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Bone replacement in materials had been used in a wide variety of surgical approaches. The use of such bone grafts for reconstructing osseous defects is the choice of periodontist, which significantly improves the clinical outcome in regeneration procedures. It increases the bone formation and quality of vital bone. A wide range of bone grafting materials, have been applied and evaluated clinically, including autografts, allografts, xenografts, and alloplasts. It substitutes as a basic building block for the periodontal reconstruction, by providing clinical application with its biological functions. This review insight various use of bone graft materials and its characteristic features in promoting its bone formation and emphasis on recent advances in this field.

Background: Neonatal sepsis is one of the most common causes of neonatal mortality and morbidity. Before getting the culture results, it is necessary to initiate empirical antibiotics based on the epidemiology of causative agents and antibiotic sensitivity patterns in the area. Our study aimed to determine the bacteriological profile of common etiologic agents of neonatal sepsis and their antibiotics-sensitivity pattern. Methodology: This study was a descriptive, cross-sectional, retrospective hospital-based survey of 250 neonates' reports with positive blood culture, which was carried out in the Department of Clinical Microbiology and Parasitology of Soba University hospital from January 1, 2017, to July 31, 2017. The data were collected by using a predesigned checklist and were analyzed by using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. Univariate, as well as multivariate analysis, were performed in this study to analyze the data. Results: Gram-negative bacteria were commonly isolated (56%). The most frequently isolated organism was Staphylococcus aureus(34.8%) followed by Pseudomonas species (33.6%) and Klebsiella species (15.2%). Moreover, overall sensitivity among Gram-negative isolates was to imipenem (87.1%), followed by ciprofloxacin (84.7%) and amikacin (75.9%), whereas Gram-positive isolates had a high sensitivity of (93.6%) to vancomycin. Conclusion: Among the studied samples, the most frequently isolated organism was S. aureus. The overall sensitivity among Gram-negative isolates was higher to imipenem ciprofloxacin and amikacin, whereas Gram-positive isolates had a high sensitivity to vancomycin.

Background: Berberine is a natural compound found to have numerous pharmacological activities such as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. It has been the subject of intensive scientific research; however, there have been scanty information on its subacute effect on the heart and kidney. Aims: This work was done to investigate the hepatocellular changes induced by berberine in adult Wistar rats. Materials and Methods: Twenty adult apparently healthy rats were used for this study. The rats were divided into four groups of five per group and fed with pellets and water ad libitum. Group A served as the control, Group B were fed with 2 mg/kg of berberine, Group C with 20 mg/kg, while Group D were fed with 200 mg/kg body weight. Doses were administered once daily using oral gavage for 28 days. Prior to the time of sacrificing the animals, blood samples were collected into plain test tubes and the animals anesthetized before sacrifice. Necropsy was performed, and the tissues (heart and kidneys) processed and stained using hematoxylin and eosin-staining techniques. Serum electrolyte (sodium and potassium), urea, creatinine, creatine kinase, and lactate dehydrogenase were analyzed. Statistical Analysis Used: Data obtained from the study were statistically analyzed using SPSS software (version 21). Results: There were significant increases in urea and creatinine (40.05 ± 14.32, P = 0.031 and 1.93 ± 0.80, P = 0.044) as well as potassium (7.45 ± 1.81, P = 0.026) in the 200 mg/kg-treated animals when compared with the control (14.59 ± 8.03, 0.40 ± 0.03, and 3.60 ± 1.01). The histological architecture of the kidneys showed glomerular atrophy in the 200 mg/kg-treated rats. There was no noticeable histological alteration in the heart. Conclusions: The result showed that berberine was toxic to the kidney at concentrations high as 200 mg/kg.

Background: Drug–drug interactions (DDIs) in oncology are significantly crucial because chemotherapeutic drugs usually have a narrow therapeutic index. Many DDIs are expected to be present between chemotherapeutic agents and chronically used medications as the number of DDIs increases in parallel with the number of drugs taken. Because of the limited literature about this area in Sudan. Thus, this study was conducted to assess the DDIs between chemotherapeutic and chronically used medications in Sudanese patients.Methods: This study was carried out in Khartoum Oncology Hospital from March to May 2019. The data were collected using data collection sheets that were filled from patient records and direct interviews with the patients. The presence of DDIs was detected by Lexicomp® drug interaction software. Results: A total of 117 patients have been involved in this study. The main DDIs between chemotherapeutic and chronically used medications were identified in 20.5% of patients, which represented 8% of the total DDIs between all drugs. Of these, 76% of the DDIs were pharmacodynamic (PD), 20% were pharmacokinetic (PK), and 4% were both PD and PK. The majority (92%) of these DDIs have been moderate in severity and had the risk rate of C (84%). 12.5% of these patients experienced clinical consequences for which they were admitted to the emergency department. DDIs between antihypertensive medications and paclitaxel were the most common (68%). There was a significant association between the age and the presence of DDIs (P = 0.017). Conclusion: DDIs between chemotherapeutic and chronically used medications represented 8% of the total identified DDIs in the study patients.

Covid 19 is a coronavirus disease caused by Covid 19 virus or severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) formerly referred to as novel coronavirus or Wuhan coronavirus or 2019-nCoV causes a deadly respiratory infection. It is an infectious viral agent and a positive-sense (+ssRNA), single-stranded RNA virus that causes acute respiratory disease which can be mild, moderate, or severe illness including death. It is a zoonotic infection and can also be transmitted from human to human. The virus enters the cell by binding with cell that has angiotensin I converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor using the spike. ACE2 receptor is found on the cell membranes of cells in the lungs, arteries, heart, kidney, and intestines. The first outbreak was reported in Wuhan, China, on December 31, 2019, hence the initial name Wuhan coronavirus. Globally, it has a fatality rate of 6.7% with a fatality rate of 3.5% in Nigeria as at April 18, 2020. The infection is air borne through droplets from infected person during coughing, spiting or sneezing. It can also be contracted by touching eyes, nose, or mouth with contaminated hands. Covid 19 may elicit both inflammatory and acute phase immune responses while the mechanical innate immune defense can be overcome to cause severe pneumonia The virus enters the lung through ACE2 receptors on the cell membrane of the lung to destroy cilia resulting into the accumulation of dead tissues, cells/dirts/wastes, and fluids thereby displacing the normal air content of the lung which will eventually bring about dry cough, and difficulties in breathing. The infection can be prevented through basic protective measures which include regular washing of hands with soap and water followed by sanitizing hands with alcohol-based sanitizer, social distancing, avoidance of gathering, quarantine measure applicable to especially those from endemic areas, self-isolation for those who are positive or manifesting related signs and symptoms, use of personal protective equipment, early diagnosis, and adequate intervention. The use of soap and alcohol are effective as soap can break through the lipid layer of the virus to become smaller particles which are washed away by water while alcohol is capable of lysing the virus. Covid 19 is diagnosed in the laboratory by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction Panel. Covid 19 may result into abnormal liver function tests due to abnormal fat retention, elevated plasma creatinine and urea which may be due to kidney damage, elevated C0₂, and decreased oxygen, level due to severe pneumonia, decreased and elevated anti and pro-inflammatory cytokines respectively which may be manifested as fever, acute phase response, decreased erythropoietin due to possible kidney damage, prolong prothrombin time/activated partial thromboplastin time and depleted platelet count which may manifest as disseminated intravascular coagulation. This work reviewed the transmission, case fatality rate, basic protective measures, laboratory diagnosis, and possible laboratory features of Covid 19.

Online since 2^nd November 2018.