Cobalt Chloride as a Hypoxia Mimicking Agent Induced HIF-1α and mTOR Expressions of Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells

ABSTRACT Objective: To assess the effects of cobalt chloride (CoCl2) as a hypoxia mimicking agent on human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs) expression of HIF-1α and mTOR for use in regenerative dentistry. Material and Methods: Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells were isolated and then cultured. The characteristics of stemness were screened and confirmed by flow cytometry. The experiment was conducted on hypoxia (H) and normoxia (N) groups. Each group was divided and incubated into 24-, 48-, and 72-hours observations. Hypoxic treatment was performed using 100 µM CoCl2 on 5th passage cells in a conventional incubator (37°C; 5CO2). Then, immunofluorescence of HIF-1α and mTOR was done. Data was analyzed statistically using One-way ANOVA and Tukey's HSD. Results: Significant differences were found between normoxic and hypoxic groups on HIF-1α (p=0.015) and mTOR (p=0.000) expressions. The highest HIF-1α expression was found at 48 hours in the hypoxia group, while for mTOR at 24 hours in the hypoxia group. Conclusion: Hypoxia using cobalt chloride was able to increase human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells expression of HIF-1α and mTOR.

Increased whitening efficacy and reduced cytotoxicity are achieved by the chemical activation of a highly concentrated hydrogen peroxide bleaching gel

Abstract Objective This study was designed for the chemical activation of a 35% hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) bleaching gel to increase its whitening effectiveness and reduce its toxicity. Methodology First, the bleaching gel - associated or not with ferrous sulfate (FS), manganese chloride (MC), peroxidase (PR), or catalase (CT) - was applied (3x 15 min) to enamel/dentin discs adapted to artificial pulp chambers. Then, odontoblast-like MDPC-23 cells were exposed for 1 h to the extracts (culture medium + components released from the product), for the assessment of viability (MTT assay) and oxidative stress (H2DCFDA). Residual H2O2 and bleaching effectiveness (DE) were also evaluated. Data were analyzed with one-way ANOVA complemented with Tukey's test (n=8. p<0.05). Results All chemically activated groups minimized MDPC-23 oxidative stress generation; however, significantly higher cell viability was detected for MC, PR, and CT than for plain 35% H2O2 gel. Nevertheless, FS, MC, PR, and CT reduced the amount of residual H2O2 and increased bleaching effectiveness. Conclusion Chemical activation of 35% H2O2 gel with MC, PR, and CT minimized residual H2O2 and pulp cell toxicity; but PR duplicated the whitening potential of the bleaching gel after a single 45-minute session.

Two mechanisms of oral malodor inhibition by zinc ions

Abstract Objectives The aim of this study was to reveal the mechanisms by which zinc ions inhibit oral malodor. Material and Methods The direct binding of zinc ions to gaseous hydrogen sulfide (H2S) was assessed in comparison with other metal ions. Nine metal chlorides and six metal acetates were examined. To understand the strength of H2S volatilization inhibition, the minimum concentration needed to inhibit H2S volatilization was determined using serial dilution methods. Subsequently, the inhibitory activities of zinc ions on the growth of six oral bacterial strains related to volatile sulfur compound (VSC) production and three strains not related to VSC production were evaluated. Results Aqueous solutions of ZnCl2, CdCl2, CuCl2, (CH3COO)2Zn, (CH3COO)2Cd, (CH3COO)2Cu, and CH3COOAg inhibited H2S volatilization almost entirely. The strengths of H2S volatilization inhibition were in the order Ag+ > Cd2+ > Cu2+ > Zn2+. The effect of zinc ions on the growth of oral bacteria was strain-dependent. Fusobacterium nucleatum ATCC 25586 was the most sensitive, as it was suppressed by medium containing 0.001% zinc ions. Conclusions Zinc ions have an inhibitory effect on oral malodor involving the two mechanisms of direct binding with gaseous H2S and suppressing the growth of VSC-producing oral bacteria.

Bacterial survival rate on toothbrushes and their decontamination with antimicrobial solutions

O propósito deste estudo foi avaliar a taxa de sobrevivência bacteriana em escovas dentais após a escovação e a eficácia na sua descontaminação pelo borrifamento de soluções antimicrobianas. Trinta indivíduos foram instruídos a borrifar as soluções nas cerdas das escovas após a escovação. Cada voluntário testou três sprays, uma solução por semana; os sprays foram rotulados spray 1 (cloreto de cetilpiridínio - CCP - e formulação básica), 2 (formulação básica apenas) e 3 (controle - água de torneira esterilizada). Ao final de cada semana, as escovas eram recolhidas e introduzidas no caldo Letheen®, submetidas a ultra-som, à diluição decimal seriada e as suspensões semeadas em vários meios de cultura. As bactérias anaeróbias, avaliadas pela contagem de colônias de microrganismos produtores de pigmento negro no meio Ask, foram recuperadas em 83,3% das amostras, estreptococos em 80% e bacilos aeróbios Gram-negativos em 46,7% das amostras nos testes controle. Houve uma significante redução na contaminação das escovas dentais com os sprays antimicrobianos 1 e 2, o primeiro mostrando maior redução nas contagens de bactérias.

Agentes químicos para controle de placa bacteriana / The chemical agents to control the bacterial plaque

A placa bacteriana tem sido considerada o principal fator etiológico das doenças periodontais e a prevenção ou o tratamento destas patologias deve estar baseado no seu controle. Neste trabalho, os autores descrevem as substâncias que têm sido usadas no controle químico de placa bacteriana, como clorexidina, óleos essenciais, triclosan, sais metálicos, compostos quatemários de amônia, agentes oxigenantes e sanguinarina

Identificaçäo da célula de Langerhans no epitélio da gengiva humana após gengivectomia / Identification of Langerhans cell in the human gengival epithelium after gengivectomy

Os autores estudaram nove biopsias da gengiva humana, depois de prévio tratamento para gengivectomia, a fim de verificar a localizaçäo e morfologia das células de Langerhans, usando o método de impregnaçäo pelo cloreto de ouro. Também correlacionaram as suas observaçöes com as de outros autores, que obtiveram semelhantes achados em gengivas normais e na epiderme humana