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Aim: To investigate the null hypothesis that neither the surface conditioning (collagen, serum, saliva) of hydroxyapatite (HA) discs, nor the biofilm age (3 days vs. 21 days) has a significant effect on the cellular and matrix composition of biofilms, using Enterococcus faecalis as the model organism. Methodology: Sterile HA discs were conditioned with collagen, saliva or serum, and inoculated with E. faecalis to form 3‐day and 21‐day‐old biofilms. Unconditioned discs served as controls. The biofilms were analysed using culture‐dependent and independent (confocal microscopy and biochemical analysis) methods, to determine the colony‐forming units and the biofilm matrix composition (polysaccharides and proteins), respectively. Statistical analyses were performed using appropriate parametric and nonparametric tests (P = 0.05). Results: Collagen conditioning significantly increased the number of CFUs in the 21‐day biofilms, compared to the 3‐day biofilms (P < 0.05). Although the biochemical analysis revealed that surface conditioning had no significant effect on the total carbohydrate content in the 21‐day biofilms, confocal microscopic analysis revealed that collagen and saliva conditioning selectively increased the polysaccharide content of 21‐day biofilms, compared to the 3‐day biofilms (P < 0.05). Conclusions: The results of this study raise an important methodological concern that the substrate conditioning substances and biofilm age differentially influence the cellular and extracellular matrix components of E. faecalis biofilms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnesium (Mg) has been known to play vital roles in regulating growth and various metabolic processes. In recent years, the association between Mg and tumorigenesis has raised more and more attention. However, the effects of Mg on the progression of head and neck carcinoma (HNC), as well as the mechanism behind it, remain undefined. In this study, the roles of Mg in tumorigenic activities were tested in CAL27 and FaDu cells as well as in a xenograft tumor model in nude mice. We demonstrated that a moderate increase in extracellular Mg contributed to the proliferation, migration, and invasion of 2 HNC cell lines, while the addition of Mg in drinking water promoted the growth of xenograft tumors in mice without altering their serum Mg levels. Moreover, TRPM7, a major Mg transporter, was shown to be essential for the tumorigenic activities of HNC and the Mg-induced promotive effects on HNC cells and was further shown to be associated with the activation of AKT/mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) signaling. In a preliminary clinical study, we determined the Mg ion concentrations in the stimulated saliva from 72 patients with nasopharynx carcinoma and 12 healthy individuals. Our data revealed that the salivary Mg levels of subjects with nasopharynx carcinoma were significantly higher than those of the healthy controls. This is correlated with our finding showing TRPM7 to be overexpressed in tumor tissues harvested from 9 patients with HNC. Therefore, we can conclude that salivary Mg level, within a certain range, could act as a risk factor for the progression of HNC, which involves the activation of AKT/mTOR signaling pathways through the TRPM7 channel. The control of salivary Mg level and the intervention of TRPM7 should not be ignored during the study of HNC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The aim of this systematic review was to address the question: Do different irrigating protocols have an impact on the dislocation resistance of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA)‐based materials? The review was performed using a well‐defined search strategy in three databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science) to include laboratory studies performed between January 1995 and May 2017, in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Two reviewers analysed the papers, assessed the risk of bias and extracted data on teeth used, sample size, size of root canal preparation, type of MTA‐based material, irrigants, canal filling method, storage method and duration, region of roots and the parameters of push‐out testing (slice thickness, plunger dimensions and plunger loading direction), the main results and dislocation resistance values (in MPa). From 255 studies, 27 were included for full‐text analysis. Eight papers that met the inclusion criteria were included in this review. There was a wide variation in dislocation resistance due to differences in irrigation sequence, time and concentration of irrigants, storage method and duration, and the parameters of push‐out bond strength testing. A meta‐analysis was not done but qualitative synthesis of the included studies was performed. No definitive conclusion could be drawn to evaluate the effect of irrigation protocols on dislocation resistance of MTA‐based materials. Recommendations have been provided for standardized testing methods and reporting of future studies, so as to obtain clinically relevant information and to understand the effects of irrigating protocols on root canal sealers and their interactions with the dentine walls of root canals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate in vitro the effect of an experimental adhesive resin for orthodontic bonding by measuring some the chemical and mechanical properties. The resin demonstrated increased values of nanohardness and elastic modulus, but the differences were not significant compared with those for the Transbond XT adhesives. The experimental adhesive resin could be a feasible choice or a substitute for the traditional bis-GMA-based resins used in bonding orthodontic attachments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Of the variables used by in vitro studies of resistance to sliding (RS) in orthodontics, sliding velocity (SV) of the wire is often the one farthest from its clinical counterpart. We investigated whether velocity influences the RS at values approximating the orthodontic movement.Methods: A SS self-ligating bracket with a NiTi clip was fixed onto a custom-made model. Different shaped orthodontic SS wires of four sizes and two types (round, 0.020″ and 0.022″; rectangular, 0.016″×0.022″ and 0.017″×0.025″) were tested using an Instron® testing machine. Wires were pulled at four velocities (1×10-2  mm/s, 1×10-3  mm/s, 1×10-4  mm/s, 1×10-5  mm/s). Shapiro-Wilk test was used to evaluate the normal distribution of the data; two-way ANOVA was performed to compare means in the RS with wire characteristics and SV. Significance level was set at P<.05.Results: RS was higher for rectangular wires, and for those with larger diameters. Lower SV was associated with lower RS, with wire type and size having an interaction effect. The RS relatively to SV can be represented as: RS ∝ α[ln(SV)]+β, where α and β are constants.Conclusions: At very low SV and low normal forces, SV influences the RS of SS archwires in orthodontic brackets, and the proportionality is logarithmic. Although respecting these parameters in vitro is challenging, quantitative evaluations of RS should be carried out at clinically relevant velocities if aiming at translational application in the clinical scenario. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two organofunctional silane coupling agents alone and two silane blend systems with HEMA were eval-uated in vitro as adhesion promoters for bonding iis-GMA resin to a silica-coated titanium surface. The silanes were applied onto tribochemically silica-coated titanium surfaces. Experimental Ws-GMA resin stubs were applied and photo-polymerized onto titanium. The specimens were subjected to three different conditions: (1) dry storage for 24 h, (2) storage in de-ionized water at 37°C for six months and (3) alter-nating storage in de-ionized water at 37°C and thermocycling (6000 cycles, 5-55°C) for 6 months. Shear bond strengths of the resin to titanium were measured using a universal testing machine. Surface examina-tion was made with a scanning electron microscope (SEM) after the bond strength test. Highest shear bond strength was obtained with 3-acryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane stored in dry condition (20.2 ±3.2 MPa), and the lowest value was obtained with 3-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (ESPE Sil) in alternating water storage and thermocycling condition (1.4 ± 0.6 MPa). The type of storage condition affected significantly the shear bond strength (p < 0.05). The shear bond strength obtained from dry storage was the highest, while the shear bond strength obtained from alternating water storage and thermocycling condition was the lowest. Interfacial failure was the main failure mode (87.2%) followed by mixed failure (9.4%) and cohesive failure (3.4%). The addition of 0.5 vol%. HEMA into silane primers did not improve the shear bond strength between the experimental resin and silica-coated titanium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The longevity of silane promoted adhesion of the surface conditioned etchable ceramic materials is a continuous and costly concern in dentistry. Moreover, it poses a functional and aesthetic dilemma both for the dentist and the patient. Several methods for surface conditioning exist, however some of them are not any more widely in clinical use. Tribochemical silica-coating combined with silane application, compared in vitro and in vivo to some other silanization protocols, is according to the literature a clinically proved, relevant adhesion promotion method to enhance bonding of resin composites to etchable ceramics. The repair of fractured ceramic with tribochemical silica-coating and followed by a silane application is, according to the literature a relevant adhesion promotion method in prosthetic dentistry. Silica-coating is followed by a silane coupling agent application. The bonding is adequate for clinical use according to the literature study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In dentistry, adhesion promotion with 3- methacryloyloxypropyltrimethoxysilane is usually sufficient, but its hydrolytic stability is a continuous concern. The hydrolytic stability of an alternative, 3-isocyanatopropyltriethoxysilane, was compared with that of conventional 3- methacryloyloxypropyltrimethoxysilane. Two silanes, both in 0.1 and 1.0 vol-% in ethanolwater, were evaluated in the attachment of an experimental bis-phenol-A-diglycidyldimethacrylate (Bis-GMA) resin to grit-blasted (with two different systems) titanium. Silane hydrolysis was monitored by FTIR spectrometry. Bis-GMA resin was applied and photo-polymerized on titanium. The specimens were thermocycled (6000 cycles, 5-55°C). Surface analysis was carried out with scanning electron microscopy. Statistical analysis (ANOVA) showed that the highest shear bond was achieved with 0.1% 3-isocyanatopropyltriethoxysilane (12.5 MPa) with silica-coating, and the lowest with 1.0% 3-methacryloyloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (3.4 MPa) with aluminacoating. The silane, its concentration, and the gritblasting method significantly affected the shear bond strength (p < 0.05). SEM images indicated cohesive failure of bonding, and, in conclusion, 3- isocyanatopropyltriethoxysilane is a potential coupling agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]