The presence of osteocalcin, osteopontin and reactive oxygen species-positive cells in pulp tissue after dental bleaching.

AIM: To analyse the influence of H2 O2 on pulp repair through osteocalcin and osteopontin immunolabelling and in cellular defence by using the antireactive oxygen species (ROS) antibody. METHODOLOGY: The maxillary molars of 50 rats were treated with 35% H2 O2 (Ble groups) or placebo gel (control groups). At 0 h and 2, 7, 15 and 30 days (n = 10 hemimaxillae), the rats were killed and pulp tissue was evaluated using inflammation and immunolabelling scores (osteocalcin/osteopontin); ROS-positive cells were counted. Paired t-test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test were used (P < 0.05). RESULTS: The Ble group had necrosis in the coronal pulp at 0 h and in the occlusal third of the coronal pulp at 2 days; at 7, 15 and 30 days, no inflammation was noted similar to the controls (P > 0.05). Osteocalcin was absent in the Ble at 0 h, moderate at 2 days and increased thereafter, differing from the controls at all two periods (P < 0.05). Osteopontin was higher principally at 7 and 15 days in Ble groups, but differing with control groups from 2 days after bleaching (P < 0.05). The Ble group had more ROS-positive cells in the pulp at 7 and 15 days (P < 0.05). Tertiary dentine was observed at 7 days, increasing thereafter (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Post-bleaching pulp repair was associated with increased osteocalcin over time. Osteopontin also participated in this process, and anti-ROS was involved in cellular defence against H2 O2 .

Replacing corn with sorghum in the diet alters intestinal microbiota without altering chicken performance.

Sorghum grain can be used to replace corn in broiler diets. However, the effects related to an abrupt change between these grains are not yet clear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance and intestinal health of broilers fed diets containing corn and/or sorghum during different periods of rearing. To accomplish this aim, 2100 male chicks were fed the following experimental diets: C100% (corn-based diet); S100% (sorghum-based diet); C:S50% (diet based on corn and sorghum 1:1); PC-S (corn-based diet in the pre-starter phase and sorghum-based diet in subsequent phases); and PS-C (sorghum-based diet in the pre-starter phase and corn-based diet in subsequent phases). The study was conducted with two simultaneous trials in a randomized block design as follows: a performance trial up to 40 days occurred in floor pens (n = 8), and the metabolism trial occurred in cages (n = 10). Performance, jejunal morphometry, number of goblet cells, apparent metabolizable energy (AME), apparent metabolizable energy corrected for nitrogen (AMEn) and the coefficient of apparent metabolizability of dry matter (CMDM) of the diets, and the intestinal microbiota of small intestine and caeca at 10 and 21 days of age (16S gene sequencing) were evaluated. The different experimental diets did not affect performance, jejunal epithelium, AME, AMEn or CMDM. However, the experimental diets altered the percentages of the genera Clostridium, Weissella, Bacillus and Alkaliphilus in the small intestine. In addition, the genera Lactobacillus and Desulfotomaculum in the caeca were altered. The age also affected the microbiota of the intestinal segments. In conclusion, feeding sorghum in place of corn as well as the grain change after the pre-starter phase does not alter broiler performance. However, sorghum alters the intestinal microbiota, resulting in a lower percentage of Clostridium and a higher percentage of Lactobacillus in the small intestine and caeca, respectively.

Barium titanate thin films deposited by electrophoresis on p-Doped Si (001) substrates.

Barium titanate (BaTiO3) thin films have been prepared by electrophoretic deposition on p-doped and platinum covered silicon (Si) substrates. Their structure, nanostructure and dielectric properties were characterized. The as-deposited films were polycrystalline and composed by barium titanate nanograins with an average grain size approximately 9 nm. Annealing at high temperatures promoted grain growth, so that the samples annealed at 600 degrees C presented average grain sizes approximately 24 nm. From Raman spectroscopy measurements it was found that the tetragonal (ferroelectric) BaTiO3 phase was stabilized on the films. Also, at higher annealing temperatures, cation disorder was reduced on the films. From measurements of the temperature dependence of the dielectric permittivity the corresponding paraelectric-ferroelectric phase transition was determined. The observed transition temperature (approximately 100 degrees C) was found to be below the BaTiO3 bulk or thick film values, due to the small nanosized grains composing the films.