Comparison Between Micro- and Macrosurgical Techniques for the Treatment of Localized Gingival Recessions Using Coronally Positioned Flaps and Enamel Matrix Derivative

Background: The aim of this study is to compare the macro- and microsurgery techniques for root coverage using a coronally positioned flap (CPF) associated with enamel matrix derivative (EMD). Methods: Thirty patients were selected for the treatment of localized gingival recessions (GRs) using CPF associated to EMD. Fifteen patients were randomly assigned to the test group (TG), and 15 patients were randomly assigned to the control group (CG). The microsurgical approach was performed in the TG, and the conventional macrosurgical technique was performed in the CG. The clinical parameters evaluated before surgery and after 6 months were GR, probing depth, relative clinical attachment level, width of keratinized tissue (WKT), and thickness of keratinized tissue (TKT). The discomfort evaluation was performed 1 week postoperative. Results: There were no statistically significant differences between groups for all parameters at baseline. At 6 months, there was no statistically significant difference between the techniques in achieving root coverage. The percentage of root coverage was 92% and 83% for TG and CG, respectively. After 6 months, there was a statistically significant increase of WKT and TKT in TG only. Both procedures were well tolerated by all patients. Conclusions: The macro- and microsurgery techniques provided a statistically significant reduction in GR height. After 6 months, there was no statistically significant difference between the techniques regarding root coverage, and the microsurgical technique demonstrated a statistically significant increase in WKT and TKT. J Periodontol 2010;81:1572-1579.

Effect of a low-level laser on bone regeneration after rapid maxillary expansion

Introduction: In this study, we evaluated the effects of a low-level laser on bone regeneration in rapid maxillary expansion procedures. Methods: Twenty-seven children, aged 8 to 12 years, took part in the experiment, with a mean age of 10.2 years, divided into 2 groups: the laser group (n=14), in which rapid maxillary expansion was performed in conjunction with laser use, and the no-laser group (n=13), with rapid maxillary expansion only. The activation protocol of the expansion screw was 1 full turn on the first day and a half turn daily until achieving overcorrection. The laser type used was a laser diode (TWIN Laser; MMOptics, Sao Carlos, Brazil), according to the following protocol: 780 nm wavelength, 40 mW power, and 10 J/cm(2) density at 10 points located around the midpalatal suture. The application stages were 1 (days 1-5 of activation), 2 (at screw locking, on 3 consecutive days), 3, 4, and 5 (7, 14, and 21 days after stage 2). Occlusal radiographs of the maxilla were taken with the aid of an aluminum scale ruler as a densitometry reference at different times: T1 (initial), T2 (day of locking), T3 (3-5 days after T2), T4 (30 days after T3), and T5 (60 days after T4). The radiographs were digitized and submitted to imaging software (Image Tool; UTHSCSA, San Antonio, Tex) to measure the optic density of the previously selected areas. To perform the statistical test, analysis of covariance was used, with the time for the evaluated stage as the covariable. In all tests, a significance level of 5% (P<0.05) was adopted. Results: From the evaluation of bone density, the results showed that the laser improved the opening of the midpalatal suture and accelerated the bone regeneration process. Conclusions: The low-level laser, associated with rapid maxillary expansion, provided efficient opening of the midpalatal suture and influenced the bone regeneration process of the suture, accelerating healing. (Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop 2012;141:444-50)

Employing perichromism for probing the properties of carboxymethyl cellulose films: an expedient, accurate method for the determination of the degree of substitution of the biopolymer derivative

The properties of films of carboxymethyl cellulose, CMC, of different degree of substitution, DS, have been examined by the use of perichromic indicators (probes). The film properties that have been determined are: empirical polarity, E-T(33); "acidity", alpha; "basicity", beta; and dipolarity/polarizability, pi*. This has been achieved by employing the following perichromic probes: 4-nitroaniline, 4-nitroanisole, 4-nitro-N,N-dimethylaniline, and 2,6-dichloro-4-(2,4,6-triphenyl-pyridinium-1-yl)phenolate, WB. The correlations between both E-T(33)- or pi* and DS were found to be linear; that between beta and DS is a second order polynomial; no obvious correlation was found between alpha and DS. The polarities of CMC films are in the range of those of butyl alcohols. As models for CMC, we have employed cellulose plus CMC of high DS; oxidized cellulose with degree of oxidation = 0.5; sodium glucuronate. The former model behaved akin to CMC, but the plots of the perichromic properties versus DS showed different slopes/intercepts. FTIR data and molecular dynamics simulations on the solvation of WB have shown that this difference can be traced to more efficient hydrogen bonding between the film of the model and the probe. This affects the intra-molecular charge-transfer energy of the latter, leading to different responses to the variation of DS. Based on the excellent linear correlation between E-T(33) and DS, for CMC from different origins, we suggest that perichromism is a simple, accurate, and expedient alternative for the determination of DS of the biopolymer derivative.

On abstract differential equations with nonlocal conditions involving the temporal derivative of the solution

In this paper we discuss the existence of solutions for a class of abstract differential equations with nonlocal conditions for which the nonlocal term involves the temporal derivative of the solution. Some concrete applications to parabolic differential equations with nonlocal conditions are considered. (C) 2012 Royal Dutch Mathematical Society (KWG). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effect of soft laser in bone repair after expansion of the midpalatal suture in dogs

Introduction: The purpose of this research was to study the influence of soft laser treatment on the process of bone repair after expansion of the midpalatal suture. Methods: The sample for this case-control experimental study was 11 dogs. They were randomly divided into 2 groups, both of which underwent rapid maxillary expansion with a hyrax appliance. The animals in group 1 were also treated with laser therapy. They were killed, and histologic specimens of the palatal suture were prepared. The Student t test was applied for independent data, and the Mann-Whitney test was used for nonparametric data. Results: A significant difference was observed in the quality of the palatal sutures between the animals in groups 1 and 2. The connective tissues of the sutures in the group 1 animals were similar to the original configurations, with more advanced osteogenesis and fibrogenesis, compared with those of group 2. Conclusions: Soft laser appears to influence the behavior of the repair process, contributing to suture reorganization and palatal bone osteogenesis during and after expansion. (Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop 2012; 142: 615-24)

Age-Related Expansion of Tim-3 Expressing T Cells in Vertically HIV-1 Infected Children

As perinatally HIV-1-infected children grow into adolescents and young adults, they are increasingly burdened with the long-term consequences of chronic HIV-1 infection, with long-term morbidity due to inadequate immunity. In progressive HIV-1 infection in horizontally infected adults, inflammation, T cell activation, and perturbed T cell differentiation lead to an "immune exhaustion'', with decline in T cell effector functions. T effector cells develop an increased expression of CD57 and loss of CD28, with an increase in co-inhibitory receptors such as PD-1 and Tim-3. Very little is known about HIV-1 induced T cell dysfunction in vertical infection. In two perinatally antiretroviral drug treated HIV-1-infected groups with median ages of 11.2 yr and 18.5 yr, matched for viral load, we found no difference in the proportion of senescent CD28(-)CD57(+)CD8(+) T cells between the groups. However, the frequency of Tim-3(+)CD8(+) and Tim-3(+)CD4(+) exhausted T cells, but not PD-1(+) T cells, was significantly increased in the adolescents with longer duration of infection compared to the children with shorter duration of HIV-1 infection. PD-1(+)CD8(+) T cells were directly associated with T cell immune activation in children. The frequency of Tim-3(+)CD8(+) T cells positively correlated with HIV-1 plasma viral load in the adolescents but not in the children. These data suggest that Tim-3 upregulation was driven by both HIV-1 viral replication and increased age, whereas PD-1 expression is associated with immune activation. These findings also suggest that the Tim-3 immune exhaustion phenotype rather than PD-1 or senescent cells plays an important role in age-related T cell dysfunction in perinatal HIV-1 infection. Targeting Tim-3 may serve as a novel therapeutic approach to improve immune control of virus replication and mitigate age related T cell exhaustion.

Acellular dermal matrix graft with or without enamel matrix derivative for root coverage in smokers: a randomized clinical study

Aim: The aim of this randomized controlled clinical study was to compare the use of an acellular dermal matrix graft (ADMG) with or without the enamel matrix derivative (EMD) in smokers to evaluate which procedure would provide better root coverage. Material and Methods: Nineteen smokers with bilateral Miller Class I or II gingival recessions >= 3 mm were selected. The test group was treated with an association of ADMG and EMD, and the control group with ADMG alone. Probing depth, relative clinical attachment level, gingival recession height, gingival recession width, keratinized tissue width and keratinized tissue thickness were evaluated before the surgeries and after 6 months. Wilcoxon test was used for the statistical analysis at significance level of 5%. Results: No significant differences were found between groups in all parameters at baseline. The mean gain recession height between baseline and 6 months and the complete root coverage favored the test group (p = 0.042, p = 0.019 respectively). Conclusion: Smoking may negatively affect the results achieved through periodontal plastic procedures; however, the association of ADMG and EMD is beneficial in the root coverage of gingival recessions in smokers, 6 months after the surgery.

Characterization of the procera Tomato Mutant Shows Novel Functions of the SlDELLA Protein in the Control of Flower Morphology, Cell Division and Expansion, and the Auxin-Signaling Pathway during Fruit-Set and Development

procera (pro) is a tall tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) mutant carrying a point mutation in the GRAS region of the gene encoding SlDELLA, a repressor in the gibberellin (GA) signaling pathway. Consistent with the SlDELLA loss of function, pro plants display a GA-constitutive response phenotype, mimicking wild-type plants treated with GA(3). The ovaries from both nonemasculated and emasculated pro flowers had very strong parthenocarpic capacity, associated with enhanced growth of preanthesis ovaries due to more and larger cells. pro parthenocarpy is facultative because seeded fruits were obtained by manual pollination. Most pro pistils had exserted stigmas, thus preventing self-pollination, similar to wild-type pistils treated with GA(3) or auxins. However, Style2.1, a gene responsible for long styles in noncultivated tomato, may not control the enhanced style elongation of pro pistils, because its expression was not higher in pro styles and did not increase upon GA(3) application. Interestingly, a high percentage of pro flowers had meristic alterations, with one additional petal, sepal, stamen, and carpel at each of the four whorls, respectively, thus unveiling a role of SlDELLA in flower organ development. Microarray analysis showed significant changes in the transcriptome of preanthesis pro ovaries compared with the wild type, indicating that the molecular mechanism underlying the parthenocarpic capacity of pro is complex and that it is mainly associated with changes in the expression of genes involved in GA and auxin pathways. Interestingly, it was found that GA activity modulates the expression of cell division and expansion genes and an auxin signaling gene (tomato AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR7) during fruit-set.

Expansion of a subset of CD14(high)CD16(neg)CCR2(low/neg) monocytes functionally similar to myeloid-derived suppressor cells during SIV and HIV infection

Monocytes have been categorized in three main subpopulations based on CD14 and CD16 surface expression. Classical monocytes express the CD14(++)CD16(-) CCR2(+) phenotype and migrate to inflammatory sites by quickly responding to CCL2 signaling. Here, we identified and characterized the expansion of a novel monocyte subset during HIV and SIV infection, which were undistinguishable from classical monocytes, based on CD14 and CD16 expression, but expressed significantly lower surface CCR2. Transcriptome analysis of sorted cells demonstrated that the CCR2(low/neg) cells are a distinct subpopulation and express lower levels of inflammatory cytokines and activation markers than their CCR2(high) counterparts. They exhibited impaired phagocytosis and greatly diminished chemotaxis in response to CCL2 and CCL7. In addition, these monocytes are refractory to SIV infection and suppress CD8(+) T cell proliferation in vitro. These cells express higher levels of STAT3 and NOS2, suggesting a phenotype similar to monocytic myeloid-derived cells, which suppress expansion of CD8(+) T cells in vivo. They may reflect an antiproliferative response against the extreme immune activation observed during HIV and SIV infections. In addition, they may suppress antiviral responses and thus, have a role in AIDS pathogenesis. Antiretroviral therapy in infected macaque and human subjects caused this population to decline, suggesting that this atypical phenotype is linked to viral replication. J. Leukoc. Biol. 91: 803-816; 2012.

DERIVATIVE SPECTROPHOTOMETRIC METHOD FOR DEYERMINATION OF ACYCLOVIR IN POLYMERIC NANOPARTICLES

A derivative spectrophotometric method was validated for quzintification of acyclovir in poly (n-butylcyanoacrylate) (PBCA) nanoparticles. Specificity, linearity. precision, accuracy, recovery. detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) Inuits were established for method validation. First-derivative it 295.2 nm eliminated interferences from nanoparticle ingredients and presented linearity for acyclovir concentrations ranging front 1.25 to 40.0 mu g/mL. (r = 0.9999). Precision and accuracy data demonstrated good reproducibility. Recovery ranged from 99.3 to 101.2. LOD) was 0.08 mu g/mL and LOQ. 0.25 mu g/mL. Thus. the proposed method proved to be easy. low cost. and accurate, and therefore, an useful alternative to quantify acyclovir in nanoparticles.

Effect of low-level laser therapy after rapid maxillary expansion on proliferation and differentiation of osteoblastic cells

The aim of this study was to investigate the osteoblastic activity of cells derived from the midpalatal suture upon treatment with low-level laser therapy (LLLT) after rapid maxillary expansion (RME). A total of 30 rats were divided into two groups: experimental I (15 rats with RME without LLLT) and experimental II (15 rats with RME + LLLT). The rats were euthanized at 24 h, 48 h, and 7 days after RME, when the osteoblastic cells derived from the rats' midpalatal suture were explanted. These cells were cultured for periods up to 17 days, and then in vitro osteogenesis parameters and gene expression markers were evaluated. The cellular doubling time in the proliferative stage (3-7 days) was decreased in cultured cells harvested from the midpalatal suture at 24 and 48 h after RME + LLLT, as indicated by the increased growth of the cells in a culture. Alkaline phosphatase activity at days 7 and 14 of the culture was increased by LLLT in cells explanted from the midpalatal suture at 24 and 48 h and 7 days after RME. The mineralization at day 17 was increased by LLLT after RME in all periods. Results from the real-time PCR demonstrated that cells harvested from the LLLT after RME group showed higher levels of ALP, Runx2, osteocalcin, type I collagen, and bone sialoprotein mRNA than control cells. More pronounced effects on ALP activity, mineralization, and gene expression of bone markers were observed at 48 h after RME and LLLT. These results indicate that the LLLT applied after RME is able to increase the proliferation and the expression of an osteoblastic phenotype in cells derived from the midpalatal suture.

Toward the Optimization of an e-Tongue System Using Information Visualization: A Case Study with Perylene Tetracarboxylic Derivative Films in the Sensing Units

The wide variety of molecular architectures used in sensors and biosensors and the large amount of data generated with some principles of detection have motivated the use of computational methods, such as information visualization techniques, not only to handle the data but also to optimize sensing performance. In this study, we combine projection techniques with micro-Raman scattering and atomic force microscopy (AFM) to address critical issues related to practical applications of electronic tongues (e-tongues) based on impedance spectroscopy. Experimentally, we used sensing units made with thin films of a perylene derivative (AzoPTCD acronym), coating Pt interdigitated electrodes, to detect CuCl(2) (Cu(2+)), methylene blue (MB), and saccharose in aqueous solutions, which were selected due to their distinct molecular sizes and ionic character in solution. The AzoPTCD films were deposited from monolayers to 120 nm via Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) and physical vapor deposition (PVD) techniques. Because the main aspects investigated were how the interdigitated electrodes are coated by thin films (architecture on e-tongue) and the film thickness, we decided to employ the same material for all sensing units. The capacitance data were projected into a 2D plot using the force scheme method, from which we could infer that at low analyte concentrations the electrical response of the units was determined by the film thickness. Concentrations at 10 mu M or higher could be distinguished with thinner films tens of nanometers at most-which could withstand the impedance measurements, and without causing significant changes in the Raman signal for the AzoPTCD film-forming molecules. The sensitivity to the analytes appears to be related to adsorption on the film surface, as inferred from Raman spectroscopy data using MB as analyte and from the multidimensional projections. The analysis of the results presented may serve as a new route to select materials and molecular architectures for novel sensors and biosensors, in addition to suggesting ways to unravel the mechanisms behind the high sensitivity obtained in various sensors.

Synthesis and characterization of the atropisomeric relationships of a substituted N-phenyl-bipyrazole derivative with anti-inflammatory properties

This work describes the atropisomeric relationships of 3-methyl-5-(3-methyl-5-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-4-amine (2d), which belongs to series 4-aminobipyrazole derivatives designed as anti-inflammatory agents. The 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectra obtained in the presence of a chiral lanthanide shift salt associated to chiral high-performance liquid chromatography analysis, X-ray diffraction, and molecular modeling tools confirmed that ortho bis-functionalized bipyrazole 2d exists as a mixture of aR,aS-atropisomers. These results provide useful information to understand the pharmacological profile of this derivative and of other 4-aminobipyrazole analogs. Chirality 24:463470, 2012. (c) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Higher spatial derivative field theories

In this work, we employ renormalization group methods to study the general behavior of field theories possessing anisotropic scaling in the spacetime variables. The Lorentz symmetry breaking that accompanies these models are either soft, if no higher spatial derivative is present, or it may have a more complex structure if higher spatial derivatives are also included. Both situations are discussed in models with only scalar fields and also in models with fermions as a Yukawa-like model.

delta-Lactam derivative from thermophilic soil fungus exhibits in vitro anti-allergic activity

From cultures of thermophilic soil fungus Humicola grisea var thermoidea, a delta-lactam derivative (3-(2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-oxoethyl)-5,6-dihydropyridin-2( 1H)-one) that displayed anti-allergic activity was isolated, which was predicted by in silico computational chemistry approaches. The in vitro anti-allergic activity was investigated by beta-hexosaminidase release assay in rat basophilic leukaemia RBL-2H3 cells. The delta-lactam derivative exhibited similar anti-allergic activity (IC50 = 18.7 +/- 6.7 mu M) in comparison with ketotifen fumarate (IC50 = 15.0 +/- 1.3 mu M) and stronger anti-allergic activity than azelastine (IC50 = 32.0 mu M). Also, the MTT cytotoxicity assay with RBL-2H3 cells showed that delta-lactam does not display cytotoxicity at concentrations lower than 50 mu M. This study suggests that the delta-lactam derivative has the potential to be used as a lead compound in the development of anti-allergic drugs for clinical use in humans.