Polymerization Stress and Gap Formation of Self-adhesive, Bulk-fill and Flowable Composite Resins.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Bulk-fill materials show a similar or better performance than control flowable materials regarding interfacial integrity. However, some self-adhesive composites need improvements to achieve competitive performance. SUMMARY: Objective: This laboratory study compared the polymerization stress and gap formation of self-adhesive, bulk-fill and control flowable composites. The degree of conversion (DC) and post-gel shrinkage were also assessed.Methods: Two self-adhesive (Vertise Flow and Fusio Liquid Dentin), two bulk-fill (Tetric N-Flow Bulk-Fill and Filtek Bulk-Fill Flowable Restorative), and two control flowable (Z350 XT Flowable Restorative and Tetric N-Flow) composites were evaluated. Polymerization stress (PS) was determined in a universal testing machine (n=5). Gap formation was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy in class I restorations (n=6). DC was measured by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (n=3). Post-gel volumetric shrinkage (VS) was measured using the strain gauge method (n=5). Data were submitted to one-way analysis of variance or a Kruskal-Wallis test (α=0.05).Results: Vertise Flow and Fusio Liquid Dentin presented the highest interfacial gap (27%±5% and 21%±6%, respectively), which was associated with their highest PS (4.1±0.8 MPa and 3.5±0.6 MPa, respectively) and DC (63%±2% and 60%±2%, respectively) in spite of the lowest VS (1.0%±0.2% and 1.0%±0.3%, respectively). Tetric N-Flow Bulk-Fill and Filtek Bulk-Fill Flowable Restorative presented similar PS (2.9± 0.3 MPa and 2.4±0.2 MPa, respectively) to both control materials. However, the Tetric N-Flow Bulk-Fill showed the lowest gap (7%±2%) and the highest DC (64.3%±0.4%), and the Filtek Bulk-fill presented a marginal gap (17.8%±3.4%) and a DC (54.5%±2.7%) similar to the control materials. The VS values of both bulk-fill materials were similar to those of Tetric N-Flow and lower than that of Z350 XT Flowable Restorative.Conclusions: Bulk-fill composites showed either similar or significantly lower interfacial gaps and PS than the control flowable composites. The self-adhesive composites showed a significantly higher gap percentage and PS than the control and bulk-fill materials.

Proliferation of fibroblasts and endothelial cells is enhanced by treatment with Phyllocaulis boraceiensis mucus.

Previously, mucus of some molluscs has been studied as a potential source of new natural compounds capable of inducing cell proliferation and of remodelling tissue. Here, the focus of the study is possible use of mucus released by Phyllocaulis boraceiensis - a compound inducing cell proliferation and enhancing collagen synthesis in dermal fibroblasts and inducing proliferation human endothelial cell cultures. Fibroblasts treated with P. boraceiensis mucus at concentrations below 0.012 µg/µl developed high rates of proliferation, as evaluated using MTT assay; the proliferative effect was dose-dependent. Production and secretion of extracellular matrix components and collagen type I fibres were enhanced after 24 h of treatment, revealing a hormesis effect, biphasic dose response - low dose for proliferation yet toxic at high dose. No significant change in proliferation was observed in treated endothelial cells and production of lipid polyunsaturated free radicals was low in both cell types. Treatment with P. boraceiensis mucus produced pronounced changes in fibroblast cell number and morphology, and in quantities of well-ordered collagen deposition. These results support the premise that Phyllocaulis boraceiensis mucus demonstrates proliferative properties in cells involved in the healing process.

In vitro synergistic interaction between amide piplartine and antimicrobial peptide dermaseptin against Schistosoma mansoni schistosomula and adult worms.

Schistosomiasis is one of the world's major public health problems, and praziquantel is the only available drug to treat this notable neglected disease. Drug combinations have been considered an important strategy for treatment of infectious diseases, which might enhance therapeutic efficacy and delaying resistance. In this study, we have examined the in vitro activities of the amide piplartine and the antimicrobial peptide dermaseptin 01 administered singly or in combination against Schistosoma mansoni of different ages including 3-hour-old and 7-day-old schistosomula and 49-day-old adult schistosomes as well as on egg output by adult worms. We calculated the median lethal concentrations (LC(50)) of 7.87 and 17.99 µM on 49-day-old adults, 11.02 and 71.58 µM on 7-day-old schistosomula, and 70.87 and 98.42 µM on 3-hour-old schistosomula for piplartine and dermaseptin, respectively. Most Piplartine/dermaseptin combinations showed synergistic effect, with combination index (CI) values less than 0.9 when S. mansoni adults or schistosomula were simultaneously incubated with both drugs in vitro; synergy between these two compounds was also indicated using isobolograms. Additionally, we observed alterations on the tegumental surface of schistosomula and adult schistosomes by means of laser scanning confocal microscopy. Furthermore, egg laying of surviving worms was considerably more reduced when exposed to the piplartine/dermaseptin combinations than each drug alone, and this inhibition was irreversible. This is the first report on the synergistic effect between piplartine and dermaseptin against S. mansoni and opens the route to further studies (e.g. in vivo) to characterize this combination in greater detail.

Early postoperative pelvic-floor biofeedback improves erectile function in men undergoing radical prostatectomy: a prospective, randomized, controlled trial.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) and urinary incontinence are common complications following radical prostatectomy (RP). Although pelvic-floor biofeedback training (PFBT) may improve urinary continence following RP, its effects on the recovery of potency are unknown. Fifty-two patients selected for RP were prospectively randomized for a treatment group (n=26) receiving PFBT once a week for 3 months and home exercises or a control group (n=26), in which patients received verbal instructions to contract the pelvic floor. Erectile function (EF) was evaluated with the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) before surgery and 1, 3, 6 and 12 months postoperatively. Patients were considered potent when they had a total IIEF-5 score>20. Continence status was assessed and defined as the use of no pads. Groups were comparable in terms of age, body mass index, diabetes, pathological tumor stage and neurovascular bundle preservation. A significant reduction in IIEF-5 scores was observed after surgery in both groups. In the treatment group, 8 (47.1%) patients recovered potency 12 months postoperatively, as opposed to 2 (12.5%) in the control group (P=0.032). The absolute risk reduction was 34.6% (95% confidence interval (CI): 3.8-64%) and the number needed to treat was 3 (95% CI: 1.5-17.2). A strong association between recovery of potency and urinary continence was observed, with continent patients having a 5.4 higher chance of being potent (P=0.04). Early PFBT appears to have a significant impact on the recovery of EF after RP. Urinary continence status was a good indicator of EF recovery, with continent patients having a higher chance of being potent.

Activity of epiisopiloturine against Schistosoma mansoni.

Schistosomiasis, caused by blood flukes of the genus Schistosoma, still imposes a considerable public health burden on large parts of the world. The control of this disease depends almost exclusively on the drug praziquantel, and there are no alternative drugs in sight. Natural compounds have recently attracted significant attention due to their relevance to parasitic infection and potential development into new therapeutic agents. Epiisopiloturine is an imidazole alkaloid isolated from the leaves of Pilocarpus microphyllus (Rutaceae), a native plant from Brazil. Here, we report the in vitro effect of this drug on the survival time of Schistosoma mansoni of different ages, such as 3 h old and 1, 3, 5, and 7 days old schistosomula, 49-day-old adults, and on egg output by adult worms. Epiisopiloturine at a concentration of 300 µg/mL caused the death of all schistosomula within 120 h. Extensive tegumental alterations and death were observed when adult schistosomes had been exposed to 150 µg/mL of the epiisopiloturine. At the highest sub-lethal dose of alkaloid (100 µg/mL), a 100% reduction in egg laying of paired adult worms was observed. Additionally, epiisopiloturine showed selective antischistosomal activity and exhibited no cytotoxicity to mammalian cells. This report provides the first evidence that epiisopiloturine is able to kill S. mansoni of different ages and inhibit worm egg laying.

Riboflavin in development and cell fate.

Riboflavin (7,8-dimethyl-10-ribitylisoalloxazine; vitamin B2) is a water-soluble vitamin, cofactor derivatives of which (FAD, FMN) act as electron acceptors in the oxidative metabolism of carbohydrate, amino acids and fatty acids and which in the reduced state can donate electrons to complex II of the electron transport chain. This means that riboflavin is essential for energy generation in the aerobic cell, through oxidative phosphorylation. The classic effects of riboflavin deficiency on growth and development have generally been explained in terms of these functions. However, research also suggests that riboflavin may have specific functions associated with cell fate determination, which would have implications for growth and development. In particular, riboflavin depletion interferes with the normal progression of the cell cycle, probably through effects on the expression of regulatory genes, exerted at both the transcriptional and proteomic level.

Molluscicidal activity of some marine substances against the snail Biomphalaria glabrata (Mollusca, Planorbidae).

Freshwater snails of the genus Biomphalaria play a major role as intermediate hosts of Schistosoma mansoni, the etiologic agent of schistosomiasis. While Biomphalaria spp. control by molluscicides is one of the main strategies to reduce the snail population in infected areas, there are few effective molluscicides commercially available. Natural products may be considered as potentially useful and safe molluscicides. We have evaluated the molluscicidal activity of 12 extracts from ten marine organisms on adult and embryonic stages of Biomphalaria glabrata. Only extracts of the red algae Liagora farinosa and of the sponge Amphimedon viridis presented molluscicidal activity. Lethal concentration (LC)(50) values obtained were 120 µg/mL for L. farinosa CH(2)Cl(2) extract (apolar fraction) and 20 µg/mL for A. viridis extract and halitoxin. The polar alga fraction and halitoxin had no effect on B. glabrata embryos. The algae apolar fraction was active on B. glabrata in all embryonic development stages, with LC(50) values for blastulae at 42 µg/mL, gastrulae at 124 µg/mL, trochophore at 180 µg/mL, and veliger at 222 µg/mL. This is the first report of extracts from marine organisms which presented molluscicidal activity.

Molluscicidal and ovicidal activities of plant extracts of the Piperaceae on Biomphalaria glabrata (Say, 1818).

Schistosomiasis is a tropical disease caused by Schistosoma and occurs in 54 countries, mainly in South America, the Caribbean region, Africa and the eastern Mediterranean. Currently, 5 to 6 million Brazilian people are infected and 30,000 are under infection risk. Typical of poor regions, this disease is associated with the lack of basic sanitation and very frequently to the use of contaminated water in agriculture, housework and leisure. One of the most efficient methods of controlling the disease is application of molluscicides to eliminate or to reduce the population of the intermediate host snail Biomphalaria glabrata. Studies on molluscicidal activity of plant extracts have been stimulated by issues such as environmental preservation, high cost and recurrent resistance of snails to synthetic molluscicides. The aim of this study was to determine the molluscicide action of extracts from Piperaceae species on adult and embryonic stages of B. glabrata. Fifteen extracts from 13 Piperaceae species were obtained from stems, leaves and roots. Toxicity of extracts was evaluated against snails at two different concentrations (500 and 100 ppm) and those causing 100% mortality at 100 ppm concentration were selected to obtain the LC90 (lethal concentration of 90% mortality). Piper aduncum, P. crassinervium, P. cuyabanum, P. diospyrifolium and P. hostmannianum gave 100% mortality of adult snails at concentrations ranging from 10 to 60 ppm. These extracts were also assayed on embryonic stages of B. glabrata and those from P. cuyabanum and P. hostmannianum showed 100% ovicidal action at 20 ppm.

Molluscicidal and ovicidal activities ofplant extracts of the Piperaceae onBiomphalaria glabrata (Say, 1818)

Schistosomiasis is a tropical disease caused by Schistosoma and occurs in 54countries, mainly in South America, the Caribbean region, Africa and the easternMediterranean. Currently, 5 to 6 million Brazilian people are infected and 30,000are under infection risk. Typical of poor regions, this disease is associated withthe lack of basic sanitation and very frequently to the use of contaminated water in agriculture, housework and leisure. One of the most efficient methods of controlling the disease is application of molluscicides to eliminate or to reduce the population of the intermediate host snail Biomphalaria glabrata. Studies on molluscicidal activity of plant extracts have been stimulated by issues such as environmental preservation, high cost and recurrent resistance of snails tosynthetic molluscicides. The aim of this study was to determine the molluscicideaction of extracts from Piperaceae species on adult and embryonic stages ofB. glabrata. Fifteen extracts from 13 Piperaceae species were obtained from stems, leaves and roots. Toxicity of extracts was evaluated against snails at two different concentrations (500 and 100ppm) and those causing 100% mortality at 100ppm concentration were selected to obtain the LC90 (lethal concentration of 90% mortality). Piper aduncum, P. crassinervium, P. cuyabanum, P. diospyrifolium and P. hostmannianum gave 100% mortality of adult snails at concentrations ranging from 10 to 60 ppm. These extracts were also assayed on embryonic stages of B. glabrata and those from P. cuyabanum and P. hostmannianum showed 100%ovicidal action at 20ppm.

Body image dissatisfaction and eating symptoms in mothers of adolescents with eating disorders.

The purpose of the present study was to assess body dissatisfaction and eating symptoms in mothers of eating disorder (ED) female patients and to compare results with those of a control group. The case group consisted of 35 mothers of female adolescents (aged between 10 and 17 yrs) diagnosed with ED who attended the Interdisciplinary Project for Care, Teaching and Research on Eating Disorders in Childhood and Adolescence (PROTAD) at Clínicas Hospital Institute of Psychiatry of the Universidade de São Paulo Medical School. Demographic and socioeconomic data were collected. Eating symptoms were assessed using the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26) and body image was assessed by the Body Image Questionnaire (BSQ) and Stunkard Figure Rating Scale (FRS). The case group was compared to a control group consisting of 35 mothers of female adolescents (between 10 and 17 years) who attended a private school in the city of São Paulo, southeastern Brazil. With regard to EAT, BSQ and FRS scores, we found no statistically significant differences between the two groups. However, we found a positive correlation between BMI and BSQ scores in the control group (but not in the case group) and a positive correlation between EAT and FRS scores in the case group (but not in the control group). It appears to be advantageous to assess body image by combining more than one scale to evaluate additional components of the construct.

Shear viscosity coefficient and relaxation time of causal dissipative hydrodynamics in QCD.

The shear viscosity coefficient and the corresponding relaxation time for causal dissipative hydrodynamics are calculated based on the microscopic formula proposed in T. Koide and T. Kodama [Phys. Rev. E 78, 051107 (2008)10.1103/PhysRevE.78.051107]. Here, the exact formula is transformed into a more compact form and applied to evaluate these transport coefficients in the chiral perturbation theory and perturbative QCD. It is shown that in the leading order calculation, the causal shear viscosity coefficient eta reduces to that of the ordinary Green-Kubo-Nakano formula, and the relaxation time tau(pi) is related to eta and pressure P by a simple relationship, tau(pi)=eta/P.

Establishment of the comet assay in the freshwater snail Biomphalaria glabrata (Say, 1818)

The single cell gel eletrophoresis or the comet assay was established in the freshwater snail Biomphalaria glabrata. For detecting DNA damage in circulating hemocytes, adult snails were irradiated with single doses of 2.5, 5, 10 and 20 Gy of 60Co gamma radiation. Genotoxic effect of ionizing radiation was detected at all doses as a dose-related increase in DNA migration. Comet assay in B. glabrata demonstrated to be a simple, fast and reliable tool in the evaluation of genotoxic effects of environmental mutagens.

Downstream effects on human low density lipoprotein of homocysteine exported from endothelial cells in an in vitro system.

A model system is presented using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) to investigate the role of homocysteine (Hcy) in atherosclerosis. HUVECs are shown to export Hcy at a rate determined by the flux through the methionine/Hcy pathway. Additional methionine increases intracellular methionine, decreases intracellular folate, and increases Hcy export, whereas additional folate inhibits export. An inverse relationship exists between intracellular folate and Hcy export. Hcy export may be regulated by intracellular S-adenosyl methionine rather than by Hcy. Human LDLs exposed to HUVECs exporting Hcy undergo time-related lipid oxidation, a process inhibited by the thiol trap dithionitrobenzoate. This is likely to be related to the generation of hydroxyl radicals, which we show are associated with Hcy export. Although Hcy is the major oxidant, cysteine also contributes, as shown by the effect of glutamate. Finally, the LDL oxidized in this system showed a time-dependent increase in uptake by human macrophages, implying an upregulation of the scavenger receptor. These results suggest that continuous export of Hcy from endothelial cells contributes to the generation of extracellular hydroxyl radicals, with associated oxidative modification of LDL and incorporation into macrophages, a key step in atherosclerosis. Factors that regulate intracellular Hcy metabolism modulate these effects.

Folate protects against oxidative modification of human LDL.

Elevated plasma total homocysteine is considered to be a graded risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Folate, through its homocysteine-lowering potential, may therefore be protective. Folate, however, may have protective effects independent of homocysteine-lowering. We have measured the effects of folate on Cu-catalysed oxidative damage to the unsaturated lipids in human LDL. Experiments were carried out in the presence of citrate, and followed increases in absorption at 234 nm, which measures the amount of conjugated diene produced. There is a lag time during which endogenous antioxidants are oxidised, followed by rapid oxidation of lipid. Addition of 0-6 microm - 5-methyltetrahydrofolate produced a dose-dependent increase in the lag time, suggesting that folate may have a direct anti-oxidant role in vivo, which is independent of any indirect effects through lowering of homocysteine levels.

[Prophylactic effect of pirarubicin (THP) on postoperative recurrence of superficial bladder cancer in terms of intravesical retention time].

In order to determine the modality of prophylactic intravesical instillation of pirarubicin (THP = tetrahydropyranyladriamycin) following transurethral resection (TUR) of superficial bladder cancer, a prospective randomized study was performed. A total of 79 patients were randomized into "2-hour instillation" (A), "5-min instillation" (B) and "control" (C) groups. Prophylactic efficacy and side effects were analyzed in each group. In groups A and B, 20 mg of THP was first dissolved in 10 ml of distilled water, adjusted to 40 ml with saline and was administered intravesically once a week for 10 weeks, starting from 1 week after TUR. The recurrence-free rate was calculated in 65 evaluable patients. The one-year recurrence-free rate was 70.2% in group A, 62.8% in group B and 52.1% in group C. The one-year recurrence-free rate was significantly higher in group A than in group C. Adverse effects were observed in 21.4% of the patients in group A and 40.7% in group B. There was no significant difference in the occurrence rate of side effects between these two groups. Taking the prophylactic efficacy and side effects into consideration, "2-hour instillation" seemed to be better than "5-min instillation".

Quantitative examinations for multi joint arm trajectory planning--using a robust calculation algorithm of the minimum commanded torque change trajectory.

In previous research, criteria based on optimal theories were examined to explain trajectory features in time and space in multi joint arm movement. Four criteria have been proposed. They were the minimum hand jerk criterion (by which a trajectory is planned in an extrinsic-kinematic space), the minimum angle jerk criterion (which is planned in an intrinsic-kinematic space), the minimum torque change criterion (where control objects are joint links; it is planned in an intrinsic-dynamic-mechanical space), and the minimum commanded torque change criterion (which is planned in an intrinsic space considering the arm and muscle dynamics). Which of these is proper as a criterion for trajectory planning in the central nervous system has been investigated by comparing predicted trajectories based on these criteria with previously measured trajectories. Optimal trajectories based on the two former criteria can be calculated analytically. In contrast, optimal trajectories based on the minimum commanded torque change criterion are difficult to be calculated, even with numerical methods. In some cases, they can be computed by a Newton-like method or a steepest descent method combined with a penalty method. However, for a realistic physical parameter range, the former becomes unstable quite often and the latter is unreliable about the optimality of the obtained solution. In this paper, we propose a new method to stably calculate optimal trajectories based on the minimum commanded torque change criterion. The method can obtain trajectories satisfying Euler-Poisson equations with a sufficiently high accuracy. In the method, a joint angle trajectory, which satisfies the boundary conditions strictly, is expressed by using orthogonal polynomials. The coefficients of the orthogonal polynomials are estimated by using a linear iterative calculation so as to satisfy the Euler-Poisson equations with a sufficiently high accuracy. In numerical experiments, we show that the optimal solution can be computed in a wide work space and can also be obtained in a short time compared with the previous methods. Finally, we perform supplementary examinations of the experiments by Nakano, Imamizu, Osu, Uno, Gomi, Yoshioka et al. (1999). Estimation of dynamic joint torques and trajectory formation from surface electromyography signals using a neural network model. Biological Cybernetics, 73, 291-300. Their experiments showed that the measured trajectory is the closest to the minimum commanded torque change trajectory by statistical examination of many point-to-point trajectories over a wide range in a horizontal and sagittal work space. We recalculated the minimum commanded torque change trajectory using the proposed method, and performed the same examinations as previous investigations. As a result, it could be reconfirmed that the measured trajectory is closest to the minimum commanded torque change trajectory previously reported.

[A pertussis outbreak in a ward for severely retarded].

In June 2000, many cases with persistent cough were observed among inpatients and the staff of a ward for severely retarded. Some of them had symptoms suggestive of pertussis, such as whooping, post-tussive apnea. We performed a retrospective investigation to assess symptoms and serological findings suspicious of pertussis. There were a total of 14 cases of persistent cough over 3 weeks (4 to 9 weeks). 6 cases were inpatients and 8 were hospital staff. Of those, serological test for pertussis infection was performed in 10 cases and 6 cases were diagnosed as serologically confirmed pertussis. The other cases with persistent cough were also considered to be probable pertussis as they have had intensive contact with serologically confirmed cases. 12 cases were treated by antibiotics, but they all failed to respond. It was suggested that Bordetella pertussis must be considered as a causal organism of persistent cough even in adults. To prevent nosocomial transmission of pertussis, droplet precautions and macrolide treatment should be provided for patients with symptoms highly suggestive of pertussis.

Regulative specification of ectoderm in skeleton disrupted sea urchin embryos treated with monoclonal antibody to Pl-nectin.

Pl-nectin is a glycoprotein first discovered in the extracellular matrix (ECM) of Paracentrotus lividus sea urchin embryo, apically located on ectoderm and endoderm cells. The molecule has been described as functioning as an adhesive substrate for embryonic cells and its contact to ectoderm cells is essential for correct skeletogenesis. The present study was undertaken to elucidate the biochemical characteristics of Pl-nectin and to extend knowledge on its in vivo biological function. Here it is shown that the binding of mesenchyme blastula cells to Pl-nectin-coated substrates was calcium dependent, and reached its optimum at 10 mM Ca2+. Perturbation studies using monoclonal antibody (McAb) to Pl-nectin, which prevent ectoderm cell-Pl-nectin contact, show that dorsoventral axis formation and ectoderm differentiation were retarded. At later stages, embryos recovered and, even if growth and patterning of the skeleton was greatly affected, the establishment of dorsoventral asymmetry was reached. Similarly, the expression of specific ectoderm and endoderm territorial markers was achieved, although occurring with some delay. Endoderm differentiation and patterning was not obviously affected. These results suggest that both endoderm and ectoderm cells have regulative capacities and differentiation of territories is restored after a lag period. On the contrary, failure of inductive differentiation of the skeleton cannot be rescued, even though the ectoderm has recovered.

Composition and decomposition of internal models in motor learning under altered kinematic and dynamic environments.

The learning process of reaching movements was examined under novel environments whose kinematic and dynamic properties were altered. We used a kinematic transformation (visuomotor rotation), a dynamic transformation (viscous curl field), and a combination of these transformations. When the subjects learned the combined transformation, reaching errors were smaller if the subject first learned the separate kinematic and dynamic transformations. Reaching errors under the kinematic (but not the dynamic) transformation were smaller if subjects first learned the combined transformation. These results suggest that the brain learns multiple internal models to compensate for each transformation and has some ability to combine and decompose these internal models as called for by the occasion.