A comparative evaluation of fluoride release and rechargeability in conventional GIC (type II), pediatric GIC (type IX), and Cention-N: an in vitro study

PURPOSE

A comparative evaluation of fluoride release and re-chargeability in conventional glass ionomer cement (GIC) (type II), Pediatric GIC (type IX), and Cention-N-an in vitro study at an interval of first, fourteenth, and twenty first days.

METHODS

Three groups of test materials, each with twenty samples, were prepared. Measurements of the cumulative fluoride release [parts per million (ppm)] and re-release measured on the first, fourteenth, and twenty first days. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the means for different readings, and Tukey's post hoc analysis was used to compare each group with each other.

RESULTS

Initial and subsequent fluoride release of Cention-N at days one, fourteen, and twenty-one were all noticeably higher than those of conventional and pediatric GIC.

CONCLUSION

Compared to the Conventional and Pediatric GIC restorative materials, Cention-N was more effective in the initial and fluoride re-release.

Critical Care Pharmacist Market Perceptions: Comparison of Critical Care Program Directors and Directors of Pharmacy

Background: While hospital beds continue to decline as patients previously treated as inpatients are stabilized in ambulatory settings, the number of critical care beds available in the United States continues to rise. Growth in pharmacy student graduation, postgraduate year 2 critical care (PGY2 CC) residency programs, and positions has also increased. There is a perception that the critical care trained pharmacist market is saturated, yet this has not been evaluated since the rise in pharmacy graduates and residency programs. Purpose: To describe the current perception of critical care residency program directors (CC RPDs) and directors of pharmacy (DOPs) on the critical care pharmacist job market and to evaluate critical care postresidency placement and anticipated changes in PGY2 CC programs. Methods: Two electronic surveys were distributed from October 2015 to November 2015 through Vizient/University HealthSystem Consortium, American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), Society of Critical Care Medicine, and American College of Clinical Pharmacy listservs to target 2 groups of respondents: CC RPDs and DOPs. Questions were based on the ASHP Pharmacy Forecast and the Pharmacy Workforce Center's Aggregate Demand Index and were intended to identify perceptions of the critical care market of the 2 groups. Results: Of 116 CC RPDs, there were 66 respondents (56.9% response rate). Respondents have observed an increase in applicants; however, they do not anticipate increasing the number of positions in the next 5 years. The overall perception is that there is a balance in supply and demand in the critical care trained pharmacist market. A total of 82 DOPs responded to the survey. Turnover of critical care pharmacists within respondent organizations is expected to be low. Although a majority of DOPs plan to expand residency training positions, only 9% expect to increase positions in critical care PGY2 training. Overall, DOP respondents indicated a balance of supply and demand in the critical care trained pharmacist market. In comparing RPD and DOP perceptions of the demand for critical care pharmacists, DOPs perceived demand to be higher than RPDs (mean, 3.2 vs 2.8; P = .032). Conclusion: Although there is a perception of the oversupply of critical care trained pharmacists, a survey of DOPs and CC RPDs found a market with positions available, rapid hiring, stable salaries, and plans for expanded hiring of critical care trained pharmacists.

Metals Bioaccumulation Mechanism in Neem Bark

The aim of this work was to define the bioaccumulation mechanism of metals onto the non-living biomaterial prepared from an extensively available plant bark biomass of neem (Azadirachta indica). Based on maximum ultimate fixation capacities (mmol/g) of the product, metals ions could be arranged as Hg(2+) < Cd(2+) < Pb(2+) ≅ Cu(2+). Surface properties of the biomaterial were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction techniques for their sorption mechanism. Whewellite (C2CaO4 · H2O) was identified in the biomaterial, which indicated that calcium ions are electrovalently bonded with carboxylate ions facilitating the ion exchange mechanism with metal ions. Bioaccumulation of metal ions was also studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, which indicated the presence of functional groups implicated in adsorbing metal ions. Biomaterial did not adsorb anionic As(III), As(V) and Cr(VI), because of their electrostatic repulsion with carboxylic functional groups. Neem bark can be used as bioindicators, bioaccumulators and biomonitors while determining environmental pressures. Metal bioaccumulative properties and structural investigation of plant bark has potential in providing quantitative information on the metal contamination in the surrounding environment.

A review on the molecular characterization of digenean parasites using molecular markers with special reference to ITS region

The rDNA region of eukaryotes has the immense potential to resolve the evolutionary and phylogeny problems using molecular markers. As evident from the present review, ITS region data is considered for interpretation of inter and intra-specific variations of 136 studies of 33 families including 78 genus and 114 species affecting individuals worldwide. Along with ITS-1 and ITS-2 region in 29 studies 18S region, in 38 studies 28S region and in 43 studies mitochondrial genes (COI and NDI) were also analyzed. Three new genera (Allobilharzia gen. nov., Caulanus gen. nov., and Latuterus gen. nov.) and 49 new species were discovered. Only 47 studies expressed variations at intra-specific and inter-specific level in complete ITS region, ITS-1 and ITS-2 rDNA sequences due to differences in nucleotide positions. According to the findings ITS region is more reliable and precise marker for demarcation and identification of species in combination of other DNA markers. Major studies were involved around the parasites of families Fasciolidae, Schistosomatidae, Opisthorchidae, Paragonimidae and Paramphistomidae, Clinostomidae, Diplostomidae, Haploporidae, among others infecting humans, farm animals, birds, fishes, reptiles and amphibians on the clinical basis. In future, molecular and bioinformatics aspects based on genetic variations will lead to explore the untouched areas of trematodes.

A randomised controlled trial of the effect of anticipation of a blood test on blood pressure

Blood pressure is affected by situational anxiety, such as the white coat effect. We hypothesised that blood pressure would also be affected by anticipation of a blood test. Volunteer subjects were recruited on the campus of Birmingham University. Subjects were randomly assigned to intervention and control groups. After a period of rest, three seated blood pressure measurements were taken at 1-min intervals using an electronic sphygmomanometer. Between the second and third measurements subjects in the intervention group were told that a blood test would be carried out after the last measurement. No blood test was carried out. Three blood pressure measurements were made in all 213 randomised subjects. Analysis was by intention-to-treat. In the control group mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure fell in successive measurements. Between the second and third measurements mean systolic blood pressure fell by 1.4 mm Hg in the control group and rose by 2.6 mm Hg in the intervention group (difference 4.0 mm Hg, P < 0.0001). A rise in diastolic blood pressure between the second and third measurements did not reach statistical significance. It was concluded that anticipation of a blood test affects measured systolic blood pressure in volunteers. The practice of taking blood tests at the same time as measuring blood pressure may potentially bias estimations of blood pressure.

Keratomycosis: clinical and microbiologic experience with dematiaceous fungi

OBJECTIVE

To assess the significance of dematiaceous fungi in the causation of keratomycosis.

DESIGN

Retrospective, noncomparative case series.

PARTICIPANTS

Eighty-eight cases of dematiaceous fungal keratitis seen at the L. V. Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, India from January 1991 through December 1996.

INTERVENTION

Only culture-proven cases were analyzed.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Predisposing factors, clinical characteristics, microbiology, treatment methods, and outcome.

RESULTS

Of 557 cases of fungal keratitis seen during the study period, dematiaceous fungi were the etiologic agents in 88 (15.7%), after Fusarium in 210 (37.6%) and Aspergillus species in 170 cases (30.4%), respectively. Trauma was the most common predisposing factor (47.7%). Fifty-three eyes (61.3%) had the classical clinical picture of yellow-white, dry raised infiltrate with feathery hyphate edges at initial examination. The characteristic macroscopic pigmentation was seen in only 24 eyes (27.27%). Septate branching fungal filaments were identified in 78 smears (88.63%) on light microscopy, of which 5 (5.7%) also showed the presence of bacteria. Curvularia species dominated the spectrum (22.7%). Treatment was started in 48 eyes with topical antifungal agents, whereas 37 received both oral and topical antifungal agents. Outcome data were available for 68 cases. Forty-nine (72%) responded to medical therapy, whereas 13 eyes required therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty and 6 eyes had to be eviscerated.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the largest series of keratitis caused by dematiaceous fungi reported to date. It clearly brings out the clinical importance of this group of corneal infections.

Embryonic stem cell-derived glial precursors: a source of myelinating transplants

Self-renewing, totipotent embryonic stem (ES) cells may provide a virtually unlimited donor source for transplantation. A protocol that permits the in vitro generation of precursors for oligodendrocytes and astrocytes from ES cells was devised. Transplantation in a rat model of a human myelin disease shows that these ES cell-derived precursors interact with host neurons and efficiently myelinate axons in brain and spinal cord. Thus, ES cells can serve as a valuable source of cell type-specific somatic precursors for neural transplantation.

Chimeric brains generated by intraventricular transplantation of fetal human brain cells into embryonic rats

Limited experimental access to the central nervous system (CNS) is a key problem in the study of human neural development, disease, and regeneration. We have addressed this problem by generating neural chimeras composed of human and rodent cells. Fetal human brain cells implanted into the cerebral ventricles of embryonic rats incorporate individually into all major compartments of the brain, generating widespread CNS chimerism. The human cells differentiate into neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes, which populate the host fore-, mid-, and hindbrain. These chimeras provide a unique model to study human neural cell migration and differentiation in a functional nervous system.

In vitro-generated neural precursors participate in mammalian brain development

During embryogenesis, pluripotent stem cells segregate into daughter lineages of progressively restricted developmental potential. In vitro, this process has been mimicked by the controlled differentiation of embryonic stem cells into neural precursors. To explore the developmental potential of these cell-culture-derived precursors in vivo, we have implanted them into the ventricles of embryonic rats. The transplanted cells formed intraventricular neuroepithelial structures and migrated in large numbers into the brain tissue. Embryonic-stem-cell-derived neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes incorporated into telencephalic, diencephalic, and mesencephalic regions and assumed phenotypes indistinguishable from neighboring host cells. These observations indicate that entirely in vitro-generated neural precursors are able to respond to environmental signals guiding cell migration and differentiation and have the potential to reconstitute neuronal and glial lineages in the central nervous system.