Periodontitis, characterized by persistent inflammation in the periodontium, is intricately connected to systemic diseases, including oral cancer. Bacteria, such as Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum, play a pivotal role in periodontitis development because they contribute to dysbiosis and tissue destruction. Thus, comprehending the interplay between these bacteria and their impacts on inflammation holds significant relevance in clinical understanding and treatment advancement. In the present work, we explored, for the first time, their impacts on the expressions of pro-inflammatory mediators after infecting oral keratinocytes (OKs) with a co-culture of pre-incubated P. gingivalis and F. nucleatum. Our results show that the co-culture increases IL-1β, IL-8, and TNF-α expressions, synergistically augments IL-6, and translocates NF-kB to the cell nucleus. These changes in pro-inflammatory mediators—associated with chronic inflammation and cancer—correlate with an increase in cell migration following infection with the co-cultured bacteria or P. gingivalis alone. This effect depends on TLR4 because TLR4 knockdown notably impacts IL-6 expression and cell migration. Our study unveils, for the first time, crucial insights into the outcomes of their co-culture on virulence, unraveling the role of bacterial interactions in polymicrobial diseases and potential links to oral cancer.

Copper nanoparticles (Cu NPs) show promise in dentistry for combating bacterial dysbiosis and tooth decay. Understanding their effects on commensal versus pathogenic bacteria is vital for maintaining oral health balance. While Cu NPs demonstrate antibacterial properties against various oral bacteria, including common pathogens associated with tooth decay, their impact on commensal bacteria requires careful examination. In our work, we analyzed three types of Cu NPs for their effects on the growth, viability, and biofilm formation of representative caries-associated and commensal oral bacteria. S. sanguinis showed high tolerance to all Cu NPs, while L. rhamnosus was highly sensitive. Oxide-Cu NPs exhibited a stronger inhibitory effect on pathobionts compared with commensal bacteria. Moreover, the biofilm formation of the key cariogenic bacteria S. mutans was reduced, with minimal negative effects on commensal species’ biofilm formation. All our results showed that CuO nanoparticles (CuO NPs) exhibit reduced toxicity toward commensal bacteria growth and development but have a strong impact on pathogens. This suggests their potential for targeted treatments against pathogenic bacteria, which could help in maintaining the balance of the oral bacterial community.

Existen distintos métodos de evaluación de la enfermedad de ojo seco (EOS), entre ellos cuestionarios que analizan distintos aspectos de su sintomatología, los que son importantes para su mejor comprensión y manejo terapéutico. El Dry Eye Questionnaire 5 (DEQ-5) es único en su tipo, pues además de su simplicidad, mide sintomatología en cuatro dimensiones. El objetivo de este estudio fue adaptar cultural, lingüísticamente y validar, este cuestionario para una población chilena. Para la adaptación, se realizó la traducción y retrotraducción de la versión original, su análisis lingüístico, una prueba piloto y el examen de expertos, que incorporó una especialista en lingüística. Para la validación se realizó el análisis psicométrico de fiabilidad y validez de constructo. La muestra en la que se validó quedó constituida por 205 personas con EOS. De los encuestados, 141 (69%) fueron mujeres, la media de edad fue de 48 años ± 16,7 y la mediana del puntaje total DEQ-5 fue de 13 puntos (R.I 8-15 puntos). La versión adaptada resultó con un alfa de Cronbach de 0,8085, puntaje que la clasificó como buena. El cuestionario DEQ-5 adaptado y validado resultó un buen instrumento para ser usado en poblaciones con características similares a las del estudio. Además, el análisis factorial enriqueció la comprensión de la manera en que las personas con EOS relacionan sus síntomas y qué preguntas se corresponden más entre ellas, representando de mejor manera los aspectos evaluados de la sintomatología de esta enfermedad. There are different methods for evaluating dry eye disease (DID), including questionnaires that analyze different aspects of its symptoms, which are important for its better understanding and therapeutic management. The Dry Eye Questionnaire 5 (DEQ-5), is unique in its kind, because in addition to its simplicity, it measures symptoms in four dimensions. The aim of this study is to adapt culturally and linguistically and validate this instrument to the Chilean population. For the adaptation, the translation and retro-translation of the original version was carried out, its linguistic analysis, the pilot test and the expert panel review (which included a linguistics specialist) were used. For the validation, a psychometric analysis of reliability and validity of the construct was incorporated. The sample in which it was validated was constituted by 205 people with dry eye disease. One hundred and forty-one (69%) of the respondents were women, the mean of age was 48 years ± 16.7, and the median of the total score DEQ-5 was 13 points (R.I 8–15 points). The adapted version resulted in a Cronbach alpha of 0.8085, scoring that classified it as good. The questionnaire DEQ-5, which was adapted and validated, was a good instrument to be used in populations with similar characteristics of those in the study. More so, the factor analysis enriched comprehension of the way in which people with dry eye disease relate their symptoms and which questions relate more between them, representing in a better way the aspects evaluated of the symptomatology of this disease.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:There are different methods for evaluating dry eye disease (DID), including questionnaires that analyze different aspects of its symptoms, which are important for its better understanding and therapeutic management. The Dry Eye Questionnaire 5 (DEQ-5), is unique in its kind, because in addition to its simplicity, it measures symptoms in 4 dimensions. The aim of this study is to adapt culturally and linguistically and validate this instrument to the Chilean population.MATERIAL AND METHODS:For the adaptation, the translation and retro-translation of the original version was carried out, its linguistic analysis, the pilot test and the expert panel review (which included a linguistics specialist) were used. For the validation, a psychometric analysis of reliability and validity of the construct was incorporated. The sample in which it was validated was constituted by 205 people with dry eye disease.RESULTS:141 (69%) of the respondents were women, the mean of age was 48 years ±16,7, and the median of the total score DEQ-5 was 13 points (R.I 8-15 points). The adapted version resulted in a Cronbach alpha of 0.8085, scoring that classified it as good.DISCUSSION:The questionnaire DEQ-5, which was adapted and validated, was a good instrument to be used in populations with similar characteristics of those in the study. More so, the factor analysis enriched comprehension of the way in which people with dry eye disease relate their symptoms and which questions relate more between them, representing in a better way the aspects evaluated of the symptomatology of this disease.

Background Porphyromonas gingivalis is part of the subgingival biofilm and a keystone species in the development of periodontitis. Interactions between P.gingivalis and other bacteria in biofilms have been shown to affect bacterial virulence. Helicobacter pylori also inhabits the subgingival biofilm, but the consequences of interactions there with P.gingivalis remain unknown. Here, we investigated how the pre-incubation of P.gingivalis with H.pylori affects P.gingivalis virulence. Methods We assayed P.gingivalis internalization by oral keratinocytes (OKs), hemagglutination and biofilm formation to identify alterations in virulence after pre-incubation with H. pylori. Also, we evaluated viability and migration of OKs infected with P. gingivalis, as well as the role of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). In addition, we quantified the mRNA of genes associated with P.gingivalis virulence. Results Pre-incubation of P.gingivalis with H.pylori enhanced P.gingivalis biofilm formation, bacterial internalization into OKs and hemagglutination. Infection with pre-incubated P.gingivalis increased OK migration in a manner dependent on the O-antigen and linked to increased expression of the gingipain RgpB. Also, OK TLR4 participates in these events, because upon TLR4 knock-down, pre-incubated P.gingivalis no longer stimulated OK migration. Discussion We provide here for the first time insight to the consequences of direct interaction between P.gingivalis and H.pylori. In doing so, we shed light on the mechanism by which H. pylori presence in the oral cavity increases the severity or progression of periodontitis.

The effect of the ZrO2 loading was studied on spherical SiO2@ZrO2-CaO structures synthetized by a simple route that combines the Stöber and sol-gel methods. The texture of these materials was determined using SBET by N2 adsorption, where the increment in SiO2 spheres’ surface areas was reached with the incorporation of ZrO2. Combined the characterization techniques of using different alcoholic dissolutions of zirconium (VI) butoxide 0.04 M, 0.06 M, and 0.08 M, we obtained SiO2@ZrO2 materials with 5.7, 20.2, and 25.2 wt % of Zr. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis also uncovered the shape and reproducibility of the SiO2 spheres. The presence of Zr and Ca in the core–shell was also determined by TEM. X-ray diffraction (XRD) profiles showed that the c-ZrO2 phase changed in to m-ZrO2 by incorporating calcium, which was confirmed by Raman spectroscopy. The purity of the SiO2 spheres, as well as the presence of Zr and Ca in the core–shell, was assessed by the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) method. CO2 temperature programmed desorption (TPD-CO2) measurements confirmed the increment in the amount of the basic sites and strength of these basic sites due to calcium incorporation. The catalyst reuse in FAME production from canola oil transesterification allowed confirmation that these calcium core@shell catalysts turn out to be actives and stables for this reaction.

BACKGROUND:Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) is the most commonly used questionnaire worldwide to detect dry eye disease. Although it is massively used in clinical practice in Chile, its use has not been validated yet in the country. AIM:To develop a cultural adaptation and to validate the OSDI questionnaire for the Chilean population. MATERIAL AND METHODS:For cultural adaptation, a translation, retro-translation and an expert panel review was carried out. The resulting questionnaire was applied to a pilot group of twelve participants and their comments were considered for the final questionnaire version. The final questionnaire was applied to a non-random sample of 200 patients aged 53 ± 17 years (75% women). Internal consistency and construct validity were evaluated by Cronbach's alpha and exploratory factor analysis respectively. RESULTS:According to the OSDI score, 81% of respondents had dry eye (55% severe). Reliability was 0.91 and factor analysis resulted in three factors explaining 75.4% of the total variance. CONCLUSIONS:The OSDI questionnaire version obtained in this study demonstrated excellent internal consistency values and adequate construct validity making it applicable to clinical practice and dry eye research.

Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) is the most commonly used questionnaire worldwide to detect dry eye disease. Although it is massively used in clinical practice in Chile, its use has not been validated yet in the country.To develop a cultural adaptation and to validate the OSDI questionnaire for the Chilean population.For cultural adaptation, a translation, retro-translation and an expert panel review was carried out. The resulting questionnaire was applied to a pilot group of twelve participants and their comments were considered for the final questionnaire version. The final questionnaire was applied to a non-random sample of 200 patients aged 53 ± 17 years (75% women). Internal consistency and construct validity were evaluated by Cronbach's alpha and exploratory factor analysis respectively.According to the OSDI score, 81% of respondents had dry eye (55% severe). Reliability was 0.91 and factor analysis resulted in three factors explaining 75.4% of the total variance.The OSDI questionnaire version obtained in this study demonstrated excellent internal consistency values and adequate construct validity making it applicable to clinical practice and dry eye research.

The CuCo2O4 species formed by CoO addition on CuO/Al2O3 had a beneficial effect on the catalytic activity in the hydrogenolysis of glycerol.

La2O3 monolayer catalysts with 90% coverage on Al2O3 and 71% on ZrO2 were successfully obtained by a sol-gel method and the catalytic performance evaluated as fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) production in a canola oil transesterification reaction show differences upon the nature and extent of basic sites. The La2O3 monolayer does not modify strongly the textural properties of the Al2O3 and larger structural changes are detected on ZrO2. For the La2O3-Al2O3 monolayer catalyst, the inter-diffusion Al3+/La(3+ )cation modify the nature of the acidity and increases the basicity of the Al-O-La species, whereas for the La2O3-ZrO2 monolayer catalyst, appearance of tetragonal ZrO2 structure with larger basicity is detected. The effect of the nature of the support in the catalytic performance in FAME production of the La2O3-ZrO2 and La2O3-Al2O3 monolayer catalyst informed as FAME % (60% at 5 h and 65 degrees C) for the La2O3-ZrO2 is attributed to the presence of the new medium strength basic sites and the m-ZrO2 structure, whereas the lower basicity of the La2O3-Al2O3 explain the lower fatty acid methyl esters production (45% at 5 h and 65 degrees C).

OBJECTIVE:Because of high variability, tear film osmolarity measures have been questioned in dry eye assessment. Understanding the origin of such variability would aid data interpretation. This study aims to evaluate osmolarity variability in a clinical setting.MATERIAL AND METHODS:Twenty dry eyes and 20 control patients were evaluated. Three consecutive osmolarity measurements per eye at 5min intervals were obtained. Variability was represented by the difference between both extreme readings per eye. Machine learning techniques were used to quantify discrimination capacity of tear osmolarity for dry eye.RESULTS:Mean osmolarities in the control and dry eye groups were 295.1±7.3mOsm/L and 300.6±11.2mOsm/L, respectively (P=.004). Osmolarity variabilities were 7.5±3.6mOsm/L and 16.7±11.9mOsm/L, for the control and dry eye groups, respectively (P<.001). Based on osmolarity, a logistic classifier showed an 85% classification accuracy.CONCLUSIONS:In the clinical setting, both mean osmolarity and osmolarity variability in the dry eye group were significantly higher than in the control group. Machine learning techniques showed good classification accuracy. It is concluded that higher variability of tear osmolarity is a dry eye feature.

La medición de la osmolaridad lagrimal en pacientes con ojo seco ha sido cuestionada debido a su alta variabilidad. El entendimiento del origen de dicha variabilidad ayudaría a la interpretación clínica de los valores obtenidos. Esta investigación evalúa la medición de la variabilidad lagrimal en la práctica clínica. Veinte pacientes con ojo seco y 20 controles fueron evaluados. Fueron realizadas 3 mediciones consecutivas de osmolaridad a intervalos de 5 min. La variabilidad fue definida como la diferencia entre las mediciones más extremas obtenidas en cada ojo. Se utilizaron técnicas de aprendizaje de máquinas para evaluar la capacidad discriminadora de la osmolaridad lagrimal. La osmolaridad promedio en el grupo control y ojo seco fueron 295,1 ± 7,3 mOsm/L y 300,6 ± 11,2 mOsm/L, respectivamente (p = 0,004). La variabilidad de la osmolaridad lagrimal fue 7,5 ± 3,6 mOsm/L en el grupo control y 16,7 ± 11,9 mOsm/L en los pacientes con ojo seco (p < 0,001). Basado en la osmolaridad, un clasificador logístico obtuvo un 85% de precisión. La osmolaridad promedio y la variabilidad fueron significativamente más altas en pacientes con ojo seco. Por otra parte, las técnicas de aprendizaje de máquina demostraron buena precisión para clasificar a los pacientes. Por tanto, la alta variabilidad parece ser característica propia de la enfermedad de ojo seco. Because of high variability, tear film osmolarity measures have been questioned in dry eye assessment. Understanding the origin of such variability would aid data interpretation. This study aims to evaluate osmolarity variability in a clinical setting. Twenty dry eyes and 20 control patients were evaluated. Three consecutive osmolarity measurements per eye at 5 min intervals were obtained. Variability was represented by the difference between both extreme readings per eye. Machine learning techniques were used to quantify discrimination capacity of tear osmolarity for dry eye. Mean osmolarities in the control and dry eye groups were 295.1 ± 7.3 mOsm/L and 300.6 ± 11.2 mOsm/L, respectively (P = .004). Osmolarity variabilities were 7.5 ± 3.6 mOsm/L and 16.7 ± 11.9 mOsm/L, for the control and dry eye groups, respectively (P < .001). Based on osmolarity, a logistic classifier showed an 85% classification accuracy. In the clinical setting, both mean osmolarity and osmolarity variability in the dry eye group were significantly higher than in the control group. Machine learning techniques showed good classification accuracy. It is concluded that higher variability of tear osmolarity is a dry eye feature.

Environmentally friendly heterogeneous sol–gel La2O3–Al2O3 materials with no alkaline or alkaline-earth metals were synthesized to be used as catalysts for biodiesel production by a transesterification reaction of canola oil. The effect of the La2O3 content (0, 3, 5, 7, and 10 wt%) on the catalytic performance of the La2O3–Al2O3 mixed oxides, as well as the textural, structural, and surface properties, is reported. It was found that La2O3 loading increases the number and strength of basic sites up to 7% La2O3–Al2O3 catalyst with an La2O3 monolayer formation with 0.23 mmol highly dispersed La atoms over Al2O3 is reported. A correlation between catalytic performance, informed as biodiesel production with basicity, carbonation degree, and La2O3 dispersion is obtained. The extent of biodiesel production (45% at 65 °C and 5 h of reaction time), under mild reactions conditions, for the monolayer La2O3 alumina catalyst is the highest reported up now for nontoxic heterogeneous catalysts.

Different La2O3 contents (0, 1, 2, 3, and 5 wt%) were used to prepared La2O3-ZrO2 mixed oxides calcined at 600 degrees C by the sol-gel method. The catalytic activity was measured as biodiesel production from canola oil through a transesterification reaction. The characterization results indicate that the La2O3 monolayer formation and extent of basicity of m-ZrO2 have a large influence on biodiesel production. Greater biodiesel conversion (56% at 4 h) was obtained with the 3% La2O3-ZrO2 catalyst in the presence of basic sites and the formation of a monolayer of La2O3. The decrease in the catalytic activity for 5% La2O3-ZrO2 resulted from the loss of active sites on the catalyst because of agglomeration, which was suggested by XPS and the isoelectric point. The kinetic data fit to a pseudo-first order constant, and the largest kinetic constant corresponds to 3% La2O3-ZrO2, currently the largest heterogeneous non-alkaline metal catalyst reported for a transesterification reaction. (C) 2017 Science Press and Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Published by Elsevier B.V. and Science Press. All rights reserved.

The effect of the nature of the A-cation in alkaline earth titanates, ATiO(3) (A= Ca, Sr, Ba), and the calcination temperature (600 degrees C, 700 degrees C) on the catalytic performance for the oxidation of 2-(methylthio)benzothiazole is reported. The solids were characterized by nitrogen adsorption isotherms, powder X-ray diffraction, O-2 temperature-programmed desorption, temperature-programmed reduction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy/UV-vis techniques. A larger extent of the perovskite-type structure was obtained for the alkaline earth titanates at a calcination temperature of 700 degrees C. The increases in the catalytic oxidation with the ionic ratio of the A-cation (BaTiO3 > SrTiO3 > CaTiO3) was attributed to the well-defined perovskite structure with a lower extent of segregated phases. For the catalysts calcined at 700 degrees C, a larger conversion level (>75 mol%) and selectivity towards the corresponding sulfone (>95 mol%) was achieved at a reaction temperature of 60 degrees C using H2O2 (30%) as an oxidant. BaTiO3 calcined at 700 degrees C, provided the better catalytic performance and no activity loss after four reuses, indicative of the largest stability in the reaction medium. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Se desarrolló una plataforma computacional basada en tecnologías de información y comunicación (TIC´s) para la programación integral y gestión de riego por Internet en el cultivo de papa, la cual ajusta las demandas hídricas del cultivo de papa a la variabilidad climática observada en los últimos años en el Valle del Fuerte, Sinaloa, México. El fundamento de la tecnología fue un modelo de programación integral del riego basado en grados-día crecimiento (GD), integrándose a un software (Irrimodel) operado a través de Internet. El sistema cuenta con las siguientes capacidades: a) elabora planes de riego bajo diferentes escenarios climáticos, disponibilidad de agua y manejo; b) pronostica el riego con alta precisión de acuerdo con el desarrollo del cultivo y acumulación de GD; y c) genera y envía solicitudes de riego al módulo prestador del servicio. La transferencia a productores se hizo en tres meses en más de 3 000 ha, donde se presentaron dos niveles de uso. En 56% (1 738 ha), su aplicación fue con nivel alto, mientras que el resto con nivel medio. La superficie con nivel alto se conformó de 396 ha bajo riego por gravedad y 1 334 ha bajo riego por aspersión. Tanto en parcelas con riego por gravedad como de aspersión se incrementó la eficiencia de aplicación (Ea) (18%), rendimiento (7 t) y productividad del agua (1.5 kg·m-3), siendo mayor en las de gravedad contra manejo tradicional. En este trabajo se presenta un análisis de esta tecnología a gran escala como alternativa para la adaptación de la programación del riego ante los efectos del cambio climático.

We studied the effect of the alkali metal type (Li, Na, and K) and the calcination temperature (500, 600 and 700 degrees C) in the activity for biodiesel production of catalysts prepared by impregnation method, with constant metal content of 10% w/w using ZrO2 as support. The results of the catalytic activity allowed to find an activity sequence regarding the alkali tested metals: Na > Li > K, with this sequence remaining constant independent of the calcination temperature. The high activity of the Na/ZrO2 system, and slightly lower activity of Li/ZrO2, can be explained by the fact that higher calcination temperatures promote the formation of alkali-based zirconate species, M2ZrO3 (M = Na or Li). The presence of these species is correlated with the higher activity of these catalysts, specifically with the Na and Li-based catalyst calcined at high temperatures (600-700 degrees C). These M2ZrO3 species show higher basicity respect to other alkali metal oxide species, as was demonstrated with CO2-TPD results. The higher activity corresponded to 10% Na supported on ZrO2 and calcined at 700 degrees C, which reached full conversion within just 30 minutes of reaction, which makes this system a promising heterogeneous replacement for the regular homogeneous systems.

Heterogeneous supported potassium on promoted CeO2-Al2O3 and La2O3-Al2O3 sol-gel mixed oxides was used as a catalyst for biodiesel production via the transesterification of canola oil with methanol using a batch reactor. These mixed oxides alone do not show any catalytic activity in the transesterification reaction, and the incorporation of potassium increases the catalytic activity, which is greater in the La2O3-promoted catalysts. The improved catalytic activity of the potassium La2O3-promoted catalysts was associated with the partial insertion of lanthanum into alumina with a favorable interaction between the potassium and the oxygenated species of the La2O3-Al2O3 mixed oxide. The larger amount of K2O species in K2O/5La2O3-Al2O3 and the lower acidity explain their large production of biodiesel. Moreover, the leaching resistance of potassium is remarkable, with the K2O/5La2O3-Al2O3 catalyst showing<4% in the first recycle and no more leaching in the four subsequent recycle steps.

A computer platform was developed for integrated irrigation scheduling and management of potato crops based on information and communications technology using the internet. This technology adjusted the water demands of the potato crop according to the climate variability observed over recent years in the Valle del Fuerte, Sinaloa, Mexico. The basis of the technology was an integrated irrigation scheduling model based on increasing degree-days, with the integration of Irrimodel software operated over the internet. The system has the following capabilities: a) generates irrigation plans based on different scenarios related to climate, water availability and water management; b) produces a highly accurate irrigation prognosis according to the development of the crop and the accumulation of degree-days, and c) generates and sends irrigation requests to the service providers. The technology was transferred to producers over three months and covered over 3 000 ha. Two levels of use were identified -a high application level by 56% of the area (1 738 ha) and a medium level by the remaining area. The area with a high application level was composed of 396 ha which used gravity irrigation and 1 334 ha which used sprinkler irrigation. In both areas, with gravity irrigation as well as sprinkler irrigation, there was an increase in application efficiency (18%), yield (7 t) and water productivity (1.5 kg.m-3). The increase was greater with gravity than with traditional management. This work presents an analysis of the use of this technology on a large scale, as an option to adapt irrigation scheduling to the effects of climate change.