Testing endodontic sealers on human umbilical vein endothelial cells

The toxic potential of the endodontic sealers ingredients, especially the unreacted monomer, that can irritate the periapical tissue and interfere with the healing process, thus having a negative impact on the biocompatibility of the material. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of three experimental endodontic sealers on cells viability in vitro. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were used. The experiments were done with solid samples and extracts of sealers in artificial saliva and water. The experiments evaluated the cytotoxicity of the residual monomers that resulted from the tested composites. The decrease in cell viability was quantified by colorimetric measurement of formazan. The components of the sealers dissolved in artificial saliva and water were determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The HUVEC are a novelty for testing the endodontic sealers biocompatibility, with certain advantages compared to other cell types used in the literature, e.g. HELA cells, fibroblasts. The data showed that cytotoxicity was directly linked with the unreacted monomer — 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) present in these composites. Two of the three formulations had little or no cytotoxic effect, which makes them suitable for further testing in order to be used in endodontic treatment.     

Magnesium and other bivalent cations influence upon sodium montelukast effect in experimental-induced thermoalgesia

We tested the influence of magnesium, zinc and copper upon the montelukast (MK, antagonist of cysteinyl leukotriene receptor type 1) effect in experimentally-induced thermoalgesia. We worked on 5 groups of 10 adults, each Wistar rats, that received: group I-control; group II: MK (10 mg/kg) unique administration; group III: MgCl2 (1 mM/kg/day) i.p., 3 days and MK (10 mg/kg) unique administration on the 3rd day; group IV: ZnCl2, (0.1 mM/kg/day), i.p., 3 days and MK (10 mg/kg) unique administration on the 3rd day; group V: copper acetate (0.05 mM/kg/day), i.p., 3 days and MK (10 mg/kg) unique administration on the 3rd day. We determined the thermoalgesic sensitivity (TS) using a tail flick analgesia meter, initially, 3 days after daily cation administration and 3 hours after MK administration. Our data show that MK has a statistically significant reduction of TS vs control group (3.76 +/- 1.04 s vs 1.81 +/- 0.98 s, p < 0.05). Copper and magnesium administration do not significantly change the MK effect to decrease TS. The co-administration of zinc and MK statistically significantly increased the TS of the group that received only MK (2.51 +/- 0.21 s vs 3.76 +/- 1.04 s, p < 0.05). Animals that received only cations (in the above mentioned doses) did not significantly change TS.     

The role of some prostaglandin analogues in experimental intoxication produced by carbon tetrachloride in rats

Prostaglandins are synthesized ubiquitously in the body from unsaturated fatty acids and they act as paracrine messengers. We have studied the influence of a prostaglandin analogue on experimental induced hepatopathy. The tested compound is a synthetic isopropyl ester of PGF2 alpha (IPEF) and as hepato-toxic agent we used CCl4. We worked on four groups of 4 adult male rats each. Group I received no substance; Group II received CCl4 0.1 ml/bw/per os, single dose, for three days; Group III received CCl4 as series I and IPEF 15 micrograms/bw i.p., single dose daily, one hour before CCl4 administration; Group IV received CCl4 as series I and IPEF 50 micrograms/bw i.p., single dose daily. Twenty-four hours after the last administration, samples of blood were taken and ALT, AST, LDH as well as conjugate and unconjugate bilirubin were determined. We also determined MDH, GSH and glutathion peroxidase, in liver homogenate. Our data show that MDH levels are increased in Group I (20.81 +/- 3.15 microM/microgram protein) as compared with both Group III (8.44 +/- 1.32 microM/microgram protein) and IV (7.31 +/- 1.92 microM/microgram protein) which might suggest that prostaglandin analogue IPEF decreases the polyunsaturated fatty acids degradation, at both low and high level. ALAT levels for group that received CCl4 (782 +/- 20.8 U/L) are significantly higher than those for group III (264 +/- 15.4 U/L) and IV (227 +/- 8.4 U/L) which received IPEF at low, respectively high dose. Our data suggest that the synthetic prostaglandin analogue presents stabilizing membrane effects (plasmatic and membrane of some cellular organelles) and reduces peroxide radicals production.     

The influence of some synthetic prostaglandin F2alpha analogous on rat lung

The role of prostaglandins and their synthetic analogous at the level of the female genital system is multiple. The synthetic analogous of the prostaglandin F2 alpha are utilised in a large area of treatments, for multiple purposes, but their influence on the lung is not so well known. The study was made on 2 lots with 12 non pregnant female rats: the first lot was the witness lot and didn't receive any substance. The second lot received 25 micrograms/kg/day Flavoliz (synthetic analogous of the prostaglandin F2 alpha). The prostaglandinic analogous produces vasodilating effects on the lung blood vessels and moderate pulmonary destruction.     

Urinary enzymatic markers (N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase) in assessing the tubulointerstitial compartment in chronic glomerulonephritis related to odontogenic foci

Chronic glomerulonephritis is related to focus infection. Odontogenic foci are frequently involved in glomerulonephritis. The relationship with the odontogenic focus infection can be demonstrated by the occurrence or aggravation of the symptoms of glomerulonephritis: proteinuria, haematuria, high blood pressure and oedema. Glomerular impairment in glomerulonephritis occurs together with inflammatory alterations of the tubulointerstitial compartment that can play an important part in the evolution of the disease. Tubular urinary markers can indicate the activation of this compartment during an infection of a focus, an odontogenic focus in our study.     

A Comparison of the Behavior of Monomolecular and Dual Molecular Probes in F127/Cyclodextrin Systems

Molecular probes are often used to describe local interactions and to characterize inhomogeneities in complex systems. In this study, two series of monomolecular probes (paramagnetic or fluorescent) and a series of dual molecular probes are used to evaluate local changes and the regions targeted by these probes in three pluronic F127 systems, in the absence and in the presence of 2‐hydroxypropyl‐β‐cyclodextrin, which have been previously characterized. All molecular probes used in this study have as a common structural unit the short oligoethylene chains that link (2,2,6,6‐Tetramethylpiperidin‐1‐yl)oxyl (TEMPO) and/or pyrene moieties. Using these probes, changes in hydrophobicity inside the pluronic micelles are evidenced and the micelle‐to‐gel phase transition is characterized.     

Research on the effect of atenolol on lidocaine pharmacokinetics in rats

The aim was to determine the influence of atenolol on lidocaine pharmacokinetics in rats for one hour interval of time (average of a dental intervention). The study was carried out on 2 groups of Wistar rats treated with saline solution (0.5 ml/kg), respectively with atenolol (1.5 mg/kg), administered orally 24 hours and 3 hours before intraperitoneal administration of lidocaine (1.5 mg/kg). Blood samples were collected before and 5, 10, 20, 30, 60 minutes after lidocaine administration. Lidocaine plasma concentrations were determined by HPLC. Some pharmacokinetic parameters of lidocaine were statistically significant higher (p < 0.05, ANOVA) for the rats treated with atenolol compared with control group: Cmax (196.97 +/- 2.15 ng/ml vs. 125.29 +/- 2.90 ng/ml), AUD (7734.07 +/- 129.06 ng/ ml x min vs. 4478.57 +/- 296.61 ng/ml x min), AUC1 after 5 minutes (314.23 +/- 6.59 ng/ml x min vs. 190.71 +/- 19.75 ng/ml x min). Tmax was 20 minutes, similar for both groups. CONCLUSION: local anesthesia with lidocaine might be enhanced in the presence of atenolol compared to controls.