Influence of Glide Path Preparation on the Canal Shaping Times of WaveOne Gold in Curved Mandibular Molar Canals

Introduction

The aim of this study was to compare the glide path preparation times of stainless steel hand files, PathFiles (Dentsply Sirona, Ballaigues, Switzerland), and the WaveOne Gold Glider (Dentsply Sirona). The preparation times for final root canal shaping with the Primary WaveOne Gold instrument in extracted human molar teeth with and without prior glide path preparation were also recorded and compared.

Streptococcus pneumoniae-associated human macrophage apoptosis after bacterial internalization via complement and Fcgamma receptors correlates with intracellular bacterial load

Opsonization enhances Streptococcus pneumoniae-induced human monocyte-derived macrophage (MDM) apoptosis. Both depletion of complement and immunoglobulin from opsonizing serum and blockade of the macrophages CR1, CR3, FcgammaRII, and FcgammaRIII partially decreased MDM apoptosis after S. pneumoniae phagocytosis, and these effects correlated with reduced numbers of internalized bacteria. Chloramphenicol inhibition of protein synthesis by opsonized S. pneumoniae down-regulated subsequent MDM apoptosis. Phagocytosis of an unencapsulated mutant of S. pneumoniae resulted in increased MDM apoptosis, in association with enhanced internalization. Caspase inhibition was associated with decreased killing of bacteria. Enhanced induction of apoptosis by opsonized S. pneumoniae is the result of increased intracellular burden of bacteria, rather than of a specific pattern of engagement of complement receptor or FcgammaR. A dynamic interaction between live intracellular bacteria and the host cell is necessary for induction of apoptosis in MDMs, and induction of apoptosis contributes to the host defense against S. pneumoniae.     

Financing of HIV/AIDS programme scale-up in low-income and middle-income countries, 2009-31

As the global HIV/AIDS pandemic nears the end of its third decade, the challenges of efficient mobilisation of funds and management of resources are increasingly prominent. The aids2031 project modelled long-term funding needs for HIV/AIDS in developing countries with a range of scenarios and substantial variation in costs: ranging from US$397 to $722 billion globally between 2009 and 2031, depending on policy choices adopted by governments and donors. We examine what these figures mean for individual developing countries, and estimate the proportion of HIV/AIDS funding that they and donors will provide. Scenarios for expanded HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and mitigation were analysed for 15 representative countries. We suggest that countries will move in increasingly divergent directions over the next 20 years; middle-income countries with a low burden of HIV/AIDS will gradually be able to take on the modest costs of their HIV/AIDS response, whereas low-income countries with a high burden of disease will remain reliant upon external support for their rapidly expanding costs. A small but important group of middle-income countries with a high prevalence of HIV/AIDS (eg, South Africa) form a third category, in which rapid scale-up in the short term, matched by outside funds, could be phased down within 10 years assuming strategic investments are made for prevention and efficiency gains are made in treatment.     

A community-randomised controlled trial promoting waterless hand sanitizer and handwashing with soap, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Objectives To pilot two intensive hand hygiene promotion interventions, one using soap and one using a waterless hand sanitizer, in low‐income housing compounds in Dhaka, Bangladesh and assess subsequent changes in handwashing behaviour and hand microbiology. Methods Fieldworkers randomized 30 housing compounds: 10 received handwashing promotion with free soap, 10 received handwashing promotion with free waterless hand sanitizer and 10 were non‐intervention controls. Fieldworkers assessed handwashing behaviour by structured observation and collected hand rinse specimens. Results At baseline, compound residents washed their hands with soap 26% of the time after defecation and 30% after cleaning a child’s anus but <1% at other times. Compared with baseline, residents of soap intervention compounds were much more likely to wash their hands with soap after faecal contact (85–91%), before preparing food (26%) and before eating (26%). Compounds that received waterless hand sanitizer cleansed their hands more commonly than control compounds that used soap (10.4%vs. 2.3%), but less commonly than soap intervention compounds used soap (25%). Post‐intervention hand rinse samples from soap and sanitizer compounds had lower concentrations of faecal indicator bacteria compared with baseline and control compounds. Conclusions Waterless hand sanitizer was readily adopted by this low‐income community and reduced hand contamination but did not improve the frequency of handwashing compared with soap. Future deployments of waterless hand sanitizers may improve hand hygiene more effectively by targeting settings where soap and water is unavailable.     

Cross-sectional assessment of prevalence and correlates of blood-borne and sexually-transmitted infections among Afghan National Army recruits

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Few data are available in Afghanistan to shape national military force health practices, particularly with regard to sexually-transmitted infections (STIs). We measured prevalence and correlates of HIV, syphilis, herpes simplex 2 virus (HSV-2), and hepatitis C virus (HCV) among Afghan National Army (ANA) recruits. METHODS: A cross-sectional sample of male ANA recruits aged 18--35 years were randomly selected at the Kabul Military Training Center between February 2010 and January 2011. Participants completed an interviewer-administered questionnaire and serum-based rapid testing for syphilis, hepatitis C virus antibody on-site; HIV and HSV-2 screening, and confirmatory testing were performed off-site. Prevalence of each infection was calculated and logistic regression analysis performed to identify correlates. RESULTS: Of 5313 recruits approached, 4750 consented to participation. Participants had a mean age of 21.8 years (SD[PLUS-MINUS SIGN]3.8), 65.5% had lived outside Afghanistan, and 44.3% had no formal education. Few reported prior marijuana (16.3%), alcohol (5.3%), or opium (3.4%) use. Of sexually active recruits (58.7%, N = 2786), 21.3% reported paying women for sex and 21.3% reported sex with males. Prevalence of HIV (0.063%, 95% CI: 0.013- 0.19), syphilis (0.65%, 95% CI: 0.44 -- 0.93), and HCV (0.82%, 95% CI: 0.58 -- 1.12) were quite low. Prevalence of HSV-2 was 3.03% (95% CI: 2.56 - 3.57), which was independently associated with age (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 1.04, 95% CI: 1.00 - 1.09) and having a television (socioeconomic marker) (AOR = 1.46, 95% CI: 1.03 -- 2.05). CONCLUSION: Though prevalence of HIV, HCV, syphilis, and HSV-2 was low, sexual risk behaviors and intoxicant use were present among a substantial minority, indicating need for prevention programming. Formative work is needed to determine a culturally appropriate approach for prevention programming to reduce STI risk among Afghan National Army troops.     

Perceived peer safer sex norms and sexual risk behaviors among substance-using Latino adolescents

We investigated the association between perceived peer norms and safer sexual behaviors among substance using Latino youth. Between 2005 and 2006, cross-sectional data were collected from 92 Latino adolescents recruited from clinic- and community-based settings in two U.S. cities. Separate multivariate logistic regression models were used to assess the relationship between perceived peer norms around safer sex and two different outcomes: consistent condom use and multiple sexual partnerships. Among these participants, perceived peer norms encouraging safer sex were associated with consistent condom use even after controlling for individual- and partner-related factors. Perceived peer norms supporting safer sex were inversely associated with recently having two or more sexual partners after controlling for demographic characteristics. Perceived peer norms around safer sexual behavior contribute to a lower likelihood of engaging in two HIV/STI risk behaviors: inconsistent condom use and multiple partnering. These findings suggest that further development of peer-based interventions for Latino youth is warranted.     

Chronic nicotine exposure stimulates biliary growth and fibrosis in normal rats

BackgroundEpidemiological studies have indicated smoking to be a risk factor for the progression of liver diseases. Nicotine is the chief addictive substance in cigarette smoke and has powerful biological properties throughout the body. Nicotine has been implicated in a number of disease processes, including increased cell proliferation and fibrosis in several organ systems.AimsThe aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of chronic administration of nicotine on biliary proliferation and fibrosis in normal rats.MethodsIn vivo, rats were treated with nicotine by osmotic minipumps for two weeks. Proliferation, α7-nicotinic receptor and profibrotic expression were evaluated in liver tissue, cholangiocytes and a polarized cholangiocyte cell line (normal rat intrahepatic cholangiocyte). Nicotine-dependent activation of the Ca²⁺/IP₃/ERK 1/2 intracellular signalling pathway was also evaluated in normal rat intrahepatic cholangiocyte.ResultsCholangiocytes express α7-nicotinic receptor. Chronic administration of nicotine to normal rats stimulated biliary proliferation and profibrotic gene and protein expression such as alpha-smooth muscle actin and fibronectin 1. Activation of α7-nicotinic receptor stimulated Ca²⁺/ERK1/2-dependent cholangiocyte proliferation.ConclusionChronic exposure to nicotine contributes to biliary fibrosis by activation of cholangiocyte proliferation and expression of profibrotic genes. Modulation of α7-nicotinic receptor signalling axis may be useful for the management of biliary proliferation and fibrosis during cholangiopathies.