Search

Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of a solvent (eucalyptol) in improving filling material removal from canals connected by isthmuses, and the additional cleaning effect of a finishing instrument. Methodology: The mesial canals from 32 mandibular molars (Vertucci's type II morphology) were instrumented and filled with the single‐cone technique using Reciproc R25 gutta‐percha points (VDW, Munich, Germany) combined with Sealer 26 (Dentsply, Petrópolis, RJ, Brazil). Each root was then subjected to retreatment using the Mtwo instrument system (VDW), with or without a solvent (n = 16 per group). The volume of filling material in the canals was assessed by micro‐computed tomographic (micro‐CT) scans taken before and after retreatment. Canals with remnants of filling material received a supplementary procedure with the XP‐endo Finisher R instrument (FKG Dentaire, La Chaux‐de‐Fonds, Switzerland), with or without eucalyptol, and another micro‐CT scan was taken. All retreatment procedures were performed inside a cabinet under a controlled temperature (37 °C). Filling material removal was evaluated in the 5‐mm apical canal system for the canal+isthmus space or the isthmus alone. Statistical analyses were performed to compare the removal of filling material with and without eucalyptol, and after a supplementary approach with XP‐endo Finisher R. The level of significance was set at 5% for all statistical tests (P < 0.05). Results: The amount of filling material removed from the canal+isthmus with Mtwo instruments was 83.2% when no solvent was used and 83.8% using the solvent (P > 0.05). When the isthmus area was evaluated separately, most specimens were associated with a reduction in the filling material, with no significant difference between the groups with or without using a solvent (P > 0.05). The supplementary step with XP‐endo Finisher R significantly improved removal of filling material from both canal and isthmus area (P < 0.05), regardless of the use of a solvent (P > 0.05). Conclusion: The use of eucalyptol did not improve filling material removal from Vertucci's type II molar mesial canals and isthmuses. XP‐endo Finisher R significantly enhanced removal of filling material from the canals and isthmuses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyperpolarization has found many applications in Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). However, its usage is still limited to the observation of relatively fast processes because of its short lifetimes. This issue can be circumvented by storing the hyperpolarization in a slowly relaxing singlet state. Symmetrical molecules hyperpolarized by Parahydrogen Induced Hyperpolarization (PHIP) provide straightforward access to hyperpolarized singlet states because the initial parahydrogen singlet state is preserved at almost any magnetic field strength. In these systems, which show a remarkably long 1H singlet state lifetime of several minutes, the conversion of the NMR silent singlet state to observable magnetization is feasible due to the existence of singlet–triplet level anti-crossings. Here, we demonstrate that scaling the chemical shift Hamiltonian by rf irradiation is sufficient to transform the singlet into an observable triplet state. Moreover, because the application of one long rf pulse is only partially converting the singlet state, we developed a multiconversion sequence consisting of a train of long rf pulses resulting in successive singlet to triplet conversions. This sequence is used to measure the singlet state relaxation time in a simple way at two different magnetic fields. We show that this approach is valid for almost any magnetic field strength and can be performed even in the less homogeneous field of an MRI scanner, allowing for new applications of hyperpolarized NMR and MRI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dry-slaughter process for poultry includes mechanical defeathering followed by a waxing phase, without scalding. The aim of the present work was to study the impact of dry-slaughter procedures on the microbiological quality of poultry carcasses. A total of 161 laying hens were examined. Sponge swab samples were collected from different carcass sites at three successive processing stages (i.e. from the neck after stunning and from the breast after defeathering and after waxing). Each carcass sample was analyzed for counts of total aerobic mesophilic bacteria, coliforms, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and the incidence of Salmonella spp. In addition, fecal swab samples collected from each bird were analyzed for the presence of Salmonella spp. The microbiological analysis results showed low levels of carcass contamination for each microorganism, at all stages of the dry-slaughter process. However, an increase in the levels of Staphylococcus aureus was recorded in the post-waxing phase. Salmonella spp. was not found in any of the samples tested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rinse water samples were obtained from fifty cattle carcasses processed in a northern Italian slaughterhouse between January and April 2007. The incidence and prevalence of Campylobacter spp. in these samples were determined. Conventional cultural techniques, followed by a rapid latex agglutination test were used for testing. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by DNA sequencing was used to identify the thermophilic Campylobacter. Campylobacter spp. were detected in four (8%) samples using the cultural methods and in six (12%) samples using molecular techniques. Campylobacter jejuni was the only species detected in these samples. The results indicate a relatively low level of Campylobacter spp. contamination on the examined cattle carcasses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of 103 pooled samples of neck skin and meat from pigeons for the table and neck skin of pheasant were analyzed bacteriologically to determine the presence of Campylobacrer. Colonies suspected of being Campylobacter were grown from 15.8% of pigeon neck skin samples, 12.5% of pigeon meat samples, and 50% of pheasant neck skin samples after culturing, and in 6.9% of pigeon neck skin samples (4 × 10² to 2 × 10³ CFU/g) assessed quantitatively without preculturing. PCR confirmed the presence of Campylobacrer spp. in 5.26 and 3.44% of samples of pigeon neck skin and meat, respectively. Species identified from pigeon neck skin samples by PCR were C. jejuni (3 of 3) and C. coli (1 of 3); no C. Iari was identified. No species were identified by PCR in pheasant neck skin. We conclude that the small number of Campylobacrer-positive pigeon samples presents a low risk of Campylobacrer infection to Italian consumers, particularly since pigeon is always well cooked before consumption, although there is always the possibility of cross-contamination with raw or insufficiently cooked foods particularly during food preparation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the effects of an estrogenic compound, 4-nonyl-phenol (NP), on the amphibians Rana esculenta and Triturus carnifex are described together with those on sexual differentiation in Xenopus laevis. NP increased plasma vitellogenin in male frogs and newts in a dose-related manner; moreover, inhibitory effects on gonadotropin and prolactin (PRL) secretion by pituitary were found together with an elevation of plasma androgens. NP treatment also caused a remarkable increase in number of prolactin-immunolabeled cells, suggesting that xenoestrogen might induce, at least in the newt pituitary, a PRL accumulation possibly due to a reduction of the hormone release. In addition, both NP and bisphenol A caused feminization by increasing the percentage of female phenotypes in X. laevis, and the in vivo effects were more pronounced than those of estradiol-17β. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The distribution of the cannabinoid CB1 receptor and its relationships with individual endocrine cell types were investigated by immunohistochemistry in the anterior lobe of the Xenopus adenohypophysis. By use of a specific primary antibody raised in rabbit against the amino terminus of the rat CB1, we have found numerous CB1-like-immunoreactive cells distributed throughout all of the pituitary anterior lobe with the exception of the ventrocranial area adjacent to the median eminence of the neurohypophysis. Aided by both double-immunostaining on consecutive serial sections and double-simultaneous immunofluorescence on the same section of the gland, the CB1-like immunoreactivity was compared to some specific hormone immunoreactive cells. CB1 labelings were mainly codistributed, and even colocalized, with lactotrophs and thyrotrophs. Gonadotrophs containing CB1 receptors were also observed. In contrast, corticotrophs, which are located mainly in the ventrocranial pole of the anterior lobe, were generally devoid of CB1. Since nerve terminals immunoreactive to the CB1 antibody were observed within the vascular zone of the median eminence, the possibility that endocannabinoids are involved in the control of some secretory activities of Xenopus pituitary, either indirectly via hypothalamic neurosecretory mechanisms or directly on the pituitary cells, was envisaged. In particular, the present study suggests the occurrence of a direct cannabinergic modulation of the prolactin, gonadotrophin, and thyrotrophin secretions through the CB1 receptor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]