A Prospective Study of Mid-Trimester MCP-1 Levels as a Predictor of Preterm Delivery

Background: The prevention of preterm delivery (PTD) represents one of the major topics in modern obstetrics. The aim was to design a prospective study and investigate if mid-trimester serum and amniotic fluid levels of MCP-1 could predict the occurence of spontaneous PTD. Methods: The study involved 198 women who underwent genetic amniocentesis and blood sampling in the middle of their trimester. After applying the criteria for inclusion in the study, there were 16 respondents in the study group, and 38 respondents in the control group. Level of MCP-1 in amniotic fluid and serum was measured with commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) and statistical analysis was conducted. Results: There was no statistically significant difference in serum or amniotic fluid MCP1 levels between PTD and the control groups. Conclusion: The results suggest that MCP-1 is probably not the most relevant marker for predicting PTD. This study provides new normative data for MCP-1 levels in amniotic fluid and maternal sera and is a valuable tool for future diagnostic and comparative studies

Antimicrobial and Toxic Effects of Boswellia serrata Roxb. and Mentha piperita Linn. Essential Oils on Vaginal Inhabitants

Commercial essential oils (EOs) of incense, Boswellia serrata Roxb, and mint, Mentha piperita L., were investigated against vaginal bacterial and Candida albicans isolates for antimicrobial potential and safety use. The antimicrobial activity of EOs was investigated through a double-dilution micro-plate assay. A brine shrimp assay was used for the determination of toxicity, while the determination of the chemical composition of EOs was carried out using GS–MS. Obtained minimal inhibitory (MIC) and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) point to the activity of mint essential oil (EO) against the multi-resistant P. aeruginosa isolate (MIC/MBC at 6.25 µL/mL), while MIC and MBC values for other isolates were reached at higher concentrations (25–50 µL/mL). According to the toxicity assay, the incense EO reached the LC50 value at 3.07 µL/mL, while mint EO showed higher toxicity at lower concentrations (0.5 µL/mL) and the LC50 could not be determined. The highest antimicrobial potential was obtained for incense against P. aeruginosa. Although the toxicity assay showed high toxicity of mint EO to the eggs of aquatic crustaceans Artemia salina, further testing of EO toxicity is proposed, for example on healthy cell-lines. According to the GC/MS spectrometry, the most represented components of mint EO were the oxygenated hydrocarbons L-menthone (20.86%) and menthol (31.86%), and they could be proposed for further antimicrobial and toxicity investigation

Poboljšana adhezija akrilnih adheziva sa zubnim tkivom uz dodatak čestica na bazi aluminijum oksida

Composite materials based on acrylate UV-cured polymers (Bis-GMA/TEGDMA) as a matrix and reinforcements that can be selected in order to adjust the properties of the obtained composite are used in the field of dental technology. The role of reinforcement is to adjust the mechanical properties, but also to control the shrinkage during curing. As reinforcement, alumina particles doped with iron oxide (Al2O3 Fe) synthesized using the sol-gel technique were selected. In order to simulate the process of adhesive application in real conditions, in vitro testing technique and adhesion properties of synthesized adhesive were used, where tooth tissue was used as a substrate. Comparison with standard adhesives used in dentistry was used to compare adhesion. The quality of the adhesive joint was evaluated using the microhardness testing method using different loads where it is estimated how the adhesive makes a connection with the substrate. It was shown that the synthesized adhesive showed significantly enhanced adhesion compared to the standard adhesive used in dentistry (836%).Kompozitni materijali na bazi akrilatnih fotopolimerizujućih polimera, (Bis-GMA/TEGDMA) koji predstavljaju matricu i ojačanja koja se mogu odabrati sa ciljem podešavanja svojstava dobijenih kompozita, koriste se u oblasti dentalne tehnologije. Uloga ojačanja je podešavanje mehaničkih svojstava, ali i kontrola skupljanja tokom očvršćavanja. Kao ojačanje odabrane su čestice aluminijum-oksida dopirane gvožđe oksidom (Al2O3 Fe), sintetisane korišćenjem sol-gel tehnike. U cilju simuliranja procesa primene adheziva u realnim uslovima korišćena je in vitro tehnika ispitivanja adhezije sintetisanog adheziva pri čemu je kao substrat korišćeno tkivo zuba. Dobijene vrednosti adhezije poređene su sa komercijalnim adhezivima koji se koriste u stomatologiji. Kvalitet adhezivnog spoja ocenjen je merenjem mikrotvrdoće primenom različitih opterećenja, pri čemu je procenjen način kako se ostvaruje spoj između filma i podloge. Pokazalo se da je sintetisani adheziv imao višestruko jaču adheziju u poređenju sa standardnim adhezivom korišćenim u stomatologiji (836 %)

Uticaj oblika i veličine čestica AL2O3 na savojna svojstva PMMA kompozita modifikovanog dodatkom dimetil itakonata

Dental materials have specific requirements regarding behavior in exploitation conditions. Poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) is one of the most commonly used prosthetic materials. It is of interest to improve the mechanical properties of the polymer matrix by adding reinforcements in the form of ceramic particles. It has been shown that adding very small amounts of particles to the material, substantially improved mechanical properties of PMMA modified by dimethyl itaconate (PMMA/DMI). In this paper, different sorts of alumina fillers will be examined. Commercial alumina particles and micro particles of alumina obtained from the sol-gel technique influence the mechanical properties of the composite material obtained. Sol-gel techniques was the mean to synthesize pure alumina particles and ferrous oxide doped alumina particles. Composites are prepared with 1 wt. %, 3 wt. % and 5 wt. % of alumina based particles. It has been shown that all the tested fillers improve the flexular properties of the material relative to the pure matrix PMMA/DMI and the most suitable concentration of fillers was 1 wt. %. Among the types of fillers tested alumina particles obtained by sol-gel technique, perfomed in the best way in improving the flexural strength and modulus.Dentalni materijali imaju posebne zahteve u vezi sa ponašanjem u uslovima eksploatacije. Poli(metil metakrilat) (PMMA) predstavlja jedan od često korišćenih materijala u protetici. Od značajnog je interesa da se poboljšaju mehanička svojstva polimerne matrice dodatkom ojačanja u obliku keramičkih čestica. Pokazalo se da se dodavanjem veoma malih količina čestica u materijal dobijaju bitno poboljšana mehanička svojstva PMMA modifikovanog dodatkom dimetil itakonata (PMMMA/DMI). U okviru ovog rada ispitaće se kako utiče dodatak komercijalnih nanočestica aluminijum oksida i mikro čestica aluminijum oksida dobijenih sol-gel tehnikom na mehanička svojstva dobijenog kompozitnog materijala. Sol-gel tehnikom sintetisane su čiste aluminijum oksidne čestice i čestice dopirane gvožđe oksidom. Pripremeljeni su kompozitni materijali sa 1 mas. %, 3 mas. % i 5 mas. % čestica na bazi aluminijum oksida. Pokazano je da svi testirani punioci poboljšavaju savojna svojstva materijala u odnosu na čistu matricu PMMA/DMI i da je najpogodnija količina čestica 1 mas. %. Između svih vrsta dodatih čestica, mikro čestice aluminijum oksida dobijenih sol-gel tehnikom su pokazale najbolje vrednosti poboljšanja savojne čvrstoće i modula

The influence of the shape and size of the AL2O3 particles on the flexural properties of the PMMA composite modified by the addition of dimethyl itaconate

Dental materials have specific requirements regarding behavior in exploitation conditions. Poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) is one of the most commonly used prosthetic materials. It is of interest to improve the mechanical properties of the polymer matrix by adding reinforcements in the form of ceramic particles. It has been shown that adding very small amounts of particles to the material, substantially improved mechanical properties of PMMA modified by dimethyl itaconate (PMMA/DMI). In this paper, different sorts of alumina fillers will be examined. Commercial alumina particles and micro particles of alumina obtained from the sol-gel technique influence the mechanical properties of the composite material obtained. Sol-gel techniques was the mean to synthesize pure alumina particles and ferrous oxide doped alumina particles. Composites are prepared with 1 wt. %, 3 wt. % and 5 wt. % of alumina based particles. It has been shown that all the tested fillers improve the flexular properties of the material relative to the pure matrix PMMA/DMI and the most suitable concentration of fillers was 1 wt. %. Among the types of fillers tested alumina particles obtained by sol-gel technique, perfomed in the best way in improving the flexural strength and modulus

Redox balance in elite female athletes: differences based on sport types

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to analyze changes in redox balance throughout parameters of oxidative stress and activities of antioxidant enzymes in elite female water polo (N.=15) and football players (N.=19) aged between 20 and 23. Fourteen age-matched sedentary women were also included in the study. METHODS: Blood sampling was performed to measure levels of lipid peroxidation (MDA), total antioxidant status (TAS), superoxide anion radical (OD, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), reduced glutathione (GSH), oxidized glutathione (GSSG), nitrites, superoxide dismutase activity (SOD), catalase activity (CAT) and glutathione-peroxidase activity (GPx). RESULTS: Levels of MDA, TAS, GSSG and H2O2 were significantly higher in athletes than in the control women. Football players had higher levels of O-2(-) than the other two groups. Activity of SOD was higher in water polo players when compared with the football and control groups, CAT was increased in all athletes, while GPx did not differ among groups. CONCLUSIONS: Therefore, prolonged intensive training markedly increases oxidative stress in women, which depends on the type of sport. Lower concentration of O-2(-) and increased activity of SOD in water polo players compared to football players suggest that mechanisms of adaptation of antioxidative defense are related to the type of exercise