Development of Light-Polymerized Dental Composite Resin Reinforced with Electrospun Polyamide Layers.

As the mechanical properties of resin-based dental composite materials are highly relevant in clinical practice, diverse strategies for their potential enhancement have been proposed in the extant literature, aiming to facilitate their reliable use in dental medicine. In this context, the focus is primarily given to the mechanical properties with the greatest influence on clinical success, i.e., the longevity of the filling in the patient's mouth and its ability to withstand very strong masticatory forces. Guided by these objectives, the goal of the present study was to ascertain whether the reinforcement of dental composite resins with electrospun polyamide (PA) nanofibers would improve the mechanical strength of dental restoration materials. For this purpose, light-cure dental composite resins were interspersed with one and two layers comprising PA nanofibers in order to investigate the influence of such reinforcement on the mechanical properties of the resulting hybrid resins. One set of the obtained samples was investigated as prepared, while another set was immersed in artificial saliva for 14 days and was subsequently subjected to the same set of analyses, namely Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Findings yielded by the FTIR analysis confirmed the structure of the produced dental composite resin material. They also provided evidence that, while the presence of PA nanofibers did not influence the curing process, it strengthened the dental composite resin. Moreover, flexural strength measurements revealed that the inclusion of a 16 µm-thick PA nanolayer enabled the dental composite resin to withstand a load of 3.2 MPa. These findings were supported by the SEM results, which further indicated that immersing the resin in saline solution resulted in a more compact composite material structure. Finally, DSC results indicated that as-prepared as well as saline-treated reinforced samples had a lower glass transition temperature (Tg) compared to pure resin. Specifically, while pure resin had a Tg of 61.6 °C, each additional PA nanolayer decreased the Tg by about 2 °C, while the further reduction was obtained when samples were immersed in saline for 14 days. These results show that electrospinning is a facile method for producing different nanofibers that can be incorporated into resin-based dental composite materials to modify their mechanical properties. Moreover, while their inclusion strengthens the resin-based dental composite materials, it does not affect the course and outcome of the polymerization reaction, which is an important factor for their use in clinical practice.

Biological evaluation of synthesized allicin and its transformation products obtained by microwaves in methanol: antioxidant activity and effect on cell growth.

Allicin is the most biologically active substance present in garlic. It can be synthesized or obtained by extraction of fresh garlic. Transformation products of allicin are also biologically active. The aim of this study was to examine the antioxidant activity of synthesized allicin and its transformation products obtained using microwaves in methanol at 55 °C as well as their effect on HeLa cells growth. The antioxidant activity was determined by DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical) test. The effect on HeLa cells growth was determined by MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazole-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide) test. For MTT test, allicin and its transformation products were dispersed in carmellose sodium solution and examined in concentrations ranging from 0.3 µg/mL to 3 mg/mL. Allicin showed stronger antioxidant activity than the transformation products. A maximum degree of neutralization of DPPH radicals, about 90%, was reached when the concentration of allicin was 2 mg/mL, with an EC50 (concentration of sample which is required for reduction of the initial concentration DPPH radicals to 50%) value of 0.37 mg/mL. In our study, allicin and its transformation products were not cytotoxic to HeLa cells under the examined conditions. The highest concentration of allicin and its transformation products had a slight antiproliferative effect, with a more pronounced effect of allicin, which reflected on the morphology of HeLa cells. The examined substances are safe to use on epithelial cells at concentrations up to 3 mg/mL when applied in carmellose sodium solution. Using carmellose sodium as a dispersing agent could be recommended as a good approach for testing liposoluble substances in liquid cell cultures.

De novo mutation in the NOTCH3 gene causing CADASIL.

Cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leucoencephalopathy (CADASIL) is one of the most common hereditary forms of stroke, and migraine with aura, mood disorders and dementia. CADASIL is caused by mutations of the NOTCH3 gene. This mutation is inherited as an autosomal dominant trait. Most individuals with CADASIL have a parent with the disorder. In extremely rare cases, CADASIL may occur due to a spontaneous genetic mutation that occurs for unknown reasons (de novo mutation). We report a new case of patient with de novo mutation of the NOTCH3 gene and a condition strongly suggestive of CADASIL (migraine, stroke, and white matter abnormalities), except that this patient did not have any first-degree relatives with similar symptoms.

Transformation of synthetic allicin: the influence of ultrasound, microwaves, different solvents and temperatures, and the products isolation.

The transformation of the synthesized allicin, using conventional method, the influence of ultrasound and microwaves, in different organic solvents (acetonitrile, acetone, methanol, and chloroform), at various temperatures (room temperature, 45 °C, and 55 °C) was investigated. Allicin degradation kinetic was monitored by HPLC. Allicin transformation under the effect of microwaves is faster than transformations performed under the influence of ultrasound or by conventional method. Increase of the temperature accelerates allicin transformation. Pharmacologically active compounds of (E)-ajoene, (Z)-ajoene, 3-vinyl-4H-1,2-dithiin, 2-vinyl-4H-1,3-dithiin, and diallyl disulfide were isolated from the mixture of transformation products of allicin under the influence of microwaves in methanol at 55 °C, which is according to kinetic parameters (highest values of the order of reaction and the lowest activation energy) the optimal method.