Effect of surface roughness and biofilm formation on the color properties of resin-infiltrated ceramic and lithium disilicate glass-ceramic CAD-CAM materials.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) materials have become popular for dental restorations; however, which materials should be preferred in terms of surface properties after biofilm formation is unclear. PURPOSE: The purpose of this in vitro study was to investigate the effect of biofilm formation on the discoloration properties of resin-infiltrated ceramic and glass-ceramic CAD-CAM materials and human teeth and to examine the effect of the brushing procedure on color change. MATERIAL AND METHODS: One hundred and six 2-mm-thick specimens were prepared from IPS e.max CAD and Cerasmart, and a total of 53 intact human teeth were used. Five specimens from each group were used to measure the amount of live biomass in the biofilm. The remaining 48 specimens in each group were divided into 4 subgroups: kept in distilled water without the formation of dental biofilm (DW), kept in tea without the formation of dental biofilm (T), kept in distilled water after the formation of dental biofilm (DWB), and kept in tea after the formation of dental biofilm (TB) (n=12). After finishing and polishing the materials, initial color measurements were made using a spectrophotometer, and surface roughness measurements were made using noncontact profilometer. After creating a biofilm layer in DWB and TB, all specimens were kept in their solutions at 37 °C for 24 hours, and the color measurements were repeated. After the biofilm layer had been removed by brushing, a third color measurement was made. The data were statistically analyzed with one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and two-way ANOVA (α=.05). RESULTS: The lowest roughness value was observed in Cerasmart. Tooth-IPS e.max CAD gave similar results. The Cerasmart material had the most viable biomass, whereas the IPS e.max CAD material had the least. TB had the highest ΔE1 value for all materials and DW had the lowest (P<.05). The brushing procedure caused the materials to return to their initial colors or reduce the color change in most groups. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of biofilm on CAD-CAM materials immersed in distilled water caused an unacceptable degree of discoloration (ΔE>1.8), and immersion in tea led to greater color change. The adhesion of biofilm to restorative dental materials plays an important role in the coloring of these dental materials.

Occupational Risks of Podologists: A Combined Assessment of VOCs, Vibration, Noise Levels and Health Complaints.

Podologists are exposed to many occupational hazards, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from insole manufacturing and noise/vibration during nail or tissue grinding. In this study, VOCs, noise, and vibration were measured in five podiatry clinics and three offices. Questionnaires were administered to 23 podologists and 19 office workers to inquire about their pain, ocular, skin and respiratory complaints. The results showed that the podologists' exposure to the total VOC concentrations was approximately twice as high as that of the office workers. The podologists' complaints regarding pain were found to be correlated with ambient noise and hand-arm vibration levels. Ocular, skin, and respiratory complaints were also found to be correlated with total VOC concentrations. These results suggest that VOCs, noise and vibration in the working environment may impair podologists' health and that they have an intensifying effect on each other, increasing the severity of health issues.

Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection Screening in Newborns From Saliva Samples by Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Congenital cytomegalovirus infection is the most common congenital infection. Although screening of congenital cytomegalovirus infection with polymerase chain reaction studies in blood, urine, and saliva samples has been developed in recent years, it is not yet in routine use in any country. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In our study, cytomegalovirus deoxyribonucleic acid analysis was per- formed by real-time polymerase chain reaction method in saliva samples taken before the first feeding during the first day following birth in neonates born in a university hospital between January 2021 and January 2022. To support the diagnosis, additionally, cytomegalovirus deoxy- ribonucleic acid positivity in urine and blood samples was investigated in newborns with cyto- megalovirus deoxyribonucleic acid positivity in saliva. RESULTS: Cytomegalovirus deoxyribonucleic acid was investigated in saliva samples of 545 neonates by real-time polymerase chain reaction method in 1-year period and positiv- ity was found in 6 neonates. Since cytomegalovirus deoxyribonucleic acid was found nega- tive by the real-time polymerase chain reaction method in the urine and blood samples of 5 of these neonates, the positivity in the saliva sample was interpreted as false positivity. In 1 case, cytomegalovirus deoxyribonucleic acid positivity was detected in urine and blood samples 5 weeks later. As a result, definite congenital cytomegalovirus infection could not be diagnosed in 545 cases, while possible congenital cytomegalovirus infection was diag- nosed in 1 case. CONCLUSION: It has been concluded that the frequency of congenital cytomegalovirus infection is low in our study group and studying saliva samples showed high false-positive rates. It is seen that saliva is not a suitable sample for detecting cytomegalovirus deoxyribonucleic acid by real-time polymerase chain reaction method.

Molecular characterization of carbapenemase producing Klebsiella pneumoniae strains by multiplex PCR and PFGE methods: The first K.pneumoniae isolates co-producing OXA-48/KPC and KPC/NDM in Turkey.

INTRODUCTION: Carbapenems are frequently used in the treatment of multidrug-resistant infections caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae. The aim of the study is to definition and incidence of transferable carbapenemase genes of carbapenem resistant K. pneumoniae (CRKP) and to determine clonal relatedness of these strains in tertiary care hospital in Turkey. METHODS: Identification of all 100 K. pneumoniae isolates and low sensitivity to any of the carbapenem group antibiotics were determined by Vitek-2 (BioMérieux, France). The frequency of carbapenemase genes (blaOXA-48, blaNDM, blaKPC, blaVIM,blaIMP) and extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) genes (blaCTX-M, blaSHV, blaTEM) which frequently detected in Turkey, have been investigated by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Clonal relatedness was determined using Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis(PFGE). RESULTS: Ninety five isolates carried at least one of the carbapenemase genes (81.05% blaOXA-48, 38.9% blaNDM, 9.47% blaKPC,1.05% blaVIM). One isolate was carried the blaOXA-48+KPC and the two isolates were carried the blaKPC+NDM. PFGE demonstrated the presence of 24 pulse types and 63.09% of the isolates were in four main pulse types. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated the incidence of blaNDM is beginning to reach endemic levels, in addition to blaOXA-48 found endemic in Turkey. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the co-production of these two genes (blaKPC + NDM and blaOXA-48 + KPC) in CRKP isolates.

Chitosan and blueberry treatment induces arginase activity and inhibits nitric oxide production during acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity.

BACKGROUND: Liver diseases have become a major problem of the worldwide. More than 50% of all cases of liver failure can be attributed to drugs. Among these, acetaminophen is the most common cause. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the the hepatoprotective effects of blueberry and chitosan on tissue arginase activity, ornithine and nitric oxide levels during the acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Acetaminophen (250 mg/kg body weight per day), blueberry (60 mg/kg body weight per day) and, chitosan (200 mg/kg body weight per day) were administered to the rats by oral gavage during the experimental period. RESULTS: Blueberry and chitosan significantly decreased liver arginase activity and ornithine levelsand and increased nitric oxide levels. Glutathione levels were remarkably increased by chitosan and blueberry treatments. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study indicate that blueberry and chitosan effectively protected against the acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity. The hepatoprotective effect afforded by blueberry and chitosan can be attributed to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.

Protective effect of chitosan treatment against acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity.

Acetaminophen (APAP) is the most commonly reported toxic ingestion in the world. Severe liver injury resulting from overdose or chronic use of APAP remains a significant clinical problem. In recent years, the mechanisms underlying liver injury caused by APAP have become much better understood. We have studied the protective effect of chitosan supplementation against APAP-induced hepatotoxicity with respect to changes in the levels of total and lipid-bound sialic acid in the serum and in the liver tissue and changes in the activity of diagnostic marker enzymes, lipid peroxidation, and ceruloplasmin oxidase enzyme in normal and experimental groups of rats. During the experimental period, chitosan (200 mg/kg body weight per day) was administered to APAP + chitosan-treated rats by oral gavage. Results showed that treatment with APAP induced a significant increase in the serum alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase activities, in total and lipid-bound sialic acids levels, and in the liver lipid peroxide content. The administration of chitosan significantly prevented APAP-induced alterations in the levels of diagnostic marker enzymes, total sialic acid, lipid-bound sialic acid, and malondialdehyde in the experimental groups of rats. Furthermore, chitosan administration increased the activity of ceruloplasmin oxidase. In conclusion, our results suggest that chitosan has a protective effect on APAP-induced hepatic injury in rats. The study sheds light on the therapeutic potential of chitosan in an APAP-induced hepatotoxicity model.

The neuroprotective effect of acute moderate alcohol consumption on caspase-3 mediated neuroapoptosis in traumatic brain injury: the role of lysosomal cathepsin L and nitric oxide.

Our aim in this study was to investigate the effect of moderate acute alcohol administration on cysteine protease mediated neuronal apoptosis and nitric oxide production in the traumatic brain injury. A total of 29 adult Sprague-Dawley male rats weighing 250-300 g were used. The rats were allocated into four groups. The first group was the control (sham-operated) group in which only a craniotomy was performed, the others were alcohol, trauma and trauma+alcohol groups. Caspase-3 enzyme activity in the trauma group increased significantly in comparison with the control group. The alcohol given group showed a decreased caspase-3 enzyme activity compared to the trauma group. The level of caspase-3 enzyme activity in the alcohol+trauma group decreased in comparison to the trauma group. SF/FEL ratio of cathepsin-L enzyme activity in the trauma group was significantly higher than in the control group. Our results indicate that moderate alcohol consumption may have protective effects on apoptotic cell death after traumatic brain injury. Protective effects of moderate ethanol consumption might be related to inhibition of lysosomal protease release and nitric oxide production.

Cardiovascular risk assessment in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome: role of biomarkers.

OBJECTIVES: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) are associated with a high incidence of cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to determine paraoxonase (PON), total sialic acid (TSA), and nitric oxide (NO) levels in addition to conventional risk markers in patients with DM, MetS and DM plus MetS. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study has been carried out over 78 subjects which divided into four groups; control (n=18), DM (n=20), newly diagnosed MetS (n=20) and DM plus MetS patient groups (n=20). RESULTS: Both insulin and triglyceride concentrations were significantly higher in DM+MetS group than in control and DM groups and serum HDL-C concentrations were significantly lower in DM+MetS group than other groups. Patients with MetS had higher LDL-C, total cholesterol and hsCRP concentrations than in the other groups. Interestingly, in addition to body mass index and waist circumference values, LDL-C, total cholesterol and hsCRP concentrations were decreased in patients who have both DM and MetS. Serum NO and TSA levels were higher in MetS and DM+MetS groups compared to control subjects. Unexpectedly, PON activity has been found lower in control group when compared to other groups. CONCLUSIONS: Although there is no doubt that association of DM and MetS elevates the risk of cardiovascular disease, occurrence of DM in patients with undiagnosed MetS might be encouraging patients to change their life styles and dietary habits.