Journal of Medical and Oral Biosciences

Dear Colleagues, Researchers, and Authors, It is our great pleasure to announce the release of the new June issue of the Journal of Medical and Oral Biosciences (JMOB). This issue presents a distinguished collection of multidisciplinary scientific articles covering various fields of medicine, dentistry, oral sciences, biomedical sciences, microbiology, pathology, pharmacology, nanotechnology, and public health. The diversity of topics published in this issue reflects the journal’s vision in supporting multidisciplinary scientific research and encouraging collaboration between different medical and biological specialties. We are proud of the valuable scientific contributions submitted by researchers from different universities and research institutions, which continue to enrich the scientific content and academic quality of JMOB.

Low-grade chronic inflammation is central to the pathogenesis of Type 2 diabetes and early diabetic nephropathy; therefore, the predictive biomarkers of the early renal and metabolic dysfunction could be cytokines like IL-6, TNF-α and IL-10. This study intended to assess the IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-al levels in Type 2 diabetes mellitus patients and to determine their possible application as predictive inflammatory biomarkers of early diabetic nephropathy. The study was a case-control study with 150 participants (100 patients with T2DM and 50 control), who admitted to Al-Habbobi Teaching Hospital, Iraq for the period extended January 2024 to February 2025. Diabetic patients were categorized into two groups first with nephropathy and the second without. Diagnosis was based on American Diabetes Association criteria (ADA) criteria and nephropathy was based on microalbuminuria and eGFR. Fasting blood sampling and clinical assessment were done. The biochemical parameters were automatically measured and level of IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α were measured using ELISA. Ages and sex of T2DM patients were similar to the controls but with greater BMI, blood pressure, HbA1c, and lower eGFR. Inflammatory imbalance was manifested by a high level of IL-6, TNF-α, and CRP and a decrease in IL-10. Patients with nephropathy at an early stage possessed increased pro-inflammatory indicators and ACR with reduced IL-10. There was a positive correlation between IL-6 and TNF-α and HbA1c and ACR and negative correlation between eGFR. Regression analysis revealed that IL-6, TNF-α, HbA1c and BMI were independent predictors of early nephropathy. In conclusion, high IL-6 and TNF-α and low IL-10 are indications of chronic inflammatory responses that lead to insulin resistance, endothelial dysfunction, and early kidney damage in T2DM. These cytokines alone foresee nephropathy because of their effects on oxidative stress, mesangial expansion, and glomerular permeability.

Zika virus (ZIKV) has emerged as a serious global health threat, with expanding geographic transmission and association with neurological complications. As ZIKA virus spreads rapidly and more knowledge of its long-term effects are needed to guide clinical management and public health policy. This in-depth review gives an analysis of the historical background, epidemiology, pathogenesis and clinical manifestations associated with Zika virus. This review intends to focus on the many-sided nature of this virus, which affects pregnant women and children; presents problems in regard to developing a treatment regimen or vaccine, and provides testimony to how important vector control measures are. Screening, monitoring and possible interventions of the fetus in controlling Zika virus during pregnancy are all subjects for further study. Moreover, there is also a look at the advances and problems in Zika virus vaccine development. In conclusion, this review revealed the need of the interdisciplinary and combined effort to take on new public health challenges and control spreading of Zika virus.

Maintenance of primary dentition is important for a preventing arch-length discrepancy. Therefore, successful root canal treatment is important for keeping such teeth until natural exfoliation occurs. This research was conducted to quantitatively assess the sealing ability and time taken for obturation with Zinc Oxide Eugenol via different three obturation methods. Thirty-six extracted anterior primary teeth samples were included in this study. Canals were prepared by K-files (15–45) and obturated by ZOE. The teeth were divided randomly into three experimental groups (n=12), randomly as follows: Group I (Modified Disposable Syringe), Group II (Reamer Technique) and Group III (Tuberculin Syringe). The dye extraction technique was utilized for microleakage evaluation, and obturation time was recorded for each sample. All results were statistical analyze, and P < 0.05 was considered to be significant. The mean microleakage of the modified disposable syringe group was lower than microleakage amounts in the tuberculin syringe and reamer groups with no statistical difference (p > 0.05). In terms of obturation duration, using the modified disposable syringe technique, the time was less than the tuberculin group with no statistical significance difference, and less compared to that of the reamer technique group with a statistical significance difference (p < 0.05). In conclusion, modified disposable syringe that used in this study was the most acceptable obturation method when ZOE was used to obturate the primary teeth. It has a better apical seal and saves up on chair time, which is of high importance in successful pediatric practice.

Acinetobacter baumannii is considered the third most common cause of catheter-associated urinary tract infections (UTIs). Its ability to form biofilms and produce urease contributes to catheter blockage, enhancing its virulence and reducing the effectiveness of antibiotics. UTIs caused by A. baumannii are increasingly concerning, and meropenem remains a last-resort treatment for infections caused by this pathogen. However, the emergence of meropenem-resistant (MER-R) A. baumannii has severely compromised its clinical effectiveness. This study aimed to investigate the antibiofilm activity and underlying mechanisms associated with MER-R A. baumannii. Urine samples were collected from 102 patients referred to Baghdad Medical City and immediately placed in sterile tubes before initial culture on MacConkey agar. Identification and confirmation of bacterial isolates were performed using the Vitek® 2 Compact system with a Gram-negative (GN) identification card, which includes 48 biochemical tests. Antibiotic susceptibility testing and biofilm activity assays of A. baumannii were also conducted. The results confirmed the isolation of A. baumannii. Antibiotic susceptibility testing revealed that a sub-minimum inhibitory concentration (sub-MIC) of 62 µg/mL meropenem exhibited a significant biofilm-inhibitory effect against multidrug-resistant wild-type A. baumannii strains. Strong biofilm-producing isolates were incubated with 1 mL of sub-MIC colistin for 24 and 48 hours at 37 °C. Meropenem was further evaluated for its ability to inhibit biofilm formation by A. baumannii. Conclusion: This study highlighted the mechanisms underlying antibiofilm activity against meropenem-resistant A. baumannii. Targeting biofilm formation and associated virulence factors can significantly reduce bacterial colonization and catheter obstruction, offering a promising strategy to enhance treatment efficacy and improve patient outcomes. These findings provide valuable insights for developing alternative therapeutic approaches against multidrug-resistant A. baumannii infections.

Smoking is a major risk factor for many oral disease and changes such as the oral microbiome and the integrity of the epithelial cells. It is a major driver of microbial dysbiosis and causes early cytological changes which gives potential to inflammation, therefore increasing the risk for oral pathological conditions. This study intends to investigate the link between microbial dysbiosis and epithelial changes in regular smoker’s subjects, and determine the smoking related oral diseases. Eighty participants were studied (40 smokers and 40 non-smokers). Analysis of salivary samples were performed for total bacterial counts, microbial composition, and diversity index. Buccal swabs were performed to collect the oral epithelial cells, and assessed cytologically for cell diameter, nuclear diameter, N/C ratio, inflammatory cell count, and atypia. Smokers had greater bacterial load (7.92 ± 0.48 log CFU/mL), proportion of pathogenic bacteria (61.8 ± 7.9%), and reduced diversity (2.08 ± 0.27). Cytological findings were consistent with both larger nuclear diameter (9.6 ± 1.3) and N/C ratio and higher inflammatory cell counts (38.5 ± 6.4 cells/HPF) in smokers compared with non-smokers (all p < 0.001). Smokers had cytological atypia in 35.0%, while non-smokers did not (P < 0.01). In Conclusion, Smoking induces significant microbial dysbiosis and early epithelial cytological changes in the oral cavity.

Breast Cancer (BC) is most common in women. About two-thirds of BC cases are hormone-dependent. The proliferation, differentiation, & survival of both normal tissue & breast cancer are regulated by the interleukin (IL) family. This study aimed to measure and compare the serum levels of three pro-inflammatory interleukins (IL-18, IL-23, as well as IL-27) with human growth hormone (HGH), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and cancer antigen 15–3 (CA 15–3) in Iraqi BC patients and control subjects. In addition to determine the correlation between those markers and clinical-pathological variants. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 65 Iraqi women who had been diagnosed with breast cancer & 65 healthy female controls. Clinical pathology data, such as age, BMI, histological grade, BC types, and lymph node status, were associated with serum levels of HGH, CEA, and CA 15-3, as assessed by the Electro Chemiluminescence Immune Assay (ECLIA), as well as various ILs, as determined by the ELISA approach. The Serum (HGH) level in BC patients were significantly elevated, measuring approximately twice as high as the control group. IL-18 levels were highly significantly increased, reaching more than three times the concentration of controls. In a similar vein, IL-27 levels almost doubled in the BC group, while IL-23 exhibited a highly significant rise (P > 0.0001). Relevant relationships were identified between these biomarkers and various clinic pathological features. The biomarkers being studied HGH, CEA, CA15-3, IL-18, IL-23, & IL-27 markedly distinguish breast cancer patients from healthy controls. However, they show no significant correlation with tumor grade, stage, metastasis or histological types in this study population, suggesting their primary utility lies in initial detection rather than staging.

Nanotechnology is first proposed in 1959, and it explains the manipulation of materials at microscopic scales. The increasing use of new technologies is leading to a fundamental revolution in the healthcare sector. Recently, nanotechnology, its applications have had a major impact on modern medicine. This review focuses on nanotechnology and its roles and applications in improving medical diagnostics, reducing side effects from targeted therapies, addressing major issues and supporting the development of custom and cost-effective healthcare solutions. A full electronic search in multiple databases like PubMed, and Cochrane were done. Relevant publications on nanotechnology revolutionizing in healthcare mostly in biological physics were collected and analyzed. The current review showed that nanoparticles are used in drug delivery systems, enabling personalized medicine by targeting the particular regions, such as the blood-brain barrier. Magnetic nanoparticles for brain tumor targeting and smart nanoparticles for intracellular delivery are two important innovations. In order to develop medical technologies and treatments, nanotechnology focus on a multidisciplinary such as biology and chemistry. Nanotechnology use several approaches included design, creation, and applications. In conclusion, this study indicated that combining biomedical physics and nanotechnology might improve medicine efficiently, contribute to more effective patient treatment and healing. Additionally, it provides a new technique for making medicine more personalized in the future.

Most students experience low self-confidence and anxiety when performing their first local anesthesia injection despite the methods of their training. This study intends to evaluate the effect of physiological hand tremor and anxiety on students’ performance during their first local anesthesia practice. Third-year students (n=130) participated in this study. The study group comprised (77 students) that had manikin training, then observed their colleagues administer local anesthesia on each other, and then practiced it themselves. The control group was (53) students transitioned from manikin training to clinical practice on each other without observation. The physiological hand tremor, instrument handling and technique were assessed by two faculty members, and then the students answered a questionnaire with the Interval Scale of Anxiety Response (ISAR). In the study group, (41.6%) had a physiological hand tremor compared to (51%) in the control group, and a higher percentage of students’ responses on the anxiety scale in the study group (61%) were calm and relaxed than in the control group (49%). A statistically significant weak negative correlation was found between physiological hand tremor and technique/instrument handling (rs= -0.333, p<0.05) and (rs=-0.238, P<0.05), respectively, as well as between anxiety levels and technique (rs= -0.210, p<0.05). Physiological hand tremor was a significant negative predictor for instrument handling (p<0.05), but anxiety level was not (p>0.05). Both physiological hand tremor and anxiety level were significant negative predictors for correct technique (p<0.001and p=0.05, respectively). In conclusion, decreased hand tremors and reduced anxiety levels independently enhanced students’ performance. Thus, to improve the development of psychomotor skills, training methods must target both factors as independent yet complementary pathways.

Cosmetic procedures have become increasingly popular worldwide among youths, reflecting changing societal norms and technological advancements. This study intends to investigate the prevalence of minimally invasive facial cosmetic procedures among undergraduate students, and factors affect the use of these procedures. An institution-based cross-sectional study conducted among undergraduate students of Ishtar Medical Institute from October 2025 to March 2026. The data collected by using an online questionnaire that covered many domains, including socio-demographic data and data related to invasive facial cosmetic procedures. The number of respondent students to the online questionnaire was 594. About 13.8% of them underwent minimal invasive facial cosmetic procedures. Student age, gender, residency, region of residence, and family income were found to be statistically significant predictors for cosmetic procedure use. The percentages of the students seek cosmetic interventions were 46%, and 39.6%, for the desire of beautify and attraction, and social media influence respectively. While, 43% of the students who had no cosmetic procedures reported that IFC procedures were not necessary. The most reported procedures were lip filler (42.7%) and laser hair removal (25.6%). Among those who had IFC, 35.4% did it in beauty centers and 26.8% in clinics. In conclusion, the moderate prevalence of IFCs among the undergraduate students underscores the need to understand the psychological factors influencing the desire to undergo these procedures. Additionally, factors like age, gender, living situation, and housing status are significant predictors.to determine the role of phage therapy in routine clinical practice.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a pathogen that causes chronic and difficult-to-treat infections, especially in patients with cystic fibrosis, burn wounds, and immunocompromised patients. Its extraordinary ability to establish biofilms and develop multidrug resistance has significantly affected the effectiveness of traditional antibiotic therapy, and the treatment of bacteriophage infections has once again become a subject of scientific concern. This present review provides a general overview of bacteriophage therapy for P. aeruginosa, focusing on the underlying microbiological processes, strategies of biofilm therapy, and progress in clinical translation. Important aspects of phage–host interactions, including adsorption, intracellular replication and bacterial lysis, and factors that determine therapeutic efficacy, such as phage resistance and immune modulation are discussed. The role of phages in destabilizing biofilms of P. aeruginosa by degrading extracellular polymeric substances through enzymatic activity, disrupting quorum sensing, and having synergistic effects with antibiotics and other antimicrobial agents is particularly emphasized. In addition, this review summarized the existing preclinical and clinical information regarding the safety and therapeutic potential of phage therapy in respiratory, wound, and device-associated infections. Issues relating to regulatory guidelines, phage preparations and dosing standardization, and delivery route enhancement are also considered. This review integrates mechanistic knowledge with a translational perspective and introduces bacteriophage therapy as a promising and biologically plausible adjunct or alternative to antibiotics in the management of recalcitrant P. aeruginosa infections and the need to develop well-designed clinical trials to determine the role of phage therapy in routine clinical practice.

Periodontitis is a complex chronic multifactorial inflammatory disease, and among the various risk factors, the one of the most important modifiable risk factors is smoking. Smoking is a significant public health problem because it affects not only the mouth, but also the immune system, and increases the risk of cancer, respiratory diseases and cardiovascular diseases. Smokers have higher risk of developing periodontal disease at about five to six times compared with non-smokers. Heat-not-burn tobacco products do not burn directly but produce an aerosol, marketed as a potentially reduced-risk alternative to conventional cigarettes. However, their impact on periodontal health remains to be determined. This literature review aims to underscore the potential role of heat-not-burn tobacco products on the periodontium, with particular focus on oxidative stress and antioxidant homeostasis. Current evidence indicates that heat-not-burn products may still be harmful to periodontal tissues, although some studies report that they may be less harmful than conventional cigarettes. These effects may include changes in the inflammatory response, oral microbiome, and oxidative stress/antioxidant balance, which may contribute to the progression of periodontitis. Therefore, more longitudinal clinical studies are required to elucidate the long-term effects of heat-not-burn tobacco products on periodontal health.

The research aims to examine the therapeutic effect of rosuvastatin (RSV) on methotrexate (MTX)- induced liver toxicity, focusing on tissue integrity and oxidative damage. For this aim, 30 adult albino-type male rats were categorized into 3 groups of 10 rats each: normal control, MTX-treated, and MTX+RSV-treated. Intraperitoneal administration of 20 mg/kg MTX was utilised to induce liver toxicity in MTX-treated and MTX+ RSV -treated groups on day 1. Following induction, MTX+ RSV -treated rats were orally delivered RCV at 20 mg/kg as a therapeutic intervention for one week. The therapeutic duration was contingent upon prior research. Histopathological and biochemical parameters, including alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), were assessed, along with the expression of oxidative stress indicators (malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced glutathione (GSH)) in hepatic tissue. Results revealed that RSV markedly reduced the severity of MTX-induced hepatic injury by attenuating elevations in hepatic biochemical markers, including ALT and AST, and simultaneously rectifying histological abnormalities. Moreover, RSV therapy in MTX-exposed rats markedly decreased oxidative stress markers, including MDA, while increasing the level of antioxidative molecules, notably GSH, in hepatic tissues. The study concluded that RSV may help against MTX-provoked hepatic injury, due to its robust antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Dental caries is strongly associated with Streptococcus mutans, which contributes to biofilm formation through virulence factors such as the gtfB gene encoding glucosyltransferase B. Chlorhexidine (CHX) mouthwash is widely used as an antimicrobial agent; however, its molecular effect on virulence gene expression remains insufficiently explored. This study intends to evaluate the in vivo effect of 0.12% chlorhexidine mouthwash on the expression of the gtfB gene in Streptococcus mutans. A prospective, self-controlled before-and-after paired study was conducted on 40 patients with active dental caries. Dental plaque samples were collected before (T0) and after (T1) a 14-day regimen of twice-daily chlorhexidine mouthwash use. Gene expression was assessed using RT-qPCR, with 16S rRNA as the housekeeping gene. The expression levels were calculated using the 2^−ΔΔCt method, and statistical analysis was performed using a paired t-test. A significant reduction in gtfB expression was observed following chlorhexidine use with an approximate 7-fold downregulation (fold change = 0.14). This reduction was highly significant (P < .0001). In conclusion, Chlorhexidine mouthwash significantly suppresses gtfB gene expression in S. mutans, indicating its ability to inhibit key virulence mechanisms involved in formation of biofilm and development of dental caries. These findings support its ability to use as an effective preventive strategy, particularly in high-risk patients.

Immune and endocrine system regulation, as well as physiological homeostasis, are all significantly impacted by sleep quality. Numerous biological changes, such as differences in thyroid hormone levels and hematological indices, have been associated with sleep deprivation and poor sleep quality. This study aims to investigate the relationship between university students' sleep quality and specific hematological markers and thyroid hormones. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 130 students (male and female) with a mean age of approximately 23 ± 2 years from the Technical Institute-Baqubah. Blood samples (5 ml) were collected from each participant under aseptic conditions. Then, hematological parameters including WBC, RBC, Hb, PCV, and PT were analyzed using an automated hematology analyzer. Serum samples were separated and used to measure thyroid hormones (T3, T4, and TSH). The results demonstrated that poor sleep quality was related to a significant increase in WBC count, indicating a potential inflammatory response. In contrast, hemoglobin levels and packed cell volume were significantly lower among participants with poor sleep quality. Additionally, elevated levels of T4 and TSH were observed in individuals with inadequate sleep duration. The study found that insufficient sleep is associated with major changes in thyroid function and blood components, such as decreased hemoglobin and increased white blood cell counts. High levels of the hormones T4 and TSH were also observed, which could point to a thyroid-stimulating axis issue. The results show that sleep deprivation has localized rather than systemic effects.