A randomized clinical trial evaluating maxillary sinus augmentation with different particle sizes of demineralized bovine bone mineral: histological and immunohistochemical analysis.

This study was performed to investigate sinus floor augmentation with two different particle sizes of demineralized bovine bone mineral (DBBM) by means of histological and immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis. A randomized clinical trial was conducted involving 10 individuals requiring two-stage bilateral maxillary sinus augmentation for implant installation. The patients were randomly divided into two groups following a split-mouth design: the maxillary sinus on one side was filled with small-sized particles (0.25-1mm) and on the contralateral side with large-sized particles (1-2mm). After a healing period of 8 months, 25 implants were placed. During implant site preparation, bone biopsies were obtained from each sinus, perpendicular to the long axis of the implant (buccal-palatal direction), for descriptive and histomorphometric analyses. IHC staining for protein expression of osteocalcin (OCN), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) was also performed. Histomorphometric analysis revealed no statistically significant difference in the percentage of biomaterial (32.4±8.56% and 38.0±6.92%), newly formed bone (36.1±9.60% and 36.7±5.79%), or connective tissue (30.4±8.63% and 23.8±6.16%) between the small- and large-sized particle groups, respectively. IHC analysis did not reveal differences in the expression of OCN, VEGF, or TRAP. These findings suggest that both particle sizes of DBBM are effective for bone augmentation in the maxillary sinus.

Contribution to the characterization of Opuntia spp. juices by LC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS.

Opuntia spp. fruits are considered as health promoting foods due to the diversity of bioactive molecules found in these fruits. The composition in organic acids, flavonols and betalains in the Opuntia ficus-indica juice from a region of Portugal was accomplished for the first time by liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry using an electrospray ionization source operating in negative and positive mode. The methodology used allowed the detection of 44 compounds, from which 32 were identified. Isorhamnetin derivatives were the dominant flavonol glycosides. A total of 9 betalains including 6 betaxanthins and 3 betacyanin were also detected in the fruit juice samples and indicaxanthin, betanin and isobetanin were the major pigments. Phenolic acid and phenylpyruvic acid derivatives were also identified. To our knowledge, it is the first time derivative compounds from piscidic acid, phenolic compounds and betalains are characterized in cactus pear juice using a single LC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS method.