Assessment of the effect of experimental gel of pregabalin associated with 35% hydrogen peroxide bleaching on bovine dental enamel: an in vitro study.

To assess the effect of bleaching with gel of pregabalin associated with 35% hydrogen peroxide on the mechanical and chemical properties and ultramorphology of dental enamel. Thirty-six (36) specimens of bovine dental incisors were obtained and divided into three groups (n = 12), namely: CG = bleaching with 35% hydrogen peroxide; KFG = bleaching with 5% potassium nitrate and 2% sodium fluoride gel + 35% hydrogen peroxide; and PGG = bleaching with experimental gel of pregabalin + 35% hydrogen peroxide. The specimens were assessed with respect to Knoop microhardness, surface roughness, and colour change, before and after bleaching. They were also assessed using scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive spectroscopy after treatments. All groups exhibited an increase in surface roughness and a reduction in Knoop microhardness after the protocols. There was colour change in all groups, with no difference between them. In addition, there were changes in enamel morphology and non-significant loss of calcium and phosphorus. The experimental gel of pregabalin did not influence the action of 35% hydrogen peroxide, yielding results similar to those of the other groups assessed in all the parameters. Therefore, the gel of pregabalin can be an alternative for topical application on the surfaces of the teeth in association with bleaching treatments.

Characterization and Evaluation of the Cytotoxicity of Pregabalin Gels for Oral Application.

The efficacy of pregabalin in pain treatment has led to the search for new formulations for its use through different routes of administration. This study aimed to prepare, characterize, and evaluate the cytotoxicity of pregabalin (PG) gels for topical application in the oral cavity. Solutions with three different concentrations of PG were prepared and added to a 1.0% carbopol gel base. Thermal analyses (TG and DSC) and FTIR were performed on the gel and pure pregabalin. Stability (preliminary and accelerated) and rheology studies were also conducted on the gels. Cytotoxicity was evaluated in human gingival fibroblasts in the following groups: WG (1.0% carbopol gel base), PG2G (2.0% pregabalin gel), PG5G (5.0% pregabalin gel), and PG10G (10% pregabalin gel). A transparent and homogeneous gel with a pH of 6 was obtained. The formulations showed stability, and the different drug concentrations did not influence the product's characteristics. None of the tested groups showed cytotoxicity for the analyzed cells. The pregabalin gels exhibited favorable and non-toxic characteristics for human gingival fibroblasts in vitro. Therefore, this product may be a promising therapeutic alternative for topical application in the oral mucosa.

Removal of phosphorus by modified bentonite:polyvinylidene fluoride membrane-study of adsorption performance and mechanism.

Enhanced phosphorus management, geared towards sustainability, is imperative due to its indispensability for all life forms and its close association with water bodies' eutrophication, primarily stemming from anthropogenic activities. In response to this concern, innovative technologies rooted in the circular economy are emerging, to remove and recover this vital nutrient to global food production. This research undertakes an evaluation of the dead-end filtration performance of a mixed matrix membrane composed of modified bentonite (MB) and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) for efficient phosphorus removal from water media. The MB:PVDF membrane exhibited higher permeability and surface roughness compared to the pristine membrane, showcasing an adsorption capacity (Q) of 23.2 mgP·m-2. Increasing the adsorbent concentration resulted in a higher removal capacity (from 16.9 to 23.2 mgP·m-2) and increased solution flux (from 0.5 to 16.5 L·m-2·h-1) through the membrane. The initial phosphorus concentration demonstrates a positive correlation with the adsorption capacity of the material, while the system pressure positively influences the observed flux. Conversely, the presence of humic acid exerts an adverse impact on both factors. Additionally, the primary mechanism involved in the adsorption process is identified as the formation of inner-sphere complexes.

Aging biological markers in a cohort of antipsychotic-naïve first-episode psychosis patients.

Schizophrenia is a severe and multifactorial disorder with an unknown causative pathophysiology. Abnormalities in neurodevelopmental and aging processes have been reported. Relative telomere length (RTL) and DNA methylation age (DMA), well-known biomarkers for estimating biological age, are both commonly altered in patients with schizophrenia compared to healthy controls. However, few studies investigated these aging biomarkers in first-episode psychosis (FEP) and in antipsychotic-naïve patients. To cover the existing gap regarding DMA and RTL in FEP and antipsychotic treatment, we aimed to verify whether those aging markers could be associated with psychosis and treatment response. Thus, we evaluated these measures in the blood of FEP antipsychotic-naïve patients and healthy controls (HC), as well as the response to antipsychotics after 10 weeks of treatment with risperidone. RTL was measured in 392 subjects, being 80 FEP and 312 HC using qPCR, while DMA was analyzed in a subset of 60 HC, 60 FEP patients (antipsychotic-naïve) and 59 FEP-10W (after treatment) using the "Multi-tissue Predictor"and the Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChip Kit. We observed diminished DMA and longer RTL in FEP patients before treatment compared to healthy controls, indicating a decelerated aging process in those patients. We found no statistical difference between responder and non-responder patients at baseline for both markers. An increased DMA was observed in patients after 10 weeks of treatment, however, after adjusting for blood cell composition, no significant association remained. Our findings indicate a decelerated aging process in the early phases of the disease.

Efeito inibitório de óleos essenciais sobre microrganismos do canal radicular / Inhibitory effect of essential oils against organisms from root canal

Introdução: os óleos essenciais apresentam propriedades biológicas, as quais devem ser estudadas de modo a investigar novas possibilidades de constituição de soluções irrigadoras. Objetivo: avaliar o efeito inibitóriode óleos essenciais extraídos de plantas sobre a atividade de microrganismos envolvidos na infecção do canal radicular. Material e método: foram selecionados os óleos essenciais de Melaleuca alternifolia (melaleuca), Cymbopogon winterianus (citronela), Thymus vulgaris (tomilho), Ocimum basilicum (manjericão), Cymbopogon martinii (palmarosa) e Cinnamomum cassia (canela-da-china). A atividade antimicrobiana sobre Candida albicans (ATCC 289065) e Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 29212) foi avaliada por meio da triagem da atividade antimicrobiana e da determinação da Concentração Inibitória Mínima (CIM). As soluções de Digluconato de Clorexidina (0,12%) e Hipoclorito de Sódio (1%) serviram de controle. Resultado: os halos de inibição docrescimento para E. faecalis variaram entre 8,00 e 26,00 mm, enquanto que a variação para C. albicans foi entre 26,67 e > 35,00 mm. Os óleos essenciais de T. vulgaris, C. martinii e C. cassia apresentaram CIM na concentração 0,56 mg.mL­1 frente às cepas testadas. Menor atividade foi demonstrada por O. basilicum, que apresentou CIM nas concentrações 72,00 e 1,12 mg.mL­1 contra E. faecalis e C. albicans, respectivamente. Conclusão: os produtos testados apresentaram efeito inibitório satisfatório sobre E. faecalis e C. albicans, destacando-se os óleos essenciais de T. vulgaris, C. martinii e C. cassia.

Introduction: essential oils have biological properties that should be studied in order to investigate new possibilities for formulating irrigating solutions. Objective: the aim was to evaluate the inhibitory effect of essential oils extracted from plants on the activity of organisms involved in root canal infection. Material and method: the essential oils from Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree), Cymbopogon winterianus (citronella), Thymus vulgaris (thyme), Ocimum basilicum (basil), Cymbopogon martinii (palmarosa) and Cinnamomum cassia (cinnamon) were selected.The antimicrobial activity against Candida albicans (ATCC 289065) and Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 29212) was evaluated by screening for antimicrobial activity and determination of Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC). The Chlorhexidine Digluconate (0.12%) and 1% Sodium Hypochlorite solutions served as control. Result: the zones of growth inhibition for E. faecalis varied between 8.00 and 26.00 mm, while the zones of inhibition for C. albicans ranged between 26.67 and > 35.00 mm. The essential oils from T. vulgaris, C. martinii and C. cassia showedMIC at concentration of 0.56 mg.mL­1 against the tested strains. Minor activity was demonstrated by the essential oil from O. basilicum, which presented MIC at concentrations of 72.00 and 1.12 mg.mL­1, against E. faecalis and C. albicans, respectively. Conclusion: the tested products presented satisfactory inhibitory effect against E. faecalisand C. albicans, with highlight to the essential oils from T. vulgaris, C. martinii and C. cassia.