Novel pulp capping material based on sodium trimetaphosphate: synthesis, characterization, and antimicrobial properties

Objectives: To evaluate the mechanical, physicochemical, and antimicrobial properties of four different formulations containing micro- or nanoparticles of sodium trimetaphosphate (mTMP and nTMP, respectively). Methodology: Four experimental groups were used in this investigation: two mTMP groups and two nTMP groups, each containing zirconium oxide (ZrO2), and solution containing either chitosan or titanium oxide (TiO2) nanoparticles (NPs). Setting time, compression resistance, and radiopacity were estimated. The agar diffusion test was used to assess the antimicrobial activity of the formulations against five different microbial strains: Streptococcus mutans, Lactobacillus casei, Actinomyces israelii, Candida albicans, and Enterococcus faecalis. Parametric and nonparametric tests were performed after evaluating homoscedasticity data (p<0.05). Results: From the properties evaluated, nTMP cements required less setting time and showed greater resistance to compression. Cements containing TiO2 showed greater radiopacity for both nTMP and mTMP. All four cement formulations showed antimicrobial activity against S. mutans and L. casei.  Conclusion: Formulations containing nTMP have shorter setting times and higher compressive strength, and those with TiO2 nanoparticles showed antimicrobial activities. Clinical relevance: The cement containing nTMP, ZrO2, and TiO2 could be an alternative material for protecting the pulp complex

Meanings assigned by primary care professionals to male prenatal care: a qualitative study

Background: Considering recent strategies used in prenatal care, the involvement of fathers has been considered an important factor in ensuring that pregnancy and delivery are successful. Objective: The aim of this study is to identify the meanings assigned by primary health care professionals to male prenatal care. Methods: This is a descriptive study with a qualitative approach. A total of 19 interviews were conducted with primary health care professionals registered in the City Health Department of Teresina, Piauí, Brazil. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed according to the Collective Subject Discourse methodology. Results: Three themes emerged from the reports’ analysis: The importance of the role of fathers in the gestational process, attitudes of men toward male prenatal care and formal education and training in primary health care. Health practitioners understand the importance of male prenatal care but reported they lack proper training to provide effective care. Conclusion: The expansion of continuing education strategies focusing on male prenatal care and directed to primary health care professionals is recommended to promote greater adherence on the part of fathers in prenatal care, with the purpose of strengthening bonds and improving the care provided to the entire family. The humanized care can facilitate the approach of the paternal figure during male prenatal care.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Novel nanocarrier of miconazole based on chitosan-coated iron oxide nanoparticles as a nanotherapy to fight Candida biofilms

Overexposure of microorganisms to conventional drugs has led to resistant species that require new treatment strategies. This study prepared and characterized a nanocarrier of miconazole (MCZ) based on iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) functionalized with chitosan (CS), and tested its antifungal activity against biofilms of Candida albicans and Candida glabrata. IONPs-CS-MCZ nanocarrier was prepared by loading MCZ on CS-covered IONPs and characterized by physicochemical methods. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the nanocarrier was determined by the microdilution method. Biofilms were developed (48 h) in microtiter plates and treated with MCZ-carrying nanocarrier at 31.2 and 78 μg/mL, in both the presence and absence of an external magnetic field (EMF). Biofilms were evaluated by total biomass, metabolic activity, cultivable cells (CFU), extracellular matrix components, scanning electron microscopy and confocal microscopy. Data were analyzed by two-way ANOVA and Holm-Sidak test (p < 0.05). A nanocarrier with diameter lower than 50 nm was obtained, presenting MIC values lower than those found for MCZ, and showing synergism for C. albicans and indifference for C. glabrata (fractional inhibitory concentration indexes of <0.12 and <0.53, respectively). IONPs-CS-MCZ did not affect total biomass and extracellular matrix. IONPs-CS-MCZ containing 78 μg/mL MCZ showed a superior antibiofilm effect to MCZ in reducing CFU and metabolism for single biofilms of C. albicans and dual-species biofilms. The EMF did not improve the nanocarrier effects. Microscopy confirmed the antibiofilm effect of the nanocarrier. In conclusion, IONPs-CS-MCZ was more effective than MCZ mainly against C. albicans planktonic cells and number of CFU and metabolism of the biofilms

Susceptibility of Candida albicans and Candida glabrata biofilms to silver nanoparticles in intermediate and mature development phases

Purpose: Silver nanoparticles (SN) have been studied as antibiofilm agents, to prevent Candida-associated denture stomatitis. Consequently, the aim of this study was to investigate the influence of the intermediate and maturation stages of Candida albicans and Candida glabrata biofilms development in the susceptibility to SN. Methods: SN (5 nm) suspensions were synthesized via reduction of silver nitrate by a solution of sodium citrate. These suspensions were used to treat, during 5 h, Candida biofilms grown on acrylic surfaces for 24- (intermediate stage) and 48-h (maturation stage), and their efficacy was determined by total biomass (using crystal violet staining) and colony forming units (CFU) quantification. Results: SN promoted significant reductions (p 0.05), when the different stages of biofilm development (24 or 48 h) were exposed to SN. Comparing the number of CFUs between 24- and 48-h biofilms treated with SN, a significant difference (p < 0.05) was found only for the strain C. albicans 324LA/94. Conclusions: It was concluded that, in general, the intermediate and maturation stages of biofilm development do not interfere in the susceptibility of C. albicans and C. glabrata biofilms to SN regarding. These findings are essential for the deployment of new therapies aimed at preventing denture stomatitis.This study was supported by the Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP), Brazil, process 2009/15146-5. The authors are indebted to LIEC-CMDMC and INCTMN/FAPESP-CNPq in the name of Andressa Kubo for preparing and characterizing the colloidal suspensions of silver nanoparticles. We also thank Dr. David Williams (Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK) for providing the strain 324LA/94, and George Duchow for the English review

estudos artísticos

A revista Gama, Estudos Artísticos estabeleceu-se como um instrumento para a disseminação do conhecimento em torno da arte e da cultura numa perspetiva que se crê inovadora, e que nos caracteriza: estudar arte e artistas através do olhar formado e privilegiado dos companheiros de profissão. Artistas estudam outros artistas. A revista Gama pertence assim a um projeto de resistência: resistência ao centrismo do artworld, ao esmagamento pelos discursos dominantes, às lógicas de reprodução da legitimação instituída. Há uma característica que prevalece em todos os 28 artigos reunidos na presente edição: a reflexão informada sobre autores e obras de arte, que propõe novas leituras e novas redes de conhecimento. Todas juntas constituem um tecido que descobre sentidos, na sua integração global na nova paisagem cultural.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Crystallization at room temperature from amorphous to trigonal selenium as a byproduct of the synthesis of water dispersible zinc selenide

Zinc selenide is a semiconductor material that has been synthesized in aqueous media. However, this synthesis can yield some byproducts, which has been little exploited in literature of this area; one of these byproducts is amorphous selenium. As this amorphous species is unable to be detected through X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy plays an important role in order to track this byproduct. Additionally, the crystallization process from amorphous to trigonal selenium, due to aging at room temperature, was tracked through Raman spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. It was observed that, within a period of 5 months, the amorphous selenium was in great part converted to trigonal selenium, which could be deleterious to the properties of the ZnSe quantum dots. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Heterogeneous Microtubules of Self-assembled Silver and Gold Nanoparticles Using Alive Biotemplates

<div><p>Microtubules were constructed by covering the fungus Aspergillus aculeatus sequentially with silver and gold nanoparticles, resulting in a stable hybrid mesostructured material that presented three distinct regions containing different combinations of silver and gold nanoparticles. These heterogeneities were determined by the hyphal growth since the impossibility to cover the dead fungus, which suggests the influence of the secondary metabolites produced by living fungus in the deposition mechanism.</p></div

Effect of toothpaste with nano-sized trimetaphosphate on dental caries: In situ study

Objectives: This in situ study was to evaluate the remineralizing effect of a fluoride toothpaste supplemented with nano-sized sodium trimetaphosphate (TMP).Methods: This blind and cross-over study was performed in 4 phases of 3 days each. Twelve subjects used palatal appliances containing four bovine enamel blocks with artificial caries lesions. Volunteers were randomly assigned into the following treatment groups: Placebo (without F and TMP); 1100 ppm F (1100), 1100 supplemented with 3% micrometric TMP (1100 TMP) and with nano-sized TMP (1100 TMPnano). Volunteers were instructed to brush their natural teeth with the palatal appliances in the mouth during 1 min (3 times/day), so that blocks were treated with natural slurries of toothpastes. After each phase, the percentage of surface hardness recovery (%SHR), integrated mineral recovery (IMR) and integrated differential mineral area profile (Delta IMR) in enamel lesions were calculated. F in enamel was also determined. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and Student-Newman-Keuls test.Results: Enamel surface became 20% harder when treated with 1100 TMPnano in comparison with 1100 (p &lt; 0.001). 1100 TMPnano showed remineralizing capacity (IMR; Delta IMR) 66% higher when compared with 1100 TMP (p &lt; 0.001). Enamel F uptake in the 1100 TMPnano group was 2-fold higher when compared to its counterpart without TMP (p &lt; 0.001).Conclusion: The addition of 3% TMPnano to a conventional toothpaste was able to promote an additional remineralizing effect of artificial caries lesions.Clinical significance: Toothpaste containing 1100 ppm F associated with TMPnano showed a potential of higher remineralization to 1100 ppm F and 1100 ppm F micrometric TMP. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP

Silver nanoparticles to fight Candida coinfection in the oral cavity

[Exert] This chapter is focused on the activity of silver nanoparticles (SN) as an antifungal agent against Candida albicans and Candida glabrata biofilms, which are involved in oral candidosis. A discussion focusing on the influence of the stabilizing agent, diameter of SN on its antibiofilm activity, influence of chemical stability of SN on Candida biofilms, the effect of SN against adhered cells and biofilms, the effect on extracellular matrix composition and structure of Candida biofilms, the combination of SN with conventional antifungal drugs, and the incorporation of SN into denture acrylic resin is incorporated in the present chapter. Because of the resistance of Candida biofilms to conventional drugs and the positive effect of SN against them, these nanoparticles can be used as an alternative antifungal agent (...).(undefined