Microbial Analysis of Subgingival Plaque Samples Compared to That of Whole Saliva in Patients With Periodontitis

Background: The detection of special bacterial species in patients with periodontitis is considered to be useful for clinical diagnosis and treatment. The collection of subgingival plaque samples is the common way for the determination of periodontopathic bacteria. However, recently, salivary analysis has been discussed as an advantageous future diagnostic method for periodontitis because it offers simple quantitative sampling and the possibility to assess various bacteria. The aim of this cross‐sectional study is to investigate whether there is a correlation between the results of different bacterial species in saliva and subgingival plaque samples from individuals with aggressive periodontitis (AgP) and chronic periodontitis (CP). Methods: Whole saliva and subgingival plaque samples from the deepest pocket of each quadrant were collected from 43 patients with CP and 33 patients with AgP. Twenty different bacterial species from both samplings were determined by the 16S ribosomal RNA‐based polymerase chain reaction with microarray technique. Results: All bacterial species were detected in salivary and subgingival plaque samples. For Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Treponema denticola, and Tannerella forsythia, as well as Actinomyces viscosus, Campylobacter rectus/showae, Prevotella intermedia, Parvimonas micra, Eubacterium nodatum, and Campylobacter gracilis, a significant positive correlation between salivary and subgingival plaque samples was detected in patients with both types of periodontitis. There were no significant differences in bacteria in salivary and subgingival plaque samples between AgP and CP. Conclusion: Salivary analysis might be discussed as a potential alternative to subgingival plaque sampling for microbiologic analysis in both AgP and CP.     

The angiogenic behaviors of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) in co-culture with osteoblast-like cells (MG-63) on different titanium surfaces

Objectives

Interaction between osteogenesis and angiogenesis plays an important role in implant osseointegration. In the present study we investigated the influence of titanium surface properties on the angiogenic behaviors of endothelial cells grown in direct contact co-culture with osteoblasts.

Methods

Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and osteoblast-like cells (MG-63 cells) were grown in direct co-culture on the following titanium surfaces: acid-etched (A), hydrophilic A (modA), coarse-gritblasted and acid-etched (SLA) and hydrophilic SLA (SLActive). Cell proliferation was evaluated by cell counting combined with flow cytometry. The expression of von Willebrand Factor (vWF), thrombomodulin (TM), endothelial cell protein C receptor (EPCR), E-Selectin, as well as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptors Flt-1 and KDR in HUVECs and VEGF in MG-63 were measured by qPCR. The dynamic behavior of endothelial cells was recorded by time-lapse microscopy.

Results

Proliferation of HUVECs was highest on A, followed by SLA, modA and SLActive surfaces. The expression of vWF, TM, EPCR, E-Selectin and Flt-1 in HUVECs was significantly higher on A than on all other surfaces. The expression of KDR in HUVECs grown on A surface was below detection limit. VEGF expression in MG-63 cells was significantly higher on SLActive vs SLA and modA vs A surfaces. Time-lapse microscopy revealed that HUVECs moved quickest and formed cell clusters earlier on A surface, followed by SLA, modA and SLActive surface.

Conclusions

In co-culture conditions, proliferation and expression of angiogenesis associated genes in HUVECs are promoted by smooth hydrophobic Ti surface, which is in contrast to previous mono-culture studies.     

Molecular responses and chromosomal aberrations in patients with polycythemia vera treated with peg‐proline‐interferon alpha‐2b

Fifty‐one polycythemia vera (PV) patients were enrolled in the phase I/II clinical study PEGINVERA to receive a new formulation of pegylated interferon alpha (peg‐proline‐IFNα‐2b, AOP2014/P1101). Peg‐proline‐IFNα‐2b treatment led to high response rates on both hematologic and molecular levels. Hematologic and molecular responses were achieved for 46 and 18 patients (90 and 35% of the whole cohort), respectively. Although interferon alpha (IFNα) is known to be an effective antineoplastic therapy for a long time, it is currently not well understood which genetic alterations influence therapeutic outcomes. Apart from somatic changes in specific genes, large chromosomal aberrations could impact responses to IFNα. Therefore, we evaluated the interplay of cytogenetic changes and IFNα responses in the PEGINVERA cohort. We performed high‐resolution SNP microarrays to analyze chromosomal aberrations prior and during peg‐proline‐IFNα‐2b therapy. Similar numbers and types of chromosomal aberrations in responding and non‐responding patients were observed, suggesting that peg‐proline‐IFNα‐2b responses are achieved independently of chromosomal aberrations. Furthermore, complete cytogenetic remissions were accomplished in three patients, of which two showed more than one chromosomal aberration. These results imply that peg‐proline‐IFNα‐2b therapy is an effective drug for PV patients, possibly including patients with complex cytogenetic changes. Am. J. Hematol. 90:288–294, 2015. © 2014 The Authors. American Journal of Hematology published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Long‐term dosing patterns of enteric‐coated mycophenolate sodium or mycophenolate mofetil with tacrolimus after renal transplantation

MORE was a four‐yr, prospective, observational study at 40 transplant centers in the US. Data were analyzed to evaluate changes in mycophenolic acid (MPA) dosing over time in 904 de novo kidney transplant recipients receiving enteric‐coated mycophenolate sodium (EC‐MPS, n = 616) or mycophenolate mofetil (MMF, n = 288) with tacrolimus. Induction therapy and steroid treatment were similar in the two subpopulations. The proportion of patients receiving the maximal recommended MPA dose was 80.5%, 43.9%, 39.2%, 34.6%, and 30.1% at baseline and years 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. More patients received the maximal recommended MPA dose with EC‐MPS vs. MMF at month 1 (79.2% vs. 71.7%, p = 0.016), month 3 (68.5% vs. 56.9%, p = 0.001), and month 6 (52.9% vs. 44.0%, p = 0.028). Multivariate analysis showed the risk of biopsy‐proven acute rejection, graft loss or death to be similar for EC‐MPS vs. MMF. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was similar with EC‐MPS vs. MMF at all time points. There were no significant differences in any category of adverse event between the EC‐MPS and MMF cohorts during follow‐up, including gastrointestinal events. In conclusion, MPA dose was maintained more effectively in the first six months after kidney transplantation using EC‐MPS vs. MMF, without an increase in adverse events.     

The Role of Endoscopy in the Management of Pancreatic Necrosis

The management of acute pancreatitis has seen many advances over the past three decades. Attempts to improve care have led to new definitions, classification systems, and treatment strategies. Despite those efforts, considerable morbidity and mortality result from complications of severe acute pancreatitis. Much attention has been given to new ways to treat these complications, including inflammatory pancreatic fluid collections and associated infections. Endoscopy has become one of the established modalities for the treatment of these complications in many expert centers. This chapter will specifically address the role of endoscopy in the management of pancreatic necrosis.     

Salivary MRP-8/14 and the presence of periodontitis-associated bacteria in children with bonded maxillary expansion treatment

Clinical Oral Investigations - The aim of this study was to investigate changes in saliva concentration of the inflammatory marker MRP-8/14 and the presence of some periodontitis-associated...     

Skin reactivity to histamine and to allergens in unselected 9-year-old children living in Poland and Italy

Several studies have shown a higher prevalence of positive skin‐prick tests to airborne allergens in Western than in Eastern European countries. We have recently reported that skin histamine reactivity significantly increased in Italy over the past 15 years. Population differences in skin histamine reactivity could, at least in part, explain the reported differences in positive allergen skin tests. To test this hypothesis we compared histamine skin reactivity and the prevalence of allergen positive skin‐prick tests in a sample of Italian and Polish schoolchildren. A total of 336 unselected 9‐year‐old‐schoolchildren (198 in Italy and 138 in Poland) underwent skin‐prick tests with three different histamine concentrations (10, 1 and 0.2 mg/ml) and with a panel of common airborne allergens according to the ISAAC protocol, phase two. Mean wheals elicited by skin‐prick tests with the three serial concentrations of histamine were significantly larger (p < 0.001) and shifted more toward higher values (p < 0.001) in Italian than in Polish children. The differences were greater for the intermediate histamine concentration tested (1 mg/ml) than for the highest concentration (10 mg/ml). Skin‐prick tests for airborne allergens were more frequently positive in Italian children: wheals ≥ 3 mm induced by any allergen [odds ratio (OR) 1.69; confidence interval (CI) 0.98–2.92] by Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (OR 1.92; CI 0.97–3.80) and by D. farinae (OR 3.15; CI 1.16–8.63). Labeling as positive allergen wheal reactions half the size of the 10 mg/ml histamine wheal or larger reduced but did not abolish the Italian–Polish differences. The significantly higher skin histamine reactivity observed in Italian children could help to explain why allergen skin‐test reactions differ in the East and West European populations. Moreover, differences in nonallergen‐specific factors among populations should be considered in the interpretation of skin test results (e.g. cut‐off points). To obtain meaningful results, epidemiological studies of allergies should include serial histamine dilutions.