Effects of flavonoids on prostaglandin E2 production and on COX-2 and mPGES-1 expressions in activated macrophages

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) has a central role in inflammation and both cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and prostaglandin E synthases are critical enzymes in its synthesis. In inflammation, bacterial products and cytokines enhance the expression of COX-2 and inducible microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 (mPGES-1) which are functionally coupled to result in increased PGE2 formation in macrophages and tissue cells. In the present study, we systematically investigated the effects of 26 naturally occurring flavonoids on PGE2 production and on COX-2 and mPGES-1 expression in activated macrophages. Twelve flavonoids, i.e., flavone, luteolin-7-glucoside, kaempferol, isorhamnetin, morin, quercetin, naringenin, taxifolin, pelargonidin, daidzein, genistein, and genistin effectively inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced PGE2 production. Four flavonoids (flavone, isorhamnetin, daidzein, and genistein) inhibited significantly LPS-induced COX-2 expression, while mPGES-1 expression was downregulated by kaempferol and isorhamnetin. The present study characterizes the effects of flavonoids on PGE2 production and on COX-2 and mPGES-1 expression in activated macrophages. The results add to our knowledge of the anti-inflammatory actions of flavonoids and introduce kaempferol and isorhamnetin as compounds capable of downregulating the expression of mPGES-1.     

Characterization of infecting strains and superantigen-neutralizing antibodies in Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia

Staphylococcus aureus superantigens (SAgs) are highly potent T cell mitogens. Antibodies against non-enterotoxin gene cluster (non-egc) SAgs are common in healthy adults, whereas neutralizing antibodies against egc SAgs are rare. We investigated the infecting S. aureus strains and the anti-SAg antibody response during S. aureus bacteremia (SAB). This prospective clinical study (www.clinicaltrials.gov, NCT00548002) included 43 injection drug users (IDUs) and 44 group-matched nonaddicts with SAB. spa genotypes and SAg gene patterns (multiplex PCR) of the S. aureus isolates were determined. The neutralizing capacities of sera obtained at the acute phase and the convalescent phase of SAB were tested against the SAg cocktail of the respective infecting strain and a panel of recombinant SAgs. The lineages CC59 and CC30 were more prevalent among bacteremia strains from IDUs than among strains from nonaddicts. SAg gene patterns in isolates from IDUs and nonaddicts were similar. At the acute phase of bacteremia, IDUs had more neutralizing antibodies against non-egc SAgs than did nonaddicts. Antibody titers frequently increased during infection. In contrast, there were no neutralizing antibodies against egc SAgs at disease onset and such antibodies were not induced by SAB. SAB triggers an antibody response only against non-egc SAgs. Preimmunization in IDU patients is probably due to previous exposure to the infecting strain.     

Cardiometabolic profile of people screened for high risk of type 2 diabetes in a national diabetes prevention programme (FIN-D2D)

AimsTo study screening of high-risk individuals as part of a national diabetes prevention programme in primary health care settings in Finland between 2003 and 2007, and evaluate the cardiometabolic risk profile of persons identified for intervention.MethodsHigh-risk individuals were identified by the Finnish Diabetes Risk Score (FINDRISC), history of impaired fasting glucose (IFG), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), cardiovascular disease (CVD), or gestational diabetes. Participants subsequently underwent an oral glucose tolerance test. CVD morbidity risk was estimated by the Framingham Study Risk Equation and CVD mortality risk by the Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation Formula (SCORE).ResultsA high-risk cohort of 10,149 (of whom 30.3% men) was identified (mean age 54.7 for men, 53.0 for women). Altogether 18.8% of men and 11.5% of women had screen-detected diabetes. In total 68.1% of men and 49.4% of women had abnormal glucose tolerance (IFG, IGT or screen-detected diabetes). Furthermore, 43.2% and 41.5% of men, and 13.3% and 11.3% of women, respectively, had a high predicted risk of CVD morbidity or mortality.ConclusionPrevalence of dysglycemia including undiagnosed diabetes and the predicted risk for CVD was alarmly high in the identified high-risk cohort, particularly in men.     

Comparing the caries-preventive effect of two fissure sealing modalities in public health care: a single application of glass ionomer and a routine resin-based sealant programme. A randomized split-mouth clinical trial

AIM: The aim of this study was to compare the caries-preventive effect of two types of sealant modalities and to evaluate whether the caries-preventive effect is related to sealant retention. A hypothesis was tested in which a glass ionomer sealant, once applied to the occlusal surface, was able to protect the fissure from caries even if the sealant appeared lost at visual inspection. DESIGN: A 3-year randomized split-mouth trial evaluating two sealant modalities was performed at a public health centre in Finland. A chemically curing glass ionomer cement (GIC) and light-curing resin-based (RB) sealant material were applied randomly to the permanent second molars. Sealant application as a routine treatment procedure was carried out to 599 children in the age group of 12-16 years. Caries rate of the sealed teeth and sealant retention with both materials were analysed by a modified McNemar's test. The effectiveness, rate difference, and relative risk with both sealant materials were measured. RESULTS: The difference in caries rate between the two modalities was highly significant. When compared to the GIC sealant method, the effectiveness of RB sealant method was 74.1% and the rate difference 3.2% (95% CI 1.44%, 4.98%). The relative risk for RB-sealed surfaces vs. GIC-sealed surfaces of having detectable dentin caries was 0.26 (95% CI 0.12, 0.57). The retention rate of sealants was higher with RB than GIC (P < 0.001). The effectiveness of the retention rate for RB sealants was 94.8% and the rate difference 87.2% (95% CI 83.86%, 90.50%). The relative risk during the 3-year study period of having a defective or lost RB sealant was 0.052 (95% CI 0.036, 0.075) when compared to having a defective or lost GIC sealant. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that in preventing dentin caries a RB sealant programme including resealing when necessary was more effective than a single application of GIC. The original hypothesis was thus falsified.     

Plunging ranula – patient characteristics,treatment, and comparison between different populations

Objectives: To review our clinical experience and characteristics of Finnish patients with plunging ranula and compare our results with reports from other populations.

Design: A retrospective study from the electronic hospital records between 2005 and 2016.

Setting: The Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery of Helsinki University Hospital, Finland.

Results: We describe the characteristics and treatment of 41 patients with MRI-confirmed plunging ranula. Most of our patients were young adults and 88% of them were male. Surgery and sclerotherapy were used for treatment.

Conclusions: The vast majority of Finnish plunging ranula patients in our cohort were male, suggesting significant population-related differences in plunging ranula gender distribution. Transoral surgery seemed to result in lowest recurrence rate and was the most common treatment in our clinic.