Effect of Quality of Dental Restorations and Time Elapsed Since Placement on Biofilm Retention

Svrha: U istraživanju se željela procijeniti povezanost zadržavanja biofilma i vremena proteklog otkako je postavljen na smolom restaurirane površine prednjih zuba. Metode: Uzorak se sastojao od 120 zuba 40 pacijenata obaju spolova u dobi između 16 i 60 godina. Ukupno je na njima bilo 230 restauriranih površina. Za mjerenje stupnja zadržavanja biofilma i površinske hrapavosti materijala te vrste kaviteta i rubova bili su potrebni indeks zadržavanja plaka i opseg restauracija (PRRI), a procjenjivala su se i vanjska svojstva preparacije kaviteta. Rezultati: Gotovo sve proučavane površine bile su postavljene prije jedne do pet godina. Najčešći PRRI za zadržavanje biofilma je bio II i IV, 83 posto uzoraka imalo je grubu površinu, a 46,5 posto kavitete II. razreda. subgingivno je bilo 62,2 posto rubova, a kod 38,6 posto zabilježen je višak korištenog restaurativnog materijala. Površinska hrapavost restauracije bila je usko povezana sa zadržavanjem biofilma i vremenom postavljanja (oba p<0,01). Vanjska svojstva restauracije (prekonturiranje, manjak materijala za restauraciju, spoj zub – restauracija) također su značajno bili povezani s vremenom proteklim od postavljanja (svi p<0,05). Zaključak: Vrijeme proteklo od postavljanja smolaste restauracije utječe na hrapavost površine i stupanj zadržavanja biofilma.Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate associations of biofilm retention on resin-restored surfaces of anterior teeth with quality and time elapsed since placement. Methods: The study sample comprised 120 teeth with 230 restored surfaces in 40 patients of both sexes aged 16–60 years. The Plaque Retention and Extension in Restoration Index (PRRI) was used to measure the degree of biofilm retention, and the surface roughness of the material, cavity type and margins, and external cavity preparation characteristics were also evaluated. Results: Most surfaces analysed had been placed 1–5 years previously. The most prevalent PRRI biofilm retention scores were III and IV, 83.0% of samples presented surface roughness, 46.5% of cavities were class III, 62.2% of surfaces had subgingival margins, and 38.6% retained excessive restorative material. Surface roughness was significantly associated with the degree of biofilm retention and time elapsed since placement (both p < 0.01). Three external cavity preparation characteristics (over-contouring, lack of restorative material, tooth–restoration interface) were also associated significantly with the time elapsed since placement (all p < 0.05). Conclusion: The time elapsed since the placement of resin restorations influences surface roughness and the degree of biofilm retention

Approaches in biotechnological applications of natural polymers

Natural polymers, such as gums and mucilage, are biocompatible, cheap, easily available and non-toxic materials of native origin. These polymers are increasingly preferred over synthetic materials for industrial applications due to their intrinsic properties, as well as they are considered alternative sources of raw materials since they present characteristics of sustainability, biodegradability and biosafety. As definition, gums and mucilages are polysaccharides or complex carbohydrates consisting of one or more monosaccharides or their derivatives linked in bewildering variety of linkages and structures. Natural gums are considered polysaccharides naturally occurring in varieties of plant seeds and exudates, tree or shrub exudates, seaweed extracts, fungi, bacteria, and animal sources. Water-soluble gums, also known as hydrocolloids, are considered exudates and are pathological products; therefore, they do not form a part of cell wall. On the other hand, mucilages are part of cell and physiological products. It is important to highlight that gums represent the largest amounts of polymer materials derived from plants. Gums have enormously large and broad applications in both food and non-food industries, being commonly used as thickening, binding, emulsifying, suspending, stabilizing agents and matrices for drug release in pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. In the food industry, their gelling properties and the ability to mold edible films and coatings are extensively studied. The use of gums depends on the intrinsic properties that they provide, often at costs below those of synthetic polymers. For upgrading the value of gums, they are being processed into various forms, including the most recent nanomaterials, for various biotechnological applications. Thus, the main natural polymers including galactomannans, cellulose, chitin, agar, carrageenan, alginate, cashew gum, pectin and starch, in addition to the current researches about them are reviewed in this article.. }To the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientfíico e Tecnológico (CNPq) for fellowships (LCBBC and MGCC) and the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nvíel Superior (CAPES) (PBSA). This study was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the scope of the strategic funding of UID/BIO/04469/2013 unit, the Project RECI/BBB-EBI/0179/2012 (FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-027462) and COMPETE 2020 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006684) (JAT)

Canagliflozin and Renal Outcomes in Type 2 Diabetes and Nephropathy

BACKGROUND Type 2 diabetes mellitus is the leading cause of kidney failure worldwide, but few effective long-term treatments are available. In cardiovascular trials of inhibitors of sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2), exploratory results have suggested that such drugs may improve renal outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS In this double-blind, randomized trial, we assigned patients with type 2 diabetes and albuminuric chronic kidney disease to receive canagliflozin, an oral SGLT2 inhibitor, at a dose of 100 mg daily or placebo. All the patients had an estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of 30 to 300 to 5000) and were treated with renin–angiotensin system blockade. The primary outcome was a composite of end-stage kidney disease (dialysis, transplantation, or a sustained estimated GFR of <15 ml per minute per 1.73 m 2), a doubling of the serum creatinine level, or death from renal or cardiovascular causes. Prespecified secondary outcomes were tested hierarchically. RESULTS The trial was stopped early after a planned interim analysis on the recommendation of the data and safety monitoring committee. At that time, 4401 patients had undergone randomization, with a median follow-up of 2.62 years. The relative risk of the primary outcome was 30% lower in the canagliflozin group than in the placebo group, with event rates of 43.2 and 61.2 per 1000 patient-years, respectively (hazard ratio, 0.70; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.59 to 0.82; P=0.00001). The relative risk of the renal-specific composite of end-stage kidney disease, a doubling of the creatinine level, or death from renal causes was lower by 34% (hazard ratio, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.53 to 0.81; P<0.001), and the relative risk of end-stage kidney disease was lower by 32% (hazard ratio, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.54 to 0.86; P=0.002). The canagliflozin group also had a lower risk of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke (hazard ratio, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.67 to 0.95; P=0.01) and hospitalization for heart failure (hazard ratio, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.47 to 0.80; P<0.001). There were no significant differences in rates of amputation or fracture. CONCLUSIONS In patients with type 2 diabetes and kidney disease, the risk of kidney failure and cardiovascular events was lower in the canagliflozin group than in the placebo group at a median follow-up of 2.62 years

New human case reports of cutaneous leishmaniasis by Leishmania (Viannia) naiffi in the Amazon region, Brazil

Few cases of human cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) caused by Leishmania naiffi were described in the medical literature. The aim of this study was to report and analyze new cases of L. naiffi in the period between the years 1992 to 2011. The strains were characterized by isoenzyme analysis. All patients assisted had small lesions; ranging from 1.0x1.0 mm and 13.5x11.5 mm. The lesions observed were widely distributed55.5% on the lower limb, 5.5% in the abdominal area, 16.6% on upper limb and 22.2% in upper limb and back. Seventy-two percent of patients had ulcerated lesions. Clinical course of the disease varied from 1 to 10 months. According to gender, most infected individuals were men (83.3%). The patients came from Amazonas (10), Pará (01) and Rondônia (01), north States of Brazil. Five patients were infected in experimental stations of the National Institute of Amazonian Research (INPA). Although the results of this study were similar to other reports in the literature, some of the patients had more of one skin lesion. It is also reported the first case of CL caused by L. naiffi in the State of Rondônia and identified an area of disease transmission in the experimental station of INPA.Poucos casos de leishmaniose cutânea humana (LC) causada por Leishmania naiffi foram descritos na literatura médica. Assim, o objetivo deste estudo foi relatar e analisar novos casos de infecção por L. naiffi no período compreendido entre os anos de 1992 a 2011. As cepas foram caracterizadas por análise de isoenzimas. Todos os pacientes atendidos apresentavam lesões pequenas; variando entre 1,0x1,0 mm e 13,5x11,5 mm. As lesões observadas foram amplamente distribuídas: 55,5% no membro inferior, 5,5% na área abdominal, 16,6% no membro superior e 22,2% no membro superior e para trás. Setenta e dois por cento dos pacientes tiveram lesões ulceradas. O curso clínico da doença variou de 1 a 10 meses. De acordo com o sexo, a maioria dos indivíduos infectados eram homens (83,3%). Os pacientes vieram de Amazonas (10), Pará (01) e Rondônia (01), estados do norte do Brasil. Cinco pacientes foram infectados em estações experimentais do Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (INPA). Embora os resultados encontrados neste estudo fossem semelhantes às outras descrições na literatura, alguns dos pacientes apresentavam mais de uma lesão cutânea. Também é relatado o primeiro caso de LC causada por L. naiffi no Estado de Rondônia e identificada uma área de transmissão da doença na estação experimental do INPA