Diabetes is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, affecting both endothelial and smooth muscle cells. Store-operated Ca2+ channels (SOCCs) have been implicated in many diabetic complications. Vascular dysfunction is common in patients with diabetes, but the role of SOCCs in diabetic vasculopathy is still unclear. Our research aimed to investigate the effects of high glucose (HG) on store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) in small arteries. Small mesenteric arteries from type 2 diabetic Zucker fatty rats (ZDF) versus their non-diabetic controls (Zucker lean, ZL) were examined in a pressurized myograph. Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) were isolated and intracellular Ca2+ was measured (Fura 2-AM). A specific protocol to deplete intracellular Ca2+ stores and thereby open SOCCs, as well as pharmacological SOCE inhibitors (SKF-96365, BTP-2), were used to artificially activate and inhibit SOCE, respectively. High glucose (40 mmol/L) relaxed arteries in a SKF-sensitive manner. Diabetic arteries exhibited reduced HG-induced relaxation, as well as reduced contraction after Ca2+ replenishment. Further, the rise in intracellular Ca2+ on account of SOCE is diminished in diabetic versus non-diabetic VSMCs and was insensitive to HG in diabetic VSMCs. The expression of SOCC proteins was measured, detecting a downregulation of Orai1 in diabetes. In conclusion, diabetes leads to a reduction of SOCE and SOCE-induced contraction, which is unresponsive to HG-mediated inhibition. The reduced expression of Orai1 in diabetic arteries could account for the observed reduction in SOCE. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.The major goal of this study was to determine the affinity pattern of the terbutaline (TB) enantiomers toward α-, β-, γ-, and heptakis(2,3-di-O-acetyl)-β-cyclodextrins and using NMR spectroscopy for the understanding of the fine mechanisms of interaction between the cyclodextrins (CD) and TB enantiomers. It was shown once again that CE in combination with NMR spectroscopy represents a sensitive tool to study the affinity patterns and structure of CD complexes with chiral guests. Opposite affinity patterns of TB enantiomers toward native α- and β-CDs were associated with significant differences between the structure of the related complexes in solution. In particular, the complex between TB enantiomers and α-CD was of the external type, whereas an inclusion complex was formed between TB enantiomers and β-CD. One of the possible structures of the complex between TB and heptakis(2,3-di-O-acetyl)-β-CD (HDA-β-CD) was quite similar to that of TB and β-CD, although the chiral recognition pattern and enantioselectivity of TB complexation with these two CDs were very different. © 2020 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.BACKGROUND To evaluate the efficacy of synbiotic tablets on the clinical and biochemical parameters of smokers and nonsmokers with gingivitis. METHODS Overall, 80 patients with gingivitis [40 smokers (+), 40 nonsmokers (-)] were randomly assigned to test (T) or control (C) groups. Four groups were defined T(+), T(-), C(+), and C(-). The subjects daily chewed a synbiotic or placebo tablet for 30 days. The gingival crevicular fluid levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and IL-10 were determined as the primary outcome variables. RESULTS The clinical and biochemical parameters for all groups significantly reduced compared with the baseline (p less then 0.05).While there were no significant differences between the groups for gingival index, the plaque index was significantly higher in both smoker groups than that in the T(-) group during the second month (p less then 0.05). IL-8 levels in C(-) and IL-6 levels in both control groups were significantly higher than those in the T(+) group. The IL-10 levels in both control groups were significantly higher than those in the T(-) group during the second month (p less then 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Adjunctive synbiotic tablets significantly reduce subclinical therapeutic outcomes for both smokers and nonsmokers compared with placebo according to the biochemical parameters. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.BACKGROUND The American Dental Association’s (ADA) specialty recognition process has long been the gold standard in dentistry. Specialty advertising regulations have been challenged as inconsistent with commercial speech rights of dentists wishing to advertise as specialists in areas not recognized as ADA specialties. Commission of Dental Accreditation-approved postdoctoral education exists to support this process using standard-based education, continuous quality review and accountability. PURPOSE In 2017, a federal court declared Texas dental specialty advertising rules unconstitutional noting the state did not present evidence demonstrating the public was being misled. A state dental association commissioned a professional survey to assess state residents’ understanding of the term „specialist” in dental advertising. METHODS Telephone interviews conducted with 812, 18+-year-old Ohio residents focused on advertising related to dental implants and TMJ disorders (not recognized specialties) and orthodontics and oral surgery (recognized specialties). RESULTS Respondents indicated they would be inclined to think a dentist who advertised as a specialist had completed an accredited dental residency program and was more qualified to perform specialty care than a general dentist. Selleckchem NSC 123127 Respondents also indicated that they would be less likely to choose a dentist who advertised as a specialist who did not have accredited residency training. CONCLUSIONS Tying specialty status to completion of a residency program accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education is important to the public’s expectations and has implications for dental education. © 2020 American Dental Education Association.A recent study by Sugiura and coworkers reported the non-symbiotic growth and spore production of an arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus, Rhizophagus irregularis, when the fungus received an external supply of certain fatty acids, myristates (C14). This discovery follows the insight that AM fungi receive fatty acids from their hosts when in symbiosis. If this result holds up and can be repeated under non-sterile conditions and with a broader range of fungi, it has numerous consequences for our understanding of AM fungal ecology, from the level of the fungus, at the plant community level, and to functional consequences in ecosystems. In addition, myristate may open up several avenues from a more applied perspective, including improved fungal culture and supplementation of AM fungi or inoculum in the field. We here map these potential opportunities, and additionally offer thoughts on potential risks of this potentially new technology. Lastly, we discuss the specific research challenges that need to be overcome to come to an understanding of the potential role of myristate in AM ecology. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.Emotional intelligence (EI) involves the awareness and management of personal and others’ emotions. Although EI has been found to be positively associated with the academic performance of dental students, limited evidence exists regarding methods to improve the EI among dental students. PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to determine whether the inclusion of EI training in a communication and ethics course would improve EI levels among dental students. link2 METHODS Upon institutional review board exemption, this study used a pre-test/post-test research design. Second-year dental students, enrolled in a Communication and Ethics in Dentistry course, were invited to participate. Participants completed a survey of demographic questions and a 30-item Emotional Quotient Self-Assessment Checklist at the beginning and end of the course. Participants received reports of their pre-test and post-test EI scores. RESULTS Of the 120 enrolled, 97.5% (n = 117) completed the pre-test survey and 91.7% (n = 110) completed the post-test survey. Independent samples t-tests revealed significant improvements in EI scores from pre-test (M = 111.9, SD = 9.8) to post-test (M = 118.8, SD = 11.2) (P  less then  0.001). About 75% of participants agreed that knowing their EI scores was helpful in general, knowing their EI scores was helpful in the classroom setting, and the course content and course activities helped the improvement of EI scores. Nearly 90% of participants agreed that knowing their EI scores would be helpful in the clinical setting. CONCLUSION Future research should evaluate the longitudinal effects and impact of the EI training to determine how EI should be addressed in the overall dental curriculum. Published 2020. link3 This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.BACKGROUND Sweet potato often suffers mechanical damage during harvest, handling, and transportation. Infections, water loss, and quality changes of sweet potato caused by mechanical damage pose great financial losses. Wound healing is an effective method to alleviate such problems. In this study, the effects of postharvest treatment with benzothiazole (BTH) on wound healing of sweet potato was investigated. RESULTS Postharvest BTH treatment of sweet potatoes promoted lignin accumulation in wounded tissues, and 100 mg L-1 BTH exhibited better effects than 50 mg L-1 or 150 mg L-1 BTH. The biosynthesis of lignin in wounded tissues significantly decreased the weight loss of sweet potatoes. An increase in respiration intensity after BTH treatment was observed. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents and the activity of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, peroxidase, and polyphenol oxidase were increased in BTH-treated sweet potatoes. This suggests that BTH increases phenylpropanoid metabolism. CONCLUSION Postharvest 100 mg L-1 BTH treatment could promote wound healing in mechanically damaged sweet potatoes. The activation of the phenylpropanoid metabolism might be the mechanism of action of BTH in wound healing. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES In response to the growing number of violent acts on college/university campuses in the US, a pilot safety awareness and violence prevention (SAVP) training was developed and collaboratively implemented for first-year dental and pharmacy students at a US academic health center. The study assessed student knowledge of violent behavior, warning signs emphasizing active shooter situations, response strategies when witnessing or experiencing violence, and awareness of available violence prevention resources. METHODS In 2014, a presurvey/postsurvey design was approved by the Institutional Review Board and used to assess knowledge before and after SAVP training by the university police department. As part of the new student orientation, 90% of the dental students and 100% of the pharmacy students simultaneously participated in the training and afterwards completed both number-coded surveys. This resulted in a 96% response rate. Data were analyzed using SAS. RESULTS A comparison of presurvey/postsurvey responses show notable increases on 4 key topics awareness of actions to take if witnessing violent crime (+49%) or encountering active shooter situation (+74%), awareness of violent behavior warning signs (+63%), and knowledge of available violence prevention resources (+86%). CONCLUSIONS Findings from this study demonstrate that integrating SAVP training in new student orientation can increase safety awareness among dental and pharmacy students. SAVP training can augment the uptake of current campus resources given there was an observed increase in knowledge of availability. Collaborating with the university police department is key to this replicable proactive SAVP program for dental and pharmacy students. © 2020 American Dental Education Association.