Clinical Comparison of the Effectiveness of Single-file Reciprocating Systems and Rotary Systems for Removal of Endotoxins and Cultivable Bacteria from Primarily Infected Root Canals

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

Clinical investigation of bacterial species and endotoxin in endodontic infection and evaluation of root canal content activity against macrophages by cytokine production

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

Clinical outcomes of periodontal therapy are not influenced by the ATC/TTC haplotype in the IL8 gene

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

Porphyromonas endodontalis in chronic periodontitis: a clinical and microbiological cross-sectional study

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

Effect of human whole saliva on the in vitro adhesion of Candida albicans to a denture base acrylic resin: a focus on collection and preparation of saliva samples

Objective In studies on Candida albicans adhesion to surfaces, diverse protocols have been used for collection and preparation of saliva samples. Thus, this study investigated whether variations in the centrifugation parameters and number of donors of saliva would influence the adhesion of C. albicans to a denture base resin. Methods Resin acrylic samples (n = 72) were made and then divided into four groups: (a) control – specimens were left without preconditioning in saliva; (b) three experimental groups, in which the specimens were preconditioned with saliva collected from 15 volunteers and centrifuged at 12 000 g for 5 min (G1); from 15 volunteers and centrifuged at 18 000 g for 30 min (G2); and from one volunteer and centrifuged at 12 000 g for 5 min (G3). Candida adhesion was evaluated by both the 2,3-bis(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-5-[(phenylamino) carbonyl]-2H-tetrazolium hydroxide (XTT) reduction method and crystal violet staining. Data were analyzed by one-way analyses of variance (P = 0.05). Results For XTT reduction assay, groups G2, G3, and control were not significantly different, whereas group G1 showed significantly higher absorbance value than control. For crystal violet staining there were no significant differences among all groups. Conclusion Variations in the centrifugation parameters and number of donors of saliva may influence C. albicans adhesion to denture base resins.

Masticatory performance of complete denture wearers after using two adhesives: a crossover randomized clinical trial

Statement of problem Masticatory performance analysis of conventional complete denture wearers who use denture adhesives is scarce in the dental literature. Purpose The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of the use of 2 denture adhesives on the masticatory performance of conventional complete denture wearers by means of a crossover study. Material and methods Forty individuals who were edentulous received new maxillary and mandibular complete dentures, and, after an adaptation period, were submitted to masticatory performance analysis without denture adhesive (control). The participants were randomly divided and assigned to 2 protocols: protocol 1, denture adhesive 1 (Ultra Corega cream tasteless) use during the first 15 days, followed by no use of denture adhesive over the next 15 days (washout), and then use of denture adhesive 2 (Ultra Corega powder tasteless) for 15 days; protocol 2, denture adhesive 2 (Ultra Corega powder tasteless) use during the first 15 days, followed by no use of denture adhesive during the next 15 days (washout), and then use of denture adhesive 1 (Ultra Corega cream tasteless) for 15 days. The masticatory performance was assessed immediately after the use of denture adhesive by means of the sieve method, in which participants were instructed to deliberately chew 5 almonds for 20 chewing strokes. Masticatory performance was calculated by the weight of comminuted material that passed through the sieves. Data were analyzed by a 1-way ANOVA for paired samples and the multiple comparison of means by using the Bonferroni test (α=.05). Results A significant increase in masticatory performance was noted after using the Ultra Corega cream (mean, 32.6%) and Ultra Corega powder (mean, 31.2%) when compared with the control group (mean, 19.8%) (P<.001). No significant difference was found between the 2 denture adhesives evaluated. Conclusion The use of denture adhesive improved the masticatory performance of conventional complete denture wearers. No difference was found in masticatory performance with the use of cream or powder denture adhesive.

Recovering Streptococcus mutans over restorations by the tray technique: a randomized clinical study

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Endodontic retreatment: clinical comparison of reciprocating systems versus rotary system in disinfecting root canals

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

Masticatory performance of complete denture wearers after using two adhesives: a crossover randomized clinical trial

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

Isoflurane and propofol contribute to increasing the antioxidant status of patients during minor elective surgery: a randomized clinical study

Isoflurane is a volatile halogenated anesthetic used especially for anesthesia maintenance whereas propofol is a venous anesthetic utilized for anesthesia induction and maintenance, and reportedly an antioxidant. However, there are still controversies related to isoflurane-induced oxidative stress and it remains unanswered whether the antioxidant effects occur in patients under propofol anesthesia.Taking into account the importance of better understanding the role of anesthetics on oxidative stress in anesthetized patients, the present study was designed to evaluate general anesthesia maintained with isoflurane or propofol on antioxidant status in patients who underwent minimally invasive surgeries.We conducted a prospective randomized trial in 30 adult patients without comorbidities who underwent elective minor surgery (septoplasty) lasting at least 2 h admitted to a Brazilian tertiary hospital.The patients were randomly allocated into 2 groups, according to anesthesia maintenance (isoflurane, n = 15 or propofol, n = 15). Peripheral blood samples were drawn before anesthesia (baseline) and 2-h after anesthesia induction.The primary outcomes were to investigate the effect of either isoflurane or propofol anesthesia on aqueous plasma oxidizability and total antioxidant performance (TAP) by fluorometry as well as several individual antioxidants by high-performance liquid chromatography. As secondary outcome, oxidized genetic damage (7,8-dihydro-8-oxoguanine, known as 8-oxo-Gua) was investigated by the comet assay.Both anesthesia techniques (isoflurane or propofol) for a 2-h period resulted in a significant decrease of plasma α-tocopherol, but not other antioxidants including uric acid, carotenoids, and retinol (P > 0.05). Propofol, in contrast to isoflurane anesthesia, significantly increased (P < 0.001) anti-inflammatory/antioxidant plasma γ-tocopherol concentration in patients. Both anesthesia types significantly enhanced hydrophilic antioxidant capacity and TAP, with no significant difference between them, and 8-oxo-Gua remained unchanged during anesthesia in both groups. In addition, both anesthetics showed antioxidant capacity in vitro.This study shows that anesthesia maintained with either propofol or isoflurane increase both hydrophilic and total antioxidant capacity in plasma, but only propofol anesthesia increases plasma γ-tocopherol concentration. Additionally, both types of anesthetics do not lead to oxidative DNA damage in patients without comorbidities undergoing minimally invasive surgery.

Fluorescent antibody test, quantitative polymerase chain reaction pattern and clinical aspects of rabies virus strains isolated from main reservoirs in Brazil

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

Alcohol levels in cerebrospinal fluid and blood samples from patients under pathological conditions

We measured alcohol levels by the Cordebard method in 148 CSF samples from individuals who had abstained from alcohol for at least 7 days prior to the beginning of the study. Each blood sample was accompanied by a CSF sample from the same patient. CSF samples found to be normal after analysis were used as controls. Mean alcohol concentration in blood did not differ significantly between the control group and the groups with altered CSF. The group with altered CSF had statistically higher alcohol levels in CSF than in blood. CSF lactate, glucose and protein levels were not correlated with alcohol level. The results suggest the presence of endogenous alcohol in the CSF, with levels increasing in the presence of pathological processes involving the nervous system.

Genetic evaluation and activity of antifungal against clinical isolate Candida albicans biofilms

Candida yeasts are common in the oral cavity and can cause candidosis in the presence of predisposing factors, especially diabetes. The manifestation of the disease is related to this set of local factors such as the presence of dental prostheses, salivary pH, salivary flow and tobacco and the ability to form biofilms. Biofilms are specific and organized communities of cells under the control of signaling molecules rather than random accumulations of cells resulting from cell division and frequently are drugs resistance. Aim: The objectives of this study were to determine the genetic patterns of these C. albicans isolates and to evaluate the in vitro activity amphotericin B and caspofungin against C. albicans biofilms. Methods: Microbial samples were collected from subgingival sites and seeded in CHROMagar for subsequent identification of C. albicans by PCR. Genotypes were defined based on the identification of the transposable introns in the 25S rDNA by PCR. Results: In this study, 6 strains were identified as C. albicans and of these, 3 strains were genotype A and 3 were genotype B. The results showed that both amphotericin B and caspofungin exhibited strong antifungal activities against C. albicans biofilm formation and inhibiting the biofilm formation ranging from 70.8 – 95.3% and 77.7 - 88.7%, respectively. The antifungals studied had low inhibitory effect on preformed biofims, ranging from 39.5 - 50.8% for amphotericin B and from 23.1 - 36.9% for caspofungin at the same concentration. The activity of the two drugs was most effective in inhibit biofilm formation.

Detection of human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 in plasma samples

Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is-an RNA virus responsible for diseases such as HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) and adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL). Cell-to-cell contact and Tax-induced clonal expansion of infected cells are the main modes of virus replication, making virus detection during the viremic stage difficult. Consequently, the proviral load is the current virologic marker for disease monitoring, but the mechanisms of progression have not been established yet. Thus, this study investigated the presence of virus in plasma from asymptomatic HTLV-1 carriers and from HAM/TSP patients. Real-time PCR was performed on DNA from 150 plasma samples; 12(8%) had detectable DNA amplification, including 6(4%) asymptomatic HTLV-1 carriers and 14(26%) HAM/TSP patients (p < 0.005). Of the 33 samples submitted for nested PCR, six (18%, p = 0.02) were positive for HTLV-1 RNA in the plasma. Additionally, 26 plasma samples were treated with DNAse enzyme to eliminate any DNA contamination before RNA extraction. Two of them (8%) showed amplification for HTLV-1 (p = 0.5). Therefore, this study described for the first time the detection of free HTLV-1 RNA in plasma from HTLV-1-infected subjects, regardless of their clinical status. Thus, HTLV-1 viral replication does occur in plasma, and other transmission pathways for HTLV-1 should be investigated further. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Mutations, Clinical Findings and Survival Estimates in South American Patients with X-Linked Adrenoleukodystrophy

In this study, we analyzed the ABCD1 gene in X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD) patients and relatives from 38 unrelated families from South America, as well as phenotypic proportions, survival estimates, and the potential effect of geographical origin in clinical characteristics. Methods: X-ALD patients from Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay were invited to participate in molecular studies to determine their genetic status, characterize the mutations and improve the genetic counseling of their families. All samples were screened by SSCP analysis of PCR fragments, followed by automated DNA sequencing to establish the specific mutation in each family. Age at onset and at death, male phenotypes, genetic status of women, and the effect of family and of latitude of origin were also studied. Results: We identified thirty-six different mutations (twelve novel). This population had an important allelic heterogeneity, as only p. Arg518Gln was repeatedly found (three families). Four cases carried de novo mutations. Intra-familiar phenotype variability was observed in all families. Out of 87 affected males identified, 65% had the cerebral phenotype (CALD). The mean (95% CI) ages at onset and at death of the CALD were 10.9 (9.1-12.7) and 24.7 (19.8-29.6) years. No association was found between phenotypic manifestations and latitude of origin. One index-case was a girl with CALD who carried an ABCD1 mutation, and had completely skewed X inactivation. Conclusions: This study extends the spectrum of mutations in X-ALD, confirms the high rates of de novo mutations and the absence of common mutations, and suggests a possible high frequency of cerebral forms in our population.