Prevention of secondary caries by silver diamine fluoride

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the use of 38% silver diamine fluoride (SDF) as a treatment for preventing secondary caries in glass ionomer cement (GIC) and composite resin (CR) restorations. Methods: Six extracted human sound premolars were collected. Four cavities (4 × 2 × 2 mm3) were prepared on each premolar and then allocated to the following restoration groups: group 1, SDF conditioning and GIC restoration; group 2, GIC restoration; group 3, SDF conditioning and CR restoration; and group 4, CR restoration. After thermal cycling and sterilisation, the teeth were soaked in a 5% sucrose solution containing Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus acidophilus for 28 days. Micro-computed tomography was used to study demineralisation. The outer lesion depth (OLD) and wall lesion depth (WLD) of the tooth–restoration interface were measured. The OLD and WLD were directly related to the extent of secondary caries. Two-way analysis of variance was used to analyse the effects of SDF conditioning and restorative materials on OLD. Results: The mean ± standard deviation OLD values were 156 ± 45 μm, 235 ± 33 μm, 153 ± 20 μm and 232 ± 24 μm for groups 1–4, respectively. The OLD was less in restorations with SDF conditioning (P < 0.001) than in those without SDF conditioning. No interaction effect on OLD was found between the restorative materials and SDF conditioning (P = 0.062). The WLD was detected only in groups 3 and 4. Clinical significance: Conditioning with 38% SDF can increase resistance of GIC and CR restorations to secondary caries.postprin

Measurements of the Absolute Branching Ratios for the Dominant KL Decays, the KL Lifetime, and Vus with the KLOE Detector

From a sample of about 10^9 Phi mesons produced at DAFNE, we have selected KL mesons tagged by observing KS->pi+pi- decays. We present results on the major KL branching ratios, including those of the semileptonic decays needed for the determination of Vus. These branching ratio measurements are fully inclusive with respect to final-state radiation. The KL lifetime has also been measured.Comment: Submitted to Phys. Lett.

Recruitment Constraints in Singapore's Fluted Giant Clam (Tridacna squamosa) Populations - A Dispersal Model Approach

10.1371/journal.pone.0058819PLoS ONE83

Disparities and risks of sexually transmissible infections among men who have sex with men in China: a meta-analysis and data synthesis.

BACKGROUND: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including Hepatitis B and C virus, are emerging public health risks in China, especially among men who have sex with men (MSM). This study aims to assess the magnitude and risks of STIs among Chinese MSM. METHODS: Chinese and English peer-reviewed articles were searched in five electronic databases from January 2000 to February 2013. Pooled prevalence estimates for each STI infection were calculated using meta-analysis. Infection risks of STIs in MSM, HIV-positive MSM and male sex workers (MSW) were obtained. This review followed the PRISMA guidelines and was registered in PROSPERO. RESULTS: Eighty-eight articles (11 in English and 77 in Chinese) investigating 35,203 MSM in 28 provinces were included in this review. The prevalence levels of STIs among MSM were 6.3% (95% CI: 3.5-11.0%) for chlamydia, 1.5% (0.7-2.9%) for genital wart, 1.9% (1.3-2.7%) for gonorrhoea, 8.9% (7.8-10.2%) for hepatitis B (HBV), 1.2% (1.0-1.6%) for hepatitis C (HCV), 66.3% (57.4-74.1%) for human papillomavirus (HPV), 10.6% (6.2-17.6%) for herpes simplex virus (HSV-2) and 4.3% (3.2-5.8%) for Ureaplasma urealyticum. HIV-positive MSM have consistently higher odds of all these infections than the broader MSM population. As a subgroup of MSM, MSW were 2.5 (1.4-4.7), 5.7 (2.7-12.3), and 2.2 (1.4-3.7) times more likely to be infected with chlamydia, gonorrhoea and HCV than the broader MSM population, respectively. CONCLUSION: Prevalence levels of STIs among MSW were significantly higher than the broader MSM population. Co-infection of HIV and STIs were prevalent among Chinese MSM. Integration of HIV and STIs healthcare and surveillance systems is essential in providing effective HIV/STIs preventive measures and treatments. TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO NO: CRD42013003721

Circulating microRNAs Reveal Time Course of Organ Injury in a Porcine Model of Acetaminophen-Induced Acute Liver Failure

Acute liver failure is a rare but catastrophic condition which can progress rapidly to multi-organ failure. Studies investigating the onset of individual organ injury such as the liver, kidneys and brain during the evolution of acute liver failure, are lacking. MicroRNAs are short, non-coding strands of RNA that are released into the circulation following tissue injury. In this study, we have characterised the release of both global microRNA and specific microRNA species into the plasma using a porcine model of acetaminophen-induced acute liver failure. Pigs were induced to acute liver failure with oral acetaminophen over 19h±2h and death occurred 13h±3h thereafter. Global microRNA concentrations increased 4h prior to acute liver failure in plasma (P<0.0001) but not in isolated exosomes, and were associated with increasing plasma levels of the damage-associated molecular pattern molecule, genomic DNA (P<0.0001). MiR122 increased around the time of onset of acute liver failure (P<0.0001) and was associated with increasing international normalised ratio (P<0.0001). MiR192 increased 8h after acute liver failure (P<0.0001) and was associated with increasing creatinine (P<0.0001). The increase in miR124-1 occurred concurrent with the pre-terminal increase in intracranial pressure (P<0.0001) and was associated with decreasing cerebral perfusion pressure (P<0.002)

BRIT1/MCPH1 links chromatin remodelling to DNA damage response

To detect and repair damaged DNA, DNA damage response proteins need to overcome the barrier of condensed chromatin to gain access to DNA lesions1. ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling is one of the fundamental mechanisms used by cells to relax chromatin in DNA repair2–3. However, the mechanism mediating their recruitment to DNA lesions remains largely unknown. BRIT1 (also known as MCPH1) is an early DNA damage response protein that is mutated in human primary microcephaly4–8. We report here a previously unknown function of BRIT1 as a regulator of ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling complex SWI/SNF in DNA repair. Upon DNA damage, BRIT1 increases its interaction with SWI/SNF through the ATM/ATR-dependent phosphorylation on the BAF170 subunit. This increase of binding affinity provides a means by which SWI/SNF can be specifically recruited to and maintained at DNA lesions. Loss of BRIT1 causes impaired chromatin relaxation owing to reduced association of SWI/SNF with chromatin. This explains the decreased recruitment of repair proteins to DNA lesions and reduced efficiency of repair in BRIT1-deficient cells, resulting in impaired survival from DNA damage. Our findings, therefore, identify BRIT1 as a key molecule that links chromatin remodeling with DNA damage response in the control of DNA repair, and its dysfunction contributes to human disease

Hydrothermal activity, functional diversity and chemoautotrophy are major drivers of seafloor carbon cycling

Hydrothermal vents are highly dynamic ecosystems and are unusually energy rich in the deep-sea. In situ hydrothermal-based productivity combined with sinking photosynthetic organic matter in a soft-sediment setting creates geochemically diverse environments, which remain poorly studied. Here, we use comprehensive set of new and existing field observations to develop a quantitative ecosystem model of a deep-sea chemosynthetic ecosystem from the most southerly hydrothermal vent system known. We find evidence of chemosynthetic production supplementing the metazoan food web both at vent sites and elsewhere in the Bransfield Strait. Endosymbiont-bearing fauna were very important in supporting the transfer of chemosynthetic carbon into the food web, particularly to higher trophic levels. Chemosynthetic production occurred at all sites to varying degrees but was generally only a small component of the total organic matter inputs to the food web, even in the most hydrothermally active areas, owing in part to a low and patchy density of vent-endemic fauna. Differences between relative abundance of faunal functional groups, resulting from environmental variability, were clear drivers of differences in biogeochemical cycling and resulted in substantially different carbon processing patterns between habitats

Inhibitory effect of silver diamine fluoride on dentine demineralisation and collagen degradation

Objective To investigate the inhibitory effects of 38% silver diamine fluoride (SDF) on demineralised dentine. Methods Human dentine blocks were demineralised and allocated to four groups: SF, F, S and W. The blocks in group SF received a topical application of 38% SDF solution (253,900 ppm Ag, 44,800 ppm F), group F received a 10% sodium fluoride solution (44,800 ppm F), group S received a 42% silver nitrate solution (253,900 ppm Ag) and group W received deionised water (control). They were subjected to pH cycling using demineralisation solution (pH 5) and remineralisation solution (pH 7) for 8 days. The surface morphology, crystal characteristics, lesion depth and collagen matrix degradation of the specimens were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), micro-CT testing and spectrophotometry with a hydroxyproline assay. Results The surface morphology under SEM showed evident demineralisation with exposed collagen in groups S and W, but not in group SF. Clusters of granular spherical grains were observed in the cross-sections of specimens in groups SF and F. XRD revealed precipitates of silver chloride in groups SF and S. The mean lesion depths (±SD) of groups SF, F, S and W were 182 ± 32 μm, 204 ± 26 μm, 259 ± 42 μm and 265 ± 40 μm, respectively (SDF, F < S, W; p < 0.01). Groups SF and S had significantly less hydroxyproline liberated from the dentine matrix than groups F and W (p < 0.01). Conclusion The use of 38% SDF inhibited demineralisation and preserved collagen from degradation in demineralised dentine. Clinical significance SDF application positively influences dentine remineralization

Photodynamic Therapy of Tumors Can Lead to Development of Systemic Antigen-Specific Immune Response

Background: The mechanism by which the immune system can effectively recognize and destroy tumors is dependent on recognition of tumor antigens. The molecular identity of a number of these antigens has recently been identified and several immunotherapies have explored them as targets. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an anti-cancer modality that uses a non-toxic photosensitizer and visible light to produce cytotoxic reactive oxygen species that destroy tumors. PDT has been shown to lead to local destruction of tumors as well as to induction of anti-tumor immune response. Methodology/Principal Findings: We used a pair of equally lethal BALB/c colon adenocarcinomas, CT26 wild-type (CT26WT) and CT26.CL25 that expressed a tumor antigen, β-galactosidase (β-gal), and we treated them with vascular PDT. All mice bearing antigen-positive, but not antigen-negative tumors were cured and resistant to rechallenge. T lymphocytes isolated from cured mice were able to specifically lyse antigen positive cells and recognize the epitope derived from beta-galactosidase antigen. PDT was capable of destroying distant, untreated, established, antigen-expressing tumors in 70% of the mice. The remaining 30% escaped destruction due to loss of expression of tumor antigen. The PDT anti-tumor effects were completely abrogated in the absence of the adaptive immune response. Conclusion: Understanding the role of antigen-expression in PDT immune response may allow application of PDT in metastatic as well as localized disease. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that PDT has been shown to lead to systemic, antigen- specific anti-tumor immunity.United States. National Cancer Institute (grant RO1CA/AI838801)United States. National Cancer Institute (grant R01AI050875

SPARC 2019 Fake news & home truths : Salford postgraduate annual research conference book of abstracts

Welcome to the Book of Abstracts for the 2019 SPARC conference. This year we not only celebrate the work of our PGRs but also our first ever Doctoral School Best Supervisor awards, which makes this year’s conference extra special. Once again we have received a tremendous contribution from our postgraduate research community; with over 90 presenters, the conference truly showcases a vibrant, innovative and collaborative PGR community at Salford. These abstracts provide a taster of the inspiring, relevant and impactful research in progress, and provide delegates with a reference point for networking and initiating critical debate. Find an abstract that interests you, and say “Hello” to the author. Who knows what might result from your conversation? With such wide-ranging topics being showcased, we encourage you to take up this great opportunity to engage with researchers working in different subject areas from your own. To meet global challenges, high impact research needs interdisciplinary collaboration. This is recognised and rewarded by all major research funders. Engaging with the work of others and forging collaborations across subject areas is an essential skill for the next generation of researchers. Even better, our free ice cream van means that you can have those conversations while enjoying a refreshing ice lolly