Test Group Samples Research Articles

Efficacy of the self-assembling peptide P11-4 in constructing a remineralization scaffold on artificially-induced enamel lesions on smooth surfaces.

The management of white-spot lesions remains a challenge, especially during and after fixed orthodontic treatment. The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the efficacy of the newly introduced self-assembling peptide P11-4 (Curodont™) for regenerating demineralized tooth tissue on smooth surfaces. Another aim was to evaluate whether the DIAGNOdent (DD) and VistaProof (VP) fluorescence systems are suitable for differentiating between demineralized and remineralized enamel. A total of 40 sound samples (buccal surfaces) of extracted human posterior teeth were artificially demineralized. The samples were examined visually as well as via DD and VP. Curodont was applied to 30 samples which were then stored in a remineralizing agent (test group). In control group 1, Curodont was applied to 5 samples which were then stored in water. Control group 2 consisted of 5 samples stored in the remineralizing agent only. Sample surfaces were examined visually and by means of DD and VP after 1 week (t1), 8 weeks (t2), and 12 weeks (t3). All fluorescence measurements were taken twice. Sample surfaces were viewed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Statistical analysis was conducted using the IBM SPSS® Statistics and MedCalc® programs. The fluorescence measurements' reproducibility was calculated using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). A χ(2) test was applied to detect any significant differences between the fluorescence measurements of the test and control groups at each examination. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves of DD and VP were constructed and areas under the ROC curve (AUC) were compared (α = 0.05) between the two fluorescence devices. Reproducibility of DD was moderate at t3, while the ICC values were high for all other measurements. Significant differences between the fluorescence measurements at t2 and t3 between the test and control groups (p < 0.001 for DD and VP, respectively) were observed. The performance (AUC) of DD was significantly higher than VP (visual inspection: p = 0.017; SEM: p = 0.030). At t3, all test-group samples displayed a shinier surface than the surface after demineralization. The SEM images of 28 test-group samples exhibited extensive signs of remineralized enamel. Based on visual inspection, Curodont proved to be efficacious in all samples. The SEM images revealed large areas of remineralized enamel surface in 93 % of the samples. Both fluorescence systems enabled the detection of differences between the measurements of the test and control groups after 8 and 12 weeks.

Effect of two different finishing systems on surface roughness of feldspathic and fluorapatite porcelains in ceramo-metal restorations: Comparative in vitro study.

Objective:The objective of present study was to qualitatively and quantitatively evaluate and compare the effect of two ceramic finishing systems and diamond polishing paste on surface texture of two ceramic materials.Methodology:The 40 test specimens were randomly divided into two main groups (Group I and Group II). Which were subsequently veneered with feldspathic porcelain and fluorapatite leucite porcelain systems respectively. The samples in Test group I and Test group II were subjected to different abrasion and finishing systems (Soft Lex and White silicon and grey rubber respectively). The surface roughness of all the four groups was assessed qualitatively using the scanning Electron Microscope and profilometer.Results:The surface roughness of Feldspathic and fluorapetite porcelain increased after abrasion and finishing as compared to auto-glazed porcelin. The surface roughness was more in grey rubber disc group (Gp Ib) as compared to the soft lex disc groups. After polishing with the diamond paste, there was reduction in the surface roughness of both the disc groups. The Mean Ra values of the Feldspathic porcelain at three intervals were 0.52 ± 0.06, 0.54 ± 0.06, 0.32 ± 0.06 and 0.50 ± 0.04, 1.25 ± 0.10, 0.45 ± 0.6 respectively for grey rubber disc and soft lex groups. The Mean Ra values of Fluorapetite porcelain at three intervals were 0.40 ± 0.06, 0.52 ± 0.06, 0.30 ± 0.03 and 0.41 ± 0.04, 1.17 ± 0.09, 0.39 ± 0.07 respectively for grey rubber disc and soft lex groups.Discussion and Conclusion:The surface roughness was less in the polished samples as compared to the auto-glazed porcelain. The findings were more reinforcing in the soft lex group as compared to the white/grey rubber disc group. Between the two porcelain systems, the Fluorapatite leucite porcelain specimens exhibited better surface smoothness than feldspathic porcelain.

Composite Three-Marker Assay for Early Detection of Kidney Cancer

Early detection of renal cell carcinoma using serum/plasma biomarkers remains challenging. To validate clinical performance of potential candidate markers for kidney tumors, three-marker assay composed of nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT), L-plastin (LCP1), and nonmetastatic cells 1 protein (NM23A) was evaluated. Patients with kidney cancer and control group were included in the clinical evaluation. Participants were divided into cohorts representing the training group of control group including healthy and benign tumors (n = 102) and patients with kidney cancer (n = 87) that were used to identify criteria for scoring. Then, we developed a three-marker assay that was validated with a cohort of test group samples (n = 100). A scoring method based on the cut-point of each of the three markers was used to evaluate the diagnostic performance of the marker combination. Plasma levels of NNMT, LCP1, and NM23A were highly elevated in patients with kidney cancer (P < 0.0001). In 289 blind sample tests with control subjects (n = 175) and patients with kidney cancer (n = 114), the diagnostic accuracy of NNMT alone and the three-marker assay was 0.913 and 0.932, respectively. When 90% specificity was defined, the sensitivity of NNMT and the three-marker assay was 71.9% and 95.7%, respectively. The predictive value of the three-marker assay was 87.2% (+PPV) and 97% (-PPV). The composite assay with NNMT, LCP1, and NM23A was a promising novel serum marker assay for the early detection of malignant kidney tumors covering subtypes of RCC with high diagnostic characteristics. NNMT/LCP1/NM23A triple markers could be a helpful screening assay to detect early RCC.

Wettability and cellular response of UV light irradiated anodized titanium surface

PURPOSEThe object of this study was to investigate the effect of UV irradiation (by a general commercial UV sterilizer) on anodized titanium surface. Surface characteristics and cellular responses were compared between anodized titanium discs and UV irradiated anodized titanium discs.MATERIALS AND METHODSTitanium discs were anodized and divided into the following groups: Group 1, anodized (control), and Group 2, anodized and UV irradiated for 24 hours. The surface characteristics including contact angle, roughness, phase of oxide layer, and chemical elemental composition were inspected. The osteoblast-like human osteogenic sarcoma (HOS) cells were cultured on control and test group discs. Initial cellular attachment, MTS-based cell proliferation assay, and ALP synthesis level were compared between the two groups for the evaluation of cellular response.RESULTSAfter UV irradiation, the contact angle decreased significantly (P<.001). The surface roughness and phase of oxide layer did not show definite changes, but carbon showed a considerable decrease after UV irradiation. Initial cell attachment was increased in test group (P=.004). Cells cultured on test group samples proliferated more actively (P=.009 at day 2, 5, and 7) and the ALP synthesis also increased in cells cultured on the test group (P=.016 at day 3, P=.009 at day 7 and 14).CONCLUSIONUV irradiation induced enhanced wettability, and increased initial cellular responses of HOS cells on anodized titanium surface.

In vitro Heparin Precipitation in the Plasma of Euthyroid women with Recurrent Miscarriage and Unexplained Infertility

OBJECTIVE: Women with elevated Lp(a), who are susceptible to atherosclerosis, get to reduce, their cardiovascular disease by in-vivo administration of low dose heparin. And history of recurrent miscarriage associated with auto antibodies have had a high rate of life births in subsequent pregnancies when they were treated with low dose aspirin together with low dose heparin. An in-vitro assay thus provide basis for the intricate interaction. DESIGN: Two hundred and ten (210) healthy volunteered Euthyroid women were used for this study. They were aged between 21-35 years, 90 Women served as test groups and 120 women served as control. Antimicrosomal autoantibody (Anti-TPO) ELISA assay was determined. The plasma treatment at the different PH with heparin and aspirin in physiological buffers were carried out. RESULT: At PH5.0 (i.e. the Uterus physiological PH) using 100i.u/ml heparin in 0.2M acetate buffer yielded 70% precipitate compared to treatment with 250i.u/ml heparin in 0.2M buffer that yielded 40% precipitate while 100-i.u/ml heparin with 80mg aspirin treatment yielded 65% precipitate in the test group samples that were positive to Anti-TPO. Whereas in the 0.2ml acetate buffer alone (without heparin and aspirin) no precipitate was formed, compared to the precipitate formed with plasma of the control women yielding 15% using 100i.u/ml heparin ,5% with 250i.u/ml heparin and 12% 100-i.u/ml heparin with 80mg aspirin treatment respectively. At PH 4.6 (i.e blood physiological PH ) for the various treatment showed there were increases in percentage precipitate, more in the subjects than in the control groups. In the unexplained and spontaneous abortion, groups with the treatment of 100iu/ml Heparin in 0.2M acetate buffer gave highest precipitate compared to other treatment in in-vitro study. CONCLUSION: This study has further supported that Heparin in addition to its anticoagulant action, may act to reduce fetal loss by binding to antimicrosomal, (anti-phospholipids) antibodies, thereby protecting the trophoblast phospholipids attack, and thereby promote successful implantation in early pregnancy. . Keywords: Heparin, Immunogens, antimicrosomal antibodies, Infertility Nigerian Journal of Health and Biomedical Science Vol. 6 (1) 2007: pp. 1-4

Microsporidial Keratitis in India: 16S rRNA Gene-Based PCR Assay for Diagnosis and Species Identification of Microsporidia in Clinical Samples

To evaluate 16S rRNA-based polymerase chain reactions for the detection and species identification of the microsporidia that cause keratitis. Of the 5892 cases of microbial keratitis seen between September 2002 and December 2005, 31 (0.5%) microscopically diagnosed cases of microsporidial keratitis were included in the test group; 103 patients with nonmicrosporidial keratitis constituted the control group. A 16S rRNA-based pan-microsporidian PCR was chosen for the detection of microsporidian DNA. Species level identification was made using species-specific primer sets of Encephalitozoon spp (E. cuniculi, E. hellem, and E. intestinalis). Sequencing and BLAST analysis of amplicons obtained with pan-microsporidian primers were performed for validation. The corneal scrapings from 26 of 31 cases in the test group and 2 of 103 cases in the control group showed a 250- to 280-bp amplicon in PCR by pan-microsporidian primers (sensitivity of 83% and specificity of 98%). The amplicons of 13 of 26 test group samples were identified by species-specific PCR: E. cuniculi, n = 7 (549 bp); E. hellem; n = 3 (549 bp); E. intestinalis; n = 1 (520 bp). The two cases in the control group were identified to be E. cuniculi. The remaining 15 cases (test group) were confirmed to be Vittaforma corneae by sequencing and BLAST analysis. All species were confirmed by sequencing and database homology comparison. This study is the first to validate PCR-based assays for detection of microsporidial DNA in corneal scrapings. Pan microsporidian PCR can be a useful adjunct with smear examination in the diagnosis of microsporidial keratitis.

PCR Diagnosis of HPV in Cervical Biopsies of CIN and Invasive Neoplasia Formerly Diagnosed as HPV Negative

To evaluate whether the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) enhances the diagnosis of human papillomavirus (HPV) in biopsies of the uterine cervix with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) or invasive neoplasia. Samples of 71 paraffin-embedded cervical tissue blocks from patients seen in the period 1997-1998 were analyzed. Samples were selected according to age (18-60 years old) and an active sexual life and divided in to 3 groups: test (samples with CIN or invasive neoplasia and a negative HPV diagnosis), positive controls (samples with CIN or invasive neoplasia and a positive HPV diagnosis) and negative controls (samples without CIN or invasive neoplasia and a negative HPV diagnosis). Samples were subjected to DNA extraction and PCR for HPV detection. PCR analysis matched the colposcopic and cytopathologic diagnoses in the positive and negative controls. However, 77% of samples in test group were HPV positive. CIN, an invasive neoplasm, is associated with the presence of HPV. Colposcopy and cytopathology are efficient but not sufficient to identify HPV. Thus, despite the high cost, PCR can be used as an additional examination, in women with cervical lesions.

Gingival crevicular fluid fibronectin degradation in periodontal health and disease.

The molecular forms of fibronectin (FN) in gingival crevicular fluid of five subjects with at least two sites exhibiting clinical signs of inflammation and pockets of at least 4 mm (test group) and five subjects with clinically healthy periodontium (control group) were investigated. Samples were collected with standard filter paper strips. In the test group samples from both diseased and healthy sites were collected. After collection the test group received one episode of periodontal treatment (scaling and root planning). The sampling and clinical recording were repeated for the diseased sites after about 2 wk. The crevicular fluid FN was analyzed using sodium dodecyl sulphate gel electrophoresis followed by western blotting with polyclonal antibodies against FN. Both intact FN and FN fragments were found in all samples. A larger proportion of FN was in degraded form in the diseased sites than in the healthy or the treated sites. FN was also degraded into smaller peptide fragments in the diseased than in the treated sites. These results suggest that crevicular fluid FN is partially degraded both in periodontal health and disease and that the degree of degradation of FN increases with periodontal inflammation and decreases with periodontal treatment.