Bacteria of dental caries in primary and permanent teeth in children and young adults

Although Streptococcus mutans has been implicated as a major etiological agent of dental caries, our cross-sectional preliminary study indicated that 10% of subjects with rampant caries in permanent teeth do not have detectable levels of S. mutans. Our aims were to use molecular methods to detect all bacterial species associated with caries in primary and permanent teeth and to determine the bacterial profiles associated with different disease states. Plaque was collected from 39 healthy controls and from intact enamel and white-spot lesions, dentin lesions, and deep-dentin lesions in each of 51 subjects with severe caries. 16S rRNA genes were PCR amplified, cloned, and sequenced to determine species identities. In a reverse-capture checkerboard assay, 243 samples were analyzed for 110 prevalent bacterial species. A sequencing analysis of 1,285 16S rRNA clones detected 197 bacterial species/phylotypes, of which 50% were not cultivable. Twenty-two new phylotypes were identified. PROC MIXED tests revealed health- and disease-associated species. In subjects with S. mutans, additional species, e.g., species of the genera Atopobium, Propionibacterium, and Lactobacillus, were present at significantly higher levels than those of S. mutans. Lactobacillus spp., Bifidobacterium dentium, and low-pH non-S. mutans streptococci were predominant in subjects with no detectable S. mutans. Actinomyces spp. and non-S. mutans streptococci were predominant in white-spot lesions, while known acid producers were found at their highest levels later in disease. Bacterial profiles change with disease states and differ between primary and secondary dentitions. Bacterial species other than S. mutans, e.g., species of the genera Veillonella, Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Propionibacterium, low-pH non-S. mutans streptococci, Actinomyces spp., and Atopobium spp., likely play important roles in caries progression.     

Prevalence of dental caries and associated factors in children at day care centers

Currently dental caries is regarded as a public health problem throughout world. Ninety percent of the Latin American population suffers from caries. In Mexico, a research informs of a prevalence of 78% in 5-year-old children from the Southern of the Federal District, while the nearby State of Mexico reports 90% in children the same age that suffers from this same problem. OBJECTIVE: Identifying the prevalence of dental caries, dmf-t and dmf-s indexes, and the relation ship with associated factors in daycare centers of the # 3 Southwest Delegation of the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS). A total of 934 children from ages 1 to 6 years of age from October 1997 to May 1998, were studied; 52.3% were boys and 47.7%, girls. The presence of caries was examined and determined through WHO criteria. Socioeconomic level was identified the parents questionnaire. Prevalence of caries in the population studied was 22.1%; we also found a decayed, missing, filled-teeth index (dmf-t) for the whole population of 0.71. The average of this index was 3.71.     

Genotyping of Cryptosporidium isolates from human clinical cases in Poland

Cryptosporidium spp. infection is usually self-limited in immunocompetent hosts but can be severe and life threatening in children and in immunocompromised individuals including those with primary or acquired immunodeficiencies. One hundred and three faecal samples were collected from 35 hospitalised patients with different symptoms and tested for the presence of the parasite. Cryptosporidium oocysts were found in four of 35 patients (11.4%) using Ziehl–Neelsen staining of faecal smears and immunofluorescence assay, whereas 12 (34.3%) samples tested positive by nested polymerase chain reaction assay. Cryptosporidium DNA was detected in one bile sample but not in a liver tissue biopsy sample collected from a patient who suffered from sclerosing cholangitis. Sequence analysis of oocyst wall protein and beta-tubulin gene fragments revealed three different parasite species (Cryptosporidium hominis, Cryptosporidium meleagridis and Cryptosporidium parvum) in children with primary immunodeficiencies, whereas only C. parvum was found in immunocompetent individuals and in those with secondary immunodeficiencies. This study has revealed a high prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection in hospitalised patients in Poland and confirmed that molecular techniques enable a more sensitive detection of the parasite.     

Development of the pattern of dentition and dental laminae of costa rican plethodontid salamanders (Amphibia: Urodela)

The pattern of development of teeth and dental laminae of three Costa Rican plethodontids (Amphibia, Urodela, Plethodontidae) was investigated using transparent preparations, light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The teeth of the jaws are monostichously positioned, those of the posterior vomeral parts are polystichously arranged. The anterior vomeral parts carry monostichously positioned teeth at the caudal margin; yet, the adult Bolitoglossa subpalmata possesses two lines. As a sex dimorphism adult males display long monocuspid premaxillary teeth which protrude to the outside of the mouth cavity. All species studied possess paired dental laminae in the lower jaw. Nototriton abscondens possesses an unpaired dental lamina in the upper jaw, which is constricted between the unpaired premaxillary and the maxillaries. In contrast, the dental laminae in the upper jaw of B. subpalmata and Oedipina uniformis are segmented into a premaxillary and two maxillary laminae. All species possess a pair of anterior vomeral and a pair of posterior vomeral dental laminae in the adults, whereas the vomeral dental laminae of the subadults are unsegmented. The pattern of dentition is compared with that of Gyrinophilus and Eurycea.     

Salivary changes and dental caries as potential oral markers of autoimmune salivary gland dysfunction in primary Sjogren's syndrome

BACKGROUND: the classification criteria for primary Sjogren's syndrome (pSS) include a number of oral components. In this study we evaluated if salivary flow and composition as well as dental caries are oral markers of disease severity in pSS. METHODS: in 20 patients fulfilling the American-European Consensus criteria for pSS and 20 age-matched healthy controls whole and parotid saliva flow rates and composition, measures of oral dryness, scores of decayed, missing and filled tooth surfaces (DMFS), periodontal indices, oral hygiene, and dietary habits were examined. RESULTS: in pSS, salivary flow rates, pH, and buffer capacities were lower, and DMFS, salivary sodium and chloride concentrations higher than in the healthy controls. DMFS also correlated inversely to salivary flow rates and positively to oral dryness. Apart from slightly increased gingival index, and more frequent dental visits in pSS, the periodontal condition, oral hygiene or sugar intake did not differ between these two groups. In pSS, findings were correlated to labial salivary gland focus score (FS) and presence of serum-autoantibodies to SSA/SSB (AB). The patients having both presence of AB and the highest FS (>2) also had the highest salivary sodium and chloride concentrations, the lowest salivary phosphate concentrations, lowest salivary flow rates, and highest DMFS compared to those with normal salivary concentrations of sodium and chloride at a given flow rate. CONCLUSION: the salivary changes observed in some pSS patients reflect impaired ductal salt reabsorption, but unaffected acinar transport mechanisms, despite low salivary secretion. Our results suggest that changes in salivary flow and composition as well as dental caries may serve as potential markers of the extent of autoimmune-mediated salivary gland dysfunction in pSS. The study also indicates that the ductal epithelium is functionally affected in some pSS patients, which calls for future pathophysiological studies on the mechanisms underlying this impaired salt reabsorption.     

Salivary changes and dental caries as potential oral markers of autoimmune salivary gland dysfunction in primary Sj?gren's syndrome

Background  

the classification criteria for primary Sj?gren's syndrome (pSS) include a number of oral components. In this study we evaluated if salivary flow and composition as well as dental caries are oral markers of disease severity in pSS.     

Coccidia (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) of elk (Alces alces) in Poland

Over a 4-year period, we analyzed 128 fecal samples from free-living elk (Alces alces L., 1758) to determine the prevalence of Eimeria infections and identify the species present. Two eimerian species were isolated including Eimeria alces and a morphotype resembling Eimeria catubrina. Overall, two samples from 128 samples collected were positive for Eimeria (prevalence?=?1.6 %), and the oocyst per gram, estimated with the use of the conventional McMaster quantitative technique, ranged from 50 to 100. Also, E. alces has been found in Lithuania and Belarus and is the only known species of eimerian to infect elk. E. catubrina is a parasite typically infecting roe deer (Capreolus capreolus L., 1758). This is the first report of Eimeria spp. in elk in Poland. Results of our investigation indicate that elk may become infected with an eimerian species that is typical for roe deer, but this requires further investigation.     

Analysis of possible causes of recurrent respiratory tract infections in children from Lodz, Poland

Recurrent respiratory tract infections are responsible for about 85% of all diseases in childhood. Early diagnosis helps to prevent infections and start the appropriate treatment, what in turn prevents lungs from irreversible damage. The aim of this study was the analysis of possible causes of recurrent respiratory tract infections in children in Lodz region. We analyzed cases of 6335 children with recurrent respiratory tract infections, age 3 months to 17 years, referred to the clinic in our hospital by family doctors from 2000 to 2002. Among all children, 41.5% were diagnosed with allergy, 26.9% of patients had persistent Mycoplasma pneumoniae and 1.4% Bordetella pertussis infection. Very disturbing was the fact of very late cystic fibrosis diagnose at the age of 7,11 and 16. Congenital immune disorders were diagnosed late in five children at the age of 6,7,8,9,11, what delayed appropriate therapy and early prevention of infections.     

Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) treatment efficacy in children with primary and secondary glomerulonephritis

Introduction

The aim of our study was to analyse the efficacy and safety of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) as part of the complex immunosuppressive therapy in children with different types of primary and secondary glomerulonephritis, who were not eligible for the standard treatment routine suggested by evidence-based guidelines.

Material and methods

The study group comprised 85 children with proteinuric glomerulopathies hospitalized between 2007 and 2010, who were non-responders to immunosuppressive therapy. The dose of MMF was established as 1 g/m²/24 h. Remission was defined as negative proteinuria in three consecutive urinalyses.

Results

The patients were divided into 4 groups: idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (n = 35), primary glomerulonephritis (n = 15), auto-antibody associated glomerulonephritis (n = 20) and lupus nephropathy (LN, n = 15). Ten patients from the first group (29%) and 5 patients each from the second and third group (34% and 25% respectively) did not respond to MMF therapy. On the other hand, all the children diagnosed with LN have reached clinical and biochemical remission.

Conclusions

Alternative rescue MMF therapy should always be taken into consideration in proteinuric patients who are non-responders to steroids, cyclosporine A and cyclophosphamide in whom the initial glomerular filtration rate is higher than 60 ml/min/1.73m². It is recommended that MMF be administered as part of the standard treatment regimen in patients diagnosed with lupus nephropathy. In these groups of patients, the potent benefits of this therapy are higher than expected side-effects.     

Adhesion of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains to untreated and oxygen-plasma treated poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) from endotracheal intubation devices

Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia is a life threatening complication in mechanically ventilated patients that requires the ability of the bacteria to adhere to, and colonize the endotracheal intubation device. New strategies to prevent or reduce these nosocomial infections are greatly needed. We report here the study of a set of P. aeruginosa clinical isolates, together with specific mutants, regarding their adhesion on native and chemically modified poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) surfaces from endotracheal intubation devices. The adhesion of the different strains to untreated PVC varied widely, correlating with several physico-chemical characteristics known to influence the attachment of bacteria to inert surfaces. The adhesion patterns were compared to the calculations obtained with the DLVO theory of colloidal stability. These results illustrate the importance of testing different clinical isolates when investigating bacterial adhesion. Oxygen plasma treatment of the PVC pieces yielded a hydrophilic surface and reduced the number of adhering bacteria by as much as 70%. This reduction is however unlikely to be sufficient to prevent P. aeruginosa colonization of endotracheal intubation devices.