Presence of langerhans cells, regulatory T cells (Treg) and mast cells in asymptomatic apical periodontitis.

Asymptomatic Apical Periodontitis is essentially an inflammatory disease of microbial aetiology. Association and function of the cell components involved, or specific inductive factors and growth mediators associated with development, maintenance and resolution of the periapical lesions are still unknown. The objective of this study was to evaluate the concentration of Regulatory T cells (FoxP3+; Treg), Langerhans cells (CD1a+; LC) and mast cells in asymptomatic apical periodontitis.

Inflammatory profile of chronic apical periodontitis: a literature review.

Apical periodontitis caused by root canal infection is the most frequent pathological lesion in the jaws, mainly manifested as periapical granulomas and cysts. Understanding of the formation and progression of apical periodontitis as well as the identification of inflammatory biomarkers can help increase the knowledge of pathogenic mechanisms, improve the diagnosis and provide support for different therapeutic strategies. The objective of the present article is to review inflammatory biomarkers such as cytokines, chemokines, inflammatory cells, neuropeptides, RANK/RANKL/OPG system and other inflammatory markers and to relate these systems to the development and progression of pathological conditions related to apical periodontitis.

Ensembles-of Gold Nanowires for the Anodic Stripping Voltammetric Determination of Inorganic Arsenic.

3D-ensembles of gold nanowires electrodes (3D-NEEs) are produced by electroless gold deposition in track-etched polycarbonate (PC) membranes, followed by partial etching (plama or chemical) of the polymeric membrane. These electrodes are applied to the anodic stripping voltammetric determination of inorganic As. The controlled etching of the PC template increased the gold surface area, widening the linear range of the analytical response with respect to ensembles of gold nanodisk electrodes (2D-NEEs).

Arrays of templated TiO2 nanofibres as improved photoanodes for water splitting under visible light.

Arrays of TiO2 nanofibres (NFs) were successfully prepared by template sol-gel synthesis, using track-etched polycarbonate membranes as structure directing agent. The control of the sol-gel kinetic was crucial in order to homogeneously fill the pores with a continuous framework. For this reason acetylacetone was added to the sol-gel mixture as chelating agent.

Identification of an unusual naturally occurring apolar fatty acid amide in mammalian brain and a method for its quantitative determination.

Fatty acid amides (FAAs), such as the N-acylamides, N-acylethanolamides, N-acyldopamines and N-acylamino acids, are now emerging as an important new class of lipid-signalling molecules. This paper provides evidence, based on high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (HPLC/ESI-MS/MS), gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and 1H-NMR, of the occurrence in mouse and bovine brain extracts of a compound characterised by a mass spectrum attributable to a FAA not previously described, namely, the isopropyl-amide of stearic acid (SIPA). A highly sensitive GC/MS method was developed for quantification of naturally occurring SIPA and, also, for purposes of comparison, that of palmitoylethanolamide (PEA), a structurally related compound commonly determined in animal tissues.

3-Nitrotyrosine, a marker of nitrosative stress, is increased in breath condensate of allergic asthmatic children.

Background: Asthmatic patients have high exhaled nitric oxide (NO) levels. NO-mediated inflammatory actions are mainly due to NO conversion into reactive nitrogen species, which can lead to nitrotyrosine formation. The aim of this study was to assess 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT) levels in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) of asthmatic and healthy children and to investigate whether there is any relationship with exhaled NO (FE(NO)) and lung function.