Assessment of the quality of oral biopsy procedure videos shared on YouTube.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the quality of free-to-access videos on oral biopsy procedures on the YouTube platform. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a search on YouTube using the term "oral biopsy" and selected the first 100 videos in order of relevance. The following exclusion criteria were applied: language other than English, videos that did not cover oral biopsy techniques, videos on nonhuman specimens, postoperative instructions, personal experiences, exfoliative cytology, or "brush biopsy." Forty-seven selected videos were classified based on their duration, country of origin, date of upload to the system, author, information source and number of views, and likes and dislikes. Video quality was analyzed using DISCERN, the Global Quality Scale (GQS), and the Video Information and Quality Index (VIQI). RESULTS: The majority (78.7%) of analyzed videos were uploaded by dentists, originating from India (48.9%), with a mean duration of 11.8 min (SD, 20.4), with 104.5 likes (SD, 186.4) and 7.1 dislikes (SD, 10.55). The mean values for DISCERN, GQS, and VIQI were 1.3 (SD, 0.52), 2.1 (SD, 1.04), and 9.62 (SD, 1.69), respectively. CONCLUSION: The majority of videos on oral biopsy published on YouTube are of low quality.

Risk factors assessment in fibular free flap mandibular reconstruction.

INTRODUCTION: The fibular free flap (FFF) is the best choice method for mandibular reconstruction. However, the failure and the complications risk factors (RF) are not yet fully identified. This study aims to analyze these RF in order to improve the success rate. MATERIAL: This retrospective study includes all patients who benefited from a FFF mandibular reconstruction between the first of January, 2014 and the thirty-first of December, 2018 in the Department of Stomatology and Maxillofacial Surgery department of the CHU Saint-Pierre Hospital, Brussels, Belgium. RESULTS: Thirty patients benefited from this intervention. The overall success rate was 90%. Majority of the patients were men (67%) (mean age: 52 years). The main associated co-morbidities were: alcohol (50%), tobacco consumption (67%) and previous radiotherapy (20%). The mean operative time was 9,5hours. The morbidities rates at the receiving site (RS) and the donor site (DS) were respectively 43% and 30%. Infection and dehiscence of the RS were the main complications. Statistical analysis identified RF for RS infections: atherosclerosis and operative time; RS dehiscence (previous cervical dissection and secondary reconstruction); flap necrosis (ischemia time, rate of infection at the recipient site, history of radiation therapy, alcohol consumption, National Nosocomial Infection Surveillance score (NNISS), and history of cervical dissection); and DS morbidities (NNISS and dehiscence rate at the DS in the early period). CONCLUSION: The FFF mandibular reconstruction offers a significant success rate. Nevertheless, this study highlighted several failure and complications RF of the procedure. Previous neck dissection and radiotherapy, operative and the ischemia time, were RF associated with complication at the RS. Furthermore, the NNIS score and the dehiscence rate were also reported as RF for FFF necrosis.

Community-based oral health interventions for people experiencing homelessness: a scoping review.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the characteristics of community-based oral health interventions for people experiencing homelessness. BASIC RESEARCH DESIGN: A scoping review was conducted, adhering to the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses: Scoping Reviews) checklist. A search strategy was developed using MeSH terms and key words, and used to search the following electronic databases: Medline/PubMed, CINAHL, ProQuest Assia, Scopus, Web of Science and PsychNet. Key journals and reference lists were also hand-searched. Two reviewers then read the abstracts of all papers, excluding duplicates and papers that did not meet the eligibility criteria. The reviewers then read to full-texts of the studies to be included in the review. RESULTS: Eighteen studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the study. These studies were predominantly evaluations of community-based dental services or other oral health interventions. Several recommendations were extracted. Interventions should involve co-design with homeless service users; multidisciplinary working, collaboration with dental practitioners, and working with educational establishments. The location of community-based services was also found to be of importance. CONCLUSION: This review has highlighted several recommendations, as well as gaps in the literature. These gaps suggest a need for more non-clinical oral health interventions for the homeless population, and a closer look at the role that non-dental practitioners can play in the delivery of oral health care.

A randomized clinical trial of basal insulin peglispro vs NPH in insulin-naïve patients with type 2 diabetes: the IMAGINE 6 trial.

AIMS: Basal insulin peglispro (BIL) has a longer duration of action than conventional insulin analogues and a hepato-preferential mechanism of action. This study assessed whether BIL was non-inferior to isophane insulin (NPH) in reducing HbA1c in insulin-naïve patients with type 2 diabetes, when added to pre-study oral anti-hyperglycaemic medications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a Phase 3, open-label, treat-to-target (TTT), randomized trial with a 2-week lead-in, 26-week treatment and a 4-week safety follow-up period. Patients were randomized to bedtime (pm) NPH, morning (am) BIL or pm BIL in a 1:1:1 ratio. RESULTS: Six hundred and forty-one patients [NPH, n = 213; BIL, n = 428 (am, n = 213; pm, n = 215)] received study drug. BIL was non-inferior to NPH for HbA1c change from baseline at Week 26 with a between-treatment difference (95% confidence interval) of -0.37% (-0.50, -0.23%). HbA1c at baseline was 8.5%, and was lower in BIL- vs NPH-treated patients after 26 weeks of treatment (6.8% vs 7.1%; P < .001). More BIL-treated patients achieved HbA1c <7.0% and HbA1c <7.0% without nocturnal hypoglycaemia. Fasting serum glucose levels and nocturnal hypoglycaemia rates were lower in BIL-treated patients; total hypoglycaemia rates were similar. Treatment-emergent adverse events were similar between groups. Fasting triglycerides decreased from baseline in both groups and to a greater extent with NPH, but were not significantly different between groups at Week 26. Mean alanine aminotransferase (ALT) increased with BIL treatment, but there was no evidence of acute severe hepatotoxicity. CONCLUSIONS: In this TTT study, BIL treatment showed clinically relevant improvements in glycaemic control and a significant reduction in nocturnal hypoglycaemia compared to NPH.

Short-term treatment outcome of pulpotomies in primary molars using mineral trioxide aggregate and Biodentine: a randomized clinical trial.

INTRODUCTION: An ideal pulpotomy agent for primary molars has been sought for many years. Recently, new materials that allow regeneration of residual pulp tissue have been developed. In this study, we compared the preliminary clinical results obtained using Biodentine and mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) as pulp-dressing agents in pulpotomies of primary molars. METHODS: A randomized clinical study was performed in children aged 4-9 years with at least one primary tooth with decay or caries requiring pulp treatment. A total of 90 primary molars requiring pulpotomy were randomly allocated to the MTA or Biodentine group, and 84 pulpotomies were performed. Clinical and radiographic evaluations were undertaken 6 and 12 months after treatment. All teeth were restored with a reinforced zinc oxide-eugenol base and stainless steel crowns. Statistical analysis using Fisher's exact test was performed to determine the significant differences between the groups. RESULTS: A total of four clinical failures were observed; all involved gingival inflammation. The clinical success rate in the MTA Group after 12 months was 92 % (36/39), whereas the Biodentine Group obtained 97 % (38/39) (p = 0.346). All radiographic failures were observed at the 12-month follow-up evaluation. One molar from MTA Group showed internal resorption obtaining a radiographic success rate of 97 % (38/39). Two molars from the Biodentine Group showed radiographic failure (1 internal resorption and 1 periradicular radiolucency) obtaining a radiographic success rate of 95 % (37/39). CONCLUSIONS: Biodentine showed similar clinical results as MTA with comparable success rates when used for pulpotomies of primary molars. However, longer follow-up studies are required to confirm our findings. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This article demonstrates the effectiveness of Biodentine as a primary teeth pulpotomy material, performing similar results as MTA at 12-months evaluation.

Bone development of the skull, pectoral and pelvic fins in Seriola rivoliana (Valenciennes, 1833) larvae.

Skull, pectoral and pelvic fin bone structures in longfin yellowtail Seriola rivoliana were studied from 3.43 ± 0.15 to 16.20 ± 0.73 mm standard length (SL) specimens. The S. rivoliana skull started to mineralize with the appearance of the parasphenoid and maxillary by 3.43 ± 0.15 mm SL at the neurocranium and jaw regions, respectively. The first pectoral structure to mineralize was the cleithrum at 3.75 ± 0.14 mm SL shortly followed by the supracleithrum and posttemporal. The pelvic fin started by 6.16 ± 0.32 mm SL with the spine and continued with the soft rays and basipterygium. The present study determined the onset of the skull, pectoral and pelvic fin mineralization. These results might be used as a reference for future studies in S. rivoliana or related species.

[Randomised clinical trial to compare two tracheotomy care methods in an Intensive Care Unit]. / Ensayo clínico aleatorizado para la comparación de dos métodos de cura de traqueotomía en una Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos.

INTRODUCTION: Tracheotomy is a common technique in Intensive Care Units (ICU). It is known that nursing care during and after that procedure is directly related to its success, by reducing the possible complications to a minimum, such as the stoma infection, and contributing to a favourable outcome in critical patients. OBJECTIVES: To compare the use of polyhexanide (PLX) versus saline+povidone iodine (PY) as antiseptics and infection incidence in tracheostomies performed in Intensive Care Units. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A 2-year, experimental, randomised, open-label trial carried out in a multidiscipline ICU with 32 beds. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of Principality of Asturias. RESULTS: The overall infection rate observed for every hundred patients was 1.34 (95% CI; 0.81-2.01), with 1.46 when using PLX and 1.21 for PY (P=.685). CONCLUSIONS: In spite of the experimental treatment (PLX) was shown to be effective in other types of wounds in our study. No significant differences were found between this technique and the standard one. Since there is no national registry of tracheotomy- associated infections, it is not possible to know whether the rate observed is within the usual parameters.

European mitochondrial haplogroups are not associated with hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment response in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients.

OBJECTIVES: Mitochondria are multifunctional organelles with a key role in the innate immune response against viral infections. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplogroups have been related to AIDS progression and CD4 T-cell recovery in HIV-infected patients, and to a delay in the development of liver fibrosis in HIV/hepatitis C virus (HCV)-coinfected patients. We performed a study to investigate whether mtDNA haplogroups may be associated with HCV treatment response in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients on pegylated interferon (pegIFN) plus ribavirin (RBV). METHODS: We performed a retrospective study in 304 patients who completed a course of HCV therapy. mtDNA polymorphisms were genotyped using Sequenom's MassARRAY platform. The interleukin-28B (IL-28B) polymorphism (rs12980275) was genotyped using the GoldenGate® assay. Sustained virological response (SVR) was defined as an undetectable HCV viral load at week 24 after the end of treatment. The statistical analysis was carried out using on-treatment data. RESULTS: The SVR rates were 52.6% (160 of 304) for all patients, and 37.8% (46 of 201) for patients with HCV genotype 1 or 4 vs. 81.4% (83 of 102) for patients with HCV genotype 2 or 3 (P < 0.001). No significant associations were found between mtDNA haplogroup and SVR when all patients were included in the analysis and when patients were stratified by HCV genotype (i.e. those with genotypes 1/4 and 2/3 analysed separately) or IL-28B rs12980275 genotype. CONCLUSIONS: European mtDNA haplogroups were not related to HCV treatment response in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients on pegIFN-α/RBV therapy.

Oral rehabilitation of a 4-year-old child with early childhood caries under general anaesthesia: a case report on long-term outcome.

BACKGROUND: Young patients with early childhood caries (ECC) commonly undergo oral rehabilitation under general anaesthesia (GA), often because of problems with behaviour management. Children with a history of ECC are highly susceptible to the development of new caries, even after comprehensive oral rehabilitation. CASE REPORT: The present paper reports the case of a female patient, aged 4.1 years, with ECC who was referred for treatment to the Department of Paediatric Dentistry of the Universitat Internacional de Catalunya. On account of the requirement for extensive dental treatment, and because of behaviour management problems, her dentition was restored under GA. A combination of restorative approaches and techniques was used, including the placement of composite resins, preformed metal crown restorations, extractions, and space maintainers. The patient was followed for 24 months, both clinically and radiographically. Conclusion This case reflects the need to provide adequate support to children at high risk for ECC, together with their families by developing more acceptable and effective biological and behavioural interventions in order to reduce caries relapse after oral rehabilitation under GA.

Effect of audiovisual distraction on children's behaviour, anxiety and pain in the dental setting.

AIM: To evaluate whether the parental perception of the patient's anxiety, children's anxiety, pain, behaviour and heart rate of paediatric patients improves when an audiovisual technique is used as a distraction method during dental treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This non-randomised crossover trial was performed with 34 patients aged 6-8 years, who required a minimum of two treatment visits for restorative therapy. During the last visit, the patient was shown a cartoon film. RESULTS: There was a significant improvement in the global behaviour when children were shown a cartoon film (P < 0.001). A significant increase in heart rate was recorded in both visits (P = 0.0001) when the anaesthetic was injected. A 97% of the sample would like to continue seeing their chosen film during subsequent visits. No statistically significant differences were found (P > 0.05) between the visits in terms of parental perception of the patient's anxiety, or the patient's self-reported anxiety, pain and heart rate. CONCLUSIONS: The use of the audiovisual material used as a method of distraction produces a global improvement in patient behaviour, but not in parental perception of the patient's anxiety, self-reported anxiety, pain or heart rate according to the measurement scales used. This material is also highly accepted by paediatric patients.

Clinical Comparison of Three Indirect Pulp Capping Restorative Protocols: A Randomized Controlled Prospective Study.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this prospective double-blind clinical trial was to compare clinical outcomes of indirect pulp capping restorative protocols on permanent teeth over a 12-month period. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Deep carious lesions in permanent teeth (90) were randomly assigned to three indirect pulp capping protocols (n=30: TheraCal LC, Dycal, and no liner). All teeth were restored with resin composite. The outcome measures were pain (VAS scale) and success rate (pulp vitality based on percussion, palpation, cold test, and radiographic findings), collected at screening, intervention, and 24-hour, 7-day, 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month follow-up visits. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference in tooth sensitivity among the three indirect pulp capping protocols nor in success rates among the restorative protocols after 1 year of follow-up (p>0.1).The respective success rates, as defined by the tooth remaining vital, after 1 year were: 96.2% for TheraCal LC, 100% for Dycal, and 100% for no liner. CONCLUSIONS: After 12-month evaluation, the success rate of indirect pulp capping therapy on permanent teeth was not affected by the pulp capping restorative protocol.

New magnetic fluid developed with natural organic compounds biocompatible.

This work was developed with an aqueous suspension of maghemite nanoparticles and colloidal emulsions with nanoparticles of magnetite. The nanoparticles were synthesized by co-precipitation method. The first was the magnetic emulsion nanoparticles of maghemite dispersed in the aqueous extract obtained from the leaf embauba (Cecropia Obtusifolia), whose tree is native to Central and South America. Thereby achieving the magnetic fluid extract embauba stabilized with ionic buffer solution pH 7.4. A second emulsion was prepared with colloidal magnetite nanoparticles with surfaces previously coated with oleic acid as a means of dispersing and using the oil extracted from in nature seed Andiroba (Carapa Guianensis), tree of the Brazilian Amazon. These new magnetic fluids the nanoparticles were characterized by Photoacoustic spectroscopy (PAS) to determine the coating layer of molecules on the surfaces of nanoparticles. In aqueous ionic magnetic fluid Cecropia Obtusifolia (MFCO) chlorogenic acid contributes to the electron density in the presence of four groups alcohols, a ketone group and a carboxylic group. In magnetic fluid-based oil andiroba MFAD PAS spectra show that oleic acid molecules are tightly linked on the surface of the nanoparticles.

Latex allergy: Position Paper.

Correct management of latex allergy is essential to ensure adequate care of patients who are allergic to latex, which is ubiquitous in the health care setting. In this Position Paper, the Latex Committee of the Spanish Society of Allergology and Clinical Immunology provides guidelines for the management of latex allergy.

Phthalates and bisphenols migration in Mexican food cans and plastic food containers.

The presence of endocrine disruptors bisphenol-A, bisphenol-A-dimethacrylate, bisphenol-A-diglycidyl-ether, phthalic-acid, dibutyl-phthalate, diethyl-phthalate and dioctyl-phthalate was determined in vegetable cans, baby bottles and microwaveable containers from the Mexican market. Gas-Chromatography-Mass-Spectrometry was used for the identification and High-Performance-Liquid-Chromatography with UV/Visible light and fluorescence detectors was used for the quantification. Endocrine disruptors were found in all samples. PA and DOP were the substances most commonly found, and maximum concentrations were 9.549 and 0.664 µg/kg, respectively from a jalapeno peppers can. Bisphenol A, phthalic-acid, bisphenol-A-dimethacrylate, bisphenol-A-diglycidyl-ether, dioctyl-phtalate and dibutyl-phthalate were found in baby bottles and microwaveable containers.

Objective and subjective measures for assessing anxiety in paediatric dental patients.

AIM: Anxiety has been defined as a nonspecific feeling of apprehension towards a concrete situation that does not necessarily involve a previous experience. Dental anxiety can prevent patients from cooperating fully during dental treatment. Given that there is a connection between dental anxiety and uncooperative behaviour, it is important for dentists to be able to assess anxiety in their patients. There are many methods for such assessment, and in children they depend on age and intellectual development. These measures can be objective or subjective, depending on the method used to quantify the degree of anxiety. The aim of this literature review was to analyse the objective and subjective scales that are used most commonly to assess the degree of anxiety of children in a dental setting. CONCLUSION: Knowing the degree of anxiety of dental children is important in order to guide them through their dental experience. Their level of cooperation will also improve and anxiety will be reduced as well.

Identification of a potential toxic hot spot associated with AVS spatial and seasonal variation.

In risk assessment of aquatic sediments, much attention is paid to the difference between acid-volatile sulfide (AVS) and simultaneously extracted metals (SEMs) as indicators of metal availability. Ten representative sampling sites were selected along the estuary of the Guadalete River. Surficial sediments were sampled in winter and summer to better understand SEM and AVS spatial and seasonal distributions and to establish priority risk areas. Total SEM concentration (SigmaSEM) ranged from 0.3 to 4.7 micromol g(-1). It was not significantly different between seasons, however, it showed a significant difference between sampling stations. AVS concentrations were much more variable, showing significant spatial and temporal variations. The values ranged from 0.8 to 22.4 micromol g(-1). The SEM/AVS ratio was found to be <1 at all except one station located near the mouth of the estuary. The results provided information on a potential pollution source near the mouth of the estuary, probably associated with vessel-related activities carried out in a local harbor area located near the station.

Asociación entre Calcificaciones del Complejo Estilohioideo y Síntomas Clínicos en Pacientes Atendidos en el Centro de Salud de la Universidad San Sebastián, Sede Santiago, Chile

Hoy en día es común recibir pacientes en la clínica odontológica relatando dolor uni o bilateral en la zona lateral de la cara, más específicamente en la zona de las ramas mandibulares. Este dolor puede ser muchas veces de origen dental, muscular masticatorio, de las articulaciones temporomandibulares, o incluso tonsilar. Debido a que las anteriores son patologías más frecuentes, muchas veces el clínico no considera que la causa de estos dolores podría estar asociada al síndrome de Eagle. Esta investigación se fundamentó en la necesidad de utilizar las radiografías panorámicas como herramienta para asociar dolores que no remiten a tratamientos convencionales a calcificaciones del complejo estilohioideo, muchas veces hallazgos radiográficos que no son comúnmente tomados en consideración por el clínico. El objetivo del estudio fue eterminar la asociación entre calcificaciones del complejo estilohioideo en radiografías panorámicas y sintomatología clínica dolorosa en pacientes del centro de salud de la Universidad San Sebastián, sede Santiago, Chile. Se realizó un estudio correlacional, analítico y retrospectivo en el Centro de Salud de la Universidad San Sebastián. Se tomó una muestra aleatoria de 815 radiografías y fichas clínicas asociadas, en las cuáles se analizó la presencia, tipo y ubicación de calcificaciones del complejo estilohioideo, así como, si los pacientes relataron sintomatología dolorosa asociable al Síndrome de Eagle. Posteriormente se realizó un análisis descriptivo, exploratorio e inferencial de asociación entre variables. El porcentaje de pacientes que presentó calcificaciones del complejo estilohioideo alcanzó un 85,4%, siendo la mayoría de tipo elongado (70,98%), seguida del tipo segmentado (26,72%) y muy por debajo el tipo pseudoarticulado (2,3%). Con respecto a la prevalencia de sintomatología la gran mayoría de los pacientes no presentó (96,32%), sin verse diferencias según sexo o edad. Por último, al realizar el análisis de asociación el valor de X 2 calculado fue de 3,171, menor al valor de X2 crítico tabulado de 3,841. Al obtener un X2 calculado menor a un X2 crítico tabulado se demostró que no existe una asociación entre la presencia de calcificaciones del complejo estilohioideo y sintomatología clínica asociada. Además, las prevalencias de calcificaciones y sus tipos no variaron según la edad o género, lo que no nos permitió establecer una relación causal entre las variables.

Nowadays it is very common to receive patients in the dental clinic reporting unilateral or bilateral pain in the lateral area of the face, more specifically in the mandibular rami area. The origin of this pain can often be dental, muscular, from the temporomandibular joint or even tonsillar. Because the named pathologies are more frequent, many times the clinician does not consider that the cause of this pain could be associated with Eagle syndrome. This research was based on the need to use panoramic radiographs as a tool to associate pain that does not refer to conventional treatments with calcifications of the stylohyoid complex, many times radiographic findings that are not commonly considered by the clinician. This correlational cross analytical study was carried out at San Sebastián University Health Center. A random sample of 815 radiographs and associated clinical records was taken, in which the presence, type and location of calcifications of the stylohyoid complex were analyzed, as well as whether the patients reported painful symptoms associated with Eagle syndrome. Subsequently, a descriptive, exploratory, and inferential analysis of association between variables was conducted. The percentage of patients who presented calcifications of the stylohyoid complex reached 85.4%, being the majority the elongated type (70.98%), followed by the segmented type (26.72%) and far below the pseudoarticulated type (2.3%). Regarding the prevalence of symptoms, the vast majority of patients did not present (96.32%), without seeing differences according to gender or age. Finally, when performing the association analysis, the calculated X2 value was 3.171, lower than the critical tabulated X2 value of 3.841. Obtaining a calculated X2 lower than a critical tabulated X2 showed that there is no association between the presence of calcifications of the stylohyoid complex and associated clinical symptoms. In addition, the prevalence of calcifications and their types did not vary according to age or gender, which did not allow us to establish a causal relationship between the variables.

Plasma protein adsorption on Fe3O4-PEG nanoparticles activates the complement system and induces an inflammatory response.

BACKGROUND: Understanding of iron oxide nanoparticles (IONP) interaction with the body milieu is crucial to guarantee their efficiency and biocompatibility in nanomedicine. Polymer coating to IONP, with polyethyleneglycol (PEG) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), is an accepted strategy to prevent toxicity and excessive protein binding. AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the feature of IONP adsorption of complement proteins, their activation and consequent inflammatory response as a strategy to further elucidate their biocompatibility. METHODS: Three types of IONP with different surface characteristics were used: bare (IONP-bare), coated with PVP (IONP-PVP) and PEG-coated (IONP-PEG). IONPs were incubated with human plasma and adsorbed proteins were identified. BALB/c mice were intravenously exposed to IONP to evaluate complement activation and proinflammatory response. RESULTS: Protein corona fingerprinting showed that PEG surface around IONP promoted a selective adsorption of complement recognition molecules which would be responsible for the complement system activation. Furthermore, IONP-PEG activated in vitro, the complement system and induced a substantial increment of C3a and C4a anaphylatoxins while IONP-bare and IONP-PVP did not. In vivo IONP-PEG induced an increment in complement activation markers (C5a and C5b-9), and proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1ß, IL-6, TNF-α). CONCLUSION: The engineering of nanoparticles must incorporate the association between complement proteins and nanomedicines, which will regulate the immunostimulatory effects through a selective adsorption of plasma proteins and will enable a safer application of IONP in human therapy.

Effect of organosolv and soda pulping processes on the metals content of non-woody pulps.

In this work the effect of different pulping processes (ethyleneglycol, diethyleneglycol, ethanolamine and soda) of tow abounded raw materials (empty fruit bunches - EFB and rice straw) on the ash, silicates and metals (Fe, Zn, Cu, Pb, Mn, Ni and Cd) content of the obtained pulps have been studied. Results showed that pulps obtained by diethyleneglycol pulping process presented lower metals content (756 microg/g and 501 microg/g for EFB and rice straw pulp, respectively) than soda pulps (984 microg/g and 889 microg/g). Ethanolamine pulps presented values of holocellulose (74% and 77% for EFB and rice straw pulp, respectively), alpha-cellulose (74% and 69%), kappa number (18.7 and 18.5) and viscosity (612 and 90 6ml/g) similar to those of soda pulp, and lower lignin contents (11% and 12%).

Solid lipid nanoparticles: formulation factors affecting cell transfection capacity.

Since solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) were introduced as non-viral transfection systems, very few reports of their use for gene delivery have been published. In this work different formulations based on SLN-DNA complexes were formulated in order to evaluate the influence of the formulation components on the "in vitro" transfection capacity. SLNs composed by the solid lipid Precirol ATO 5, the cationic lipid DOTAP and the surfactant Tween 80, and SLN-DNA complexes prepared at different DOTAP/DNA ratios were characterized by studying their size, surface charge, DNA protection capacity, transfection and cell viability in HEK293 cultured cells. The incorporation of Tween 80 allowed for the reduction of the cationic lipid concentration. The formulations prepared at DOTAP/DNA ratios 7/1, 5/1 and 4/1 provided almost the same transfection levels (around 15% transfected cells), without significant differences between them (p>0.05). Other assayed formulations presented lower transfection. Transfection activity was dependent on the DOTAP/DNA ratio since it influences the DNA condensation into the SLNs. DNA condensation is a crucial factor which conditions the transfection capacity of SLNs, because it influences DNA delivery from nanoparticles, gene protection from external agents and DNA topology.