The Role of the Hydrogen Bond Network in Maintaining Heme Pocket Stability and Protein Function Specificity of Coproheme Decarboxylase.

Monoderm bacteria accumulate heme via the coproporphyrin-dependent biosynthesis pathway. In the final step, in the presence of two molecules of HO, the propionate groups of coproheme at positions 2 and 4 are decarboxylated to form vinyl groups by coproheme decarboxylase (ChdC), in a stepwise process. Decarboxylation of propionate 2 produces an intermediate that rotates by 90° inside the protein pocket, bringing propionate 4 near the catalytic tyrosine, to allow the second decarboxylation step.

Intravenous treatment with biphosphates in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome.

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a pathological persistence of spontaneous or evoked disproportionate pain. Several drugs are employed, but only bisphosphonates seem to have good outcomes. The purpose of our research is to analyze the characteristics of the cases victims of CRPS and study the beneficial effect of the intravenous nerindronic acid sodium salt (Nerixia®), in an attempt to improve the results in this disabling disease.

Cartilage Micrografts as a Novel Non-Invasive and Non-Arthroscopic Autograft Procedure for Knee Chondropathy: Three-Year Follow-Up Study.

(1) Background: Focal chondral defects of the knee can significantly impair patient quality of life. Although different options are available, they are still not conclusive and have several limitations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of autologous cartilage micrografts in the treatment of knee chondropathy.

Molar incisor hypomineralization: supplementary, restorative, orthodontic, and esthetic long-term treatment.

Objective: This article describes the esthetic results in a paradigmatic case of hypomineralized enamel correction on both anterior and posterior teeth to establish a minimal intervention protocol for similar cases. Clinical considerations: The subject was initially provided with casein-calcium-phosphate mineral supplementation. Unpublished laboratory images collected as part of a previously published study depict the results of initial calcium-phosphate supplementation on molar incisor hypomineralization (MIH) molar enamel morphology and indicate that this procedure is mandatory in moderate/severe cases.

Ba-Doped Iron Oxide as a New Material for NO₂ Detection.

Various compositions of barium-doped hematite between pure hematite (α-Fe₂O₃) and pure barium hexaferrite (BaFeO) were synthesized by solid state reaction. The XRD analyses confirmed the progressive evolution of the two crystalline phases. Tests as humidity sensors show that the electrical resistance of samples containing high proportions of hexaferrite phase is strongly influenced.

Strontium-doped hematite as a possible humidity sensing material for soil water content determination.

The aim of this work is to study the sensing behavior of Sr-doped hematite for soil water content measurement. The material was prepared by solid state reaction from commercial hematite and strontium carbonate heat treated at 900 °C. X-Ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and mercury intrusion porosimetry were used for microstructural characterization of the synthesized powder.

A SEM and non-contact surface white light profilometry in vivo study of the effect of a crème containing CPP-ACP and fluoride on young etched enamel.

The aim of this in vivo study was to evaluate the short and a longer term effect on enamel of the application of a crème containing 10% CPP-ACP and 900 ppm fluoride, in orthodontically planned, high caries-risk patients. Epoxy resin replicas of upper lateral incisors were obtained from polyvinyl siloxane (PVS) impressions, before and after etching. The right incisors were left untreated in order to control saliva remineralizing potential.

The effect of the NRT files instrumentation on the quality of the surface of the root canal wall.

Purpose: To analyze in vitro, trough scanning electron microscope (SEM), the shaping ability of NRT NiTi rotary system (Mani, Inc, Toshigi-Ken, Japan).

Methods: Ten extracted human teeth were cut at the level of the CEJ and prepared with Gates-Glidden burs 4-3-2 and NRT rotary files up to size #35. Irrigation was performed with 7.

The influence of smear layer in lateral channels filling.

This in vitro study evaluated the ability of a warm gutta-percha obturation system Thermafil to fill lateral channels in presence/absence of smear layer. Forty single-rooted extracted human teeth were randomly divided into two groups for which different irrigation regimens were used: group A, 5 ml of 5% NaOCl + 2.5 ml of 3.