Expression of Protease Activated Receptor-1 in Chronic Periodontitis

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

Metalloproteinase inhibition protects against reductions in circulating adrenomedullin during lead-induced acute hypertension

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

Can Application of Universal Primers Alone Be a Substitute for Airborne-Particle Abrasion to Improve Adhesion of Resin Cement to Zirconia?

Purpose: To determine whether universal primers alone can deliver similar levels of adhesion of resin cement to zirconia ceramic when compared to their application in conjunction with airborne-particle abrasion.Materials and Methods: Sintered zirconia blocks (N = 160) (Lava, 3M ESPE), (5.25 x 5.25 x 3 mm(3)) were embedded in acrylic resin, polished, and randomly distributed into 16 groups (n = 10 per group), according to the factors "universal primer" (8 levels) and "air-particle abrasion" (2 levels): 1. ctr: control, without application of a universal primer; 2. AP: Alloy Primer; 3. MP: Monobond Plus; 4. MZP: Metal Zirconia Primer; 5. MZ: MZ Primer; 6. Sg: Signum Zirconia Bond; 7. SbU: Singlebond Universal; 8. ZP: Z Prime Plus. The universal primers were also used after air abrasion (A) of zirconia to form the following 8 groups: Ctr-A, AP-A, MP-A, MZP-A, MZ-A, Sg-A, SbU-A, and ZP-A. After ultrasonic cleaning, air abrasion was performed using Al2O3 particles (110 mu m, 2.5 bar, 20 s at 10 mm) in a chairside air-abrasion device. After ultrasonic cleaning again, universal primers were applied according to each manufacturer's recommendation. The resin cement (RelyX ARC, 3M ESPE) was built up incrementally and photo-polymerized on the zirconia surface using a silicone mold (empty set = 3.5, height = 3 mm). All specimens were stored in distilled water (60 days at 37 degrees C) and then subjected to shear bond strength testing (SBS) in a universal testing machine (1 mm/min). On a separate set of zirconia specimens, contact angle measurements were made using the sessile drop technique with a goniometer after the application of universal primers on control and air-abraded zirconia surfaces. Data (MPa) were analyzed using one-way ANOVA, Tukey's test, and Student's t-test (alpha = 0.05).Results: When universal primers were used alone, SbU presented significantly higher mean SBS (19.5 +/- 5.8) that did the other primers (0 to 9.9 +/- 6.6) (p = 0.001). When air abraded, the groups AP-A (14.1 +/- 6.1), MP-A (15.9 +/- 5.4), ZP-A (16.9 +/- 7.3), SG-A (19.1 +/- 2.1), SbU-A (12 +/- 1.5) showed significant differences (p = 0.03). Adhesive performance of all universal primers was enhanced after air abrasion, with the exception of the SbU and MZ primers. After air abrasion, contact angle measurements were lower for the each primer (without air abrasion: 28.9 to 83.9; with air abrasion: 27.1 to 63.0), except for MZP.Conclusion: Air abrasion with 110 mu m Al2O3 followed by universal primer application increased the bond strength of tested resin cement to zirconia, with the exception of SbU and MZ.

Effect of clinical use of nickel-titanium springs

Introduction: Our objectives were to determine whether there are changes on the load deflection rate (L/DP) and the average force (FP) of the superelastic pseudoplateau, and whether permanent deformation is changed in nickel-titanium closed-coil springs (CCSs) after 6 months of clinical use. Methods: Twenty-two nickel-titanium CCSs (Sentalloy 100 g; Dentsply GAC, York, Pa) were subjected to tensile mechanical testing at 37 degrees C on activations varying from 3.2 to 16.0 mm before and after 6 months of clinical use. A regression line was fitted over the most horizontal area of the unloading part of the stress-strain graph of every CCS, and its slope was used as L/DP. The FP was determined by the midpoint of the longest segment of the curve that could be fit within the regression line with a R-2 of at least 0.999, and permanent deformation was determined graphically by obtaining the strain value when the measured stress reached zero. The data were analyzed by 3 analyses of variance at 2 levels, with 5% of significance. Results: Time and activation significantly influenced the variables tested (P < 0.001). Time increased the L/DP and permanent deformation but decreased the FP. Activation decreased L/DP, FP, and permanent deformation. Significant interactions between time and activation were detected for FP (P = 0.013) and deformation (P < 0.001). Conclusions: After 6 months of active clinical use, the analyzed springs had a significant but small increase in their L/DP; FP dropped up to 88%, and the CCSs deformed up to 1.26 mm.

Association between ACTA1 candidate gene and performance, organs and carcass traits in broilers

This study investigates the genetic association of the SNP present in the ACTA1 gene with performance traits, organs and carcass of broilers to help marker-assisted selection of a paternal broiler line (TT) from EMBRAPA Swine and Poultry, Brazil. Genetic and phenotypic data of 1,400 broilers for 68 traits related to body performance, organ weights, weight of carcass parts, and yields as a percentage of organs and carcass parts were used. The maximum likelihood method, considering 4 analytical models, was used to analyze the genetic association between the SNP and these important economic traits. The association analysis was performed using a mixed animal model including the random effect of the animal (polygenic), and the fixed effects of sex (2 levels), hatch (5 levels) and SNP (3 levels), besides the random error. The traits significantly associated (P < 0.05) with the SNP were analyzed, along with body weight at 42 days of age (BW42), by the restricted maximum likelihood method using the multi-trait animal model to estimate genetic parameters. The analysis included the residual and additive genetic random effects and the sex-hatch fixed effect. The additive effects of the SNP were associated with breast meat (BMY), liver yield (LIVY), body weight at 35 days of age (BW35); drumstick skin (DSW), drumstick (DW) and breast (BW) weights. The heritability estimates for these traits, in addition to BW42, ranged from 0.24 ± 0.06 to 0.45 ± 0.08 for LIVY and BW35, respectively. The genetic correlation ranged from 0.02 ± 0.18 for LIVY and BMY to 0.97 ± 0.01 for BW35 and BW42. Based on the results of this study, it can be concluded that ACTA1 gene is associated with performance traits BW35, LIV and BMY, DW, BW and DW adjusted for body weight at 42 days of age. Therefore, the ACTA1 gene is an important molecular marker that could be used together with others already described to increase the economically important traits in broilers.

Effect of the consumption of a new symbiotic shake on glycemia and cholesterol levels in elderly people with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Background: The consumption of foods containing probiotic and prebiotic ingredients is growing consistently every year, and in view of the limited number of studies investigating their effect in the elderly.Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the consumption of a symbiotic shake containing Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium bifidum and fructooligosaccharides on glycemia and cholesterol levels in elderly people.Methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted on twenty volunteers (ten for placebo group and ten for symbiotic group), aged 50 to 60 years. The criteria for inclusion in the study were: total cholesterol > 200 mg/dL; triglycerides > 200 mg/dL and glycemia > 110 mg/dL. Over a total test period of 30 days, 10 individuals (the symbiotic group) consumed a daily dose of 200 mL of a symbiotic shake containing 10(8) UFC/mL Lactobacillus acidophilus, 10(8) UFC/mL Bifidobacterium bifidum and 2 g oligofructose, while 10 other volunteers (the placebo group) drank daily the same amount of a shake that did not contain any symbiotic bacteria. Blood samples were collected 15 days prior to the start of the experiment and at 10-day intervals after the beginning of the shake intake. The standard lipid profile (total cholesterol, triglycerides and HDL cholesterol) and glycemia, or blood sugar levels, were evaluated by an enzyme colorimetric assay.Results: The results of the symbiotic group showed a non-significant reduction (P > 0.05) in total cholesterol and triglycerides, a significant increase (P < 0.05) in HDL cholesterol and a significant reduction (P < 0.05) in fasting glycemia. No significant changes were observed in the placebo group.Conclusion: The consumption of symbiotic shake resulted in a significant increase in HDL and a significant decrease of glycemia.

Increased pancreatic islet mass is accompanied by activation of the insulin receptor substrate-2/serine-threonine kinase pathway and augmented cyclin D(2) protein levels in insulin-resistant rats

It is well known that glucocorticoids induce peripheral insulin resistance in rodents and humans. Here, we investigated the structural and ultrastructural modifications, as well as the proteins involved in beta-cell function and proliferation, in islets from insulin-resistant rats. Adult male Wistar rats were made insulin resistant by daily administration of dexamethasone (DEX; 1mg/kg, i.p.) for five consecutive days, whilst control (CTL) rats received saline alone. Structure analyses showed a marked hypertrophy of DEX islets with an increase of 1.7-fold in islet mass and of 1.6-fold in islet density compared with CTL islets (P < 0.05). Ultrastructural evaluation of islets revealed an increased amount of secreting organelles, such as endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus in DEX islets. Mitotic figures were observed in DEX islets at structural and ultrastructural levels. Beta-cell proliferation, evaluated at the immunohistochemical level using anti-PCNA (proliferating cell nuclear antigen), showed an increase in pancreatic beta-cell proliferation of 6.4-fold in DEX islets compared with CTL islets (P < 0.0001). Increases in insulin receptor substrate-2 (IRS-2), phosphorylated-serine-threonine kinase AKT (p-AKT), cyclin D(2) and a decrease in retinoblastoma protein (pRb) levels were observed in DEX islets compared with CTL islets (P < 0.05). Therefore, during the development of insulin resistance, the endocrine pancreas adapts itself increasing beta-cell mass and proliferation, resulting in an amelioration of the functions. The potential mechanisms that underlie these events involve the activation of the IRS-2/AKT pathway and activation of the cell cycle, mediated by cyclin D(2). These adaptations permit the maintenance of glycaemia at near-physiological ranges.

The Short-Term Effectiveness of Non-Surgical Treatment in Reducing Levels of Interleukin-1 beta and Proteases in Gingival Crevicular Fluid From Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Chronic Periodontitis

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Levels of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and metalloproteinase-9 in the cerebrospinal fluid of dogs with visceral leishmaniasis

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

Melatonin attenuates Her-2, p38 MAPK, p-AKT, and mTOR levels in ovarian carcinoma of ethanol-preferring rats

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