In vivo CYP2E1 phenotyping as a new potential biomarker of occupational and experimental exposure to benzene

Assessing CYP2E1 phenotype in vivo may be important to predict individual susceptibility to those chemicals, including benzene, which are metabolically activated by this isoenzyme. Chlorzoxazone (CHZ), a specific CYP2E1 substrate, is readily hydroxylated to 6-OH-chlorzoxazone (6-OH-CHZ) by liver CYP2E1 and the metabolic ratio 6-OH-CHZ/CHZ in serum (MR) is a specific and sensitive biomarker of CYP2E1 activity in vivo in humans. We used this MR as a potential biomarker of effect in benzene-treated rats and, also, in humans occupationally exposed to low levels of benzene. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (375-400 g b.w.) were treated i.p. for 3 days with either a 0.5 ml solution of benzene (5 mmol/kg b.w.) in corn oil, or 0.5 ml corn oil alone. Twenty-four hours after the last injection, a polyethylene glycol (PEG) solution of CHZ (20 mg/kg b.w.) was injected i.p. in both treated and control animals. After 2, 5.10,15, 20,30,45, 60, 90, 120, 180, and 240 min from injection, 0.2 ml blood was taken from the tip tail and stored at -20 degrees C until analysis. A modified reverse phase HPLC method using a 5 mu m Ultrasphere C18 column equipped with a direct-connection ODS guard column, was used to measure CHZ and its metabolite 6-OH-CHZ in serum. No statistically significant difference in the MR was observed, at any sampling time, between benzene-treated and control rats. The concentration-versus-time area under the curve (AUC), however, was lower (p < 0.05, Mann-Whitney test), whereas the systemic clearance was higher (p < 0.05) in treated than in control rats. Eleven petrochemical workers occupationally exposed to low levels of airborne benzene (mean +/- SD, 25.0 +/- 24.4 mu g/m(3)) and 13 non-exposed controls from the same factory (mean +/- SD, 6.7 +/- 4.0 mu g/m(3)) signed an informed consent form and were administered 500 mg CHZ p.o. Two hours later a venous blood sample was taken for CHZ and 6-OH-CHZ measurements. Despite exposed subjects showed significantly higher levels of t,t-MA and S-PMA, two biomarkers of exposure to benzene, than non-exposed workers, no difference in the MR mean values +/- SD was found between exposed (0.59 +/- 0.29) and non-exposed (0.57 +/- 0.23) subjects. So, benzene was found to modify CHZ disposition, but not CYP2E1 phenotype in benzene-treated rats, nor in workers exposed to benzene, probably due to the levels of exposure being too low. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Deposition and characterization of BiVO4 thin films and evaluation as photoanodes for methylene blue degradation

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Growth of Al2O3 thin film by oxidation of resistively evaporated Al on top of SnO2, and electrical properties of the heterojunction SnO2/Al2O3

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Influence of vanadium on electrical and microstructural properties of CaCu3Ti4O12/CaTiO3

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Genotoxicity and cytotoxicity of glass ionomer cements on Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells

Glass ionomer cements are widely used in dentistry as restorative materials and adhesives for composite restorations. However, the results of genotoxicity studies using these materials are inconclusive in literature. The goal of this study was to examine the genotoxic and cytotoxic potential of three different glass ionomer cements available commercially (Ketac Cem, Ketac Molar and Vitrebond) by the single cell gel (comet) assay and trypan blue exclusion test, respectively. For this, such materials were exposed to Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells in vitro for 1 h at 37 degrees C. Data were assessed by Kruskall-Wallis nonparametric test. The results showed that the powder from Ketac Molar displayed genotoxicity only in the maximum concentration evaluated (100 mu g/mL). In the same way, the liquid from Vitrebond at 0.1% dilution caused an increase of DNA injury. Significant differences (P < 0.05) in cytotoxicity provoked by all powders tested of glass ionomer cements were observed for exposure at 1000 mu g/mL concentration. With respect to liquids of glass ionomer cements evaluated, the major toxic effect on cell viability was produced at 10%, beginning at the dilution of 0.5% for Vitrebond. Taken together, we conclude that some components of glass ionomer cements show both genotoxic and cytotoxic effects.

Phototrophic growth of Rubrivivax gelatinosus in poultry slaughterhouse wastewater

Rubrivivax gelatinosus was grown in Pfennig's synthetic medium (PM) and in treated wastewater from poultry slaughterhouse (TW) to assess growth profiles for biomass production. Cultures inoculated at 1% (v/v) were grown under anaerobiosis at 30 +/- 2 degrees C and 1400 200 lux for 12 days. Regular absorbance curves for R. gelatinosus were found both on PM and TW. on PM, the highest dry weight of biomass, 0.39 g L-1. was achieved in the 216-h culture and the highest specific growth rate of 0.2960 h(-1) occurred in the 24-h culture. on TW, the highest biomass of 0.57 g L-1 was also obtained in the 216-h culture and the highest specific growth rate, 0.1970 h(-1), was achieved in the 48-h culture. For productivity and chemical oxygen demand investigations, the cultivation was accomplished in the TW under anaerobiosis at 32 +/- 2 degrees C and 4000 +/- 500 lux, for 10 days. Productivity was 0.085 g biomass (d.w.) L-1 day(-1), with a COD decrease of 91%. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Toxicity of photodynamic therapy with LED associated to Photogem (R): An in vivo study

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

Peel bond strength of resilient liner modified by the addition of antimicrobial agents to denture base acrylic resin

In order to prolong the clinical longevity of resilient denture relining materials and reduce plaque accumulation, incorporation of antimicrobial agents into these materials has been proposed. However, this addition may affect their properties. Objective: This study evaluated the effect of the addition of antimicrobial agents into one soft liner (Soft Confort, Dencril) on its peel bond strength to one denture base (QC 20, Dentsply). Material and Methods: Acrylic specimens (n=9) were made (75x10x3 mm) and stored in distilled water at 37 degrees C for 48 h. The drug powder concentrations (nystatin 500,000U - G2; nystatin 1,000,000U - G3; miconazole 125 mg - G4; miconazole 250 mg - G5; ketoconazole 100 mg - G6; ketoconazole 200 mg - G7; chlorhexidine diacetate 5% - G8; and 10% chlorhexidine diacetate - G9) were blended with the soft liner powder before the addition of the soft liner liquid. A group (G1) without any drug incorporation was used as control. Specimens (n=9) (75x10x6 mm) were plasticized according to the manufacturers' instructions and stored in distilled water at 37 degrees C for 24 h. Relined specimens were then submitted to a 180-degree peel test at a crosshead speed of 10 mm/min. Data (MPa) were analyzed by analysis of variance (alpha=0.05) and the failure modes were visually classified. Results: No significant difference was found among experimental groups (p=0.148). Cohesive failure located within the resilient material was predominantly observed in all tested groups. Conclusions: Peel bond strength between the denture base and the modified soft liner was not affected by the addition of antimicrobial agents.

Evaluation of Candida albicans adhesion and biofilm formation on a denture base acrylic resin containing silver nanoparticles

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

Adhesive Bonding of Resin Composite to Various Ni-Cr Alloy Surfaces Using Different Metal Conditioners and a Surface Modification System

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

Effect of light-curing units on microleakage under dental composite resins

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of two light-curing units (QTH and LED) on microleakage of Class II composite resin restorations with dentin cavosurface margins. Twenty extracted mandibular first premolars, free of caries and fractures were prepared two vertical slot cavities in the occluso-mesial and -destal surfaces (2 mm buccal-lingually, 2 mm proximal-axially and cervical limit in enamel) and divided into 4 equal groups (n = 8): GI and GII: packable posterior composite light-activated with LED and QTH, respectively; GIII and GIV: micro-hybrid composite resin light-activated with LED and QTH, respectively. The composite resins were applied following the manufacturer's instructions. After 24 h of water storage specimens were subjected to thermocycling for a total of 500 cycles at 5 and 55A degrees C and the teeth were then sealed with impermeable material. Teeth were immersed in 0.5% Basic fuchsin during 24 h at room temperature, and zero to three levels of penetration score were attributed. The Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests showed significant statistically similar (P > 0.05) from GI to GII and GIII to GIV, which the GII (2.750) had the highest mean scores and the GIII and GIV (0.875) had lowest mean scores. The use of different light-curing units has no influence on marginal integrity of Class II composite resin restorations and the proprieties of composite resins are important to reduce the microleakage.

Influence of Er:YAG laser on surface treatment of aged composite resin to repair restoration

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Er:YAG laser on surface treatment to the bond strength of repaired composite resin after aged. Sixty specimens (n = 10) were made with composite resin (Z250, 3M) and thermocycled with 500 cycles, oscillating between 5 to 55A degrees C. The specimens were randomly separated in six groups which suffered the following superficial treatments: no treatment (GI, control), wearing with diamond bur (GII), sandblasted with aluminum oxide with 27.5 A mu m particles (GIII) for 10 s, 200 mJ Er:YAG laser (GIV), 300 mJ Er:YAG laser (GV), and 400 mJ Er:YAG laser (GVI), with the last 3 groups under a 10 Hz frequency for 10 s. Restoration repair was done using the same composite. The shear test was done into the Universal testing machine MTS-810. Analyzing the results through ANOVA and Tukey test, no significant differences were found (p-value is 0.5120). Average values analysis showed that superficial treatment with aluminum oxide presented the highest resistance to shear repair interface (8.91MPa) while 400 mJ Er:YAG laser presented the lowest (6.76 MPa). Fracture types analysis revealed that 90% suffered cohesive fractures to GIII. The Er:YAG laser used as superficial treatment of the aged composite resin before the repair showed similar results when used diamond bur and sandblasting with aluminum oxide particles.

Chemical composition and antioxidants potential of extracts of yellow melon seeds in Soybean oil

The aim of this work was to characterize the yellow melon seeds, hybrid variety, as for their proximate composition, and to evaluate the antioxidant potential of extracts of seed in soybean oil. The extract of melon seeds (EM), obtained by extraction using ethanol: water (95:5), was applied in soybean oil at three different concentrations (500; 750 and 1000 mg kg(-1)) and submitted to Shaal oven method at 60 degrees C for 20 days. Oil samples were evaluated for peroxic a value in periods of five days. The antioxidant activity of the extract was compared to the BHT (butyl-hydroxytoluene) activity. The melon seeds showed a high nutrition value, containing high percentages of lipids (25.2%), proteins (20.1%) and fiber (30.0%). All these treatments retarded lipid oxidation in soybean oil; however the natural extracts were less effective than BHT after 10 days in the oven. The antioxidant activities of different treatments tested in this study followed the order: BHT > EM 1000 mg kg(-1) = EM 750 mg kg(-1) > EM 500 mg kg(-1)> control.

Antioxidant Evaluation of Coriander Extract and Ascorbyl Palmitate in Sunflower Oil Under Thermoxidation

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

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray crystallographic studies of Protac (R), a commercial protein C activator isolated from Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix venom

The protein C pathway plays an important role in the control and regulation of the blood coagulation cascade and prevents the propagation of the clotting process on the endothelium surface. In physiological systems, protein C activation is catalyzed by thrombin, which requires thrombomodulin as a cofactor. The protein C activator from Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix acts directly on the zymogen of protein C converting it into the active form, independently of thrombomodulin. Suitable crystals of the protein C activator from Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix were obtained from a solution containing 2 M ammonium sulfate as the precipitant and these crystals diffracted to 1.95 angstrom resolution at a synchrotron beamline. The crystalline array belongs to the monoclinic space group C2 with unit cell dimensions a=80.4, b = 63.3 and c = 48.2 angstrom, alpha = gamma = 90.0 degrees and beta = 90.8 degrees. (C) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.