iNOS-Derived Nitric Oxide Stimulates Osteoclast Activity and Alveolar Bone Loss in Ligature-Induced Periodontitis in Rats

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Effect of microwave irradiation and water storage on the viscoelastic properties of denture base and reline acrylic resins

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Effectiveness of calcium hydroxide-based intracanal medicaments against Enterococcus faecalis

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Use of computerized tomography for diagnosis and follow-up after endodontic surgery: clinical case report with 8 years of follow-up

Computerized tomography (CT) is a valuable tool for diagnosis and planning in conventional and surgical endodontic therapy. This case report describes the use of CT in the diagnosis of a periapical lesion undetected by periapical radiography in the mandibular molar area. The CT also showed a possible mesial root perforation associated with the lesion. Following CT, surgical planning, periradicular curettage, and sealing of the root perforation were performed. Eight years after surgery, cone beam CT revealed periapical bone repair. Computerized tomography can be an important resource for diagnosis and planning in conventional and surgical endodontic therapy, as well as for evaluation of post-treatment bone repair. (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2010; 109: 629-633)

Morphometric analysis of the intestine of domestic quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) treated with different levels of dietary calcium

The aim of this study was to perform a morphometric analysis of the various parts of the intestine of the domestic quail. Twenty-four female quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) aged 37 weeks were used and accommodated in laying cages for 12 weeks. Each group was fed a standardized diet containing different quantities of calcium: 2.0%, 2.5%. 3.0% and 3.5%. The birds were weighed, killed, and samples of 1 cm were collected from the duodenum, jejunum and ileum and submitted to the histological routine. The sections obtained were stained in haematoxylin & eosin (H&E). For morphometric analysis, 30 villi and 30 crypts of each segment of the small intestine were measured in order to determine the height and area of the villi, as well as the depth of the crypts. The results showed that although the integrity of the gastrointestinal tract was maintained in all the birds treated with the different calcium levels, a calcium level of 3.0% showed the most promise, as the levels of 2.0% and 2.5% did not cause any alteration in the intestinal tract. Furthermore, a calcium level of 3.5% led to a significant reduction in the height of the villosities, and in consequence reduced the digestive and absorptive capabilities.

Fibroblast growth factor-10 maintains the survival and promotes the growth of cultured goat preantral follicles

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Crystallization and preliminary diffraction data of a platelet-aggregation inhibitor from the venom of Agkistrodon piscivorus piscivorus (North American water moccasin)

Applaggin (Agkistrodon piscivorus piscivorus platelet-aggregation inhibitor) is a potent inhibitor of blood platelet aggregation derived from the venom of the North American water moccasin, the protein consists of 71 amino acids, is rich in cysteines, contains the sequence-recognition site of adhesion proteins at positions 50-52 (Arg-Gly-Asp) and shares high sequence homology with other snake-venom disintegrins such as echistatin, kistrin and trigramin, Single crystals of applaggin have been grown and X-ray diffraction data have been collected to a resolution of 3.2 Angstrom. The crystals belong to space group P4(1)2(1)2 (or its enantiomorph), with unit-cell dimensions a = b = 63.35, c = 74.18 Angstrom and two molecules per asymmetric unit. Molecular replacement using models constructed from the NMR structures of echistatin and kistrin has not been successful in producing a trial structure for applaggin.

Observation of the Doubly Strange b Baryon Omega(-)(b)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Effect of magnesium on structure and properties of LiNbO3 prepared from polymeric precursors

The effect of magnesium addition on the phase formation and electric properties of LiNbO3 powder prepared from polymeric precursor was analyzed. It was shown that the unit-cell volume of the rhombohedral phase decreased with increasing magnesium concentration. Small amounts of secondary phases were observed in LiNbO3 powder doped with 5 and 10 mol% Mg+2. These results indicated that the Mg+2 ion was substituted for niobium ion in the rhombohedral phase. The addition of Mg+2 promotes densification of LiNbO3 ceramics. It was noticed that the increase in additive concentration leads to a decrease of electric properties, K-p and d(33). This is due to formation of LiNb3O8 and MgNb2O6 phases at the grain boundaries. (C) 2002 Elsevier B.V. Ltd and Techna S.r.l. All rights reserved.

NiTiO3 nanoparticles encapsulated with SiO2 prepared by sol-gel method

NiTiO3 (NTO) nanoparticles encapsulated with SiO2 were prepared by the sol-gel method resulting on core-shell structure. Changes on isoelectric point as a function of silica were evaluated by means of zeta potential. The NTO nanoparticles heat treated at 600 degrees C were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive X-ray analysis. TEM observations showed that the mean size of NTO is in the range of 2.5-42.5 nm while the thickness of SiO2 shell attained 1.5-3.5 nm approximately.

NiTiO3 powders obtained by polymeric precursor method: Synthesis and characterization

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Resposta do capim-tanzânia à aplicação de soro ácido de leite

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a produção de matéria seca e a quantidade de nutrientes extraída por Panicum maximum Jacq. cv. Tanzânia adubado com soro ácido de leite. Amostras de um Argissolo foram coletadas nas profundidades de 0-20, 20-40 e 40-60 cm e colocadas em colunas de PVC compostas por três anéis correspondentes a cada camada. As doses de soro foram definidas com base na concentração de K, de modo a adicionar ao solo 0, 75, 150, 225 e 300 kg/ha de K2O em cada uma das três aplicações: antes da semeadura, após o primeiro e após o segundo corte. O experimento foi realizado em casa de vegetação em delineamento inteiramente ao acaso, durante 112 dias. Após esse período, as colunas foram desmontadas e o solo foi amostrado para análise. A aplicação de soro aumentou a produção de matéria seca; a produção máxima teórica total dos três cortes foi obtida com a aplicação acumulada de 390 m³/ha. As quantidades de K, P e Ca absorvidas pela planta e o teor de K no solo aumentaram significativamente com as doses de soro.

Estimação de parâmetros genéticos para produção de leite de vacas da raça Holandesa via regressão aleatória

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

The effect of isostructural seeding on the microstructure and piezoelectric properties of PZT ceramics

Pechini's method was used to prepare lead titanate zirconate with Zr/Ti ratio equal to 53/47. X-ray diffraction data revealed the presence of a rhombohedral phase, rich in zirconium, due to difference in carbonate stabilities, in PZT ceramics calcined at 600 degrees C. Infrared spectroscopy presented COO- bonds in the 1400 cm(-1) region, which disappeared after calcining at 700 degrees C. Seeds with rhombohedral (PZT 57/43) or tetragonal structure (PZT 45/55) were added to the precursor. The microstructure was differentially influenced by the nature of seed particles. Rhombohedral nuclei promoted preferential crystallization of lead zirconate. This heterogeneity directly reflected on values of k(p) and d(33). (C) 1999 Elsevier B.V. Limited and Techna S.r.l. All rights reserved.

The N terminus of the human alpha(1D)-adrenergic receptor prevents cell surface expression

We previously reported that truncation of the N-terminal 79 amino acids of alpha(1D)-adrenoceptors (Delta(1-79)alpha(1D)-ARs) greatly increases binding site density. In this study, we determined whether this effect was associated with changes in alpha(1D)-AR subcellular localization. Confocal imaging of green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged receptors and sucrose density gradient fractionation suggested that full-length alpha(1D)-ARs were found primarily in intracellular compartments, whereas Delta(1-79)alpha(1D)-ARs were translocated to the plasma membrane. This resulted in a 3- to 4-fold increase in intrinsic activity for stimulation of inositol phosphate formation by norepinephrine. We determined whether this effect was transplantable by creating N-terminal chimeras of alpha(1)-ARs containing the body of one subtype and the N terminus of another (alpha(1A) NT-D, alpha(1B) NT-D, alpha(1D) NT-A, and alpha(1D)NT-B). When expressed in human embryonic kidney 293 cells, radioligand binding revealed that binding densities of alpha(1A)- or alpha(1B)-ARs containing the alpha(1D)-N terminus decreased by 86 to 93%, whereas substitution of alpha(1A)- or alpha(1B)-N termini increased alpha(1D)-AR binding site density by 2- to 3-fold. Confocal microscopy showed that GFP-tagged alpha(1D)NT-B-ARs were found only on the cell surface, whereas GFP-tagged alpha(1B)NT-D-ARs were completely intracellular. Radioligand binding and confocal imaging of GFP-tagged alpha(1D)- and Delta(1-79)alpha(1D)-ARs expressed in rat aortic smooth muscle cells produced similar results, suggesting these effects are generalizable to cell types that endogenously express alpha(1D)-ARs. These findings demonstrate that the N-terminal region of alpha(1D)-ARs contain a transplantable signal that is critical for regulating formation of functional bindings, through regulating cellular localization.