Al-Fouzan K, Al-Garawi Z, Al-Hezaimi K, Javed F, Al-Shalan T, Rotstein I. Effect of acid etching on marginal adaptation of mineral trioxide aggregate to apical dentin: microcomputed tomography and scanning electron microscopy analysis. 

Int J Oral Sci. 2013 Jan;4(4):202-7. doi: 10.1038/ijos.2012.77. 

Abstract

The present investigation assessed the effect of acid etching on marginal adaptation of white- and gray-colored mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) to apical dentin using microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Sixty-four extracted single-rooted human maxillary teeth were used. Following root-end resection and apical preparation, the teeth were equally divided into four groups according to the following root end filling materials: (i) white-colored MTA (WMTA), (ii) etched WMTA (EWMTA), (iii) gray-colored MTA (GMTA) and (iv) etched GMTA (EGMTA). After 48 h, the interface between root-end filling materials and the dentinal walls was assessed using micro-CT and SEM. Data were statistically analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn tests. Micro-CT analysis revealed gap volumes between the apical cavity dentin walls and EGMTA, GMTA, EWMTA and WMTA of (0.007 1±0.004) mm(3), (0.053±0.002) mm(3), (0.003 6±0.001) mm(3) and (0.005 9±0.002) mm(3) respectively. SEM analysis revealed gap sizes for EGMTA, WMTA, EWMTA and GMTA to be (492.3±13.8) µm, (594.5±17.12) µm, (543.1±15.33) µm and (910.7±26.2) µm respectively. A significant difference in gap size between root end preparations filled with GMTA and EGMTA was found (P<0.05). No significance difference in gap size between WMTA and EWMTA were found in either SEM or micro-CT analysis. In conclusion, pre-etching of apical dentin can provide a better seal for GMTA but not for WMTA.

Wondimu Z, Omrani S, Ishikawa T, Javed F, Oikawa Y, Virtanen I, Juronen E, Ingerpuu S, Patarroyo M. A Novel Monoclonal Antibody to Human Laminin α5 Chain Strongly Inhibits Integrin-Mediated Cell Adhesion and Migration on Laminins 511 and 521.

PLoS One. 2013;8(1):e53648. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0053648. Epub 2013 Jan 7.

Abstract

Laminins, a large family of αβγ heterotrimeric proteins mainly found in basement membranes, are strong promoters of adhesion and migration of multiple cell types, such as tumor and immune cells, via several integrin receptors. Among laminin α (LMα) chains, α5 displays the widest tissue distribution in adult life and is synthesized by most cell types. Here, we have generated and characterized five novel monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to the human LMα5 chain to further study the biological relevance of α5 laminins, such as laminins 511 (α5β1γ1) and 521 (α5β2γ1). As detected by ELISA, immunohistochemistry, immunoprecipitation and Western blotting, each antibody displayed unique properties when compared to mAb 4C7, the prototype LMα5 antibody. Of greatest interest, mAb 8G9, but not any other antibody, strongly inhibited α3β1/α6β1 integrin-mediated adhesion and migration of glioma, melanoma, and carcinoma cells on laminin-511 and, together with mAb 4C7, on laminin-521. Accordingly, mAb 8G9 abolished the interaction of soluble α3β1 integrin with immobilized laminins 511 and 521. Binding of mAb 8G9 to laminin-511 was unaffected by the other mAbs to the LMα5 chain but largely hindered by mAb 4E10 to a LMβ1 chain epitope near the globular domain of laminin-511. Thus, mAb 8G9 defines a novel epitope localized at or near the integrin-binding globular domain of the LMα5 chain, which is essential for cell adhesion and migration, and identifies a potential therapeutic target in malignant and inflammatory diseases.

Yasmin Parpio, Salima Farooq, Saleema Gulzar, Ambreen Tharani, Fawad Javed, Tazeen Saeed Ali. Factors associated with stress among adolescents in the city of Nawabshah, Pakistan
JPMA 62: 1209; 2012

Objective: To identify the risk factors of stress among school-going adolescents in rural Nawabshah, Pakistan.
Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted in 2005, comprising 800 school-going children of 10-16
years of age in Nawabshah, through simple random sampling. Data was collected using a structured
questionnaire to assess the potential risk factors of stress. A modified version of Perceived stress scale was
utilized to measure stress level. SPSS 12 was used for statistical analysis, while multiple linear regression
analysis was run to identify the factors associated with stress in the study population.
Results: Of the total, 529 (66%) children belonged to state-run schools while 271 (34%) were studying at private facilities. The mean age was 13.7±1.3 years. The level of stress was positively associated with the number of siblings, parental conflicts, the age of the mother and the number of rooms in the household. There was decreased level of stress among female adolescents (n=474; 59.3%) who had prior information about pubertal body changes than the boys (n=326; 40.8%).
Conclusion: The study showed that stress among adolescents can be reduced by modifying socio-economic
and demographic factors.