Abstract

Dental caries is a widespread infectious disease influenced by bacterial activity, dietary factors, and host

susceptibility. Community water fluoridation has been a key public health measure for caries prevention,

particularly in children. The optimal fluoride concentration in drinking water (0.7 mg/L) balances caries

reduction with minimal fluorosis risk. This study assessed fluoride levels in drinking water and their

correlation with dental caries in primary school children in Gharyan, Libya. A cross-sectional study was

conducted on 350 children (aged 7–10 years) from urban and rural schools in Gharyan. Water samples from

five stores and one groundwater source were analyzed for fluoride concentration using an ion-selective

electrode. Dental caries was assessed using the dmft/DMFT index. Fluoride levels in water stores were

negligible (0.0–0.1 mg/L), while unfiltered groundwater exhibited high concentrations (6.0–7.0 mg/L),

exceeding WHO guidelines (1.5 mg/L). The low fluoride availability in most drinking sources suggests

limited caries-preventive effects from water fluoridation in this region. The study highlights insufficient

fluoride exposure in Gharyan’s public water supply, potentially contributing to higher caries prevalence.

Further research is needed to evaluate alternative fluoride delivery methods and assess groundwater safety

to optimize oral health outcomes.

Keywords. Fluoride Concentration, Drinking Water, Dental Caries, Primary School

ABSTRACT

The goal of this study was to investigate the occurrence and distribution of hyperdontia, hypodontia (which

includes mesiodens and fused teeth), talon cusps, microdontia (which includes peg-shaped lateral incisors), and

macrodontia in patients attending private dental clinics in Gharyan, Libya. During ordinary patient

examinations, the inquiry was undertaken clinically and radiographically. A total of 1219 participants were

included in the study (358 males and 861 females). 57 of patients had dental anomalies in the percentage of

(4.67%), 21 patients (1.72%) had missing teeth, 15 of them had one missing permanent tooth and 6 patients had

two missing permanent teeth (the lower 2nd premolar was the most tooth loss 0.49%). In addition, the study

showed that 16 patients had supernumerary teeth, 10 patients had microdontia and 7 patients had macrodontia,

whereas, two patients had talon cusp. Early detection of a treatable abnormality is critical in developing a

thorough treatment strategy for the patient. Some of the unpleasant impact should be avoidable. In some

circumstances; functional, cosmetic, and occlusal discord can be detected early enough to warrant interpret of

sessional consultation and treatment.

KEYWORDS: dental anomalies; hypodontia; microdontia; macrodontia

Abstract

Our previous study showed that circulating microvesicles (cMVs) of diabetic mice have negative effects on the function of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs). Whether this is true in diabetic patients deserves further study. In this study, the effects of cMVs and EPC-derived MVs (EPC-MVs) on EPC migration, apoptosis, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in healthy controls, well-controlled, and uncontrolled diabetic patients were investigated. The levels of miR-126 and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) in cMVs, EPC-MVs, and/or EPCs were analyzed. Moreover, miR-126 inhibitor or mimic was applied to EPCs to modulate the miR-126 level in EPC-MVs. We found the following: 1) the circulating EPC level was reduced but the circulating EPC-MV level increased in uncontrolled diabetic patients; 2) the cMVs and EPC-MVs of healthy controls had beneficial effects on EPCs (migration, apoptosis, ROS), whereas the effects were reversely changed in the cMVs and EPC-MVs of uncontrolled diabetic patients; and 3) the cMVs and EPC-MVs of uncontrolled diabetic patients carried less miR-126 and had downregulated VEGFR2 expression in EPCs. Manipulating the miR-126 level in EPC-MVs with inhibitor or mimic changed their function. The effects of cMVs and EPC-MVs are compromised in diabetes due to the reduction of their carried miR-126, which might provide a therapy target for diabetic vascular complications.

diabetes mellitus (DM) is considered one of the major risk factors for various cardiovascular complications. Endothelium dysfunction is a key initiator for vascular disease, which results from increased oxidative stress in the vascular cells (39). Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are known to play important roles in maintaining vascular function and structure by repairing or replacing dysfunctional or injured endothelial cells (ECs) (33). Impaired EPC proliferation, differentiation, adhesion, mobilization, and survival have been reported in DM (1, 26). Our previous study has demonstrated that the circulating EPC level is decreased and the function of EPCs impaired in db/db diabetic mice (8). Moreover, we found that the circulating microvesicles (cMVs) of db/db diabetic mice compromised the functions of EPCs. Investigation on the regulatory effects of cMVs on EPCs in diabetic patients could provide novel therapeutic avenues for vascular complications of diabetes.

Extracellular MVs are submicrometric fragments released from the cells in response to activation and apoptosis (22, 37). cMVs are the MVs released from the cells in the blood and from the vascular wall. An elevation of cMV levels has been reported in vascular diseases such as thrombotic diseases, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases (2, 8, 25). Furthermore, one study has shown that the level of cMVs could predict the severity of vascular diseases (30). MVs released from EPCs (EPC-MVs) have been reported to serve as an index for EPC loss and functional incompetence (27). Moreover, the level of circulating EPC-MVs can predict aortic stiffness in atherosclerotic patients (27). Therefore, circulating MV and EPC-MV levels could serve as biomarkers and predictors for vascular diseases. On the other hand, accumulating evidence suggests that MVs mediate cell-cell communication via transferring proteins, mRNAs, and miroRNAs (miRs) from their parent cells to the target cells (5, 17, 29). The functions of MVs are complex and multifactorial, depending on the stimulator and origin. Previously, we demonstrated that cMVs of diabetic mice impair the function of EPCs, whereas cMVs of healthy controls do not have detrimental effects on EPCs (8). However, whether this is true in diabetic patients remains unclear.

Previous studies have shown that miR-126 governs vascular integrity (35) and is a biomarker or mediator of vascular diseases (11, 32). Downregulation of miR-126 impairs EPC function (23). EPC-MVs have been shown to improve ischemia-reperfusion injury of hindlimb and kidney through the transfer of miR-126 to target cells (6, 28). In the meantime, miR-126 has been reported to regulate angiogenic process and EC/EPC function by modulating vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) (13, 15). Our previous study found that EPC-MVs affect EC functions and apoptosis via their carried miR-126 (34). However, it is unknown whether EPC-MVs, as one type of MVs, would affect EPC functions through the miR-126 and its downstream VEGFR2 pathway.

In the present study, we determined the effects of cMVs and EPC-MVs of diabetic patients on EPC survival and functions and explored whether miR-126/VEGFR2 is involved in the mechanism.

Abstract: Objective: The present study has been designed to evaluate the histological effects of the daily consumption of omega-3 on submandibular salivary gland of old rats. Material & methods: Forty old white male rats (12-15 month age old), weighing 300 to 350gs, were used in this study. The rats were divided into two groups (20 rats/each). Control group where rats did not receive any dietary supplement. Experimental group where rats received omega-3 (60 mg/Kg) twice daily for three months through intra- gastric intubation. All rats were sacrificed after three months. Soft tissue specimens were obtained from submandibular salivary gland of the rats in all the studied groups. The sections were examined histologically and ultra-structurally. Results: Histopathological changes observed in control group included; distortion and decrease in the overall size of the acini and granular convoluted tubules increase in the amount of fatty tissue, fibrous tissue and inflammatory cell infiltration. In experimental group, the acini and ducts appeared nearly normal and there was marked decrease in the inflammatory cell infiltration. Electron microscopic examination of the control group revealed cytoplasmic vacuolization in acini and ducts, degenerated organelles and pyknotic nuclei. In experimental group, the acini and ducts appeared nearly normal in size, shape and structure. Conclusion: Omega-3 showed significant improvement in many age related changes of submandibular salivary gland.الملخص: الهدف: صممت الدراسة الحالية لتقييم التأثيرات النسيجية لليوم استهلاك أوميغا 3 على الغدد اللعابية تحت الفك السفلي للفئران القديمة. المواد والطرق: أربعون ذكرا أبيض يبلغ من العمر تم استخدام الفئران (12-15 شهرا) ، التي تزن 300 إلى 350 جراما ، في هذه الدراسة. تم تقسيم الفئران إلى مجموعتين (20 جرأ / لكل منهما). المجموعة الضابطة حيث لم تتلق الفئران أي مكمل غذائي. المجموعة التجريبية حيث الفئران تلقى أوميغا 3 (60 مجم / كجم) مرتين يوميا لمدة ثلاثة أشهر من خلال التنبيب داخل المعدة. تم التضحية بجميع الفئران بعد ثلاثة أشهر. تم الحصول على عينات الأنسجة الرخوة من الغدة اللعابية تحت الفك السفلي للفئران في جميع المجموعات المدروسة. تم فحص الأقسام من الناحية النسيجية والهيكلية الفائقة. النتائج: نسيجية مرضية وشملت التغييرات التي لوحظت في المجموعة الضابطة; تشويه وانخفاض في الحجم الكلي للأسيني والحبيبات تزداد الأنابيب الملتوية في كمية الأنسجة الدهنية والأنسجة الليفية وتسلل الخلايا الالتهابية. في المجموعة التجريبية ، بدت الأسيني والقنوات طبيعية تقريبا وكان هناك انخفاض ملحوظ في الالتهابات تسلل الخلايا. كشف الفحص المجهري الإلكتروني للمجموعة الضابطة عن تفريغ السيتوبلازمي في أسيني والقنوات والعضيات المتدهورة والنوى pyknotic. في المجموعة التجريبية ، ظهرت الأسيني والقنوات تقريبا طبيعي في الحجم والشكل والهيكل. الخلاصة: أظهرت أوميغا 3 تحسنا كبيرا في العديد من الأمراض المرتبطة بالعمر تغيرات الغدة اللعابية تحت الفك السفلي.

Circulating microvesicles (cMVs) are the extracellular MVs released from the cells in the blood and on the vascular wall. Our previous study demonstrates that cMVs of diabetic mouse are detrimental to endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), which are known to be very important for maintaining normal endothelial function and structure. In this study, we compared the levels of circulating EPCs and EPC-derived MVs (EPC-MVs) in diabetic and healthy subjects. Also, the migration ability, apoptosis rate and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production of EPCs cultured from diabetic and healthy subjects were determined. More importantly, we evaluated whether cMVs from healthy subjects (ch-MVs) improves the function of EPCs from diabetic patients (d-EPCs), and whether cMVs from diabetic patients (cd-MVs) impairs the function of EPCs from healthy subjects (h-EPCs). The d-EPCs or h-EPCs were incubated with ch-MVs or cd-MVs for 24 hours. The migration ability of EPCs was analyzed by an assay kit. The apoptotic rate and ROS production were analyzed by labeling with propidium iodide (PI) and dihydroethidium (DHE) respectively, followed with flow cytometeric analysis. Our data showed that (1) there was a decrease in EPCs iv and an elevation in EPC-MVs in diabetic patients when compared to healthy subjects; (2) The migration ability of d-EPCs were decreased, and the apoptosis rate and ROS production were increased in d-EPCs; (3) ch-MVs improve the function of d-EPC through improving its migration ability and decreasing the apoptosis and ROS production; (4) cd-MVs increase h-EPC apoptosis, and increase ROS production. We conclude that cMVs modulate EPC function and this role of cMVs is reversed in diabetes with the mechanism linked to ROS production.