Effects of non-thermal atmospheric plasma treatment on dentin wetting and surface free energy for application of universal adhesives

Objectives

The study aims to evaluate the effects of non-thermal atmospheric plasma (NTAP) treatments on dentin wetting and surface free energy (SFE) and compare the effects of NTAP treatment, etch-and-rinse, and self-etch protocols for application of universal adhesives.

Materials and methods

Mid-coronal dentin of intact third molars was used to measure contact angles of distilled water, ethylene-glycol, and diiodomethane and calculate SFE following different NTAP preset treatments (feeding gas consisting of pure He, He + 1% O₂, He + 1.5% O₂), power input (1 or 3 W), and tip-to-surface distance (2, 4, or 8 mm). Contact angles of reference liquids and SFE of dentin following He + 1.5% O₂ at 3-W and 4-mm treatment was compared to phosphoric acid etching. Contact angles of Single Bond Universal (SBU; 3M ESPE) and Clearfil Universal Bond (CUB; Kuraray Noritake) were measured following NTAP, etch-and-rinse, and self-etch protocols.

Results

NTAP significantly reduced contact angles of reference liquids and increased dentin SFE compared to untreated dentin (p < 0.05). O₂ intensified the effect of He NTAP (p < 0.05). NTAP and phosphoric acid increased dentin polarity and Lewis base surface characteristics. Phosphoric acid increased contact angles of adhesives compared to the self-etch protocol (p < 0.05). NTAP resulted in lower adhesive contact angles than phosphoric acid, the difference being statistically significant for CUB (p < 0.05). Compared to the self-etch protocol, NTAP slightly reduced CUB contact angle but not that of SBU (p > 0.05).

Conclusions

He NTAP with and without O₂ increased dentin wetting and SFE, surpassing the effect of phosphoric acid and lowering adhesive contact angles. NTAP produced no apparent micro-morphological changes on dentin surface comparable to acid etching.

Clinical significance

NTAP treatment of dentin prior to adhesive application increases dentin wetting and surface free energy facilitating better adhesive distribution on dentin surface compared to phosphoric acid etching and similar to the “self-etch” application protocol.

     

Treatment after inadequate immediate replantation of accidentally extracted immature mandibular premolar during primary molar extraction

During extraction of the primary mandibular right second molar in an 11‐year‐old girl, the unerupted second premolar was accidentally extracted. Clinical and radiographic examination showed that the immediately replanted immature premolar was not oriented and positioned correctly. Four hours later, treatment consisted of manual extrusion of the permanent tooth bud, rotation, and gentle repositioning into its original position. Adequate replantation was confirmed by a post‐operative radiograph. After 2 years and 4 months, clinical examination revealed normal, healthy appearance of the replanted tooth, no sensitivity to percussion, no tenderness to palpation, and a slight response to a cold pulp sensibility test. A radiograph showed completely developed root with closed apical foramen, slightly irregular root morphology and shorter root length, complete obliteration of the pulp, and no signs of periapical pathosis.     

Detection of Leishmania donovani and L. tropica in Ethiopian wild rodents

Human visceral (VL, also known as Kala-azar) and cutaneous (CL) leishmaniasis are important infectious diseases affecting countries in East Africa that remain endemic in several regions of Ethiopia. The transmission and epidemiology of the disease is complicated due to the complex life cycle of the parasites and the involvement of various Leishmania spp., sand fly vectors, and reservoir animals besides human hosts. Particularly in East Africa, the role of animals as reservoirs for human VL remains unclear. Isolation of Leishmania donovani parasites from naturally infected rodents has been reported in several endemic countries; however, the status of rodents as reservoirs in Ethiopia remains unclear. Here, we demonstrated natural Leishmania infections in rodents. Animals were trapped in 41 localities of endemic and non-endemic areas in eight geographical regions of Ethiopia and DNA was isolated from spleens of 586 rodents belonging to 21 genera and 38 species. Leishmania infection was evaluated by real-time PCR of kinetoplast (k)DNA and confirmed by sequencing of the PCR products. Subsequently, parasite species identification was confirmed by PCR and DNA sequencing of the 18S ribosomal RNA internal transcribed spacer one (ITS1) gene. Out of fifty (8.2%) rodent specimens positive for Leishmania kDNA-PCR and sequencing, 10 were subsequently identified by sequencing of the ITS1 showing that five belonged to the L. donovani complex and five to L. tropica. Forty nine kDNA-positive rodents were found in the endemic localities of southern and eastern Ethiopia while only one was identified from northwestern Ethiopia. Moreover, all the ten ITS1-positive rodents were captured in areas where human leishmaniasis cases have been reported and potential sand fly vectors occur. Our findings suggest the eco-epidemiological importance of rodents in these foci of leishmaniasis and indicate that rodents are likely to play a role in the transmission of leishmaniasis in Ethiopia, possibly as reservoir hosts.     

Urinary protein patterns in patients with Balkan endemic nephropathy

Purpose

Urinary excretion of beta2-microglobulin (beta2-MG), albumin, immunoglobulin G (IgG) and protein was examined in patients with Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN), glomerulonephritis (GN) and healthy controls.

Methods

The proteins were measured in morning urine samples from 74 patients with BEN, 50 healthy persons and 22 patients with GN.

Results

In BEN patients, median values for albumin, beta2-MG and protein were above upper normal limits, but median IgG was inside normal range. All patients with GN had microalbuminuria (MAU) and half of them had increased urinary beta2-MG, which was also found in eleven patients with increased urinary IgG. In BEN patients, there were significant negative correlations between eGFR and all measured urinary proteins, the composition of which changed during the course of BEN. In patients with eGFR > 60 ml/min/1.73 m² isolated beta2-MG was the most frequent finding (10/12 patients), but MAU was present in 4/12 patients. In BEN patients with eGFR between 30 and 59 ml/min/1.73 m², beta2-MG appeared as often as the combination of beta2-MG and albumin and isolated MAU. Out of 49 BEN patients with eGFR > 30 ml/min/1.73 m² 15 had increased urinary IgG either alone (1) or together with beta2-MG (3) or albumin (3) or beta2-MG and albumin (8). In BEN patients with GFR < 30 ml/min/1.73 m² only 1/25 had isolated beta2-MG but increased urinary IgG with increased beta2-MG, and albumin was the most frequent.

Conclusion

Although low-molecular weight proteinuria was the most frequent urinary finding in BEN patients, MAU was frequently detected in advanced stages of BEN but also in some patients with eGFR > 60 ml/min/1.73 m². IgG was increasingly found as eGFR decreased.     

Female patients with lymphoma demonstrate diminished ovarian reserve even before initiation of chemotherapy when compared with healthy controls and patients with other malignancies

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate if female patients with lymphoma demonstrate diminished ovarian reserve prior to initiation of the lymphoma treatment.

Methods

Sixty-four patients with newly diagnosed lymphoma undergoing controlled ovarian hyperstimulation for fertility preservation were compared with 365 healthy controls undergoing elective oocyte cryopreservation (controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH)) and 128 patients with other types of malignancy prompting fertility preservation. The data of all lymphoma patients, all elective, and all the patients with other types of malignancy who met the inclusion criteria and underwent COH for fertility preservation during the study period were retrospectively analyzed. Primary outcomes included serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels (ng/mL) and antral follicle count (AFC).

Results

Patients in the lymphoma group demonstrated significantly lower AMH levels and AFC and had less oocytes harvested and cryopreserved when compared to healthy controls as well as patients with other malignancies.

Conclusion

Patients with lymphoma demonstrate diminished ovarian reserve when compared with healthy controls and patients with other malignancies. This should be taken into consideration when deciding on the dose for COH.

     

Expansion of plasmablasts and loss of memory B cells in peripheral blood from COVID-19 patients with pneumonia

Studies on the interactions between SARS-CoV-2 and humoral immunity are fundamental to elaborate effective therapies including vaccines. We used polychromatic flow cytometry, coupled with unsupervised data analysis and principal component analysis (PCA), to interrogate B cells in untreated patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. COVID-19 patients displayed normal plasma levels of the main immunoglobulin classes, of antibodies against common antigens or against antigens present in common vaccines. However, we found a decreased number of total and naïve B cells, along with decreased percentages and numbers of memory switched and unswitched B cells. On the contrary, IgM⁺ and IgM⁻ plasmablasts were significantly increased. In vitro cell activation revealed that B lymphocytes showed a normal proliferation index and number of dividing cells per cycle. PCA indicated that B-cell number, naive and memory B cells but not plasmablasts clustered with patients who were discharged, while plasma IgM level, C-reactive protein, D-dimer, and SOFA score with those who died. In patients with pneumonia, the derangement of the B-cell compartment could be one of the causes of the immunological failure to control SARS-Cov2, have a relevant influence on several pathways, organs and systems, and must be considered to develop vaccine strategies.     

All near-infrared multiparametric luminescence thermometry using Er3+, Yb3+-doped YAG nanoparticles

This paper presents four new temperature readout approaches to luminescence nanothermometry in spectral regions of biological transparency demonstrated on Yb³⁺/Er³⁺-doped yttrium aluminum garnet nanoparticles. Under the 10 638 cm⁻¹ excitation, down-shifting near infrared emissions (>10 000 cm⁻¹) are identified as those originating from Yb³⁺ ions'' ²F_5/2 → ²F_7/2 (∼9709 cm⁻¹) and Er³⁺ ions'' ⁴I_13/2 → ⁴I_15/2 (∼6494 cm⁻¹) electronic transitions and used for 4 conceptually different luminescence thermometry approaches. Observed variations in luminescence parameters with temperature offered an exceptional base for studying multiparametric temperature readouts. These include the temperature-dependence of: (i) intensity ratio between emissions from Stark components of Er^{3+ 4}I_13/2 level; (ii) intensity ratio between emissions of Yb³⁺ (²F_5/2 → ²F_7/2 transition) and Er³⁺ (⁴I_13/2 → ⁴I_15/2 transition); (iii) band shift and bandwidth and (iv) lifetime of the Yb³⁺ emission (²F_5/2 → ²F_7/2 transition) with maximal sensitivities of 1% K⁻¹, 0.8% K⁻¹, 0.09 cm⁻¹ K⁻¹, 0.46% K⁻¹ and 0.86% K⁻¹, respectively. The multimodal temperature readout provided by this material enables its application in different luminescence thermometry setups as well as improved the reliability of the temperature sensing by the cross-validation between measurements.

Four completely new NIR luminescence temperature readouts in the second and third biological windows are demonstrated with YAG:Er³⁺, Yb³⁺ nanoparticles.     

Chemoselective synthesis of multifunctional ferrocene-containing derivatives by the cross Rauhut–Currier reaction

A simple protocol has been developed for the chemoselective synthesis of ferrocene-containing Rauhut–Currier adducts from 1-ferrocenyl-2-nitroethene and vinyl ketones using 20 mol% of triphenylphosphine. Multifunctional ferrocene derivatives were obtained in moderate to high yields (51–92%) by the coupling between the α-position of vinyl ketones and the β-position of the nitroalkene. The study of the Rauhut–Currier reaction under the described conditions showed that the strong electron-donating group at the β-position of nitroalkenes plays a significant role in the reaction outcome due to prevention of polymerization and stabilization of the zwitterionic intermediate. Additionally, a preparative synthesis of 4-ferrocenyl-3-methylene-5-nitropentan-2-one was carried out and its synthetic transformations showed easy conversion to other useful building blocks.

A simple method has been developed for the chemoselective synthesis of ferrocene-containing Rauhut–Currier adducts from 1-ferrocenyl-2-nitroethene and vinyl ketones catalyzed by triphenylphosphine.     

Circulating and cerebrospinal fluid ghrelin and leptin: potential role in altered body weight in Huntington's disease

OBJECTIVE: In addition to neurological impairment, weight loss is a prominent characteristic of Huntington's disease (HD). Neuropathologically, the disease affects the caudate nucleus and the cerebral cortex, and also the hypothalamus. The recently discovered orexigenic hormone of gastric origin, ghrelin and the adipocyte hormone leptin, are two peripherally produced hormones exerting opposite effects on specific populations of hypothalamic neurons that play a key role in regulating energy intake and energy output. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible involvement of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and circulating ghrelin and leptin in the regulation of energy balance in patients with HD. METHODS: Twenty healthy normal-weight subjects undergoing orthopedic surgery, and fifteen patients with genetically verified HD, were enrolled in this study. The unified Huntington's disease rating scale (UHDRS) was used to assess clinical course of the disease. Blood samples for hormonal measurements were obtained by venipuncture and in-parallel CSF samples for leptin/ghrelin determination were obtained by lumbar puncture. RESULTS: Patients with HD had increased concentrations of ghrelin in plasma compared with healthy subjects (4523.7+/-563.9 vs 2781.1+/-306.2 pg/ml, P<0.01). On the other hand, patients with HD had decreased concentrations of leptin in plasma compared with healthy subjects (4.8+/-1.6 vs 10.9+/-2.4 ng/ml, P<0.01). The concentrations of CSF ghrelin and CSF leptin were equivalent to values in healthy subjects. No correlation was found between disease duration--and other clinical features of HD--and plasma or CSF leptin/ghrelin levels. In patients with HD, baseline levels of GH, IGF-I, insulin and glucose did not differ from those in healthy subjects. CONCLUSION: High circulating ghrelin and low leptin levels in patients with HD suggest a state of negative energy balance. Early nutritional support of patients with HD is advocated since patients with HD and higher body mass index at presentation have slower progression of the disease.