Effect of artificial aging on the bond durability of fissure sealants.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of artificial aging on the bond durability of fissure sealants in vitro. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty bovine incisors received 4 different sealant treatments and were divided into four groups: 1. Ultraseal XT plus (UX); 2. Enamel Loc (EL); 3. 35% phosphoric acid plus Enamel Loc (PEL); 4. Adper Prompt L-Pop plus Clinpro (PPC). Beam-shaped specimens were prepared and randomly divided into three subgroups. One subgroup underwent the microtensile bond strength (µTBS) test after 24-h storage in 37°C water. The other two subgroups were also subjected to the microtensile bond strength test after 5000 and 10,000 thermal cycles, respectively. Another twelve intact human third molars were sealed using 1 of 3 methods and were divided into 3 groups of 4 each: 1. Ultraseal XT plus; 2. Adper Prompt L-Pop plus Clinpro; and 3. Enamel Loc. Two specimens from each group were immersed in a 50% silver nitrate solution for 24 h, followed by exposure to fluorescent light for 8 h, before being scanned in a micro-CT (microcomputer tomography) machine. The other two were handled in the same way after undergoing 10,000 thermal cycles. The CT images obtained were evaluated. RESULTS: All samples from the EL group were broken during preparation, so no µTBS results were available. After 5000 thermal cycles, the bond strengths of the three other groups (UX, PEL, PPC) decreased significantly (p < 0.05). Longer thermocycling (10,000 cycles) resulted in more decreases in µTBS for group PEL and PPC, while the strength of the UX group remained relatively unchanged. After thermocycling, considerable silver penetration could be seen at the sealant/enamel interface of the EL group in micro-CT images. CONCLUSIONS: The etch-and-rinse procedure for sealant application promotes higher bond strength under artificial aging. Micro-CT, a nondestructive analytical tool, may be used to evaluate the sealant/enamel interface effectively.

[Antitumor effects of fresh gecko hydrolysate on H22 transplanted tumor in mice].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the inhibitory effects of fresh gecko crude extract and its hydrolysate on H22 transplanted tumor in mice. METHODS: The content of soluble nitrogen (SN-TCA index) was used to determine the degree of enzymolysis. The hydrolysate of gecko was obtained from fresh gecko crude extract by pepsin and papain hydrolyzing. H22 transplanted tumor mouse models were established and divided into negative group, positive group,crude extract group and hydrolysate group. RESULTS: The inhibition rate of the H22 tumor-bearing mice was 29.17%, 48.99% respectively for the crude extract group and the hydrolysate group. The inhibition rate of hydrolysate group and the negative group were significantly different (P < 0.05). The spleen and thymus index for the crude extract group and the hydrolysate group didn't show different compared with the negative group. CONCLUSION: The crude extract of the fresh gecko and the hydrolysate can inhibit the growth of the H22 transplanted tumor. The enzymolysis by pepsin and papain can increase the antitumor activity of the crude extract of fresh gecko.

Effects of two nickel-titanium instrument systems, Mtwo versus ProTaper universal, on root canal geometry assessed by micro-computed tomography.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of Mtwo and ProTaper Universal (PTU) on root canal geometry three-dimensionally by using micro-computed tomography. METHODS: A total of 20 canals were prepared with Mtwo or PTU system. Micro-computed tomography scanner was used to scan the specimens before and after instrumentation. Three-dimensional images were reconstructed. The parameters evaluated included canal surface area, volume, structure model index, thickness, straightening, canal transportation, and uninstrumented surface area. RESULTS: Preparation significantly changed canal surface area, volume, structure model index, thickness, and canal curvature. There were no significant differences between instrument types concerning these parameters and uninstrumented surface area. The canals prepared with PTU showed larger values of transportation compared with those in Mtwo group at the apical third. CONCLUSIONS: Both of the instrumentation systems produced canal preparations with adequate geometry. PTU produced larger transportation at apical third.

A comparison of bond strengths measured using cantilever bending and micro-tensile methods.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the cantilever-bending test as a bond-strength measurement method for enamel/composite adhesion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The buccal surface of bovine incisors were flattened and subsequently placed with composite Z250 (3M ESPE) incrementally after either self-etching adhesive (SE) or etch-and-rinse adhesive (SB) was applied. Then, they were cut with a low-speed cutter to obtain stick-shape samples. The samples were divided into four groups (n=30 each) according to the adhesive and test method: SET, SE-B, SB-T and SB-B, where T denotes the microtensile test and B denotes the cantilever-bending test. The failure mode of each sample was examined under the microscope. Those samples with the fracture surface lying entirely or partially in the adhesive layer were considered to have provided successful measurements. The results from the two test methods were compared. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The cantilever-bending method produced a comparable success rate of bond strength measurement to that of the microtensile method. The bond strengths of SE and SB from the cantilever-bending test were 58% and 40% higher, respectively, than those measured with the microtensile method. The adhesive SE exhibited almost the same bond strength as SB, irrespective of the test method. CONCLUSIONS: Cantilever bending can be used as an alternative method for bond strength measurement. The ratio of bending to tensile strength is around 1.5.

Non-destructive examination of interfacial debonding using acoustic emission.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to assess the viability of using the acoustic emission (AE) measurement technique to detect and monitor in situ the interfacial debonding in resin composite restorations due to build-up of shrinkage stresses during polymerization of the composite. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The non-destructive testing technique that measures acoustic emission (AE) was used to detect and monitor the interfacial debonding in resin composite during curing of the composite. Four groups of specimens, n=4 each, were tested: (1) intact human molars with Class-I cavities restored with the composite Z100 (3M ESPE, USA); (2) intact human molars with Class-I cavities restored with the composite Filtek™ P90 (3M ESPE, USA); (3) ring samples prepared from the root of a single bovine tooth and 'restored' with Z100; (4) freestanding pea-size specimens of Z100 directly placed on the AE sensor. The restorations in Groups (1)-(3) were bonded to the tooth tissues with the adhesive Adper™ Scotchbond™ SE Self-Etch (3M ESPE, USA). The composites in all the specimens were cured with a blue light (3M ESPE, USA) for 40s. The AE signals were recorded continuously for 10 min from the start of curing. Non-destructive 3D imaging was performed using X-ray micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) to examine the bonding condition at the tooth-restoration interface. RESULTS: The development of AE events followed roughly that of the shrinkage stress, which was determined separately by the cantilever beam method. The number of AE events in the real human tooth samples was more than that in the ring samples, and no AE events were detected in the pea-size specimens placed directly on the AE sensor. The number of AE events recorded in the specimens restored using Z100 was more than that found in specimens restored with Filtek P90. The micro-CT imaging results showed clear interfacial debondings in the tooth specimens restored with Z100 after curing, but no clear debonding was found in the P90 specimens. CONCLUSIONS: The AE technique is an effective tool for detecting and monitoring in situ the interfacial debonding of composite restorations during curing. It can potentially be employed to evaluate the development of shrinkage stress and the quality of interfacial bonds in teeth restored with different composite materials, cavity geometries, and restorative techniques.

[Effects of ovariectomy and estradiol on microarchitecture and biomechanical properties in rat vertebrae].

This study was aimed at observing the effects of ovariectomy and estradiol on the microarchitecture of cancellous bone and exploring the influence of microarchitectural change on the biomechanical properties. Thirty 6-month-old unmated female SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups (10 rat each): sham-operated control group (Sham), ovariectomized group (OVX)and Estradiol Benzoate treated group (EBT). All rats were housed in standard environmental conditions. Five months after operation, the rats were sacrificed. The biomechanical properties of the third lumbar vertebras (L3) were measured with compression testing in vitro. Micro-CT scanning was performed on the fourth lumbar vertebras (L4) in vitro. In comparison with the corresponding variables of Sham, the bone volume fraction (BV/TV) and the trabecular number (Tb. N) of OVX were reduced remarkably, and the trabecular separation (Tb. Sp) and the structural model index (SMI) of OVX were enhanced obviously. These facts implicated that the bone trabecular plate-like structure of OVX were decreased. BV/TV, Tb. N and the trabecular thickness (Tb. Th) of EBT were greater than those of OVX. Tb. Sp and SMI of EBT were much smaller than those of OVX. The results of mechanical test showed that the maximum forioe (Fmax), the maximum stress (sigmamax) and the elastic modeulus (E) of the lumbar vertebral cancellous bone of OVX were declined sharply, while the aforesaid biomechanical index of EBT was improved distinctly. The performance of three-dimensional micro-CT and the mechanical testing to assess microarchitecture of cancellous bone are useful for evaluating the state of osteoporosis and the antiosteoporotic effect of agents.