Erosive capacity of dry mouth treatments in the Nordic countries

Efst á síðunni er hægt að nálgast greinina í heild sinni með því að smella á hlekkinnTilgangur: Markmið þessarar rannsóknar var að mæla sýrustig efna sem notuð eru í meðhöndlun á munnþurrki á Norðurlöndunum og meta áhrif þeirra með tilliti til glerungseyðingar. Efniviður og aðferðir: Þrettán vörur á Norðurlandamarkaði sem notaðar eru við munnþurrki voru valdar fyrir rannsóknina og sýrustig þeirra mælt með pH mæli. Sítrónusafi var notaður sem jákvæð viðmiðunarlausn og kranavatn sem neikvæð viðmiðunarlausn. 14 krónuhlutar voru sagaðir í tvennt og vigtaðir. Hver krónuhluti var settur í 2mL lausn af efnunum sem sett var á veltigrind. Skipt var um lausnirnar á sólarhringsfresti og hver krónuhluti vigtaður eftir tvær vikur. Notast var við Spearmans fylgnistuðul til að meta samband sýrustigs og glerungseyðandi áhrifa lausnanna á þyngdarbreytingar á krónuhlutunum. Niðurstöður: Tvær vörur sýndu meiri glerungseyðandi áhrif en aðrar, GUM Hydral munnskol og úði, sem ollu 7.7% og 5.63% þyngdartapi. Af þeim 13 vörum sem rannsakaðar voru innihalda einungis GUM Hydral vörurnar sítrónusýru. HAp+ molarnir og Elmex sýndu litla glerungseyðingu miðað við lágt sýrustig en samspil innihaldsefnanna skipa þar stórt hlutverk. Sítrónusafinn mældist með sýrustig 2,3 og olli 64,86% þyngdartapi á tveim vikum á meðan kranavatn var með sýrustig 7,5 og olli engri eyðingu. Markverð neikvæð fylgni mældist milli sýrustigs og þyngdartaps (rs = −0.5456; p = 0.0289). Ályktanir: Flestar prófaðar vörur eru með öruggasta móti, með tveimur undantekningum (Gum Hydral munnskol og úði). Sjúklingar sem þjást af munnþurrki hafa skertar varnir gegn glerungseyðingu og tannátu. Því ætti hvorki að mæla með, né skrifa upp á, meðferð með efnum sem innihalda sítrónusýru.Introduction: The aim of this study was to measure pH values of moisturizers commonly used in the Nordic countries and medications used in dry mouth treatments and to evaluate their erosive capacity via gravimetric analysis. Materials and methods: A pH analysis was performed for 13 different available products on the market in the Nordic countries. Lemon juice and tap water were used as positive and negative controls. Crowns of 14 molars were sectioned with a low speed saw through the middle and thereafter each specimen was weighed. The specimens were submerged in 2 mL of each test product which was renewed every 24 hours for two weeks. After two weeks the specimens were rinsed, dried and weighed. Spearman correlation coefficient was used to assess the relationship between the pH values and the erosive potential. Results: Two products from GUM Hydral caused the most weight loss, the mouthwash 7.7% and spray 5.6%. The products from GUM Hydral were the only ones containing citric acid of all tested products. HAp+ and Elmex showed low erosive potential despite having pH values 3.4 and 4 which can be explained by the complex interplay of their ingredients. The lemon juice showed a pH value of 2.3 and caused 64.86% weight loss while the tap water showed a pH value of 7.5 and caused no erosion. A significant negative correlation exists between the pH value and the erosive potential of products (rs = −0.5456; p = 0.0289). Conclusion: Most products are relatively safe with two exceptions (GUM Hydral mouthwash and spray). Since patients suffering from dry mouth are more susceptible to caries and erosion, products containing low pH values should not be recommended if possible

A new experimental snow avalanche test site at Seehore peak in Aosta Valley (NW Italian Alps) - Part II: Engineering aspects

The estimate of the effects produced by the impact of a snow avalanche against an obstacle is of the utmost importance in designing safe mountain constructions. For this purpose, an ad-hoc instrumented obstacle was designed and built in order to measure impact forces of small and medium snow avalanches at Seehore peak (NW Italian Alps). The structural design had to consider several specific and unusual demands dictated by the difficult environment. In this article, the new test facility is described from the engineering point of view, discussing the most important aspects of the analyzed problems which were solved before and after the construction. The performance of the instrumented obstacle in the first two operating seasons, and some proposals for future upgrading are eventually illustrate

Charting the course for a Blue Economy in Peru: A Research Agenda

Ocean- and coastal-based economic activities are increasingly recognised as key drivers for supporting global economies. This move towards the “blue economy” is becoming globally widespread, with the recognition that if ocean-based activities are to be sustainable, they will need to move beyond solely extractive and exploitative endeavours, aligning more closely with marine conservation and effective marine spatial planning. In this paper we define the “blue economy” as a “platform for strategic, integrated and participatory coastal and ocean development and protection that incorporates a low carbon economy, the ecosystem approach and human well-being through advancing regional industries, services and activities”. In Peru, while the seas contribute greatly to the national economy, the full potential of the blue economy has yet to be realised. This paper presents the findings of an early career scientist workshop in Lima, Peru, in March 2016. The workshop “Advancing Green Growth in Peru” brought together researchers to identify challenges and opportunities for green growth across three Peruvian economic sectors—tourism, transport and the blue economy with this paper exploring in detail the priorities generated from the “blue economy” stream. These priorities include themes such as marine spatial planning, detailed evaluations of existing maritime industries (e.g. guano collection and fisheries), development of an effective MPA network, support for sustainable coastal tourism, and better inclusion of social science disciplines in understanding societal and political support for a Peruvian blue economy. In addition, the paper discusses the research requirements associated with these priorities. While not a comprehensive list, these priorities provide a starting point for future dialogue on a co-ordinated scientific platform supporting the blue growth agenda in Peru, and in other regions working towards a successful “blue economy”

Hippocampal-Dependent Spatial Memory in the Water Maze is Preserved in an Experimental Model of Temporal Lobe Epilepsy in Rats

Cognitive impairment is a major concern in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). While different experimental models have been used to characterize TLE-related cognitive deficits, little is known on whether a particular deficit is more associated with the underlying brain injuries than with the epileptic condition per se. Here, we look at the relationship between the pattern of brain damage and spatial memory deficits in two chronic models of TLE (lithium-pilocarpine, LIP and kainic acid, KA) from two different rat strains (Wistar and Sprague-Dawley) using the Morris water maze and the elevated plus maze in combination with MRI imaging and post-morten neuronal immunostaining. We found fundamental differences between LIP- and KA-treated epileptic rats regarding spatial memory deficits and anxiety. LIP-treated animals from both strains showed significant impairment in the acquisition and retention of spatial memory, and were unable to learn a cued version of the task. In contrast, KA-treated rats were differently affected. Sprague-Dawley KA-treated rats learned less efficiently than Wistar KA-treated animals, which performed similar to control rats in the acquisition and in a probe trial testing for spatial memory. Different anxiety levels and the extension of brain lesions affecting the hippocampus and the amydgala concur with spatial memory deficits observed in epileptic rats. Hence, our results suggest that hippocampal-dependent spatial memory is not necessarily affected in TLE and that comorbidity between spatial deficits and anxiety is more related with the underlying brain lesions than with the epileptic condition per se