Histological analysis of the osseointegration of Ti-30Ta dental implants after surface treatment

Metallic biomaterials are used to reinforce or to restore the form and function of hard tissues. Implants and prosthesis are used to replace shoulders, knees, hips and teeth. When these materials are inserted in bone several biological reactions happen. This process can be associated to surface properties (topography, roughness and surface energy). In this work, the influence of biomimetic surface treatment in the osseointegration of Ti-30Ta dental implants was evaluated. Ingots were obtained from titanium and tantalum by using an arc-melting furnace. They were submitted to heat treatment at 1,100°C for 1 h, cooled in water and cold worked by swaging. Then, screw-shaped implants (2.0 mm diameter by 2.5 mm length) were manufactured and they were implanted in a rat's femur. Animals were divided into two groups: untreated (control group) and treated (biomimetic surface treatment). They were sacrificed 30 days after implantation. For histological analysis, implants with surrounding tissue were removed and immersed in formaldehyde. Samples were embedded in polymethyl methacrylate and after polymerization, cut with a saw, polished and mounted on glass slides. The results obtained suggest that biomimetic surface treatment was able to promote an increase osseointegration on the surface of dental implants. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2013.

Running holograms in azopolymer films

We report investigations on running holograms recorded in an azopolymer film made of a poly(methyl methacrylate) matrix doped with Disperse Red 1. Two-wave mixing experiments were carried out in the symmetrical transmission geometry. A stabilization technique was employed for active control of the phase shift between the real-time hologram and the interference pattern. Depending on the imposed phase shift, a running hologram propagates in the material in the form of an isomerization wave created by a continuous erasing-rewriting process. Diffraction efficiencies and the hologram velocities were measured as functions of the holographic phase shift at the wavelengths 515 and 488 nm. The experimental results were compared to theoretical curves obtained from a simplified model of the isomerization kinetics. The selective contributions of the phase and the amplitude gratings to the whole hologram were also determined. © 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.

Mechanisms in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis involved in control of autonomic and neuroendocrine functions: A review

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

Noradrenergic neurotransmission within the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis modulates the retention of immobility in the rat forced swimming test

The bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) is a limbic structure that has a direct influence on the autonomic, neuroendocrine, and behavioral responses to stress. It was recently reported that reversible inactivation of synaptic transmission within this structure causes antidepressant-like effects, indicating that activation of the BNST during stressful situations would facilitate the development of behavioral changes related to the neurobiology of depression. Moreover, noradrenergic neurotransmission is abundant in the BNST and has an important role in the regulation of emotional processes related to the stress response. Thus, this study aimed to test the hypothesis that activation of adrenoceptors within the BNST facilitates the development of behavioral consequences of stress. To investigate this hypothesis, male Wistar rats were stressed (forced swimming, 15 min) and 24 h later received intra-BNST injections of vehicle, WB4101, RX821002, CGP20712, or ICI118,551, which are selective α1, α2, β1, and β2 adrenoceptor antagonists, respectively, 10 min before a 5-min forced swimming test. It was observed that administration of WB4101 (10 and 15 nmol), CGP20712 (5 and 10 nmol), or ICI118,551 (5 nmol) into the BNST reduced the immobility time of rats subjected to forced swimming test, indicating an antidepressant-like effect. These findings suggest that activation of α1, β1, and β2 adrenoceptors in the BNST could be involved in the development of the behavioral consequences of stress. © 2013 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

The use of NaOCl in combination with CHX produces cytotoxic product

Objectives: The combination of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and chlorhexidine (CHX) yields a precipitate potentially toxic (PPT). The aim of this study was to evaluate the tissue response to implanted polyethylene tubes filled with PPT-soaked fibrin sponge. Methods: Forty rats received four polyethylene tubes each; each tube was filled with fibrin sponge soaked by 2.5 % NaOCl, 2.0 % CHX, PPT (2.5 % NaOCl plus 2.0 % CHX), or not soaked (control). The observation time points were 7, 15, 30, 60, and 90 days. At each time point, eight animals were killed, and the tubes and surrounding tissues were removed, fixed, and prepared for light microscopic analysis by performing glycol methacrylate embedding, serial cutting into 3-μm sections, and hematoxylin-eosin staining. Qualitative and quantitative evaluations of the reactions were performed. Results were statistically analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis test (p < 0.05). Results: All chemical solutions caused moderate reactions at 7 days. On day 30, PPT group was more cytotoxic than the control group and the CHX group (p < 0.05). On days 15 and 60, PPT group was more cytotoxic than the control group (p < 0.05). On day 90, there was no statistically significant difference between the different groups. Conclusion: PPT is more cytotoxic than NaOCl and CHX alone, particularly in the short term. Clinical significance: Protocols which suggest the use of CHX and NaOCl must be revised because this mixture produces cytotoxic product. © 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.

Switchable biosensor controlled by biocatalytic process

The poly(dimethylamino methacrylate) (PDMAEMA) brush-modified indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode was used to test the switch properties of interfacial activity caused by bioelectrochemical signals. The swelling of the polymer brushes increased when the medium's pH changed from alkaline to acid after glucose was added to the system. A pH change generated in situ by means of biocatalytic reactions enabled bioelectrocatalytic interface's reversible activation. © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Effect of diamond-like carbon thin film coated acrylic resin on candida albicans biofilm formation

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of diamond-like carbon thin films doped and undoped with silver nanoparticles coating poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) on Candida albicans biofilm formation. The control of biofilm formation is important to prevent oral diseases in denture users. Materials and Methods: Forty-five PMMA disks were obtained, finished, cleaned in an ultrasonic bath, and divided into three groups: Gc, no surface coating (control group); Gdlc, coated with diamond-like carbon film; and Gag, coated with diamond-like carbon film doped with silver nanoparticles. The films were deposited using a reactive magnetron sputtering system (physical vapor deposition process). The specimens were characterized by optical profilometry, atomic force microscopy, and Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy analyses that determined differences in chemical composition and morphological structure. Following sterilization of the specimens by γ-ray irradiation, C. albicans (ATCC 18804) biofilms were formed by immersion in 2 ml of Sabouraud dextrose broth inoculated with a standardized fungal suspension. After 24 hours, the number of colony forming units (cfu) per specimen was counted. Data concerning biofilm formation were analyzed using ANOVA and the Tukey test (p < 0.05). Results: C. albicans biofilm formation was significantly influenced by the films (p < 0.00001), reducing the number of cfu, while not affecting the roughness parameters (p > 0.05). The Tukey test showed no significant difference between Gdlc and Gag. Films deposited were extremely thin (∼50 nm). The silver particles presented a diameter between 60 and 120 nm and regular distribution throughout the film surface (to Gag). Conclusion: Diamond-like carbon films, doped or undoped with silver nanoparticles, coating the base of PMMA-based dentures could be an alternative procedure for preventing candidosis in denture users. © 2013 by the American College of Prosthodontists.

Solid-phase extraction of metal ions from fuel ethanol with a nanostructured adsorbent

This work describes the synthesis and characterization of a new octakis[3-(2,2'-dipyridylamine)propyl]octasilsesquioxane (T8-Pr-DPA), and a study of the metal ion preconcentration in fuel ethanol. Batch and column experiments were conducted to investigate for the removal of heavy metal ions from fuel ethanol. The results showed that the Langmuir allowed to describe the sorption equilibrium data of the metal ions on T8-Pr-DPA in a satisfactory way. The following maximum adsorption capacities (in mmolg-1) were determined: 3.62 for Fe (III), 3.32 for Cr (III), 2.15 for Cu (II), 1.80 for Co (II), 1.62 for Pb (II), 1.32 for Ni (II) and 0.88 for Zn (II). The thermodynamic parameters for the adsorption process such as free energy of adsorption (δG), enthalpy of adsorption (δH) and entropy of adsorption (δS) were calculated. Thermodynamic parameters showed that the system has favorable enthalpic, Gibbs free energy, and entropic values. The sorption-desorption of the metal ions has made possible the development of a preconcentration and determination method of metal ions at trace level in fuel ethanol. The method of quantitative analysis for Fe, Cu, Ni and Zn in fuel ethanol by Flame AAS was validated. Several parameters have been taken into account and evaluated for the validation of method, namely: linearity, limit of detection, limit of quantification, and the relative standard deviation and accuracy. The accuracy of the method was assessed by testing analyte recovery in the fuel ethanol samples. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.

Setting Time Affects In Vitro Biological Properties of Root Canal Sealers

Introduction: Biocompatibility of root canal sealers is important because of the long-term contact of their eluates and/or degradation products with periapical tissues. The literature still lacks studies about the genotoxic effects of these materials and the influence of setting time on biological properties. The cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of an epoxy resin-based sealer (AH Plus), a single methacrylate-based sealer (EndoRez), and a silicone-based sealer (RoekoSeal) were assessed. Methods: Chinese hamster fibroblasts (V79) were cultured and exposed to different dilutions of extracts from the sealers that were left to set for 0, 12, and 24 hours before contact with culture medium. Cell viability was measured by the methyl-thiazol-diphenyltetrazolium assay. Genotoxicity was assessed by the comet assay. Data were statistically analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn tests (P < .05). Results: Root canal sealers were statistically more cytotoxic than the untreated control group, except for the silicon-based sealer. Cell viability ranking was the following (from the most to the least cytotoxic): methacrylate-based > epoxy resin-based > silicone-based. The setting time influenced the epoxy resin-based sealer cytotoxicity (decreased at 12 hours) and the general genotoxicity (increased at 24 hours). DNA damage ranking was the following (from the most to the least genotoxic): methacrylate-based > silicone-based = epoxy resin-based. Conclusions: The setting time had influence on the cytotoxicity of the epoxy resin-based sealer and genotoxicity of all tested sealers. The methacrylate-based sealer was the most cytotoxic, and the silicone-based sealer was not cytotoxic. Genotoxicity was observed for all sealers. © 2013 American Association of Endodontists.

Crioconservação de embriões de peixes neotropicais

Pós-graduação em Biologia Animal - IBILCE

Frutos, sementes e plântulas de três espécies de Mimosa Linnaeus(Fabaceae: Mimosoideae): aspectos morfoanatômicos e considerações ecológico-filogenéticas

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Interação do complexo luminescente [Eu(tta)3] com sílica mesoporosa

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Adsorção de íons Cu(II) sobre superfícies de sílicas gel modificadas com 4-amino-2-mercaptopirimidina e com 2-mercaptopirimidina

Pós-graduação em Ciência dos Materiais - FEIS

Estudos de birrefringência fotoinduzida em filmes LB mistos do azopolímero poli (metacrilato de lauroila-co-metacrilato de DR1) com estearato de cádmio

Pós-graduação em Ciência e Tecnologia de Materiais - FC

Análise da termoplasticidade e adesividade da guta-percha e resilon

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)