BACKGROUND An understanding of tooth enamel mineral content using a clinically viable method is essential since variations in mineralization may serve as an early precursor of a dental health issues, and may predict progression and architecture of decay in addition to assessing the success and effectiveness of the remineralization strategies. MATERIAL AND METHODS Twenty two human incisor teet...

Two methods were used to compare the biodegradation of six polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners by 12 white rot fungi. Four fungi were found to be more active than Phanerochaete chrysosporium ATCC 24725. Biodegradation of the following congeners was monitored by gas chromatography: 2,3-dichlorobiphenyl, 4,4'-dichlorobiphenyl, 2,4',5-trichlorobiphenyl (2,4',5-TCB), 2,2',4,4'-tetrachlorobiphe...

INTRODUCTION Calcium hydroxide has been extensively used as the gold standard for direct pulp capping in clinical dentistry. It induces proliferation, migration, and mineralization in dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs), but the underlying mechanisms are still unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathway in calcium hydroxide-induced...

The mineralization of the herbicide 3-(4-isopropylphenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea (isoproturon) was reduced after the dry and hot summer 2003 in a soil profile placed in a field lysimeter. A different isoproturon mineralization pattern remained in soil material taken at two different soil depths (0–5 cm and 15–20 cm), although soil material was re-equilibrated at adequate climatic conditions. Special ...

Abnormal mineralization occurs in the context of several common conditions, including advanced age, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, chronic renal failure, and certain genetic conditions. Metabolic, mechanical, infectious, and inflammatory injuries promote ectopic mineralization through overlapping yet distinct molecular mechanisms of initiation and progression. The ABCC6 protein is an ATP-depen...

The effect of low vitamin D levels in children with bone fragility disorders has not been examined in detail. In this study, we evaluated the relationship between vitamin D status and parameters of skeletal mineralization, mass, and metabolism in a group of pediatric osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) patients. This retrospective study consisted of 71 patients with a diagnosis of OI type I, III, or I...

BACKGROUND Measurement of tooth enamel mineralization using a clinically viable method is essential since variation of mineralization may be used to monitor caries risk or in assessing the effectiveness of remineralization therapy. Fiber optic Raman systems are becoming more affordable and popular in context of biomedical applications. However, the applicability of fiber optic Raman systems for...

Pyrogenic carbon (PyC) is produced by the thermal decomposition of organic matter in the absence of oxygen (O). PyC affects nutrient availability, may enhance post-fire nitrogen (N) mineralization rates, and can be a significant carbon (C) pool in fire-prone ecosystems. Our objectives were to characterize PyC produced by wildfires and examine the influence that contrasting types of PyC have on ...

A Janthinobacterium sp. and an actinomycete, both capable of mineralizing 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP), were used to construct a consortium to mineralize DNP in nonaxenic bench-scale sequencing batch reactors (SBRs). Average K(m) values for DNP mineralization by pure cultures of the Janthinobacterium sp. and the actinomycete were 0.01 and 0.13 mug/ml, respectively, and the average maximum specific g...

BACKGROUND Bone mass and mineralization are largely influenced by loading. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reaction of the entire mandibular bone in response to decreased load during growth. It is hypothesized that decreased muscular loading will lead to bone changes as seen during disuse, i.e. loss of bone mass. METHODS AND FINDINGS Ten 21-day-old Wistar strain male rats were d...