirmed that Protocol 3 was associated with significantly reduced incidences of retreatment and extraction. Conclusion Protocol 3 significantly enhanced survival and survival without further interventions compared to both other protocols. Patient age and supportive periodontal treatments were significant predictors of outcomes throughout all calculated models.

The aggressive nature and high recurrence rate of tongue cancer, along with the severe side effects associated with current conventional treatments, underscore the urgent need for alternative therapeutic strategies that offer improved selectivity and reduced toxicity. Calcium titanate nanoparticles (CaTiO3NPs) have previously demonstrated significant cytotoxic effects against MCF-7 breast cancer and A549 non-small cell lung cancer lines. However, their therapeutic potential against tongue cancer remains unexplored. Therefore, this study investigates, for the first time, the cytotoxic effect of CaTiO3NPs on HNO-97 tongue cancer cells in comparison to normal human skin fibroblasts (HSF) cells. Using various assays, we assessed their effects on cell viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, genomic DNA and mitochondrial integrity, and cell death pathways. Cytotoxicity assessment using the sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay demonstrated that CaTiO3NPs significantly reduced HNO-97 cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner, with an IC50 of 29.67 µg/ml. In contrast, normal HSF cells exhibited a much higher IC50 of 262.6 µg/ml, indicating strong selectivity for cancer cells (selectivity index = 8.85). Mechanistic studies revealed that HNO-97 cell exposure CaTiO3NPs at the IC50 concentration markedly increased ROS production, inducing oxidative stress. This led to significant genomic DNA damage, confirmed by the comet assay, and mitochondrial dysfunction, validated through Rhodamine-123 staining. Flow cytometry analysis indicated the induction of both apoptotic and necrotic pathways. At the molecular level, qRT-PCR analysis revealed significant downregulation of key genes, including the pro-apoptotic p53, the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2, and the mitochondrial ND3 gene, supporting the involvement of mitochondrial dysfunction and impaired DNA repair mechanisms in the observed cytotoxic effects. Conclusion: Collectively, these findings demonstrate that CaTiO3NPs elicit strong and selective multi-modal cytotoxic effects against HNO-97 tongue cancer cells and minimal impact on normal HSF cells, supporting their promise as a novel nanotherapeutic agent for tongue cancer. Further in vivo studies are needed to validate their therapeutic efficacy, clinical applicability and biosafety. Graphical abstract Mechanistic pathway of CaTiO3NPs induced cytotoxicity in HON-97 tongue cancer cells

The Containerized Attribute-Based Access Control System (ABACS) using Digital Keys provides an efficient means of granting or revoking access to users in residential and commercial buildings. Majorly used credential technologies show an absence of encryption capabilities, performance challenges and present a lack of proper scalability. The proposed system, ABACS, offers a container-based access control solution with enhanced security, scalability and performance, via a user-friendly management, and a convenient mobile application. ABACS system Authentication, integrity, and confidentiality are guaranteed using multiple security methods, including a Trusted Execution Environment (TEE) for safe digital key encryption, and the Transport Layer Security (TLS) protocol for secure channel communication, supported by a digital certificate. Performance is achieved through the use of the Constrained Application Protocol (CoAP) for embedded system internet communication, and the Near-Field Communication (NFC) channel for quick digital key sharing. Access control and user management is achieved using the Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC) model deployed on-premise. ABACS applies the principles of containerization to enable modularity, service isolation, and horizontal scalability, critical features for supporting large-scale system distribution. ABACS effectively mitigates major attack vectors, including man-in-the-middle, replay (both internet and NFC), credential cloning, and unauthorized mobile access through a combination of per-session nonces, TLS/DTLS-secured channels, tamper-aware embedded controllers, and backend-enforced policies. These layered protections offer stronger guarantees compared to prior systems, many of which overlook or partially address such threats. Performance evaluations confirm ABACS’s backend is both scalable and responsive. In sequential request handling, ABACS processes requests at least ten times faster than iPACS. Under concurrent load, it maintains more than double the throughput, demonstrating robust system efficiency and supporting real-world multi-user environments. In terms of user-friendliness, ABACS delivers a streamlined and intuitive mobile experience. Users register and authenticate with minimal effort through biometric and login credentials, avoiding the friction of manual security code entry or reliance on physical Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) cards. This modern design improves usability and adoption while maintaining strong security guarantees.

Background Oral health literacy (OHL) and marital satisfaction (MS) are known to affect the overall health and quality of life of parents and their children. A possible relation between MS and oral health has never been studied before. We aimed to; first; assess levels of OHL and MS of Egyptian mothers, and second; investigate a possible relation between these levels and the oral health status of the mothers and their preschool children. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted on 130 preschool-aged children and their mothers utilizing a structured, questionnaire consisting of three sections; 1- demographic and oral health-related data; 2- seven questions of ENRICH Marital Satisfaction (EMS) Scale of mothers, and 3-A modified Arabic Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Dentistry (A-REALD-30) to measure the mother’s ability to read 30 commonly used dental terms. Clinical examination of the participants was conducted afterwards to evaluate the oral health status using the Decay, missed filled teeth (DMFT), dmft, plaque, and gingival indices (PI and GI). Results The mean (SD) of DMF, PI, and GI for mothers were 5.07(3.41), 1.29(0.45), and 1.13(0.52) respectively. Children’s mean (SD) dmft was 5.42(3.27), the mean (SD) of total EMS and A-REALD-30 scores were 23.41(6.79) and 21.65(6.02) respectively. There was a positive correlation between the EMS score and A-REALD-30, p-value=0.44, and r=0.068, a negative correlation between EMS score and DMFT, dmft, PI, and GI, p-value=0.0043, 0.032, 0.956, and 0.730, and r=0.253, 0.188, 0.005, and 0.031, respectively. Whereas A-REALD-30 showed a positive correlation with the DMFT and dmft, and a negative correlation with PI and GI p-value=0.549, 0.412, 0.158, and 0.670, and r=0.053, 0.073, 0.125, and 0.038, respectively. Conclusions Within our limitations, this work showed for the first time that there is a possible association between MS and oral health status of mothers and their preschool children. Further, this work unexpectedly showed a positive relation between A REALD-30 and DMFTs implying that REALD-30 alone would not be enough and is suggested to be used with other tools to assess OHL levels. Further long-term studies are needed to clarify how literacy and marital status affect oral health.

Background Rapid technological progress has made robotics (R) and artificial intelligence (AI) essential components of our everyday existence. In addition, robots designed for dental applications have been created. This study aimed to assess Egyptian dental students’ Knowledge, perception, and attitude toward the role of robotics and AI in dental practices. Methods A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted involving 204 Egyptian students from the Faculty of Dentistry at October University for Modern Sciences and Arts. The electronic link to the questionnaire was created using Google Forms and distributed to the students via email. The questionnaire included 26 questions that assessed the students’ knowledge, perception, and attitude toward the role of R and AI in Dentistry. Results A total of 85.8% of students were familiar with the concepts of R and AI. Among them, 66.2% demonstrated a good understanding of the applications of R and AI in dentistry, while 59.3% showed a positive attitude towards these technologies. Dental students perceived the use of R and AI favorably, particularly in dental implants and CAD/CAM technologies, with 80.6% and 82.3% expressing approval, respectively. However, 66.9% opposed the idea of replacing dentists with these technologies. Additionally, 75% expressed a desire to learn more about R and AI in the future. Conclusions Dental students possess a good understanding of and positive attitudes toward the use of R and AI in diagnosis and interpretation. They believe that AI can play an active role in various aspects of dental practice. However, they express uncertainty about the possibility of AI and robotics replacing dentists.

Amaranthus species, including A. spinosus Linn, are well‐known vegetables whose leaves, shoots, fragile stems, and grains are commonly utilized as herbs in soups or sauces, aside from traditional uses to treat a wide range of illnesses. Ovarian hyperthecosis is a common syndrome associated with metabolomics and endocrinology that lowers female fertility. The investigation of novel biomarkers and targeted therapies for the detection and treatment of ovarian hyperthecosis is of interest. Types of noncoding RNAs known as circular RNAs (circRNAs) have covalently closed cyclic structures, are widely distributed, and exhibit expression patterns that are particular to different stages of development. Ovarian hyperthecosis was induced in rats via dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) followed by 1 month of treatment with 50 and 100 mg/kg of the A. spinosus EtOH extract. Further, oxidative stress biomarkers including GSH and MDA were investigated in addition to hormonal biomarkers, such as Luteinizing hormone and testosterone hormone, a metabolomics approach modeled using orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS‐DA), and circRNA (hsa‐circ‐0001577). Furthermore, UHPLC‐ESI‐Orbitrap‐MS analysis was used for metabolites profiling to identify active agents in the plant extract. Results revealed a significant improvement in these biomarkers in the DHEA group treated with A. spinosus, especially at high doses, and further confirmed via histopathological assays. Multivariate data analyses of serum metabolome indicated significant variations in serum profiles among normal, disease, and treated groups. Variable importance in the projection (VIP) values guided the selection of differentiated metabolites, revealing significant changes in metabolite concentrations. UHPLC‐ESI‐Orbitrap‐MS analysis identified 72 bioactive metabolites belonging to phenolics, triterpenoidal saponins, and pyridines In conclusion, A. spinosus could be a management approach for ovarian hyperthecosis therapy via regulating circRNA (hsa‐circ‐0001577), disturbed hormonal balance, and metabolomics biomarkers based assays.

Granuloviruses (GVs) associated to the cotton leafworm Spodoptera littoralis, particularly type I, have been poorly examined. In this study, a field-collected baculovirus isolate, Spodoptera lit-toralis granulovirus (SpliGV) was characterized. Viral granules with a single rod-shaped virion with a range size of 271-358 in length and 148-171 nm in width, were detected by transmission electron micros-copy. The genome pattern of SpliGV was compared to that of the sister strain Spodoptera litura granu-lovirus (SpltGV) isolate K1 upon restriction endo-nuclease digestion, and its identity was confirmed. The SpliGV isolate showed to be closed and shares a 99.07% genetic similarity with the Spodoptera litura granulovirus isolate K1, and 95.22% with Spodoptera littoralis granulovirus isolate 66, both classified as Type I granulovirus. The median lethal concentration values (LC 50), measured as the concentration of viral occlusion bodied (OBs), for the SpliGV isolate against S. littoralis larvae were 1.76 × 10 5 OB ml-1 for second instar larvae and 2.92 × 10 5 OB ml-1 for fourth instar larvae ten days post-infection. Based on its host specificity and virulence traits, the SpliGV isolate is a potential bioagent candidate for the control of S. littoralis.

The swift emergence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) across interconnected One Health compartments poses a significant global threat. Although plant growth-promoting (PGP) bacteria possess numerous attributes beneficial to host plants, many of these bacteria also harbor ARGs, necessitating a focused assessment of their negative implications. In this context, here we performed whole genome sequencing of 14 PGP endophytic strains isolated from root nodules of faba beans, belonging to three Klebsiella oxytoca species complex (KoSC): K. grimontii (n = 5), K. michiganensis (n = 5), and K. pasteurii (n = 4). We performed comparative genomics, molecular typing, and pangenome analyses on these strains. We identified significant diversity within the KoSC population, classifying the strains into five sequence types (STs), three of which are novel to this study (ST-542, ST-569, and ST-629). Phylogenomic analysis revealed that the bacterial strains clustered more closely by ST than by their source of isolation. Annotation of gene clusters indicated that all assembled genomes are enriched with genes involved in PGP activities, alongside a robust array of genes conferring tolerance to abiotic stresses. Importantly, our findings disclosed that the 14 assembled genomes harbored multiple ARGs, conferring resistance to various antibiotic classes, with 71% of the population classified as multidrug-resistant based on the in vitro antibiotic susceptibility assay. Furthermore, all genomes contained an array of virulence factors critical for survival, pathogenesis, biofilm formation, and root colonization. In conclusion, this study substantiates the hypothesis that certain PGP bacteria may serve as potential reservoirs of multidrug resistance, posing significant public health risks. Thus, the future advancement of bacteria-based biofertilizers should integrate environmental considerations and monitor their impact on antibiotic resistance dissemination in soil ecosystems. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12866-025-04002-7.

This paper investigates the environmental benefits of adopting hybrid vernacular-modern building technologies through a detailed life-cycle assessment (LCA) of a residential prototype known as the “Ecofordable House” (EH). The EH integrates hybrid techniques, including partially reinforced interlocking compressed stabilized earth brick walls (ICSEB), jack arch and funicular shell roofing systems, and date palm midrib components. Its environmental impacts are compared to those of a reinforced concrete house (CH) use as the baseline conventionally adopted in the Middle East. The LCA follows a cradle-to-grave scenario, covering stages A1–A4, B1–B5, and C1–C4, with additional reference to stage D. The results showed that the CH has a value of 698.22 kg CO2e/m², while the EH has a Global Warming Potential of 368.17 kg CO2e/m², which represents a reduction of approximately 47% in global warming potential (GWP). Fossil-based emissions in the EH are 46% lower, biogenic emissions are reduced by 91%, and land use and land-use change (LULUC) have an impact reduction of 82%. The acidification potential is 43% lower, while eutrophication across freshwater, marine, and terrestrial resources is 28%–44% lower. The photochemical ozone creation potential (POCP) is reduced by 43%, and the resource depletion impact for elements and for fossil fuels is reduced by 50% and by 43%, respectively. Water use is 18% lower. Material production (A1–A3) is identified as the primary driver of environmental impacts for both prototypes. Fired clay bricks, concrete, and reinforcement steel are the major contributors toward GWP for CH, while Portland cement, concrete, and reinforcement steel dominate the GWP for EH, but with much lower values due to their reduced quantities. For CH, the major building part contributors are the foundation, roofs, and external walls, while in the EH, conventional reinforced concrete (RC) foundations and external walls are the major contributors. These results support the significant environmental benefits of adopting hybrid modern and vernacular building technologies and materials as ways of reducing environmental impacts while ensuring more durable and structurally sound buildings in hot, arid climates.

Highlights Intermittent claudication in the lower limbs is a bothersome symptom in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Pulsed electromagnetic therapeutic modality is a newly recommended intervention for managing PAD-induced lower-limb intermittent claudication when added to exercise rehabilitation. Abstract Aim. Despite the improvement with rest, lower-limb intermittent claudication is a bothersome issue/symptom in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Utilizing its benefits in increasing vasodilation/angiogenesis in patients with circulatory disorders/issues, adding pulsed electromagnetic therapeutic modality (PEMTM) to exercise rehabilitation of PAD is a newly recommended intervention in managing PAD-induced lower-limb intermittent claudication. This interventional study aimed to check the effects of adding PEMTM to elliptical exercise on vascular hemodynamics, functional outcomes, and quality of life in PAD sufferers. Methods. PAD older men were assigned randomly into the group of elliptical exercise (n = 20, received only elliptical exercise and by-physician prescribed for-PAD pharmacotherapies) or study group (n = 20, received PEMTM, elliptical exercise, and by-physician prescribed for-PAD pharmacotherapies). The eight-week PEMTM or elliptical exercise was applied 3 times weekly. The following outcomes were evaluated: PAD patients’ ankle brachial index test, diameter of posterior tibial artery, lower-limb claudication pain time, lower-limb claudication pain distance, modified walking-impairment questionnaire, short-form-36 health survey, disease-specific quality-of-life evaluation by the intermittent claudication questionnaire, summation score of short physical performance battery, pain-free six-minute walked distance, and the total six-minute walked distance. Results . The present paper showed a significant effect of elliptical exercise alone or combined with PEMTM on all measured parameters with a significant superiority to the combined application of elliptical exercise and PEMTM. Conclusion . Gained hemodynamic and functional benefits of elliptical exercise in PAD elderly could be magnified by adding PEMTM to elliptical exercise.

RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) has transformed transcriptomic research, enabling researchers to perform large-scale inspection of mRNA levels in living cells. With the growing applicability of this technique to many scientific investigations, the analysis of next-generation sequencing (NGS) data becomes an important yet challenging task, especially for researchers without a bioinformatics background. This protocol offers a beginner-friendly step-by-step guide to analyze NGS data (starting from raw .fastq files), providing the required codes with an explanation of the different steps and software used. We outline a computational workflow that includes quality control, trimming of reads, read alignment to the genome, and gene quantification, ultimately enabling researchers to identify differentially expressed genes and gain insights on mRNA levels. Multiple approaches to visualize this data using statistical and graphical tools in R are also described, allowing the generation of heatmaps and volcano plots to represent genes and gene sets of interest. Key features • Provides a beginner-friendly protocol for RNA-Seq analysis to obtain insights into gene expression. • Pipeline starts with raw .fastq files and involves analysis in command line/terminal and R (via RStudio). • Yields a variety of output files that represent mRNA levels amongst different samples. Output files include count files, heatmaps, ordered lists of DEGs, and volcano plots.

Sporadic Alzheimer’s disease (AD), which accounts for the majority of cases, is sturdily influenced by lifestyle factors such as dietary habits, obesity, and diabetes, leading to its classification as Type 3 diabetes. To model this pathological link, our AD-like model was developed by feeding Wistar male rats a high-fat diet with fructose in drinking water (HFFD) for 8 weeks, followed by a single dose of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). This group was compared with a normal control group fed a standard diet and a β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB)-treated group (125 mg/kg, p.o.), administered starting 3 h after LPS and continuing for 1 week. The results demonstrate that BHB treatment illuminated cognitive gains, as indicated by the Y-maze, Morris water maze, and novel object recognition tests. In addition, it preserved hippocampal cytoarchitecture, reduced neurodegeneration, and attenuated amyloid plaques and phosphorylated Tau deposition. Cellularly, BHB restored critical molecular mechanisms, including increased lysosomal-associated membrane protein 2A (LAMP2A) hippocampal content as the main marker of chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA), along with the chaperon protein Hsp70. Moreover, BHB alleviated neuroinflammation by inhibiting the nucleotide-binding domain, leucine-rich–containing family, and pyrin domain–containing-3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation alongside the downstream targets cleaved caspase-1 and IL-1β/IL-18 cytokines. BHB also reduced pyroptotic markers, caspase-11 and gasdermin-N, and microglia-induced inflammation as it shifted microglial polarization toward the neuroprotective M2 phenotype. Finally, BHB normalized hippocampal neurotransmitter levels of the inhibited acetylcholine and serotonin. These findings support BHB as a promising, multifaceted treatment for AD, highlighting the roles of CMA, Hsp70, and 5-HT in slowing disease progression and improving cognitive function. Graphical abstract