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ABSTRACT Objective: To assess the effect of toothpaste containing 8% arginine on Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) in dental plaque around orthodontic brackets, and to draw a comparison with a regular fluoride toothpaste. Trial design: A single-center, parallel-arm, triple-blind, randomized controlled trial was conducted. Methods: The clinical trial was conducted at the Orthodontic Clinic, School of Dentistry, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. Seventy-two patients (age range: 15-30 years) who required fixed orthodontic treatment were recruited and randomly assigned to arginine and fluoride groups. Randomization was performed using RANDOM.ORG online software, and the participants were divided into two parallel groups, with a 1:1 allocation ratio. Patients were requested to brush their teeth twice daily for 30 days with an experimental toothpaste. Plaque sampling was performed at two intervals, namely at the beginning of the study (T0) and 30 days later (T1). Real-time PCR was used to assess plaque samples in terms of the number of S. mutans surrounding stainless steel brackets in orthodontic patients. A triple-blind design was employed. Results: The baseline characteristics (age, sex, and the relative number of S. mutans) between the groups were similar (p>0.05). Only the arginine group showed a significant decrease in the relative number of bacteria between T0 and T1 (p=0.02). Conclusion: Arginine is an important prebiotic agent in maintaining healthy oral biofilms, and prevent dental caries during fixed orthodontic treatments. Trial registration: The trial was registered at the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT20181121041713N2), https://en.irct.ir/user/trial/42409/view. RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar o efeito de um dentifrício contendo arginina a 8% no Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) da placa bacteriana ao redor de braquetes ortodônticos, e compará-lo a um dentifrício fluoretado convencional. Desenho do estudo: Foi conduzido um estudo unicêntrico, com braços paralelos, triplo-cego, controlado e randomizado. Métodos: O ensaio clínico foi conduzido na Clínica de Ortodontia da Faculdade de Odontologia da Universidade de Ciências Médicas de Shiraz, no Irã. Setenta e dois pacientes (com idades variando de 15 a 30 anos) que necessitavam de tratamento ortodôntico com aparelho fixo foram recrutados e alocados aleatoriamente nos grupos arginina ou flúor. A randomização foi feita usando o programa on-line RANDOM.ORG, e os participantes foram divididos em dois grupos paralelos, com proporção de alocação de 1:1. Solicitou-se aos pacientes que escovassem os dentes duas vezes ao dia com a pasta experimental, durante 30 dias. Amostras da placa bacteriana foram coletadas em dois intervalos: ao começo do estudo (T0) e após 30 dias (T1). Um PCR em tempo real foi usado para avaliar as amostras de placa, em termos de números de S. mutans ao redor dos braquetes de aço inoxidável nos pacientes ortodônticos. Um desenho de estudo triplo-cego foi usado. Resultados: As características iniciais (idade, sexo e quantidade relativa de S. mutans) foram semelhantes entre os grupos (p>0,05). Apenas o grupo arginina mostrou uma redução significativa na quantidade de bactérias entre T0 e T1 (p=0,02). Conclusão: A arginina é um agente prebiótico importante na manutenção de biofilmes bucais saudáveis, e previne as cáries dentárias durante o tratamento ortodôntico com aparelho fixo. Registro do ensaio: O ensaio foi registrado no Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT20181121041713N2), https://en.irct.ir/user/trial/42409/view.

Recent findings support the potential role of arginine as a regulator of the immune response. Correlation between decreased arginine and decreased proliferation and activation of T lymphocytes has been described in liver transplantation, severe trauma, sepsis and cancer. Among the effects, decrease in the CD3z chain expression (activation signal in the T cell) has been described. Arginine is reduced in relation to the production of arginase 1 (ARG1) by myeloid suppressor cells. Two possible mechanisms have been postulated by which the increased activity of ARG1 could be acting on a tumor. The first is the reduction of lymphocyte proliferation and cell cycle arrest. The second is to promote tumor growth by transforming arginine in precursors of polyamines. We present in this article the main concepts on the role of arginine in antitumor response.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a prominent role in early and later stages of the plant pathogenesis response, putatively acting as both cellular signaling molecules and direct antipathogen agents. A single-cell assay, based on the fluorescent probe dichlorofluorescein, was used to scrutinize the generation and movement of ROS in tobacco epidermal tissue. ROS, generated within cells, quickly moved apoplastically as H2O2 into neighboring cells. Two classes of rapidly elicited intracellular ROS, originating from distinct sources, were distinguished. Cryptogein, the fungal elicitor from Phytophthora cryptogea, induced ROS from a flavin-containing oxidase source. ROS accumulation could be inhibited by a number of pharmacological agents, suggesting induction through an active signal transduction pathway. The insensitivity of the increase in ROS to the external addition of enzymes that dissipate ROS suggests that this exidative increase is primarily intracellular. In contrast, amines and polyamines, compounds that form during wounding and pathogenesis, induced ROS at an apoplastic site from peroxidase- or amine oxidase-type enzyme(s). Salicylic acid, a putative inhibitor of cellular catalases and peroxidases, did not induce cellular ROS, as messured by dichlorofluorescein fluorescence. The physiological relevance of ROS-generated signals was indicated by the rapid alteration of the epidermal cell glutathione pool and the cellular redox state. In addition, induction of ROS by all elicitors was correlated with subsequent cell death

The aim of this cross sectional study was to evaluate the ureolytic and arginolytic activities of saliva in children and associate them with their caries status. Study design: 65, 8 year old children, were randomly selected. The ureolytic and arginolytic activity of non stimulated saliva was studied and associated with DMFT and dmft index. Saliva of children were sampled under fasting conditions; Children refrained from any oral hygiene procedures during the 12 hours that preceded the sample collection. Caries activity was scored and divided in 3 groups: Group A: Index zero: without lesions; Group B: Moderate Index: 1 to 3 enamel caries lesions; and Group C: High Index: more than 4 dentin caries lesions. Results: DMFT scores were moderate: 0.4(±0.79) and dmft: 2.78(±2.45). Results expressed in μmol/min/mg/protein, for urease activity were statistically significant (p=0.048): Group A= 0.69 (±0.7); Group B= 0.45 (±0.43); and Group C= 0.39 (±0.55). The arginine deiminase activity was not statistically significant (p=0.16): Group A= 2.53 (±1.42), Group B= 2.31 (±1.57) and Group C= 1.97 (±2.0). Conclusion: Higher levels of ureolytic (statistically significant) and arginolytic activity (trend) in saliva were associated with lower DMFT/dmft scores in 8 year old children. There was a higher production of ammonia from the arginine deiminase system than the urease enzyme in saliva (p>0.05).

We have discovered that the mosquito Anopheles stephensi, a natural vector of human malaria, limits parasite development with inducible synthesis of nitric oxide (NO). Elevated expression of A. stephensi NO synthase (NOS), which is highly homologous to characterized NOS genes, was detected in the midgut and carcass soon after invasion of the midgut by Plasmodium. Early induction is likely primed by bacterial growth in the blood meal. Later increases in A. stephensi NOS expression and enzyme activity occurred at the beginning of sporozoite release. Circulating levels of nitrite/nitrate, end-products of NO synthesis, were significantly higher in Plasmodium-infected mosquitoes. Dietary provision of the NOS substrate L-arginine reduced Plasmodium infections in A. stephensi. In contrast, dietary provision of a NOS inhibitor significantly increased parasite numbers in infected mosquitoes, confirming that A. stephensi limits Plasmodium development with NO

La diabetes insípida es una entidad poco frecuente caracterizada por una deficiencia en la secreción de la hormona antidiurética (ADH) o resistencia a su acción, lo que genera una alteración para concentrar la diuresis y, en consecuencia, ocasiona altos volúmenes de orina diluida. La diabetes insípida puede ser de origen renal o central, y esta última es la más frecuente. La poliuria y polidipsia son las expresiones clínicas predominantes en respuesta a la incapacidad del paciente de mantener un equilibrio hídrico. Las causas de la diabetes insípida central son diversas, tales como después de la cirugía pituitaria, adenoma hipofisario, encefalopatía isquémica, trauma, hipofisitis, origen genético o idiopática. La hipofisitis primaria es una entidad rara, caracterizada por un proceso inflamatorio de la glándula hipofisaria, que puede comprometer la función de la hipófisis anterior o posterior. A continuación, se presentan 2 casos de pacientes con diabetes insípida secundaria a hipofisitis estudiadas ambulatoriamente y de manera intrahospitalaria.

El objetivo de esta revisión es mostrar los hallazgos emergentes de las potenciales propiedades anticariogénicas de biomoléculas del metabolismo oral relacionados con la producción de amonio. El análisis de la literatura soporta una nueva dimensión preventiva en el conocimiento de la enfermedad caries dental al estudiar la evidencia in vitro publicada, en la que el amonio producido desde la urea y la arginina del ambiente oral presentan importantes factores endógenos inhibitorios del desarrollo de lesiones de caries dental. Este hecho apoyaría la hipótesis que la producción de amonio por urealisis y por el sistema de arginina deiminasa, podrían inhibir potencialmente el desarrollo de la caries dental por la neutralización de ácidos y la estabilización de la microbiota oral, favoreciendo las condiciones para el mantenimiento de la salud oral. Esta revisión presenta estudios de la actividad enzimática oral, que puede constituir un prometedor campo para establecer nuevas líneas de investigación en cariología, particularmente in vivo e in situ, destinados a establecer la efectividad y aplicación clínica de estos compuestos en la prevención de caries dental.The purpose of this review is to present the emerging findings on the potential anti-cariogenic properties of the bioactive molecules of oral metabolism related with ammonia production. The literature analysis supports a new preventive dimension in the knowledge of dental caries disease by studying the published evidence provided by in vitro and clinical studies, in which the ammonia produced from urea and arginine in the oral environment represents an important endogenous inhibitory factor in the development of dental caries lesions. This fact would support the hypothesis that ammonia production by urease and the arginine deiminase system could potentially inhibit the development of dental caries by neutralizing acids and stabilizing the oral microbiota, thus enhancing the conditions for oral health maintenance. This review presents studies on the oral enzyme activity which may constitute a promising field in the definition of new lines of research in cariology, particularly in vivo and in situ, aimed at establishing the effectiveness and clinical application of these compounds in the prevention of dental caries.

The aim of this study was to examine the physicochemical properties and amino acid composition of rabbit meat after the enrichment of rabbit diet with oregano, sage, and Eleutherococcus senticosus extracts, and to make a comparison with the commercial product XTRACT and control samples. The addition of oregano and sage extracts as well as El. senticosus in the rabbit diet positively influenced the physicochemical properties of rabbit meat by increasing its energy value (P less than 0.05 - sage). Supplementing rabbits feed with oregano and sage extracts led to an improvement of the amino acid composition (P less than 0.01). These findings are also supported by the good health state of rabbits. The diet enriched with the plant extracts is beneficial for the health state of rabbits and the nutritional quality of rabbit meat.

Alginate lyase (EC 4.2.2.3) is an enzyme that splits glycosyl linkages of alginate chain via beta-elimination, producing unsaturated oligoalginates. This enzyme is widely distributed in herbivorous marine mollusks, brown algae and marine and soil bacteria. In the present study, we determined the general properties and partial amino acid sequences of alginate lyases from three Archeogastropoda, i.e., Haliotis discus hannai, H. iris, and Omphalius rusticus, and one Mesogastropoda, i.e., Littorina brevicula, in order to enrich the information about functional and structural diversity in gastropod alginate lyases. The alginate lyases were extracted from hepatopancreas of these animals and purified by ammonium sulfate fractionation followed by conventional column chromatography. Single alginate lyases with molecular masses of approximately 28, 34, and 34 kDa were isolated from H. discus, H. iris, and O. rusticus, respectively. While three alginate lyases with molecular masses of 35, 32, and 28 kDa were isolated from L. brevicula. These enzymes were identified as poly(M) lyase (EC 4.2.2.3) since they preferably degraded poly(M)-rich substrate. Western blot analysis using an antiserum raised against H. discus enzyme suggested that H. iris and O. rusticus enzymes shared similar primary/higher-order structure with H. discus enzyme, but the L. brevicula enzymes did not. H. discus, H. iris, and O. rusticus enzymes were classified to polysaccharide-lyase family-14 by the analysis of partial amino acid sequences, while the L. brevicula enzymes were not.

Eight barrows (Yorkshire x [Finnish Landrace x Dutch Landrace]), initially 30 kg BW, were fitted with ileal cannulas to evaluate the effects of supplementing Ca benzoate (2.4%) and organic acids (OA) in the amount of 300 mEq acid/kg feed on dietary buffering capacity (BC), apparent digestibility and retention of nutrients, and manure characteristics. Swine were allotted in a 2 x 4 factorial arrangement of treatments according to a cyclic (8 x 5) changeover design. Two tapioca-corn-soybean meal-based diets were formulated without and with acidogenic Ca benzoate. Each diet was fed in combination with OA (none, formic, fumaric, or n-butyric acid). Daily rations were equal to 2.8 x maintenance requirement (418 kJ ME/BW(.75)) and were given in two portions. Chromic oxide (.25 g/kg) was used as a marker. On average, Ca benzoate lowered BC by 54 mEq/kg feed. This salt enhanced (P < .05) the ileal digestibility (ID) of DM, OM, arginine, isoleucine, leucine, phenylalanine, alanine, aspartic acid, and tyrosine (by up to 2.4 percentage units). Also, the total tract digestibility (TD) of DM, ash, Ca and GE, and Ca retention (percentage of intake) was greater (P < .05) in swine fed Ca benzoate, whereas N retention remained unaffected. Addition of all OA (formic and n-butyric acid, in particular) exerted a positive effect (P < .05) on the ID of amino acids (except for arginine, methionine, and cysteine). A similar effect (P < .05) was found for the TD of DM, OM, CP, Ca and total P and for the retention of N and Ca. In swine fed Ca benzoate, urinary pH decreased by 1.6 units (P < .001). In conclusion, dietary OA have a beneficial effect on the apparent ileal/total tract nutrient digestibilities, and Ca benzoate increased urine acidity, which could be effective against a rapid ammonia emission from manure of swine.