The effect of ethanol on surface of semi-interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) polymer matrix of glass-fibre reinforced composite.

AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of this laboratory study was to evaluate the effect of ethanol treatment on the surface roughness (Sa), nano-mechanical properties (NMP) and surface characterization of dental fiber reinforced composite (FRC) with semi-interpenetrating polymer network (IPN). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 240 FRC specimens with bisphenol A-glycidyl methacrylate - triethyleneglycol dimethacrylate - Poly (methylmetahcrylate) (bis-GMA-TEGDMA-PMMA) IPN matrix system were light cured for 40 s and divided into 2 groups (L and LH). The group LH was further post-cured by heat at 95 °C for 25 min. The specimens were exposed to 99.9%, 70% and 40% for 15, 30, 60 and 120 s respectively. The treated specimens were evaluated for Sa using non-contact profilometer. NMP were determined using nanoindentation technique and chemical characterization was assessed by Fourier Transform-Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic analyses. Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) images were made to evaluate the surface topographical changes. RESULTS: Both the L and LH group showed changes in the Sa and NMP after being treated by different concentrations of ethanol and at different time interval. The highest Sa was observed with L-group (0.733 µm) treated with 99.9% ethanol for 120 s. Specimens in LH-group treated with 99.9% ethanol for 120 s (1.91 GPa) demonstrated increased nano-hardness, and group treated with 40% ethanol for 120 s demonstrated increased Young's modulus of elasticity (22.90 GPa). FTIR analyses revealed changes in the intensity and bandwidth in both the L and LH groups. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrated that both light-cured and heat post-cured FRC were prone for ethanol induced alteration in the surface roughness (Sa), nano-mechanical properties (NMP) and chemical characterization. The interphase between the glass fibers and the organic matrix was affected by ethanol. The changes were considerably less in magnitude in the heat post-cured FRC specimens.

Effect of smoking on the genetic makeup of toll-like receptors 2 and 6.

BACKGROUND: Cigarette smoking is a major risk factor for lung cancer, asthma, and oral cancer, and is central to the altered innate immune responsiveness to infection. Many hypotheses have provided evidence that cigarette smoking induces more genetic changes in genes involved in the development of many cigarette-related diseases. This alteration may be from single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in innate immunity genes, especially the toll-like receptors (TLRs). OBJECTIVE: In this study, the genotype frequencies of TLR2 and TLR6 in smoking and nonsmoking population were examined. METHODS: Saliva samples were collected from 177 smokers and 126 nonsmokers. The SNPs used were rs3804100 (1350 T/C, Ser450Ser) and rs3804099 (597 T/C, Asn199Asn) for TLR2 and rs3796508 (979 G/A, Val327Met) and rs5743810 (745 T/C, Ser249Pro) for TLR6. RESULTS: Results showed that TLR2 rs3804100 has a significant effect in short-term smokers (OR =2.63; P=0.04), and this effect is not observed in long-term smokers (>5 years of smoking). Therefore, this early mutation may be repaired by the DNA repair system. For TLR2 rs3804099, the variation in genotype frequencies between the smokers and control patients was due to a late mutation, and its protective role appears only in long-term smokers (OR =0.40, P=0.018). In TLR6 rs5743810, the TT genotype is significantly higher in smokers than in nonsmokers (OR =6.90). The effect of this SNP is observed in long-term smokers, regardless of the smoking regime per day. CONCLUSION: TLR2 (rs3804100 and rs3804099) and TLR6 (rs5743810) can be used as a potential index in the diagnosis and prevention of more diseases caused by smoking.