Aim: To estimate the reliability and validity of the Dental Anxiety Scale (DAS) and identify the prevalence and the effect of the socio-demographic characteristics of dental anxiety, in a sample of 212 adults. Methods: The psychometric sensitivity of the scale was assessed. A confirmatory factor analysis was performed, and the convergent validity and internal consistency were determined. The prevalence of anxiety was estimated, and the effect of socio-demographic variables on anxiety was assessed using structural equation modelling. Results: The participants' mean age was 33.5 (SD = 15.6) years, and 62.3% were female. There was an adequate factorial adjustment of the scale in this sample. The convergent validity and internal consistency were adequate in the one-factor model. Regarding two-factor model, there was a high correlation (r) among the factors, which jeopardized the discriminant validity. A total of 47.6% of the participants (IC 95% = 40.9 -54.4) presented low levels of anxiety, 32.5% (IC 95% = 26.2 -38.9) moderate levels, and 12.3% (IC 95% = 7.8 -16.7) exacerbated levels. There was a non-significant effect of gender, age and education on the anxiety levels of this sample. Conclusion: We concluded that the one-factor model presented better psychometric qualities, that anxiety was highly prevalent and there was no significant effect of the demographic variables on anxiety, in this sample.

Candida albicans is the most common human fungal pathogen and can grow as yeast or filaments, depending on the environmental conditions. The filamentous form is of particular interest because it can play a direct role in adherence and pathogenicity. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of three clinical strains of Lactobacillus on C. albicans filamentation as well as their probiotic potential in pathogen-host interactions via an experimental candidiasis model study in Galleria mellonella. We used the reference strain Candida albicans ATCC 18804 and three clinical strains of Lactobacillus: L. rhamnosus strain 5.2, L. paracasei strain 20.3, and L. fermentum strain 20.4. First, the capacity of C. albicans to form hyphae was tested in vitro through association with the Lactobacillus strains. After that, we verified the ability of these strains to attenuate experimental candidiasis in a Galleria mellonella model through a survival curve assay. Regarding the filamentation assay, a significant reduction in hyphae formation of up to 57% was observed when C. albicans was incubated in the presence of the Lactobacillus strains, compared to a control group composed of only C. albicans. In addition, when the larvae were pretreated with Lactobacillus spp. prior to C. albicans infection, the survival rate of G. mellonela increased in all experimental groups. We concluded that Lactobacillus influences the growth and expression C. albicans virulence factors, which may interfere with the pathogenicity of these microorganisms.

Synthetic polymeric materials have demonstrated great promise for bone tissue engineering based on their compatibility with a wide array of scaffold-manufacturing techniques, but are limited in terms of the bioactivity when compared to naturally occurring materials. To enhance the regenerative properties of these materials, they are commonly functionalised with bioactive factors to guide growth within the developing tissue. Extracellular matrix vesicles (EVs) play an important role in facilitating endochondral ossification during long bone development and have recently emerged as important mediators of cell-cell communication coordinating bone regeneration, and thus represent an ideal target to enhance the regenerative properties of synthetic scaffolds. Therefore, in this paper we developed tools and protocols to enable the attachment of MLO-Y4 osteocyte-derived EVs onto electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffolds for bone repair. Initially, we optimize a method for the functionalization of PCL materials with collagen type-1 and fibronectin, inspired by the behaviour of matrix vesicles during endochondral ossification, and demonstrate that this is an effective method for the adhesion of EVs to the material surface. We then used this functionalization process to attach osteogenic EVs, collected from mechanically stimulated MLO-Y4 osteocytes, to collagen-coated electrospun PCL scaffolds. The EV-functionalized scaffold promoted osteogenic differentiation (measured by increased ALP activity) and mineralization of the matrix. In particular, EV-functionalised scaffolds exhibited significant increases in matrix mineralization particularly at earlier time points compared to uncoated and collagen-coated controls. This approach to matrix-based adhesion of EVs provides a mechanism for incorporating vesicle signalling into polyester scaffolds and demonstrates the potential of osteocyte derived EVs to enhance the rate of bone tissue regeneration.

It could be concluded that AH Plus and EndoREZ showed antimicrobial activity against all the tested microorganisms. No antimicrobial activity was observed for Epiphany.

O presente estudo teve por objetivo avaliar a ansiedade e o comportamento de indivíduos adultos frente às visitas realizadas ao dentista. Para tanto, aplicouse um questionário a uma amostra de 984 indivíduos, entre 14 a 93 anos, de ambos os sexos, abordando temas sobre: medo e/ou ansiedade, freqüência de consultas ao dentista e procedimentos odontológicos realizados na última consulta. Os resultados demonstraram não haver diferença estatisticamente significante entre os sexos (masculino 23,81; feminino 27,7%), ao afirmarem não ter medo de dentista. Para os que tinham medo, 9,04% tiveram experiências desagradáveis no atendimento; 4,98% sentem medo a partir do ruído do alta-rotação; 6,20% da anestesia; 3,46% de todos os itens citados. Pode-se concluir que maior ênfase deve ser dada às manifestações de ansiedade e medo odontológico, pois os indivíduos são relutantes a admitirem seus medos, descuidando e fugindo da filosofia de prevenção em saúde bucal.

The present study evaluated whether the changes in the labeling pattern of cytoskeletal proteins in osteogenic cells cultured on bioactive glass-based materials are due to altered mRNA and protein levels. Primary rat-derived osteogenic cells were plated on Bioglass® 45S5, Biosilicate®, and borosilicate (bioinert control). The following parameters were assayed: (i) qualitative epifluorescence analysis of actin and tubulin; (ii) quantitative mRNA and protein expression for actin and tubulin by real-time PCR and ELISA, respectively, and (iii) qualitative analysis of cell morphology by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). At days 3 and 7, the cells grown on borosilicate showed typical actin and tubulin labeling patterns, whereas those on the bioactive materials showed roundish areas devoid of fluorescence signals. The cultures grown on bioactive materials showed significant changes in actin and tubulin mRNA expression that were not reflected in the corresponding protein levels. A positive correlation between the mRNA and protein as well as an association between epifluorescence imaging and quantitative data were only detected for the borosilicate. SEM imaging of the cultures on the bioactive surfaces revealed cells partly or totally coated with material aggregates, whose characteristics resembled the substrate topography. The culturing of osteogenic cells on Bioglass® 45S5 and Biosilicate® affect actin and tubulin mRNA expression but not the corresponding protein levels. Changes in the labeling pattern of these proteins should then be attributed, at least in part, to the presence of a physical barrier on the cell surface as a result of the material surface reactions, thus limiting fluorescence signals.

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