Aim To evaluate the trans‐enamel and trans‐dentinal cytotoxic effects of a 35% H2O2 bleaching gel on an odontoblast‐like cell lines (MDPC‐23) after consecutive applications.
Methodology Fifteen ...enamel/dentine discs were obtained from bovine central incisor teeth and placed individually in artificial pulp chambers. Three groups (n = 5 discs) were formed according to the following enamel treatments: G1: 35% H2O2 bleaching gel (15 min); G2: 35% H2O2 bleaching gel (15 min) + halogen light (20 s); G3: control (no treatment). After repeating the treatments three consecutive times, the extracts (culture medium + gel components that had diffused through enamel/dentine discs) in contact with the dentine were collected and applied to previously cultured MDPC‐23 cells (50 000 cells cm−2) for 24 h. Cell metabolism was evaluated by the MTT assay and data were analysed statistically (α = 5%; Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney U‐test). Cell morphology was analysed by scanning electron microscopy.
Results Cell metabolism decreased by 92.03% and 82.47% in G1 and G2 respectively. G1 and G2 differed significantly (P < 0.05) from G3. Regardless of halogen light activation, the application of the bleaching gel on the cultured odontoblast‐like cells caused significantly more severe cytotoxic effects than those observed in the nontreated control group. In addition, significant morphological cell alterations were observed in G1 and G2.
Conclusion After three consecutive applications of a 35% H2O2 bleaching agent, the diffusion of the gel components through enamel and dentine caused severe toxic effects to cultured pulp cells.
Bixin is the main carotenoid found in the outer portion of the seeds of Bixa orellana L., commercially known as annatto. This compound is industrially employed in pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food ...formulations as a natural dye to replace chemical additives. This study aimed to extract bixin from annatto seeds and obtain encapsulated bixin in a powder form, using freeze-drying encapsulation and maltodextrin as encapsulating agent. Bixin was extracted from annatto seeds employing successive washing with organic solvents, specifically hexane and methanol (1:1 v/v), followed by ethyl acetate and dichloromethane for subsequent washes, to effectively remove impurities and enhance bixin purity, and subsequent purification by crystallization, reaching 1.5 ± 0.2% yield (or approximately 15 mg of bixin per gram of seeds). Bixin was analyzed spectrophotometrically in different organic solvents (ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, dimethylsulfoxide, chloroform, hexane), and the solvents chosen were chloroform (used to solubilize bixin during microencapsulation) and hexane (used for spectrophotometric determination of bixin). Bixin was encapsulated according to a 22 experimental design to investigate the influence of the concentration of maltodextrin (20 to 40%) and bixin-to-matrix ratio (1:20 to 1:40) on the encapsulation efficiency (EE%) and solubility of the encapsulated powder. Higher encapsulation efficiency was obtained at a maltodextrin concentration of 40% w/v and a bixin/maltodextrin ratio of 1:20, while higher solubility was observed at a maltodextrin concentration of 20% w/v for the same bixin/maltodextrin ratio. The encapsulation of this carotenoid by means of freeze-drying is thus recognized as an innovative and promising approach to improve its stability for further processing in pharmaceutical and food applications.
Glasses containing metallic nanoparticles are promising materials for technological applications in optics and photonics. Although several methods are available to generate nanoparticles in glass, ...only femtosecond lasers allow controlling it three-dimensionally. In this direction, the present work investigates the generation of copper nanoparticles on the surface and in the bulk of a borosilicate glass by fs-laser irradiation. We verified the formation of copper nanoparticles, after heat treatment, by UV-Vis absorption, transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction. A preferential growth of copper nanoparticles was observed in the bottom of the irradiated region, which was attributed to self-focusing in the glass.
Electroactive materials can be taken to advantage for the development of sensors and actuators as well as for novel tissue engineering strategies. Composites based on poly(vinylidene fluoride), PVDF, ...have been evaluated with respect to their biological response. Cell viability and proliferation were performed in vitro both with Mesenchymal Stem Cells differentiated to osteoblasts and Human Fibroblast Foreskin 1. In vivo tests were also performed using 6-week-old C57Bl/6 mice. It was concluded that zeolite and clay composites are biocompatible materials promoting cell response and not showing in vivo pro-inflammatory effects which renders both of them attractive for biological applications and tissue engineering, opening interesting perspectives to development of scaffolds from these composites. Ferrite and silver nanoparticle composites decrease osteoblast cell viability and carbon nanotubes decrease fibroblast viability. Further, carbon nanotube composites result in a significant increase in local vascularization accompanied an increase of inflammatory markers after implantation.
Dental implants are used to replace teeth lost due to decay, trauma, or periodontal diseases. Dental implants are most of the times subjected to micro-movements at the implant/bone interface or ...implant/porcelain interface (due to the transmitted mastication loads) and chemical solicitations (oral environment). Such implant becomes part of a tribocorrosion system, which may undergo a complex degradation process that can lead to implant failure. In this work, the fretting–corrosion behaviour of titanium grade 2 in contact with artificial saliva was investigated under fretting test conditions. Citric acid was added to artificial saliva to investigate a pH variation on the tribocorrosion behaviour of the material. Additionally, three different inhibitors were added to investigate cathodic and anodic reactions on the electrochemical response. Also, the influence of inhibitors included in the formulation of tooth cleaning agents or medicines was investigated. Degradation mechanisms were investigated by electrochemical noise technique that provided information on the evolution of corrosion potential and corrosion current during fretting tests. Depassivation and repassivation phenomena occurring during the tests were detected and discussed. Considering the influence of corrosion inhibitors, it was observed that the degree of protection varies with the nature of the inhibitors.
The objective of this study is to assess, in zebrafish, the effects of combining linseed oil (LO) and clove leaf essential oil (CLEO) on the incorporation of fatty acids in the muscle, oxidative ...markers, lipid peroxidation and expression of the PPAR-α (Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor-α) and the SREBP-2 (Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein-2) genes. Six diets were prepared, containing combinations of LO (3, 6 and 9%) and CLEO (0.5 and 1%): 3% LO + 0.5% CLEO; 3% LO + 1% CLEO; 6% LO + 0.5% CLEO; 6% LO + 1% CLEO; 9% LO + 0.5% CLEO; 9% LO + 1% CLEO. Results showed increase in the incorporation of n-3 fatty acids in the muscle concomitantly with the addition of LO and CLEO. The activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase were reduced and the glutathione content had increased. Lipid peroxidation was lower in the treatment with 1% CLEO, regardless of LO content. The expression of the PPAR-α and the SREBP-2 genes was higher in animals fed 9% LO + 0.5% CLEO. Therefore, for a greater incorporation and protection against the oxidative damages of n-3 fatty acids, a combined use of 9% LO with 0.5% CLEO is recommended for zebrafish.
•U-Pb zircon data presented for the Embu Complex, Ribeira Belt, Brazil.•Main zircon ages span 1500–1000 and 2000–1700 Ma (detrital) and 850–570 Ma (metamorphic).•The youngest detrital grain is dated ...at 974 ± 12 Ma.•Detrital and metamorphic zircon ages indicate Tonian deposition (970–850 Ma).•Main source area is the Grenville-Sveconorwegian-Sunsás orogen.•Embu Complex accumulated on margin of Rodinia.
The Embu Complex in the Neoproterozoic Ribeira Belt of Brazil provides a record of sedimentation associated with the Rodinia supercontinent and its subsequent deformation and metamorphism during assembly of West Gondwana. It is composed of a succession of variably migmatized pelitic schists and paragneisses, as well as minor calcsilicate rocks with quartzite intercalations, and orthogneiss. Detrital zircon U-Pb (LA-ICP-MS and SHRIMP) determinations for key samples of the Embu Complex in its type-area (West and Southwest of São Paulo City), and samples from neighboring units (Votuverava and São Roque groups) indicate distinct provenance histories and in combination with other data, discrete times of sediment accumulation. Detrital zircons from the Embu Complex are characterized by ages in the range 1500–1000 Ma and 2000–1700 Ma, with a very minor number of older ages. The youngest detrital grain is dated at 974 ± 12 Ma. Metamorphic zircon overgrowths range from 850 to 570 Ma with age peaks at ca. 820–790 and 650–570 Ma. Thus, the depositional age of the Embu Complex is constrained to 970–850 Ma. The detrital zircons of the Votuverava and São Roque groups are dominated by ages in the range 2200–2000 Ma, along with minor Paleoproterozoic and Archean ages. The youngest detrital grains are ∼1400 Ma (Votuverava Group) and ∼1750 Ma (São Roque Group). Metamafic rocks from the Votuverava Group have crystallization ages of ca. 1300 Ma, with a higher metamorphic grade amphibolite showing a range of discordant ages with upper and lower intercepts of 1300 Ma and ∼800 Ma, respectively. These results demonstrate that the Embu Complex was probably accreted to the Apiaí Terrane during a Tonian (820–790 Ma) orogenic event, prior to final development of the Ediacaran Ribeira belt arc-related magmatism and a transcurrent shear zone system. The main source area for detrital zircons of the Embu Complex is likely to be the Grenville-Sveconorwegian-Sunsás orogen or time-equivalent regions rather than the central portions of the neighboring cratons. The Embu Complex geological context is consistent with accumulation on the margin of the Rodinia supercontinent.
Extreme weather events, such as droughts, have been increasingly affecting the agricultural sector, causing several socio-economic consequences. The growing economy requires improved assessments of ...drought-related impacts in agriculture, particularly under a climate that is getting drier and warmer. This work proposes a probabilistic model that is intended to contribute to the agricultural drought risk management in rainfed cropping systems. Our methodology is based on a bivariate copula approach using elliptical and Archimedean copulas, the application of which is quite recent in agrometeorological studies. In this work we use copulas to model joint probability distributions describing the amount of dependence between drought conditions and crop yield anomalies. Afterwards, we use the established copula models to simulate pairs of yield anomalies and drought hazard, preserving their dependence structure to further estimate the probability of crop loss. In the first step, we analyse the probability of crop loss without distinguishing the class of drought, and in the second step we compare the probability of crop loss under drought and non-drought conditions. The results indicate that, in general, Archimedean copulas provide the best statistical fits of the joint probability distributions, suggesting a dependence among extreme values of rainfed cereal yield anomalies and drought indicators. Moreover, the estimated conditional probabilities suggest that when drought conditions are below moderate thresholds, the risk of crop loss increases between 32.53 % (cluster 1) and 32.6 % (cluster 2) in the case of wheat and between 31.63 % (cluster 2) and 55.55 % (cluster 2) in the case of barley. From an operational point of view, the results aim to contribute to the decision-making process in agricultural practices.
Total mercury concentrations were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry in muscle tissue of two commercially important species of carnivorous fishes croaker (
Micropogonias furnieri
) and ...cutlassfish (
Trichiurus lepturus
) caught in Itaipu estuary, Rio de Janeiro. In this study, whitemouth croaker presented more mercury than Atlantic cutlassfish. Bioaccumulation differences can be explained by the biological behavior of juveniles whitemouth croaker, that remain in the estuary up to maturity, which makes them good indicators of local environmental impacts (0.110 mg Kg
−1
HgT). It also can be explained by differences in nutritional requirements between the different life stages of two species. The analysis showed the presence of low levels of the metal. However, our results suggest a possible risk to human health, depending on the level of fish consumption.
In this work, the influence of imidazolium ionic liquids (ILs) on bio-chemical parameters that influence the in vivo behavior of nimesulide was evaluated. In this context, the binding of nimesulide ...to human serum albumin (HSA), in IL media, was studied. In parallel, the evaluation of the interaction of drug–IL systems, with micelles of hexadecylphosphocholine (HDPC), enabled the calculation of partition coefficients (Kp). Both assays were performed in buffered media in the absence and in the presence of emim BF4, emim Ms and emim TfMs 1%.
Even though there was an increase of the dissociation constant (Kd) in IL media, nimesulide still binds to HSA by means of strong interactions. The thermodynamic analysis indicates that the interaction is spontaneous for all the tested systems. Moreover, the studied systems exhibited properties that are favorable to the interaction of the drug with biological membranes, with Kp values 2.5–3.5 higher than in aqueous environment.
The studied nimesulide–IL systems presented promising characteristics regarding the absorption and distribution of the drug in vivo, so that the studied solvents seem to be good options for drug delivery.
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