Correction to: A multi-parameter evaluation of the neuroprotective and cognitive-enhancing effects of Origanum onites L. (Turkish Oregano) essential oil on scopolamine-induced amnestic rats

Metabolic Brain Disease -     

A validated capillary electrophoretic method for the determination of indacaterol and its application to a pharmaceutical preparation

Indacaterol is a new inhaled ultra-long acting ${\beta }_2$-agonist. It has been recently approved in the European Union for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. This paper reports, for the first time, a method for the determination and validation of Indacaterol (IND) using an internal standard in capsules. Capillary electrophoretic separation was performed on an uncoated fused-silica capillary (50 cm effective length, 75 μm i.d.) and background electrolyte composed of 20 mmol L^?1 of sodium tetraborate buffer, 15% (v/v) methanol (pH = 10.0) with the application of 20 kV of potential; 10 s at 5 × 10³ N m^?2 (50 mbar) of injection time; and wavelength of 200 nm and 25 °C of temperature. The linearity was evaluated in the range of 4.90 × 10^?6 mol L^?1 (2.50 μg mL^?1) and 3.94 × 10^?5 mol L^?1 (20.00 μg mL^?1), with R = 0.9993 for inter-day. LOD and LOQ values were 2.18 × 10^?8 mol L^?1 (0.011 μg mL^?1) and 7.25 × 10^?8 mol L^?1 (0.037 μg mL^?1) for inter-day, respectively. The precision values were 0.50–1.06% for intra-day and 2.12% for inter-day as RSD%. The accuracy was tested by the standard addition method with the recovery values being between 98.79 and 99.09 as percentages with RSD% interval of 0.01–0.80. The developed method was validated according to ICH guidelines. Indacaterol was successfully determined in Arcapta^® capsule dosage form by the validated CE method with a relative error of 0.28%. The result was within the requirements of the USP 34-NF29. Therefore, the validated method may be used for the determination of Indacaterol in its capsules in quality control laboratories.     

Stereological examination of curcumin’s effects on hippocampal damage caused by the anti-epileptic drugs phenobarbital and valproic acid in the developing rat brain

The anti-epileptic drugs phenobarbital and valproic acid have an extremely strong negative effect on cognitive processes such as learning and memory in the developing brain. We examined whether or not curcumin has protective effects on neuronal injury caused by these drugs in the developing rat brain. Young male Wistar rats were studied in two groups, a 7 days old and a 14 days old group (35 rats in each). Both groups were then divided into 7 sub-groups as the control, curcumin, dimethylsulfoxide, phenobarbital, valproic acid, phenobarbital + curcumin, and valproic acid + curcumin groups (n = 5 in each group). At 24 h after the intraperitoneal injection of the compounds, the rats were sacrificed, and the hippocampal tissue was subjected to stereological analysis with the optical fractionation method. Total numbers of neurons in the hippocampus of the 7 days old and 14 days old rats were calculated. It was found that treatment with phenobarbital resulted in a loss of 43% of the neurons, and valproic acid induced a loss of 57% of the neurons in the 7 days old rats. Curcumin prevented this loss significantly with only 19% in the phenobarbital group and 41% in the valproic acid group. In the 14 days old rat groups, phenobarbital was found to reduce the number of neurons by 30%, and valproic acid reduced it by 38%. Curcumin treatment limited neuronal loss to 3% in the phenobarbital + curcumin group and 10% in the valproic acid + curcumin group. These data strongly indicate that curcumin is a protective agent and prevents hippocampal neuronal damage induced by phenobarbital and valproic acid treatment.     

Tryptophan-kynurenine profile in pediatric autoimmune hepatitis

Immunologic Research - The impairment of regulatory T cells (Tregs) is a characteristic feature of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), and the degradation of tryptophan (Trp) to kynurenine (Kyn), by gamma...     

EXAMINATION OF GUTTA-PERCHA CONES FOR MICROBIAL CONTAMINATION DURING CHEMICAL USE

Objective:

The aim of this study was to evaluate the degree of microbial contamination in packaged gutta-percha cones before and during use in clinical conditions.

Material and Methods:

Sealed packages of #15-40 gutta-percha cones were opened under aseptic laboratory conditions. Two gutta-percha cones from each size were randomly drawn and added to tubes containing glass beads and 750 μL of saline. The tubes were vortexed, serially diluted and samples of 250 μL were cultured on agar plates. The plates were incubated at 37°C for 3 days and colonies were counted. The initially sampled packages were distributed to 12 final year dental students. The packages were collected at the end of the first and the third clinical practice days and sampled as described above.

Results:

Baseline microbial counts did not exceed 3 CFU. At the end of the first and the third day, additional contamination was found in five and three of the packages, respectively. The ratio of contaminated packages at the first day and the third day was not significantly different (z-test; p > 0.05). The numbers of microorganisms cultured at the first day (8 ± 9.9 CFU) and the third day (4.5 ± 8.3 CFU) were not significantly different (Wilcoxon signed-rank test; p > 0.05). No significant correlation was found between the number of filled root canals and cultured microorganisms at either the first day (Spearman''s rho; r = 0.481, p = 0.113) or the third day (r = -0.034, p = 0.917).

Conclusions:

Gutta-percha cones taken directly from manufacturer''s sealed package harbored microorganisms. Clinical use of the packages has been found to be associated with additional contamination of the gutta-percha cones. The counts of cultured microorganisms did not correlate well with the number of filled root canals.     

Management of a fused central incisor in association with a macrodont lateral incisor: a case report

Fusion is developmental anomaly of the dental hard tissue and is defined as the joining of 2 developing tooth germs resulting in a single large tooth structure. Different treatment methods can be used according to the requirements of the situation. The purpose of this case report was to present the multidisciplinary treatment of a patient who had a permanent maxillary left central tooth fused with a supernumerary incisor and a macrodont permanent maxillary right lateral incisor. In the radiographic evaluation, it was determined that the fused tooth had 2 separate roots. The supernumerary tooth was extracted after hemisection, and endodontic treatment was performed on the remaining portion. The distal side of the macrodont lateral incisor was recontoured, and the right central incisor was reshaped with a strip crown to provide aesthetic appearance and to gain space for the alignment of teeth. Following the restoration of the incisors, orthodontic treatment was provided.     

Selected characteristics of an Ormocer and a conventional hybrid resin composite.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this in vitro study was to evaluate surface roughness, hardness and wear resistance of an Ormocer (Admira), polymerized by a plasma arc system. A secondary objective was to investigate two placement technique bulk or incremental layers. METHODS: Blocks from Admira and Amelogen (a microhybrid composite) were prepared in cylinders, 3 mm in diameter, and 2 and 5 mm in thickness (bulk or incrementally placed) and polymerized by a plasma arc and a conventional light system. Surface roughness measurements were taken by a Surface Profilometer on the top of the specimens. Vickers hardness measurements, with a load of 600mN were taken on the top and bottom of 2 mm and top, intermediate and bottom of 5 mm thick specimens. For the wear test, specimes (8 mm in diameter and 2 mm in thickness) of Admira, Amelogen and amalgam were tested in a ball-on design, by circular movements of the antagonist (alumina ball; diameter 10 mm) under 10 N load. For the statistical evaluation of the results of surface roughness, microhardness and wear test; a paired samples t-test and Kruskal-Wallis analysis of variance test, were performed. RESULTS: Admira showed highest hardness values in all polymerization types at the top surface and this was statistically significant (p < 0.05). These highest hardness values were obtained with conventional polymerization (81.84 +/- 1.167 VHN). Meanwhile, the wear resistance of Admira was found to be higher than Amelogen (Wd(admira) = 0.024 +/- 0.00149 mm3; Wd(amelogen) = 0.032 +/- 0.00075 mm3). However, Admira demonstrated the highest surface roughness value compared to Amelogen, with plasma arc 5 s (0.65 +/- 0.023 microm). Amelogen was found to have the lowest surface roughness value with conventional 40 s (0.45 +/- 0.012 microm). SIGNIFICANCE: The results indicated that Ormocer, which was developed by Ormocer technology, demonstrated higher microhardness and wear resistance when compared to a hybrid composite; however, the polishability of Ormocer needs further investigation. Also the selection of visible light activated composite resins exhibited higher surface microhardness values when polymerized with conventional rather than with plasma arc.     

Determination of elemental composition of substance lost following wear of all-ceramic materials

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to test the possible elemental release of four different all-ceramic materials in a wear machine to predict results about their long-term behavior in the oral environment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four different all-ceramic materials with different chemical compositions were selected for the wear testing. A total of 20 cylindric samples, five for each ceramic group, were prepared according to the manufacturers' instructions. These were subjected to two-body wear testing in an artificial saliva medium under a covered unit with a computer-operated wear machine. The artificial saliva solutions for each material were analyzed for the determination of amounts of sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and lithium elements released from the glass-ceramic materials. The differences between and within groups were statistically analyzed with a one-way ANOVA, followed by Duncan tests. RESULTS: The statistical analyses revealed no significant differences among Na, K, Ca, or Mg levels (P > .05) released from the leucite-reinforced groups, while there was a significant (P < .05) increase in Li release from the lithium disilicate group. CONCLUSION: Considerable element release to the artifical saliva medium was demonstrated in short-term wear testing. The lithia-based ceramic was more prone to Li release when compared with other elements and materials.     

Vasorelaxant effect of a self-etch adhesive system through calcium antagonistic action

Etch-and-rinse adhesives can cause vasorelaxation via mechanisms occurring in the endothelium and smooth muscle, including the release of nitric oxide (NO). This effect might promote or aggravate bleeding if such adhesives are placed inadvertently on iatrogenic pulp microexposures. The present study assessed the vasoactive potential of a newer generation self-etch adhesive, Clearfil Protect Bond (CPB), on isolated rat aorta. Cumulative concentrations of the primer, bond, and mixture of CPB elicited concentration-dependent relaxation of phenylephrine-induced active tonus in the rat aorta, demonstrating that the tested self-etch adhesive can lead to vasorelaxation of pulp vessels that is mediated by Ca(2+) antagonistic effect. The vasorelaxant effect of CPB or its components was mediated neither via endothelium-dependent NO and prostanoid-dependent mechanisms nor by K(+) efflux through K(+) channels. Mechanical removal of the endothelium did not significantly alter the relaxation induced by CPB. Assuming these data can be extrapolated to the clinical situation, CPB, either in mixed form or by its components, can lead to vasorelaxation of pulp vessels that is mediated by a Ca(2+) antagonistic effect. If CPB is placed inadvertently on pulp microexposures during direct pulp capping, this effect might promote bleeding that might impair healing and, via plasma exatravasation, might compromise resin infiltration and polymerization.