Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of irrigant penetration up to working length and into simulated lateral canals using various irrigating techniques.

AIM To evaluate the effect of an apical negative pressure system, a passive ultrasonic irrigation system and a combination of both apical negative pressure and passive ultrasonic irrigation on the penetration of the irrigating contrast solution (ICS) up to working length and into simulated lateral canals. METHODOLOGY The root canals of 64 single-rooted teeth were instrumented using the ProTaper rotary system. In each sample, three simulated lateral canals were created at 2, 4 and 6 mm levels from the root apex using a 06-size C+ file (Dentsply Maillefer, Ballaigues, Switzerland). Samples were randomly assigned into 4 experimental groups (n = 16): group I - conventional needle irrigation, group II - passive ultrasonic irrigation, group III - apical negative irrigation system and group IV - combination of passive ultrasonic irrigation and apical negative pressure irrigation system. To examine irrigating solution penetration, Indian ink was mixed with 5.25% NaOCl and delivered into the root canals. Samples were then assessed by direct observation of the images taken using Canon EOS rebel T3. The depth of penetration of ICS up to the working length and into the simulated lateral canals was analysed using chi-squared tests. RESULTS The combination (ANP and PUI) and ANP group had significantly deeper ICS penetration up to the working length (P < 0.001). The combination (ANP and PUI) and the PUI group exhibited significantly greater ICS penetration into lateral canals at the 6 mm level (P < 0.001). At the 4 and 2 mm levels, the combination of ANP and PUI had significantly greater ICS penetration into the lateral canals than the other groups (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS The combination of ANP and PUI was the only group able to achieve irrigating contrast solution penetration both up to the working length and into lateral canals.
Phosphate binders for preventing and treating bone disease in chronic kidney disease patients.

BACKGROUND Phosphate binders are widely used to lower serum phosphorus levels in people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) but their impact in CKD remains controversial. OBJECTIVES To review the effects of various phosphate binders on biochemical and patient-level end-points in CKD stages 3 to 5D. SEARCH STRATEGY In March 2010 we searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Renal Group's Specialised Register and CENTRAL for relevant studies. SELECTION CRITERIA Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) or quasi-RCTs that assessed the effects of various phosphate binders in adults with CKD. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Two authors independently reviewed search results and extracted data. Results were expressed as mean differences (MD) for continuous outcomes and risk ratios (RR) for dichotomous outcomes with 95% confidence intervals (CI) using a random-effects model. MAIN RESULTS Sixty studies (7631 participants) were included. There was no significant reduction in all-cause mortality (10 studies, 3079 participants: RR 0.73, 95% CI 0.46 to 1.16), or serum calcium by phosphorus (Ca x P) product with sevelamer hydrochloride compared to calcium-based agents. There was a significant reduction in serum phosphorus (16 studies, 3126 participants: MD 0.23 mg/dL, 95% CI 0.04 to 0.42) and parathyroid hormone (PTH) (12 studies, 2551 participants; MD 56 pg/mL, 95% CI 26 to 84) but a significant increase in the risk of hypercalcaemia (12 studies, 1144 participants: RR 0.45, 95% CI 0.35 to 0.59) with calcium-based agents compared to sevelamer hydrochloride. There was a significant increase in the risk of adverse gastrointestinal events with sevelamer hydrochloride in comparison to calcium salts (5 studies, 498 participants: RR 1.58, 95% CI 1.11 to 2.25). Compared with calcium-based agents, lanthanum significantly reduced serum calcium (2 studies, 122 participants: MD -0.30 mg/dL, 95% CI -0.64 to -0.25) and the Ca x P product, but not serum phosphorus levels. The effects of calcium acetate on biochemical end-points were similar to those of calcium carbonate. The phosphorus lowering effects of novel agents such as ferric citrate, colestilan and niacinamide were only reported in a few studies. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS Available phosphate-binding agents have been shown to reduce phosphorus levels in comparison to placebo. However, there are insufficient data to establish the comparative superiority of novel non-calcium binding agents over calcium-containing phosphate binders for patient-level outcomes such as all-cause mortality and cardiovascular end-points in CKD.
In vitro kinetics of the intestinal transport of riboflavin in rats.

Transmural intestinal transport of riboflavin was studied in a concentration range between 0.033 and 10.0 microM by an in vitro perfusion technique by using everted jejunal segments of rats. The transport was found to have a dual characteristic: at low, i.e., physiologically relevant concentrations, a carrier-mediated saturable component predominated; at higher concentrations this component was increasingly obscured by simple diffusion as the prevailing transport mechanism. The transport constant KT of the saturable component was calculated to be 0.54 microM. The Q10-value was 2.31 for a low concentration (0.322 microM) and 1.44 for a high concentration (10.0 microM) of the substrate. When Na+ was partially replaced by Li+ or choline+ in the media or when ouabain was added to the serosal medium, the saturable component of the transport was completely abolished. The substrate analogue lumiflavin reduced the transport rate of riboflavin at low substrate concentration only. Generally, the results indicate that it is essential to consider the physiologically relevant concentration of micronutrients in studies concerning the mechanism of their intestinal transport.
The incidence of complications of vaccination in children and infants of Semnan, Iran.

Introduction: Vaccination has achieved significant and cost effective success in prevention of infectious disease. Although the current vaccines used are very effective and their side effects are minimal generally no vaccine is not free from side effects. Incidence of adverse reactions after immunization may discourage people for further immunization of their children. The aim of this work was to determine the incidence of complications of vaccination in children and infants of Semnan Iran. Materials and methods: In a longitudinal study (prospective) all vaccinated children between September 2006 and March 2007 in 11 vaccination centers were studied. A specific questionnaire including vaccine recipient profile type of vaccine birth weight feeding and 46 adverse reactions were completed immediately after and 2461218 months later. Results: 5776 children were studied. 29% of the children showed at least one adverse reaction of vaccination. The most common adverse reactions were: fever (24%) pain at injection site (3.8%) swelling (2.5%) erythema (2.5%) induration (2.1%) and ulceration at injection site (2.1%). Incidence of other complications was below 1%. The most dangerous complication of the vaccine was encephalitis (one case) and two cases had febrile seizures. The most cause of hospitalization was adverse reaction of MMR vaccine. Finally of every four children one child showed at least one complication that fever was the most common. Conclusion: In general routine immunization program of Iran country against nine common infectious diseases has lower complications. This complication is mainly mild and transient and do not need any intervention by drugs. However among these may be rare and dangerous complications such as seizures and encephalitis occur. Hence a careful follow-up program is required to report complications of immunization.
Atomic force microscopic evaluation of nanostructure alterations of rotary NiTi instruments after immersion in irrigating solutions.

AIM To compare the effect of 5.25% NaOCl or 17% EDTA solutions on the surface topography and roughness of GTX, TF, RaCe and Hero Shaper instruments using atomic force microscopy (AFM) analysis. METHODOLOGY Four new files of each brand were subjected to AMF analysis; then each group was subdivided into two subgroups (n = 2) in which instruments were immersed in either 5.25% NaOCl or 17% EDTA solutions for 5 min, thereafter subjected to AFM analysis again. Ra and the RMS values were chosen to investigate the surface features of endodontic files. RESULTS Before immersion in irrigating solution, TF and Hero Shaper instruments had the significantly highest roughness values and RaCe had the significantly lowest values (P ≤ 0.05). After immersion in NaOCl, GTX and RaCe instruments were not significantly different from the new instruments, nor between them. There was a significant increase in Ra and RMS values for TF and Hero Shaper instruments over that of untreated ones and that of GTX and RaCe instruments. No significant increase in surface roughness of the instruments was recorded with EDTA. CONCLUSION 17% EDTA did not significantly affect the surface roughness of the instruments, whilst 5.25% NaOCl increased the surface roughness of TF and Hero Shaper significantly more than that of RaCe and GTX instruments.
Antibacterial, physicochemical and mechanical properties of endodontic sealers containing quaternary ammonium polyethylenimine nanoparticles.

AIM To evaluate the antibacterial, physicochemical and mechanical properties of two endodontic sealers incorporating quaternary ammonium polyethylenimine (QPEI) nanoparticles at concentrations of 1% and 2% (w/w). METHODOLOGY The sealers tested were AH Plus and Pulp Canal Sealer EWT in the commercial unmodified form or containing 1% or 2% QPEI. Antibacterial activity was evaluated using a direct contact test (DCT) against Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212 and two endodontic isolates (RW35 and RN44). Sealers freshly mixed or set for 7 days were exposed to bacterial suspensions for 10, 30 and 60 min. Setting time, flow test, solubility, apparent porosity, dimensional change following setting, wettability, zeta potential and compressive strength were assessed according to the International Standard Organization 6876:2001 (ISO 6876). RESULTS DCT results revealed that both freshly prepared sealers had antibacterial effects unaffected by QPEI incorporation. Both unmodified sealers had lost much of their antibacterial effects after 7 days. However, for Pulp Canal Sealer EWT incorporated with 1% and 2% QPEI nanoparticles, the antibacterial effects against all test E. faecalis strains within 30 and 60 min of contact were significantly greater than the unmodified formula. Addition of QPEI resulted in no significant increase in the antibacterial effects of AH Plus after ageing. As for physicochemical and mechanical tests, setting time, wettability and zeta potential were influenced by the presence of QPEI nanoparticles. CONCLUSION Incorporation of QPEI nanoparticles can improve the long-term antibacterial activity of Pulp Canal Sealer EWT without relevant changes in physicochemical and mechanical properties.
Are Slum Children at High Risk of Under Nutrition, Anemia and Childhood Morbidity? Evidence from India

Background: Urban population growth in developing countries especially in India is at a rapid pace in the past few decades. Growth of urban population is always accompanied by the growth of population in urban slums, which poses threat to the health of urban population, particularly, the health of the children. Objective: The present study aims to study whether the slum dwelling affects the child morbidity, low weight at birth, infant mortality, child malnutrition and anemia. Methods: Until NFHS-3, there was paucity of data on slums to analyze for a larger area and compare it with non-slum population. However, NFHS-3 provides data from slums in eight cities and is used for the present study. The child health aspects considered here are: prevalence of diarrhea among children, prevalence of fever among children, prevalence of cough among children, infant death, low birth weight, malnutrition among children and anemia among children. Results: Slum children belong to lower socioeconomic strata than children from non-slum areas. Children living in slum areas are 1.3 times, 1.5 times and 1.2 times more likely to suffer from diarrhea, cough and fever respectively than children living in non-slum areas. Multivariate results also showed that slum children have higher odds for low weight at birth (1.4 times) and child anemia (1.2 times) compared to non-slum children. Conclusion: Slum dwelling children are at a disadvantageous side in terms of child morbidity, anemia and weight at the time of birth.
Pharmacological Characterization of the Novel ACh Releaser α‐tropanyl 2‐(4‐bromophenyl)propionate (PG‐9)

Ghelardini et al. (27) reported that atropine at very low doses induces central antinociception in rodents through an enhancement of cholinergic transmission. Soon after, it was discovered that the R-(+)-enantiomer of atropine, R-(+)-hyoscyamine, was responsible for the antinociceptive activity of the racemate, while the S-(–)-enantiomer, S-(–)-hyoscyamine, was devoid of any antinociceptive action (29). R-(+)-hyoscyamine, in the same range of analgesic doses, was also able to prevent amnesia induced by antimuscarinic drugs (35). It is interesting to note that this antinociceptive activity, different from that produced by direct muscarinic agonists and cholinesterase inhibitors, was not accompanied by typical cholinergic symptoms (e.g., tremors, sialorrhea, diarrhea, rhinorrhea, lacrimation). An investigation of the antinociceptive and antiamnesic effect of atropine has demonstrated, using microdialysis techniques, that R-(+)-hyoscyamine, at cholinomimetic doses, produced an increase in acetylcholine (ACh) release from the rat cerebral cortex in vivo, indicating that it acts via a presynaptic mechanism (35). On this basis, a synthetic program to modify the chemical structure of atropine was started, which aimed to develop cholinergic amplifiers endowed with more intensive antinociceptive and antiamnesic activities than atropine but, like atropine, lacking cholinergic side effects. These compounds would, therefore, be potentially useful as analgesics and or in pathological conditions characterized by cholinergic deficits (e.g., Alzheimer’s
Does the Reciproc file remove root canal bacteria and endotoxins as effectively as multifile rotary systems?

AIM To evaluate the effectiveness of Reciproc for the removal of cultivable bacteria and endotoxins from root canals in comparison with multifile rotary systems. METHODOLOGY The root canals of forty human single-rooted mandibular pre-molars were contaminated with an Escherichia coli suspension for 21 days and randomly assigned to four groups according to the instrumentation system: GI - Reciproc (VDW); GII - Mtwo (VDW); GIII - ProTaper Universal (Dentsply Maillefer); and GIV -FKG Race(™) (FKG Dentaire) (n = 10 per group). Bacterial and endotoxin samples were taken with a sterile/apyrogenic paper point before (s1) and after instrumentation (s2). Culture techniques determined the colony-forming units (CFU) and the Limulus Amebocyte Lysate assay was used for endotoxin quantification. Results were submitted to paired t-test and anova. RESULTS At s1, bacteria and endotoxins were recovered in 100% of the root canals investigated (40/40). After instrumentation, all systems were associated with a highly significant reduction of the bacterial load and endotoxin levels, respectively: GI - Reciproc (99.34% and 91.69%); GII - Mtwo (99.86% and 83.11%); GIII - ProTaper (99.93% and 78.56%) and GIV - FKG Race(™) (99.99% and 82.52%) (P < 0.001). No statistical difference were found amongst the instrumentation systems regarding bacteria and endotoxin removal (P > 0.01). CONCLUSION The reciprocating single file, Reciproc, was as effective as the multifile rotary systems for the removal of bacteria and endotoxins from root canals.
Antibiofilm activity of three irrigation protocols activated by ultrasonic, diode laser or Er:YAG laser in vitro.

AIM To investigate the impact of three irrigation protocols, activated by three different methods, on mature biofilms of Enterococcus faecalis in vitro. METHODOLOGY Root canals in 280 single-rooted teeth were instrumented using a rotary Ni-Ti system. Biofilms of E. faecalis were generated based on a previously established protocol. Samples were randomly divided into three experimental (n = 80) and one control (n = 40) group based on the irrigation protocol employed: group 1 (NaOCl + Etidronic acid), 1 : 1 mixture of 6% NaOCl and 18% etidronic acid; group 2 (NaOCl-EDTA), 3% NaOCl followed by 17% EDTA; group 3 (NaOCl-EDTA-NaOCl), 3% NaOCl followed by 17% EDTA and a final flush of 3% NaOCl. Saline served as the control. Samples were further divided into four subgroups (n = 20) based on the activation method: subgroup A, no activation; subgroup B, ultrasonic activation; group C, diode laser; group D, Er:YAG laser. Confocal laser scanning microscopy was used to assess bacterial viability in situ. Root dentine powder was obtained for determining the colony-forming units (CFU mL(-1) ). Data were analysed by appropriate statistical analyses with P = 0.05. RESULTS All experimental irrigation protocols caused complete destruction of the biofilm in the root canal lumen. Within the dentinal tubules, all groups had a significantly higher percentage of dead bacteria than the saline control (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between NaOCl + etidronic acid and NaOCl-EDTA-NaOCl (P > 0.05), whereas both groups brought about more bacterial reduction than NaOCl-EDTA (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between diode laser and Er:YAG laser in any of the groups (P > 0.05). Both diode and Er:YAG laser were more effective than ultrasonic activation and conventional syringe irrigation in reducing E. fecalis biofilms (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS The use of NaOCl after or in combination with a chelator caused the greatest reduction of E. faecalis. Diode laser and Er:YAG laser activation were superior to ultrasonics in dentinal tubule disinfection.
Microbial community in persistent apical periodontitis: a 16S rRNA gene clone library analysis.

AIM To characterize the microbial composition of persistent periapical lesions of root filled teeth using a molecular genetics approach. METHODOLOGY Apical lesion samples were collected from 12 patients (23-80 years old) who visited the Kyushu University Hospital for apicectomy with persistent periapical lesions associated with root filled teeth. DNA was directly extracted from each sample and the microbial composition was comprehensively analysed using clone library analysis of the 16S rRNA gene. Enterococcus faecalis, Candida albicans and specific fimA genotypes of Porphyromonas gingivalis were confirmed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis with specific primers. RESULTS Bacteria were detected in all samples, and the dominant findings were P. gingivalis (19.9%), Fusobacterium nucleatum (11.2%) and Propionibacterium acnes (9%). Bacterial diversity was greater in symptomatic lesions than in asymptomatic ones. In addition, the following bacteria or bacterial combinations were characteristic to symptomatic lesions: Prevotella spp. , Treponema spp. , Peptostreptococcaceae sp. HOT-113, Olsenella uli, Slackia exigua, Selemonas infelix, P. gingivalis with type IV fimA, and a combination of P. gingivalis, F. nucleatum, and Peptostreptococcaceae sp. HOT-113 and predominance of Streptococcus spp. On the other hand, neither Enterococcus faecalis nor C. albicans were detected in any of the samples. CONCLUSION Whilst a diverse bacterial species were observed in the persistent apical lesions, some characteristic patterns of bacterial community were found in the symptomatic lesions. The diverse variation of community indicates that bacterial combinations as a community may cause persistent inflammation in periapical tissues rather than specific bacterial species.
WALTHAM International Science Symposium: Nature, Nurture, and the Case for Nutrition Body-Weight Changes during Growth in Puppies of Different Breeds

As a species, the dog is unique. Depending on the breed, body weight varies 100-fold from the 1-kg Chihuahua to the 115-kg St. Bernard (1). The time taken for a growing puppy to achieve adult body weight also varies considerably with larger breeds having a longer growth period than smaller breeds. Also the rate of growth during this period is not constant; energy requirements decrease from ;3 times maintenance at weaning to;1.2 times maintenance as the puppy approaches adulthood (1). The provision of accurate feeding guides is essential if underand overnutrition are to be prevented. Overnutrition of dogs results in obesity, but in large breeds overnutrition also causes musculoskeletal disorders (2,3). However, present feeding guides are based on ‘‘typical’’ growth data that use only a single equation (4,5). Breed-specific differences in growth patterns might be expected due to huge variations in size, temperament, and coat type, all of which are likely to affect energy requirements. This was evident in a study of six breeds of puppies that demonstrated very different energy requirements despite similar absolute body weights in Great Danes versus Newfoundlands and Briards versus Labrador Retrievers (6). Little information is published on breed-specific variations in puppy growth patterns, and most studies provide only limited data on single breeds, for example, 8–34-mo-old and 6–20-wkold Labrador Retrievers (7,9) and 0–12-wk-old German Shepherds (8). Other studies are confounded by the use of different groups of dogs to provide data for a variety of age groups (10). Comparisons between these studies are difficult due to differing data presentation and treatment. The aim of this study was to compare the complete growth curves of 12 different-sized dog breeds and to investigate a mathematical basis for the provision of breed-specific feeding guides.