Comparative study of the shear bond strength of various veneering materials on grade II commercially pure titanium

PURPOSETo compare the shear bond strength of various veneering materials to grade II commercially pure titanium (CP-Ti).MATERIALS AND METHODSThirty specimens of CP-Ti disc with 9 mm diameter and 10 mm height were divided into three experimental groups. Each group was bonded to heat-polymerized acrylic resin (Lucitone 199), porcelain (Triceram), and indirect composite (Sinfony) with 7 mm diameter and 2 mm height. For the control group (n=10), Lucitone 199 were applied on type IV gold alloy castings. All samples were thermocycled for 5000 cycles in 5-55℃ water. The maximum shear bond strength (MPa) was measured with a Universal Testing Machine. After the shear bond strength test, the failure mode was assessed with an optic microscope and a scanning electron microscope. Statistical analysis was carried out with a Kruskal-Wallis Test and Mann-Whitney Test.RESULTSThe mean shear bond strength and standard deviations for experimental groups were as follows: Ti-Lucitone 199 (12.11 ± 4.44 MPa); Ti-Triceram (11.09 ± 1.66 MPa); Ti-Sinfony (4.32 ± 0.64 MPa). All of these experimental groups showed lower shear bond strength than the control group (16.14 ± 1.89 MPa). However, there was no statistically significant difference between the Ti-Lucitone 199 group and the control group, and the Ti-Lucitone 199 group and the Ti-Triceram group. Most of the failure patterns in all experimental groups were adhesive failures.CONCLUSIONThe shear bond strength of veneering materials such as heat-polymerized acrylic resin, porcelain, and indirect composite to CP-Ti was compatible to that of heatpolymerized acrylic resin to cast gold alloy

Inhibition of autophagy promotes salinomycin-induced apoptosis via reactive oxygen species-mediated PI3K/AKT/mTOR and ERK/p38 MAPK-dependent signaling in human prostate cancer cells

Recently, the interplay between autophagy and apoptosis has become an important factor in chemotherapy for cancer treatment. Inhibition of autophagy may be an effective strategy to improve the treatment of chemo-resistant cancer by consistent exposure to chemotherapeutic drugs. However, no reports have clearly elucidated the underlying mechanisms. Therefore, in this study, we assessed whether salinomycin, a promising anticancer drug, induces apoptosis and elucidated potential antitumor mechanisms in chemo-resistant prostate cancer cells. Cell viability assay, Western blot, annexin V/propidium iodide assay, acridine orange (AO) staining, caspase-3 activity assay, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and mitochondrial membrane potential were assayed. Our data showed that salinomycin alters the sensitivity of prostate cancer cells to autophagy. Pretreatment with 3-methyladenine (3-MA), an autophagy inhibitor, enhanced the salinomycin-induced apoptosis. Notably, salinomycin decreased phosphorylated of AKT and phosphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) in prostate cancer cells. Pretreatment with LY294002, an autophagy and PI3K inhibitor, enhanced the salinomycin-induced apoptosis by decreasing the AKT and mTOR activities and suppressing autophagy. However, pretreatment with PD98059 and SB203580, an extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK), and p38 inhibitors, suppressed the salinomycin-induced autophagy by reversing the upregulation of ERK and p38. In addition, pretreatment with N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), an antioxidant, inhibited salinomycin-induced autophagy by suppressing ROS production. Our results suggested that salinomycin induces apoptosis, which was related to ROS-mediated autophagy through regulation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR and ERK/p38 MAPK signaling pathways

Comparison of Operating Conditions, Postoperative Pain and Recovery, and Overall Satisfaction of Surgeons with Deep vs. No Neuromuscular Blockade for Spinal Surgery under General Anesthesia: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial

We aimed to investigate operating conditions, postoperative pain, and overall satisfaction of surgeons using deep neuromuscular blockade (NMB) vs. no NMB in patients undergoing lumbar spinal surgery under general anesthesia. Eighty-three patients undergoing lumbar fusion were randomly assigned to receive deep NMB (n = 43) or no NMB (n = 40). In the deep-NMB group, rocuronium was administered to maintain deep NMB (train-of-four count 0, post-tetanic count 1–2) until the end of surgery. In the no-NMB group, sugammadex 4 mg/kg at train-of-four (TOF) count 0–1 or sugammadex 2 mg/kg at TOF count ≥2 was administered to reverse the NMB 10 min after placing the patient prone. Peak inspiratory airway pressure, plateau airway pressure, lumbar retractor pressure significantly were lower in the deep-NMB group. Degree of surgical field bleeding (0–5), muscle tone (1–3), and satisfaction (1–10) rated by the surgeon were all superior in the deep-NMB group. Pain scores, rescue fentanyl consumption in post-anesthesia care unit (PACU), and postoperative patient-controlled analgesia consumption were significantly lower in the deep-NMB group, and this group had a shorter length of stay in PACU. Compared to no NMB, deep NMB provides better operating conditions, reduced postoperative pain and higher overall satisfaction in lumbar spinal surgery

Monensin induces PC-3 prostate cancer cell apoptosis via ROS production and Ca2+ homeostasis disruption

Background: Monensin is a carboxyl polyether ionophore that potently inhibits the growth of various cancer cells. Recently, the anticancer effects of monensin have been recognized based on its ability to induce apoptosis in cancer cells. However, anticancer effect of monensin and its mechanism of action have yet to be investigated, especially against human prostate cancer cells. Materials and Methods: Cell viability assay, western blot, cell-cycle arrest, annexin V/propidium iodide assay, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and intracellular Ca2+ flux were assayed. Results: In this study, monensin significantly inhibited cell viability in a dose-dependent manner in prostate cell lines. Moreover, cell growth inhibition by monensin induced G1 phase cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis via regulation of cell cycle- and apoptosis-related proteins in PC-3 cells. In addition, monensin induced the production of ROS and the disruption of Ca2+ homeostasis, that was restored by diphenyleneiodonium, a mitochondrial ROS inhibitor and verapamil, a Ca2+ channel blocker, respectively, as confirmed by pro-caspase-3 activation and poly ADP ribose polymerase cleavage. Conclusion: Monensin induces cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis through regulation of cell cycle- and apoptosis-related proteins, resulting in induction of mitochondrial ROS-and Ca2+-dependent apoptosis, respectively.ope

Use of complementary and alternative medicine by self- or non-institutional therapists in South Korea: a community-based survey

Background: The purpose of this study is to investigate the prevalence and utilization pattern of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) administered by oneself or by non-institutional practitioners in a general population in South Korea. Methods: Nationwide, face-to-face surveys were conducted from September 1, 2011 to October 5, 2011. We conveniently selected the participants by using a proportional allocation method according to age, gender, and region. The use of CAM in the last year, the patterns of use, sources of information, and counseling objects were investigated in addition to respondents’ demographic characteristics. Results: Among the 1284 people approached, 915 respondents (71.3%) reported having had at least one CAM therapy during the past 12 months. Natural products were used the most frequently (58.8%). Unexpectedly, 82.6% out of 1740 therapies reported were self-administered CAM. Healthcare professionals were the source of information on CAM in only 5.6% of all instances of use, and only 17.7% of participants had consulted with doctors regarding CAM use. Conclusions: Owing to the widespread use of CAM in South Korea, researchers should focus on the safety and potential effectiveness of CAM therapy when self-administered by users or by unauthorized CAM practitioners

Molecular Design Approach for Directed Alignment of Conjugated Polymers

Macroscopic alignment of conjugated polymers (CPs) is essential to fully realize the anisotropic optical and electronic properties of CPs, originated from the one-dimensional -orbital overlap along the conjugated backbone, in the solid-state devices. Various CP-processing approaches to achieve CP alignment have been explored. However, molecular design to enable CP alignment has not been fully understood. Herein, we report a thorough investigation into molecular design parameters critically affecting CP alignment characteristics. First, we present a series of CPs with newly designed building blocks reflecting the previously identified preliminary design principles to validate the general applicability of the identified CP design parameters for alignment. Furthermore, newly defined design factors correlating with CP alignment characteristics are systematically studied, including the planarity of CP main chain, the effect of the side-chain design, intramolecular interaction moiety for induced chain planarity, and the surface energy of CPs. Utilizing aligned CP films, we also demonstrated the optical switching of organic thin-film transistor (OTFT) devices. Depending on the orientation of polarized light illumination, different amounts of photocurrent gain were observed. The on-to-off switching ratio (Ion/Ioff) under illumination was ca. 7.2 × 104, which is large enough for an OTFT to operate by an optical as well as an electrical trigger. © 2019 American Chemical Society.N

Molecular Design Approach for Directed Alignment of Conjugated Polymers

Macroscopic alignment of conjugated polymers (CPs) is essential to fully realize the anisotropic optical and electronic properties of CPs, originated from the one-dimensional pi-orbital overlap along the conjugated backbone, in the solid-state devices. Various CP-processing approaches to achieve CP alignment have been explored. However, molecular design to enable CP alignment has not been fully understood. Herein, we report a thorough investigation into molecular design parameters critically affecting CP alignment characteristics. First, we present a series of CPs with newly designed building blocks reflecting the previously identified preliminary design principles to validate the general applicability of the identified CP design parameters for alignment. Furthermore, newly defined design factors correlating with CP alignment characteristics are systematically studied, including the planarity of CP main chain, the effect of the side-chain design, intramolecular interaction moiety for induced chain planarity, and the surface energy of CPs. Utilizing aligned CP films, we also demonstrated the optical switching of organic thin-film transistor (OTFT) devices. Depending on the orientation of polarized light illumination, different amounts of photocurrent gain were observed. The on-to-off switching ratio (I-on/I-off) under illumination was ca. 7.2 x 10(4), which is large enough for an OTFT to operate by an optical as well as an electrical trigger