Epiphany root canal sealer prepared with resinous solvent is irritating to rat subcutaneous tissues

Objective: This study assessed the biocompatibility of the Epiphany endodontic sealer prepared with resinous solvent of Epiphany system (Thinning resin) in rat subcutaneous tissues. Study Design: Polyethylene tubes were filled with the sealer and 4 groups were established: GI, Epiphany prepared with 1 drop of resinous solvent (RS); GII, Epiphany prepared with 1 drop of RS and photoactivated; GIII, Epiphany associated with self-etch primer and prepared with 1 drop of RS; GIV, Epiphany associated with self-etch primer, prepared with 1 drop of RS and photoactivated. The filled tubes were implanted into 4 different regions of the dorsum of 20 adult male rats. Results: After 7, 14 and 21 days, all groups presented a moderate to severe chronic inflammation, necrosis and foreign-body giant cells. At 42 days, although the intensity of chronic inflammatory reaction decreased, the other features still were observed. Conclusion: The Epiphany sealer prepared with the RS was irritating to rat subcutaneous tissues.

Exact cosmological solutions of models with an interacting dark sector

In this work we extend the first order formalism for cosmological models that present an interaction between a fermionic and a scalar field. Cosmological exact solutions describing universes filled with interacting dark energy and dark matter have been obtained. Viable cosmological solutions with an early period of decelerated expansion followed by late acceleration have been found, notably one which presents a dark matter component dominating in the past and a dark energy component dominating in the future. In another one, the dark energy alone is the responsible for both periods, similar to a Chaplygin gas case. Exclusively accelerating solutions have also been obtained.

Influence of Molecular Dynamics on the Dielectric Properties of Poly(9,9-di-n-octylfluorene-alt-benzothiadiazole) -Based Devices

This paper uses Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) techniques to study the molecular relaxations and phase transitions in poly(9,9-di-n-octylfluorene-alt-benzothiadiazole) (F8BT), which has been extensively studied as the active thin film in organic devices. Besides the identification of the glass transition, beta relaxation and crystal-to-crystal phase transition, we correlate such phenomena with dielectric and transport mechanisms in diodes with F8BT as the active layer. The beta relaxation has been assigned to a transition at about 210 K measured by H-1 and C-13 solid state NMR, and can be attributed to local motions in the side chains. The glass transition has been detected by DSC and H-1 NMR. Dielectric spectroscopy (DS) carried out at low frequencies on diodes made from F8BT show two peaks which are coincident with the above transitions. This allowed us to correlate the electrical changes in the film with the onset of specific molecular motions. In addition, DS indicates a third peak related with a crystal-to-crystal phase transition. Finally, these transitions were correlated with changes in the carrier mobility recorded in thin films and published recently.

Push-out strength of root fillings with or without thermomechanical compaction

Carneiro SMBS, Sousa-Neto MD, Rached-Junior FA, Miranda CES, Silva SRC, Silva-Sousa YTC. Push-out strength of root fillings with or without thermomechanical compaction. International Endodontic Journal, 45, 821828, 2012. Abstract Aim To evaluate the influence of thermomechanical compaction (Taggers hybrid technique THT) on the push-out strength of several root filling materials to root dentine. Methodology Root canals of eighty roots in human canines were prepared with the ProTaper system and filled with one of the following materials, using either lateral compaction (LC) (n = 40) or THT (n = 40): AH Plus/gutta-percha (GP) (n = 10), Sealer 26/GP (n = 10), Epiphany SE/Resilon (n = 10) and Epiphany SE/GP (n = 10). Three 2-mm-thick dentine slices were obtained from each third of each root. The root filling in the first slice was subjected to a push-out test to evaluate the bond strength of the materials to intraradicular dentine. Data (in MPa) were analysed using anova and post hoc Tukeys test (P < 0.05). Failure mode was determined at x25 magnification. The other two slices were prepared for scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to examine the surface of the filling materials. Results Lateral compaction (1.34 +/- 1.14 MPa) was associated with a significantly higher bond strength (P < 0.05) than the THT (0.97 +/- 0.88 MPa). AH Plus/GP (2.23 +/- 0.83 MPa) and Sealer 26/GP (1.86 +/- 0.50 MPa) had significantly higher bond strengths than the other materials and differed significantly from each other (P < 0.05). There was a significant difference (P < 0.05) between the coronal (1.36 +/- 1.15 MPa), middle (1.14 +/- 1.05 MPa) and apical thirds (0.95 +/- 0.83 MPa). Considering the technique and root filling material interaction, AH Plus/GP-LC was associated with the highest mean values (2.65 +/- 0.66 MPa) (P < 0.05). Sealer 26/GP-LC (2.10 +/- 0.46 MPa), AH Plus/GP-THT (1.81 +/- 0.78 MPa) and Sealer 26/GP-TH (1.63 +/- 0.44 MPa) had intermediate values that were not significantly different from each other (P > 0.05). Epiphany SE was associated with the lowest mean values (3.70 +/- 0.86 MPa) (P < 0.05), regardless of the root filling technique and type of solid material (cone). Adhesive failures predominated in the specimens filled with Epiphany SE, whilst mixed and cohesive failures were more frequent in those filled with AH Plus and Sealer 26, regardless of the root filling technique. SEM analysis revealed that LC produced a dense and well-compacted filling whilst the use of a hybrid thermomechanical technique resulted in the solid material (GP or Resilon) intermingled within sealer to form a nonhomogenous mass. Conclusion Lateral compaction was associated with higher bond strengths of the materials to intraradicular dentine than a hybrid technique using thermomechanical compaction. The greatest push-out strengths were obtained when the canals were filled with LC of AH Plus and GP cones.

Lower third molar infection with purulent discharge through the external auditory meatus. Case report and review of literature

This manuscript reports an uncommon case of inferior third molar facial abscess with purulent secretion drainage through the left external acoustic meatus. The patient's left external acoustic meatus was filled with a purulent secretion observed on a CT scan. He underwent surgery to drain the facial abscess. Despite facial abscesses being routine occurrences, the literature does not contain many case reports of odontogenic facial abscesses with drainage via the external acoustic meatus. These situations occur in two possible ways: multiple fissures in the anterior wall of the cartilaginous portion of the external acoustic meatus; and congenital defects that are occasionally present in the anterior-superior aspect of the external acoustic meatus, known as the foramen of Huschke, which allow communication between the external acoustic meatus and mandibular fossa. These defects may also predispose the patient to the spread of the infection or tumour from the external auditory canal to the infratemporal fossa and vice versa. No otological sequelae were observed in this case. The authors conclude that the hypothesis of bone malformation cannot be excluded, and affirm that any facial abscess requires appropriate and immediate treatment for adequate resolution, by removing the causal factor and providing systemic support.

Biocompatibility and setting time of CPM-MTA and white Portland cement clinker with or without calcium sulfate

To evaluate the biocompatibility and the setting time of Portland cement clinker with or without 2% or 5% calcium sulfate and MTA-CPM. Twenty-four mice (Rattus norvegicus) received subcutaneously polyethylene tubes filled with Portland cement clinker with or without 2% or 5% calcium sulfate and MTA. After 15, 30 and 60 days of implantation, the animals were killed and specimens were prepared for microscopic analysis. For evaluation of the setting time, each material was analyzed using Gilmore needles weighing 113.5 g and 456.5 g, according to the ASTM specification Number C266-08 guideline. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and Tukey's test for setting time and Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn test for biocompatibility at 5% significance level. Histologic observation showed no statistically significant difference of biocompatibility (p>0.05) among the materials in the subcutaneous tissues. For the setting time, clinker without calcium sulfate showed the shortest initial and final setting times (6.18 s/21.48 s), followed by clinker with 2% calcium sulfate (9.22 s/25.33 s), clinker with 5% calcium sulfate (10.06 s/42.46 s) and MTA (15.01 s/42.46 s). All the tested materials showed biocompatibility and the calcium sulfate absence shortened the initial and final setting times of the white Portland cement clinker

Effect of photodynamic therapy with different formulations of methylene blue in teeth contaminated by Enterococcus faecalis

The aim of this study was to compare the disinfection of dentine using photodynamic therapy with methylene blue in different formulations. Thirty bovine teeth roots were autoclaved and incubated with a suspension of Enterococcus faecalis. The specimen were randomly divided into three groups: G1, the roots were filled with 10 mM methylene blue dissolved in water; G2, the roots were filled with 10 mM methylene blue dissolved in a mixture of glycerol: ethanol: water; G3, roots filled with 100 mM methylene blue dissolved in water. The groups were irradiated with a 660 nm diode laser with an output power of 100 mW for 4 min, energy density of 850 J/cm2 and after this procedure, the sensitizer was removed and microbial samples were collected from within the root canals. The samples were plated on mEnterococcus to count the colony-forming units (CFU/mL). The means were: Group 1=513×103, Group 2=1431×103 and Group 3=2.96×103. The statistical analysis detected higher disinfection achieved by G3 when compared with groups G1 and G2, and no significant difference between the groups G1 and G2 (P>0.05). The increase of the concentration of methylene blue dye achieved higher disinfection in photodynamic therapy.

The effect of bone allografts combined with bone marrow stromal cells on the healing of segmental bone defects in a sheep model

Background: The repair of large bone defects is a major orthopedic challenge because autologous bone grafts are not available in large amounts and because harvesting is often associated with donor-site morbidity. Considering that bone marrow stromal cells (BMSC) are responsible for the maintenance of bone turnover throughout life, we investigated bone repair at a site of a critically sized segmental defect in sheep tibia treated with BMSCs loaded onto allografts. The defect was created in the mid-portion of the tibial diaphysis of eight adult sheep, and the sheep were treated with ex-vivo expanded autologous BMSCs isolated from marrow aspirates and loaded onto cortical allografts (n = 4). The treated sheep were compared with control sheep that had been treated with cell-free allografts (n = 4) obtained from donors of the same breed as the receptor sheep. Results: The healing response was monitored by radiographs monthly and by computed tomography and histology at six, ten, fourteen, and eighteen weeks after surgery. For the cell-loaded allografts, union was established more rapidly at the interface between the host bone and the allograft, and the healing process was more conspicuous. Remodeling of the allograft was complete at 18 weeks in the cell-treated animals. Histologically, the marrow cavity was reestablished, with intertrabecular spaces being filled with adipose marrow and with evidence of focal hematopoiesis. Conclusions: Allografts cellularized with AOCs (allografts of osteoprogenitor cells) can generate great clinical outcomes to noncellularized allografts to consolidate, reshape, structurally and morphologically reconstruct bone and bone marrow in a relatively short period of time. These features make this strategy very attractive for clinical use in orthopedic bioengineering