The correlation between C-reactive protein and toxic granulation of neutrophils in the peripheral blood

Background. During inflammation, the serum concentrations of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), plasma interleukin-6 (IL-6), and C-reactive protein (CRP) increase. A positive correlation between CRP and the percentages of neutrophils exhibiting toxic granulation during inflammation has been demonstrated, and that the fluctuations of CRP and toxic granulation of neutrophils were similar. Objectives. We studied whether grading of toxic granulated neutrophils can be used as a surrogate marker for infection or inflammation, and also be an easier method than previously described methods. Materials and methods. We graded 357 consecutive peripheral blood slides from patients on whom a full blood count with differential count and CRP level was performed, according to intensity of toxic granulation in the neutrophil population, according to a newly proposed grading system. Results. The CRP range was between 1 and 530.3 mg/l. The results confirm the association between a rise in CRP and progressive intensity of toxic granulation in neutrophils in peripheral blood. Kruskal-Wallis equality of populations rank test showed a statistically significant difference between the graded categories (p=0.0001). The Trend test was also statistically significant (p=0.000). Conclusion. The proposed system can be applied to patients with inflammatory or infectious conditions, where grading of toxic granulation of neutrophils can possibly be used as a surrogate marker to assess infection or inflammation and their response to treatment. It may be of particular use in cases where traditional infectious or inflammatory markers cannot be used, owing to inherent problems associated with the respective conditions

Q(2) dependence of nuclear transparency for exclusive rho(0) production

Exclusive coherent and incoherent electroproduction of the rho(0) meson from H-1 and N-14 targets has been studied at the HERMES experiment as a function of coherence length (l(c)), corresponding to the lifetime of hadronic fluctuations of the virtual photon, and squared four-momentum of the virtual photon (-Q(2)). The ratio of N-14 to H-1 cross sections per nucleon, called nuclear transparency, was found to increase (decrease) with increasing l(c) for coherent (incoherent) rho(0) electroproduction. For fixed l(c), a rise of nuclear transparency with Q(2) is observed for both coherent and incoherent rho(0) production, which is in agreement with theoretical calculations of color transparency

Evidence for quark-hadron duality in the proton spin asymmetry A(1)

Spin-dependent lepton-nucleon scattering data have been used to investigate the validity of the concept of quark-hadron duality for the spin asymmetry A(1). Longitudinally polarized positrons were scattered off a longitudinally polarized hydrogen target for values of Q(2) between 1.2 and 12 GeV2 and values of W-2 between 1 and 4 GeV2. The average double-spin asymmetry in the nucleon resonance region is found to agree with that measured in deep-inelastic scattering at the same values of the Bjorken scaling variable x. This finding implies that the description of A(1) in terms of quark degrees of freedom is valid also in the nucleon resonance region for values of Q(2) above 1.6 GeV2

Surveillance or self-surveillance? Behavioral cues can increase the rate of drivers' pro-environmental behavior at a long wait stop

By leaving their engines idling for long periods, drivers contribute unnecessarily to air pollution, waste fuel, and produce noise and fumes that harm the environment. Railway level crossings are sites where many cars idle, many times a day. In this research, testing two psychological theories of influence, we examine the potential to encourage drivers to switch off their ignition while waiting at rail crossings. Two field studies presented different signs at a busy rail crossing site with a 2-min average wait. Inducing public self-focus (via a “Watching Eyes” stimulus) was not effective, even when accompanied by a written behavioral instruction. Instead, cueing a private-self focus (“think of yourself”) was more effective, doubling the level of behavioral compliance. These findings confirm the need to engage the self when trying to instigate self-regulatory action, but that cues evoking self-surveillance may sometimes be more effective than cues that imply external surveillance

Limits on the Mixing of Tau Neutrino to Heavy Neutrinos

Limits at 90 % c.l. on the square of the mixing strength |U_tau4|^2 between nu_tau and a mostly isosinglet heavy neutrino with mass in the range 10-290 MeV/c^2 are reported. The results were derived using the negative result of a search for neutral particles decaying into two electrons conducted by the CHARM collaboration in a neutrino beam dump experiment. Upper limits ~10^-4 were obtained for neutrino masses larger than 160 MeV/c^2.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figure

Antimicrobial efficacy of nine different root canal irrigation solutions

Endodontic therapy is a debridement procedure that requires removal of the irritants from the canal and periapical tissues if the treatment is to be successful. It is well established that bacteria are the main etiological factors in the development of dentinal caries and its progression to pulpal and periapical disease. E. faecalis is the bacterial species most frequently recovered from root-filled teeth. Studies have shown that E. faecalis is able to withstand a high alkaline environment such as the one generated by calcium hydroxide. The resistance appears to be related to a cell proton-pump that is necessary for survival of the bacterium at high pH. Therefore, E. faecalis is able to form biofilms even in calcium-hydroxide-medicated root canals. In addition, under starved conditions, this resilient organism shows tolerance to sodium hypochlorite, heat, hydrogen peroxide, acid and ethanol. E. faecalis can also survive extended periods of starvation in water, within water-filled dentinal tubules, and in human serum.http://www.sada.co.zaam201

The influence of glide path preparation on the failure rate of WaveOne reciprocating instruments

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to determine the influence of two different glide path preparation methods on the fracture rate of the Primary 25/08 WaveOne reciprocating instrument. Preparation times for different glide path methods and total time for root canal preparation, with and without prior glide path preparation, were also calculated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: ISO 15, 0.02 taper Endo-Training- Blocks (n = 300) were selected and randomly divided into three main groups (n = 100): Group 1: no glide path (control); Group 2: glide path preparation with stainless-steel hand files; and Group 3: glide path preparation with rotary PathFiles. The time taken to prepare each glide path was recorded. The specimens in each main group were then randomly assigned into five subgroups (n=20). New Primary 25/08 WaveOne files were used for canal preparation in each subgroup. The outcome was measured by recording how many simulated canals could be shaped with one WaveOne reciprocating file in each subgroup before instrument breakage occurred. The average time it took to prepare each of the simulated canals was calculated and recorded. The data were collected and statistically analysed using the ANOVA / Bonferroni test. RESULTS: Glide path preparation with PathFiles was significantly faster than with hand files (P<0.001). After the glide path preparation had been performed with PathFiles, a greater number of simulated canals could be prepared before failure of the WaveOne file (P<0.001). Root canal preparation time was significantly shorter (P<0.001) when an initial glide path had been prepared with PathFiles. CONCLUSION : Initial glide path preparation with PathFiles resulted in shorter preparation times and allowed a higher number of simulated canals to be prepared before failure of the WaveOne instruments.http://www.sada.co.za2015-07-30am201

Errors in root canal preparation : a review of the literature and clinical case reports

Chemo-mechanical preparation and the removal of infected dentine in order to eliminate microorganisms and avoid apical periodontitis remain the main objectives in endodontic treatment. Mechanical preparation of the root canal system not only provides the space for obturation but also facilitates disinfection of the root canal system through the use of irrigation solutions. Iatrogenic preparation errors affect the root canal anatomy and can result in apical canal transportation, uncentered preparations, ledge formation, or perforations. These errors are all associated with inferior outcomes of endodontic treatment. In this paper, the authors will discuss a review of the literature which considers some of these procedural errors and, using clinical case studies, will illustrate the appropriate clinical management when errors do occur.https://www.sada.co.za/the-sadjam2021Odontolog