BIOCHEMICAL AND HISTOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF DELTAMETHRIN EXPOSURE ON THE GILLS OF CARASSIUS AURATUS GIBELIO (Pisces Cyprinidae)

This study investigated the alterations in the activities of several antioxidant enzymesin the gills of the freshwater fish Carassius auratus gibelio exposed to deltamethrin.To get this goal, groups of 10 individuals were exposed for one, two, three, sevenand fourteen days to sublethal concentration of deltamethrin (2 g/L). Anothergroup was used as control. The activities of catalase, gluthatione peroxidase andgluthatione reductase were significantly decreased, while the glutathione-Stransferasewas up-regulated. All fish, exposed to 2glL deltamethrin revealed gillsmorphological alterations after 48h of exposure which were accentuated after 14days. In the gills hyperemia, fusion of secondary lamellae, epithelial layer ruptureand chloride cells proliferation were observed. These results suggest that animmediate adaptive response to the oxidative stress appeared, demonstratingalterations in the antoxidant defense mechanism in the gills of deltamethrinintoxicated fish

Smile Design and Treatment Planning—Conventional versus Digital—A Pilot Study

Introduction: Several methods are currently available for providing a preview of the prosthodontic treatment, including computer simulations, 3D models, wax-ups, and mock-ups. The aim of this study is to compare the aesthetic aspects and assessment of conventional versus digital prefigurative methods. Methods: The study included 5 patients and 3 observers, for each of whom a wax-up was made in both the conventional and digital techniques. The analog method, which implied a mock-up molding with a silicone matrix of the wax-up, was compared to a digital workflow, which consisted of a mock-up milling from a digital design. The patient’s clinical mock-ups were recorded with digital photographs and assessed for nine different criteria by three observers. Results: The analysis has shown a balanced assessment of the aesthetic criteria without any significant difference between the analog and digital prefigurative methods. Conclusions: Between the two wax-ups (conventional and digital), there were some variations in smile and dental criteria; however, the obtained data were very similar. When it comes to the smile criteria, the general average grades of the mock-ups conducted using the conventional method are slightly higher than the ones using the digital technique

Umbilical Cord Biometry and Fetal Abdominal Skinfold Assessment as Potential Biomarkers for Fetal Macrosomia in a Gestational Diabetes Romanian Cohort

Backgroundand Objectives: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a pregnancy-associated pathology commonly resulting in macrosomic fetuses, a known culprit of obstetric complications. We aimed to evaluate the potential of umbilical cord biometry and fetal abdominal skinfold assessment as screening tools for fetal macrosomia in gestational diabetes mellitus pregnant women. Materials and methods: This was a prospective case–control study conducted on pregnant patients presenting at 24–28 weeks of gestation in a tertiary-level maternity hospital in Northern Romania. Fetal biometry, fetal weight estimation, umbilical cord area and circumference, areas of the umbilical vein and arteries, Wharton jelly (WJ) area and abdominal fold thickness measurements were performed. Results: A total of 51 patients were enrolled in the study, 26 patients in the GDM group and 25 patients in the non-GDM group. There was no evidence in favor of umbilical cord area and WJ amount assessments as predictors of fetal macrosomia (p > 0.05). However, there was a statistically significant difference in the abdominal skinfold measurement during the second trimester between macrosomic and normal-weight newborns in the GDM patient group (p = 0.016). The second-trimester abdominal circumference was statistically significantly correlated with fetal macrosomia at term in the GDM patient group with a p value of 0.003, as well as when considering the global prevalence of macrosomia in the studied populations, 0.001, when considering both populations. Conclusions: The measurements of cord and WJ could not be established as predictors of fetal macrosomia in our study populations, nor differentiate between pregnancies with and without GDM. Abdominal skinfold measurement and abdominal circumference measured during the second trimester may be important markers of fetal metabolic status in pregnancies complicated by GDM

Structural and Oxidative Changes in the Kidney of Crucian Carp Induced by Silicon-Based Quantum Dots

Silicon-based quantum dots were intraperitoneally injected in Carassius auratus gibelio specimens and, over one week, the effects on renal tissue were investigated by following their distribution and histological effects, as well as antioxidative system modifications. After three and seven days, detached epithelial cells from the basal lamina, dilated tubules and debris in the lumen of tubules were observed. At day 7, nephrogenesis was noticed. The reduced glutathione (GSH) concentration decreased in the first three days and started to rise later on. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity increased only after one week, whereas catalase (CAT) was up-regulated in a time-dependent manner. The activities of glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione peroxidise (GPX) decreased dramatically by approximately 50% compared to control, whereas the glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) increased significantly after 3 and 7 days of treatment. Oxidative modifications of proteins and the time-dependent increase of Hsp70 expression were also registered. Our data suggest that silicon-based quantum dots induced oxidative stress followed by structural damages. However, renal tissue is capable of restoring its integrity by nephron development

A Finite Element Method Study on a Simulation of the Thermal Behaviour of Four Methods for the Restoration of Class II Cavities

The possibility of dental pulp damage during dental procedures is well known. According to studies, during finishing and polishing without cooling, temperatures of up to 140 °C or more can be generated. There are many studies that have analysed the influence of the finishing and polishing of fillings on the mechanical parameters, but the analysis of thermal parameters has led to uncertain results due to the difficulty of performing this in vivo. Background: We set out to conduct a study, using the finite element method, to determine the extent to which the type of class II cavity and the volume of the composite filling influence the duration of heat transfer to the pulp during finishing and polishing without cooling. Materials and Methods: A virtual model of an upper primary molar was used, with a caries process located on the distal aspect, in which four types of cavities were digitally prepared: direct access, horizontal slot, vertical slot and occlusal–proximal. All four cavity types were filled using a Filtek Supreme XT nanocomposite. Results: The study showed that the filling volume almost inversely proportionally influences the time at which the dental pulp reaches the critical temperature of irreversible damage. The lowest duration occurred in occlusal–distal restorations and the highest in direct access restorations. Conclusions: based on the results of the study, a working protocol can be issued so that finishing and polishing restorations without cooling are safe for pulpal health