Antifungal Activity of Nanobiocomposite Films Based on Silver Nanoparticles Obtained Through Green Synthesis.

The high incidence of Candida albicans infections has raised concerns regarding side effects and drug resistance, compounded by a limited number of alternative drugs. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have prominent antimicrobial activity, but effective administration remains a challenge. In this study, AgNPs were synthesized via a green chemistry approach, using glucose as a reducing agent, and incorporated into an agar matrix to form a film (AgFilm). The AgNPs and AgFilm were characterized by Ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and atomic force microscopic (AFM). The UV-Vis spectra of the AgNPs and AgFilm showed bands at 415 and 413 nm, respectively. The PXRD and UV-Vis data suggest that the growth of AgNPs was effectively inhibited in the AgFilm. The diameter of AgNPs dispersed in AgFilm was 76 ± 42 nm, and the thickness of the film and 35 ± 3 µm. The antifungal activity of AgFilm was evaluated against 20 strains of C. albicans, demonstrating high antifungal activity with an inhibition zone of 19 ± 2 mm. Therefore, AgFilm could be a promising option for the treatment of superficial C. albicans infections.

Preparation and characterization of sequilhos-type biscuits added with almond flour of Acrocomia intumescens.

Acrocomia intumescens ("macaúba") is a species that during processing generates a large amount of waste. The use of this residue for the production of flour for incorporation into food products is a way to minimize the cost and nutritionally enrich the final product. This work aimed to develop and analyze, in terms of physico-chemical and microbiological properties, cookies with macaúba almond cake residual flour. Sequilhos formulations were obtained using three different proportions of flour (2, 4 and 6%). The analysis of the flour allowed to find 4.29% of moisture, 1.13% of acidity, 5.33 of pH, 44.46% of carbohydrates, 28.74% of lipids, 20.06% of proteins and 2.45% of ash. In the analysis of the sequilhos formulations, the following values were found: moisture (5.03 to 8.13%), acidity (0.10 to 0.14%), pH (5.52 to 5.93), carbohydrates (67.17 to 73.37%), lipids (18.77 to 31.77%), proteins (0.85 to 1.92%), ash (0.83 to 0.94%) and total energy value (137.57 to 172,50 Kcal/100g). In microbiological analyzes it was highlighted that the sequilhos presented adequate sanitary conditions. The results indicate almond flour as an ingredient to be incorporated in the preparation of sequilhos, which in turn, presented satisfactory physico-chemical properties and microbiological results.

Evaluation of the antibacterial and inhibitory activity of NorA and MepA efflux pumps from Staphylococcus aureus by diosgenin.

The increase in bacterial resistance to available antibiotics has driven several researchers to search for new agents with therapeutic properties. Diosgenin is a naturally occurring steroidal saponin that has demonstrated several pharmacological properties. In the present study, we report the antimicrobial activity of diosgenin against the standard and multidrug-resistant bacteria of Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, in addition to the efflux pump inhibitory activity against Staphylococcus aureus strains carrying NorA and MepA pumps. For this purpose, the broth microdilution method was used, from which the value of the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) was obtained, and this was associated with subinhibitory concentration (MIC/8) with antibiotic of clinical use and ethidium bromide for strains carrier by efflux pump. Diosgenin showed antimicrobial activity for standard S. aureus bacteria and potentiating activity in association with gentamicin and ampicillin for P. aeruginosa multidrug-resistant bacteria, it also showed potentiation in association with norfloxacin against the E. coli strain and gentamicin against the S. aureus strain. Antimicrobial activity against efflux pump-bearing strains revealed that saponin did not interfere with the efflux pump mechanism or intervened antagonistically. Thus, saponin has shown to be very promising against bacterial resistance in association with aminoglycoside, fluoroquinolones and beta-lactam, however additional studies should be carried out to better elucidate the mechanism of action of diosgenin.

Implant-Abutment Misfit after Cyclic Loading: An In Vitro Experimental Study.

This study aimed to evaluate the influence of thermomechanical cycling (TMC) and type of abutment on the misfit and compressive strength of the implant−abutment interface. Forty 3.75-mm external hexagon implants with 25° angled abutments were divided into four groups (N = 10). Group A: overcast plus TMC; Group B: overcast without TMC; Group C: completely cast plus TMC; Group D: completely cast without TMC. Abutments were fixed to the implants with 32-Ncm torque, and groups A and C specimens were cyclically loaded at 80 N with 2 Hz for 1 million cycles. The misfit on the implant−abutment interface was evaluated by optical microscope (100×) and the compressive strength test was performed in a universal test machine. For statistical analysis, a two-way ANOVA and post hoc Tukey test were used. There was no difference in misfit presented by all the abutments in the absence of TMC (p > 0.05). When TMC was performed, the completely cast abutments showed greater misfit than overcast ones (p = 0.001). Regarding compressive strength, irrespective of TMC performed, the overcast abutments showed higher compressive strength values than completely cast abutments (p = 0.003). Moreover, disregarding the type of abutment used, the absence of TMC provided higher compressive strength values (p < 0.001). It was concluded that thermomechanical cyclic loading aggravated the misfit, especially in completely cast abutments, regardless of material or fabrication technique, and reduced the compressive strength of the two types of abutments tested.

Metal Alloys in Dentistry: An Outdated Material or Required for Oral Rehabilitation?

ABSTRACT: The present study aims to describe through a literature review, the main types of noble and non-noble alloys in dentistry looking to identify the adhesion mechanisms, compositions and mechanical properties, and its applicability as a rehabilitation resource nowadays. A bibliographic search was conducted in the main health databases PUBMED (www.pubmed.gov) and Scholar Google (www.scholar.google.com.br), in which studies published from 1971 to 2021 were collected. Laboratory studies, case reports, systematic and literature reviews, which were developed in living individuals. Articles that did not deal with metal alloys and its use in dentistry were excluded. Through the review, it was possible to ver ify that all works presented the metal alloys and their main properties, indicating that they are divided into three main types: hi gh noble alloys, noble alloys and base metal alloys differing in their levels of constituent noble metals. Several alloys and meta ls are available for the dental market each presenting advantages and disadvantages, mainly based on its specific composition.Continuous research and development are resulting in the production of new technologies and products, giving dental surgeons even more options in the design and manufacture of restorations using metal alloys and understanding that these resources will still be viable alternatives in oral rehabilitations. However, further studies on metal alloys are needed to better understand this subject.

RESUMEN: El presente trabajo tuvo como objetivo describir a través de una revisión de la literatura, los principales tipos de aleaciones nobles y no nobles utilizados en odontología buscando identificar los mecanismos de adhesión, composiciones y propiedades mecánicas, así como reflejar su aplicabilidad como recurso rehabilitador en la actualidad. Realizamos una búsqueda bibliográfica em las principales bases de datos de salud PUBMED (www.pubmed.gov) y Scholar Google (www.scholar.google.com.br), en la que se recopilaron estudios publicados desde 1971 hasta 2021. Estudios de laboratorio, informes de casos, revisiones sistemáticas y bibliográficas, que se desarrollaron en individuos vivos. Sin embargo, se excluyeron los artículos que no trataban sobre aleaciones metálicas y su uso en odontología. Se pudo observar que todos los trabajos presentaban las aleaciones metálicas y sus principales propiedades indicando que se estas dividen en tres tipos principales: aleaciones altamente nobles, aleaciones nobles y aleaciones de metales base que difierenen sus niveles de metales nobles constituyentes. Hay varias aleaciones y metales disponibles para el mercado dental, cada uno presenta ventajas y desventajas, principalmente en función de su composición específica. La investigación y el desarrollo continuo están dando como resultado la producción de nuevas tecnologías y productos, brindando a los cirujanos dentistas aún más opciones en el diseño y fabricación de las restauraciones, utilizando aleaciones metálicas y, permite concluir que estos recursos seguirán siendo alternativas viables en los tratamientos de rehabilitación. Sin embargo, se necesitan más estudios sobre el tema abordado en el trabajo, para una comprensión más profunda del tema.