Nanotechnology is a new discipline with huge applications including medicine and pharmacology industries. Although several methods and reducing agents have been employed to synthesize silver nanoparticles, reactive chemicals promote toxicity and nondesired effects on the human and biological systems. The objective of this work was to synthesize silver nanoparticles fromGlycyrrhiza glabraandAmphipterygium adstringensextracts and determine their bactericidal and antimycotic activities againstEnterococcus faecalisandCandida albicansgrowth, respectively. 1 and 10 mM silver nitrate were mixed with an extract ofGlycyrrhiza glabraandAmphipterygium adstringens.Green silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were characterized by TEM, Vis-NIR, FTIR, fluorescence, DLS, TGA, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. Bactericidal and antimycotic activities of AgNPs were determined by Kirby and Bauer method and cell viability MTT assays. AgNPs showed a spherical shape and average size of 9 nm if prepared withGlycyrrhiza glabraextract and 3 nm if prepared withAmphipterygium adstringensextract. AgNPs inhibited the bacterial and fungal growth as was expected, without a significant cytotoxic effect on human epithelial cells. Altogether, these results strongly suggest that AgNPs could be an interesting option to control oral biofilms.

Infections caused by parasites in humans represent one of the main public health concerns. Amoebiasis, a parasitic infection caused by Entamoeba histolytica (E. histolytica), is considered endemic in Mexico, where Argemone mexicana (A. mexicana) has been used in traditional medicine to treat intestinal parasitic diseases. The objective of this work was to evaluate the potential biological activity of A. mexicana on E. histolytica. For this purpose, a methanolic extract was prepared from A. mexicana leaves, and a differential fractionation was carried out with solvents of different polarities. The inhibitory capacities of the extract and its fractions were evaluated in vitro using HM1-IMSS, a strain of Entamoeba histolytica. A. mexicana extract was found to have a growth-inhibiting activity for E. histolytica, showing IC50 = 78.39 μg/mL. The extract was characterized phytochemically, and the methanolic extract fractions were analyzed by liquid chromatography (HPLC) and mass spectrometry (MS). Berberine and jatrorrhizine were present in the active fractions, and these compounds may be responsible for the antiparasitic activity. The identification of amoebicidal activity of A. mexicana on E. histolytica gives support to the traditional use. Further studies with berberine and jatrorrhizine will be carried out to understand the mechanism involved.

These data suggest that HAp plays a protective role, decreasing the cytotoxic effect of 3M Vitrebond induced by CaF.

The most common treatment to trichomoniasis is the use of metronidazole; however several studies have shown that at least 5% of clinical cases of trichomoniasis are caused by parasites resistant to the drug. Lipophilic bismuth nanoparticles (BisBAL NPs) have an important antimicrobial activity; however the influence of BisBAL NPs on human parasites has not been studied. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of bismuth lipophilic nanoparticles on Trichomonas vaginalis growth. The bismuth nanoparticles synthesized by colloidal method are composed of ≥ 100 nm crystallites and have a spherical structure, agglomerating into clusters of small nanoparticles. Based on cell viability assays and fluorescence microscopy, Trichomonas vaginalis growth was inhibited with the addition of 62.5–125 μg/mL of BisBAL NPs. Fluorescence micrographs showed live T. vaginalis in absence of any drug treatment and after exposed for 24 h. with 500 μg/mL of BisBAL NPs or 1.3 μg/mL metronidazole a dark background was observed with cellular debris stain. In summary, here we present evidence for first time of the antiparasitic activity of lipophilic bismuth nanoparticles being as effective as metronidazole to interfere with T. vaginalis growth. BisBAL nanoparticles could be an interesting alternative to treat and prevent parasitic infections.

A male pediatric (9 years and 10 months old) patient, who had a presumptive diagnosis of hemophilia due to persistent bleeding after treatment with steel crowns made in an earlier appointment, came for consultation to the Faculty of Dentistry at the Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León. Interconsultation was carried out by a hematologist who noticed coagulation factor VIII decreased through laboratory examinations confirming hemophilia A diagnosis. A complete dental treatment was planned and conducted together with the hematologist who gave directions to prepare the patient with missing clotting factor replacement by cryoprecipitates or with factor VIII concentrate intravenously before and after the dental intervention in the hospital. The aim of the article is to highlight that hemophilia is a disease which can be detected during dental consultation in some patients and, for them to be successfully treated, a multidisciplinary management protocol involving hematologists and dentists is required.