Evaluation of cytotoxicity and corrosion resistance of orthodontic mini-implants

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate and compare in vitro cytotoxicity and corrosion resistance of mini-implants from three different commercial brands used for orthodontic anchorage. Methods: Six mini-implants (Conexão(tm), Neodent(tm) and SIN(tm)) were separately immersed in artificial saliva (pH 6.76) for 30 and 60 days. The cytotoxicity of the corrosion extracts was assessed in L929 cell cultures using the violet crystal and MTT assays, as well as cell morphology under light microscopy. Metal surface characteristics before and after immersion in artificial saliva were assessed by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The samples underwent atomic absorption spectrophotometry to determine the concentrations of aluminum and vanadium ions, constituent elements of the alloy that present potential toxicity. For statistical analysis, one-way ANOVA/Bonferroni tests were used for comparisons among groups with p < 0.05 considered significant. Statistical analysis was carried out with Graph Pad PRISM software Version 4.0. Results: No changes in cell viability or morphology were observed. Mini-implants SEM images revealed smooth surfaces with no obvious traces of corrosion. The extracts assessed by means of atomic absorption spectrophotometry presented concentrations of aluminum and vanadium ions below 1.0 µg/mL and 0.5 µg/mL, respectively. Conclusion: Orthodontic mini-implants manufactured by Conexão(tm), Neodent(tm) and SIN(tm) present high corrosion resistance and are not cytotoxic.

RESUMO Objetivo: avaliar, in vitro, e comparar a citotoxicidade e a resistência à corrosão de mini-implantes de três marcas comerciais diferentes, utilizados para ancoragem ortodôntica. Métodos: seis mini-implantes fabricados pelas empresas Conexão(r), Neodent(r) e SIN(r) foram imersos, separadamente, em saliva artificial (pH = 6,76), por 30 e 60 dias, de forma a obter os extratos da corrosão. A citotoxicidade dos extratos foi avaliada em cultura de células L929, empregando-se a análise de ensaios do cristal violeta e MTT, bem como da morfologia celular sob microscopia óptica. As características da superfície do metal antes e após a imersão em saliva artificial foram avaliadas usando microscopia eletrônica de varredura. Os extratos foram submetidos a espectrofotometria de absorção atômica, para determinar as concentrações dos íons alumínio e vanádio, elementos constituintes da liga e que apresentam toxicidade em potencial. Para análise estatística, os testes one-way ANOVA/Bonferroni foram usados para comparação entre os grupos, com p < 0,05 sendo considerado significativo. A análise estatística foi realizada com o programa Graph Pad PRISM v. 4.0. Resultados: não foi observada alteração na viabilidade ou morfologia celular após a exposição dos mini-implantes aos extratos. A análise dos mini-implantes por microscopia eletrônica de varredura revelou superfícies lisas e sem traços evidentes de corrosão. Os extratos analisados usando espectrofotometria de absorção atômica apresentaram concentrações de íons alumínio e vanádio inferiores a 1,0 µg/ml e 0,5 µg/ml, respectivamente. Conclusão: os mini-implantes fabricados pelas empresas Conexão(r), Neodent(r) e SIN(r) apresentam alta resistência à corrosão e não são citotóxicos.

Evaluación del ambiente aledaño a un expendio de combustible dentro del Parque Nacional Morrocoy, Venezuela. II: Calidad de aguas, sedimentos y biota / Environmental evaluation near to a fuel vendor inside of the Parque Nacional Morrocoy, Venezuela. II: Water quality, sediments and biota

This paper is the second part of a base line study carried out in the coastal region near a marine service station located in Morrocoy National Park, Venezuela. Results from a physical and chemical characterization of the water and sediments of four sites located around the service station are presented. The physical and chemical factors measured in water included: temperature, salinity, specific conductance, dissolved oxygen, saturation percentage of dissolved oxygen, pH, total suspended solids, transparency, oil and grease, total residual petroleum hydrocarbon, vanadium and lead, total coliform bacteria, and the presence of coliform bacteria. The factors measured in sediments include: granulometry, organic material, total carbonates, vanadium, lead, oil and grease, and total hydrocarbons. In addition, the amount of vanadium and lead in sample tissue from three species which are abundant and widely distributed in each site was measured in order to evaluate the potential of these species as bio-indicators. The water in the area where this study was conducted is shallow, warm, and thermally homogeneous, with high salinity and normal pH and dissolved oxygen, and supersaturated with oxygen in certain hours in sites adjacent to abundant underwater vegetation. The water is moderately turbid with a tendency towards less dissolved oxygen with increased depth. The estimated values of NMP/100 ml of the coliform fecal organisms is within legal limits even though the total number of water coliforms measured in Site 2 was ten times higher than in Site 1. This increase is associated with the proximity of Site 2 to an outflow of pre-treated sewage. The values of TRPH in the water collected from each site were low and very close to the detection limit (0.8/ml). Vanadium was not found, while lead was detected in 11 of the 12 samples. Compared to the values measured for Site 1, which was the local reference, only one sample had a concentration of three times the maximum...

Valoración catalítica de vanadio en orina y en agua mineral / Catalytic valoration of vanadium in urine and mineral water

Se ha considerado el efecto del vanadio en diferentes metabolismos del organismo humano y debido a la importancia de ese efecto se ha estudiado la determinación cuantitativa de trazas de vanadio. El método empleado fue el de oxidación de Mordant Blue 9 con KBrO3 a pH 2 en medio de HClO4 en la que el vanadio actúa como catalizador. La reacción se sigue espectrofotométricamente a 510 mm en celdas de 10 mm y a una temperatura de 25 ñ 0,2§C. Se demostró que esta reacción puede aplicarse al análisis de vanadio en orina, utilizandose el método de las tangentes con la técnica del agregado patrón múltiple en el ámbito de 10-100 ng/mL, sin tratamiento previo de la muestra. Para concentraciones entre 0,5 y 10 ng/mL, la orina es sometida a evaporación y calcinación, tomándose el residuo con agua bidestilada y efectuándose la determinación a través de una curva de calibración. Por otra parte, se analizan aguas minerales de distinta procedencia, encontrándose buena concordancia entre los valores de concentración obtenidos por el método cinético (curva de calibración y agregado patrón) y los hallados por espectrometría de absorción atómica con atomización electrotérmica. Los resultados fueron procesados estadísticamente