Evaluation in a Dog Model of Three Antimicrobial Glassy Coatings: Prevention of Bone Loss around Implants and Microbial Assessments

ObjectivesThe aim of the present study is to evaluate, in a ligature-induced peri-implantitis model, the efficacy of three antimicrobial glassy coatings in the prevention of biofilm formation, intrasulcular bacterial growth and the resulting peri-implant bone loss.MethodsMandibular premolars were bilaterally extracted from five beagle dogs. Four dental implants were inserted on each hemiarch. Eight weeks after, one control zirconia abutment and three with different bactericidal coatings (G1n-Ag, ZnO35, G3) were connected. After a plaque control period, bacterial accumulation was allowed and biofilm formation on abutments was observed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Peri-implantitis was induced by cotton ligatures. Microbial samples and peri-implant crestal bone levels of all implant sites were obtained before, during and after the breakdown period.ResultsDuring experimental induce peri-implantitis: colony forming units counts from intrasulcular microbial samples at implants with G1n-Ag coated abutment remained close to the basal inoculum; G3 and ZnO35 coatings showed similar low counts; and anaerobic bacterias counts at control abutments exhibited a logarithmic increase by more than 2. Bone loss during passive breakdown period was no statistically significant. Additional bone loss occurred during ligature-induce breakdown: 0.71 (SD 0.48) at G3 coating, 0.57 (SD 0.36) at ZnO35 coating, 0.74 (SD 0.47) at G1n-Ag coating, and 1.29 (SD 0.45) at control abutments; and statistically significant differences (p<0.001) were found. The lowest bone loss at the end of the experiment was exhibited by implants dressing G3 coated abutments (mean 2.1; SD 0.42).SignificanceAntimicrobial glassy coatings could be a useful tool to ward off, diminish or delay peri-implantitis progression.     

Bone Loss at Implant with Titanium Abutments Coated by Soda Lime Glass Containing Silver Nanoparticles: A Histological Study in the Dog

The aim of the present study was to evaluate bone loss at implants connected to abutments coated with a soda-lime glass containing silver nanoparticles, subjected to experimental peri-implantitis. Also the aging and erosion of the coating in mouth was studied. Five beagle dogs were used in the experiments. Three implants were placed in each mandible quadrant: in 2 of them, Glass/n-Ag coated abutments were connected to implant platform, 1 was covered with a Ti-mechanized abutment. Experimental peri-implantitis was induced in all implants after the submarginal placement of cotton ligatures, and three months after animals were euthanatized. Thickness and morphology of coating was studied in abutment cross-sections by SEM. Histology and histo-morphometric studies were carried on in undecalfied ground slides. After the induced peri-implantitis: 1.The abutment coating shown losing of thickness and cracking. 2. The histometry showed a significant less bone loss in the implants with glass/n-Ag coated abutments. A more symmetric cone of bone resorption was observed in the coated group. There were no significant differences in the peri-implantitis histological characteristics between both groups of implants. Within the limits of this in-vivo study, it could be affirmed that abutments coated with biocide soda-lime-glass-silver nanoparticles can reduce bone loss in experimental peri-implantitis. This achievement makes this coating a suggestive material to control peri-implantitis development and progression.     

Comparison of continuously recorded plant-based water stress indicators for young lemon trees

Continuously recorded plant-based water stress indicators (sap flow and parameters derived from trunk diameter fluctuations) were compared in potted young lemon trees (Citrus limon (L.) Burm. fil, cv. Verna) grafted on sour orange (C. aurantium L.) rootstock submitted to deficit irrigation. Daily maximum (MXTD) and minimum (MNTD) trunk diameters and daily trunk diameter shrinkage (MDS) were directly influenced by the water supply to the trees from the soil. The continuously recorded plant-based water stress indicators presented different degrees of sensitivity when used to estimate the water status of the plants. Sap flow (SF) and MDS were more immediate and sensitive than MXTD and MNTD. However, the higher signal intensity: noise for SF and the fact that its signal intensities remained clearly above unity during the stress period, indicating that the soil water was depleted, point to the greater reliability of this indicator. Also, the possibility of developing further baseline relationships between SF and air vapour pressure deficit in fully irrigated trees in field conditions increases the feasibility of using this parameter in automatic irrigation systems.     

Modularity Reveals the Tendency of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi To Interact Differently with Generalist and Specialist Plant Species in Gypsum Soils

Patterns in plant–soil biota interactions could be influenced by the spatial distribution of species due to soil conditions or by the functional traits of species. Gypsum environments usually constitute a mosaic of heterogeneous soils where gypsum and nongypsum soils are imbricated at a local scale. A case study of the interactions of plants with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in gypsum environments can be illustrative of patterns in biotic interactions. We hypothesized that (i) soil characteristics might affect the AMF community and (ii) there are differences between the AMF communities (modules) associated with plants exclusive to gypsum soils (gypsophytes) and those associated with plants that show facultative behavior on gypsum and/or marly-limestone soils (gypsovags). We used indicator species and network analyses to test for differences between the AMF communities harbored in gypsophyte and gypsovag plants. We recorded 46 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) belonging to nine genera of Glomeromycota. The indicator species analysis showed two OTUs preferentially associating with gypsum soils and three OTUs preferentially associating with marly-limestone soils. Modularity analysis revealed that soil type can be a major factor shaping AMF communities, and some AMF groups showed a tendency to interact differently with plants that had distinct ecological strategies (gypsophytes and gypsovags). Characterization of ecological networks can be a valuable tool for ascertaining the potential influence of above- and below-ground biotic interactions (plant-AMF) on plant community composition.     

Changes in the diversity of soil arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi after cultivation for biofuel production in a Guantanamo (Cuba) tropical system

The arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are a key, integral component of the stability, sustainability and functioning of ecosystems. In this study, we characterised the AMF biodiversity in a native vegetation soil and in a soil cultivated with Jatropha curcas or Ricinus communis, in a tropical system in Guantanamo (Cuba), in order to verify if a change of land use to biofuel plant production had any effect on the AMF communities. We also asses whether some soil properties related with the soil fertility (total N, Organic C, microbial biomass C, aggregate stability percentage, pH and electrical conductivity) were changed with the cultivation of both crop species. The AM fungal small sub-unit (SSU) rRNA genes were subjected to PCR, cloning, sequencing and phylogenetic analyses. Twenty AM fungal sequence types were identified: 19 belong to the Glomeraceae and one to the Paraglomeraceae. Two AMF sequence types related to cultured AMF species (Glo G3 for Glomus sinuosum and Glo G6 for Glomus intraradices-G. fasciculatum-G. irregulare) did not occur in the soil cultivated with J. curcas and R. communis. The soil properties (total N, Organic C and microbial biomass C) were higher in the soil cultivated with the two plant species. The diversity of the AMF community decreased in the soil of both crops, with respect to the native vegetation soil, and varied significantly depending on the crop species planted. Thus, R. communis soil showed higher AMF diversity than J. curcas soil. In conclusion, R. communis could be more suitable for the long-term conservation and sustainable management of these tropical ecosytems.     

Retinoic acid binds to the C2-domain of protein kinase C(alpha)

Protein kinase C(alpha) (PKC(alpha)) is a key enzyme regulating the physiology of cells and their growth, differentiation, and apoptosis. PKC activity is known to be modulated by all-trans retinoic acid (atRA), although neither the action mechanism nor even the possible binding to PKCs has been established. Crystals of the C2-domain of PKC(alpha), a regulatory module in the protein that binds Ca(2+) and acidic phospholipids, have now been obtained by cocrystallization with atRA. The crystal structure, refined at 2.0 A resolution, shows that RA binds to the C2-domain in two locations coincident with the two binding sites previously reported for acidic phospholipids. The first binding site corresponds to the Ca(2+)-binding pocket, where Ca(2+) ions mediate the interactions of atRA with the protein, as they do with acidic phospholipids. The second binding site corresponds to the conserved lysine-rich cluster localized in beta-strands three and four. These observations are strongly supported by [(3)H]-atRA-binding experiments combined with site-directed mutagenesis. Wild-type C2-domain binds 2 mol of atRA per mol of protein, while the rate reduces to one in the case of C2-domain variants, in which mutations affect either Ca(2+) coordination or the integrity of the lysine-rich cluster site. Competition between atRA and acidic phospholipids to bind to PKC is a possible mechanism for modulating PKC(alpha) activity.     

Leaf water potential and leaf conductance during the growing season in almond trees under different irrigation regimes

Seasonal changes in leaf water potential (Φ) and leaf conductance (g₁) were determined in almond trees under different irrigation regimes. The development of water stress in the rainfed treatment induced a specific seasonal dynamics of Φ values and an important reduction in g₁ values. A decrease in g₁ values occurred independently of the irrigation treatment through the growing season. No statistically significant differences were obtained in g₁ values within the drip irrigated treatments.     

Stomatal response to leaf water potential in almond trees under drip irrigated and non irrigated conditions

Almond plants (Amygdalus communis L. cv. Garrigues) were grown in the field under drip irrigated and non irrigated conditions. Leaf water potential () and leaf conductance (g₁) were determined at three different times of the growing season (spring, summer and autumn). The relationships between and g₁ in both treatments showed a continuous decrease of g₁ as decreased in spring and summer. Data from the autumn presented a threshold value of (approx. –2.7 MPa in dry treatment, and approx. –1.4 MPa in wet treatment) below which leaf conductance remained constant.     

Biochemical indicators of water stress in sunflower seedlings

The free proline and chlorophyll contents, and the chlorophyllase, peroxidase and nitrate-reductase activities were determined in sunflower seedlings grown under controlled conditions and submitted to water stress induced by 14 % polyethyleneglycolj (M_r = 4000) or isotonic NaCl solution. Combined free proline content and peroxidase activity may be used for detection of the factor inducing water stress.