Effects of labor contractions on catecholamine release and breathing frequency in newborn rats.

Plasma catecholamines in newborn rats (0-2 hr old) were analyzed following vaginal birth, cesarean section with simulated labor contractions, or cesarean section without labor contractions. Upon delivery, pups were exposed to key elements of the rat's natural birth process, that is, umbilical cord occlusion, tactile stimulation, and cooling. Only pups exposed to actual or simulated labor showed an immediate rise in norepinephrine and epinephrine. Initial postpartum respiratory frequencies were higher in vaginal than in cesarean delivered pups and, in all groups, inversely correlated with catecholamine titers, suggesting respiratory distress or transient tachypnea at lower catecholamine levels. These findings establish a rat model for analyzing effects of labor on neonatal adaptive response during the transition from prenatal to postnatal life. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Analysis of adhesive interface in root canals irradiated by Er,Cr:YSGG laser after luting a fiber post

This study evaluated the effect of Er,Cr:YSGG laser on the root canal dentin after luting a fiber post. Twenty‐four bovine teeth roots were prepared using NiTi instruments and filled with Sealer 26 and gutta‐percha. Post spaces were prepared and roots were distributed according to dentin treatment (n = 8): 2.5%NaOCl (group control), Er,Cr:YSGG laser (1.5 W, 20 Hz, 20 s) (group test 1) or 2.5%NaOCl + Er,Cr:YSGG laser (group test 2). Fiber posts were luted using adhesive cement (Rely X U200, 3M) and roots were prepared to confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The morphology of interface, thickness of cement, and the gaps and tags were analyzed. Non‐parametrical data for thickness of cement were submitted to Friedman and Kruskall–Wallis tests (α = 0.05) and parametrical data for gaps to ANOVA (α = 0.05). CLSM of the cement thickness and gaps revealed no significant difference in surface treatment (NaOCl, Er,Cr:YSGG laser and NaOCl + Er,Cr:YSGG laser) (p > .05) and canal thirds (cervical, middle, and apical) (p > 0.05). SEM showed tags and a residual layer of cement adhered to dentin, mainly in laser‐irradiated specimens. The pretreatment of root canal with Er,Cr:YSGG laser previously to luting the fiber post with a self‐adhesive cement did not influence the cement thickness and gaps but affected the dentin interaction.     

Evaluation of the interaction between sodium hypochlorite and several formulations containing chlorhexidine and its effect on the radicular dentin—SEM and push‐out bond strength analysis

The aim of the current study was to evaluate the presence of debris and smear layer after endodontic irrigation with different formulations of 2% chlorhexidine gluconate (CHX) and its effects on the push‐out bond strength of an epoxy‐based sealer on the radicular dentin. One hundred extracted human canines were prepared to F5 instrument and irrigated with 2.5% sodium hypochlorite and 17% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. Fifty teeth were divided into five groups (n = 10), according to the final irrigation protocol with different 2% CHX formulations: G1 (control, no final rinse irrigation), G2 (CHX solution), G3 (CHX gel), G4 (Concepsis), and G5 (CHX Plus). In sequence, the specimens were submitted to scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis, in the cervical‐medium and medium‐apical segments, to evaluate the presence of debris and smear layer. The other 50 teeth were treated equally to a SEM study, but with the root canals filled with an epoxy‐based endodontic sealer and submitted to a push‐out bond strength test, in the cervical, middle, and apical thirds. G2, G3, G4, and G5 provided higher precipitation of the debris and smear layer than G1 (P < 0.05), but these groups were similar to each other (P > 0.05), in both segments. The values obtained in the push out test did not differ between groups, independent of the radicular third (P > 0.05). The CHXs formulations caused precipitation of the debris and smear layer on the radicular dentin, but these residues did not interfere in the push‐out bond strength of the epoxy‐based sealer. Microsc. Res. Tech. 77:17–22, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Variation in blood pressure is associated with white matter microstructure but not cognition in African Americans.

Although hypertension is a major risk factor for cerebrovascular disease (CVD) and is highly prevalent in African Americans, little is known about how blood pressure (BP) affects brain–behavior relationships in this population. In predominantly Caucasian populations, high BP is associated with alterations in frontal–subcortical white matter and in executive functioning aspects of cognition. We investigated associations among BP, brain structure, and neuropsychological functioning in 52 middle–older-age African Americans without diagnosed history of CVD. All participants underwent diffusion tensor imaging for examination of white matter integrity, indexed by fractional anisotropy (FA). Three regions of interest were derived in the anterior (genu) and posterior (splenium) corpus callosum and across the whole brain. A brief neuropsychological battery was administered from which composite scores of executive function and memory were derived. Blood pressure was characterized by mean arterial blood pressure (MABP). When controlling for age, higher MABP was associated with lower FA in the genu, and there was a trend for this same relationship with regard to whole-brain FA. When the sample was broken into groups on the basis of treatment for BP regulation (medicated vs. nonmedicated), MABP was related to genu and whole-brain FA only in the nonmedicated group. Neither MABP nor FA was significantly related to either neuropsychological composite score regardless of medication use. These data provide important evidence that variation in BP may contribute to significant alterations in specific neural regions of white matter in nonmedicated individuals without symptoms of overt CVD. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effect of a new fermented soy milk product on serum lipid levels in normocholesterolemic adult men

This study was undertaken to verify the effect of a daily intake of a new fermented soy milk produced with Enterococcus faecium and Lactobacillus jugurti on the serum lipid levels in normocholesterolemic middle-aged men. The study was randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled and was performed for a period of 6 weeks. Forty-four normocholesterolemic healthy, male volunteers, aged 40-55 years old were randomly separated in two groups: The F-group received 200 ml of the fermented product daily and the P-group received 200 ml of placebo (chemically fermented). The blood samples were drawn initially and after 3 and 6 weeks and serum values for total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and triglyceride were determined. The LDL-cholesterol value was estimated. No significant changes in the fermented group (F) were observed for total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol or triglyceride levels, while the HDL-cholesterol level was significantly higher (p < or = 0.05) after 6 weeks. The total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels were significantly higher (p < or = 0.05) in the placebo group (P), but no changes were found for the HDL-cholesterol and triglyceride levels during the experimental period. In conclusion, the intake of 200 ml/day of the fermented soy milk, produced with E. faecium and L. jugurti, for 6 weeks, did not affect the serum total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol, and led an increase of 10% in the HDL-cholesterol level.     

Olefinreaktionen in Gegenwart wolfram- und molybdänhaltiger Katalysatorsysteme vom Ziegler-Natta-Typ

Reactions of Alkenes in the Presence of Tungsten- and Molybdenum-containing Ziegler-Natta-Catalysts In connection with investigations of reactions of alkenes under the conditions of metathesis we studied the reactions of a mixture of 2-pentene/toluene in presence of the catalytic systems WCl₆/EtAlCl₂ and MoCl₅/EtAlCl₂ in homogeneous liquid phase. Alkylation of toluene, metathesis of 2-pentene and also indirect isomerisation of double bonds have been determined in dependence of the molar proportions of 2-pentene/MeCl_x, toluene/2-pentene, and MeCl_x/EtAlCl₂, the addition order (“formation”) of reactants, the “building time” of catalytic system and the reaction time. Compositions of the reaction mixtures have been determined by GLC.     

Species,roasting degree and decaffeination influence the antibacterial activity of coffee against Streptococcus mutans

Coffee beverage has been associated with antibacterial activity against Streptococcus mutans, a cariogenic bacterium. This study aimed at identifying natural compounds in coffee that contribute to such activity and investigate the influence of species, roasting and decaffeination on it. Coffee chemical compounds and aqueous extracts of green and roasted regular and decaffeinated Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora beans were tested. MIC, biofilm inhibition and biofilm reduction results were correlated with the concentration of coffee compounds in the extracts. 5-Caffeoylquinic acid, trigonelline and caffeic acid solutions showed bacteriostatic activity (MIC = 0.8 mg/mL). Lighter and regular extracts showed higher inhibitory activity than darker and decaffeinated extracts, with an inverse correlation between bacterial colony-forming units and roasting degree. Only regular C. canephora extracts showed biofilm formation inhibition. The joint effect of chlorogenic acids, trigonelline and caffeine or other compounds removed by decaffeination seems to be one of the causes for coffee antibacterial activity against S. mutans.     

Development of dieldrin,endosulfan, and hexachlorobenzene‐imprinted polymers for dye‐displacement array sensing

Due to the toxicity associated with the exposure to organochlorine pesticides, new materials capable of selectively capturing and detecting these compounds are highly desirable. In this study, imprinted polymers were prepared using three organochlorine pesticides—dieldrin (DE), endosulfan (EN), or hexachlorobenzene (HCB) as templates. The MIPs were polymerized via precipitation polymerization. The yields were over 90% with particle sizes ranging from 62 to 214 nm. Binding studies combined with GC‐ECD analysis showed that each template is more selective to its corresponding MIP compared with the other two structurally homologous templates. These results were consistent with those obtained using UV–vis where more bromocresol green (BCG) dye was released when higher template concentrations were introduced to the corresponding BCG‐impregnated MIPs. Since unique selectivity response pattern for each of the MIPs was obtained, this demonstrated that the MIPs were selective and can be potentially used in dye‐displacement array sensing. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017 , 134, 44401.     

Sugarcane bagasse cellulose/HDPE composites obtained by extrusion

Natural fibers used in this study were both pre-treated and modified residues from sugarcane bagasse. Polymer of high density polyethylene (HDPE) was employed as matrix in to composites, which were produced by mixing high density polyethylene with cellulose (10%) and Cell/ZrO₂·nH₂O (10%), using an extruder and hydraulic press. Tensile tests showed that the Cell/ZrO₂·nH₂O (10%)/HDPE composites present better tensile strength than cellulose (10%)/HDPE composites. Cellulose agglomerations were responsible for poor adhesion between fiber and matrix in cellulose (10%)/HDPE composites. HDPE/natural fibers composites showed also lower tensile strength in comparison to the polymer. The increase in Young’s modulus is associated to fibers reinforcement. SEM analysis showed that the cellulose fibers insertion in the matrix caused an increase of defects, which were reduced when modified cellulose fibers were used.