Preparation of calcium containing mixed oxides as solid base catalysts for the application in biodiesel synthesis

Biodiesel (fatty acid methyl esters - FAME) has been found suitable for using as an alternative fuel in diesel engine. The conventional method for biodiesel production is transesterification of vegetable oils or animal fats with short-chain alcohols in the presence of catalysts. From an economic point of view, calcium oxide (CaO) is the most widely used and exhibits good catalytic properties for transesterification of triglycerides to biodiesel. In order to study the effect of solid base catalysts for biodiesel production, transesterification of edible sunflower oil with methanol was carried out in the presence of series of CaO-based oxides, obtained by mechanochemical treatment of CaO or CaCO3 with other metal oxides, followed by calcination. Mechanochemical treatment of starting powders mixtures was performed in a planetary ball mill using two different milling media, hardened steel or zirconia vials and balls. The prepared catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), base strength using Hammett indicator method and the particle size using laser diffraction distribution (PSLD). All the experiments were carried out at different reaction conditions in 300 cm3 batch autoclave equipped with a heater and mixer. The calcium containing mechanochemically prepared catalysts were found to have enhanced activity compared to conventionally prepared catalysts

Association between chronic periodontitis and serum lipid levels

Background/Aim. Periodontitis is a local inflammatory process mediating destruction of periodontal tissues triggered by bacterial insult. However, this disease is also characterized by systemic inflammatory host responses that may contrbute, in part, to the recently reported increased risk for systemic diseases, including an altered lipid metabolism. On the other hand, many people in the world are affected by hyperlipidemia, which is a known risk faktor for atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between periodontal disease and blood lipid levels. Methods. A total of 50 patients with periodontitis included in this study had no documented history of recent acute coronary events. The healthy, non-periodontal subjects (comparison group) comprised 25 subjects. All the patients were periodontology examined and completed a medical history. Dental plaque index, probing depth, gingival index bleeding on probing and clinical attechment levels were recorded. Blood samples were taken on admission for measurements of serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, hight density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-cholesterol), and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-cholesterol). Results. The obtained results showed that mean levels of cholesterol (6.09 ± 1.61 mmol/L), triglycerdes (2.19+1.67mmol/l) and LDL cholesterol (4.09 ± 1.40 mmol/L) in individuals with periodontitis were higer, and levels od HDL (1.43 ± 0.51 mmol/L) was lower than those of individuals without periodontitis (4.86 ± 1.37; 1.14 ± 0.71; 3.18 ± 0.64; 1.53 ± 0.32 mmol/L, respectively). Conclusion. This study confirms a significant relationship between periodontal disease, regardless its intensity, and blood lipid levels in the studied population. The results imply that periodontitis may be a risk factor and may contribute to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases (CVD). However, future prospective randomized studies have to determine whether periodontal disease is a risk factor for the occurrence of CVD

Utjecaj parodontološke terapije na C-reaktivni protein i parodontne patogene kod pacijenata s parodontopatijom

Objective: Recent epidemiological studies have shown that individuals with periodontitis have significantly increased risk of developing coronary heart disease. Although the mechanism responsible for the relationship between periodontal disease and cardiovascular events is not fully understood, it is hypothesized that the removal of infection and inflammatory burden of periodontitis by therapy would be accompanied by a decrease in levels of the inflammatory marker C-reactive protein and a decreased risk of coronary heart disease. The aim of the present study was to determine whether the presence of chronic periodontitis and periodontal pathogens and subsequent periodontal treatment could influence the serum levels of C-reactive protein in a Serbian cohort. Material and Methods: Fifty adults with moderate to severe periodontitis who underwent complete mouth disinfection were evaluated to determine if periodontal therapy would result in decreased periodontal infammation and lower serum levels of an inflammatory marker. Subjects underwent measuring of periodontal disease severity and serum C-reactive protein, and periodontal pathogens (Porphyromonas gingivalis and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans) at the time of the baseline visit and again 6 and 12 months after treatment. Serum levels CRP were also obtained from 25 subjects without periodontitis in a control group. Results: The levels of CRP in the serum seemed not to be lower than those reported in other population in Western European countries. There were significant changes in clinical periodontal values, CRP levels and presence of periodontal pathogens when baseline values were compared to those taken after periodontal treatment completion. Conclusion: The obtained results confirm the hypothesis that periodontal therapy may contribute to elimination of periodontal inflammation and periodontal pathogens, and reduce serum level of CRP. Periodontitis may contribute to the systemic inflammatory burden of affected individuals since it was shown that periodontal therapy may decrease presence of periodontal pathogens and inflammatory markers

Bijela krvna slika u različitim stadijima kroničnog parodontitisa

Periodontal disease is considered to be an inflammatory disorder that is related to the accumulation of oral microbial biofilm and the host response to this accumulation. The host reaction to gingival microorganisms is characterized in part by increase in the polymorphonuclear leukocyte counts, which is one of the most important steps in host defense. Exaggerated leukocytes and neutrophils of host response are a very important component in the pathogenesis of periodontal disease. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between white blood cell count and periodontal disease in subjects with moderate and severe periodontitis and in control subjects with healthy periodontal tissues. Leukocytes for the present study were obtained from peripheral venous blood of 50 patients with moderate periodontitis, 50 patients with severe periodontitis and 25 healthy subjects. The clinical parameters of periodontitis including plaque index, bleeding on probing and gingival index were determined in all study subjects. In both moderate and severe periodontitis, the results indicated a significantly higher count of neutrophils (p<0.001), as well as of both lymphocytes and total leukocytes (p<0.05). The values of clinical parameters (plaque index, gingival index and bleeding on probing) also showed significant between-group differences (p<0.005 and p<0.001, respectively). It is possible that there is a significant relationship between total leukocyte count, neutrophil count and different forms of periodontal disease.Parodontna bolest je upalni poremećaj koji je povezan s akumulacijom oralnog mikrobnog biofilma i odgovorom domaćina na tu akumulaciju. Reakciju domaćina na gingivne mikroorganizme karakterizira donekle i povećanje broja polimorfonuklearnih leukocita, koji je jedan od najvažnijih koraka u odgovoru domaćina. Povećanje leukocita i neutrofila u okviru odgovora domaćina je veoma važna komponenta u patogenezi parodontne bolesti. Cilj ovoga istraživanja bio je ispitati vezu između broja bijelih krvnih zrnaca i parodontne bolesti kod ispitanika s blagom i uznapredovalom parodontopatijom i kontrolnih ispitanika sa zdravim parodontnim tkivom. Uzorak krvi za ispitivanje broja leukocita u ovom se istraživanju uzimao iz periferne venske krvi 50 ispitanika s umjerenom, 50 ispitanika s uznapredovalom parodontopatijom i 25 kontrolnih ispitanika. Klinički parametri parodontopatije, tj. plak indeks, indeks krvarenja i gingivni indeks određivali su se kod svih ispitanika. Kod obje skupine s parodontopatijom rezultati su pokazali značajno povećan broj neutrofila (p<0,001). Rezultati su također pokazali kako postoji značajnost između limfocita i ukupnog broja leukocita (p<0,05) među skupinama. Vrijednosti kliničkih parametara (plak indeks, gingivni indeks i indeks krvarenja) pokazale su značajnu razliku (p<0,005, p<0,001) među skupinama. U zaključku, moguće je da postoji značajna veza između ukupnog broja leukocita, broja neutrofila i različitih oblika parodontne bolesti

Investigation of HeNe laser therapy influence on BCP/PLGA osseointegration: Experimental study

The efficiency of HeNe laser application in treatment of artificially caused bone defects in mandible of rats filled with biocomposite BCP/PLGA (bicalcium phosphate/polylactide-co-glycolide) was analyzed. Animals were divided in two separate groups. The first group (A) was the control one. In the second group (B) the implantation site was submitted to HeNe laser irradiation. Animals were sacrificed two, six, eight and twelve weeks after laser therapy. Histological samples were decalcified and submerged in paraffin blocks. Samples were colored with HE. Morphometrical analysis consisted of measuring area fraction, area, integral optical density, mean density and density variation. Results showed beneficial effect of laser treatment in reparation of alveolar bone after two and six weeks. After eight and twelve weeks no beneficial laser effect on biocomposite osseointegration could be noticed

Antimikrobno dejstvo eteričnih ulja na oralne patogene

Periodontal disease and Dental caries associated with dental plaque are the most common bacterial diseases, but also, significant oral health problem is Candidiasis. Candida albicans, is an opportunistic pathogen that can, under certain conditions proliferate and cause infections. The need for prevention and alternative forms of treatment and products for oral diseases comes from the rise in disease incidence, increased resistance by pathogenic bacteria to currently used chemotherapeutics. The products derived from medicinal plants have proven to be a source of biologically active substances, and thanks to their active principles, products based on medical herbs are more prevalent in modern phytotherapy. Essential oils are complex natural mixtures of volatile secondary metabolites - aliphatic and aromatic, terpinen and phenyl- propane compounds isolated from plants. The main constituents of essential oils are terpenes and sesquiterpenes including carbohydrates, alcohols, ethers, aldehydes and ketones, which are responsible for the fragrant and biological properties of plants. Different oils produce various pharmacological effects such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anticancerogenic properties, but also oils are biocides. There are numerous in vitro studies that dealt with the research activities of natural herbal substances against oral bacteria that are known to be etiological factors in the development of oral and dental diseases. The phenolic major compounds of essential oils have been suggested to have a potential antifungal activity. There is ample of evidence that plant extracts and essential oils have the potential to be developed into agents that can be used as preventative or treatment therapies of oral diseases.Parodontopatija i dentalni karijes, čiji je nastanak povezan sa dentalnim plakom, predstavljaju najčešća bakterijska oboljenja. Takođe, značajni oralni zdravstveni problem predstavlja i kandidijaza. Candida albicans je oportunistički patogen koji pod pojedinim okolnostima može da proliferiše i uzrokuje infekciju. Potreba za prevencijom i alternativnim oblicima lečenja i produktima za oralna oboljenja proizilazi zbog povećanja učestalosti oboljenja i povećane rezistencije patogenih bakterija na primenu hemoterapeutika koji se trenutno upotrebljavaju. Dokazano je da su produkti dobijeni od lekovitog bilja izvor biološko aktivnih supstanci, a zahvaljujući svojim aktivnim principima, produkti na bazi lekovitog bilja zastupljeniji su u modernoj fitoterapiji. Eterična ulja su kompleksne prirodne mešavine isparljivih sekundarnih metabolita - alifatičnih i aromatičnih, terpenskih i fenil-propanskih jedinjenja izolovanih iz biljaka. Glavni sastojci etarskih ulja su terpeni i seskviterpeni, uključujući i ugljene hidrate, alkohol, etar, aldehide i ketone, koji su odgovorni za mirisna i biološka svojstva biljaka. Različita ulja imaju brojne farmakološke efekte, kao što su antiinflamatorno, antioksidativno i antikancerogeno dejstvo, ali su takođe i biocidi. Postoje brojne in vitro studije koje su se bavile istraživanjem aktivnosti prirodnih biljnih supstanci usmerenih na oralne bakterije za koje je poznato da su etiološki faktori u nastanku oralnih i dentalnih oboljenja. Navedeno je da glavne fenolne komponente eteričnih ulja imaju potencijalnu antigljivičnu aktivnost. Postoje brojni dokazi da biljni ekstrakti i eterična ulja imaju potencijal da se razviju u agense koji se mogu koristiti u preventivi ili u lečenju oralnih oboljenja

Prevalence of Human Cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr Virus in Chronic Periapical Lesions

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in the tissue of chronic periapical lesions, and to compare the results in relation to the symptoms of patients and the size of the lesion. Methods: Periapical lesions analyzed in the study were collected from the roots of the teeth indicated for extraction. Samples were divided according to the symptoms into groups of symptomatic and asymptomatic, and according the size into groups of small and large lesions. Polymerase chain reaction was used to detect HCMV and EBV. The amplification was performed in a DNA Thermal Cycler (Hybaid). Results: Symptomatic lesions were 7.68 times more likely to be infected with HCMV than asymptomatic lesions (p lt 0.001). Large symptomatic lesions were 73.50 times more likely to harbor HCMV than small symptomatic lesions (p lt 0.001). Large symptomatic lesions were 7.64 times more likely to be infected with EBV than small symptomatic lesions (p = 0.05). Large symptomatic lesions were 5.38 times more likely to harbor dual HCMV/EBV infection than small symptomatic lesions (p = 0.115). Conclusion: Detection of HCMV and EBV in the samples of periapical lesions suggests an important role of herpesviruses in periapical tissue destruction

Psychomotor activity and body weight gain after exposure to low ribavirin doses in rats: role of treatment duration

Clinically-related basic studies on the behavioral effects of ribavirin treatment are still lacking despite its wide use as an antiviral medication. This paper considers the effects of low ribavirin doses (10, 20 and 30 mg/kg/day) on psychomotor activity (novelty-induced exploratory behavior, d-amphetamine (AMPH, 1.5 mg/kg, intraperitoneal)-induced motor activity), and body weight gain in socially undisturbed adult male Wistar rats 24 h after the first, seventh and fourteenth once-a-day injection. Low doses of ribavirin were tested in an attempt to avoid the recognized systemic side effects related to high-dose usage. None of the singly applied ribavirin doses affected exploratory/spontaneous and AMPH-induced motor behavior (locomotion, stereotypy-like and vertical activity), however, body weight gain was significantly lower after treatment with 30 mg/kg of ribavirin. The 7- and 14-day treatments with 10 and 30 mg/kg/day of ribavirin significantly suppressed novelty-induced locomotion and body weight gain; the 14-day treatment with ribavirin at a dose of 30 mg/kg/ day decreased AMPH-induced stereotypy. These findings indicate that repeated application (up to 14 days) of low ribavirin doses results in low novelty-induced locomotion along with reduced weight gain, accentuating the existence of a U-shaped dose-response relationship with a prolonged duration of ribavirin treatment

Efikasnost hijaluronske kiseline u terapiji hroničnog gingivitisa kod dece

Introduction/Aim. Gingivitis is a common occurrence in children and may well be thought as a risk factor for the appearance and progression of the diseases of parodontal tissues. It is thus necessary to react in a timely and adequate fashion to prevent the disease to become serious and produce parodontopathy. The aim of the study was to establish the efficacy of hyaluronic acid in the treatment of chronic gingivitis in children. Methods. The study enrolled 130 children with permanent dentition. All of the examinees were divided into three groups: group I - 50 patients with chronic gingivitis in which only the basic treatment was applied; group II - 50 patients with chronic gingivitis in which hyaluronic acid was applied in addition to basic treatment; group III - 30 examinees with healthy gingiva (control group). Assessment of oral hygiene and status of the gingiva and parodontium was done using the appropriate indexes before and after the treatment. Inflammation of the gingiva was monitored by way of cytomorphometric studies. Results. The pretreatment values of the plaque index (PI) were high: in the group I PI was 1.94; in the group II PI was 1.68. After the treatment, the PI value was reduced to null in both groups (PI = 0). In the group III PI was 0.17. The bleeding index (BI) in the group I was 2.02 before and 0.32 after the treatment; the BI value in the group II was 1.74 before and 0.16 after the treatment. In the group III BI was 0. In the group I, the Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs (CPITN) was 1.66 before and 0.32 after the treatment; in the group II, the CPITN value was 1.5 before and 0.24 after the treatment. In the group III, the CPITN value was 0. In the group I, the size of the nuclei of the stratified squamous epithelium of the gingiva was reduced, although not so much as the nuclear size in the group II of examinees. Conclusion. Basic treatment is able to successfully treat chronic gingivitis in children. The use of hyaluronic acid together with the basic treatment can markedly improve the treatment effect.Uvod/Cilj. Gingivitis je česta pojava kod dece i može se smatrati faktorom rizika od nastanka i progresije oboljenja ostalih parodontalnih tkiva. Zato je potrebno blagovremeno i adekvatno reagovati kako ne bi došlo do progresije bolesti i nastanka parodontopatije. Cilj rada bio je da se utvrdi efikasnost primene hijaluronske kiseline u terapiji hroničnih gingivitisa kod dece. Metode. Ispitivanjem je bilo obuhvaćeno 130 dece sa stalnom denticijom. Svi ispitanici bili su podeljeni u tri grupe: grupa I - 50 ispitanika sa hroničnim gingivitisom kod kojih je primenjena samo bazična terapija; grupa II - 50 ispitanika sa hroničnim gingivitisom, kod kojih je uz bazičnu terapiju primenjena i terapija hijaluronskom kiselinom; grupa III - 30 ispitanika sa zdravom gingivom (kontrolna grupa). Procena stanja oralne higijene, stanja zdravlja gingive i parodoncijuma vršena je uz pomoć odgovarajućih indeksa pre i posle terapije. Inflamacija gingive praćena je citomorfometrijskim ispitivanjima. Rezultati. Pre terapije, vrednosti indeksa plaka (PI) bile su visoke: u grupi I 1,94, a u grupi II 1,68. Nakon terapije u obe grupe vrednosti PI iznosile su 0. U grupi III vrednost PI bila je 0,17. Indeks krvarenja (IKR) u grupi I pre terapije bio je 2,02, a posle terapije 0,32; u grupi II IKR pre terapije bio je 1,74, a posle terapije 0,16. U grupi III IKR bio je 0. U grupi I, pre terapije, Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs (CPITN) bio je 1,66, a posle terapije 0,32; u grupi II pre terapije CPITN bio je 1,5, a posle terapije 0,24. U grupi III CPITN indeks bio je 0. Kod ispitanika grupe I nakon terapije citomorfometrijskim ispitivanjem utvrđeno je da je došlo do smanjenja veličine jedara pločasto slojevitog epitela gingive, ali ne u tolikoj meri kao kod ispitanika grupe II. Zaključak. Bazičnom terapijom može se uspešno sanirati hronični gingivitis kod dece. Primena hijaluronske kiseline uz bazičnu terapiju može bitno poboljšati ovaj efekat

Herpesviruses in Periapical Pathoses: An Updated Systematic Review

Apical periodontitis represents a chronic inflammation and destruction of periradicular tissue caused by polymicrobial infection of endodontic origin. The aim of this systematic review was to make an update on findings related to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) presence in periapical pathoses and to correlate these findings with clinical, histopathological and radiographic features of periapical lesions. Methods were based on the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) statement. A search was performed using PubMed, Web of Science and SCOPUS. Search key words included the following medical subjects heading terms: (periapical disease OR apical periodontitis OR periapical lesions OR periapical abscess) AND (viruses OR herpesvir*). A manual search involved references from articles retrieved for possible inclusion. The search, evaluation, and critical appraisal of articles were performed by two independent judges. Collected data were analyzed using the measures of descriptive statistics. The final review has included twenty nine articles related to herpesviral presence periapical pathoses. Qualitative analysis indicated that EBV HCMV, and HHV-8 were the most prevalent species in periapical pathoses. Our findings suggest that there is wide variety of herpesviruses detection rates in periapical pathoses in relation to their clinical, histopathological and radiographic features