Contamination of absorbent paper points in clinical practice: a critical approach.

This study sought to evaluate the contamination level of absorbent paper points used routinely in dental clinical practice. For this study, 60 absorbent paper points were collected and separated into 3 groups: 20 paper points from sealed commercial packages (Group 1), 20 paper points from open commercial packages in use for 30 days (Group 2), and 20 paper points from a sealed commercial package that were manipulated by the operator (Group 3). Evaluation criteria was the presence or absence of turbidity in the brain heart infusion (BHI) broth used as the culture medium. The results (Kruskal-Wallis test; significance level = 5%) demonstrated bacterial growth in most of the samples for all groups, with a statistically significant difference in Group 3 compared to Groups 1 and 2. It was concluded that inadequate manipulation of paper points by the operator caused these materials to become contaminated; in addition, the bacterial growth in absorbent paper points that are still in their commercial packages indicates the importance of sterilization before the paper points are used in clinical practice.

Reference values for the production of the aqueous fraction of the tear film measured by the standardized endodontic absorbent paper point test in different exotic and laboratory animal species.

The aqueous fraction of the tear film and the horizontal palpebral fissure length (HPFL) were measured in exotic and laboratory animals, specifically saffron finches (Sicalis flaveola), chestnut-bellied seed-finches (Sporophila angolensis), red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans), rats (Rattus norvegicus) and mice (Mus musculus). These species possess small eyes making it difficult to perform the typical Schirmer tear test. Measurement of the aqueous fraction of the tear was performed using the standardized endodontic absorbent paper point tear test (PPTT), accomplished with manual restraint by a single operator. The following results were obtained: saffron finches (n = 42)-HPFL (4.46 ± 0.09 mm) and PPTT (5.10 ± 0.26 mm); chestnut-bellied seed-finches (n = 38)-HPFL (4.77 ± 0.05 mm) and PPTT (4.11 ± 0.34 mm); red-eared sliders (n = 56)-HPFL (8.59 ± 0.08 mm) and PPTT (8.79 ± 0.38 mm); rats (n = 60)-HPFL (6.45 ± 0.09 mm) and PTT (6.18 ± 2.06 mm); and mice (n = 22)-HPFL (3.59 ± 0.27 mm) and PPTT (4.39 ± 1.45 mm).

Establishment and evaluation of method to collect rat gingival crevicular fluid by using absorbent paper points / 吉林大学学报(医学版)

Objective To establish and evaluate the method to collect the rat gingival crevicular fluid (GCF)by using absorbent paper points, and to lay foundation for analysis on GCF.Methods 20 healthy male rats were selected and randomly divided into GCF group and saliva group.The GCF of the right upper molar gingival trough of the rats in GCF group and the saliva of the rats in saliva group were collected by using 1 5# absorbent paper points.The SDS-PAGE analysis and abundance detection were applied to analyze the protein bands of the samples in two groups.Results The SDS-PAGE analysis identified the proteins at 77 000,66 000,55 000,51 000,and 28 000,especially 66 000 in GCF group.While saliva group had lower brightness protein bands at 66 000,60 000, and 48 000.The data of protein abundance of 66 000 between two groups had statistically significant difference (P<0.05).Conclusion The number and types of the protein bands are different between GCF Group and saliva group,so using 15# absorbent paper points can collect the rat GCF successfully.