Development of Potential Therapeutic Agents from Black Elderberries (the Fruits of Sambucus nigra L.).

Elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.) is a widespread deciduous shrub, of which the fruits (elderberries) are used in the food industry to produce different types of dietary supplement products. These berries have been found to show multiple bioactivities, including antidiabetic, anti-infective, antineoplastic, anti-obesity, and antioxidant activities. An elderberry extract product, Sambucol®, has also been used clinically for the treatment of viral respiratory infections. As the major components, phenolic compounds, such as simple phenolic acids, anthocyanins and other flavonoids, and tannins, show promising pharmacological effects that could account for the bioactivities observed for elderberries. Based on these components, salicylic acid and its acetate derivative, aspirin, have long been used for the treatment of different disorders. Dapagliflozin, an FDA-approved antidiabetic drug, has been developed based on the conclusions obtained from a structure-activity relationship study for a simple hydrolyzable tannin, ß-pentagalloylglucoside (ß-PGG). Thus, the present review focuses on the development of therapeutic agents from elderberries and their small-molecule secondary metabolites. It is hoped that this contribution will support future investigations on elderberries.

Potential Benefits of Black Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) Fruits and Their Constituents in Improving Human Health.

Aronia berry (black chokeberry) is a shrub native to North America, of which the fresh fruits are used in the food industry to produce different types of dietary products. The fruits of Aronia melanocarpa (Aronia berries) have been found to show multiple bioactivities potentially beneficial to human health, including antidiabetic, anti-infective, antineoplastic, antiobesity, and antioxidant activities, as well as heart-, liver-, and neuroprotective effects. Thus far, phenolic compounds, such as anthocyanins, cyanidins, phenolic acids, proanthocyanidins, triterpenoids, and their analogues have been identified as the major active components of Aronia berries. These natural products possess potent antioxidant activity, which contributes to the majority of the other bioactivities observed for Aronia berries. The chemical components and the potential pharmaceutical or health-promoting effects of Aronia berries have been summarized previously. The present review article focuses on the molecular targets of extracts of Aronia berries and the examples of promising lead compounds isolated from these berries, including cyanidin-3-O-galactoside, chlorogenic acid, quercetin, and ursolic acid. In addition, presented herein are clinical trial investigations for Aronia berries and their major components, including cancer clinical trials for chlorogenic acid and COVID-19 trial studies for quercetin. Additionally, the possible development of Aronia berries and their secondary metabolites as potential therapeutic agents is discussed. It is hoped that this contribution will help stimulate future investigations on Aronia berries for the continual improvement of human health.

Investigation of the esthetic perception of different canine parameters.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to analyze the esthetic perception of selected canine features, namely crown length, shade, inclination, and angle of incisal edge tip. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The anterior maxillary teeth of a Central European woman were photographed and digitally modified in order to investigate esthetic perceptions of the above four categories. Three groups of examiners with different levels of experience in the field of dentistry (laypersons/inexperienced dental students, advanced dental students, dentists) evaluated the photographs twice with the help of visual analogue scales. RESULTS: The best-evaluated canines have approximately the same length as the central incisor, have the same shade as the other anterior teeth, are best embedded in a lighter overall tooth shade, are neutral to slightly palatal inclined, and have a right angled to rounded incisal edge (≥ 90°). The canines evaluated as least esthetic, however, are longer than the central incisors, darker, inclined labially, and have a tapered incisal edge. No significant differences could be found between the evaluations of the groups with regard to the four feature categories. CONCLUSIONS: Laypersons, advanced dental students, and dentists generally evaluate according to the same esthetic standards. Gender does not have a significant influence on evaluation. Clear definitions of esthetically favored shades, incisal edge shapes, inclination, and lengths of the canines can be given. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Since the esthetics of the smile line play a critical role for patients, dentists, dental technicians, and their supplying industry, knowledge of the esthetically preferred morphology of canines is essential. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The aim of this study is to give clear definitions of esthetically favored shades, incisal edge shapes, and lengths of the canines, as the esthetics of the smile line play a critical role for patients, dentists, dental technicians, and their supplying industry (e.g., denture tooth manufacturers). Precise knowledge of esthetic preferences is important in clinical practice for both dentists and dental technicians, for example, in order to adequately advise patients regarding esthetic corrections. Also, in the case of missing teeth, this knowledge is essential for optimal and satisfactory restorations. Thus, this study can contribute to the satisfaction of general practitioners and patients.

Survey of clinically used adhesive ceramic bonding methods - follow up after 12 years.

OBJECTIVES: This survey evaluated dentists' use of adhesive bonding methods of all-ceramic restorations over a period of twelve years. This is a follow-up survey which had been undertaken in 2007, 2011, and in 2015 [1]. METHODS: A multiple choice questionnaire regarding adhesive bonding methods for all-ceramic restoration was developed and handed out in 2007 and 2019 to dentist participating in a local annual dental meeting in Northern Germany. The questionnaires were evaluated on the basis of evidence-based techniques from the scientific literature. RESULTS: Data from 93 questionnaires (2019) were compared with 90 evaluated questionnaires from 2007. Bonding of oxide ceramic had improved over the years of observation (7% to 62%) whereas evidence-based bonding of silicate ceramic restorations decreased from 66% to 38%; common mistakes were using air abrasion on silicate surface. Females showed better values for correct adhesive cementation than males (f: 39-50%, m: 22%-41%). A correlation between correct cementation and years of professional experience could not be revealed. CONCLUSION: Incorrect bonding of oxide ceramic restorations decreased within the 12 years investigated whereas there was no improvement of evidence-based bonding procedures of silicate ceramics. Still a high number of survey participants need additional training in bonding techniques.

Influence of the yttrium content on the fracture strength of monolithic zirconia crowns after artificial aging.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the study was to evaluate fracture strength of full-anatomical crowns manufactured from three different types of zirconia with different content of yttrium oxide. METHOD AND MATERIALS: A total of 48 specimens were divided into three main groups (n = 16), according to the content of yttrium oxide in the crown material used, as follows: group A, DD Bio ZX2 (3Y-TZP); group B, DD cubeX2 HS (4Y-TZP); and group C, DD cubeX2 (5Y-TZP) (Dental Direkt). After proper surface treatment of different materials, the crowns were adhesively bonded to metal abutments using a dual-curing composite resin (Multilink Automix, Ivoclar Vivadent). Eight specimens from each material group were randomly selected to undergo an artificial aging through dynamic loading and thermocycling in a chewing simulator (Willytec, SD-Mechatronic). After dynamic loading all survived specimens of the first subgroup together with all the specimens of the second subgroup were loaded in a universal testing machine (Zwick Z010, Zwick/Roell). The data were checked for normal distribution with the Shapiro-Wilk test and for homogeneity of the variances with the Levene test. The statistical analyses were done using the Kruskal-Wallis test and in subgroups using the Wilcoxon test. RESULTS: The highest fracture strength median value was shown with the 3Y-TZP after artificial aging (median 7,530 N), while the lowest was shown with the 5Y-TZP after artificial aging as well (median 3,700 N). CONCLUSIONS: Increasing the content of yttrium oxide in attempt to improve the optical properties can reduce the mechanical properties after aging of the ceramic as shown in this study. However, even the more translucent 5Y-TZP showed very high fracture resistance, which exceeded 3,000 N. Based on the results of this study, care should be taken when using zirconia with high content of yttrium oxide in areas or situations with high stresses.

Toral lateral line units of goldfish, Carassius auratus, are sensitive to the position and vibration direction of a vibrating sphere.

We recorded the responses of lateral line units in the midbrain torus semicircularis of goldfish, Carassius auratus, to a 50-Hz vibrating sphere and determined the unit's spatial receptive fields for various distances between fish and sphere and for different directions of sphere vibration. All but one unit responded to the vibrating sphere with an increase in discharge rate. Only a proportion (25%) of the units exhibited phase-locked responses. Receptive fields were narrow or broad and contained one, two or more areas of increased discharge rate. The data show that the receptive fields of toral lateral line units are in many respects similar to those of brainstem units but differ from those of afferent nerve fibres. The responses of primary afferents represent the pressure gradient pattern generated by a vibrating sphere and provide information about sphere location and vibration direction. Across the array of lateral line neuromasts, the fish brain in principle can derive this information. Nevertheless, toral units tuned to a distinct sphere location or sensitive to a distinct sphere vibration direction were not found. Therefore, it is conceivable that the torus semicircularis uses a population code to determine spatial location and vibration direction of a vibrating sphere.