Overexpression of the activated form of the AtAREB1 gene (AtAREB1 Delta QT) improves soybean responses to water deficit

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Bromofhenol blue discoloration using peroxidase immobilized on highly activated corncob powder

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of peroxidase immobilized on corncob powder for the discoloration of dye. Peroxidase was extracted from soybean seed coat, followed by amination of the surface of the tertiary structure. The aminated peroxidase was immobilized on highly activated corncob powder and employed for the discoloration of bromophenol blue. Amination was performed with 10 or 50 mmol.L-1 carbodiimide and 1 mol.L-1 ethylenediamine. The amount of protein in the extract was 0.235 ± 0.011 mg.mL-1 and specific peroxidase activity was 86.06 ± 1.52 µmol min-1 . mg-1, using 1 mmol.L-1 ABTS as substrate. Ten mmol.L-1 and 50 mmol.L-1 aminated peroxidase retained 88 and 100% of the initial activity. Following covalent immobilization on a corncob powder-glyoxyl support, 10 and 50 mmol.L-1 aminated peroxidase retained 74 and 86% of activity, respectively. Derivatives were used for the discoloration of 0.02 mmol.L-1 bromophenol blue solution. After 30 min, 93 and 89% discoloration was achieved with the 10 mmol.L-1 and 50 mmol.L-1 derivatives, respectively. Moreover, these derivatives retained 60% of the catalytic properties when used three times. Peroxidase extracted from soybean seed coat immobilized on a low-cost corncob powder support exhibited improved thermal stability.

Identificação de Neutrophil Extracellular Traps em lesões tegumentares de pacientes com Paracoccidiodomicose e análise da formação de NETs in vitro por neutrófilos humanos desafiados com Paracoccidioides brasiliensis

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy on streptococcus mutans using curcumin and toluidine blue activated by a novel LED device

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Descrição do aparelho VABB (Vertically Activated Bite Block) para o tratamento da mordida aberta anterior

Nowadays, the correction of skeletal vertical dysplasia is considered a great challenge in Orthodontics. The skeletal open bite treatment presents limitations related to vertical growth pattern, the extension of open bite and especially the stability, which is very questioned. The treatment of skeletal open bite is mostly realized by the inhibition of vertical alveolar posterior development (relative intrusion) or absolute intrusion of posterior teeth, through vertical forces, generated by the action of masticatory muscles. The purpose of this article is to present a new appliance for the treatment of skeletal open bite, the VABB (Vertically Activated Bite Block) or modified Bite Block, whose action mechanism is to limit the vertical development of the molars, by the action of facial muscles and two bilateral expansion screws that provide a counterclockwise rotation of the mandible. It will also be presented a clinical case and the technical steps for the construction of this appliance.

Silencing mitogen-activated protein kinase-activated protein kinase-2 arrests inflammatory bone loss

p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) are critical for innate immune signaling and subsequent cytokine expression in periodontal inflammation and bone destruction. In fact, previous studies show that systemic p38 MAPK inhibitors block periodontal disease progression. However, development of p38 MAPK inhibitors with favorable toxicological profiles is difficult. Here, we report our findings regarding the contribution of the downstream p38 MAPK substrate, mitogen-activated protein kinase-activated protein kinase 2 (MK2 or MAPKAPK-2), in immune response modulation in an experimental model of pathogen-derived lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced periodontal bone loss. To determine whether small interfering RNA (siRNA) technology has intraoral applications, we initially validated MK2 siRNA specificity. Then, gingival tissue surrounding maxillary molars of rats was injected with MK2 siRNA or scrambled siRNA at the palatal regions of bone loss. Intraoral tissues treated with MK2 siRNA had significantly less MK2 mRNA expression compared with scrambled siRNA-treated tissues. MK2 siRNA delivery arrested LPS-induced inflammatory bone loss, decreased inflammatory infiltrate, and decreased osteoclastogenesis. This proof-of-concept study suggests a novel target using an intraoral RNA interference strategy to control periodontal inflammation.

Degree of conversion of different composite resins photo-activated with light-emitting diode and argon ion laser

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

The Ca2+-activated K+ channels play a braking role in locus coeruleus neurons during CO2 exposure

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

Influence of the quantity of coloring agent in bleaching gels activated with LED/laser appliances on bleaching efficiency

The aim of this study was to assess the influence of the quantity of coloring agent on the bleaching efficiency of gels containing 35% H2O2. Sixty human third molars were sectioned mesiodistally, darkened in a coffee solution and sectioned in the occlusal-cervical direction, resulting in mesial (not bleached) and distal halves (bleached). They were distributed into three groups: Whiteness HP, Total Bleach, and Whiteform Perox Red Gel; and subdivided into four sub-groups: no coloring agent, manufacturer's standard, double the standard, and triple the standard. The gels were activated with light-ermitting diode/laser appliances. The images were analyzed with the Adobe Photoshop program (deltaEL*a*b*). The variation was submitted to the ANOVA test (two factors: type of gel and quantity of coloring agent) and Tukey test. Differences were observed for the quantity of coloring agent. The mean (+/-SD) was determined for each quantity of coloring used: no coloring agent -6.85 (+/-2.26)a, manufacturer's standard -794 (+/-2.55)ab, double the standard -8.65 (+/-2.47)b, triple the standard -9.05 (+/-2.72)b. In conclusion, the standard quantity of coloring agent did not provide significantly more intense bleaching than when it was completely absent. The use of double and triple the amount provided greater bleaching than that observed for the gel without coloring agent. No significant differences were observed between the tested gels.

In vitro effect of caffeic acid phenethyl ester on matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-1 and MMP-9) and their inhibitor (TIMP-1) in lipopolysaccharide-activated human monocytes

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Thiophenecarboxamide derivatives activated by EthA kill mycobacterium tuberculosis by inhibiting the CTP synthetase PyrG

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

Down-regulation of protease activated receptor 2, interleukin-17 and other pro-inflammatory genes by subantimicrobial doxycycline dose in a rat periodontitis model

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Effect of polymerization techniques and cleaning solution on flexural resistance of acrylic resin chemically activated

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of different disinfection solutions on flexural resistance of chemically-activated acrylic resin. Test pieces were made of clear acrylic resin using a rectangular mold and employing two techniques: wet polymerization under pressure (n = 20) and dry polymerization under pressure (n = 20). Test pieces were subdivided into four equal groups: distilled water (control), sodium bicarbonate, 1% sodium hypochlorite and effervescent ats. The 30-day cycling technique consisted of immersing the test pieces in 100 ml of solution for 10 min three times a day and placing them in closed containers containing artificial saliva at 37°C. Subsequently, the flexural resistance of samples was tested. Data were analyzed using two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with forces serving as the dependent variables and the polymerization technique and cleaning agents as independent variables. Post hoc multiple comparisons were performed using Tukey’s test. There was no statistically significant difference in the flexural strength between the two polymerization techniques. The greatest flexural strength was observed for the effervescent tablets group followed by the control and 1% sodium hypochlorite groups which were statistically similar. Thus, the sodium bicarbonate solution caused the lowest flexural resistance of the test pieces.

Signaling via cAMP in Fungi: Interconnections with Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Pathways

The cAMP signal transduction pathway controls a wide variety of processes in fungi. For example, considerable progress has been made in describing the involvement of cAMP pathway components in the control of morphogenesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Ustilago maydis, and Magnaporthe grisea. These morphological processes include the establishment of filamentous growth in S. cerevisiae and U. maydis, and the differentiation of an appressorial infection structure in M. grisea. The discovery that appressorium formation requires cAMP signaling provides an immediate connection to fungal virulence. This connection may have broader implications among fungal pathogens because recent work indicates that cAMP signaling controls the expression of virulence traits in the human pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans. In this fungus, cAMP also influences mating, as has been found for Schizosaccharomyces pombe and as may occur in U. maydis. Finally, cAMP and mitogen- activated protein kinase pathways appear to function coordinately to control the response of certain fungi, e.g., Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe, to environmental stress. There are clues that interconnections between these pathways may be common in the control of many fungal processes.

Polymerization kinetics and reactivity of alternative initiators systems for use in light-activated dental resins

Objectives. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reactivity and polymerization kinetics behavior of a model dental adhesive resin with water-soluble initiator systems. Methods. A monomer blend based on Bis-GMA, TEGDMA and HEMA was used as a model dental adhesive resin, which was polymerized using a thioxanthone type (QTX) as a photoinitiator. Binary and ternary photoinitiator systems were formulated using 1 mol% of each initiator. The co-initiators used in this study were ethyl 4-dimethylaminobenzoate (EDAB), diphenyliodonium hexafluorophosphate (DPIHFP), 1,3-diethyl-2-thiobarbituric acid (BARB), p-toluenesulfinic acid and sodium salt hydrate (SULF). Absorption spectra of the initiators were measured using a UV-Vis spectrophotometer, and the photon absorption energy (PAE) was calculated. The binary system camphorquinone (CQ)/amine was used as a reference group (control). Twelve groups were tested in triplicate. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to investigate the polymerization reaction during the photoactivation period to obtain the degree of conversion (DC) and maximum polymerization rate (R-p(max)) profile of the model resin. Results. In the analyzed absorption profiles, the absorption spectrum of QTX is almost entirely localized in the UV region, whereas that of CQ is in the visible range. With respect to binary systems, CQ + EDAB exhibited higher DC and R-p(max) values. In formulations that contained ternary initiator systems, the group CQ + QTX + EDAB was the only one of the investigated experimental groups that exhibited an R-p(max) value greater than that of CQ + EDAB. The groups QTX + EDAB + DPIHFP and QTX + DPIHFP + SULF exhibited values similar to those of CQ + EDAB with respect to the final DC; however, they also exhibited lower reactivity. Significance. Water-soluble initiator systems should be considered as alternatives to the widely used CQ/amine system in dentin adhesive formulations. (C) 2012 Academy of Dental Materials. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.