Substance P and Calcitonin gene-related peptide expression in human periodontal ligament after root canal preparation with Reciproc Blue, WaveOne Gold, XP EndoShaper and hand files.

AIM: To quantify Substance P (SP) and Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) expression in healthy human periodontal ligament from premolars after root canal preparation with Reciproc Blue, WaveOne Gold, XP EndoShaper and hand files. METHODOLOGY: A total of 50 human periodontal ligament samples were obtained from healthy mandibular premolars where extraction was indicated for orthodontic reasons. Prior to extraction, 40 of these premolars were equally divided into four groups, and root canals were prepared using four different systems: Reciproc Blue, WaveOne Gold, XP EndoShaper and a hand instrumentation technique. The remaining 10 healthy premolars were extracted without treatment and served as a negative control group. All periodontal ligament samples were processed, and SP and CGRP were measured by radioimmunoassay. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to establish significant differences between groups and LSD post hoc comparisons were also performed. RESULTS: Greater SP and CGRP values were found in the hand instrumentation group, followed by the XP EndoShaper, WaveOne Gold and the Reciproc groups. The lower SP and CGRP values were for the healthy periodontal ligament group. The Kruskal-Wallis test revealed significant differences between groups (P < 0.05). Post hoc Least Significant Difference (LSD) tests revealed significant differences (P < 0.05) in SP and CGRP expression between all the comparisons except for the Reciproc Blue and WaveOne Gold group (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: All the root canal preparation techniques tested increased SP and CGRP expression in human periodontal ligament, with hand files and XP EndoShaper instruments being associated with greater neuropeptide release compared to Reciproc Blue and WaveOne Gold files.

Cardiorespiratory fitness and dietary intake in European adolescents: the Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence study.

The present study investigated the association between cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and dietary intake in European adolescents. The study comprised 1492 adolescents (770 females) from eight European cities participating in the HELENA (Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence) study. CRF was assessed by the 20 m shuttle run test. Adolescents were grouped into low and high CRF levels according to the FITNESSGRAM Standards. Dietary intake was self-registered by the adolescents using a computer-based tool for 24 h dietary recalls (HELENA-Dietary Assessment Tool) on two non-consecutive days. Weight and height were measured, and BMI was calculated. Higher CRF was associated with higher total energy intake in boys (P = 0·003). No association was found between CRF and macronutrient intake (as percentage of energy), yet some positive associations were found with daily intake of bread/cereals in boys and dairy products in both boys and girls (all P < 0·003), regardless of centre, age and BMI. CRF was inversely related to sweetened beverage consumption in girls. These findings were overall consistent when CRF was analysed according to the FITNESSGRAM categories (high/low CRF). A high CRF was not related to compliance with dietary recommendations, except for sweetened beverages in girls (P = 0·002). In conclusion, a high CRF is associated with a higher intake of dairy products and bread/cereals, and a lower consumption of sweetened beverages, regardless of centre, age and BMI. The present findings contribute to the understanding of the relationships between dietary factors and physiological health indicators such as CRF.

Analysis of the effectiveness and safety of short-stay units in the hospitalization of patients with acute heart failure. Propensity Score SSU-EAHFE.

OBJECTIVES: This work aims to analyze if hospitalization in short-stay units (SSU) of patients diagnosed in the emergency department with acute heart failure (AHF) is effective in terms of the length of hospital stay and if it is associated with differences in short-term progress. METHOD: Patients from the EAHFE registry diagnosed with AHF who were admitted to the SSU (SSU group) were included and compared to those hospitalized in other departments (non-SSU group) from all hospitals (comparison A) and, separately, those from hospitals with an SSU (comparison B) and without an SSU (comparison C). For each comparison, patients in the SSU/non-SSU groups were matched by propensity score. The length of hospital stay (efficacy), 30-day mortality, and post-discharge adverse events at 30 days (safety) were compared. RESULTS: A total of 2,003 SSU patients and 12,193 non-SSU patients were identified. Of them, 674 pairs of patients were matched for comparison A, 634 for comparison B, and 588 for comparison C. The hospital stay was significantly shorter in the SSU group in all comparisons (A: median 4 days (IQR = 2-5) versus 8 (5-12) days, p < 0.001; B: 4 (2-5) versus 8 (5-12), p < 0.001; C: 4 (2-5) versus 8 (6-12), p < 0.001). Admission to the SSU was not associated with differences in mortality (A: HR = 1.027, 95%CI = 0.681-1.549; B: 0.976, 0.647-1.472; C: 0.818, 0.662-1.010) or post-discharge adverse events (A: HR = 1.002, 95%CI = 0.816-1.232; B: 0.983, 0.796-1.215; C: 1.135, 0.905-1.424). CONCLUSION: The hospitalization of patients with AHF in the SSU is associated with shorter hospital stays but there were no differences in short-term progress.

Association between the FTO rs9939609 polymorphism and leptin in European adolescents: a possible link with energy balance control. The HELENA study.

We examined the association between the FTO rs9939609 polymorphism and serum leptin concentrations in adolescents. The FTO rs9939609 polymorphism was genotyped, and fasting serum leptin and insulin were measured in 655 European adolescents (365 females) aged 14.6 ± 1.2 years. We measured weight, height, triceps and subscapular skinfolds and waist circumference, and body fat percentage was calculated. Sex, pubertal status, center, physical activity (accelerometry), total or central adiposity and serum insulin concentrations were entered as confounders in the analyses. The minor A allele of the FTO rs9939609 was significantly associated with higher serum leptin concentrations independently of potential confounders including adiposity (+3.9 ng ml(-1) per risk allele (95% confidence interval: 2.0, 5.9); adjusted P < 0.001). These findings could link the FTO gene with serum leptin and consequently with the control of energy balance. Leptin could be a possible intermediary contributing to the association between the FTO rs9939609 polymorphism and adiposity.

Daily consumption of milk enriched with fish oil, oleic acid, minerals and vitamins reduces cell adhesion molecules in healthy children.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Several studies have suggested that polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamins and minerals have beneficial effects on lipid profile and systemic inflammation in adults. METHODS AND RESULTS: We examined the effects of a daily intake of milk enriched with longchain polyunsaturated fatty acids, oleic acid, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and low in saturated fatty acids (SFAs) for 5 months, on several cardiovascular (CVD) risk biomarkers in healthy children aged 8-14 years. In a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial, a total of 107 children of both genders were assigned to two study groups: 1) a supplemented group (SG, n=53) who consumed 0.6 L/day of an enriched dairy product, and 2) a control group (CG, n=54) who consumed 0.6 L/day of standard whole milk. Both groups consumed the dairy drinks for 5 months, in addition to their usual diet. Serum levels of adhesion molecules as indices of vascular endothelial cell activation were assessed in both groups at 0 and 5 months as well as white blood cell counts, lipid profile, serum proteins, total serum calcium, 25-OH vitamin D, glucose, insulin and adiponectin. In the enriched dairy drink supplemented group, adhesion molecules E-selectin and ICAM-1 as well as lymphocyte levels decreased while plasma docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and serum calcium concentrations increased. In the control group, serum total protein, transferrin, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and adiponectin concentrations decreased. CONCLUSION: The consumption of a milk enriched with fish oil, oleic acid, minerals and vitamins reduced indices of endothelial cell activation in the studied group of healthy children.

Generalized mean spherical approximation for the multicomponent restricted primitive model.

The generalized mean spherical approximation of Stell and Sun [J. Chem. Phys. 63, 5333 (1975)] for the binary charge-symmetric restricted primitive model (electroneutral mixture of equally sized hard spheres) is extended to charge-asymmetric binary electrolytes and to the generally multicomponent, but still restricted (i.e., equally sized) primitive model.

Sampling and processing of fresh blood samples within a European multicenter nutritional study: evaluation of biomarker stability during transport and storage.

INTRODUCTION: Analysis of several biological markers improves the quality and physiologic comprehension of data obtained in epidemiological nutritional studies. AIM: To develop a methodology that guarantees the centralized analysis and quality assurance of the most relevant blood parameters from fresh blood samples in adolescents in a European multicenter study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Stability of selected nutrients and biomarkers (vitamins, fatty acids, iron metabolism and immunological parameters) chosen with respect to time and temperature of sample transport and storage was evaluated as part of the pilot study of the Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence (HELENA) project. RESULTS: Routine biochemistry and iron status parameters included in the HELENA Cross-Sectional Study (CSS) protocol could be analyzed within 24 h from fresh blood samples without any stability problems (coefficient of variation (CV)<5%, P<0.05). However, stability tests for lymphocyte subpopulations, vitamin C and fatty acids showed that they are very unstable at room temperature without any treatment. Therefore, a special handling for these samples was developed. Vitamin C was stabilized with metaphosphoric acid and transported under cooled conditions (CV 4.4%, recovery rate >93%, P>0.05). According to the results, a specific methodology and transport system were developed to collect blood samples at schools in 10 European cities and to send them to the centralized laboratory (IEL, Bonn, Germany). To guarantee good clinical practice, the field workers were instructed in a training workshop and a manual of operation was developed. CONCLUSION: The handling and transport system for fresh blood samples developed for the European multicenter study HELENA is adequate for the final part of the HELENA-CSS and will provide, for the first time, reference values for several biological markers in European adolescents.

Immobilized chitosan as biosorbent for the removal of Cd(II), Cr(III) and Cr(VI) from aqueous solutions.

The generation of layer-by-layer silicate-chitosan composite biosorbent was studied. The films were evaluated on its stability regarding the polymer leakage and its capability in the removal of Cd(II), Cr(III) and Cr(VI) from an aqueous solution. SEM, EDAX and ATR-IR techniques were applied for material characterization. Silicate-chitosan films with a final layer of silicate demonstrated chitosan retention and had better sorption capacities than those without it. For metal species, such as Cd(II) and Cr(III), the greatest adsorption was obtained when the pH of the solution was 7. When Cr(VI) was evaluated, pH 4 was the optimal for its adsorption. Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms were modeled for the equilibrium data. An 80% of the adsorbed metal was recovered by HNO(3) incubation. This non-covalent immobilization method allowed chitosan surface retention and did not affect its adsorption properties. The use of a coated surface would facilitate sorbent removal from medium after adsorption.

Validation of a capillary electrophoresis method for the analysis of ibandronate related impurities.

A capillary zone electrophoretic (CZE) method has been developed for the determination of impurities (phosphyte and phosphate) in technical-grade ibandronate, which is a potent nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate. Successful separation of the drug from the impurities was achieved using 1mM tetradecyl-trimethyl-ammonium bromide (TTAB) and 5mM potassium chromate (pH 10.0) as background electrolyte with an indirect detection at 254 nm. The optimised method was validated for specificity, precision, linearity and accuracy. The limit of detection (LOD) was 2 microg/mL and the limit of quantification (LOQ) was 7 microg/mL for both phosphyte and phosphate. The developed CZE method used to determine phosphyte and phosphate as bisphosphonates impurities can be used to evaluate the quality of regular production samples of ibandronate.

Effects of moderate beer consumption on first-line immunity of healthy adults.

Moderate alcohol consumption has shown to induce benefits on host specific (cell-mediated and humoral) immune system, but there is scarce literature regarding first-line immune responses. The aim of this study was to investigate differences in non-specific immunity after alcohol abstention and moderate beer consumption in healthy adults. After a 30 day-alcohol abstemious period, 57 healthy volunteers were submitted to a daily moderate consumption of beer (330 mL for women and 660 mL for men, respectively) during the following 30 days. White blood cell counts and phagocytic and oxidative burst activity were evaluated at three points: a) basal, b) abstemious, c) after moderate consumption of beer. Absolute values of leukocytes, neutrophils, lymphocytes and basophiles (x10(9)/L) increased significantly in women from point b to point c (6.34 +/- 1.26 vs. 7.27 +/- 1.97, 3.43 +/- 0.88 vs. 4.13 +/- 1.53, 2.14 +/- 0.50 vs. 2.38 +/- 0.63, and 0.05 +/- 0.02 vs. 0.06 +/- 0.03, respectively; p < 0.05) as well as basophils in men (0.05 +/- 0.03 vs. 0.06 +/- 0.03). A significant increase of oxidative burst capacity was also observed after the moderate consumption of beer in both women (33.90 +/- 19.00 vs. 48.86 +/- 21.83) and men (27.39 +/- 18.13 vs. 39.25 +/- 24.53). In healthy adults, after 30 days of moderate beer consumption the parameter describing the non-specific immunity improved when compared to the basal situation. For several of these parameters, the response is more enhanced in women.

[Does beer have an impact on weight gain? Effects of moderate beer consumption on body composition]. / Influye la cerveza en el aumento de peso? Efectos de un consumo moderado de cerveza sobre la composición corporal.

BACKGROUND: The effects of alcohol consumption on body weight have been evaluated in a large number of studies suggesting to be inversely as well as positively related to body weight and body fat. OBJECTIVE: This study examined the relationships between moderate beer consumption and anthropometrical parameters in Spanish healthy adults. METHOD: After a 30 day alcohol abstemious period, 58 healthy volunteers were submitted to a daily moderate consumption of beer during the following 30 days. Weight, height, skinfolds and circumferences were measured at three points: (a) basal; (b) abstemious and (c) after moderate consumption of beer. RESULTS: Biceps skinfold (mm) increased (p < 0.05) in men after moderate beer consumption in regard to abstinence period (5.74 +/- 1.70 vs. 6.23 +/- 1.74). No significant differences were observed in the rest of anthropometrical parameters studied in both women and men along the study intervention. CONCLUSION: Moderate beer consumption during one month did not mostly change weight and weight-related parameters in healthy adults.

Association of telomere length with IL-6 levels during an obesity treatment in adolescents: interaction with the-174G/C polymorphism in the IL-6gene.

BACKGROUND: Shorter telomeres have been associated with elevated risk for age-related diseases. However, little is known about the biomarker role of telomere length (TL) for predicting inflammation and glucose alterations. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this research is to evaluate the association between TL, inflammatory markers and glucose levels after a 2-month weight-loss programme in obese adolescents. METHODS: Telomere length was measured using a quantitative polymerase chain reaction in 66 obese adolescents aged 12-17 years (51% men) from the EVASYON programme. The adolescents were genotyped for the polymorphism -174G/C (rs1800795) in the IL-6gene, and anthropometric and biochemical markers as well as inflammatory cytokines were analysed. RESULTS: Multiple-adjusted models showed that longer telomeres at baseline were associated with a higher reduction in glucose (B = -4.08, 95% confidence interval: -6.66 to -1.50) and IL-6 (B = -1.03, 95% confidence interval: -2.01 to -0.05) serum levels after 2 months of the weight-loss treatment. The -174G/C polymorphism modulated the association between basal TL and changes in IL-6 (P interaction = 0.029). Thus, subjects with the GG + GC genotype and with longer telomeres showed a higher decrease in IL-6 levels than CC homozygotes. CONCLUSION: Longer telomeres are associated with an improvement in glucose tolerance and inflammation after a weight-loss programme in obese adolescents. Moreover, the -174G/C polymorphism may influence the relationship between TL and IL-6 changes.

Crossover from equilibration to aging: Nonequilibrium theory versus simulations.

Understanding glasses and the glass transition requires comprehending the nature of the crossover from the ergodic (or equilibrium) regime, in which the stationary properties of the system have no history dependence, to the mysterious glass transition region, where the measured properties are nonstationary and depend on the protocol of preparation. In this work we use nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulations to test the main features of the crossover predicted by the molecular version of the recently developed multicomponent nonequilibrium self-consistent generalized Langevin equation theory. According to this theory, the glass transition involves the abrupt passage from the ordinary pattern of full equilibration to the aging scenario characteristic of glass-forming liquids. The same theory explains that this abrupt transition will always be observed as a blurred crossover due to the unavoidable finiteness of the time window of any experimental observation. We find that within their finite waiting-time window, the simulations confirm the general trends predicted by the theory.

Chrysin (5,7-di-OH-flavone), a naturally-occurring ligand for benzodiazepine receptors, with anticonvulsant properties.

Chrysin (5,7-di-OH-flavone) was identified in Passiflora coerulea L., a plant used as a sedative in folkloric medicine. Chrysin was found to be a ligand for the benzodiazepine receptors, both central (Ki = 3 microM, competitive mechanism) and peripheral (Ki = 13 microM, mixed-type mechanism). Administered to mice by the intracerebroventricular route, chrysin was able to prevent the expression of tonic-clonic seizures induced by pentylenetertrazol. Ro 15-1788, a central benzodiazepine receptor antagonist, abolished this effect. In addition, all of the treated mice lose the normal righting reflex which suggests a myorelaxant action of the flavonoid. The presence in P. coerulea of benzodiazepine-like compounds was also confirmed.

Purification and characterization of two forms of antigen 5 from polybia scutellaris venom.

Two polypeptides from the venom of Polybia scutellaris were purified to homogeneity by RP-HPLC. They differ very slightly in mol. wt (both are about 23,000) and hydrophobicity, and have isoelectric points greater than 9. Amino acid analyzes show close similarity between them and with antigen 5 of vespids from different species. The two polypeptides have an identical N-terminal sequence (18 amino acids) which shows a high degree of homology with those of other vespids. Owing to the fact that the venom of this species is non-allergenic, the data for the mol. wt, isoelectric point, amino acid composition and N-terminal sequence allow us to identify the isolated polypeptides as two forms of antigen 5. Amino acids at positions 5 and 11 in P. scutellaris antigen 5 differ from those of the previously known sequences for antigen 5, suggesting that one or other might be responsible for the lack of allergenicity of the P. scutellaris venom.

Influence of alcohol consumption on immunological status: a review.

The aim of this review is to present and discuss the effect of different levels of alcohol consumption on the immune system. Not only the amount consumed but also the type of alcoholic beverage have to be taken into account in order to determine the consequences on activity, number, distribution, balance, interaction and response of immunocompetent cells. The association between alcohol exposure and the risk of developing an alcohol-related disease is multifactorial. In fact, age, gender, smoking habits, dietary intake and exercise are involved among other factors. The evaluation of the host cellular and humoral immune responses has shown that alcohol may induce some benefits when consumption is moderate. Moreover, those alcoholic beverages that contain antioxidants, such as red wine, could be protectors against immune cell damage. According to the literature consulted, the daily consumption of 10-12 g and 20-24 g of alcohol for women and men, respectively, is considered to be a moderate intake; the type of beverage has been established not to be important when defining moderation. Particular attention is often focused on the U- or J-shaped curve which also suggests that light to moderate drinking produces a protective effect. Such an inverse relationship indicates a reduction of risk for both light and moderate consumers and a higher risk not only for hard drinkers, but also for non-consumers.

Postharvest analysis of vitamin C and inorganic cations in lettuce by CZE.

In the present work, we used capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) for the analysis of Vitamin C and inorganic cations (potassium, sodium, calcium, and magnesium) in lettuce (Lactuca sativa) during postharvest storage. The leaves of the creasphead lettuce samples were treated with 18 M omega water for cation analysis and, alternatively, with 3% wt/vol oxalic acid solution for ascorbic acid extraction. They were then homogenized and centrifuged, and the supernatants were introduced into the capillary for CE analysis. The cation analysis was performed on an uncoated fused-silica capillary column of 75 microns i.d. and 50 cm total length, using 15 mM creatinine, 15 mM alpha-hydroxyisobutyric acid, acetic acid, pH 4.00, as running buffer at an applied voltage of 20 kV. Indirect on-line UV detection was carried out at 214 nm. The content of Vitamin C was measured using an uncoated fused-silica capillary column of 50 microns i.d. and 45 cm total length; 10 mM sodium tetraborate, 10 mM sodium biphosphate, pH 9.00, as background electrolyte at an applied voltage of 20 kV. On-line UV detection was achieved at 254 nm.

Comparative analysis of storage proteins of Lotus spp. seeds by CGE and SDS-PAGE.

L. tenuis and L. corniculatus seeds are morphologically very similar but their purchase prices are quite different. Chromosome number counting is the only test used thus far in laboratories for the identification of these seeds. Recently, the flavonol's pattern has been used as a criterion for differentiation. In the present work, we studied the storage protein patterns of different Lotus seed samples by capillary gel electrophoresis (CGE), as an alternative method, comparing it with sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The seeds were treated according to International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) recommendations. CGE separations were performed using an uncoated capillary of 18 cm effective length and 50 microns i.d. and the Bio-Rad Protein Kit (Hercules, CA, U.S.A.). On-line detection was carried out at 220 nm.

Polyphenol-SiO2 hybrid biosorbent for heavy metal removal. Yerba mate waste (Ilex paraguariensis) as polyphenol source: kinetics and isotherm studies.

A low-cost biosorbent hybrid material ready for application was obtained in this work. Yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis) milling residual dust was used as a polyphenol source by ethanolic extraction. Polyphenols were immobilized within a SiO(2) matrix to form an interpenetrated polymer after glutaraldehyde cross-linking. Pb(II), Cr(III) and Cr(VI) were chosen as model metals for adsorption. The hybrid materials were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDS) and Nitrogen Adsorption Isotherms. Adsorption experimental data were analysed using Langmuir, Freundlich, Dubinin-Radushkevich, Temkin, Redlich-Peterson, Sips and Toth isotherm models along with the evaluation of adsorption energy and standard free energy (ΔG°). The adsorption was observed to be pH dependent. The main mechanism of metal adsorption was found to be a spontaneous charge associated interaction. Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) spectroscopy confirmed that Cr(VI) adsorption was an adsorption-coupled reaction and the adsorbed specie was Cr(V). The hybrid matrix probed its adsorption capacity of Cr(III) in a non-treated tannery wastewater.

Evaluation of iron status in European adolescents through biochemical iron indicators: the HELENA Study.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: To assess the iron status among European adolescents through selected biochemical parameters in a cross-sectional study performed in 10 European cities. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Iron status was defined utilising biochemical indicators. Iron depletion was defined as low serum ferritin (SF<15 µg/l). Iron deficiency (ID) was defined as high-soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR>8.5 mg/l) plus iron depletion. Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) was defined as ID with haemoglobin (Hb) below the WHO cutoff for age and sex: 12.0 g/dl for girls and for boys aged 12.5-14.99 years and 13.0 g/dl for boys aged ≥15 years. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay was used as analytical method for SF, sTfR and C-reactive protein (CRP). Subjects with indication of inflammation (CRP >5 mg/l) were excluded from the analyses. A total of 940 adolescents aged 12.5-17.49 years (438 boys and 502 girls) were involved. RESULTS: The percentage of iron depletion was 17.6%, significantly higher in girls (21.0%) compared with boys (13.8%). The overall percentage of ID and IDA was 4.7 and 1.3%, respectively, with no significant differences between boys and girls. A correlation was observed between log (SF) and Hb (r = 0.36, P < 0.01), and between log (sTfR) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin (r = -0.30, P < 0.01). Iron body stores were estimated on the basis of log (sTfR/SF). A higher percentage of negative values of body iron was recorded in girls (16.5%) with respect to boys (8.3%), and body iron values tended to increase with age in boys, whereas the values remained stable in girls. CONCLUSIONS: To ensure adequate iron stores, specific attention should be given to girls at European level to ensure that their dietary intake of iron is adequate.