Biodegradation of composite resin with ester linkages: identifying human salivary enzyme activity with a potential role in the esterolytic process.

Objectives: The ester linkages contained within dental resin monomers (such as Bisphenol A-glycidylmethacrylate (BisGMA) and triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA)) are susceptible to hydrolytic degradation by salivary esterases, however very little is known about the specific esterase activities implicated in this process. The objective of this work was to isolate and identify the dominant proteins from saliva that are associated with the esterase activities shown to be involved in the degradation of BisGMA.

Methods: Human whole saliva was collected and processed prior to separation in a HiPrep 16/60 Sephacryl S-200 HR column.

Screening and diagnosis of optic pathway gliomas in children with neurofibromatosis type 1 by using sweep visual evoked potentials.

Purpose: Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1) is an autosomal dominant phakomatosis with a prevalence of 1 in 2000 to 1 in 5000. Up to 24% of these patients have optic pathway gliomas (OPGs). In the present study, the use of sweep visual evoked potentials (SVEPs) was investigated as a screening tool for identifying patients with NF-1 who had OPGs by comparing them to those patients with no OPGs and to normally developing children.