Use of Hoy's solubility parameters to predict water sorption/solubility of experimental primers and adhesives

Self-etching primers and adhesives contain very hydrophilic acidic monomers that result in high water sorption/solubilities of their polymers. However, the chemical composition of these products varies widely. The purpose of this work was to vary the chemical composition of experimental self-etching primers and adhesives to determine if the water sorption/solubility of the polymers were affected in a predictable manner. The Hoy's solubility parameters of these mixtures were calculated to permit ranking of the degree of hydrophilicity of the polymers. Water sorption/solubility was measured according to ISO 4049. The results showed highly significant (R(2) = 0.86, P < 0.001) correlations between water sorption and Hoy's solubility parameter for polar forces (delta(p)) of the polymers. Similar correlations were obtained between polymer solubility and delta(p). When these results were compared with previously published results obtained with more hydrophobic resins, excellent correlations were obtained, indicating that Hoy's delta(p) values may be used to predict the water sorption behavior of methylmethacrylate polymers.     

Effects of a combined application of potassium oxalate gel/adhesive agent on dentin permeability in vitro

PURPOSE: To test the effects of sequential application of potassium oxalate gel/adhesive agent on in vitro dentin permeability. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Full crown preparations were made in extracted human molars to expose deep coronal dentin. The roots and pulp were removed and the resulting crown segments were connected to a special device (Flodec) to permit the measurement of the permeability of the specimens before and after treatments. Minimum and maximum permeability were recorded after smear layer and phosphoric acid treatment. A new smear layer was created and the permeability measured after the crowns were bonded with Single Bond (3M ESPE), One-Up Bond F (Tokuyama), and AdheSE (Ivoclar Vivadent), either according to manufacturer's instructions or after treating the acid-etched dentin with a 3 wt% potassium oxalate gel. The results were expressed as a percentage of maximum permeability values. Impressions and epoxy resin replicas from the crown segments were produced for SEM examination. RESULTS: None of the adhesives were able to eliminate the fluid flow through dentin. Two-way ANOVA revealed that the application of potassium oxalate prior to the bonding procedures was the most effective technique in reducingthe dentin permeability (p < 0.05), regardless of the adhesive used. SEM micrographs showed that transudation of dentinal fluid could be identified on the surfaces of all replicas. CONCLUSION: The use of potassium oxalate gel was effective in reducing the permeability of bonded dentin.     

Malignant teratoma of the thyroid: case report.

Teratomas in the neck are rare neoplasms. Most of them occur in infants less than 1 year and are benign. In contrast, thyroid teratomas in adults are malignant and have fatal outcomes because of spread of tumor refractory to treatment. We report a case of a primary thyroid malignant teratoma in a 37-year-old woman. She was treated successfully with a combination of surgery, postoperative cis-platinum-based chemotherapy, and radiation therapy to the neck. Although the time of follow-up is short (24 months), we attribute her successful outcome to the use of this intensive therapeutic approach.     

Combined GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotypes are associated with a lower risk of papillary thyroid cancer

Individual susceptibility to cancer is influenced by polymorphisms of genes encoding drug-metabolizing enzymes such as the glutathione S-transferases (GST). The null polymorphisms of the GSTM1 and GSTT1 genes have been associated to a modified risk of several cancers but studies of thyroid cancer have produced conflicting results. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between these polymorphisms and the risk of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). A total of 188 patients with PTC and 247 controls were genotyped using a PCR-based assay. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for each homozygous null genotype were determined. The frequency of each of the GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotypes did not differ significantly between patients and controls (OR=0.83, 95%CI: 0.56-1.21; p=0.328; and OR=0.66, 95%CI: 0.39-1.12; p=0.123, respectively), but the frequency of individuals that had the combined GSTM1 null/GSTT1 null genotypes was significantly lower in the patient group (OR=0.50, 95%CI: 0.26-0.97; p=0.040). The GSTM1 null genotype was associated with a lower risk of advanced cancer stages (III/IV) (OR=0.50, 95%CI: 0.26-0.96; p=0.036) and the GSTT1 null genotype was associated with a lower risk of the follicular variant of PTC (OR=0.31, 95%CI: 0.10-0.97; p=0.044). These results suggest that GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotypes are weak, yet possible, modifiers of the risk of PTC. This protective effect may be due to a role of the GSTM1 and GSTT1 encoded enzymes in the metabolic activation of putative thyroid carcinogens or in other pathways involved in thyroid carcinogenesis.     

Differences in viral kinetics between genotypes 1 and 3 of hepatitis C virus and between cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic patients during antiviral therapy

INTRODUCTION Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major health problem with about 170 million infected subjects world- wide[1]. It is the most common cause of liver cirrhosis (LC), hepatocellular carcinoma, end-stage liver failure, and liver tra…