Evaluation of Cytotoxicity and Physicochemical Properties of Calcium Silicate-based Endodontic Sealer MTA Fillapex

IntroductionThe aim of the study was to evaluate the cytotoxicity, radiopacity, pH, and flow of a calcium silicate–based and an epoxy resin–based endodontic sealer, MTA Fillapex (Angelus, Londrina, PR, Brazil) and AH Plus (Dentsply, Konstanz, Germany), respectively.MethodsCytotoxicity, radiopacity, and flow evaluation were performed following ISO requirements. The pH level was measured at periods of 3, 24, 72, and 168 hours. Cytotoxicity was evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay to check the Balb/c 3T3 cells viability at 1- to 4-week periods. Data were statistically analyzed by analysis of variance and the Tukey test with a significance level of 5%.ResultsIn all tested periods, MTA Fillapex was more cytotoxic than AH Plus (P < .05). Although AH Plus presented higher radiopacity than MTA Fillapex (P < .05), both sealers showed minimum required values. MTA Fillapex presented alkaline pH in all experimental times, whereas AH Plus cement showed a slightly neutral pH and a flow significantly lower than that of MTA Fillapex (P < .05).ConclusionsAlthough MTA Fillapex was more cytotoxic than AH Plus, it showed suitable physicochemical properties for an endodontic sealer.     

Urinary fibrogenic cytokines ET-1 and TGF-β1 are associated with urinary angiotensinogen levels in obese children

Background

Fibrogenic cytokines are recognized as putative drivers of disease activity and histopathological deterioration in various kidney diseases. We compared urinary transforming growth factor β1 (U-TGF-β1) and endothelin 1 (U-ET-1) levels across body mass index classes and assessed their association with the level of urinary angiotensinogen (U-AGT), a biomarker of intrarenal renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system (RAAS).

Methods

The was a cross-sectional evaluation of 302 children aged 8–9 years. Ambulatory blood pressure (BP), insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), aldosterone level and renal function were evaluated. U-ET-1, U-TGF-β1 and U-AGT levels were determined by immunoenzymatic methods.

Results

Obese children presented with the lowest levels of U-ET-1 and U-TGF-β1, but the difference was only significant for U-ET-1. In obese children, the median levels of both U-ET-1 and U-TGF-β1 tended to increase across tertiles (T1–T3) of U-AGT (U-ET-1: T1, 19.9 (14.2–26.3); T2, 32.5 (23.3–141.6); T3, 24.8 (18.7–51.5) ng/g creatinine, p?=?0.007; U-TGF-β1: T1, 2.2 (1.8–4.0); T2, 4.3 (2.7–11.7); T3, 4.9 (3.8–10.1) ng/g creatinine, p?=?0.004]. In multivariate models, in the obese group, U-ET-1 was associated with HOMA-IR and aldosterone and U-AGT levels, and U-TGF-β1 was associated with U-AGT levels and 24 h-systolic BP.

Conclusions

Whereas the initial hypothesis of higher levels of urinary fibrogenic cytokines in obese children was not confirmed in our study, both TGF-β1 and U-ET-1 levels were associated with U-AGT level, which likely reflects an early interplay between tissue remodeling and RAAS in obesity-related kidney injury.

     

The launch of opicapone for Parkinson’s disease: negatives versus positives

Introduction: Opicapone is a novel, third generation COMT inhibitor approved for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. Safety and tolerability data is critical to determine the benefit-harm balance and anticipate therapeutic adherence.

Areas covered: This review evaluates the tolerability and safety profile of opicapone. These data were extracted from all published clinical trials, including preclinical, phase I, phase II and phase III studies as well as postmarketing data. Opicapone was safe and well tolerated, with frequencies of treatment-emergent adverse events similar to placebo.

Expert opinion: Opicapone have shown a good safety and tolerability profile. This adds to its proven efficacy and convenient once-daily administration, supporting a role of opicapone as a first-line therapy for motor complications in Parkinson’s disease patients.     

Use of radiographs for periodontal diagnosis in private practice

The aim of the present study was to determine the percentage of dentists who use radiographic examination on the initial appointment, and establish the relation between the use of periodontal probe and graduation year. Dentists were interviewed in their private offices in three cities in Rio Grande do Sul. They were asked about the routine use of radiographic examination and, if applicable, what technique was applied and what clinical instrument was used at the first appointment. Opened and closed questions were included in the interview and for some of them more than one answer was possible. A significant number of dentists (62.9%) reported some kind of radiographic examination at the initial appointment. Among the radiographic techniques, the periapical was the most cited (74.3%), followed by the panoramic (36.2%) and bite-wing (32.9%) techniques. There was an association between the use of periodontal probe and the use of radiographic examination at the initial appointment. Dentists who used periodontal probe used radiographic examination more frequently (p=0.010). More recently graduated dentists (1991-2005) used radiographic examination more than the others (p=0.022). In conclusion, a large number of dentists reported the use of radiographic examination at the initial appointment. There was an association between the use of this examination technique and the use of the periodontal probe; recently graduated dentists used radiographic examinations more frequently than the others.     

Leishmaniasis in cat shelters: A serological,molecular and entomological study

An epidemiological Leishmania spp. and entomological Phlebotomine sandflies survey was performed in cat shelters at leishmaniasis endemic area of Brazil. Blood and conjunctival swab (CS) samples were collected from 94 cats in two animal protection shelters. These samples were subjected to serological tests using the indirect immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) and indirect enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and to molecular test by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In addition, a Phlebotomine sandflies survey was performed in the same shelters. The analyses revealed a positivity of 31.91% (30/94) through ELISA and 29.79% (28/94) through IFAT. The two serological tests showed a positive association with perfect agreement (k = 0.925). None of the cats were positive by Leishmania spp. DNA. One Lutzomyia (Lutzomyia) longipalpis male was found in one of the cat shelters. The results and the implications of our findings are discussed below.     

Effectiveness of the endotracheal tube cuff on the trachea: physical and mechanical aspects

Introduction

The inflation pressure of the endotracheal tube cuff can cause ischemia of the tracheal mucosa at high pressures; thus, it can cause important tracheal morbidity and tracheal microaspiration of the oropharyngeal secretion, or it can even cause pneumonia associated with mechanical ventilation if the pressure of the cuff is insufficient.

Objective

In order to investigate the effectiveness of the RUSCH® 7.5 mm endotracheal tube cuff, this study was designed to investigate the physical and mechanical aspects of the cuff in contact with the trachea.

Methods

For this end, we developed an in vitro experimental model to assess the flow of dye (methylene blue) by the inflated cuff on the wall of the artificial material. We also designed an in vivo study with 12 Large White pigs under endotracheal intubation. We instilled the same dye in the oral cavity of the animals, and we analyzed the presence or not of leakage in the trachea after the region of the cuff after their deaths (animal sacrifice). All cuffs were inflated at the pressure of 30 cmH₂O.

Results

We observed the passage of fluids through the cuff in all in vitro and in vivo experimental models.

Conclusion

We conclude that, as well as several other cuff models in the literature, the RUSCH® 7.5 mm tube cuffs are also not able to completely seal the trachea and thus prevent aspiration of oropharyngeal secretions. Other prevention measures should be taken.     

Effects of the compounds resveratrol,rutin, quercetin,and quercetin nanoemulsion on oxaliplatin-induced hepatotoxicity and neurotoxicity in mice

Oxaliplatin (OXA) is a platinum compound widely used in the treatment of some solid tumors, especially colorectal cancer. Despite its usefulness, oxaliplatin-associated neurotoxicity represents the main dose-limiting factor of this drug, and until now, there is no suitable treatment. Chemotherapy with oxaliplatin also increases the rate of developing hepatic damages with inflammatory activity, termed chemotherapy-associated steatohepatitis (CASH). In the present study, we aimed to compare the effects of a series of antioxidant compounds on simultaneous development of oxaliplatin-induced hepato- and neurotoxicity in mice. Mice BALB/c were treated with oxaliplatin for 6 weeks, 10 mg/kg, intraperitoneally, resulting in mechanical allodynia and hepatic steatosis. We administered the following antioxidant compounds—rutin (RT) (20 mg/kg), resveratrol (RVS) (100 mg/kg), quercetin (QT) (20 mg/kg), and quercetin nanoemulsion (NQT) (20 mg/kg)—daily by gavage to BALB/c, and N-acetylcysteine (NAC) was used as positive control. Treatments with RSV, RUT, or NQT were able to prevent mechanical allodynia when compared to the OXA group, and this effect was associated with decreased c-Fos immunopositivity in the lumbar spinal cord. Regarding the effects on steatohepatitis, RVS, QT, and NQT almost completely reversed the mean liver weight increase induced by OXA. In accordance with these previous data, histological evaluation indicated attenuation of all features of hepatic steatosis evaluated in RSV, RUT, QT, and NQT groups. These compounds were able to reduce the immunopositivity for the apoptosis marker caspase-3. On the other hand, only QT and NQT treatments were able to reduce neutrophil migration measured by myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. These results suggest that the compounds tested, RSV, RUT, QT, and NQT, would be useful for the clinical treatment of neuro- and hepatoxicity induced by oxaliplatin.