Glucose reactivity with filling materials as a limitation for using the glucose leakage model

Aim To evaluate the reactivity of different endodontic materials and sealers with glucose and to asses the reliability of the glucose leakage model in measuring penetration of glucose through these materials.Methodology Ten uniform discs (radius 5 mm, thickness 2 mm) were made of each of the following materials: Portland cement, MTA (grey and white), sealer 26, calcium sulphate, calcium hydroxide [Ca(OH)(2)], AH26,Epiphany, Resilon, gutta-percha and dentine. After storing the discs for 1 week at 37 degrees C and humid conditions, they were immersed in 0.2 mg mL(-1) glucose solution in a test tube. The concentration of glucose was evaluated using an enzymatic reaction after 1 week. Statistical analysis was performed with the ANOVA and Dunnett tests at a significant level of P < 0.05.Results Portland cement, MTA, Ca(OH)(2) and sealer 26 reduced the concentration in the test tube of glucose significantly after 1 week (P < 0.05). Calcium sulphate reduced the concentration of glucose, but the difference in concentrations was not significant (P = 0.054).Conclusions Portland cement, MTA, Ca(OH)(2) and sealer 26 react with a 0.2 mg mL(-1) glucose solution. Therefore, these materials should not be evaluated for sealing ability with the glucose leakage model.

Long-term nutrition education reduces several risk factors for type 2 diabetes mellitus in Brazilians with impaired glucose tolerance

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

The carpal pad as an alternative sampling site for blood glucose testing in dogs

To investigate the feasibility and validity of sampling blood from the carpal pad in hospitalised healthy and diabetic dogs. METHODS The carpal pad was compared to the ear as a sampling site in 60 dogs (30 healthy and 30 diabetic dogs). RESULTS Lancing the pads was very well tolerated. The average glucose concentrations in blood samples obtained from the ears and carpal pads exhibited a strong positive correlation (r = 0.938) and there were no significant differences between them (P = 0.914). In addition, 98.3% of the values obtained were clinically acceptable when assessed by the error grid analysis. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE The carpal pad is a good alternative sampling site for home monitoring, especially in animals with a soft and/or light-coloured pad.

Stimulation of polygalacturonase production in an immobilized system by Aspergillus sp.: effect of pectin and glucose

The synthesis of polygalacturonases (PG) is known to be influenced by Aspergillus growth conditions, namely, environmental factors and pectin content in the cultivation medium containing a mixed carbon source. Optimal conditions were attained at a temperature of 30 A degrees C and an initial pH of 4.5. PG activity (3.29 and 2.48 U/mL) was determined after a two-day culture of Aspergillus sp. HC1 and Aspergillus sp. CC1, respectively, in a basic medium containing 2% citrus pectin as the sole carbon source. The addition of glucose (2% w/v) to the basic medium led to a 2-fold increase in PG production. However, enzyme synthesis was repressed when a higher concentration of glucose was used in the medium containing the mixed carbon source. Spores from the two fungi were immobilized in a 3% Ca-alginate system and the mechanical strength of the gel beads allowed the use of this process system 6-fold longer (288 h) than the free culture. In the Aspergillus sp. CC1 immobilized system, PG production increased nearly 10-fold in the medium with 2% glucose added (5.95 U/mL) in comparison to the medium without sugar (0.55 U/mL). The results demonstrate that a different response in activity was produced by free and entrapped spore systems. PG production remained approximately constant throughout the six 48 h cycles in the medium containing citrus pectin (2% w/v) as the sole carbon source.

Altered Glucose Homeostasis and Hepatic Function in Obese Mice Deficient for Both Kinin Receptor Genes

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

Effects of acute heat exposure on respiratory metabolism and blood glucose in freshwater fishes, Prochilodus scrofa (curimbatá) and Cyprinus carpio (carp) acclimatized to tropical winter

1. 1. Routine oxygen consumption and blood glucose were determined from freshwater fishes, Prochilodus scrofa and Cyprinus carpio, exposed at high temperatures for 1 hr. 2. 2. Prochilodus scrofa had a significantly higher rate of oxygen consumption at 30°C than at 25°C, and carp higher at 25°C than at 30°C. 3. 3. Blood glucose was significantly higher for Cyprinus carpio than for Prochilodus scrofa at 25 and 30°C; however, after exposure to these temperatures for 1 hr blood glucose did not change significantly for both species. 4. 4. The results suggest that these interspecific variations may be linked to the differences between native and foreign fishes and their way of life. © 1985.

Effects of acute cold exposure on rectal temperature, blood glucose and plasma free fatty acids in alloxan-diabetic rats

These experiments were carried out to study the effects of acute cold exposure (0-2°C/4 hr) on rectal temperature, blood glucose and plasma free fatty acids (FFA) in alloxan-diabetic rats. Male Wistar rats weighing 170-190 g were used and diabetes was induced by i.v. alloxan injection (40 mg/kg body wt). Cold exposure produced severe hypothermia in diabetic rats. After 4 hr of cold, blood glucose of diabetic rats was reduced from 296±16 to 86t±12 mg/dl (P<0.01), and FFA increased slightly, but was not statistically different (P>0.05) from the initial value. As expected, interscapular brown adipose tissue (IBAT) and retroperitoneal and epididymal white adipose tissues were significantly lower in diabetic than in control rats. Cold exposure reduced total IBAT lipids in control but not in diabetic animals. The results of this experiment suggest that diabetic rats were unable to maintain body temperature in the cold, probably because of a failure to generate an adequate amount of heat by nonshivering thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue.

Isoniazid acetylating phenotype in patients with paracoccidioidomycosis and its relationship with serum sulfadoxin levels, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and glutathione reductase activities

The authors evaluated the isoniazid acetylating phenotype and measured hematocrit, hemoglobin, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and glutathione reductase activities plus serum sulfadoxin levels in 39 patients with paracoccidioidomycosis (33 males and 6 females) aged 17 to 58 years. Twenty one (53.84%) of the patients presented a slow acetylating phenotype and 18 (46.16%) a fast acetylating phenotype. Glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase (G6PD) activity was decreased in 5(23.80%) slow acetylators and in 4 (22.22%) fast acetylators. Glutathione reductase activity was decreased in 14 (66.66%) slow acetylators and in 12(66.66%) fast acetylators. Serum levels of free and total sulfadoxin were higher in slow acetylator (p _ 0.02). Analysis of the results permitted us to conclude that serum sulfadoxin levels are related to the acetylator phenotype. Furthermore, sulfadoxin levels were always above 50 μg/ml, a value considered therapeutic. Glutathione reductase deficiency observed in 66% of patients may be related to the intestinal malabsorption of nutrients, among them riboflavin, a FAD precursor vitamin, in patients with paracoceidioidomycosis.

Histamine release induced by glucose (mannose)-specific lectins isolated from Brazilian beans. Comparison with concanavalin A

The histamine releasing properties of glucose (mannose)-specific lectins isolated from Brazilian beans was examined. The Canavalia brasiliensis, Dioclea rostrata, and Dioclea virgata lectins induced histamine release in rat peritoneal mast cells similar to concanavalin A. Less potency and efficacy was observed for Canavalia maritima, Dioclea guianensis, and Dioclea violacea while very low activities were seen for the lectins from Dioclea grandiflora, Canavalia bonariensis, and Cratylia floribunda. The histamine releasing effect was quenched by higher doses of D. virgata lectin similar to what was reported for concanavalin A. This effect was abrogated by increasing the concentration of calcium in the incubating medium. As these above proteins have sites that bind calcium, higher doses of the lectins might withdraw the calcium which is essential for the mast cell secretion.