Lactoferrin in Gingival Crevicular Fluid and Peripheral Blood during Experimental Gingivitis

Objectives Lactoferrin (LF) is an iron binding protein and stored in the specific granules of granulocytes. It is released by degranulation following granulocyte activation. A positive correlation was previously reported between periodontitis and LF titers of gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and blood. The purpose of this study was to examine alterations of GCF and blood levels of LF (LF-GCF and LF-BL, respectively), employing the experimental gingivitis model. Methods Twelve systemically healthy volunteers, aged 19–21, were selected. Pre-experimental phase of hygiene was followed by a 14-day experimental gingivitis phase in which subjects refrained from all oral hygiene procedures. After that subjects resumed optimal plaque control for 21 days of recovery period. At days 0 (baseline), 14 and 35 gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and blood samples were collected and plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), bleeding on probing (BOP) and probing pocket depth scores were recorded. LF levels were measured with commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. Results PI, GI, BOP and LF-GCF increased significantly after 14 days of experimental gingivitis period and decreased significantly after reinstitution of oral hygiene measures (P<.05). LF-BL appeared to follow the same pattern. Significant negative correlation was detected between the level of LF-BL and BOP at day 14 (P<.05), whereas significant positive correlation was noticed between LF-BL and clinical scores PI, GI and BOP at day 35 (P<.05). Conclusions LF-BL followed the same pattern with LF-GCF and clinical scores during the experimental gingivitis and recovery periods, although alterations of the LF-BL appeared statistically insignificant.PubMe

Infected pancreatic necrosis: outcomes and clinical predictors of mortality. A post hoc analysis of the MANCTRA-1 international study

: The identification of high-risk patients in the early stages of infected pancreatic necrosis (IPN) is critical, because it could help the clinicians to adopt more effective management strategies. We conducted a post hoc analysis of the MANCTRA-1 international study to assess the association between clinical risk factors and mortality among adult patients with IPN. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify prognostic factors of mortality. We identified 247 consecutive patients with IPN hospitalised between January 2019 and December 2020. History of uncontrolled arterial hypertension (p = 0.032; 95% CI 1.135-15.882; aOR 4.245), qSOFA (p = 0.005; 95% CI 1.359-5.879; aOR 2.828), renal failure (p = 0.022; 95% CI 1.138-5.442; aOR 2.489), and haemodynamic failure (p = 0.018; 95% CI 1.184-5.978; aOR 2.661), were identified as independent predictors of mortality in IPN patients. Cholangitis (p = 0.003; 95% CI 1.598-9.930; aOR 3.983), abdominal compartment syndrome (p = 0.032; 95% CI 1.090-6.967; aOR 2.735), and gastrointestinal/intra-abdominal bleeding (p = 0.009; 95% CI 1.286-5.712; aOR 2.710) were independently associated with the risk of mortality. Upfront open surgical necrosectomy was strongly associated with the risk of mortality (p &lt; 0.001; 95% CI 1.912-7.442; aOR 3.772), whereas endoscopic drainage of pancreatic necrosis (p = 0.018; 95% CI 0.138-0.834; aOR 0.339) and enteral nutrition (p = 0.003; 95% CI 0.143-0.716; aOR 0.320) were found as protective factors. Organ failure, acute cholangitis, and upfront open surgical necrosectomy were the most significant predictors of mortality. Our study confirmed that, even in a subgroup of particularly ill patients such as those with IPN, upfront open surgery should be avoided as much as possible. Study protocol registered in ClinicalTrials.Gov (I.D. Number NCT04747990)

Construction of a choline biosensor through enzyme immobilization on a poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate)-grafted Teflon film

An amperometric choline biosensor was constructed by immobilizing choline oxidase (ChO) on poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA)-grafted Teflon (polytetrafluoroethylene, PTFE) film. Grafting was achieved by gamma irradiation. PHEMA-grafted Teflon films were activated with epichlorohydrin or glutaraldehyde to achieve covalent immobilization of enzyme onto the film. To decrease the diffusional barrier caused by the enzyme-immobilized film, the film was stretched directly on the electrode. The PHEMA-grafted Teflon film, therefore, had to have appropriate mechanical properties. Glucose oxidase (GOD) was used in the determination of optimum immobilization conditions, then these were applied to ChO. With GOD, the effect of activation type and film position in electrode on enzyme activity was studied and the highest catalytic activity was obtained when the enzyme was immobilized using glutaraldehyde and the film was stretched over the electrode surface. Further studies revealed that the films activated with glutaraldehyde, immobilized in 2 mg/mL ChO concentration, and stretched directly on the electrode were suitable (specific activity, 0.427 +/- 0.068 U mg(-1)) for use in the choline biosensor. The linear working range of this biosensor was found to be 52-348 mu M, with a 40 +/- 5 mu M minimum detection limit. The response of the sensor, however, decreased linearly upon repeated use. (c) 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 104: 3469-3477, 2007

The Effect of Glycerol in the Storage Medium on the Inhibitory Kinetic Behavior of Glutathione Reductase

In this study we report on the effect of glycerol used in storage buffers, on the inhibitory kinetic behavior of NADP(+) on rat kidney glutathione reductase (rkGR) stored at -80 degrees C in +/- 10% (v/v) glycerol. At fixed [GSSG] and varied [NADPH], rkGR stored +/- glycerol were inhibited competitively by NADP(+). Although the addition of glycerol decreased K-m (9.7 +/- 0.9 mu M) and Ki(NADp+) (26.6 +/- 2.2 mu M) for NADPH, the catalytic efficiency (K-cat/K-m = 2.75 x 10(7) M-1.s(-1)) was increased 1.64 fold. At fixed [NADPH] and varied [GSSG], rkGR exhibited noncompetitive (K-i = 397 69 mu M) and linear mixed-type (K-i = 59.6 +/- 8.4 mu M; K-s = 49.9 +/- 3.2 mu M; alpha = 7.74) inhibitions with and without glycerol during storage. The K-cat/K-m of rkGR stored in glycerol was 5.16 x 10(6) M-1.s(-1). Although the increase in K-cat was 1.25 fold, the K-cat/K-m was minimally affected (1.06).WoSScopu

Inhibition characteristics of hypericin on rat small intestine glutathione-S-transferases

Glutathione-S-transferases constitute a family of enzymes involving in the detoxification of xenobiotics, signalling cascades and serving as ligandins or/and catalyzing the conjugation of various chemicals and drugs. The widely expressed cytosolic GST-pi is a marker protein in various cancers and its increased concentration is linked to drug resistance. GST-pi is autoregulated by S-glutathionylation and it catalyzes the S-glutathionylation of other proteins in response to oxidative or nitrosative stress. S-glutathionylation of GST-pi results in multimer formation and the breakage of ligand binding interactions with c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase (JNK). Another widely expressed GST enzyme, GST-alpha is assumed as a marker in hepatocellular damage, is implicated in cancer, asthma, cardiovascular disease and response to chemotherapy

Amitriptyline may have a supportive role in cancer treatment by inhibiting glutathione S-transferase pi (GST-pi) and alpha (GST-alpha)

A tricyclic anti-depressant, amitriptyline, is a highly prescribed drug for cancer patients for mood elevation but there are limited studies about the interaction of amitriptyline with glutathione S-transferases pi (GST-pi) and glutathione S-transferases alpha (GST-alpha). GST isozymes have been implicated in chemotherapeutic drug resistance. We demonstrated that the concentration dependent inhibition of GST-pi and GST-alpha by amitriptyline followed inverse hyperbolic inhibition curves with IC50 values of 5.54 and 8.32 mM, respectively

Tunable Metasurfaces with Liquid Crystals

Metamaterials XI (2018 ; Strasbourg, France)Intensive researches in the area of metasurfaces have provided a new insight to obtain flat and compact optical systems. In this letter, we numerically show that, highly efficient tunable beam steering effect in transmission mode is achieved at wavelength lambda = 550 nm using nematic liquid crystals (LCs) infiltrated into double sided metasurfaces. Using the electro-optical feature of LCs, the phase profile of the metasurfaces is controlled and thus, the transmitted beam is deflected within the range from -15 degrees to 15 degrees steering angles. Transparent dielectric materials are used in the designed structure that provides highly efficient beam-steering; the corresponding transmission efficiency is above 83% in the visible spectrum, which is another superiority of the proposed hybrid tunable structure over present plasmonic/metamaterial approaches. The designed metasurface still preserves its beam deflection property covering the visible spectrum and hence, such hybrid structure can be implemented for broadband electro-optically controllable beam steering applications

Tunable metasurfaces with nematic liquid crystals

Intensive researches in the area of metasurfaces have provided a new insight to obtain flat and compact optical systems. In this letter, we numerically show that, highly efficient tunable beam steering effect in transmission mode is achieved at wavelength lambda = 550 nm using nematic liquid crystals (LCs) infiltrated into double sided metasurfaces. Using the electro-optical feature of LCs, the phase profile of the metasurfaces is controlled and thus, the transmitted beam is deflected within the range from -15 degrees to 15 degrees steering angles. Transparent dielectric materials are used in the designed structure that provides highly efficient beam-steering; the corresponding transmission efficiency is above 83% in the visible spectrum, which is another superiority of the proposed hybrid tunable structure over present plasmonic/metamaterial approaches. The designed metasurface still preserves its beam deflection property covering the visible spectrum and hence, such hybrid structure can be implemented for broadband electro-optically controllable beam steering applications.Turkish Academy of ScienceThis item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]

Assessing the Molecular Targets and Mode of Action of Furanone C-30 on Pseudomonas aeruginosa Quorum Sensing

Quorum sensing (QS), a sophisticated system of bacterial communication that depends on population density, is employed by many pathogenic bacteria to regulate virulence. In view of the current reality of antibiotic resistance, it is expected that interfering with QS can address bacterial pathogenicity without stimulating the incidence of resistance. Thus, harnessing QS inhibitors has been considered a promising approach to overriding bacterial infections and combating antibiotic resistance that has become a major threat to public healthcare around the globe. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the most frequent multidrug-resistant bacteria that utilize QS to control virulence. Many natural compounds, including furanones, have demonstrated strong inhibitory effects on several pathogens via blocking or attenuating QS. While the natural furanones show no activity against P. aeruginosa, furanone C-30, a brominated derivative of natural furanone compounds, has been reported to be a potent inhibitor of the QS system of the notorious opportunistic pathogen. In the present study, we assess the molecular targets and mode of action of furanone C-30 on P. aeruginosa QS system. Our results suggest that furanone C-30 binds to LasR at the ligand-binding site but fails to establish interactions with the residues crucial for the protein’s productive conformational changes and folding, thus rendering the protein dysfunctional. We also show that furanone C-30 inhibits RhlR, independent of LasR, suggesting a complex mechanism for the agent beyond what is known to date

Optical Sensing Device through Monitoring Cut-off Wavelength of Asymmetric Transmission

20th International Conference on Transparent Optical Networks, ICTON (2018 ; Bucharest, Romani)In this study, we propose and design a subwavelength optical sensing device to detect material refractive index through metallic structure providing asymmetric transmission behavior. The proposed metallic structure consists of trapezoidal aluminum arrays embedded in Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrate. We show that a spectral band, where asymmetric transmission takes place shifts depending on the refractive index of the materials which are placed on top of the structure. In this way, optical sensing device can be designed to operate at visible and near infrared regions using the asymmetric transmission effect. The physical concept is based on Wood Rayleigh anomaly. Different sensing applications can be considered to integrate the proposed idea with the optical technologies