The aim of this study was to analyze the unreacted monomers of four commonly used composite resins, which were released after curing with different polymerization conditions. Four composite resins, consisting of two hybrid types and two flowable types from two manufacturers, were photopolymerized using different curing times and curing distances. After polymerization, samples were extracted for analysis at different time points up to 24 h. Released monomers were analyzed by reversed-phase liquid chromatography at UV 210 nm. Longer curing times and shorter curing distances resulted in higher polymerization rates and decreased release of TEGDMA and UDMA, but changes in curing time and distance had no significant effect on Bis-GMA. Release of BPA increased with increase in curing time or decrease in curing distance, in contrast to the results of TEGDMA and UDMA. Polymerization conditions need to be differently applied according to both monomer and resin types.

This study analyzed levels of parabens in commercial dentifrices and saliva. HPLC was performed using 35% acetonitrile and measuring absorbance at 254 nm. Thirteen toothpastes and five mouthwashes were analyzed. Of these, volunteers used three toothpastes and two mouthwashes, and levels of parabens were analyzed in saliva and water used for mouth rinsing. In toothpastes, the highest concentrations of methylparaben (MP), propylparaben (PP) and n-butylparaben (nBP) were 1.86, 1.42 and 1.87 mg/g, respectively. In mouthwashes, the highest concentrations of MP and PP were 0.97 and 0.11 mg/mL, respectively. After volunteers used 500 mg toothpaste T-1, which contained 895 µg MP, the first and tenth mouth rinse samples contained means of 64.63 and 1.89 µg MP, respectively. After rinsing the mouth three or five times, 37 µg or 18 µg MP was calculated to remain in the oral cavity, respectively. After using 20 mL mouthwash S-1, which contained 19 mg MP, 1.53 mg MP was calculated to remain in the oral cavity. Immediately after using this mouthwash, the mean salivary concentration of MP was 237 µg/mL. The daily intake of parabens from dentifrices was predicted to be insignificant compared with the intake from food; however, parabens can be ingested from dentifrices.

In this study, we investigated the effects of chronic alcohol and excessive iron intake on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) damage and the progression of alcoholic liver injury in rats. Methods: Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley male rats were divided into four groups (Control, EtOH, Fe, and EtOH + Fe), and fed either control or ethanol (36% of total calories) liquid diet with or without 0.6% carbonyl iron for eight weeks. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities, liver malondialdehyde concentrations were measured by colorimetric assays. Liver histopathology was examined by Hematoxylin-eosin staining of the fixed liver tissues. The integrity of the hepatic mtDNA and nuclear DNA was measured by long-range PCR. The gene expression levels of cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (Cox1) and NADH dehydrogenase subunit 4 (Nd4) were examined by real-time PCR. Results: Serum ALT and AST activities were significantly higher in the EtOH+Fe group, as compared to the Control group. Similarly, among four groups, liver histology showed the most severe lipid accumulation, inflammation, and necrosis in the EtOH + Fe group. PCR amplification of near-full-length (15.9 kb) mtDNA showed more than 50% loss of full-length product in the liver of the EtOH + Fe group, whereas amounts of PCR products of a nuclear DNA were unaffected. In addition, the changes in the mtDNA integrity showed correlation with reductions in the mRNA levels of mitochondrial gene Cox1 and Nd4. Conclusion: Our data suggested that the liver injury associated with excessive iron and alcohol intake involved mtDNA damage and corresponding mitochondrial dysfunction.