Evaluation of fluoride release from experimental TiF4 and NaF varnishes in vitro

Fluoride varnishes play an important role in the prevention of dental caries, promoting the inhibition of demineralization and the increase of remineralization.

Objective

This study aimed to analyze the amount of fluoride released into water and artificial saliva from experimental TiF₄ and NaF varnishes, with different concentrations, for 12 h.

Material and Methods

Fluoride varnishes were applied on acrylic blocks and then immersed in 10 ml of deionized water and artificial saliva in polystyrene bottles. The acrylic blocks were divided in seven groups (n=10): 1.55% TiF₄ varnish (0.95% F, pH 1.0); 3.10% TiF₄ varnish (1.90% F, pH 1.0); 3.10% and 4% TiF₄ varnish (2.45% F, pH 1.0); 2.10% NaF varnish (0.95% F, pH 5.0); 4.20% NaF varnish (1.90% F, pH 5.0); 5.42% NaF varnish (2.45% F, pH 5.0) and control (no treatment, n=5). The fluoride release was analyzed after 1/2, 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 h of exposure. The analysis was performed using an ion-specific electrode coupled to a potentiometer. Two-way ANOVA and Bonferroni''s test were applied for the statistical analysis (p<0.05).

Results

TiF₄ varnishes released larger amounts of fluoride than NaF varnishes during the first 1/2 h, regardless of their concentration; 4% TiF₄ varnish released more fluoride than NaF varnishes for the first 6 h. The peak of fluoride release occurred at 3 h. There was a better dose-response relationship among the varnishes exposed to water than to artificial saliva.

Conclusions

The 3.10% and 4% TiF₄ -based varnishes have greater ability to release fluoride into water and artificial saliva compared to NaF varnish; however, more studies must be conducted to elucidate the mechanism of action of TiF₄ varnish on tooth surface.     

Low‐fluoride toothpaste and deciduous enamel demineralization under biofilm accumulation and sucrose exposure

Cury JA, do Amaral RC, Tenuta LMA, Del Bel Cury AA, Tabchoury CPM. Low‐fluoride toothpaste and deciduous enamel demineralization under biofilm accumulation and sucrose exposure. Eur J Oral Sci 2010; 118: 370–375. © 2010 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2010 Eur J Oral Sci Because low‐fluoride toothpaste (500 p.p.m. F) has not clearly been shown to be effective for controlling caries in caries‐active children, this experimental in situ study was conducted to evaluate whether its effect, when compared with a conventional toothpaste (1,000–1,500 p.p.m. F), would depend on the cariogenic challenge. During four phases of 14 d each, 14 volunteers used 500 or 1,100 p.p.m. F toothpaste and wore palatal appliances containing deciduous enamel slabs, on which biofilm was accumulated and exposed to 20% sucrose solution at frequencies increasing from two to eight times per day. The F concentration was determined in the biofilm formed, and enamel demineralization was assessed by surface hardness loss (%SHL) and integrated area of hardness × lesion depth (ΔS). The F uptake by enamel was also determined. Fluoride in biofilm fluid and solids was statistically higher when conventional F toothpaste was used. The toothpastes did not differ statistically in terms of %SHL, ΔS, and F in enamel, but only the conventional F toothpaste significantly reduced caries‐lesion progression according to the frequency of sucrose exposure. The findings suggest that the high‐F availability in biofilm, resulting from the use of conventional toothpaste compared with low‐F toothpaste, may be important for reducing caries‐lesion progression in conjunction with a high frequency of sucrose exposure.     

Prevention of Sexually Transmitted Diseases in HIV-Infected Individuals

Prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is an important part of the care of the HIV-infected individual. STIs have been associated with increased risk of transmission and acquisition of HIV. Among HIV-infected persons, treatment failures and high recurrence rates of some STIs are more common. Despite the recognized importance of prevention and discussion of sexual health, rates of screening for STIs are suboptimal. Moreover, rates of STIs such as syphilis continue to increase particularly in men who have sex with men (MSM). This review focuses on the most common STIs seen among HIV-infected individuals and recommendations for screening and prevention.     

Communicating with women about mammography

Background/Methods. We report survey results of the types of tools used to communicate with women about breast cancer screening and the content areas included in each tool for member countries of the International Breast Cancer Screening Network (IBSN).Results. In addition to using pamphlets and invitation letters, new technologies are being used such as the Internet which allows for easy updating of information and can provide interactive modules. Several countries have addressed the needs of specific populations such as indigenous populations or blind women. All countries provide basic information, although they do not provide all the same information.Conclusion. More research is needed to understand what women need to make an informed decision about mammography and to learn what the best modalities are to provide this information.     

Diabetic retinopathy complications--12-year retrospective study

It is analyzed, on a retrospective study on 12 years, the incidence of diabetus melitus cases, hospitalized in the Ophthalmologic Clinic from Craiova with special mention to the frequency of the diabetic retinopathy, of it's complications and in an accordance to other general diseases, especially cardiovascular's, which contributes to the aggravation of the diabetic ocular in juries evolution. The study underlines the high incidence of the new founded cases with diabetus melitus in complicated diabetes retinopathy stage; the high frequency of ocular complications is explained, according to our statistic facts and through an insufficient treatment, sometimes incorrect and many other cases total neglected by the patients.     

Synthesis of (+)- and (-)-cis-2-[(1-adamantylamino)-methyl]-1-phenylcyclopropane derivatives as high affinity probes for sigma1 and sigma2 binding sites

Selective ligands for either sigma1 (sigma1) or sigma2 binding sites are potentially useful for gaining a better understanding of the physiological functions of these proteins. Moreover, potent and selective homochiral sigma1 and sigma2 binding site ligands represent leads to potential radioligands for tumour imaging with positron emission tomography (PET). On the basis of their structural similarity to previous leads, new (+)- and (-)-cis-2-[(1-adamantylamino)-methyl]-1-phenylcyclopropane derivatives were synthesised and their binding affinities for sigma1 and sigma2 binding sites were determined. Each enantiomer showed high affinity for both sigma1 and sigma2 binding sites, but only (-)-cis-methyl-2-[[1-adamantyl(methyl)amino]methyl]-1-phenylcyclopropane-carboxylate, (-)-4, showed appreciable selectivity for binding to sigma1 versus sigma2 sites. The enantiomers of cis-(2-[[1-adamantyl(methyl)amino]methyl]-1-phenylcyclopropyl)methanol, 6, expressed the highest affinity for sigma1 and sigma2 binding sites. Ligands (-)-4, (+)-6 and (-)-6 might be rapidly labelled in their N-methyl groups by methylation of the N-desmethyl analogues with [11C]iodomethane to provide prospective radioligands for PET. The N-desmethyl analogues, which are also high affinity ligands, were prepared and shown to undergo satisfactory methylation with iodomethane.     

Investigation into the role of apolipoprotein B gene 8344C/T variant on plasma cholesterol levels by allele-specific PCR amplification

The 8344C/T polymorphism of the apoB gene was genotyped by an original modification of PCR allele-specific amplification consisting in a single amplification reaction double-primed by two opposite allele-specific oligonucleotides nested in a larger amplified fragment. This method was used to genotype 200 randomly selected healthy individuals (113 males, 87 females). The frequency of the rare allele in this random Italian population was 0.240, i.e. not far from the 0.282 frequency observed in hypocholesterolemic Norwegians and suggestive of a moderating effect on LDL levels of our population. However, we did not find any significant cholesterol-lowering effect of this polymorphism either by comparing the frequency of mutant alleles in the population stratified for its plasma lipoprotein levels or by studying the association between ApoB genotype and the different lipoproteins. In conclusion this ApoB polymorphism appeared to have a secondary role in LDL- and HDL-cholesterol variations of our population.     

The AIB1 polyglutamine repeat does not modify breast cancer risk in BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers.

This is by far the largest study of its kind to date, and further suggests that AIB1 does not play a substantial role in modifying the phenotype of BRCA1 and BRCA2 carriers. The AIB1 gene encodes the AIB1/SRC-3 steroid hormone receptor coactivator, and amplification of the gene and/or protein occurs in breast and ovarian tumors. A CAG/CAA repeat length polymorphism encodes a stretch of 17 to 29 glutamines in the HR-interacting carboxyl-terminal region of the protein which is somatically unstable in tumor tissues and cell lines. There is conflicting evidence regarding the role of this polymorphism as a modifier of breast cancer risk in BRCA1 and BRCA2 carriers. To further evaluate the evidence for an association between AIB1 glutamine repeat length and breast cancer risk in BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers, we have genotyped this polymorphism in 1,090 BRCA1 and 661 BRCA2 mutation carriers from Australia, Europe, and North America. There was no evidence for an increased risk associated with AIB1 glutamine repeat length. Given the large sample size, with more than adequate power to detect previously reported effects, we conclude that the AIB1 glutamine repeat does not substantially modify risk of breast cancer in BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers.     

Anaemia in cancer: pathophysiology and treatment

Anaemia in cancer patients is multifactorial and may occur as a either a direct effect of the cancer, as a result of the cancer treatment itself, or due to chemical factors produced by the cancer. The clinical symptoms of anaemia vary according to the individual's capacity to respond to blood loss or reduced red cell production.The haematological features in anaemic patients depend on the different types of malignant disease. Clinical and laboratory evaluation, and examination of the bone marrow can provide important diagnostic clues in many cases. Decisions are commonly made based on subjective consideration rather than on objective data. Blood transfusion involves many hazards, some of which may be reduced or avoided. Erythropoietin (EPO) treatment has been found to be effective in preventing anaemia and in reducing the need for blood transfusions, although it would be useful to identify high-risk patient subgroups who would benefit most from this expensive treatment. In advanced cancer patients the use of blood transfusion should be evaluated on an individual basis, according to the presence of distressing symptoms and life expectancy. These measures are unlikely to have an effect in irreversible and progressive bleeding states.     

The genetic and clinical outcome of isolated fetal muscular ventricular septal defect (VSD)

Introduction: Our objective was to evaluate the incidence of chromosomal aberration (both microscopic and submicroscopic) and the clinical outcome of fetuses with isolated muscular ventricular septal defect (VSD).

Material and methods: The study included 40 pregnant women whose fetuses were diagnosed with isolated muscular ventricular septal defect (mVSD). Of these, 30 patients underwent amniocentesis and 10 declined. All samples were tested by chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA). Of the 40 women in the study, 32 gave birth and the clinical outcome of the children was retrieved from the patients’ medical records.

Results: Of the 30 patients who underwent amniocentesis, one was detected with mosaic Klinefelter syndrome and one was detected with a pathogenic copy number variant unrelated to the VSD. Clinical follow-up was performed on 26 children after birth. The first postnatal echocardiography did not detect a VSD in 13 (50%) of the followed-up children. Spontaneous closure occurred in another eight (30.8%) children during the postnatal follow-up period. In only five children (19.2%) VSD was still detected by echocardiography after the first year of life.

Discussion: Isolated muscular VSD diagnosed prenatally does not appear to be a significant risk factor for chromosomal abnormalities and has a favorable clinical outcome.