Thermal Two Point Function of a Heavy Muon in hot QED plasma within Bloch Nordsieck Approximation

The thermal propagator of a heavy muon propagating in a hot QED plasma is examined within the Bloch-Nordsieck approximation, which is valid in the infrared region. It is shown that the muon damping rate is finite, in contrast to the lower-order calculation with hard thermal loop resummations taken into account.Comment: 18 pages, RevTe

Ações de prevenção das DST/HIV/AIDS e Hepatites virais: protagonismo juvenil nas Escolas da Rede Pública de Ensino

Anais do 35º Seminário de Extensão Universitária da Região Sul - Área temática: SaúdeAção educativa voltada para jovens das escolas da rede pública de ensino das cidades de Francisco Beltrão e Marmeleiro. Edificado com base em pesquisas e aprofundamento teórico sobre as DST, especialmente AIDS e hepatites virais, o projeto visa sensibilizar a população quanto às mesmas, promovendo uma troca de conhecimentos, de forma participativa e dinâmica, bem como proporciona uma oportunidade ímpar na formação dos futuros profissionais da área médica de trabalharem ações de promoção à saúd

Identification and Modification ofPorphyromonas gingivalisCysteine Protease, Gingipain, Ideal for Screening Periodontitis

Chronic periodontitis is an inflammatory disease caused by the formation of oral microbial biofilms. Periodontitis is associated with general health and not only oral diseases.Porphyromonas gingivalisis a well-known keystone pathogen for periodontitis and is associated with several systemic diseases, such as diabetes mellitus and Alzheimer's disease. We previously developed a system for screening periodontitis usingP. gingivalis-specific serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with a sensitivity of 0.774 and a specificity of 0.586 and an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.708. However, the antigens elicited non-specific responses, since they were obtained from whole extracts of sonicated cultured bacteria. The purpose of this study was to identify antigens ideal for a sensitive and specific serum test. We identified the specific antigens using immunoaffinity columns immobilized with IgG antibodies from periodontitis patients. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry identified 29 antigens from the elutes. Recombinant proteins for these candidates were synthesized using the wheat germ cell-free translation system and screened by dot blot analysis with serum from the columns. Three of the 16 candidates that reacted showed strongest affinities upon dot blot analysis; they included outer membrane protein 28, cysteine proteases, lysine gingipain Kgp, and arginine gingipain RgpA. Outer membrane protein 28 was not suitable for screeningP. gingivalisinfection because of its high false-negative rates. Kgp and RgpA were unstable antigens since they underwent self-digestion. They were made stable by substituting the active cysteine residues in Kgp and RgpA with alanine using site-directed mutagenesis. Using the modified antigens, we demonstrated that the patient serum IgG level against RgpA was the highest among all the antigens expressed inP. gingivalis. Moreover, the N-terminus of recombinant RgpA was excellent in differentiating between diseased and non-diseased states (with sensitivity of 0.85, specificity of 0.9, and area under the curve of 0.915). Although dot blot analysis was the only experiment used, the N-terminus of RgpA is an excellent antigen to immunologically test forP. gingivalisinfection, especially for estimating the risks for periodontitis-associated systemic diseases. In conclusion, we have developed aP. gingivalisantigen for screening periodontitis

Treatment resistance of rheumatoid arthritis relates to infection of periodontal pathogenic bacteria: a case-control cross-sectional study

Recent studies have shown that periodontitis is associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and periodontal bacteria, such as Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa) and Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) are involved in the pathogenesis of RA via citrullinated proteins. Smoking has also been shown to be involved in the pathogenesis of RA; however, the extent of this involvement is still poorly understood. In addition, RA and polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) are sometimes difficult to differentiate; however, the relationship between PMR and the factors from smoking and periodontal bacteria is unclear. The aim of this study was to clarify the relationship between periodontal pathogenic bacterial infections and smoking in patients with RA or PMR. This case-control study included 142 patients with untreated RA or PMR. This study evaluated the serum antibody titers against periodontal pathogenic bacterial antigens and an anti-citrullinated peptide antibody (ACPA). In patients with RA, the relationship between antibody titers and disease activity of RA and response after 3 months of treatment was also investigated. Additionally, the effects of smoking were evaluated. Although there was no significant difference in serum antibody titer against periodontal pathogenic bacteria between the ACPA-positive RA group and the ACPA-negative PMR group, we found an association between the elevated antibody titer against Pg and the degree of ACPA value, especially between negative group and high-value positive group (>= 100 U/mL). The antibody titers against Aa and Pg did not differ depending on disease activity score 28 (DAS28) at baseline; however, patients with high antibody titers had poor RA therapeutic response as judged by DAS28 after 3 months. We could not find any association between smoking and any of these parameters. Periodontal pathogenic bacteria, especially Pg, are associated with elevated ACPA levels. Our findings suggest that Pg and Aa infections interfere with the therapeutic response of RA

Treatment of Bucco-Accessory Root Canal of a Maxillary Incisor with a Combination of Cone Beam Computed Tomography and Continuous Supersonic Wave Condensation

Objective: A novel treatment for bucco-accessory root canal (bARC), which is difficult to treat by regular endodontic therapy, is discussed. Clinical Presentation and Intervention: A bARC in the maxillary right incisor with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis was detected using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) after conventional dental radiography. The pulp was extirpated and the canal enlarged using rotary files and chemo-mechanical reagents. The main root canal and bARC were obturated with thermoplastic gutta-percha using continuous wave condensation. Postoperative CBCT revealed a completely treated bARC. Conclusion: A combination of CBCT and continuous wave condensation is ideal for bARCs in incisors

Use of Highly Accurate Devices for a First Lower Premolar Endodontic Treatment with Multiple Root Canals

This case report highlights the importance of using a dental operating microscope (DOM) and ultrasonic endodontic tips (UETs) to locate all root canals in the lower first premolar. A 53-year-old woman presented to our clinic with pain in the lower right first premolar. After a detailed search using a DOM and UETs, three root canals were found, prepared with rotary HyFlex endodontic files, and obturated using the lateral condensation technique. At the five-year follow-up after treatment, the tooth was completely restored and fulfilling its function, with no signs or symptoms of any post-treatment flare-up

Recent Advances in Apical Periodontitis Treatment: A Narrative Review

Apical periodontitis is an inflammatory response caused by pulp infection. It induces bone resorption in the apical and periapical regions of the tooth. The most conservative approach to treat this condition is nonsurgical endodontic treatment. However, clinical failure has been reported with this approach; thus, alternative procedures are required. This review highlights recent literature regarding advanced approaches for the treatment of apical periodontitis. Various therapies, including biological medications, antioxidants, specialized pro-resolving lipid mediators, and stem cell therapy, have been tested to increase the success rate of treatment for apical periodontitis. Some of these approaches remain in the in vivo phase of research, while others have just entered the translational research phase to validate clinical application. However, a detailed understanding of the molecular mechanisms that occur during development of the immunoinflammatory reaction in apical periodontitis remains unclear. The aim of this review was to summarize advanced approaches for the treatment of apical periodontitis. Further research can confirm the potential of these alternative nonsurgical endodontic treatment approaches

Cytokine expression in human dermal fibroblasts stimulated with eosinophil cationic protein measured by protein array

[Background] : Eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) was reported previously to be involved in allergic inflammation with cytotoxic activity. On the other hand, recent studies showed that ECP did not induce cell death but inhibited the growth of cancer-derived cells. Our previous study indicated that human ECP enhanced differentiation of rat neonatal cardiomyocytes and stress fiber formation in Balb/c 3T3 mouse fibroblasts, while the effects of human ECP on human fibroblasts are unknown. [Objective] : The present study was performed to determine the effects of human ECP on cytokine expression in human fibroblasts by protein array. [Methods] : The effects of recombinant human ECP (rhECP) on normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDF) were examined by assaying cell growth. Furthermore, cytokine expression of NHDF stimulated by ECP, which could influence cell growth, was evaluated by protein array. [Results] : ECP was not cytotoxic but enhanced the growth of NHDF. The peak rhECP concentration that enhanced the cell counts by 1.56-fold was 100 ng/mL, which was significantly different from cultures without ECP stimulation (ANOVA/Scheffe’s test, P < 0.05). Array analyses indicated that ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), neutrophilactivating peptide (NAP)-2, and neurotrophin (NT)-3 were significantly upregulated in NHDF stimulated with 100 ng/mL ECP compared to those without stimulation. [Conclusion] : ECP is not cytotoxic but enhances the growth of NHDF. CNTF, NAP-2, and NT-3 were suggested to be involved in enhancing the growth of NHDF. These findings will contribute to determination of the role of ECP in allergic inflammation. (Asian Pac J Allergy Immunol 2013;31:271-6