Correction to: Clinical and microbiological effects of non-surgical periodontal treatment in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis: a controlled clinical trial

The effect of periodontal treatment on clinical, microbiological and serological parameters of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are scarce and controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of non-surgical periodontal treatment on clinical periodontal status, subgingival bacterial levels of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia, Treponema denticola and RA activity through a controlled clinical trial on individuals with RA and periodontitis (PE). From a convenience sample, 107 individuals were considered eligible and consecutively allocated in four groups: (1) individuals without PE and RA (− PE-RA, n = 30); (2) individuals without PE and with RA (− PE + RA, n = 23); (3) individuals with PE and RA (+ PE + RA, n = 24); and (4) individuals with PE and without RA (+ PE-RA, n = 30). Full-mouth periodontal clinical examinations, microbiological analysis and Disease Activity Score (DAS-28) evaluations were performed at baseline (T1) and 45 days after non-surgical periodontal treatment (T2). At T1, individuals + PE + RA showed greater severity of PE than + PE-RA individuals. At T2, significant reductions were observed in all periodontal clinical parameters in both groups (p < 0.001) with a significant reduction in DAS-28 in + PE + RA (p = 0.011). Individuals + PE-RA and + PE-RA showed significant reductions for all bacteria (p < 0.001). Additionally, P. gingivalis demonstrated an expressively significant reduction in + PE + RA (p < 0.001). Non-surgical periodontal treatment was effective on improving the clinical periodontal condition, improving the RA clinical status and reducing the presence of periodontal pathogens. Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (ReBEC) protocol #RBR-8g2bc8 (https://www.ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/rg/RBR-8g2bc8/).

     

RESOLUTION OF CUTANEOUS LEISHMANIASIS AFTER ACUTE ECZEMA DUE TO INTRALESIONAL MEGLUMINE ANTIMONIATE

We report a case of a 42 year-old female, who came to a leishmaniasis reference center in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, presenting a cutaneous leishmaniasis lesion in the right forearm. Treatment with low-dose intramuscular meglumine antimoniate (MA) (5 mg Sb⁵⁺/kg/day) was initiated, with improvement after 28 days, although with the development of generalized eczema. After 87 days, the lesion worsened. Patient refused treatment with amphotericin B. MA was then infiltrated in the lesion, in two sessions, resulting in local eczema, with bullae formation; however, twenty days after, both the ulcer and eczema receded. Intralesional administration of MA should be used carefully when previous cutaneous hypersensitivity is detected.     

Oral shedding of HSV-1 and EBV and oral manifestations in paediatric chronic kidney disease patients and renal transplant recipients

Objective: Previous research demonstrated that salivary shedding of HSV-1 and EBV occurs often in adult renal transplant recipients, but there is a lack of studies on the presence of them in the saliva of paediatric population. Therefore, the objective of this study is to describe oral characteristics and to compare the shedding profile of HSV-1 and EBV in the saliva of children with renal transplant to that of chronic kidney disease patients and controls.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study involving 100 children, being 25 renal transplant recipients, 25 chronic kidney disease patients and 50 healthy children. Demographic and oral clinical characteristics were assessed. Saliva samples were collected and submitted to screening for EBV and HSV-1 by using nested polymerase chain reaction technique. Fisher’s exact, Pearson’s chi-square and Kruskal–Wallis tests were used for statistical analysis at a significance level of 5%.

Results: Oral shedding of HSV-1 (28%) and EBV (60%) were significantly higher in renal transplant recipients compared to the other groups. Single vesicles in the oral mucosa were statistically associated with the presence of HSV-1 (p?=?.035). In children with chronic kidney disease, there was a higher prevalence of pale oral mucosa (32%) and enamel hypoplasia (40%) compared to paediatric renal transplant recipients and controls. Dental calculus (36%), candidiasis (8%), drug-induced gingival overgrowth (16%), mouth blisters (8%), xerostomia (12%) and salivary gland enlargement (20%) were more common in paediatric renal transplant recipients.

Conclusions: Therefore, it can be concluded that salivary shedding of HSV-1 and EBV in paediatric patients was more often found in renal transplant recipients than in the renal failure and control children. Transplanted recipients showed more oral manifestations than renal failure and control children did.     

Characterization of a novel tymovirus on tomato plants in Brazil

A tymovirus was isolated in Brazil from tomato plants with severe symptoms of leaf mosaic and blistering. The virus was mechanically transmissible to solanaceous indicator host species. The infected plants contained icosahedral particles and chloroplasts with membrane deformations which are typical cytopathic effects caused by tymoviruses. Its coat protein amino acid sequence shares the maximum of 64 % identity with the tymovirus Chiltepin yellow mosaic virus, which suggested that it can be considered as a distinct member of the genus Tymovirus. In a phylogenetic tree, this tymovirus was clustered with other solanaceous-infecting tymoviruses. It was tentatively named as Tomato blistering mosaic virus (ToBMV).     

Genetic Analysis of PARK2 and PINK1 Genes in Brazilian Patients with Early-Onset Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson''s disease is the second most frequent neurodegenerative disorder in the world, affecting 1-2% of individuals over the age of 65. The etiology of Parkinson''s disease is complex, with the involvement of gene-environment interactions. Although it is considered a disease of late manifestation, early-onset forms of parkinsonism contribute to 5–10% of all cases. In the present study, we screened mutations in coding regions of PARK2 and PINK1 genes in 136 unrelated Brazilian patients with early-onset Parkinson''s disease through automatic sequencing. We identified six missense variants in PARK2 gene: one known pathogenic mutation, two variants of uncertain role, and three nonpathogenic changes. No pathogenic mutation was identified in PINK1 gene, only benign polymorphisms. All putative pathogenic variants found in this study were in heterozygous state. Our data show that PARK2 point mutations are more common in Brazilian early-onset Parkinson''s disease patients (2.9%) than PINK1 missense variants (0%), corroborating other studies worldwide.     

Nasal endoscopic and CT scan alterations of the paranasal sinuses as predictors of severity in patients with cystic fibrosis

Cystic Fibrosis (CF) results from mutation in the transmembrane conductance regulator gene, responsible for controlling secretory processes. The upper airways (UA) are usually involved in the form of chronic pansinusitis.ObjectiveTo evaluate UA changes in patients with CF and to establish the correlations between sinonasal CT and endoscopic endonasal findings and disease severity.MethodCross-sectional and prospective study with 20 patients older than 5 years with CF, assessing the Shwachman-Kulczycki (S-K) score, paranasal sinus tomography (CT) (Lund-Mackay score) and nasal endoscopy (Meltzer score).ResultsCT scan alterations were observed in 94% of cases. Endoscopic alterations findings in the upper airways were found in 10 patients. Nasal polyps were found in 3 patients (15%). There was a correlation between the intensity of changes on the CT and S-K score (p = 0.0097), and between endoscopic findings and S-K score (p = 0.0318). There was a positive correlation between the presence of chronic colonization and endoscopic findings (p = 0.0325), which was not observed on the CT (p = 0.2941).ConclusionThere is an inverse correlation between the S-K clinical score and nasal endoscopy and CT findings. Therefore, patients who are clinically more severe according to the S-K score have greater UA involvement.     

Neurotoxic Effects of Solvent Exposure on Sewage Treatment Workers

Nineteen Sewage Treatment Workers (STWs) exposed to industrial sewage that contained benzene, toluene, and other organic solvents at a primary sewage treatment plant in New York City (Plant A) were examined for evidence of solvent toxicity. Fourteen (74%) complained of central nervous system (CNS) symptoms consistent with solvent exposure, including lightheadedness, fatigue, increased sleep requirement, and headache. The majority of these symptoms resolved with transfer from the plant. Men working less than 1 yr at Plant A were more likely to complain of two or more CNS symptoms than men who were working there longer than 1 yr (p = .055). Objective abnormalities in neurobehavioral testing were found in all 4 men working longer than 9 yr at this plant, but in only 5 of 15 employed there for a shorter period (p = .03). These results are consistent with the known effects of solvent exposure. Occupational health personnel must be aware that STWs can be exposed to solvents and other industrial wastes.