Walnut ointment promotes full-thickness burning wound healing: role of linoleic acid

Purpose: To investigate the active ingredients of walnut ointment (WO) and its mechanism in repairing wounds. Methods: The ingredients of WO were detected by gas chromatography­mass spectrometry. The effect of linoleic acid (LA) was tested by in vitro Alamar Blue (AB) reagent. Image J software, histological and immunohistochemical analysis were used to confirm the healing effect of LA in the porcine skin model. The animals were euthanized after the experiment by injection of pentobarbital sodium. Results: LA, 24% in WO, promotes keratinocytes and fibroblasts proliferation, which were 50.09% and 15.07% respectively higher than control (p < 0.05). The healing rate of the LA group (96.02% ± 2%, 98.58% ± 0.78%) was higher than the saline group (82.11% ± 3.37%, 88.72% ± 1.73%) at week 3 and week 4 (p < 0.05). The epidermal thickness of the LA was 0.16 ± 0.04 mm greater and the expression of the P63 and CK10 proteins was stronger in the LA group than the control (p < 0.05). Conclusions: LA, which is the main components in WO can promote full-thickness burning wounds (FBWs) by stimulating cell proliferation and differentiation.

Correspondence between try-in pastes and resin cements, and color stability of bonded lithium disilicate disks

Abstract: This study investigates the color correspondence of resin cements and try-in pastes, and the color stability of bonded lithium disilicate ceramic disks. Resin composite disks were fabricated (n = 36) to serve as the background for lithium disilicate disks prepared in two thicknesses (0.5 and 1.0 mm, n = 18 each). Two brands were used for try-in and cement procedures: Variolink Veneer and AllCem Veneer. For baseline, water was applied between the ceramic disks and their respective backgrounds to achieve the control group. This set was subjected to color measurement using an intraoral measurement device (T0). The try-in was inserted between background and ceramic, and this set was subjected to color measurement (T1). After adhesive procedures, the ceramic disk was placed under cement, and color measurement was performed with uncured cement (T2) and 24 h after light-curing (T3). Each set was immersed in distilled water and thermal-cycled, with color measurement being performed after 10,000 (T4) and 20,000 (T5) cycles. Color differences were calculated by CIELab (rEab) and CIEDE2000 (rE00). Data were analyzed by two-way ANOVA for repeated measurements and Tukey's test (α=5%). There was color correspondence of try-in and resin cement for the Variolink system, regardless of the ceramic thickness (p > 0.05). For the AllCem system, the thickness significantly influenced the color measurement (p < 0.001). The Variolink system also demonstrated color stability after 20,000 thermal cycles with rEab < 3.46 and rE00 < 2.25. It was concluded that the color correspondence between a try-in and its respective cement may vary according to resin cement composition.

Study of Fluconazole Release from O/W Cream and Water Soluble Ointment Bases.

Aims: Study the release of fluconazole from different O/W creams and PEG ointments. Study Design: In this study, different formulations were prepared with changing one of the added excipients and study the effect of this change on the drug release and then the selected formulations were subjected to antifungal activity study. Place and Duration of Study: Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutics, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt, between December 2011 and March 2012. Methodology: O/W creams were prepared with changing either fatty alcohol type or the concentration of the added emulsifying agent. Also, the PEG ointments were prepared with changing the type of the liquid PEG (low molecular weight). Then, the viscosity and the fluconazole release from the prepared formulations were studied. Results: Changing the fatty alcohol type from stearyl to cetostearyl and cetyl alcohol in the O/W creams caused an increase in the viscosity and a decrease in the drug release. Also, changing the liquid PEG from PEG 400 to PEG 600 resulted in an increase in the formulation viscosity and subsequent decrease in the drug release. Both F1 and F6 showed a good inhibition to the fungal growth against Candida albicans and Trichophyton mentagrophyte using cup plate method, also PEG base showed a slight fungal growth inhibition. Conclusion: Results obtained showed that the PEG ointment formulations exhibited higher fluconazole release after three hours over the O/W cream formulations. Also, the nature of the PEG base may be adjunctive to the efficacy of the antifungal agent.

Effect of a cordless retraction paste on titanium surface: a topographic, chemical and biocompatibility evaluation

Good exposure of the preparation margins and haemostasis in the sulcular gingiva are necessary for accurate impressions to produce precise restorations. The use of cordless retraction paste material in implant dentistry is a relatively novel application. However, few studies have been conducted on the use of retraction pastes and their possible interaction with implant surfaces. Recent literature has described remnants on titanium implant surfaces and expressed the need for an assessment of the biocompatibility of the exposed surface (Chang et al.). This in vitro study evaluated the effect of a cordless gingival retraction paste on sterile titanium disks. Surface chemistry was determined using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and further investigated using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). After exposure to retraction paste, surface chemistry alterations were identified. A fibroblast cell line (L929) was exposed to the disks and the live/dead viability/cytotoxicity assay was used to determine any effects on the proliferation and health of cells. The disks exposed to the retraction paste showed fewer dead cells compared to the unexposed disks. This was statistically significant.

Color agreement between nanofluorapatite ceramic discs associated with try-in pastes and with resin cements

The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro color agreement between nanofluorapatite ceramic discs (e.max Ceram / Ivoclar Vivadent / A2) associated with try-in pastes and those bonded with resin cements (Vitique / DMG/ try-in shade A2½ and cement shade A2½, Variolink II / Ivoclar Vivadent / try-in shade A1 and cement shade A1, and Choice 2 / Bisco / try-in shade A2 and cement shade A2), and to evaluate the shade stability of the discs bonded with resin cements. The shades of composite resin discs (Lliss / FGM / A2) and nanofluorapatite ceramic discs with try-in pastes or cements were evaluated according to the Vita Classical shade guide by a digital spectrophotometer (Micro EspectroShade, MHT) immediately after placing the try-in pastes or resin cements between composite resin discs and ceramic discs. Other evaluations were performed at 2, 5, and 6 day intervals after cementation with the resin cements. All ceramic discs that received try-in pastes presented an A2 shade. There was no statistical difference in the shade of the ceramic specimens fixed with different cements at the different intervals, as evaluated by the Friedman test (p > 0.05). Two try-in pastes presented shade compatibility with those recommended by the manufacturers. There was no similarity of shades between the ceramic discs with try-in pastes and those with the respective resin cements. Shade stability was observed in ceramic discs with resin cements within the intervals evaluated.

Estabilidad acelerada del ungüento QL / Accelerated stability of QL ointment

El ungüento QL es un ungüento rectal en fase de investigación destinado al tratamiento de afecciones rectales. La combinación por primera vez de quitina y clorhidrato de lidocaína en un producto semisólido de base oleaginosa, requiere del estudio del comportamiento de estabilidad. Para obtener información con respecto a su estabilidad se realizó un estudio en las condiciones establecidas. Se analizaron 3 lotes pilotos QL01, QL02 y QL03, almacenados a temperatura de 40 ± 2 °C. Los estudios se realizaron a tiempo 0, 1, 2, 3, 6 meses. No se observaron cambios en las propiedades organolépticas, en la estabilidad sedimentacional, ni en el área de extensibilidad. Se mantuvo el flujo pseudoplástico tixotrópico característico de este tipo de sistema al cabo de los 6 meses. Los principios activos se mantuvieron estables en las condiciones ensayadas.

QL ointment is a rectal ointment under development stage devoted to the treatment of rectal affections. The combination for the first time of quitine and lydocaine chloride in a semisolid product of oleaginous base requires the study of the stability behaviour. To obtain information on its stability, a study was carried out under the established conditions. 3 pilot batches QL01, QL02 and QL03, stored at a temperature of 40 2 C, were analyzed. The studies were conducted at 0, 1, 2, 3 and 6 months. No changes were observed neither in the organoleptic properties, nor in the sedimentation stability and the extensibility area. The pseudoplastic thixotropic flow characteristic of this type of system was maintained after 6 months. The active principles were stable under the assayed conditions.