Antibacterial Actions of Dental Cements

We examined antibacteriral activities of ten clinically used dental cements on the oral indigenous bacteria. The order of the intensiveness of antibacterial activity in wideness of spectrum of various bacterial species was eugenol group, carboxylate group, zinc phosphate group, copper group=silicate phosahate group, silicate group. The two cements in eugenol group were active on all the indicator strains. Carboxylate group inhibited preferably anaerobes. The others were active on several strains. The action of cements on the susceptible cells was found to be both bactericidal and bacteriostatic, in which eugenol group acted mainly bactericidally. This bactericidal effects were demonstrated also in the teeth experimentally infected. Silicate group exhibited no measurable antibacterial activity. The inhibitory activities were rather stable, they did not lose at least 6 weeks in a solution except for one cement sample. The inhibitory activities were detected in the both of powder components and liquid components of the cements and the activities in the former components were stronger than those of the latter components. Of the authentic reagents consists of cements, eugenol, rosin, zinc oxide, and zinc phosphate exhibited inhibitory activity against various bactrial species

Evolutionary Patterns and Selective Pressures of Odorant/Pheromone Receptor Gene Families in Teleost Fishes

BACKGROUND: Teleost fishes do not have a vomeronasal organ (VNO), and their vomeronasal receptors (V1Rs, V2Rs) are expressed in the main olfactory epithelium (MOE), as are odorant receptors (ORs) and trace amine-associated receptors (TAARs). In this study, to obtain insights into the functional distinction among the four chemosensory receptor families in teleost fishes, their evolutionary patterns were examined in zebrafish, medaka, stickleback, fugu, and spotted green pufferfish. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Phylogenetic analysis revealed that many lineage-specific gene gains and losses occurred in the teleost fish TAARs, whereas only a few gene gains and losses have taken place in the teleost fish vomeronasal receptors. In addition, synonymous and nonsynonymous nucleotide substitution rate ratios (K(A)/K(S)) in TAARs tended to be higher than those in ORs and V2Rs. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Frequent gene gains/losses and high K(A)/K(S) in teleost TAARs suggest that receptors in this family are used for detecting some species-specific chemicals such as pheromones. Conversely, conserved repertoires of V1R and V2R families in teleost fishes may imply that receptors in these families perceive common odorants for teleosts, such as amino acids. Teleost ORs showed intermediate evolutionary pattern between TAARs and vomeronasal receptors. Many teleost ORs seem to be used for common odorants, but some ORs may have evolved to recognize lineage-specific odors

Comparable Ages for the Independent Origins of Electrogenesis in African and South American Weakly Electric Fishes

One of the most remarkable examples of convergent evolution among vertebrates is illustrated by the independent origins of an active electric sense in South American and African weakly electric fishes, the Gymnotiformes and Mormyroidea, respectively. These groups independently evolved similar complex systems for object localization and communication via the generation and reception of weak electric fields. While good estimates of divergence times are critical to understanding the temporal context for the evolution and diversification of these two groups, their respective ages have been difficult to estimate due to the absence of an informative fossil record, use of strict molecular clock models in previous studies, and/or incomplete taxonomic sampling. Here, we examine the timing of the origins of the Gymnotiformes and the Mormyroidea using complete mitogenome sequences and a parametric Bayesian method for divergence time reconstruction. Under two different fossil-based calibration methods, we estimated similar ages for the independent origins of the Mormyroidea and Gymnotiformes. Our absolute estimates for the origins of these groups either slightly postdate, or just predate, the final separation of Africa and South America by continental drift. The most recent common ancestor of the Mormyroidea and Gymnotiformes was found to be a non-electrogenic basal teleost living more than 85 millions years earlier. For both electric fish lineages, we also estimated similar intervals (16–19 or 22–26 million years, depending on calibration method) between the appearance of electroreception and the origin of myogenic electric organs, providing rough upper estimates for the time periods during which these complex electric organs evolved de novo from skeletal muscle precursors. The fact that the Gymnotiformes and Mormyroidea are of similar age enhances the comparative value of the weakly electric fish system for investigating pathways to evolutionary novelty, as well as the influences of key innovations in communication on the process of species radiation

Anti-stress effects of simplified aroma hand massage

In order to be able to use the aroma hand massage as a skill that can be done by a nurse who does not have a special aromatherapy technique, we examine antistress effects of simplified aroma hand massage for healthy subjects. We evaluated the anti-stress action of aroma hand massage and the different components of the procedure in 20 healthy women in their twenties. We used autonomic nervous function measured via electrocardiogram as an index of stress. After conducting a baseline electrocardiogram, we induced stress in the participants by asking them to spend 30 minutes completing Kraepelin’s arithmetic test. We then administered various treatments and examined the anti-stress effects. Kraepelin’s test significantly increased sympathetic nervous function and significantly reduced parasympathetic nervous function. Compared with massage without essential oil or aroma inhalation, aroma hand massage significantly increased parasympathetic nervous function and significantly decreased sympathetic nervous function. The effect of the aroma hand massage persisted when the procedure was simplified. The anti-stress action of the aroma hand massage indicates that it might have beneficial application as a nursing technique. There are several limitations in this study; ambiguities of low component/high component ratio of heart rate variability and bias by small subjects groups of the same women

Catalytic Oxidation of Thiols within Cavities of Phthalocyanine Network Polymers

Two three-dimensional (3D) network polymers (<b>1</b> and <b>2</b>), in which zinc­(II) or cobalt­(II) phthalocyanines were interconnected with twisted 9,9′-spirobifluorene linkers, were synthesized in order to investigate their performance as heterogeneous catalysts for thiol oxidations. From the spectroscopic analyses of two dimers (<b>3</b> and <b>4</b>) as component units of the network polymers, <b>3</b> connected with a short linker revealed electronic interaction between the two phthalocyanine units. Micrometer-sized polymer particles were formed due to the condensation of the twisted 9,9′-spirobifluorene linkers in the presence of zinc or cobalt ions. The dispersed solutions of <b>1</b> and <b>2</b> had sharp Q-bands, indicating the prevention of stacking among phthalocyanine moieties within the polymers. Powdered X-ray diffraction pattern and N₂ adsorption–desorption analyses suggested that <b>1</b> created small and rigid cavities as compared with <b>2</b> through the regular spatially arrangement of the phthalocyanine moieties in the 3D networks. The photocatalytic and catalytic activities of <b>1</b> and <b>2</b> for thiol oxidations using molecular oxygen were examined. We found that the catalytic activity of <b>1</b> was higher than that of <b>2</b> having larger cavities

Tethered cord syndrome with spina bifida aperta in cats: two case reports of different types

Case summary Two castrated male cats, aged 8 months old (case 1) and 10 months old (case 2), showed a history of progressive paraparesis, an over-reaching pelvic limb gait, urinary incontinence and a palpable dermoid fistula. In case 1, the fistula was connected to the dural sac on the conus medullaris, and the tethered spinal cord was retracted caudally. In case 2, the tubular structure was connected to the dural sac on the thoracic spinal cord, and the tethered spinal cord was retracted dorsally. Tethered cord syndrome secondary to spina bifida aperta was suspected in both cats. Excision of the fistula and release of the tethered spinal cord was performed. A histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of a meningomyelocele in case 1 and a meningocele in case 2. Paraparesis improved postoperatively in both cats. However, urinary incontinence in case 1 remained partially unresolved. Relevance and novel information This is the first report to describe the imaging characteristics, surgical treatments and outcomes of two different types of tethered cord syndrome with spina bifida aperta in cats. Tethered cord syndrome with spina bifida aperta needs to be included in the differential diagnosis of slowly progressive paraparesis in younger cats with or without vesicorectal failure and a palpable dermoid fistula