Can sterilization methods influence surface properties of resin composites? A purpose for previewing bias in laboratory bacterial adhesion tests

This study aimed to evaluate the influence of sterilization methods on conventional and bulk-fill resin composites' (BFRCs) surface properties in an attempt to preview bias in laboratory bacterial adhesion tests. Two regular viscosity conventional resin composites [Filtek Z350 XT™ (Z350) and IPS Empress Direct™ (ED)] and two regular viscosity BFRCs [Filtek Bulk Fill™ (FILT) and Tetric N-Ceram Bulk Fill IVA™ (TBF)] were used. The materials were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), surface roughness (SR), and wettability (W) after sterilization with hydrogen peroxide gas plasma (HPGP) and steam sterilization (SS). Nonsterilized samples served as a control group (n = 5). Statistical analysis was performed using two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey post hoc test (p < 0.05). For SR, there were no statistically significant differences among the groups (p > .05). SS method decreased the contact angle for FILT and Z350 (p < .01). The SS promoted more exposition of filler particles, while the HPGP method did not alter the tested materials' morphology. Therefore, sterilization methods affected the resin composites tested selectively. HPGP seems to be the most recommended method to sterilize the tested resin composites before laboratory bacterial adhesion tests.     

Effect of vitamin K in bone metabolism and vascular calcification: A review of mechanisms of action and evidences

Osteoporosis is a public health concern associated with an increased risk of bone fractures and vascular calcification. Vitamin K presents unique benefits on these issues, although understudied. The two main forms of vitamin K are phylloquinone (vitamin K₁) and menaquinone (vitamin K₂). In this study, it was especially investigated the action of vitamin K₂ in bones and vessels. Vitamin K₂ has shown to stimulate bone formation by promoting osteoblast differentiation and carboxylation of osteocalcin, and increasing alkaline phosphatase, insulin-like growth factor-1, growth differentiation factor-15, and stanniocalcin 2 levels. Furthermore, vitamin K₂ reduces the pro-apoptotic proteins Fas and Bax in osteoblasts, and decreases osteoclast differentiation by increasing osteoprotegerin and reducing the receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand. In blood vessels, vitamin K₂ reduces the formation of hydroxyapatite, through the carboxylation of matrix Gla protein and Gla rich protein, inhibits the apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells, by increasing growth arrest-specific gene 6, and reduces the transdifferentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells to osteoblasts. The commonly used dosage of vitamin K₂ in human studies is 45 mg/day and its application can be an interesting strategy in benefitting bone and vascular health, especially to osteoporotic post-menopausal women.     

Escherichia coli from cellulitis lesions in broilers

Samples of chicken broiler lesions were collected at a poultry slaughterhouse in the Bahia Reconcavo region to recover Escherichia coli for phenotypic and genotypic characterization. Poultries used in current research came from four poultry houses in the same region. Weight of cellulitis lesions ranged between 0.9 and 1.7 g, of which 85 % (34/40) were on the left side of the broiler. E. coli was isolated in 82.5 % (33/40) of samples with cellulitis lesions. Gene iss was identified in 87.9 % (29/33) of the samples. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) verified iss genes to serum resistance, identifying avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC). Iss was detected in 87.9 % of isolates. Results suggest that the partial removal of cellulitis lesions merely decrease the carcass’s repugnant aspect, or rather, it is more aesthetic than hygienic. A re-evaluation of the criteria used is required to notify avian cellulitis cases so that safety in the consumption of broiler-derived products may be guaranteed.     

Degradation Kinetics of Anthocyanin in Blueberry Juice during Thermal Treatment

ABSTRACT: The kinetics of anthocyanin degradation in blueberry juice during thermal treatment at 40, 50, 60, 70, and 80 °C were investigated in the present study. Anthocyanin degradation was analyzed up to the level of 50% retention using a pH differential method. The degradation of anthocyanin at each temperature level followed a first-order kinetic model, and the values of half-life time (t_1/2) at temperatures of 40, 50, 60, 70, and 80 °C were found to be 180.5, 42.3, 25.3, 8.6, and 5.1 h, respectively. The activation energy value of the degradation of the 8.9 ° Brix blueberry juice during heating was 80.4 kJ·mol⁻¹. The thermodynamic functions of activation (ΔG, ΔH, and ΔS) have been determined as central to understanding blueberry degradation.     

Direct Determination of Ca,K and Mg in Cassava Flour Samples by Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS)

This study aims to develop a method for direct determination of Ca, K, and Mg in cassava flour samples by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). LIBS instrumental parameters were evaluated using factorial design with a central point. The variables evaluated were delay time (0.0; 1.0 and 1.8 μs) and fluence (81; 2037 and 4074 Jcm^?2): both were tested in three different values. The best results obtained were with a delay time of 1.8 μs and a fluence of 4074 Jcm^?2. The proposed calibration model obtained using LIBS data presented a good correlation with reference values obtained by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP OES). The predictive capabilities, based on the standard error of validation (SEV), were 117, 530 and 77 mg kg^?1 for Ca, K, and Mg, respectively. The proposed LIBS method was applied to the analysis of 90 cassava flour samples, and the results showed concentrations of Ca, K, and Mg of 352–1845, 1285–3187, and 320–1242 mg kg^?1, respectively.     

Cytotoxic,hematologic and histologic effects of niobium pentoxide in Swiss mice

The use of metal devices in medical application is increasing but it remains incompletely understood the physiological effects of component degradation. Niobium (Nb) alloys have already been investigated in the 1980’s and recent studies demonstrated the potential of Nb as an implant material. The purpose of this study was to determine cytotoxic, hematologic and histologic effects of niobium in Swiss mice. Animals were treated with a single dose of 3 % niobium oxide (Nb₂O₅) diluted in PBS, i.p. Cytotoxic assay, hematologic and histologic evaluation were done 3, 7 and 12 days after niobium treatment. Data have shown increased number of cells after niobium treatment, but there was no difference in cell viability. Furthermore, it was not observed hematological modification 3, 7 or 12 days after niobium treatment. Despite the fact that animals treated with niobium for 3 and 7 days showed mild degeneration in hepatocytes, mice kept alive for 12 days showed liver cells regeneration. Our results suggested that niobium cytotoxicity was not progressive because 12 days after treatment there was an evident liver regeneration. Data obtained indicated that niobium may be promising alternatives to biomedical applications.     

Efficacy of accelerated aging methods to degrade the adhesive interface of dentin cavities bonded with etch-and-rinse adhesive systems

This study evaluated the bond durability produced by etch-and-rinse (E&R) adhesive systems in response to traditional and accelerated aging methods. Tridimensional dentin cavities were prepared on 80 bovine incisors, which were bonded with a 3-step E&R (Adper Scotchbond Multipurpose Plus – MP) and a 2-step E&R (Adper Single Bond 2 (SB) adhesive systems, and restored with composite. The samples were stored in water for 24 h, and then subjected to each of the aging methods (n = 10): control group – only 24-h storage (not exposed to additional aging), 6- and 12-month water storage, and 10% NaOCl storage. The push-out bond strength test was performed in a universal testing machine. Failure modes were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy. Data were analyzed by two-way ANOVA and Tukey tests (p < 0.05). Aging methods provided statistically similar bond strength for 3-step E&R adhesive system (p > 0.05). 10% NaOCl storage provides statistically similar bond strength values to 6- and 12-month water storage (p > 0.05), which were statistically lower than those provided by 24-h water storage (control group) (p < 0.05). Adhesive failures were more frequent. Aging methods provided different behaviors according to each adhesive system. The accelerated 10% NaOCl storage was effective to decrease bond strength only for 2-step E&R adhesive system.     

Adsorption and desorption of arsenic on an oxisol and its constituents

The present work investigates the adsorption and mobility (desorption) of As(III) and As(V) on an oxisol, and its main mineral constituents, as part of a broader project aimed at selecting a soil liner to be used in tailings dams at a sulfidic gold ore plant. Emphasis was given to a quantitative comparison of As mobility-here assessed by the amount of As leached from the loaded samples-under different experimental conditions. From among the soil constituents, goethite was the most efficient adsorbent with regard to arsenic adsorption, 12.4 mg x g(-1) for As(V) and 7.5 mg x g(-1) for As(III), respectively. Gibbsite also presented a relevant adsorption capacity (4.6 mg x g(-1) for As(V) and 3.3 mg x g(-1) for As(III)); adsorption on kaolinite was negligible (<0.23 mg x g(-1) for As(V) and As(III)). Desorption of the arsenic was shown to vary largely with the arsenic oxidation state, the adsorbents and the leaching solutions. While only 1-2% max. of As(V) was released from the loaded samples, leaching the A(III) reached 32%, the highest values corresponding to the solutions containing sulfate ions. Oxisol and goethite were superior to gibbsite with respect to As immobilization. Adsorption and mobility were also discussed with the help of electrophoretic mobility and isoelectric points (IEP) determined prior and following arsenic adsorption on goethite and gibbsite. The results indicated that As(V) is mainly adsorbed as an inner sphere complex. As(III) may be adsorbed as an inner or an outer neutral complex.     

Investigation of enrofloxacin residues in broiler tissues using ELISA and LC-MS/MS

This study investigated the efficiency of an enrofloxacin ELISA test kit to detect the presence of enrofloxacin residues in broiler tissues compared with LC-MS/MS. Broiler tissues from 72 samples consisting of 60 breast muscle, six pools of livers (500 g each) and six pools of kidneys (500 g each) were obtained from six different slaughterhouses. Breast muscle from 10 carcasses and pools of livers and kidneys from approximately 200 carcasses of the same flock were collected from each slaughterhouse. ELISA and HPLC were used to identify and quantify the contamination of the samples with enrofloxacin. A total of 72% of the analysed samples contained enrofloxacin residues detected by the ELISA and 22.2% were detected by LC-MS/MS. The mean values of enrofloxacin contamination found in chicken breast by ELISA and HPLC were 8.63 and 12.25 μg kg^–1, respectively. None of the samples exceeded the maximum limit of 100 μg kg^–1 by both methods set by the European Union as well as the Brazilian Agriculture Ministry. All positive samples for enrofloxacin residues detected by LC-MS/MS were also positive by ELISA. These data confirm the efficiency of the ELISA test, and suggest its use as a screening method for enrofloxacin residues in poultry tissues due to its quick results, low price and ease of applicability.