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Background and Purpose Bone resorption induced by interleukin-1β ( IL-1β) and tumour necrosis factor ( TNF-α) is synergistically potentiated by kinins, partially due to enhanced kinin receptor expression. Inflammation-induced bone resorption can be impaired by IL-4 and IL-13. The aim was to investigate if expression of B1 and B2 kinin receptors can be affected by IL-4 and IL-13. Experimental Approach We examined effects in a human osteoblastic cell line ( MG-63), primary human gingival fibroblasts and mouse bones by IL-4 and IL-13 on mRNA and protein expression of the B1 and B2 kinin receptors. We also examined the role of STAT6 by RNA interference and using Stat6-/- mice. Key Results IL-4 and IL-13 decreased the mRNA expression of B1 and B2 kinin receptors induced by either IL-1β or TNF-α in MG-63 cells, intact mouse calvarial bones or primary human gingival fibroblasts. The burst of intracellular calcium induced by either bradykinin ( B2 agonist) or des- Arg10-Lys-bradykinin ( B1 agonist) in gingival fibroblasts pretreated with IL-1β was impaired by IL-4. Similarly, the increased binding of B1 and B2 ligands induced by IL-1β was decreased by IL-4. In calvarial bones from Stat6-deficient mice, and in fibroblasts in which STAT6 was knocked down by siRNA, the effect of IL-4 was decreased. Conclusions and Implications These data show, for the first time, that IL-4 and IL-13 decrease kinin receptors in a STAT6-dependent mechanism, which can be one important mechanism by which these cytokines exert their anti-inflammatory effects and impair bone resorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The influence of inflammation on the number of trophozoites and on the murine amoebic liver abscess area following infection with Entamoeba histolytica and E. dispar was evaluated. Immunohistochemistry and digital morphometry were used to identify and quantify the trophozoites, neutrophils, macrophages, and lesions. Positive correlation was observed between the number of trophozoites and inflammatory cells. A significant decrease in parasitism and inflammation in groups treated with dexamethasone was observed. The scarceness or absence of trophozoites in the treated groups suggest the importance of the inflammatory response in the production of amoebic hepatic abscesses in spite of the inherent virulence of the parasite being decisive in the establishment of the lesion.

Abstract Background Human amoebiasis is caused by the parasitic protozoan Entamoeba histolytica that lives in the large intestine of hosts, where can produce asymptomatic colonization until severe invasive infections with blood diarrhea and spreading to other organs. The amoebic abscesses in liver are the most frequent form of amoebiasis outside intestine and still there are doubts about the pathogenic mechanisms involved in their formation. In this study we evaluated the in situ binding of antibodies, C3 and C9 complement components on trophozoites, in livers of hamsters infected with E. histolytica or E. dispar. These parameters were correlated with the extension of the hepatic lesions observed in these animals and with trophozoites survivor. Methods Hamsters were inoculated intra-hepatically with 100,000 trophozoites of E. histolytica or E. dispar strain and necropsied 12, 24, 48, 72, 144 and 192 h after inoculation. Antibodies, C3 and C9 binding to trophozoites were detected by immunohistochemistry. The estimation of the necrosis area and the number of labeled trophozoites was performed using digital morphometry analysis. Results In the liver sections of animals inoculated with the amoebas, the binding of antibodies to E. histolytica trophozoites was significantly lower than to E. dispar trophozoites. Trophozoites of E. dispar were also more frequently vacuolated and high labeled cellular debris observed in the lesions. Positive diffuse reaction to C3 complement component was more intense in livers of animals inoculated with E. histolytica after 24 and 72 h of infection. C3(+) and C9(+) trophozoites were detected in the vascular lumen, granulomas and inside and in the border of necrotic areas of both infected group animals. C3(+) and C9(+) trophozoite debris immunostaining was higher in livers of E. dispar than in livers of E. histolytica. A positive correlation between necrotic areas and number of C9(+) trophozoites was observed in animals inoculated with E. dispar. Conclusion Morphological and immunohistochemical results suggest that antibodies and complement are able to bind and destroy some trophozoites in the liver of experimentally infected hamsters, perhaps selecting the more resistant parasites which are responsible by progression of amoebic abscesses. The findings indicate that E. histolytica possesses an enhanced ability in vivo to evade the immune responses compared to E. dispar, although it also causes experimental hepatic lesions.

Objective: This study investigated the bioactive effects of retinoic acid and ascorbic acid on hSCAPs in vitro., Design: Cells were obtained from human third molars (n=4) and characterized for mesenchymal stem cell markers by flow cytometry. The experimental groups: control (α-MEM); vehicle control group (α-MEM + 0.17 % DMSO); retinoic acid 0.1, 1, and 10 µM; and ascorbic acid 3, 30, and 300 µM (n=8) were tested for cell viability (alamarBlue; 1, 3, and 7 days), total collagen synthesis (Sirius Red; 1 and 7 days), mineralized matrix formation (Alizarin red; 14 days), and the regulation of gene expression related to mineralization (ALPL and DSPP), cell migration (ITGAV and CXCL12) angiogenesis (VEGFA) and collagen synthesis (COL1A1 and COL3A1; RT-qPCR) on 1 and 7 days. ACTB and GAPDH were used as reference genes. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and complementary tests at a 5 % significance level., Results: Ascorbic acid 300 µM increased viability, and retinoic acid reduced it dose-dependently. Retinoic acid 0.1 µM and ascorbic acid 30 and 300 µM increased mineralized matrix formation and total collagen synthesis, and retinoic acid 10 µM decreased. On day 1, 0.1 µM retinoic acid upregulated the gene expression of COL1A1, COL3A1, VEGFA, CXCL12, ALPL, DSPP e ITGAV, and 300 µM ascorbic acid upregulated COL1A1, COL3A1 and DSPP. However, on day 7, retinoic acid downregulated ALPL, COL3A1, CXCL12, and VEGFA and downregulated ITGAV and VEGFA., Conclusion: Retinoic acid 0.1 µM and ascorbic acid 300 µM biostimulated hSCAPs to differentiate into pro-regenerative phenotypes with potential application for REPs., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Context: Saturated fats found in diets known as high-fat, cafeteria, or Western diets appear to have a negative effect on bone structure; however, few studies have focused on investigating this association, and the data available in the literature remain controversial., Objective: The aim of the current review was to investigate the effects of a high-fat dietary intake on the bone structure of Wistar rats., Data Sources: A search for articles was carried out in the Pubmed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, Embase, and Scopus databases., Data Extraction: In total, 447 articles were found in the initial search; 5 articles were included in the systematic review, after application of the exclusion criteria., Data Analysis: The review was guided by the PICOS strategy and based on the PRISMA protocol for animal reviews., Conclusion: High-fat diets appear to affect bone structure of Wistar rats. Diet composition and exposure time are the factors determining the strength of the effect., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the International Life Sciences Institute. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Objective: Evaluate the influence of a polymeric catalyst primer (PCP) on esthetic efficacy (EE), degradation kinetics of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ), and trans-amelodentinal cytotoxicity (TC) of bleaching gels., Materials and Methods: The following groups were established: G1: No treatment (NC, negative control); G2: PCP; G3: 10% H 2 O 2 ; G4: PCP + 10% H 2 O 2 ; G5: 20% H 2 O 2 ; G6: PCP + 20% H 2 O 2 ; G7: 35% H 2 O 2 (positive control); G8: PCP + 35% H 2 O 2 . To determine EE, enamel/dentin discs (E/DDs) were stained and subjected or not to bleaching protocols for 45 min. To assess TC, the E/DDs were adapted to artificial pulp chambers. The extracts (culture medium + gel components diffused through E/DDs) were applied to odontoblast-like MDPC-23 cells. The viability (VB), oxidative stress (OxS), morphology (SEM), amount of H 2 O 2 diffused and the production of hydroxyl radical (OH • ) were assessed (two-way ANOVA/Tukey/paired Student t-test; p < 0.05)., Results: The highest EE was found in G8 (p < 0.05), and G4, G6, and G7 did not differ statistically (p > 0.05). In G4, the limited H 2 O 2 diffusion reduced OxS and increased cell VB (p < 0.05)., Conclusions: Coating the enamel with PCP containing 10 mg/ml of manganese oxide before applying the 10% H 2 O 2 bleaching gel maintains the EE of conventional in-office bleaching and minimizes the toxic effects of this esthetic therapy., Clinical Significance: Coating the enamel with a PCP before applying the bleaching gel may potentiate the EE of the conventional in-office tooth bleaching and reduce the toxicity of this professional therapy to the dental pulp., (© 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

The effects of onion and its by-products on metabolic changes induced by excessive consumption of a high fat diet have been the focus of many studies. The aim of this study was to systematically review the effects of onion and its by-products antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-obesity in rats exposed to a high-fat diet. Five databases were used: Pubmed, EMBASE, Science Direct, Web of science and Scopus until June 2020 updated December 1, 2022. Research of the articles was carried out by two reviewers, searching and selecting studies after an initial reading of the titles and abstracts. In total, 2,448 papers were found and, after assessing against the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 18 papers were selected for this review. The findings of this review show the beneficial effects of onion and its by-products on inflammatory parameters, obesity, cardiovascular disease, thermogenesis and hepatic alterations generally associated with the consumption of a high-fat diet.

Objective: To assess the potential influence of violet LED (V-LED) application time on the esthetic efficacy and cytotoxicity of a 35% H 2 O 2 bleaching gel., Methodology: Stained and standardized enamel/dentin discs were subjected to one in-office tooth bleaching session (45 min), and the gel was either irradiated or not with V-LED. Thus, the following groups were established (n = 8): G1: No treatment (negative control, NC); G2: 35% H 2 O 2 (positive control, PC); G3: 35%H 2 O 2  + V-LED/15 min; G4: 35%H 2 O 2  + V-LED/30 min; G5: 35%H 2 O 2  + V-LED/45 min. First, esthetic efficacy was assessed (ΔE 00 and ΔWI). Discs assembled in artificial pulp chambers were subjected to the same bleaching treatments. Then, the extracts (culture medium + diffused bleaching gel components) were collected and applied to MDPC-23 pulp cells, which were analyzed for viability (Live/Dead, MTT) and oxidative stress (OxS). The amount of H 2 O 2 in the extracts was also determined (leuco crystal-violet/peroxidase). The data were subjected to ANOVA/Tukey at a 5% significance level., Results: Although esthetic efficacy did not differ among the irradiated groups (G3, G4, and G5) (p > 0.05), their results were higher than in G2 (PC; p < 0.05). In the irradiated groups, the cell viability and OxS as well as the amount of H 2 O 2 in the extracts were statistically similar to G2 (PC), regardless of irradiation time (p > 0.05)., Conclusion: Although V-LED improves the esthetic outcome of in-office tooth bleaching, increasing irradiation time does not effect the color changes and cytotoxicity of this professional therapy., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Population surveillance in COVID-19 Pandemic is crucial to follow up the pace of disease and its related immunological status. Here we present a cross-sectional study done in Maricá, a seaside town close to the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Three rounds of study sampling, enrolling a total of 1134 subjects, were performed during May to August 2021. Here we show that the number of individuals carrying detectable IgG antibodies and the neutralizing antibody (NAb) levels were greater in vaccinated groups compared to unvaccinated ones, highlighting the importance of vaccination to attain noticeable levels of populational immunity against SARS-CoV-2. Moreover, we found a decreased incidence of COVID-19 throughout the study, clearly correlated with the level of vaccinated individuals as well as the proportion of individuals with detectable levels of IgG anti-SARS-CoV-2 and NAb. The observed drop occurred even during the introduction of the Delta variant in Maricá, what suggests that the vaccination slowed down the widespread transmission of this variant. Overall, our data clearly support the use of vaccines to drop the incidence associated to SARS-CoV-2., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Cardiac histomorphometric changes are conditions present as an adaptive response to increased cardiovascular demand, such as in obesity or the consumption of a high-fat diet. Epidemiologic studies show an increase in maternal obese individuals, with repercussions on offspring cardiovascular health., Objective: The goal of this study was to systematically review studies that evaluated cardiac histomorphometric changes in rodents exposed to a high-fat diet., Data Source: PubMed, Embase, Science Direct, Web of Science and Lilacs., Data Extraction: Animal species, percentage of dietary fat, period and time of exposure and main cardiac change results were extracted., Data Analysis: A total of 1687 studies were found, and 20 met the inclusion criteria for this systematic review. A maternal high-fat diet was started 3 to 4 weeks before mating in most (70%) of the studies. Nutritional manipulation of offspring was initiated during pregnancy and maintained until the end of lactation in most (45%) of the studies. The fat percentage of high-fat diets ranged between 20% and 62%. The studies showed increases in cardiomyocytes, left ventricle size, and whole heart hypertrophy. Some studies showed increased thickness of the middle intima layer of the aorta and atherosclerosis. Studies that maintained a high-fat diet after the lactation period also showed an increase in cardiac hypertrophy., Conclusion: Maternal exposure to a hyperlipidic diet in the fetal stages of cardiac development causes cardiac hypertrophy in offspring. The high variation in the dietary fat and the difference in the time and period of exposure of the offspring to the high - fat diet suggest the high degree of sensitivity of the cardiac structure., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Flaxseed oil (FO) is an alpha linolenic acid source important for growth and body development. However, there is little literature on the role of FO in critical stages of bone development and formation., Objective: This study evaluated the influence of a diet containing FO on rat femurs., Methods: After birth, mothers and pups were divided into control and flaxseed groups (n = 6 pups each) fed diets containing 7% soybean oil (C) or 7% FO. At 21 days, pups were weaned and separated from the mothers, and control or experimental diets were continued. At 67 days, the following were analyzed: osteocalcin and osteoprotegerin (OPG) levels, bone mineral density (BMD) and content, and bone area; the dimension, BMD, head radiodensity, and biomechanical proprieties of the right femur; and histomorphometric parameters of the left femur., Results: Compared to the C group, the FO group presented ( p  < 0.05) a lower body mass (-3.7%) and medullary area (-10.1%) and higher osteocalcin (+36.7%), OPG (+52.5%), femur width (+3.8%), absolute mass (+2.3%), femur BMD (+3.6%), head radiodensity (+6.1%), maximum force (+7.4%), breaking strength (+17.3), and cortical thickness (+7.0)., Conclusion: The FO diet contributed to femur quality in healthy male Wistar rats.

This paper aimed to assess the influence of adhesive restoration interface on the diffusion of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), indirect toxicity, and pro-inflammatory mediators expression by odontoblast-like cells, after in-office tooth whitening. Dental cavities prepared in bovine enamel/dentin discs were adhesively restored and subjected or not to hydrolytic degradation (HD). A whitening gel with 35% H2O2 (WG) was applied for 45 min onto restored and non-restored specimens adapted to artificial pulp chambers giving rise to the groups: SD- intact discs (control); SD/HP- whitened intact discs; RT/HP- restored and whitened discs; and RT/HD/HP- restored and whitened discs subjected to HD. The extracts (culture medium + WG components diffused through enamel/dentin/restoration interface) were collected and applied to odontoblast-like MDPC-23 cells. The study evaluated the amount of H2O2 in the extracts, as well as the cell viability (CV), cell morphology (CM), and gene expression of inflammatory mediators (TNF-α and COX-2) by the pulp cells exposed to the extracts (ANOVA and Tukey tests; 5% significance). All whitened groups presented lower CV than SD (control; p<0.05). The highest CV reduction and gene expression of TNF-α and COX-2 was observed in the RT/HD/HP group in comparison with SD/HP and RT/HP (control; p<0.05). CM alterations occurred in all whitened groups. The intensity of these cell side effects was directly related with the amount of H2O2 in the extracts. We concluded that adhesive restoration of dental cavity increases the H2O2 diffusion after in-office whitening, enhancing the indirect toxicity of this therapy and trigger pro-inflammatory overexpression by MDPC-23 cells.

The current study evaluated the effects of taxifolin treatments on the viability of osteoblast-like cells, and on the expression of early mineralization markers, as part of the ongoing search for new endodontic materials able to induce periapical healing without causing cytotoxicity. Saos-2 osteoblast-like cells were exposed to different concentrations of taxifolin (5 and 10 µM), applied as pretreatments either for 24h and 72h, or continuously throughout the experimental protocol. Cell viability using the methylthiazole tetrazolium (MTT) assay, alkaline phosphatase activity using thymolphthalein monophosphate assays, deposition of mineralized nodules using alizarin red staining, and expression of ALP and COL-1 by qPCR were determined after 6 and 13 days of treatment. The data were analyzed statistically (p<0.05). Taxifolin was not cytotoxic in the concentrations tested. Pretreatments with taxifolin for 24h and 72h at 10 µM stimulated ALP activity, and increased mineralized nodule deposition by Saos-2 cells. Continuous treatment with taxifolin was not effective in stimulating ALP activity and mineralization. ALP and COL-1 gene expression increased with taxifolin pretreatments, since the highest mRNA levels were observed after 72h of pretreatment with taxifolin at 10 µM on day 13. In conclusion, taxifolin was cytocompatible, and induced mineralization markers when applied for short periods in osteoblast-like cell culture.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the proliferation rate and the expression of stem cells markers during expansion in primary culture of dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs), comparing different techniques (explant and enzymatic digestion), subject ages (up to 40 and over 40) and cell passages (#2, #5 and #8). DPSCs were isolated using either the enzymatic digestion (ED) or explant (EX) technique. The number of days needed for the cells to reach confluence was determined. Immunophenotyping was performed by immunofluorescence and flow cytometry analysis using antibodies specific for nestin, vimentin, CD44, CD146, Oct3/4 and CD34. Data were subjected to three-way analysis of variance (n = 6/group). The ANOVA tests were complemented by Tukey's or t-tests (p < 0.05). The variables "donor age" and "technique" were analyzed to define the optimal desirability value using a response optimization. DPSCs presented a high proliferation rate from passages 2 to 5 while cells from passage 8 proliferated at a slower rate. For all markers, no significant difference was observed among passages, irrespective of the technique used or the donor's age. The mean fraction of specific antibodies was 73.7% (± 11.5), 49.0% (± 18.7), 80.1% (± 8.0), 45.2% (± 13.7), 64.7% (± 5.3) and 2.0% (± 1.5) for CD44, OCT, vimentin, nestin, CD146 and CD34, respectively. The highest optimal desirability value was obtained using the ED technique and cells from younger patients (d = 0.92). However, it was concluded that neither the isolation technique nor the donor age or cell passage significantly interfered with the stem cell phenotype and proliferation rate during cell expansion.

Consumption of saturated fat causes deleterious effects on health, which could be minimized through physical activity and foods with functional characteristics consumption. The aim of the study was to evaluate the beverage rich in resveratrol consumption and physical exercise in gut microbiota, body composition, lipid peroxidation, interleukin-6 (IL6) concentration and systolic blood pressure (SBP) of rats to the high-fat diet. Wistar rats were fed with control diet, high-fat diet (HFD), HFD and 15 mL solution of resveratrol, HFD and 15 mL of grape juice, HFD and 10 mL of red wine. All animals performed the physical training protocol five days a week. Grape juice and red wine composition were analyzed, SBP, body mass, consumption, adiposity and body composition, gut microbiota, lipid peroxidation and inflammation were evaluated. The grape juice (114.8 ± 22.5 mmHG) and red wine (129 ± 15.8 mmHg) groups showed lower SBP when compared to HFD (216.8 ± 20.6 mmHg) ( p  < 0.0001). The grape juice group (GJG) (39.1 ± 7) had a higher number of microbiota bands DNA when compared to the other groups ( p  = 0.002). The GJG (33.7 ± 6.7 pg/mL) presented lower concentration IL6 when compared to high-fat group (47.3 ± 16 pg/mL) ( p  = 0.003). GJG (4.7 ± 1.2 nmol/L) presented a lower concentration of TBARS when compared to control group (6.1 ± 1.4 nmol/L) and resveratrol group (6.6 ± 0.9 nmol/L), and the red wine group (7.4 ± 1.2 nmol/L) had a higher concentration of TBARS when compared to control group and GJG ( p  = 0.0001). The consumption of these beverages, especially grape juice, together with physical exercise, was able to promote beneficial changes even in the presence of a HFD.

Introduction: This study evaluated the effects of a high-fat diet (HFD) on the progression of apical periodontitis (AP) in rats., Methods: Eight-week old Wistar rats (N = 24) were included in this study. Half of the animals received an HFD and the other half a control diet (CD). AP lesions were induced 8 weeks later by creating pulp exposure of the mandibular left first molars. The animal's body mass was verified on a weekly basis. After 21 and 40 days, the animals were sacrificed. Blood was collected for biochemical tests, and the liver was removed for hepatic triglycerides analysis. The left hemimandibles were removed, radiographed, and then prepared for histologic evaluation. The right hemimandibles (region near molars) were removed for bone mineral density analysis by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry., Results: Radiographs showed that AP lesions were significantly larger in the HFD group compared with the CD group (P < .05). Histologic analysis confirmed that the AP lesions were larger and revealed a more severe inflammatory infiltrate in the HFD group. Bone mineral density was reduced in the HFD group compared with the CD groups (P < .05). The HFD resulted in a significant increase in body mass (P < .05), liver mass (P < .05), relative liver mass (P < .05), and hepatic triglycerides (P < .05). The levels of triglycerides and very-low-density lipoprotein were significantly higher in the 40-day HFD group compared with the 21-day HFD and 21- and 40-day CD groups (P < .05)., Conclusions: Findings suggest that an HFD can influence the progression and severity of AP., (Copyright © 2020 American Association of Endodontists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: The most recent survey conducted by the World Health Organization described Tuberculosis (TB) as one of the top 10 causes of death and the leading cause of death from a single infectious agent. The increasing number of TB-resistant cases has contributed to this scenario. In light of this, new strategies to control and treat the disease are necessary. Our research group has previously described furoxan derivatives as promising scaffolds to be explored as new antitubercular drugs., Results: Two of these furoxan derivatives, (14b) and (14c), demonstrated a high selectivity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The compounds (14b) and (14c) were also active against a latent M. tuberculosis strain, with MIC 90 values of 6.67 μM and 9.84 μM, respectively; they were also active against monoresistant strains (MIC 90 values ranging from 0.61 to 20.42 μM) and clinical MDR strains (MIC 90 values ranging from 3.09 to 42.95 μM). Time-kill experiments with compound (14c) showed early bactericidal effects that were superior to those of the first- and second-line anti-tuberculosis drugs currently used in therapy. The safety of compounds (14b) and (14c) was demonstrated by the Ames test because these molecules were not mutagenic under the tested conditions. Finally, we confirmed the safety, and high efficacy of compounds (14b) and (14c), which reduced M. tuberculosis to undetectable levels in a mouse aerosol model of infection., Conclusion: Altogether, we have identified two advanced lead compounds, (14b) and (14c), as novel promising candidates for the treatment of TB infection., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.)

The present study evaluated the odontogenic potential of human dental pulp cells (HDPCs) exposed to chitosan scaffolds containing calcium aluminate (CHAlCa) associated or not with low doses of simvastatin (SV). Chitosan scaffolds received a suspension of calcium aluminate (AlCa) and were then immersed into solutions containing SV. The following groups were established: chitosan-calcium-aluminate scaffolds (CHAlCa - Control), chitosan calcium-aluminate with 0.5 µM SV (CHAlCa-SV0.5), and chitosan calcium-aluminate with 1.0 µM SV (CHAlCa-SV1.0). The morphology and composition of the scaffolds were evaluated by SEM and EDS, respectively. After 14 days of HDPCs culture on scaffolds, cell viability, adhesion and spread, mineralized matrix deposition as well as gene expression of odontogenic markers were assessed. Calcium aluminate particles were incorporated into the chitosan matrix, which exhibited regular pores homogeneously distributed throughout its structure. The selected SV dosages were biocompatible with HDPCs. Chitosan-calcium-aluminate scaffolds with 1 µM SV induced the odontoblastic phenotype in the HDPCs, which showed enhanced mineralized matrix deposition and up-regulated ALP, Col1A1, and DMP-1 expression. Therefore, one can conclude that the incorporation of calcium aluminate and simvastatin in chitosan scaffolds had a synergistic effect on HDPCs, favoring odontogenic cell differentiation and mineralized matrix deposition.

Background: Primary and permanent teeth composition may influence dissolution and degradation rates., Aim: To compare the dissolution and degradation of primary and permanent teeth., Design: Enamel and dentin powders were obtained from primary molars and premolars and incubated within different pH buffers. Calcium and inorganic phosphate release was quantified in the buffers by atomic absorption and light spectrophotometry. A colorimetric assay was used to assess the MMP activity of primary dentin (PrD) and permanent dentin (PeD). Collagen degradation was assessed by dry mass loss, change in elastic modulus (E), and ICTP and CTX release. Data were submitted to ANOVA and Tukey's tests (α = 0.05)., Results: Similar dissolution was found between PrD and PeD after 256 hours. At pH 4.5, enamel released more minerals than dentin whereas at pH 5.5 the inverse result was observed. MMP activity was similar for both substrates. PrD showed higher dry mass loss after 1 week. In general, greater reduction in E was recorded for PrD. Higher quantities of ICTP and CTX were released from PrD after 1 week., Conclusions: Primary and permanent teeth presented similar demineralization rates. Collagen degradation, however, was faster and more substantial for PrD., (© 2020 BSPD, IAPD and John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Among other factors, types of bisphosphonates and treatment regimens seem to be strongly associated with the success or failure of installation of osseointegrated implants. This study investigated the influence of two bisphosphonates, sodium alendronate (SA) and zoledronic acid (ZA), on the metabolism of osteoblasts. Human osteoblasts (Saos-2) were seeded onto machined or acid-treated titanium discs previously placed on 24-well plates in complete culture medium. After 24 h, cells were exposed to bisphosphonates at 0.5, 1 or 5 µM for 24 h, 48 h or 7 days. The effects of SA and ZA on osteoblasts were assessed based on the adhesion of these cells to the titanium surfaces by direct fluorescence, cell viability, total protein and collagen synthesis. Alkaline phosphatase activity and mineral nodule deposition by these cells were also evaluated. Data were evaluated by ANOVA and Tukey tests (α=0.05). Decreased adhesion of cells to the titanium discs was observed when exposed to both bisphosphonates; however, this lack of cell adhesion was more evident for ZA-treated cells. In addition, the exposure of osteoblasts to ZA decreased the viability, ALP activity and mineral nodule deposition, which may be related to poor osseointegration after implant installation.

The cryobanks of agouti somatic tissues represent a promising tool for the conservation of this species and of those that are phylogenetically related and endangered. For these purposes, one strategy to guarantee the quality of samples after warming would be to choose the appropriate tissue vitrification technique. Therefore, we evaluated the effects of two different techniques, direct vitrification in cryovials (DVC) and solid-surface vitrification (SSV), on the preservation of ear somatic tissues derived from agoutis kept in a scientific center of creation. Noncryopreserved somatic tissues were used as controls. Although SSV reduced the thickness of the dermis and cartilage ( p  < 0.05), the epidermal thickness of these samples was observed to be similar to controls ( p  > 0.05). Notably, the number of fibroblasts was not altered with either technique. However, both vitrification methods led to an increase in the number of perinuclear halos, with a particularly strong increase observed in DVC-derived fragments ( p  < 0.05). Compared with the DVC group, SSV showed a larger number of normal chondrocytes and smaller number of degenerate chondrocytes. Furthermore, the number of empty lacunae in SSV-derived fragments remained similar to controls ( p  > 0.05). In summary, SSV was found to be a more efficient method for vitrifying agouti somatic tissues compared with DVC. These results are important for the proper formation of agouti somatic banks, an essential step in the study of biological resources in this species.

Objective: This study was designed for the chemical activation of a 35% hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) bleaching gel to increase its whitening effectiveness and reduce its toxicity., Methodology: First, the bleaching gel - associated or not with ferrous sulfate (FS), manganese chloride (MC), peroxidase (PR), or catalase (CT) - was applied (3x 15 min) to enamel/dentin discs adapted to artificial pulp chambers. Then, odontoblast-like MDPC-23 cells were exposed for 1 h to the extracts (culture medium + components released from the product), for the assessment of viability (MTT assay) and oxidative stress (H2DCFDA). Residual H2O2 and bleaching effectiveness (DE) were also evaluated. Data were analyzed with one-way ANOVA complemented with Tukey's test (n=8. p<0.05)., Results: All chemically activated groups minimized MDPC-23 oxidative stress generation; however, significantly higher cell viability was detected for MC, PR, and CT than for plain 35% H2O2 gel. Nevertheless, FS, MC, PR, and CT reduced the amount of residual H2O2 and increased bleaching effectiveness., Conclusion: Chemical activation of 35% H2O2 gel with MC, PR, and CT minimized residual H2O2 and pulp cell toxicity; but PR duplicated the whitening potential of the bleaching gel after a single 45-minute session.

The objective of this study was the development of a bioactive glass coating on zirconia (Zr) to modulate the gingival fibroblast phenotype. For this purpose, Biosilicate® (BS) particles in a water/isopropyl alcohol (1:1) vehicle (6 mg/mL) were applied to zirconia discs followed by thermal treatment at 1100 °C for 20 min. The surface topography (SEM), chemical composition (EDX), surface roughness (Ra; confocal microscopy), surface free energy (goniometry), and color alteration (UV-vis spectrophotometry) were assessed (n=6). Thereafter, L929 fibroblasts were seeded onto Zr and Zr+BS discs, and cell proliferation (Alamar Blue; n=6), morphology (SEM; n=2), migration (wound healing; n=4), and collagen synthesis (Sirius Red; n=6) were evaluated up to 7 days. Data were analyzed by ANOVA/Tukey tests (a=5%). A homogeneous coating consisting of Si, Na, O, and Ca was detected on the Zr surface after thermal treatment with BS, which led to a significant increase in surface roughness and free energy (p<0.05). No change in color parameters was observed (p>0.05). Cells seeded on the Zr+BS surface featured increased proliferation, collagen expression, and migration capability in comparison with those cultured on plain Zr (p<0.05). SEM images revealed that cell spreading occurred faster in the presence of BS. Therefore, it was concluded that thermal treatment of the Zr surface with BS led to the deposition of a bioactive coating, which induced gingival fibroblast spread, proliferation, migration, and collagen expression in vitro.

This study evaluated the efficacy of antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy (aPDT) against fluconazole-resistant Candida albicans in a murine model of oral candidosis. Mice were inoculated with two clinical isolates (R10, R15) and one reference strain (ATCC) of resistant C. albicans to produce oral candidosis. After inoculation, aPDT mediated by Photodithazine® (PDZ) and LED light was performed. The use of PDZ or light only was also investigated. Additional animals were treated with Nystatin (NYS). Untreated or healthy mice were also evaluated. Microbiological evaluation was performed by recovering C. albicans from the tongue via colony-forming units. Animals were killed 24 hours after treatments, and the tongues were removed for histological analysis. Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA and Tukey test (P < .05). The results demonstrated that all strains showed the same behavior after aPDT and NYS treatment. A significant reduction in C. albicans viability was achieved after both treatments for R15 and ATCC. No significant reduction was verified for C. albicans R10 submitted to aPDT or NYS. The histological analysis revealed that aPDT did not cause side effects on tissues. aPDT was effective for inactivation of two fluconazole-resistant C. albicans of the three strains evaluated., (© The Author(s) 2018. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The International Society for Human and Animal Mycology.)

Introduction: Chronic hyperglycemia is caused by diabetes mellitus-committed genital morphophysiology, and oxidative stress is one of the main factors involved in this process. Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) can prevent metabolic and morphological changes in diabetic individuals., Objectives: In present study, we evaluated the effects of regular ALA consumption on the spermatogenesis and histoarchitecture in the male genital system of diabetic rats., Materials and Methods: Thirty-two Wistar rats were divided into groups: Control (CG); Diabetic Control (DCG), receiving commercial diet: ALA Group (ALAG) and Diabetic ALA Group (DALAG), fed diets with added ALA (300 mg/Kg bw). The diabetic groups received a single injection of streptozotocin (60 mg/kg). After sixty days of the diet, the animals were euthanized, and semen, testis and epididymis samples were collected. A histomorphometric analysis was performed to determine the epithelial height, tubular and luminal diameter, tubular and luminal area of seminiferous tubules and each epididymal region. Sertoli cells were evidenced using the antivimentin antibody and were quantified. The results were statistically analyzed by the ANOVA test., Results: At the end of the experiment, the DALAG glycemia was signifi cantly lower than DCG. The histomorphometric parameters of the seminiferous and epididymal tubules did not show improvement in the DALAG. However, there was an improvement in the DALAG in terms of the concentration, motility and percentage of spermatic pathologies, as well as in the number of Sertoli cells (p<0.001)., Conclusions: The results demonstrated that supplementation with the ALA antioxidant retards testicular lesions and preserve the process of spermatogenesis in diabetes., Competing Interests: None declared., (Copyright® by the International Brazilian Journal of Urology.)

This study evaluated the effects of diet containing taro flour on hormone levels and the seminiferous tubules morphology of rats. After weaning, the male rats were divided into two groups (n=12 each): control group (CG) treated with control diet and taro group (TG), fed with 25% taro flour for 90 days. Food, caloric intake, mass and body length were evaluated at experiment end. Testis followed the standard histological processing. Immunostaining was performed using an anti-vimentin antibody to identify Sertoli cells. In histomorphometry, total diameter, total area, epithelial height, luminal height and luminal area were analyzed. The testosterone levels were performed using the radioimmunoassay method. Group TG presented (P<0.05): increase in mass, body length, testicular weight, histomorphometric parameters and hormonal levels. Food intake, calorie and Sertoli cells not presented statistical differences. The taro promoted increase in the testicles parameters and hormones.

Study evaluates testis mass in rats subjected to early weaning and subsequently nourished with diet containing flour or flaxseed oil. Pups were weaned for separation from mothers at 14 days (early weaning, EW) and 21 days (control, C). After 21 days, the control group (C60) was nourished with control diet. EW was divided as: control (EWC60), flaxseed flour (EWFF60) and flaxseed oil (EWFO60) group diets for the next 60 days. At 21st and 60th day, body mass, serum cholesterol and triglycerides and testis mass were evaluated. At 21 day, EW group showed lower (p < 0.05) body mass, serum cholesterol and testis mass. At 60 days, EWC60 and EWFO60 groups showed lower (p < 0.05) body mass (vs. C60 and EWFF60). EWFF60 group showed lower (p < 0.05) serum cholesterol (vs. EWC60 and EWFO60) and higher (p < 0.05) testis mass (vs. C60, EWC60 and EWFO60). Flaxseed flour (vs. oil) was associated with higher testis mass following early weaning.