Morphology of root canals in adult premolar teeth

The aim of the present study was to examine the morphology of root canals in premolar teeth with completely formed root apices. The material consisted of 139 extracted premolar teeth, including 83 first premolars (59.7%) and 56 second premolars (40.3%). Maxillary teeth made up 64% of the material and mandibular teeth 36%. In order to measure the actual root canal length an endodontic instrument was inserted into the root canal (in teeth with a single root canal this was instrument no. 25 and in teeth with two or three root canals no. 20) until its tip was visible in the anatomical foramen. The silicone limit was fixed at a reference point on the dental crown, and after removal of the instrument the real length was read using an endodontic ruler. The results were presented using descriptive statistical measures (mean, maximum, minimum, median value and quartiles). In order to compare mean values of root canal lengths the z test was used. Of the first maxillary premolars, 91% had two root canals and 9% had three root canals. As far as the second upper premolars are concerned, 14.7% were teeth with single root canals while as many as 85.3% were teeth with two root canals. The majority of the first lower premolars (89.3%) had one root canal and 10.7% of these teeth had two root canals. Most of the second lower premolars (68.2%) had a single root canal, while the remaining 31.8% had two root canals. None of the mandibular premolars examined had three root canals

Complexity of transcriptional regulation within the Rag locus: identification of a second Nwc promoter region within the Rag2 intron

Nwc represents a mysterious third evolutionarily conserved gene within the Rag locus. Here, we analyzed the phenotype of Nwctmpro1 mice, in which the Rag2 intragenic region containing the previously identified promoter responsible for initiating transcription of Nwc in all cells except lymphocytes was deleted by homologous recombination. Despite strong nonlymphocyte-specific inhibition of Nwc transcription which runs through the regulatory region of Rag genes, their expression remained suppressed, and no developmental, morphological, anatomical, functional, physiological, or cellular defects in Nwctmpro1 mice could be observed. However, careful analysis of the Rag2 intergenic region uncovered a second evolutionarily conserved Nwc promoter region from which a previously unknown Nwc transcript can be generated in nonlymphocytes of Nwctmpro1 and normal mice. The above results reveal an unexpected additional complexity of transcriptional regulation within the Rag/Nwc locus and show that strong inhibition of Nwc transcription in nonlymphoid cells is well tolerated. Complete inactivation of Nwc is necessary to get insight into its function at transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels

Increased Protein Stability and Interleukin-2 Production of a LAT(G131D)Variant With Possible Implications for T Cell Anergy

The adaptor LAT plays a crucial role in the transduction of signals coming from the TCR/CD3 complex. Phosphorylation of some of its tyrosines generates recruitment sites for other cytosolic signaling molecules. Tyrosine 132 in human LAT is essential for PLC-gamma activation and calcium influx generation. It has been recently reported that a conserved glycine residue preceding tyrosine 132 decreases its phosphorylation kinetics, which constitutes a mechanism for ligand discrimination. Here we confirm that a LAT mutant in which glycine 131 has been substituted by an aspartate (LAT(G131D)) increases phosphorylation of Tyr132, PLC-gamma activation and calcium influx generation. Interestingly, the LAT(G131D)mutant has a slower protein turnover while being equally sensitive to Fas-mediated protein cleavage by caspases. Moreover, J.CaM2 cells expressing LAT(G131D)secrete greater amounts of interleukin-2 (IL-2) in response to CD3/CD28 engagement. However, despite this increased IL-2 secretion, J.CaM2 cells expressing the LAT(G131D)mutant are more sensitive to inhibition of IL-2 production by pre-treatment with anti-CD3, which points to a possible role of this residue in the generation of anergy. Our results suggest that the increased kinetics of LAT Tyr132 phosphorylation could contribute to the establishment of T cell anergy, and thus constitutes an earliest known intracellular event responsible for the induction of peripheral tolerance

A Novel, LAT/Lck Double Deficient T Cell Subline J.CaM1.7 for Combined Analysis of Early TCR Signaling

Intracellular signaling through the T cell receptor (TCR) is essential for T cell development and function. Proper TCR signaling requires the sequential activities of Lck and ZAP-70 kinases, which result in the phosphorylation of tyrosine residues located in the CD3 ITAMs and the LAT adaptor, respectively. LAT, linker for the activation of T cells, is a transmembrane adaptor protein that acts as a scaffold coupling the early signals coming from the TCR with downstream signaling pathways leading to cellular responses. The leukemic T cell line Jurkat and its derivative mutants J.CaM1.6 (Lck deficient) and J.CaM2 (LAT deficient) have been widely used to study the first signaling events upon TCR triggering. In this work, we describe the loss of LAT adaptor expression found in a subline of J.CaM1.6 cells and analyze cis-elements responsible for the LAT expression defect. This new cell subline, which we have called J.CaM1.7, can re-express LAT adaptor after Protein Kinase C (PKC) activation, which suggests that activation-induced LAT expression is not affected in this new cell subline. Contrary to J.CaM1.6 cells, re-expression of Lck in J.CaM1.7 cells was not sufficient to recover TCR-associated signals, and both LAT and Lck had to be introduced to recover activatory intracellular signals triggered after CD3 crosslinking. Overall, our work shows that the new LAT negative J.CaM1.7 cell subline could represent a new model to study the functions of the tyrosine kinase Lck and the LAT adaptor in TCR signaling, and their mutual interaction, which seems to constitute an essential early signaling event associated with the TCR/CD3 complex.This research was funded by Consejeria de Salud de Andalucia, Junta de Andalucia (grant PI-0055-2017 to E.A.), and Fundacion Biomedica Cadiz Proyectos INIBICA 2019 (grant LI19/I14NCO15 to E.A. and M.M.A.-E.)

Differential regulation of alanine aminotransferase homologues by abiotic stresses in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seedlings

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seedlings contain four alanine aminotransferase (AlaAT) homologues. Two of them encode AlaAT enzymes, whereas two homologues act as glumate:glyoxylate aminotransferase (GGAT). To address the function of the distinct AlaAT homologues a comparative examination of the changes in transcript level together with the enzyme activity and alanine and glutamate content in wheat seedlings subjected to low oxygen availability, nitrogen and light deficiency has been studied. Shoots of wheat seedlings were more tolerant to hypoxia than the roots as judging on the basis of enzyme activity and transcript level. Hypoxia induced AlaAT1 earlier in roots than in shoots, while AlaAT2 and GGAT were unaffected. The increase in AlaAT activity lagged behind the increase in alanine content. Nitrogen deficiency has little effect on the activity of GGAT. In contrast, lower activity of AlaAT and the level of mRNA for AlaAT1 and AlaAT2 in wheat seedlings growing on a nitrogen-free medium seems to indicate that AlaAT is regulated by the availability of nitrogen. Both AlaAT and GGAT activities were present in etiolated wheat seedlings but their activity was half of that observed in light-grown seedlings. Exposure of etiolated seedlings to light caused an increase in enzyme activities and up-regulated GGAT1. It is proposed that hypoxia-induced AlaAT1 and light-induced peroxisomal GGAT1 appears to be crucial for the regulation of energy availability in plants grown under unfavourable environmental conditions

Effect of addition of oat fibre preparation vitacel HF 600 and barley preparation Vitacel BG 300 on quality of homogenised sausages

Celem badań było określenie wpływu preparatów błonnika owsianego Vitacel HF 600 oraz jęczmiennego Vitacel BG 300 na jakość modelowych kiełbas homogenizowanych. Przygotowano pięć wariantów kiełbas: wariant kontrolny oraz cztery warianty różniące się rodzajem (owsiany i jęczmienny) oraz wielkością dodatku preparatu błonnikowego (1,5 i 2,5%). W kiełbasach oceniono: wielkość ubytków masy podczas obróbki termicznej, parametry barwy (L*a*b*), parametry tekstury, podstawowy skład chemiczny oraz atrakcyjność sensoryczną. Badane preparaty błonnikowe, niezależnie od zastosowanej dawki, nie wpływają istotnie na wielkość ubytków masy powstających w trakcie obróbki termicznej, parametry barwy L*a*b* oraz podstawowy skład chemiczny kiełbas. Ich dodatek powoduje jednak wzrost twardości i żujności kiełbas oraz poprawę akceptowalności organoleptycznej produktu, w porównaniu z wariantem kontrolnym.Fibre preparations made from oat and barley may result in a lot of health benefits and can have advantageous properties as potential additives to meat products, i.e. they possess a high water holding capacity that consequently aids in creating texture in meat products. The goal of the study was to investigate the effect of the amount of addition (1.5 and 2.5%) of different fibre preparations (oat – Vitacel HF 600 and barley – Vitacel BG 300) on selected quality factors of homogenised smoked and cooked sausages. Five batter variants were manufactured. To produce batters there were used following raw materials: chilled chicken thigh muscles and pork jowl (grounded to 3 mm fragmentation) and emulsion of pig leather. Moreover there were used ice and additives as well: curing mixture, phosphates and seasonings. Ready homogenized batters were stuffed in manual stuffing machine and then smoked and cooked in smoking-cooking chamber of Jugema. After thermal treatment sausages were chilled for 24 hours (4–6°C). After this time the following measurements were made on ready products: the size of thermal leakage, colour parameters (L*a*b*) by reflection using Minolta CR 200 apparatus, texture profile analysis (TPA) by using ZWICKI 1120 testing machine, basic chemical composition by using Foodcheck apparatus, and sensory characteristic using scaling method (0–5 points scale). The obtained results were subjected to statistical analysis in Statistica 10 using one-factor analysis of variance and Tukey test. The results showed that the addition of fibre preparations Vitacel HF 600 and Vitacel BG 300 at 1.5 and 2.5% levels to the tested homogenized sausages did not significantly affect thermal leakage, colour parameters L*a*b*. Taking under consideration texture (hardness and chewiness), as well as sensory acceptability, it may be concluded that oat fibre preparation Vitacel HF 600 and barley fibre preparation Vitacel BG 300 cause improvement in the quality of the examined sausages compared to control variant. Thanks to using barley fibre BG 300, which is rich in β-glucans, it is possible to acquire a product with a higher nutritional value. As conclusion it can be stated that using this preparations is warranted

Effect of addition of barley fiber Vitacel BG 300 on selected quality factors of meat canned products

Celem badań było określenie wpływu dodatku preparatu błonnika jęczmiennego Vitacel BG 300 na wybrane wyróżniki jakości pasteryzowanych i sterylizowanych konserw mięsnych. Przygotowano sześć wariantów konserw, różniących się wielkością dodatku preparatu błonnikowego (0,0; 3,0 i 6,0%) oraz rodzajem zastosowanej obróbki termicznej (pasteryzacja i sterylizacja). W gotowych konserwach oceniono: wielkość ubytków masy podczas obróbki termicznej, parametry barwy (CIE L*a*b*), parametry tekstury oraz wybrane cechy sensoryczne. Stwierdzono, że niezależnie od rodzaju obróbki termicznej dodatek preparatu błonnikowego Vitacel BG 300 na poziomach 3,0 i 6,0% do konserw z mięsa drobiowego nie wpłynął istotnie ani na ilość wycieku termicznego, ani na wartości parametrów barwy L* oraz a*. Spowodował natomiast istotny wzrost wartości parametru barwy b* oraz zwiększenie twardości bloków konserw, co jednocześnie wiązało się ze wzrostem parametru żujności. Ocena organoleptyczna wykazała, że konserwy mięsne zawierające dodatek preparatu BG 300 nie różniły się istotnie od wyrobu kontrolnego.Currently there is a large assortment of dietary fiber concentrates on the market differing in their properties. In the meat industry it is common to use preparations rich in fibre, mainly wheat and potato fibers, due to their good technological properties. Nowadays, attempts to use oat and barley fibers are also carried out. This is due to the desire to enhance meat products in health-promoting ingredient which is water-soluble β-glucan. The goal of the study is to investigate the effect of the amount of addition (three batter variants were manufactured: control, with 3.0 and 6.0%) of barley fibre preparation rich in β-glucan (Vitacel BG 300) on selected quality factors of meat canned products with two types of thermal treatment (pasteurization and sterilization). Following raw materials were used to produce batters: chilled chicken thigh muscles and pork jowl (3-mm fragmentation), as well as additives (curing mixture, sodium citrate, phosphates and seasonings – black and herbal pepper). Ready homogenized batters were stuffed in metal tin, closed by double fold and heat (pasteurized or sterilized). After thermal treatment, meat canned products were chilled for 24 h (4–6°C) and then the following characteristics of final products were examined: the size of thermal leakage, colour parameters (CIE L*a*b*) measured instrumentally with Minolta CR 200 colorimeter, texture profile analysis (TPA) by using ZWICK and sensory characteristic using scaling method (0–5 points scale). Obtained results were subjected to statistical analysis in Statistica 10 using one-factor analysis of variance and Tukey test. The results showed, that the addition of Vitacel BG 300 fibre preparation 3.0 and 6.0% levels to tested meat canned product (pasteurized and sterilized) did not significantly affect thermal leakage, as well as colour parameters L* and a*, but it caused a significant increase in b* colour parameter. Taking under consideration texture (hardness and chewiness), as well as sensory acceptability, it may be concluded, that barley fibre preparation – Vitacel BG 300 did not weaken the quality of the examined products compared to control variant. As conclusion it can be stated, that using BG 300 Vitacel preparation is justified but its use requires further study

A comparative study of antioxidant enzyme activities in tissues of Helix aspersa (O.F.Mull.) and Pomacea bridgesi (Reeve)

Antioxidant enzymes: catalase (CAT) [EC 1.11.1.6], peroxidase [EC 1.11.1.7], glutathione reductase (GSSGR) [EC 1.6.4.2] and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) [EC 1.1.1.49] were investigated in terrestrial Helix aspersa (O.F. Müll.) and aquatic Pomacea bridgesi (Reeve). The activity was determined in the heamolymph and homogenates of hepatopancreas and foot muscle. No CAT and peroxidase activity was detected in the hepatopancreas and foot muscle of P. bridgesi, and its haemolymph displayed a very low CAT activity (0.005 U/mg of protein). In H. aspersa the highest activities (U/g) observed for CAT and GSSGR in the hepatopancreas were 0.40, and 1.05, respectively; for peroxidase and G6PDH in the foot muscle the respective values were 1.22 and 0.22. The activities of antioxidant enzymes determined in both snail species are much lower than the corresponding values for mammalian tissues

Mechanical Pretreatment in a Screw Press Affecting Chemical Pulping of Lignocellulosic Biomass

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