Evaluation of Bacterial Reduction after Root Canal Shaping Using ProTaper Gold and WaveOne Gold Rotary Systems

Introduction The present study evaluated bacterial reduction promoted by the WaveOne system (Dentsply Maillefer, Ballaigues, Switzerland) and ProTaper Gold system (PTG; Dentsply Maillefer) in human extracted central incisors. Methods Sixty-two maxillary central incisors that were infected with Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 51299) were sterilized with ethylene oxide for 21 days, and then root canal initial bacterial sample was collected with paper points and plated on M-Enterococcus agar. The specimens were randomly divided into two groups according to instrumentation: WaveOne Gold group (n = 30) and PTG group (n = 30). Each group was further subdivided into subgroup A (n = 15) where no activation of the irrigant was performed, and subgroup B (n = 15) where passive ultrasonic activation (PUI) was applied. The other two specimens without contamination were control asepsis. After instrumentation, samples were collected with the use of paper points. The bacterial reduction was calculated using colony-forming unit and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Data were collected and statistically analyzed. Results All techniques significantly reduced the number of bacteria in the root canal (p < 0.05), in which PTG showed superior bacterial reduction than WaveOne Gold (p > 0.05). The aseptic control group did not show any bacterial growth. PUI showed a significant bacterial reduction with the WaveOne Gold group. Conclusion It can be concluded that the single-file system, WaveOne Gold with the aid of passive ultrasonic irrigation, significantly reduce the bacterial number in the root canal similar to the multifile system, PTG.

161 Effects of Supplemental Zn Source (sulfate or Bis-glycinate) on Metabolism, Apparent Absorption, and Retention of Zn by Lambs

To assess bioavailability of bis-glycinate Zn (Plexomin Zn, Phytobiotics), 36 crossbred wethers (34 ± 2 kg) were sorted by body weight into three groups and stagger started on a Zn deplete diet (18.6 mg Zn/kg dry matter [DM]; 22.5% neutral detergent fiber) for 45 d prior to a 15-d metabolism period (10 d adaptation, 5 d collection). On d 46, lambs were randomly assigned to dietary Zn treatments (4 lambs/treatment/group): no supplemental Zn (CON) or 15 mg supplemental Zn/kg DM as Zn sulfate (ZS) or bis-glycinate Zn (GLY). Blood was collected from all lambs on d 1, 44, 56, and 61. Liver, small intestine, and muscle samples were collected after euthanasia on d 61. Liver and intestinal gene expression was determined via quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Data were analyzed using ProcMixed of SAS (experimental unit = lamb; fixed effects = treatment, group, and breed). After 15 d of Zn supplementation, plasma Zn concentrations were greatest for GLY versus CON or ZS (P ≤ 0.01), but tissue Zn concentrations were unaffected (P ≥ 0.15). Liver MT1 expression was approximately 2-fold greater for GLY versus CON or ZS (P ≤ 0.07). Intestinal ZIP4 expression tended or was lesser for ZS or GLY versus CON (P ≤ 0.07) and ZNT1 expression tended to be lesser for ZS versus CON (P = 0.07). Zinc intake, fecal output, retention, and apparent absorption were greater for ZS or GLY versus CON (P ≤ 0.01). Apparent absorption of Zn was -5.1, 12.8, and 15.0% for CON, ZS, and GLY, respectively. Although Zn apparent absorption did not differ between supplemental Zn sources (P = 0.71), differences in post-absorptive metabolism may be responsible for the observed increase in circulating Zn concentrations and liver MT1 expression in GLY supplemented lambs, suggesting improved bioavailability of GLY relative to ZS.

Morphological and Genetic Recovery of Coral Polyps After Bail-Out

Contemporary advances in microfluidic and molecular techniques have enabled coral studies to shift from reef and colony scales to polyp- and molecular-level investigations. Polyp bail-out provides an alternative approach to acquire solitary polyps for studies at finer scales. Although induction of polyp bail-out has been reported in several studies, polyp health after bail-out has not been investigated. In this study, we monitored morphological and genetic changes in Pocillopora acuta polyps after bail-out induced by hyperosmosis. In isosmotic conditions, over 80% of bailed-out polyps survived, of which half regenerated normal polyp morphology within 5 days, including a polarized polyp body, extended tentacles, and a distinguishable oral disk. In contrast, the remaining polyps degenerated into tissue ball-like structures that resemble multicellular aggregates reported in earlier studies. In morphologically recovered polyps, transcriptomic analysis showed that ∼87% of genes altered during bail-out induction recovered from stress status, suggesting resumption of metabolism, cell division, and immunity, while in degenerated polyps, only ∼71% of genes recovered. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction data further demonstrated that genetic recovery of energy production, cell proliferation, and immune response was achieved in morphologically recovered polyps within 3 days after bail-out, but was not fully accomplished in degenerated polyps even after 5 days. Our findings indicate that solitary polyps generated by hyperosmosis-induced bail-out can recover rapidly from physiological stress under laboratory conditions, suggesting that bailed-out polyps could be used as new models for coral research.

The Missing Protein: Is T-Cadherin a Previously Unknown GPI-Anchored Receptor on Platelets?

The membrane of platelets contains at least one uncharacterized glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored protein according to the literature. Moreover, there is not enough knowledge on the receptor of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) mediating rapid Ca2+ signaling in platelets. Coincidentally, expression of a GPI-anchored protein T-cadherin increases LDL-induced Ca2+ signaling in nucleated cells. Here we showed evidence that supports the hypothesis about the presence of T-cadherin on platelets. The presence of T-cadherin on the surface of platelets and megakaryocytes was proven using antibodies whose specificity was tested on several negative and positive control cells by flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. Using phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C, the presence of glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor in the platelet T-cadherin form as well as in other known forms was confirmed. We showed by immunoblotting that the significant part of T-cadherin was detected in specific membrane domains (detergent Triton X-114 resistant) and the molecular weight of this newly identified protein was greater than that of T-cadherin from nucleated cells. Nevertheless, polymerase chain reaction data confirmed only the presence of isoform-1 of T-cadherin in platelets and megakaryocytes, which was also present in nucleated cells. We observed the redistribution of this newly identified protein after the activation of platelets, but only further work may explain its functional importance. Thus, our data described T-cadherin with some post-translational modifications as a new GPI-anchored protein on human platelets.

Work within the COVID-19 pandemic — the experience of the biobank of the National Medical Research Center of Oncology

Aim. To present the main results and changes in the work of the biobank of the National Medical Research Center of Oncology during the pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).Material and methods. The paper presents a dynamic analysis of the delivery of fresh frozen biological samples from operated patients for three quarters of 2019 and 2020, as well as considers possible ways to implement research projects to collect and deposit materials for the biobank within the COVID-19 pandemic. The work included persons over 18 years old, with primary gastrointestinal cancers, who, upon hospitalization, gave informed consent to transfer biological material tothe biobank. One of the inclusion criteria was the presence of a negative nasopharyngeal swabs tested for SARS-CoV-2 by the polymerase chain reaction. Data calculation and comparative analysis of the results was carried out using the Microsoft Office Excel software package.Results. It was revealed that in the first quarter of 2019, 34% of biological samples were received from the total amount for the year, while in 2020 — 50%; in the second quarter of 2019 — 35%. The second quarter of 2020 was characterized by change in the schedule of work of institutions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to a 56% decrease in the number of samples compared to the same period in 2019 and amounted to 14% of material collected for the three quarters of2020. In the third quarter of 2020, the flow was restored and amounted to 65 patients, which corresponds to 36% of material collected in this year and is more than in 2019 by 23%.Conclusion. a critical decrease in the deposited material in the second quarter of 2020 indicated the need to adapt the current biobanking rules inRussia in general and the studied biobank in particular. Possible adaptation ways may consist in the creation of joint projects between groups of scientists from different organizations, taking into account the requirements of information and biological safety. This problem and ways to solve it were widely discussed at international and Russian platforms, including the 4th meeting of the National Association of Biobanks and Biobanking Specialists, dedicated to the organization of biobanking during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Burden of Malaria in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Despite evidence that older children and adolescents bear the highest burden of malaria, large malaria surveys focus on younger children. We used polymerase chain reaction data from the 2013–2014 Demographic and Health Survey in the Democratic Republic of Congo (including children aged &lt;5 years and adults aged ≥15 years) and a longitudinal study in Kinshasa Province (participants aged 6 months to 98 years) to estimate malaria prevalence across age strata. We fit linear models and estimated prevalences for each age category; adolescents aged 10–14 years had the highest prevalence. We estimate approximately 26 million polymerase chain reaction–detectable infections nationally. Adolescents and older children should be included in surveillance studies.

Selection of Reference Genes for Quantitative Real-Time PCR in Chrysoperla nipponensis (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) Under Tissues in Reproduction and Diapause

Chrysoperla nipponensis (Okamoto), which has the unique diapause phenotype distinguishable from nondiapause adult, is an ideal model organism for studying the mechanism of reproductive diapause. However, there is no reliable and effective reference genes used for the reproductive diapause study of C. nipponensis. Therefore, in this study, we evaluated the expression stability of 10 candidate reference genes (Tub1, Arpc5, EF1a, 128up, RpS5, RpS26e, GAPDH, Arp3, Actin, α-Tub) in adults under diapause and nondiapause induction conditions using four statistical algorithms including GeNorm, NormFinder, Bestkeeper, and ∆CT method. Results showed that Arp3 and Tub1 were the most stable reference genes in all samples and in the adult tissues group. Arp3 and RpS5 were the most stable reference genes in the development degree group. α-Tub and EF1a were unstable reference genes under the conditions of this study. Meanwhile, to verify the reliability of the reference genes, we evaluated the relative expression levels of Vg and VgR in different treatments. Significant upregulation and downregulation in expression level of two genes in response to diapause termination and diapause fat body tissue was, respectively, observed when using Arp3 as the reference gene but not when using an unstable reference gene. The reference genes identified in this work provided not only the basis for future functional genomics research in diapause of C. nipponensis and will also identify reliable normalization factors for real-time quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction data for other related insects.