Propylene Glycol Potentiates the Inhibitory Action of CTZ Paste on Antibiotic-Resistant Enterococcus faecalis Isolated from the Root Canal: An In Vitro Study.

This study aimed to evaluate if the change of vehicle for CTZ (Chloramphenicol, Tetracycline, zinc oxide, and Eugenol) paste improves the inhibition of Enterococcus faecalis in vitro. The vehicles evaluated alone and mixed with CTZ were Eugenol, propylene glycol (PG), super-oxidized solution (SOS), grapefruit-seed extract (GSE), and 0.9% saline solution as a negative control. A clinical isolate of E. faecalis was morphologically and biochemically characterized, and its antimicrobial susceptibility was tested using 20 antimicrobial agents. Once characterized, the clinical isolate was cultivated to perform the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method with paper discs embedded with the different vehicles mixed or used alone, and incubated at 37 °C for 24 h. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA, and the means were compared using Tukey test with a significance level of p < 0.05. For vehicles used alone, GSE presented the greatest inhibition showing a statistically significant difference with the rest of the vehicles. When vehicles were mixed with the CTZ paste, PG showed a greater inhibition with a statistically significant difference from the rest of the vehicles. In conclusion, the vehicle used to mix the CTZ paste plays an important role in the inhibition of E. faecalis in vitro; therefore, we consider that this can be an important factor to achieve success in the use of this technique.

An extracellular matrix hydrogel from porcine urinary bladder for tissue engineering: In vitro and in vivo analyses.

BACKGROUND: The necessity to manufacture scaffolds with superior capabilities of biocompatibility and biodegradability has led to the production of extracellular matrix (ECM) scaffolds. Among their advantages, they allow better cell colonization, which enables its successful integration into the hosted tissue, surrounding the area to be repaired and their formulations facilitate placing it into irregular shapes. The ECM from porcine urinary bladder (pUBM) comprises proteins, proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans which provide support and enable signals to the cells. These properties make it an excellent option to produce hydrogels that can be used in regenerative medicine. OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to assess the biocompatibility of an ECM hydrogel derived from the porcine urinary bladder (pUBMh) in vitro using fibroblasts, macrophages, and adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AD-MCSs), as well as biocompatibility in vivo using Wistar rats. METHODS: Effects upon cells proliferation/viability was measured using MTT assay, cytotoxic effects were analyzed by quantifying lactate dehydrogenase release and the Live/Dead Cell Imaging assay. Macrophage activation was assessed by quantification of IL-6, IL-10, IL-12p70, MCP-1, and TNF-α using a microsphere-based cytometric bead array. For in vivo analysis, Wistar rats were inoculated into the dorsal sub-dermis with pUBMh. The specimens were sacrificed at 24 h after inoculation for histological study. RESULTS: The pUBMh obtained showed good consistency and absence of cell debris. The biocompatibility tests in vitro revealed that the pUBMh promoted cell proliferation and it is not cytotoxic on the three tested cell lines and induces the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines on macrophages, mainly TNF-α and MCP-1. In vivo, pUBMh exhibited fibroblast-like cell recruitment, without tissue damage or inflammation. CONCLUSION: The results show that pUBMh allows cell proliferation without cytotoxic effects and can be considered an excellent biomaterial for tissue engineering.

First Evidence of Horizontal Transmission by Fecal Shedding of Dengue Virus 4 Among Aedes aegypti Larvae (Diptera: Culicidae) Under Laboratory Conditions.

The transmission pathways of dengue virus (DENV) among mosquitoes are a topic that has gained relevance in recent years because they could explain the maintenance of the virus in the wild independently of the human-mosquito horizontal transmission cycle. In this regard, Aedes aegypti larvae exposed to supernatants of C6/36 cells infected with DENV-4 were evaluated for virus excretion in feces and viability of infection in immature stages (larvae). The results demonstrate that larvae excrete DENV-4 in their feces with the potential to at least infect immature individuals of the same species. A horizontal transmission pathway of larvae-larvae DENV-4 under laboratory conditions is suggested.

LncRNAs as Regulators of Autophagy and Drug Resistance in Colorectal Cancer.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common malignancy with 1. 8 million cases in 2018. Autophagy helps to maintain an adequate cancer microenvironment in order to provide nutritional supplement under adverse conditions such as starvation and hypoxia. Additionally, most of the cases of CRC are unresponsive to chemotherapy, representing a significant challenge for cancer therapy. Recently, autophagy induced by therapy has been shown as a unique mechanism of resistance to anticancer drugs. In this regard, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) analysis are important for cancer detection, progression, diagnosis, therapy response, and prognostic values. With increasing development of quantitative detection techniques, lncRNAs derived from patients' non-invasive samples (i.e., blood, stools, and urine) has become into a novel approach in precision oncology. Tumorspecific GAS5, HOTAIR, H19, and MALAT are novels CRC related lncRNAs detected in patients. Nonetheless, the effect and mechanism of lncRNAs in cancer autophagy and chemoresistance have not been extensively characterized. Chemoresistance and autophagy are relevant for cancer treatment and lncRNAs play a pivotal role in resistance acquisition for several drugs. LncRNAs such as HAGLROS, KCNQ1OT1, and H19 are examples of lncRNAs related to chemoresistance leaded by autophagy. Finally, clinical implications of lncRNAs in CRC are relevant, since they have been associated with tumor differentiation, tumor size, histological grade, histological types, Dukes staging, degree of differentiation, lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis, recurrent free survival, and overall survival (OS).

Antimicrobial Properties of Extracellular Matrix Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering.

The necessity to manufacture graft materials with superior biocompatibility capabilities and biodegradability characteristics for tissue regeneration has led to the production of extracellular matrix- (ECM-) based scaffolds. Among their advantages are better capacity to allow cell colonization, which enables its successful integration into the tissue surrounding the area to be repaired. In addition, it has been shown that some of these scaffolds have antimicrobial activity, preventing possible infections; therefore, it could be used as an alternative to control surgical infection and decrease the use of antimicrobial agents. The purpose of this review is to collect the existing information about antimicrobial activity of the ECM and their components.

Increased Micronuclei Frequency in Oral and Lingual Epithelium of Treated Diabetes Mellitus Patients.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disease characterized by persistent high levels of glucose in plasma. Chronic hyperglycemia is thought to increase oxidative stress and the formation of free radicals that in turn damage cells. Thus, we decided to determine the frequency of nuclear abnormalities in epithelial cells from cheek and tongue mucosa of DM patients with type 1 (DM1, treated only with insulin) and type 2 (DM2, treated with metformin) using the buccal micronucleus cytome (BMCyt) assay. Micronuclei frequency in cheek epithelial cells was higher in both DM1 (0.75 ± 0.31, P < 0.001) and DM2 (0.52 ± 0.27, P < 0.001) patients, as compared to healthy controls (0.07 ± 0.06). Similarly, micronuclei frequency in tongue epithelium was increased in DM1 (0.81 ± 0.22, P < 0.001) and DM2 (0.41 ± 0.21, P < 0.001) groups, in comparison to controls (0.06 ± 0.05). Besides, we found a positive correlation between micronuclei frequency and the onset time of DM2 in both cheek (ρ = 0.69, P < 0.001) and tongue epithelial cells (ρ = 0.71, P < 0.001), but not with onset time of DM1 or age of the patients. Considering all this, we pose that BMCyt could serve as a fast and easily accessible test to assess genotoxic damage during dental visits of DM patients, helping to monitor their disease.

Evaluation of decellularized matrix and ß-tricalcium phosphate as biomaterials for bone neoformation: in vivo study / Evaluación de la matriz descelularizada y ß-fosfato tricálcico como biomateriales para neoformación ósea: estudio in vivo

The aim of this study was to evaluate histologically the effect of two biomaterials, a biomaterial derived from porcine Urinary submucosa Bladder Matrix (UBM) and beta-TriCalcium Phosphate (ß-TCP), on bone defects. Twenty male New Zealand rabbits were used; the models were divided in two groups: the UBM group; the ß-TCP group, and a Negative Control (NC) group. Five-mm defects were created in the femur of each model and then the different biomaterials were set in place depending on each group. At 4 and 8 weeks, the animals in the models were sacrificed and samples of the defect site were collected to perform a Hematoxylin and Eosin stain (H&E). Histologically, ß-TCP group at 4 and 8 weeks presented neoformation of bone-like and cartilage-like tissue, with the presence of inflammatory infiltrate; at 4 and 8 weeks, the UBM group presented neoformation of bone-like and cartilage-like tissue with a low presence of inflammatory infiltrate, and the NC group presented the formation of connective tissue and, in a low proportion, neoformation of bone tissue and cartilage. Both biomaterials, UBM and ß-TCP, exhibited the capacity to promote bone neoformation; however, the UBM-based biomaterial produced a better-organized tissue with a lower inflammatory response compared with the ß-TCP group.

El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar histológicamente el efecto de dos biomateriales: derivado de matriz de submucosa de vejiga urinaria porcina (UBM) y b-fosfato tricálcico (ß-TCP) en defectos óseos. Veinte conejos macho de raza Nueva Zelanda fueron empleados para este estudio; los modelos fueron divididos en dos grupos: UBM, ß-TCP y un grupo control negativo. Se crearon defectos de 5 mm en el fémur de cada uno de los modelos y posteriormente se colocó el biomaterial correspondiente de acuerdo a cada uno de los grupos. A las 4 y 8 semanas los modelos fueron sacrificados y se tomaron muestras del sitio del defecto óseo para realizar una tinción de Hematoxilina y Eosina. Histológicamente el grupo de ß-TCP tanto a las 4 como a las 8 semanas mostró neoformación de tejido óseo y tejido cartilaginoso con presencia de infiltrado inflamatorio; el grupo de UBM a las 4 y 8 semanas presentó neoformación de tejido óseo, tejido cartilaginoso y un bajo infiltrado inflamatorio; el grupo control negativo presentó formación de tejido conectivo y en baja proporción neoformación de tejido óseo y cartílago. Ambos biomateriales, UBM y ß-TCP mostraron la capacidad de promover la neoformación de tejido óseo; sin embargo, el biomaterial basado en UBM produjo un tejido mejor organizado y un menor infiltrado inflamatorio en comparación con el ß-TCP.

Quantification of DNA in urinary porcine bladder matrix using the ACTB gene.

Extracellular matrix (ECM) is a rich network of proteins and proteoglycans that has proved to be very useful in tissue regeneration. Porcine ECM has been proposed as a biological scaffold, and urinary bladder matrix (UBM) has demonstrated superior biological properties; however, its use in human treatment requires ensuring that it is DNA free. Several protocols have been used for decellularization and to demonstrate the absence of DNA, but until now, a porcine housekeeping gene for quantifying DNA by real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) has been limiting. The aim of this study was to propose a protocol to quantify the DNA content of decellularized UBM by qPCR for the beta-actin gene (ACTB). A total of 20 porcine bladders were used, and each bladder was divided into three pieces: one as a control and the others decellularized with either SDS or Triton X-100 detergent. The presence of DNA was assessed by histology, spectrophotometry, conventional PCR, and qPCR for the ACTB. Histological analysis demonstrated the absence of nuclei using both protocols. Spectrophotometrical evaluation resulted in DNA concentrations of 1561.4 ± 357.1 and 1211.9 ± 635.2 ng of DNA/mg dry weight after the SDS and Triton X-100 protocols, respectively. DNA was not detected in any protocol by conventional PCR. In contrast, using qPCR, we found 3.9 ± 2.8 ng of DNA/mg dry weight in the Triton X-100 protocol. Therefore, the use of qPCR is a reliable method to quantify residual DNA content after decellularization procedures.

Shear bond strength evaluation of bonded molar tubes on fluorotic molars.

OBJECTIVE: To study the shear bond strength (SBS), sites of failure, and micromorphology of bonded molar tubes used on teeth affected by dental fluorosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This in vitro study included 140 first molars classified according to Dean's index for dental fluorosis. Samples were divided into seven groups: (1) healthy teeth etched for 15 seconds, (2) teeth with moderate fluorosis (MOF) etched for 15 seconds, (3) teeth with MOF etched for 150 seconds, (4) teeth with MOF microabrasion etched for 15 seconds, (5) teeth with severe fluorosis (SEF) etched for 15 seconds, (6) teeth with SEF etched for 150 seconds, and (7) teeth with SEF microabrasion etched for 15 seconds. All samples were incubated and were then submitted to the SBS test and evaluated with the modified adhesive remnant index (ARI) and analyzed by using a scanning electronic microscope. RESULTS: The SBS mean value for healthy enamel was 20 ± 10.2 MPa. For the group with MOF, the etched 150-second mean value was the highest (19 ± 7.6 MPa); for the group with SEF treated with microabrasion and etched for 15 seconds, the mean value was (13 ± 4.1 MPa). Significant differences (P ≤ .05) were found in the ARI between healthy and fluorosed groups. CONCLUSIONS: Fluorotic enamel affects the adhesion of bonded molar tubes. The use of overetching in cases of MOF and the combination of microabrasion and etching in SEF provides a suitable adhesion for fixed appliance therapy.