Objective: Several studies have highlighted the toxic potential of bisphenol A (BPA), however, BPA release from orthopedic devices remains poorly investigated.Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate BPA levels in the saliva of children treated using Haas expanders. Methods: Twenty-two children of both sexes aged 6–10 years who required rapid maxillary expansion were recruited. One week after placement of elastics to separate the permanent molars, orthodontic bands were adapted, and maxillary impressions were obtained using alginate impression material. Haas expanders were fabricated using a standardized amount of acrylic resin. The bands were cemented using Transbond Plus Light Cure Band (3M).Saliva samples were collected at five time points: before (T0) and 30 minutes (T1), 24 hours (T2), 1 week (T3), and 1 month (T4) after Haas expander installation.BPA levels were measured using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with Tandem Mass Spectrometry. The results were evaluated using oneway analysis of variance with Tukey’s post-hoc test (alpha = 5%). Results: BPA levels were below the recommended tolerable daily intake (TDI) at all timepoints;however, salivary BPA levels at T1 (70.324 ng/mL ± 37.05) and at T2 (18.015 ng/mL ± 11.22) were significantly higher compared to that at T0 (0.475 ng/mL ± 0.27) (P < 0.05). Conclusions Salivary BPA levels significantly increased 30 minutes and 24 hours after Haas expander installation and return to baseline values after 1 week. BPA levels did not exceed the TDI, suggesting that the use of Haas expanders may be considered safe concerning BPA exposure in children.

Objective: Several studies have highlighted the toxic potential of bisphenol A (BPA), however, BPA release from orthopedic devices remains poorly investigated.Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate BPA levels in the saliva of children treated using Haas expanders. Methods: Twenty-two children of both sexes aged 6–10 years who required rapid maxillary expansion were recruited. One week after placement of elastics to separate the permanent molars, orthodontic bands were adapted, and maxillary impressions were obtained using alginate impression material. Haas expanders were fabricated using a standardized amount of acrylic resin. The bands were cemented using Transbond Plus Light Cure Band (3M).Saliva samples were collected at five time points: before (T0) and 30 minutes (T1), 24 hours (T2), 1 week (T3), and 1 month (T4) after Haas expander installation.BPA levels were measured using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with Tandem Mass Spectrometry. The results were evaluated using oneway analysis of variance with Tukey’s post-hoc test (alpha = 5%). Results: BPA levels were below the recommended tolerable daily intake (TDI) at all timepoints;however, salivary BPA levels at T1 (70.324 ng/mL ± 37.05) and at T2 (18.015 ng/mL ± 11.22) were significantly higher compared to that at T0 (0.475 ng/mL ± 0.27) (P < 0.05). Conclusions Salivary BPA levels significantly increased 30 minutes and 24 hours after Haas expander installation and return to baseline values after 1 week. BPA levels did not exceed the TDI, suggesting that the use of Haas expanders may be considered safe concerning BPA exposure in children.

Objective: Several studies have highlighted the toxic potential of bisphenol A (BPA), however, BPA release from orthopedic devices remains poorly investigated.Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate BPA levels in the saliva of children treated using Haas expanders. Methods: Twenty-two children of both sexes aged 6–10 years who required rapid maxillary expansion were recruited. One week after placement of elastics to separate the permanent molars, orthodontic bands were adapted, and maxillary impressions were obtained using alginate impression material. Haas expanders were fabricated using a standardized amount of acrylic resin. The bands were cemented using Transbond Plus Light Cure Band (3M).Saliva samples were collected at five time points: before (T0) and 30 minutes (T1), 24 hours (T2), 1 week (T3), and 1 month (T4) after Haas expander installation.BPA levels were measured using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with Tandem Mass Spectrometry. The results were evaluated using oneway analysis of variance with Tukey’s post-hoc test (alpha = 5%). Results: BPA levels were below the recommended tolerable daily intake (TDI) at all timepoints;however, salivary BPA levels at T1 (70.324 ng/mL ± 37.05) and at T2 (18.015 ng/mL ± 11.22) were significantly higher compared to that at T0 (0.475 ng/mL ± 0.27) (P < 0.05). Conclusions Salivary BPA levels significantly increased 30 minutes and 24 hours after Haas expander installation and return to baseline values after 1 week. BPA levels did not exceed the TDI, suggesting that the use of Haas expanders may be considered safe concerning BPA exposure in children.

Objective: Several studies have highlighted the toxic potential of bisphenol A (BPA), however, BPA release from orthopedic devices remains poorly investigated.Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate BPA levels in the saliva of children treated using Haas expanders. Methods: Twenty-two children of both sexes aged 6–10 years who required rapid maxillary expansion were recruited. One week after placement of elastics to separate the permanent molars, orthodontic bands were adapted, and maxillary impressions were obtained using alginate impression material. Haas expanders were fabricated using a standardized amount of acrylic resin. The bands were cemented using Transbond Plus Light Cure Band (3M).Saliva samples were collected at five time points: before (T0) and 30 minutes (T1), 24 hours (T2), 1 week (T3), and 1 month (T4) after Haas expander installation.BPA levels were measured using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with Tandem Mass Spectrometry. The results were evaluated using oneway analysis of variance with Tukey’s post-hoc test (alpha = 5%). Results: BPA levels were below the recommended tolerable daily intake (TDI) at all timepoints;however, salivary BPA levels at T1 (70.324 ng/mL ± 37.05) and at T2 (18.015 ng/mL ± 11.22) were significantly higher compared to that at T0 (0.475 ng/mL ± 0.27) (P < 0.05). Conclusions Salivary BPA levels significantly increased 30 minutes and 24 hours after Haas expander installation and return to baseline values after 1 week. BPA levels did not exceed the TDI, suggesting that the use of Haas expanders may be considered safe concerning BPA exposure in children.

Objective: Several studies have highlighted the toxic potential of bisphenol A (BPA), however, BPA release from orthopedic devices remains poorly investigated.Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate BPA levels in the saliva of children treated using Haas expanders. Methods: Twenty-two children of both sexes aged 6–10 years who required rapid maxillary expansion were recruited. One week after placement of elastics to separate the permanent molars, orthodontic bands were adapted, and maxillary impressions were obtained using alginate impression material. Haas expanders were fabricated using a standardized amount of acrylic resin. The bands were cemented using Transbond Plus Light Cure Band (3M).Saliva samples were collected at five time points: before (T0) and 30 minutes (T1), 24 hours (T2), 1 week (T3), and 1 month (T4) after Haas expander installation.BPA levels were measured using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with Tandem Mass Spectrometry. The results were evaluated using oneway analysis of variance with Tukey’s post-hoc test (alpha = 5%). Results: BPA levels were below the recommended tolerable daily intake (TDI) at all timepoints;however, salivary BPA levels at T1 (70.324 ng/mL ± 37.05) and at T2 (18.015 ng/mL ± 11.22) were significantly higher compared to that at T0 (0.475 ng/mL ± 0.27) (P < 0.05). Conclusions Salivary BPA levels significantly increased 30 minutes and 24 hours after Haas expander installation and return to baseline values after 1 week. BPA levels did not exceed the TDI, suggesting that the use of Haas expanders may be considered safe concerning BPA exposure in children.

Objectives: This study aimed to compare the climacteric symptoms, quality of life indices, and self-care attitudes in women before and during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between January 2020 and September 2021. The sample consisted of 342 climacteric women who were divided into two groups: before the pandemic (BP group; n = 62) and during the pandemic (DP group; n = 280). The Menopause Rating Scale and Women’s Health Questionnaire were used to measure the health-related quality of life and degree of climacteric symptoms reported by women. Results: During the COVID-19 pandemic, women were able to decrease their somatic symptoms derived from the climacteric period (BP group: 7.84 ± 4.46, DP group: 5.94 ± 9.20; P = 0.003). Conclusions There was no worsening in the self-reported symptoms, quality of life, and self-care attitudes of climacteric women because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, only somatic symptoms decreased during the pandemic.

In late 2019, an outbreak of pneumonia caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) initiated in Wuhan, Hubei province, China. The major clinical symptoms described for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) include respiratory distress and pneumonia in severe cases, and some patients may experience gastrointestinal impairments. In accordance, viral RNA or live infectious virus have been detected in feces of patients with COVID-19. Binding of SARS-CoV-2 to the angiotensin‐converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is a vital pathway for the virus entry into human cells, including those of the respiratory mucosa, esophageal epithelium as well as the absorptive enterocytes from ileum and colon. The interaction between SARS-CoV-2 and ACE2 receptor may decrease the receptor expression and disrupt the function of B0AT1 transporter influencing the diarrhea observed in COVID-19 patients. In this context, a fecal-oral transmission route has been considered and points out a role for the digestive tract in disease transmission and severity. Here, in order to further understand the impact of COVID-19 in human physiology, the cellular and molecular mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 infection and disease severity are discussed in the context of gastrointestinal disturbances.

Purpose: This study evaluated the influence of a metal artifact reduction (MAR) tool in a cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) device on the diagnosis of vertical root fractures (VRFs) in teeth with different root filling materials. Materials and Methods: Forty-five extracted human premolars were classified into three subgroups; 1) no filling; 2) gutta-percha; and 3) metallic post. CBCT images were acquired using an Orthopantomograph 300 unit with and without a MAR tool. Subsequently, the same teeth were fractured, and new CBCT scans were obtained with and without MAR. Two oral radiologists evaluated the images regarding the presence or absence of VRF. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and diagnostic tests were performed. Results: The overall area under the curve values were 0.695 for CBCT with MAR and 0.789 for CBCT without MAR. The MAR tool negatively influenced the overall diagnosis of VRFs in all tested subgroups, with lower accuracy (0.45–0.72), sensitivity (0.6–0.67), and specificity (0.23–0.8) than were found for the images without MAR. In the latter group, the accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity values were 0.68–0.77, 0.67–083, and 0.53–087, respectively. However, no significant difference was found between images with and without MAR for the no filling and gutta-percha subgroups (P>0.05). In the metallic post subgroup, CBCT showed a significant difference according to MAR use (P<0.05). Conclusion The OP 300 MAR tool negatively influenced the detection of VRFs in teeth with no root canal filling, gutta-percha, or metallic posts. Teeth with metallic posts suffered the most from the negative impact of MAR.

Objectives: This study aimed to synthesize nanocrystals (NCs) of zinc oxide (ZnO) and calcium ion (Ca2+ )-doped ZnO with different percentages of calcium oxide (CaO), to evaluate cytotoxicity and to assess the effects of the most promising NCs on cytotoxicity depending on lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. Materials and Methods: Nanomaterials were synthesized (ZnO and ZnO:xCa, x = 0.7; 1.0;5.0; 9.0) and characterized using X-ray diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy, and methylene blue degradation. SAOS-2 and RAW 264.7 were treated with NCs, and evaluated for viability using the MTT assay. NCs with lower cytotoxicity were maintained in contact with LPS-stimulated (+LPS) and nonstimulated (−LPS) human dental pulp cells (hDPCs). Cell viability, nitric oxide (NO), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production were evaluated.Cells kept in culture medium or LPS served as negative and positive controls, respectively. One-way analysis of variance and the Dunnett test (α = 0.05) were used for statistical testing. Results: ZnO:0.7Ca and ZnO:1.0Ca at 10 µg/mL were not cytotoxic to SAOS-2 and RAW 264.7. +LPS and −LPS hDPCs treated with ZnO, ZnO:0.7Ca, and ZnO:1.0Ca presented similar NO production to negative control (p > 0.05) and lower production compared to positive control (p < 0.05). All NCs showed reduced ROS production compared with the positive control group both in +LPS and −LPS cells (p < 0.05). Conclusions NCs were successfully synthesized. ZnO, ZnO:0.7Ca and ZnO:1.0Ca presented the highest percentages of cell viability, decreased ROS and NO production in +LPS cells, and maintenance of NO production at basal levels.

Objectives: This study aimed to synthesize nanocrystals (NCs) of zinc oxide (ZnO) and calcium ion (Ca2+ )-doped ZnO with different percentages of calcium oxide (CaO), to evaluate cytotoxicity and to assess the effects of the most promising NCs on cytotoxicity depending on lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. Materials and Methods: Nanomaterials were synthesized (ZnO and ZnO:xCa, x = 0.7; 1.0;5.0; 9.0) and characterized using X-ray diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy, and methylene blue degradation. SAOS-2 and RAW 264.7 were treated with NCs, and evaluated for viability using the MTT assay. NCs with lower cytotoxicity were maintained in contact with LPS-stimulated (+LPS) and nonstimulated (−LPS) human dental pulp cells (hDPCs). Cell viability, nitric oxide (NO), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production were evaluated.Cells kept in culture medium or LPS served as negative and positive controls, respectively. One-way analysis of variance and the Dunnett test (α = 0.05) were used for statistical testing. Results: ZnO:0.7Ca and ZnO:1.0Ca at 10 µg/mL were not cytotoxic to SAOS-2 and RAW 264.7. +LPS and −LPS hDPCs treated with ZnO, ZnO:0.7Ca, and ZnO:1.0Ca presented similar NO production to negative control (p > 0.05) and lower production compared to positive control (p < 0.05). All NCs showed reduced ROS production compared with the positive control group both in +LPS and −LPS cells (p < 0.05). Conclusions NCs were successfully synthesized. ZnO, ZnO:0.7Ca and ZnO:1.0Ca presented the highest percentages of cell viability, decreased ROS and NO production in +LPS cells, and maintenance of NO production at basal levels.