•TSPO ligands exert anxiolytic effects in rodents and humans.•TSPO ligands exert neuroprotective actions in rodents.•TSPO ligands promote peripheral axon regeneration.•TSPO ligands induce changes in ...brain levels of neuroactive steroids.•TSPO ligands decrease gliosis and neuroinflammation.
Translocator protein (TSPO) is an 18kDa protein located at contact sites between the outer and the inner mitochondrial membrane. Numerous studies have associated TSPO with the translocation of cholesterol across the aqueous mitochondrial intermembrane space and the regulation of steroidogenesis, as well as with the control of some other mitochondrial functions, such as mitochondrial respiration, mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening, apoptosis and cell proliferation. In the brain, changes in TSPO expression occur in several neuropathological conditions including neurodegenerative diseases and psychiatric disorders. Furthermore, TSPO ligands have been shown to promote neuroprotection in animal models of brain pathology. At least in some cases, the mechanisms of neuroprotection are associated with modifications in brain steroidogenesis. In addition, regulation of neuroinflammation seems to be a common mechanism in the neuroprotective actions of TSPO ligands in different animal models of brain pathology.
The diffusion of microplastics in the food supply chain is prompting public concern as their impact on human health is still largely unknown. The aim of this study was to qualitatively and ...quantitatively characterize microplastics in skim-milk powder samples (n = 16) from different European countries (n = 8) through Fourier-transform infrared micro-spectroscopy in attenuated total reflectance mode analysis. The present study highlights that the use of hot alkaline digestion has enabled the efficacious identification of microplastics in skim-milk powders used for cheese-making across European countries. The adopted protocol allowed detection of 29 different types of polymeric matrices for a total of 536 plastic particles. The most abundant microplastics were polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, and polyethylene terephthalate. Microplastics were found in skim-milk powders in 3 different shapes (fiber, sphere, and irregular fragments) and 6 different colors (black, blue, brown, fuchsia, green, and gray). Results demonstrate the presence of microplastics in all skim-milk powder samples, suggesting a general contamination. Results of the present study will help to evaluate the impact of microplastics intake on human health.
Aim
To investigate the relationship between apical periodontitis and atherosclerosis in rats by lipid profile and carotid artery intima tunic measurement, and histological and histometric evaluation ...of periapical lesions.
Methodology
Forty male Wistar rats were allocated into four groups: control (C), with apical periodontitis (AP), with atherosclerosis (AT) and with AP and AT (AP + AT). Atherosclerosis was induced using a high‐lipid diet associated with a surgical ligature in the carotid artery and a super dosage of vitamin D3. AP was induced via pulp exposure to the oral environment. At 45 and 75 days, serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐C) and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C) were measured. The maxillary and mandibular jaws and carotid artery were collected and processed for histological analysis. The Kruskal–Wallis or Mann–Whitney test was performed for nonparametric data, and the Tukey’s or Student’s t‐test was performed for parametric data (P < 0.05).
Results
In nonatherosclerotic animals, the induction of apical periodontitis increased TG levels significantly, from 63.1 ± 11.4 mg dL−1 in group C to 88.2 ± 7.9 mg dL−1 in the AP group (P < 0.05). The induction of AP was associated with a trend for higher TC and LDL‐C levels in atherosclerotic animals (P > 0.05); however, it only significantly increased TG levels, from 93.2 ± 18.0 mg dL−1 in AT group to 121.9 ± 14.5 mg dL−1 in the AP + AT group (P < 0.05). Animals in the AP + AT group had a 36.5% increase in the thickness of the carotid intima tunic when compared with the AT group (P < 0.05). The intensity of the inflammatory infiltrate was significantly larger in the AP + AT group when compared with AP group (P < 0.05). The AP + AT group exhibited significantly greater alveolar bone loss, with a periapical lesion size of 206.4 ± 56.3 × 104 μm2, compared with 151.4 ± 49.1 × 104 μm2 in the AP group (P < 0.05).
Conclusion
Apical periodontitis influenced triglyceride levels, increasing them even in the absence of atherosclerosis, and influenced the increase in the thickness of the carotid artery intima tunic in the presence of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis intensified the inflammatory reaction and increased bone resorption in periapical lesions.
Systems of particles with long-range interactions present two important processes: first, the formation of out-of-equilibrium quasistationary states (QSS) and, second, the collisional relaxation ...towards Maxwell-Boltzmann equilibrium in a much longer time scale. In this paper, we study the collisional relaxation in the Hamiltonian mean-field model using the appropriate kinetic equations for a system of N particles at order 1/N: the Landau equation when collective effects are neglected and the Lenard-Balescu equation when they are taken into account. We derive explicit expressions for the diffusion coefficients using both equations for any magnetization, and we obtain analytic expressions for highly clustered configurations. An important conclusion is that in this system collective effects are crucial in order to describe the relaxation dynamics. We compare the diffusion calculated with the kinetic equations with simulations set up to simulate the system with or without collective effects, obtaining a very good agreement between theory and simulations.
The recent application of manufactured nanomaterials (MNMs) in plant protection products (PPPs) enhances stability of the active substance (a.s.), minimizes application losses, reduces the quantities ...of a.s., increases coverage on leaf surface, improves precise application, etc. Besides offering benefits, there is high concern about the potential risk for human and environment associated with the use of nanopesticides. In this study, a panel of complementary methodologies were used to determine size distribution and chemical identification of four different formulations of nanopesticides. Measurements were performed by dynamic light scattering (DLS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), asymmetric field flow fractionation-multi angle light scattering (AF4-FFF-MALS), gas/liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS, LC-MS/MS) or diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Results indicated average size values in the ranges: 27.4–148.7 nm by DLS; 39.1–82.0 nm by AF4-FFF-MALS; and 42–90 nm by TEM. Linked to these nanosized particles both organic active ingredients and inorganic ones were identified. In addition, the obtained data revealed that all the four PPPs contained more than 50% of particles with number size distribution between 1 and 100 nm and, according to the European Commission definition, they can be defined as nanopesticides.
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•Risks of nanomaterials used in plant protection products (PPPs) are still unknown.•Different formulations of PPPs were analysed applying state-of-the-art techniques in a tiered approach.•PPPs formulations contained more than 50% in number of particles smaller than 100 nm.•Results provided the basis for the exposure assessment to PPPs nanoformulations.
The main limitation of drug-enhanced radiotherapy concerns the difficulty to evaluate the effectiveness of cancer targeting after drug administration hindering the standardization of therapies based ...on current radiosensitizing compounds. The challenge regards the development of systems able to combine imaging and radiotherapy enhancement in order to perform highly reliable cancer theragnosis. For these reasons, gold-magnetite hybrid nanoparticles (H-NPs) are proposed as innovative theranostic nanotools for imaging-guided radiosensitization in cancer treatment. In this work we propose a novel method for the synthesis of hydrophilic and superparamagnetic Tween20-stabilized gold-magnetite H-NPs. Morphology and chemical composition of nanoparticles were assessed by transmission electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction analysis and ion-coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy. Colloidal stability and magnetic properties of nanoparticles were determined by dynamic light scattering and magnetometry. The potentialities of H-NPs for magnetic resonance imaging were studied using a human 4T-MRI scanner. Nanoparticles were proven to induce concentration-dependent contrast enhancement in T2*-weighted MR-images. The cytotoxicity, the cellular uptake and the radiosensitization activity of H-NPs were investigated in human osteosarcoma MG63 cell cultures and murine 3T3 fibroblasts, using specific bioassays and laser scanning confocal microscopy. H-NPs did not exhibit significant toxicity and were demonstrated to be internalized by cells. A significant x-ray enhancement at specific H-NPs exposure concentrations was evidenced on MG63 cell line.
Citric acid (CA) conditioning may be a promising alternative to ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) in regenerative endodontic procedures, as reported to improve growth factors' release from ...dentin. This review systematically investigated the effect of CA conditioning on the growth factors release from dentin and cell behavior compared to EDTA conditioning.
Searches were conducted (PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, SciELO, Cochrane Library, and grey literature) until May-2023. Only in vitro studies that evaluated the effects of CA on growth factors' release from dentin and cell behavior outcomes compared to EDTA were included. The studies were critically appraised using a modified Joanna Briggs Institute's checklist. Meta-analysis was unfeasible.
Out of the 335 articles screened, nine were included. Among these, three studies used dentin discs/roots from permanent human teeth; the rest combined them with stem cells. 10% CA for 5 or 10 minute was the most used protocol. Meanwhile, EDTA concentrations ranged from 10% to 17%. In eight studies examining the release of growth factors, five reported a significant release of transforming growth factor-β after dentin conditioning with 10% CA compared to 17% EDTA. Regarding cell behavior (6 studies), three studies assessed cell viability. The findings revealed that 10% CA conditioning showed cell viability similar to those of 17% EDTA. Additionally, in two out of three studies, it was observed that 10% CA conditioning did not affect cell morphology. The studies had a low risk of bias.
The use of 10% CA to condition dentin for 5-10 minutes resulted in a notable transforming growth factor -β1 release, but its cell responses were similar to those of EDTA.
Aim
To evaluate the inflammatory response and ability to induce mineral deposition through histological and immunohistochemical analysis for osteocalcin (OCN), osteopontin (OPN) and bone sialoprotein ...(BSP) of a new calcium silicate‐based cement, Bio‐C Pulpo (Angelus), compared to white mineral trioxide aggregate (White MTA‐Ang) (Angelus).
Methodology
Polyethylene tubes containing Bio‐C Pulpo and White MTA‐Ang as well as empty tubes were implanted into the dorsal connective tissue of 30 Wistar rats, which were arranged in five groups according to the period of analysis: 7, 15, 30, 60 and 90 days. After each experimental period, the tubes with surrounding tissue were removed and histologically processed to be analysed using haematoxylin–eosin and immunohistochemistry for the detection of OCN, OPN and BSP. The data were statistically analysed (Friedman's test) at a 5% significance level.
Results
The inflammatory response observed with Bio‐C Pulpo and White MTA‐Ang was greater after 7 and 15 days and decreased from 30 days onwards. No significant difference was found between the control, Bio‐C Pulpo and White MTA‐Ang at the different periods of analysis (P > 0.05). The immunolabelling for OCN, OPN and BSP was more intense for Bio‐C Pulpo and White MTA‐Ang after 60 and 90 days, but there was no difference between Bio‐C Pulpo and White MTA‐Ang at the different periods of analysis (P > 0.05).
Conclusion
Bio‐C Pulpo is biocompatible and induces immunolabelling of osteogenic markers such as OCN, OPN and BSP similar to White MTA‐Ang.
Obesity is a multifactorial disease characterized by the abnormal or excessive fat accumulation, which is caused by an energy imbalance between consumed and expended calories. Obesity leads to an ...inflammatory response that may result in peripheral and central metabolic changes, including insulin and leptin resistance. Insulin and leptin resistance have been associated with metabolic and cognitive dysfunctions. Obesity and some neurodegenerative diseases that lead to dementia affect mainly women. However, the effects of diet-induced obesity on memory consolidation in female rats are poorly understood. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a hypercaloric diet on the object recognition memory of female rats and on possible related metabolic changes. The animals submitted to the hypercaloric diet presented a higher food intake in grams and in calories, resulting in increased weight gain and liposomatic index in comparison with the animals exposed to the control diet. These animals presented a memory deficit in the object recognition test and increased serum levels of glucose and leptin. However, no significant differences were found in the serum levels of insulin, TNF-α and IL-1β, in the index of insulin resistance (HOMA), in the hippocampal levels of insulin, TNF-α and IL-1β, as well as on Akt expression or activation in the hippocampus. Our findings indicate that adult female rats submitted to a hypercaloric diet present memory consolidation impairment, which could be associated with diet-induced weight gain and leptin resistance, even without the development of insulin resistance.
•Obesity leads to inflammation.•Insulin and leptin resistance may be associated with cognitive dysfunctions.•Hypercaloric diet was associated with increased weight gain in female rats.•Hypercaloric diet impaired memory consolidation in the object recognition test.•These changes were accompanied by increased serum levels of glucose and leptin.
Aim
To evaluate lymphocyte‐like cell activation (CD5‐positive cells) and the expression of interleukin (IL)‐6 and IL‐17 in the pulp after tooth bleaching with two concentrations of hydrogen peroxide ...(H2O2).
Methodology
The right and left maxillary molars from 40 rats were treated randomly with bleaching gel with 20% H2O2 (BLUE group, 1 application of 50 min), 35% H2O2 (MAXX group, three applications of 15 min), or placebo gel (control). After 2 and 30 days, the rats were killed (n = 10), and the jaws were processed for histological and immunohistochemistry analysis of the pulp tissue. The scores of inflammation and immunolabelling (IL‐6/IL‐17) were submitted to Mann–Whitney and Kruskal–Wallis followed Dunn tests, respectively; anova tests were used for comparisons of number of CD5‐positive cells and pulp chamber area values (P < 0.05).
Results
At 2 days, 60% of specimens of the BLUE group were associated with moderate inflammation in pulp horns, and in the MAXX group with necrosis (P < 0.05). At 30 days, the pulp was organized, and tertiary dentine was formed. The MAXX group had superior immunolabelling of IL‐17 at 2 days differing significantly from other groups (P < 0.05). At 2 days, 90% of the specimens of the BLUE group had moderate immunolabelling of IL‐6, and 50% of the MAXX group had severe immunolabelling, both significantly different from the control (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between the groups at 30 days (P > 0.05). CD5‐positive cells were present at 2 and 30 days, particularly in the bleached groups (P < 0.05), without significant difference between time periods (P > 0.05).
Conclusions
IL‐6 and IL‐17 participated in inflammation in the pulp tissue of rats after tooth bleaching, particularly at 2 days. The immunolabelling was greater with increasing H2O2 concentration. This process was accompanied by the prolonged activation of CD5‐positive cells.
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