Optimization of a Molecularly Imprinted Polymer Synthesis for a Rapid Detection of Caffeic Acid in Wine.

Molecular imprinting is an efficient strategy to make the detection of compounds more specific and more selective. This targeted analytical strategy using molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) synthesis needs to obtain the optimized conditions. A selective molecularly imprinted polymer was prepared for caffeic acid (CA) detection after varying the following synthesis parameters: functional monomer type (N-phenylacrylamide, N-PAA or methacrylic acid, MAA), solvent type (acetonitrile/methanol or acetonitrile/toluene), and the polymerization method (UV or thermal initiation).

Cytotoxicity of V-Prep Versus Phosphoric Acid Etchant on Oral Gingival Fibroblasts.

The most used etchant in dental daily practice is the phosphoric acid (P.A.; 37%).

Combination of Screen-Printed Carbon Electrode and Molecularly Imprinted Polymers for the Selective Determination of Phenolic Compounds in Wine.

Caffeic acid (CA) is an efficient antioxidant found in wine and in plants and can be extracted from the by-products of the food industry. A molecularly imprinted polymer specific to caffeic acid (CA-MIP) was prepared by radical polymerization using -phenylacrylamide as the functional monomer, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as the cross-linker, and azobisisobutyronitrile as the initiator, in the presence of CA as the template molecule. The rebinding activities between the polymers and CA were promoted by an indirect method and characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV) using a screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE).

Assessment of the exposure to PM in different Lebanese microenvironments at different temporal scales.

The weak potential of using the sole outdoor concentrations to represent personal exposure to PM is confirmed by the literature; therefore, it is important to account for a person's movements over time when estimating the short-term personal air pollution exposure within different microenvironments (MEs). This study is an example of applying an assessment method of the exposure to PM in different microenvironments at different temporal scales. A low-cost particle counter (the Dylos 1700) was used; its performance was validated in comparison with equivalent instruments such the SidePak AM520 Personal Aerosol Monitor (R = 0.

Air Pollution and Perinatal Health in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: Challenges, Limitations, and the Potential of Epigenetics.

Purpose Of Review: Even though the burden of disease attributable to air pollution is high in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR), the number of studies linking environmental exposures to negative health outcomes remains scarce and limited in scope. This review aims to assess the literature on exposure to air pollutants and perinatal health in the EMR and to explain the potential of epigenetics in exploring the processes behind adverse birth outcomes.

Recent Findings: In the last three decades, hundreds of studies and publications tackled the health effects of air pollution on birth outcomes and early life development, but only a small number of these studies was conducted in the EMR.

Establishing a sorting protocol for healthcare databases.

Background: Health information records in many countries, especially developing countries, are still paper based. Compared to electronic systems, paper-based systems are disadvantageous in terms of data storage and data extraction. Given the importance of health records for epidemiological studies, guidelines for effective data cleaning and sorting are essential.

The Importance of Developing Electrochemical Sensors Based on Molecularly Imprinted Polymers for a Rapid Detection of Antioxidants.

This review aims to pin out the importance of developing a technique for rapid detection of antioxidants, based on molecular imprinting techniques. It covers three major areas that have made great progress over the years in the field of research, namely: antioxidants characterization, molecular imprinting and electrochemistry, alone or combined. It also reveals the importance of bringing these three areas together for a good evaluation of antioxidants in a simple or complex medium, based on selectivity and specificity.

Towards Polymeric Nanoparticles with Multiple Magnetic Patches.

Fabricating future materials by self-assembly of nano-building blocks programmed to generate specific lattices is among the most challenging goals of nanotechnology and has led to the recent concept of patchy particles. We report here a simple strategy to fabricate polystyrene nanoparticles with several silica patches based on the solvent-induced self-assembly of silica/polystyrene monopods. The latter are obtained with morphological yields as high as 99% by seed-growth emulsion polymerization of styrene in the presence of 100 nm silica seeds previously modified with an optimal surface density of methacryloxymethyl groups.

Comparison of the force decay over time of four different brands of elastomeric chains (elongated to 25mm grey/transparent and closed/open): An in-vitro study.

Unlabelled: Elastomeric chains are widely used by orthodontists for incisor retraction and space closure. However, force degradation and permanent deformation are expected to occur.

Objectives: The present study was designed to compare the force degradation of closed, open, grey and transparent power chains from four orthodontic companies (American orthodontics® (AO®), Dentsply®, Ormco® and Rocky Mountain Orthodontics® (RMO®)) over time.

Beirut Air Pollution and Health Effects - BAPHE study protocol and objectives.

Background: Recent studies investigating the health effects of air pollution have proven an existing impact around and below international air quality guidelines and standards. These studies were based on accessible data from official registers managed by public authorities. The protocol followed in BAPHE project is described; its benefits and disadvantages are presented and discussed in this paper.

Short-term relationships between emergency hospital admissions for respiratory and cardiovascular diseases and fine particulate air pollution in Beirut, Lebanon.

High levels of major outdoor air pollutants have been documented in Lebanon, but their health effects remain unknown. The Beirut Air Pollution and Health Effects study aimed to determine the relationship between short-term variations in ambient concentrations of particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) and emergency hospital admissions in the city of Beirut, and whether susceptible groups are more greatly affected.

Time series analysis of air pollutants in Beirut, Lebanon.

This study reports for the first time a time series analysis of daily urban air pollutant levels (CO, NO, NO2, O3, PM10, and SO2) in Beirut, Lebanon. The study examines data obtained between September 2005 and July 2006, and their descriptive analysis shows long-term variations of daily levels of air pollution concentrations. Strong persistence of these daily levels is identified in the time series using an autocorrelation function, except for SO2.

Effect of a two-year fluoride decay protection protocol on titanium brackets.

Introduction: Fluoride ion can attack titanium, causing its corrosion. Orthodontic patients being high-risk caries developers and in need of fluoride protection, the Center for Disease Control has developed a Fluoride Decay Prevention (FDP) protocol, consisting of a 6-minute tooth-brushing, followed by a 1-minute daily mouthwash, in addition to an in-clinic trimestrial topical fluoride gel application. This study aimed at evaluating gravimetrically, by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and by sliding mechanics analysis, the consequences of FDP at 6, 12, 18, and 24months on titanium brackets corrosion.

Effect of eliminating the residual fluoride gel on titanium bracket corrosion.

Introduction: Fluoride ions, in long-term applications on titanium brackets, cause their corrosion. Fluoride gel used for caries prevention during orthodontic treatment has a very high concentration in fluoride ions, and therefore has the potential for causing bracket corrosion. The main aim of this study was to determine the effect of eliminating the residual fluoride gel, by rinsing it, on the corrosion of titanium brackets.