Shear Bond Strength of Self-etching Adhesive Systems with Different pH Values to Bleached and/or CPP-ACP-treated Enamel

Purpose: To compare shear bond strengths of three different self-etching adhesive systems of different pH values to enamel bleached with carbamide peroxide, treated with casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP), or treated with CPP-ACP subsequent to bleaching with carbamide peroxide. Materials and Methods: Thirty-six human third molars were cut into 4 sections and randomly assigned to 4 groups (n = 36): group I: no treatment; group II: bleaching; group III: CPP-ACP; group IV: bleaching and CPP-ACP. After surface treatments, the samples of each group were further divided into three subgroups (n = 12) based on the adhesive used. The adhesives Clearfil SE Bond (CSE), AdhesE (ADE), and Adper SE Plus (ADP) were applied, and resin composite cylinders with a diameter of 2 mm and a height of 4 mm were bonded to the enamel. Then the specimens were subjected to shear bond strength testing. Two-way ANOVA and a post-hoc Tukey's test were used for statistical analysis (α = 0.05). Results: There were significant differences between the adhesive systems (p < 0.001) and surface treatments (p < 0.001), but no significant interactions were observed between these variables (p = 0.78). The CSE adhesive system showed the highest bond strength, and the bleaching procedure reduced bond strengths (p = 0.001). Furthermore, there were no significant differences in shear bond strength values between the control and CPP groups. However, the differences between other groups were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Bleaching reduced shear bond strength to enamel, but CPP-ACP application did not affect the bond strength to intact and previously bleached enamel. The bond strength of adhesives with different pH values to enamel was material dependant.     

Level of Education and Gender-specific Self-reported Oral Health Behavior Among Dental Students

Purpose: To identify the oral health attitudes/behaviour among dental students in Jordan, and analyse the variations in oral health attitudes based on gender and level of education. Materials and Methods: Out of the 653 registered dental students at the faculty of dentistry, 580 students (455 females and 125 males, mean age = 20.1 ± 1.6 years) participated in the study (response rate 89%). The Hiroshima University-Dental Behavioural Inventory (HU-DBI) was used to assess oral heath attitudes and behaviour of the participants. Data were analysed using the chi-square test, and statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. Results: Females had better oral health attitudes and behaviour, especially towards visiting the dentist, toothbrushing habits and oral hygiene practice (P < 0.05). Also, students from the higher years had better oral health attitudes, behaviour and knowledge, especially towards gingival health, oral hygiene practice, toothbrushing and visiting the dentist (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Dental students in Jordan had poor oral health attitudes and behaviour. Females had better oral health knowledge, attitudes and behaviour than males. With increasing years of study, some aspects of dental students' oral health behaviour and attitudes improved. However, this improvement was limited and students should be encouraged to become an example of oral health for their society. Better comprehensive dental education with early exposure to dental health and prevention was suggested to improve dental students' oral health attitudes and behaviour.     

Inhibitory Effects of Pepstatin A and Mefloquine on the Growth of Babesia Parasites

We evaluated the inhibitory effects of pepstatin A and mefloquine on the in vitro and in vivo growths of Babesia parasites. The in vitro growth of Babesia bovis, B. bigemina, B. caballi, and B. equi was significantly inhibited (P < 0.05) by micromolar concentrations of pepstatin A (50% inhibitory concentrations = 38.5, 36.5, 17.6, and 18.1 μM, respectively) and mefloquine (50% inhibitory concentrations = 59.7, 56.7, 20.7, and 4 μM, respectively). Furthermore, both reagents either alone at a concentration of 5 mg/kg or in combinations (2.5/2.5 and 5/5 mg/kg) for 10 days significantly inhibited the in vivo growth of B. microti in mice. Mefloquine treatment was highly effective and the combination treatments were less effective than other treatments. Therefore, mefloquine may antagonize the actions of pepstatin A against babesiosis and aspartic proteases may play an important role in the asexual growth cycle of Babesia parasites.     

Asymptomatic seminal infection of herpes simplex virus:impact on male infertility

In more than half of infertile men,the cause of their infertility is unknown.Several studies revealed the role of viral infections in male infertility.The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) and HSV-2 in semen from asymptomatic infertile male patients,and its association with altered semen parameters.A total of 70 semen samples were collected from infertile men who attended the Research and Clinical Center for Infertility in Yazd,Iran.Semen analysis and diagnostic real-time PCR using specific primers and probes for HSV-1 and HSV-2 DNA were performed.Comparison of semen parameters between virally infected and non-infected samples were performed with independent t-test and Mann-Whitney test.Semen analysis showed that infertile men fell into two groups,the male factor group and the unexplained group.HSV-1 and HSV-2 DNA was detected in 16 (22.9%) and 10 (14.3%) of 70 semen samples,respectively.All HSV-positive samples had abnormal semen parameters (the male factor group).Although HSV infection was not associated with sperm motility and morphological defects,it was correlated with lower sperm count in the seminal fluid.The findings suggest that asymptomatic seminal infection of HSV plays an important role in male infertility by adversely affecting sperm count.     

Antioxidant concentrations in serum, follicular fluid, and corpus luteum of cyclic buffalo cows

The present study was undertaken to evaluate antioxidant’s vitamins concentrations in serum, follicular fluid and corpus luteum of cyclic buffalo cows. A total of 34 clinically healthy buffalo cows (Bubalus bubalis), aged 8–10 years, were subjected to study. All animals were examined before slaughtering and the findings on the ovaries and the uterus were recorded. Blood samples and the whole genital tract of each animal were collected just after slaughtering. Antioxidants were measured in serum, CL and follicular fluid at different stage of the estrus cycle (proestrus n?=?8, estrus n?=?7, metestrus n?=?7, and diestrus n?=?12). The results revealed significant increases in serum α-tocopherol concentration during metestrus and diestrus stages (p?<?0.05). On the other hand, there was a significant decrease (p?<?0.05) in follicular ascorbic acid concentration at diestrus phase. Follicular β-carotene (p?<?0.01) showed a significant increase at the metestrus than at estrus and diestrus phases of the cycle. Follicular Vitamin A significantly increased (p?<?0.01) at proestrus phase. Although during metestrus there was significant decrease in the corpus hemorrhagicum weight (p?<?0.01), ascorbic acid concentration was significantly increased (p?<?0.05). In conclusion, the results of the present study suggested that serum α-tocopherol concentration increased during metestrus and diestrus stages, follicular vitamin A increased in proestrus phases when regeneration and steroideogenesis are required. Ascorbic acid increased in diestrus phase to help corpus luteum to function properly.     

The Effect of Sonophoresis on Topical Anesthesia: A Pilot Project

The dental anesthesia sonophoresis device (DASD) is a novel device that is intended to reduce the discomfort associated with intraoral mucosa needle puncture. The DASD produces ultrasonic energy that provides a sonophoretic effect on the oral mucosa, generating microchannels through the lipids between the keratinized cells that make up the stratum corneum. Once the topical anesthetic has permeated the stratum corneum, it quickly diffuses through the soft tissue, desensitizing the nerve endings and reducing the perception of pain caused by needle penetration. The aim of this study is to evaluate whether topical anesthesia applied using the DASD will reduce the discomfort of the needle puncture when compared to the control device. A split-mouth model, using 50 healthy subjects with puncture site at the maxillary canine vestibule, was used for this study. Subjects received a needle puncture on both sides of the mouth. Prior to the needle puncture, there was randomized application of 5% lidocaine with the DASD and a control device. Subjects rated their discomfort after needle punctures utilizing the visual analog scale pain scoring system. There was no statistically significant difference in the pain perception using the DASD versus the control device.Key Words: Dental anesthesia sonophoresis device, SonophoresisSonophoresis, which is low-frequency ultrasound, has been shown to enhance transdermal transport of various drugs, including macromolecules. Enhancement from sonophoresis occurs by disordering the structured lipids in the stratum corneum. Although sonophoresis has been shown to be effective on the skin, its effect has not been studied intraorally. The development of the dental anesthesia sonophoresis device (DASD), a device whose design was specially developed for the application of sonophoresis in the oral cavity, has opened the door for exploration in the benefits and effectiveness of sonophoresis application in the dental field. Fear of intraoral local anesthetic injection is one of the main reasons people avoid dental treatment.¹ Many investigators, using a variety of different techniques, have explored reducing the pain and discomfort of the dental injection. The majority of research has focused on the application of topical anesthesia.The results are inconsistent with regard to the effectiveness of topically applied anesthetic. Some studies show that there are no significant differences when compared to the placebo.^2–5 On the other hand, there are several studies that support the efficacy of topical anesthetic.^3,6–9Duration of application has been isolated as an important factor to achieve adequate topical anesthesia. Meechan¹⁰ summarizes that the degree of topical anesthesia penetration and its effectiveness are governed by the duration of application. It has been suggested that success of topical anesthesia is guaranteed when used in the buccal fold of either jaw after a 5-minute application.¹¹ Due to the lack of consistency in the literature regarding the effectiveness of topical anesthesia, there is need for continued research and improvement.Topical anesthetic must cross the physical barrier of the intraoral mucosa to reach the underlying nerve receptors. The free nerve endings are located close to the basal surface of the oral epithelium.¹² The location of these free nerve endings only reinforces the importance of the topical anesthetic passing through the oral mucosa barrier. The intraoral mucosa, like the skin, consists of stratified squamous epithelium with different layers of cells. The most superficial layer is the stratum corneum, which is filled with short stacks of lipid lamellae.¹³ This lipid layer makes it difficult for substances to cross the stratum corneum. To demonstrate this, Squier¹⁴ showed that horseradish peroxidase could not penetrate the top 3 layers of the oral mucosa of 3 mammals when applied topically.Attempts have been made to improve the penetration of topical anesthetics across this anatomic barrier. Hutchins et al⁷ studied the effect of vibration with a placebo and vibration with 20% benzocaine on pain of intraoral injections, and found vibration had no effect on reducing pain. Others have studied the use of iontophoresis and phonophoresis for application of anesthesia.^15,16 Research suggests that skin anesthesia by application of a topical anesthetic can be expedited through iontophoresis; however, this still requires a minimum of 10 minutes at relatively high voltage.¹⁷Ultrasound has been shown to enhance transdermal transport of various drugs, including macromolecules. This type of enhancement is termed sonophoresis, indicating the enhanced transport of molecules under the influence of ultrasound.¹⁸The DASD is a novel device intended to expedite penetration of topical anesthetic with a faster onset of clinical effectiveness. The DASD is a portable, battery-powered device that simultaneously generates ultrasonic energy and sonic vibration in a small applicator head that can easily reach and adapt to injection sites in the oral cavity. The ultrasonic energy is in small bursts of 300–350 kHz that provide a sonophoretic effect on the oral mucosa. The manufacturer claims the DASD works by generating microchannels through the lipids in the stratum corneum. The sonic vibration is provided simultaneously with the ultrasonic energy in the form of sinusoidal motion ranging from 200–300 Hz. This vibration helps to randomize and distribute the sensation associated with the ultrasonic energy. Once the topical anesthetic has permeated the stratum corneum, it quickly diffuses through the soft tissue, desensitizing the nerve endings. The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether topical anesthesia applied using the DASD will reduce the discomfort of the needle puncture when compared to the control device. The null hypothesis is that there is no difference of perceived discomfort between the DASD and the control device (CD).