ABSTRACT
Objective@#To evaluate the effects of casein phosphopeptide-amorphic calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP) on enamel erosion using an improved in situ experimental protocol.@*Methods@#Forty-eight enamel blocks were prepared from fresh-extracted human premolars and further embedded in the acrylic resins. The present study was divided into 2 parts. In part 1 of the study, two volunteers were recruited to test the availability and safety of the in situ erosion protocol. Customized intraoral appliance was made with 4 reservoirs containing the specimens for each volunteer. For each intraoral applicance, 2 reservoirs were made with the openings and the other 2 remained intact. All volunteers were instructed to drink 150 ml cola within 5 min using the gargling method after placing appliances intraorally for 2 h. After erosion, the appliances were remained undisturbed intraorally for 1 h until the next erosive attack. The in situ erosion cycles were performed 4 times daily over 7 d. In part 2 of the study, forty specimens were randomly divided into 2 groups (n=20): CPP-ACP group and control group. The surfaces of specimens in CPP-ACP group were pretreated with CPP-ACP for 3 min before in situ erosion, whereas the specimens in control group were pretreated with deionized water for 3 min. For each intraoral applicance, 4 reservoirs were made with openings. Ten healthy volunteers were recruited and the above-mentioned in situ erosion protocol was applied to test the effects of CPP-ACP on enamel erosion. The surface microhardness and surface microstructure of the samples were examined before and after erosion in both parts of the study. The data were statistically analyzed using ANOVA and LSD tests. Data were considered statistically significant at a level of P<0.05.@*Results@#Significant surface softening was observed in all specimens after erosion (P<0.001). The surface microhardness in the CPP-ACP group and control group were (198.8±23.2) and (152.4±42.1) HV, respectively (P=0.040). The specimens in the CPP-ACP group showed significantly fewer changes in surface microstructure compared with those in the control group.@*Conclusions@#Based on this in situ experimental protocol, short-time consuming of acid beverages would produce significant effects on the surface microhardness of the human enamel, whereas the application of CPP-ACP can increase the erosion resistance of the enamel.
ABSTRACT
Objective To study the effect of curcumin on the expression of inflammatory factors in model rats with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome(CP/CPPS) type Ⅲ.Methods The rats were randomly divided into following groups: sham-operated group(sham), CP/CPPS model group(model), curcumin 50 mg group(cur-50 mg) and curcumin 100 mg group(cur-100 mg) and p38 inhibitor group(SB203580).Drug was given to each treatment group for 12 days by intraperitoneal injection.The levels of TNF-α, p38, COX-2 mRNA was measured by Real-Time PCR.The expressions of TNF-α and COX-2 proteins were measured by immunohistochemistry.The levels of p38, p-p38 and NF-κB proteins were detected by Western blot.Results NF-κB, p-p38, TNF-α, COX-2 proteins and TNF-α, p38, COX-2 mRNA in model group were higher than those in the sham group (P<0.01);cur-100 mg group and SB203580 group could significantly relieve these change in the model group (P<0.01);COX-2 mRNA and protein in cur-100 mg group decreased more than that in SB203580 group;p-p38 was positively correlated with NF-κB in curcumin groups and SB203580 group compared with model group (P<0.01).Conclusions Curcumin can reduce the expression of inflammatory cytokines NF-κB, TNF-α, COX-2 and p-p38 in rats with CP/CPPS type Ⅲ.