Repurposing of monocyclic β-lactams as anti-inflammatory agents - The case of new ferrocene-azetidin-2-one hybrids.

There is growing interest in developing monotherapy drugs that treat inflammation caused by microbial infections, focusing on dual antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory agents with minimal side effects and high safety margins. This study synthesized and characterized a library of novel cis-4-ferrocenylazetidin-2-ones, evaluating their antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities. These organometallic monocyclic β-lactams showed moderate in vitro antimicrobial activity against various standard microbial strains, including yeasts and Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria.

In vitro effect of beer, red and white wine on the morphology and surface roughness of human enamel.

Background: Beer, red and white wine are acidic drinks whose frequent consumption can increase the risk of dental erosion.

Objectives: To establish the effect of beer, red and white wine on the morphology and surface roughness (SR) of human enamel using different exposure times in a cyclic deand remineralization model in vitro.

Material And Methods: The experiment included 33 surgically extracted impacted human third molars from patients aged 18-25 years.

Effects of Autoclave Sterilization on Cyclic Fatigue Resistance in 5 Types of Rotary Endodontic Instruments: An In Vitro Study.

BACKGROUND Rotary endodontic instruments are increasingly used in root canal treatment and have replaced stainless steel manual files. Cyclic fatigue is the cyclic loading of stress to produce deformation or fracture. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the effects of autoclave sterilization on cyclic fatigue in 5 types of rotary endodontic instruments.

Determining the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Dental Care in the Serbian Adult Population: An Online Questionnaire-Based Study.

BACKGROUND Emergence of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2 virus) could lead to an increase in dental anxiety, avoidance of dental visits, and general neglect of oral health. This online questionnaire-based study conducted in April and May of 2021 in Serbia aimed to determine the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on dental care. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study included 2060 adult citizens of the Republic of Serbia who participated in an anonymous online questionnaire based on a 5-point Likert scale.

The Effect of Glycol Derivatives on the Properties of Bio-Based Unsaturated Polyesters.

The scope of the present study was to prepare fully bio-based unsaturated polyester resins (UPRs) with comparable properties to the commercial formulations. The focus was set on the determination of the optimal prepolymer formulation using the same set of diacids (itaconic and succinic acid) and different diols (propylene glycol, isosorbide and neopentyl glycol) or its equimolar mixtures, keeping the fixed molar ratio of 1:1:2.1 in all feed compositions.

COVID-19: Another Cause of Dental Anxiety?

BACKGROUND Fear has always been closely linked to dentistry but it could be intensified by the objective risks imposed by the pandemic. The objective of this study was to determine the profile of the frightened dental patient during the COVID-19 pandemic and determine measures taken by dentists to reduce fear and increase security among their patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS An anonymous online survey was conducted between March 15 and April 15, 2021.

The evaluation of drug-plasma protein binding interaction on immobilized human serum albumin stationary phase, aided by different computational approaches.

The drug-human serum albumin binding interaction was evaluated on a stationary phase immobilized with human serum albumin using a mixture of phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) and acetonitrile modifier as mobile phase. The 33 compounds that have a wide structural and therapeutic diversity were analyzed by performing a large number of experiments.

Ultrastructural changes in the cemento-enamel junction caused by acidic beverages: An in vitro study.

The present in vitro study was aimed at evaluating the morphological changes in the cemento-enamel junction (CEJ) after exposure to acidic beverages using the scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The initial pH and titratable acidity (TA) was analyzed from follow groups: (I) Coca cola, (II) orange juice, (III) Cedevita, (IV) Red Bull, (V) Somersby cider, and (VI) white wine. The CEJ samples (n = 64), obtained from unerupted third molars, were allocated to one control (artificial saliva, n = 16) and six experimental groups (n = 8).

Predictors of Empathic Compassion: Do Spirituality, Religion, and Calling Matter?

Objective: To determine whether physician spirituality, religion, and sense of calling toward medicine are predictors of self-reported empathic compassion.

Methods: We sampled 2000 practicing US physicians from all specialties and used self-reported measures of general and clinical empathic compassion taken from previous studies. Independent variables were single-item measures of calling, spirituality, and religiosity (importance of religion).

The mental health continuum-short form: The structure and application for cross-cultural studies-A 38 nation study.

Objective: The Mental Health Continuum-Short Form (MHC-SF) is a brief scale measuring positive human functioning. The study aimed to examine the factor structure and to explore the cross-cultural utility of the MHC-SF using bifactor models and exploratory structural equation modelling.

Method: Using multigroup confirmatory analysis (MGCFA) we examined the measurement invariance of the MHC-SF in 38 countries (university students, N = 8,066; 61.

Marginal adaptation of composite resins under two adhesive techniques.

In the present research, different adhesive techniques were used to set up fillings with composite resins. After the application of etch and rinse or self etch adhesive technique, marginal adaptation of composite fillings was estimated by the length of margins without gaps, and by the microretention of resin in enamel and dentin. The study material consisted of 40 extracted teeth.

Prevalence of Human Cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr Virus in Chronic Periapical Lesions.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in the tissue of chronic periapical lesions, and to compare the results in relation to the symptoms of patients and the size of the lesion.

Methods: Periapical lesions analyzed in the study were collected from the roots of the teeth indicated for extraction. Samples were divided according to the symptoms into groups of symptomatic and asymptomatic, and according the size into groups of small and large lesions.

Release behaviour of carbamazepine-loaded poly(ε-caprolactone)/poly(ethylene oxide) microspheres.

Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL), a biodegradable and biocompatible aliphatic polyester has a great potential as a drug carrying material in controlled drug delivery/release systems. The most simple and economical way to tailor the release profile of active substances from biodegradable polymer matrix is by the addition of the second polymeric component in the polymer matrix, i.e.

Ultrastructural analysis of the root canal walls after simultaneous irrigation of different sodium hypochlorite concentration and 0.2% chlorhexidine gluconate.

To determine whether sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) with 0.2% chlorhexidine gluconate (CHX) leads to colour change and precipitate formation, and to ultrastructurally analyse the dentine surface after simultaneous irrigation with 0.5% NaOCl and 0.

Ultrastructural changes in the cemento-enamel junction after vital tooth bleaching with fluoride and fluoride-free agents - a pilot study.

Background: The impact of bleaching on the cemento-enamel junction (CEJ) is not well known. Due to frequent sensitivity of the cervical region of teeth after the vital bleaching, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the morphological features of the CEJ of human teeth after application of fluoridated and fluoride-free bleaching agents, as well as post-bleaching fluoridation treatment, by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis.

Material/methods: Thirty-five extracted permanent human teeth were longitudinally cut, yielding 70 specimens.

Fluorescence properties of hydrophilic semiconductor nanoparticles with tridentate polyethylene oxide ligands.

In this contribution a facile, one-step synthesis of tridentate thiol-functionalized PEO ligands and their ability to stabilize CdSe/CdS/ZnS core-shell-shell nanoparticles in aqueous media are described. The PEO-coated quantum dots show colloidal stability as well as preserved fluorescence even at very low concentrations of a few nM. For improved ligand attachment and enhanced fluorescence properties a method for ligand exchange was developed, which includes formation of a ligand zinc complex before the actual exchange reaction.

[Tooth macromorphological and ultrastructural analysis of osteological material from the medieval locality of St. Panteleimon Church in Nis].

Introduction: Analysis of macromorphological and ultrastructural tooth characteristics of osteological material from the medieval site of St. Pantaleimon Church in Nis provides us with insight on the life, nutrition and habits of medieval population, as well as the structure and composition of their teeth.

Objective: The aim of this research, based on the tooth inspection of skeletal remains from the medieval site of St.

Real-time magnetic resonance imaging and quantification of lipoprotein metabolism in vivo using nanocrystals.

Semiconductor quantum dots and superparamagnetic iron oxide nanocrystals have physical properties that are well suited for biomedical imaging. Previously, we have shown that iron oxide nanocrystals embedded within the lipid core of micelles show optimized characteristics for quantitative imaging. Here, we embed quantum dots and superparamagnetic iron oxide nanocrystals in the core of lipoproteins--micelles that transport lipids and other hydrophobic substances in the blood--and show that it is possible to image and quantify the kinetics of lipoprotein metabolism in vivo using fluorescence and dynamic magnetic resonance imaging.

Micelle and vesicle formation of amphiphilic nanoparticles.

Nanoparticle brushes: Complex nanostructures can be formed by self assembly of amphiphilic CdSe/CdS core-shell nanoparticles that bear a brushlike layer of poly(ethylene oxide) chains. This route is based on controlling the volume fractions of hydrophilic and hydrophobic moieties within the particles and allows the formation of micellar, cylindrical, or vesicular nanoobjects (see picture).

[Tooth pathology analysis of osteological material from the Medieval locality of Saint Pantelejmon church in Nis].

Introduction: Medieval necropolis at the porch of St. Panteleimon church in Nis, from 12th century represents a typical Serbian necropolis, which has its analogies in several areas in Serbia. Preservation of the skeletal remains belongs to category of good and medium preservation.

Direct observation of confined acoustic phonons in the photoluminescence spectra of a single CdSe-CdS-ZnS core-shell-shell nanocrystal.

We report on the direct observation of confined acoustic phonons in the photoluminescence spectra of single CdSe-CdS-ZnS nanocrystals, whose ligands were exchanged to poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) before they were embedded in a PEO matrix. Modeling a nanocrystal as an elastic sphere, the confined acoustic modes can be assigned to purely radial vibrations: the breathing mode and its two first radial harmonics. In addition to acoustic modes, we also observe longitudinal optical modes of the core material and, remarkably, also of both shell materials.

Size and surface effects on the MRI relaxivity of manganese ferrite nanoparticle contrast agents.

Superparamagnetic MnFe2O4 nanocrystals of different sizes were synthesized in high-boiling ether solvent and transferred into water using three different approaches. First, we applied a ligand exchange in order to form a water soluble polymer shell. Second, the particles were embedded into an amphiphilic polymer shell.