Autoclave sterilizable pencils in maxillofacial surgery

Protocol for inducing hippocampal formation lesions and associated behavioral testing in Japanese quail

Here, we present a protocol for inducing selective lesions in the hippocampal formation of Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica), coupled with associated behavioral testing. We first describe the surgical procedure for aspiration lesions in Japanese quail. We then detail two well-known hippocampus-dependent behavioral tests adapted to birds—foraging array (FA) and spontaneous object recognition (SOR). This protocol is adapted from those used in mammals and can be used to study the involvement of Japanese quail memory centers in declarative memory.

For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Damphousse et al. (2022).

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Protocol for characterizing brain function in Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica)

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Surgical procedure to create craniotomies and aspiration lesions

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Instruction for two memory tasks: foraging array and spontaneous object recognition

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Can be easily adapted to analysis of other avian species or brain regions

Publisher’s note: Undertaking any experimental protocol requires adherence to local institutional guidelines for laboratory safety and ethics.

Comparison of three different sterilization and disinfection methods on orthodontic markers

Background:

Marking pencils which are frequently used in orthodontics may cause microbial contamination. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of three disinfection and sterilization methods (autoclave, glutaraldehyde solution, and Deconex spray) on orthodontic markers.

Materials and Methods:

One hundred and twenty orthodontic markers were divided into four groups each 30 pencils: One control group and three groups for three different disinfection/sterilization methods. To evaluate the effectiveness of these methods, pencils were initially contaminated by common pathogen by immersing the pencils in a suspension containing 1.5 × 10⁸ CFU/ml organisms. Then, the pencils were subjected to corresponding disinfection/sterilization methods, and the number of remaining microorganisms was calculated and compared with control group.

Results:

In the control group, the mean number of Escherichia coli was significantly higher than the other two microorganisms (P = 0.01, P = 0.031). However, the mean numbers of Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans were not significantly different (P = 0.1). After sterilization with autoclave and glutaraldehyde, no microbial growth was observed, whereas after disinfection with Deconx spray some colonies of microorganisms still could be observed.

Conclusion:

Autoclaving and glutaraldehyde solution are the best methods for disinfecting orthodontic markers.