OBJECTIVETo study the effect of calcium hydroxide solutions at different pH values on the cell-surface hydrophobicity of starved Enterococcus faecalis.

METHODSE. faecalis in starvation were harvested and incubated in freshly prepared calcium hydroxide solutions at the pH values ranging from 7.3 to 10.3 for 15 min or 60 min. The cell-surface hydrophobicity of the starved E. faecalis was evaluated by measuring microbial adhesion to hydrocarbons (MATH). Scanning electron microscopy was used to investigate the adhesion capability of starved E. faecalis cells incubated on human dentin at different pH levels.

RESULTSFor the same duration of treatment, increased pH value of calcium hydroxide solution significantly enhanced the cell-surface hydrophobicity of starved E. faecalis (P<0.01). At the same pH value, the cell-surface hydrophobicity of the bacterium increased significantly with time (P<0.05, 15 min vs 60 min). Scanning electron microscopy revealed a significantly increased adhesion of the starved cells on human dentin as the pH value and incubation time increased.

CONCLUSIONCalcium hydroxide solutions promote the adhesion of starved E. faecalis by modifying its cell-surface hydrophobicity.

Bacterial Adhesion ; Calcium Hydroxide ; pharmacology ; Enterococcus faecalis ; chemistry ; drug effects ; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests

Calcium hydroxide (CH) is applied to improve disinfection of root canals in most root canal retreatment. This study aimed to analyze the CH removal efficacy using 7 different root preparing files (K file, pre-curved K file, EndoActivator, Ultrasonic file, pre-curved ultrasonic file, F file and needle irrigation alone) with apical transportation. Standardized models of curved canal with such apical transportation or not were set up before applying CH to root canal for 7 days. Seven techniques described above were used for its removal. Then the roots were disassembled and digital photos were taken. The ratio of residual CH in the overall canal surface was calculated using the image analyzer image pro plus 6.0. The data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA with post hoc Tukey test. Results revealed that CH was effectively removed (P<0.05) by using all 6 mechanical methods except irrigation alone. In curved root canals with apical transportation, EndoActivator, pre-curved ultrasonic file and F file were found to be more effective in removing CH than the other four file (P<0.001), while there was no significant difference among EndoActivator, pre-curved ultrasonic file and F file groups (P>0.05). The percentage of residual CH in the canal with apical transportation was higher than that in the canal without apical transportation (P<0.05). In conclusion, CH can be hardly removed completely. Canal with apical transportation will result in insufficient CH removal. EndoActivator, pre-curved ultrasonic file and F file are more effective in the curved root canal with apical transportation.
Animals ; Bone Cements ; pharmacology ; Calcium Hydroxide ; pharmacology ; Cattle ; Dental Pulp Cavity ; Disinfectants ; pharmacology ; Root Canal Preparation ; methods

OBJECTIVE: To construct a model of Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) infection in dentinal tubules by gradient centrifugation and to evaluate the antibacterial effect of low-temperature plasma on E. faecalis in dentinal tubules. METHODS: Standard dentin blocks of 4 mm×4 mm×2 mm size were prepared from single root canal isolated teeth without caries, placed in the E. faecalis bacterial solution, centrifuged in gradient and incubated for 24 h to establish the model of dentinal tubule infection with E. faecalis. The twenty dentin blocks of were divided into five groups, low-temperature plasma jet treatment for 0, 5 and 10 min, calcium hydroxide paste sealing for 7 d and 2% chlorhexidine gel sealing for 7 d. Scanning electron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscope were used to assess the infection in the dentinal tubules and the antibacterial effect of low-temperature plasma. RESULTS: The results of scanning electron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy showed that after 24 h of incubation by gradient centrifugation, E. faecalis could fully enter the dentinal tubules to a depth of more than 600μm indicating that this method was time-saving and efficient and could successfully construct a model of E. faecalis infection in dentinal tubules. Low-temperature plasma could enter the dentinal tubules and play a role, the structure of E. faecalis was still intact after 5 min of low-temperature plasma treatment, with no obvious damage, and after 10 min of low-temperature plasma treatment, the surface morphology of E. faecalis was crumpled and deformed, the cell wall was seriously collapsed, and the normal physiological morphology was damaged indicating that the majority of E. faecalis was killed in the dentinal tubules. The antibacterial effect of low-temperature plasma treatment for 10 min exceeded that of the calcium hydroxide paste sealing for 7 d and the 2% chlorhexidine gel sealing for 7 d. These two chemicals had difficulty entering deep into the dentinal tubules, and therefore only had a few of antibacterial effect on the bacterial biofilm on the root canal wall, and there was also no significant damage to the E. faecalis bacterial structure. CONCLUSION Gradient centrifugation could establish the model of E. faecalis dentin infection successfully. Low-temperature plasma treatment for 10 min could kill E. faecalis in dentinal tubules effectively, which is superior to the calcium hydroxide paste sealing for 7 d and the 2% chlorhexidine gel sealing for 7 d.
Chlorhexidine/pharmacology* ; Calcium Hydroxide/pharmacology* ; Enterococcus faecalis/physiology* ; Temperature ; Dentin ; Biofilms ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology* ; Root Canal Irrigants/pharmacology* ; Dental Pulp Cavity

OBJECTIVETo study the influence of a discrete nano-hydroxyapatite crystal (nano-HAp) on lymphatic leukemia P388 behavior by in vivo techniques.

METHODSA nano-HAp was prepared by a neutralization reaction of 0.1 mol calcium hydroxide suspension and 0.06 mol phosphoric acid solutions at room temperature over pH7. The various doses of the nano-HAp only and the nano-HAp mixture with cyclophosphamide (CY) were injected into mice inoculated with solid tumor lymphatic leukemia P388 and dispersed into PRMI 1640 media harvested the leukemia P388 cells. Sixty P388 BALB/C mice were randomly grouped; 36 of them were used as nano-HAp treated groups and 24 mice as the control groups. The leukemia growth in the mice was examined morphologically, histopathologically and under a transmission electron microscope (TEM).

RESULTSThe nano-HAp was identified as a hydroxyapatite by an X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and a Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The morphology and sizes were observed under a TEM. The tissue growth inhibition ratio (weight%) of solid lymphatic leukemia P388 bearing mice treated with nano-HAp at doses 35 mg/kg, 53 mg/kg and nano-HAp (53 mg/kg) combined with CY (35 mg/kg) in 3 consecutive days via intraperitineal injections were 14.95%, 32.67% and 60.45% respectively. Apoptosis of P388 cell cocultured with nano-HAp was confirmed by TEM.

CONCLUSIONSThe tissue growth restriction of solid tumor lymphatic leukemia P388 was greater after an injection of nano-HAp only or nano-HAp mixed with CY than that obtained after injection with physiological saline solution as a control (P < 0.01), and the tissue growth restriction of solid tumor after an injection of nano-HAp combined with CY was greater than that obtained after nano-HAp or CY injection only (P < 0.01).

Animals ; Biocompatible Materials ; pharmacology ; Calcium Hydroxide ; chemistry ; Cell Line, Tumor ; drug effects ; pathology ; Durapatite ; pharmacology ; Female ; Leukemia P388 ; pathology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Nanoparticles ; chemistry ; X-Ray Diffraction ; methods ; X-Rays

This study investigated the efficacy of calcium hydroxide and chlorhexidine gel for the elimination of intratubular Candida albicans (C. albicans). Human single-rooted teeth contaminated with C. albicans were treated with calcium hydroxide, 2% chlorhexidine gel, calcium hydroxide plus 2% chlorhexidine gel, or saline (0.9% sodium chloride) as a positive control. The samples obtained at depths of 0-100 and 100-200 µm from the root canal system were analyzed for C. albicans load by counting the number of colony forming units and for the percentage of viable C. albicans using fluorescence microscopy. First, the antimicrobial activity of calcium hydroxide and the 2% chlorhexidine gel was evaluated by counting the number of colony forming units. After 14 days of intracanal medication, there was a significant decrease in the number of C. albicans colony forming units at a depth of 0-100 µm with chlorhexidine treatment either with or without calcium hydroxide compared with the calcium hydroxide only treatment. However, there were no differences in the number of colony forming units at the 100-200 µm depth for any of the medications investigated. C. albicans viability was also evaluated by vital staining techniques and fluorescence microscopy analysis. Antifungal activity against C. albicans significantly increased at both depths in the chlorhexidine groups with and without calcium hydroxide compared with the groups treated with calcium hydroxide only. Treatments with only chlorhexidine or chlorhexidine in combination with calcium hydroxide were effective for elimination of C. albicans.
Antifungal Agents ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Calcium Hydroxide ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Candida albicans ; drug effects ; Chlorhexidine ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Colony Count, Microbial ; Coloring Agents ; Dental Pulp Cavity ; microbiology ; Drug Combinations ; Humans ; Microbial Viability ; drug effects ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Root Canal Irrigants ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Root Canal Preparation ; methods ; Smear Layer ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo analyze the effects of calcium hydroxide [Ca(OH)2] on transcription of the bone sialoprotein (BSP) gene in human dental pulp cells.

METHODSHuman dental pulp tissues were collected from extracted teeth for orthodontic reason. In cell culture media, different dose (0.012, 0.120, 0.400 and 1.200 mmol/L) of Ca(OH)2 was added. Total RNA of cells were extracted. The best dose of Ca(OH)2 on human BSP was determined with the real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Further, the time (0, 3, 6, 12, 24 h) effects of the best dose Ca(OH)2 on human BSP, runt-related transcription factor-2 (Runx-2) and osterix (OSX) mRNA levels were determined with PCR. Further method included transient transfection assays, linking chimeric constructs of the human BSP gene promoter to a luciferase reporter gene, then ransfected using lipofectamine in cells and measured the luciferase activities of BSP gene promoter.

RESULTSWith the real-time PCR, the optimal Ca(OH)2 concentration was determined as 1.200 mmol/L. With this concentration at different time points (0, 3, 6, 12 and 24 h), the levels of BSP mRNA increased at 6 h (1.45 ± 0.36), reached maximal at 12 h (2.66 ± 0.18); the levels of Runx-2mRNA increased at 6 h (2.38 ± 0.08), at 12 h (2.73 ± 0.16), and decreased at 24 h. OSX mRNA could be recognized at 12 h, reached maximal levels at 24 h (3.30 ± 0.062). Transient transfection assays showed that treatment of human dental pulp cells with Ca(OH)2 (1.200 mmol/L) increased the luciferase activities of the constructs between -84LUC and -868LUC at 12 h (2.00 ~ 2.60 fold).

CONCLUSIONSThis study demonstrate that Ca(OH)2 could stimulate BSP transcription between -84LUC and -868LUC in the human BSP gene promoter in human dental pulp cells.

Calcium Hydroxide ; pharmacology ; Cells, Cultured ; Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit ; genetics ; metabolism ; Dental Pulp ; cytology ; metabolism ; Humans ; Integrin-Binding Sialoprotein ; genetics ; metabolism ; Luciferases ; metabolism ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Sp7 Transcription Factor ; Transcription Factors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transcription, Genetic ; drug effects ; Transfection