Background
The increasing production of nanoplastics and the fragmentation of microplastics into smaller particles suggest a plausible yet unclear hazard in the natural environment, such as soil. We ...investigated the short-term effects (28 days) of polystyrene nanoparticles (PS-NPs) on the activity and biomass of soil microbiota, and the functional diversity of soil enzymes at environmental relevant low levels in an incubation experiment.
Results
Our results showed a significant decrease in microbial biomass in treatments of 100 and 1000 ng PS-NP g
−1
DM throughout the incubation period. Dehydrogenase activity and activities of enzymes involved in
N
-(leucine-aminopeptidase),
P
-(alkaline-phosphatase), and C-(β-glucosidase and cellobiohydrolase) cycles in the soil were significantly reduced at day 28 suggesting a broad and detrimental impact of PS-NPs on soil microbiota and enzymes. Leucine-aminopeptidase and alkaline-phosphatase activities tended to decrease consistently, while β-glucosidase and cellobiohydrolase activities increased at high concentrations (e.g., PS-NP-1000) in the beginning of the incubation period, e.g., at day 1. On the other hand, basal respiration and metabolic quotient increased with increasing PS-NP application rate throughout the incubation period possibly due to increased cell death that caused substrate-induced respiration (cryptic growth).
Conclusions
We herewith demonstrated for the first time the potential antimicrobial activity of PS-NPs in soil, and this may serve as an important resource in environmental risk assessment of PS-NPs in the soil environment.
Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the microtensile bond strength (μTBS) of a new fissure sealant and compare it with conventional sealants which are applied to enamel alone, and also ...with self‐etch and etch‐and‐rinse adhesives.
Methods: Enamel specimens were prepared and randomly distributed into three groups according to fissure sealant (Aegis, Helioseal F, Helioseal Clear). Each group was then subdivided according to adhesive system (Clearfil S3, Single Bond, no adhesive). A universal testing machine was used to measure μTBS, and data were analysed using one‐way ANOVA and Tukey’s tests.
Results: μTBS values for all Aegis subgroups were significantly lower than for comparable Helioseal F and Helioseal Clear subgroups (p < 0.05). No differences were observed in μTBS of Helioseal F and Helioseal Clear (p > 0.05). In the Helioseal Clear group, μTBS values for Single Bond were significantly higher than for Clearfil S3 (p < 0.05). However, no significant differences were found between the μTBS values of the adhesive subgroups in the Aegis or Helioseal F groups (p > 0.05).
Conclusions: Sealant μTBS values may be affected by material content. The addition of an adhesive may improve μTBS values of sealant to enamel.
Background: It is known that no specific antifungal agent exists at present for irrigation of infected root canals. QMix 2in1 was investigated to determine whether they could be an alternative for ...sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), chlorhexidine gluconate (CHX), and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA).
Objective: The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate and compare the antifungal efficacy of QMix 2in1, 5.25% NaOCl, 2% CHX, and 17% EDTA as a final rinse against Candida albicans (C. albicans).
Materials and Methods: Ninety single-rooted mandibular premolar teeth were randomly divided into four experimental (n = 20) and two control (n = 5) groups. All root canals were instrumented with Mtwo rotary file system using crown-down technique to an apical size 40. Following root canal preparation, teeth were inoculated with C. albicans and incubated for 72 h. Teeth were irrigated with one of the following solutions as a final irrigant: (1) 5.25% NaOCl, (2) 2% CHX, (3) QMix 2in1, and (4) 17% EDTA. Aliquots from the samples were plated on 4% Sabouraud Agar, and colony-forming units were counted.
Results: QMix 2in1, 5.25% NaOCl, and 2% CHX were equally effective (P > 0.05) and significantly superior to 17% EDTA in eradicating C. albicans (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: QMix 2in1 proved to be effective against C. albicans when used as a final rinse. According to the findings of the present study, QMix 2in1 may be recommended as an alternative final rinse solution.
Takayasu's arteritis (TA) is a chronic, inflammatory vasculitis affecting the aorta and its major branches. Although it is more prevalent in Far-East Asia, the distribution of the disease is ...worldwide with different vascular involvement patterns and clinical manifestations. The objective of this study was to evaluate the demographic, clinical, angiographic and prognostic features of TA patients in Turkey.
Clinical and angiographic findings of 248 TA patients (228 female, 27 male) followed at 15 Rheumatology Centers were prospectively evaluated according to a predefined protocol.
The mean age was 40.1 years (30.2 years at the clinical onset). Clinical manifestations included constitutional symptoms in 66%, absent or diminished pulses in 88%, bruits in 77%, extremity pain in 69%, claudication in 48%, hypertension in 43% and cerebrovascular accidents (CVA) in 18% of the patients. Renal artery stenosis, aortic regurgitation and pulmonary hypertension were present in 26%, 33% and 12%, respectively. According to the new angiographic classification, type V (50.8%) and Type I (32%) were the most frequent types of involvement. Corticosteroids were the main treatment in 93% of the patients alone (9%) or in combination with immunosuppressive agents (84%). Most frequently preferred immunosuppressive agents were methotrexate (63%), azathioprine (22%) and cyclophosphamide (13%). Remission was observed at least once in 94% of the patients and sustained remission in 71% during follow-up.
The demographical, clinical and angiographic findings of TA patients in our series were similar to those reported from Japan, Brazil and Colombia. Combination therapies with immunosuppressive agents were the preferred choice of treatment in Turkey.
To evaluate the effects of two different resin coating materials on the clinical performance of a conventional glass ionomer sealant.
Permanent first mandibular molars of 60 children aged 6-9 years ...were sealed with Fuji VII. In each child, G-Coat Plus coating agent was applied to molars on one side and Heliobond coating agent to molars on the opposite side of the mouth. Clinical evaluations were carried out at 1, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months after sealant and coating application.
At 1, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months after sealant and coating application, total sealant retention rates were 88%, 40%, 19%, 15% and 9% for molars coated with G-Coat Plus, and 93%, 47%, 17%, 15% and 7% for those coated with Heliobond. The differences between the two coating agents were not statistically significant (p>0.05). No incidence of caries was observed in either group during the two-year evaluation period.
Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to compare differences in retention rates and caries incidence by coating agent.
Although retention rates of Fuji VII were relatively low and similar for both resin coating agents tested, dental caries were not observed in either group during the 24-month study period. In children with a high risk of caries and partially erupted molars, the use of a glass ionomer sealant with a resin-based coating agent should be encouraged.
Objective To evaluate the frequency and the specificity of nail changes associated with connective tissue diseases (CTD).
Methods In a case–control study, 190 patients including those with systemic ...lupus erythematosus (SLE; 56), rheumatoid arthritis (RA, 47), primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS; 35), systemic sclerosis (SSc; 39), and dermatomyositis/polymyositis (DM/PM; 13) were enrolled in the study. Patients with SLE and other CTDs were compared with two different control groups. Twenty nails were examined. Nail features were noted and classified. Nail samples were collected for mycological cultures.
Results In patients with SLE, erythema of proximal nailfold (P < 0.01), splinter haemorrhages in fingernails (P < 0.01), capillary loops in proximal nailfold (P < 0.05), periungual erythema (P < 0.05), and thin nail plates (P < 0.05) were more common than those in controls. Only splinter haemorrhages were associated with the disease activity. In patients with SSc and DM/PM, splinter haemorrhages (P < 0.05) and capillary loops in proximal nailfold (P < 0.01) in fingernails were common as well. Increase in longitudinal curvature (P < 0.001), transverse curvature (P < 0.01), and white dull colour in fingernails were other frequent findings in patients with SSc. Increase in transverse curvature was associated with the disease activity in SSc. In patients with RA, splinter haemorrhages (P < 0.05), red lunula (P < 0.05), and white dull colour (P < 0.05) in fingernails were frequent. The sensitivity values of all these changes were very low. However, their specificity values were found to be relatively high.
Conclusion Proximal nailfold is the most important site of affection in CTDs. These nail changes can be used in combination with highly sensitive diagnostic modalities to establish an accurate diagnosis.
This study aimed to evaluate the effect of tumour thickness on other clinicopathological parameters in early stage lower lip squamous cell carcinoma.
Forty-six consecutive patients with lower lip ...squamous cell carcinoma were included in the study. Demographic, clinical and pathological data were retrospectively collected.
The mean follow-up period for all patients was 32.0 ± 18.9 months. Forty-four tumours were staged as T1 and two were T2. Twelve patients underwent neck dissection. Two patients presented with neck metastasis in the follow-up period. Four patients (8.7 per cent) had local recurrence. Correlation analysis revealed a significant relationship between microscopic tumour thickness and local tumour recurrence (r = 0.328, p = 0.045).
Surgical margin control is important to prevent local recurrence, especially in thicker tumours. In addition, neck metastasis is rare in early stage lower lip squamous cell carcinoma. A 'wait and see' policy might be preferred in early stage T1 lower lip squamous cell carcinoma cases.
An eruption cyst (EC) is a benign, developmental cyst associated with a primary or permanent tooth. This paper presents 66 ECs in 53 patients who reported to 3 different centers in Turkey between ...2014-2015.
53 patients (31 male, 22 female) with 66 ECs were diagnosed and treated over a 1-year period. The mean age of patients was 5.4 years (minimum 5 months, maximum 11 years). Clinical examination and periapical radiographs were used to establish diagnosis. Age, gender, site, history of trauma and type of treatment were recorded.
Of the 66 ECs diagnosed in 53 patients, more than half (56.6%) were located in the maxilla, with the maxillary first primary molars the teeth most commonly associated with ECs (30.3%). Multiple ECs were diagnosed in 13 of the 53 patients. ECs had previously diagnosed in the primary dentition of 2 patients, 3 patients reported a history of trauma to primary teeth. In the majority of patients (46 cases, 86.8%), no treatment was provided, whereas surgical treatment was provided in the remaining 7 cases (13.2%).
Eruption cysts are usually asymptomatic and do not require treatment;. however, if the cyst is symptomatic, it should be treated with simple surgical excision.
Some new oscillation criteria are established for the nonlinear damped differential equation
The results obtained extend and improve some existing results.
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