Effect of delayed activation of light-cured composites on all-in-one adhesives

Abstract no. 116published_or_final_versio

Compromised bonding of all-in-one adhesives upon delayed activation of light-cured composites

Abstract no. 897published_or_final_versio

Self medication practice and associated factors at the regional hospital Bamenda, Cameroon: a prospective study

Background: Due to paucity of studies on the prevalence and pattern of self medication among Cameroonians and particularly dwellers of Bamenda City, in this research was undertaken to study the practice of self-drug administration among adult out patients at the Regional Hospital Bamenda; identify potential factors influencing self-medication practices; sources of drugs and/or information about medications and finally the reasons for self-drug administration.Methods: Participants (200) of age 18 years and above who came for external consultation during the study period were sampled conveniently after giving their consent. They were administered questionnaires on self-medication practices. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 19.0.Results: The prevalence of self-medication in this study was 86.50% (173/200). The females were more involved in the practice of self-medication (88.18%) than males (85.54%). Participants from deferent occupations had used various classes of drugs through self initiative. Analgesics were most commonly used (84.39%). This was followed by antimalarials (52.60%) and antibiotics (41.62%). While the least represented was the class of laxatives (1.73%). The factors promoting self medication practices were mainly due to mild nature of illness (36.50%) and longtime spent to see the doctor (22.50%). The leading source of information on self-medication prescription and administration came from doctors (78.61%) and pharmacists (34.42%). Over the counter drugs were the most commonly purchased from private pharmacies (76.88%).Conclusions: Self-medication is an important health issue in this area. This study shows the necessity to educate the public on health education and make regulation of pharmacies in limiting self-medication practices

Family planning services provided by healthcare providers in the Bamenda Health District Cameroon

Family planning is one of the ways through which maternal deaths can be reduced. Studies have shown that up to 40% of maternal deaths could have been averted through the use of family planning services. Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the available family planning services offered to the population of the Bamenda Health District by health care providers. Method: A multistage cross-sectional, descriptive study design was used where data was collected at a point in time. The study population constituted all health workers (Nurses and midwives), randomly selected from the Bamenda Health District. Data were collected from randomly selected health facilities from the 13 health areas of the Bamenda Health Districts with the use of a semi-structured questionnaire. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 21. Result: The result showed that only 36.4% of respondents offer all the aspects of family planning. Based on the types of family planning services available, there were three aspects of family planning services they know: Contraceptive services (27.1%), pregnancy Testing and Counselling (6.4%), and Sexually Transmitted Disease services (3.6%). The most used services by clients were the provision of contraceptives (48.6%) and premarital counseling/preconception care (31.4%). Family planning services least used by clients were sexual and reproductive health education (21.4%), sex determination (27.9%), and breast/cervical cancer screening (7.1%). Success has been made in FP such as reduced unwanted pregnancy and abortion (69.3%) and greater spacing between births, reducing the risk of infant and child mortality (10%). Conclusion: all health centers and hospitals, should consider all aspects of family planning services as an integral part of maternal and child health with Primary Health Care services at all levels to ensure the provision of complete Family Planning services. This will improve the uptake of family planning services by the population

Incompatibility of oxalate desensitizers with acidic, fluoride-containing total-etch adhesives

The use of oxalate desensitizers on acid-etched dentin prior to adhesive application can result in subsurface tubular occlusion by calcium oxalate crystals. However, the solubility of calcium oxalate increases in acidic solution. We hypothesized that total-etch adhesives can, depending upon their pH, interact with oxalate-desensitizer-treated dentin in an adverse manner. Acid-etched human dentin treated with 2 oxalate desensitizers (BisBlock and Super Seal) was bonded with 4 simplified total-etch adhesives: One-Step (OS), Single Bond (SB), OptiBond Solo Plus (OB), and Prime&Bond NT (PB). Composite-dentin beams were examined by SEM and TEM, both of which revealed numerous spherical globules on OB- and PB-bonded, desensitizer-treated dentin, but not in OS or SB samples. Bond strengths produced by OB and PB were significantly lower in oxalate-treated specimens than those produced by OS or SB. These surface globules may have interfered with hybridization of demineralized dentin with OB and PB resins and caused compromised bond strengths.postprin

Clinical and pharmaceutical applications of affinity ligands in capillary electrophoresis: A review

Affinity capillary electrophoresis (ACE) is a separation technique that combines a biologically-related binding agent with the separating power and efficiency of capillary electrophoresis. This review will examine several classes of binding agents that have been used in ACE and applications that have been described for the resulting methods in clinical or pharmaceutical analysis. Binding agents that will be considered are antibodies, aptamers, lectins, serum proteins, carbohydrates, and enzymes. This review will also describe the various formats in which each type of binding agent has been used in CE, including both homogeneous and heterogeneous methods. Specific areas of applications that will be considered are CE-based immunoassays, glycoprotein/glycan separations, chiral separations, and biointeraction studies. The general principles and formats of ACE for each of these applications will be examined, along with the potential advantages or limitations of these methods

Effect of resin hydrophilicity on tracer penetration

published_or_final_versio

Incompatibility profiles of all-in-one adhesives. II. Contribution of oxygen inhibition

published_or_final_versio

The Cell Shape-determining Csd6 Protein from Helicobacter pylori Constitutes a New Family of L,D-Carboxypeptidase

Helicobacter pylori causes gastrointestinal diseases, including gastric cancer. Its high motility in the viscous gastric mucosa facilitates colonization of the human stomach and depends on the helical cell shape and the flagella. In H. pylori, Csd6 is one of the cell shape-determining proteins that play key roles in alteration of cross-linking or by trimming of peptidoglycan muropeptides. Csd6 is also involved in deglycosylation of the flagellar protein FlaA. To better understand its function, biochemical, biophysical, and structural characterizations were carried out. We show that Csd6 has a three-domain architecture and exists as a dimer in solution. The N-terminal domain plays a key role in dimerization. The middle catalytic domain resembles those of L,D-transpeptidases, but its pocket-shaped active site is uniquely defined by the four loops I to IV, among which loops I and III show the most distinct variations from the known L,D-transpeptidases. Mass analyses confirm that Csd6 functions only as an L,D-carboxypeptidase and not as an L,D-transpeptidase. The D-Ala-complexed structure suggests possible binding modes of both the substrate and product to the catalytic domain. The C-terminal nuclear transport factor 2-like domain possesses a deep pocket for possible binding of pseudaminic acid, and in silico docking supports its role in deglycosylation of flagellin. On the basis of these findings, it is proposed that H. pylori Csd6 and its homologs constitute a new family of L,D-carboxypeptidase. This work provides insights into the function of Csd6 in regulating the helical cell shape and motility of H. pylori.1165Ysciescopu