Helicobacter pylori and oral pathology:Relationship with the gastric infection

Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori)has been found in the oral cavity and stomach,and its infection is one of the most frequent worldwide.We reviewed the literature and conducted a Topic Highlight,which identified studies reporting an association between H.pylori-infection in the oral cavity and H.pylori-positive stomach bacterium.This work was designed to determine whether H.pylori is the etiologic agent in periodontal disease,recurrent aphthous stomatitis(RAS),squamous cell carcinoma,burning and halitosis.Record selection focused on the highest quality studies and meta-analyses.We selected 48 articles reporting on the association between saliva and plaque and H.pylori-infection.In order to assess periodontal disease data,we included 12 clinical trials and 1 meta-analysis.We evaluated 13 published articles that addressed the potential association with RAS,and 6 with squamous cell carcinoma.Fourteen publications focused on our questions on burning and halitosis.There is a close relation between H.pylori infection in the oral cavity and the stomach.The mouth is the first extra-gastric reservoir.Regarding the role of H.pylori in the etiology of squamous cell carcinoma,no evidence is still available.     

The role of the microbiota in periodontal disease

The last decade has witnessed unparalleled advances in our understanding of the complexity of the oral microbiome and the compositional changes that occur in subgingival biofilms in the transition from health to gingivitis and to destructive periodontal disease. The traditional view, which has held sway for the last 2 decades, that disease is characterized by the outgrowth of a consortium, or consortia, of a limited number of potentially pathogenic organisms, has given way to an alternative paradigm. In this new view, the microbiological changes associated with disease represent whole-scale alterations to the overall microbial population structure and to the functional properties of the entire community. Thus, and in common with other microbially mediated diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, the normally balanced, symbiotic, and generally benign commensal microbiome of the tooth-associated biofilm undergoes dysbiosis to a potentially deleterious microbiota. Coincident with progress in defining the microbiology of these diseases, there have been equally important advances in our understanding of the inflammatory systems of the periodontal tissues, their control, and how inflammation may contribute both to the development of dysbiosis and, in a deregulated state, the destructive disease process. One can therefore speculate that the inflammatory response and the periodontal microbiome are in a bidirectional balance in oral health and a bidirectional imbalance in periodontitis. However, despite these clear insights into both sides of the host/microbe balance in periodontal disease, there remain several unresolved issues concerning the role of the microbiota in disease. These include, but are not limited to, the factors which determine progression from gingivitis to periodontitis in a proportion of the population, whether dysbiosis causes disease or results from disease, and the molecular details of the microbial stimulus responsible for driving the destructive inflammatory response. Further progress in resolving these issues may provide significant benefit to diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.     

Role of robotic-assisted pancreatic surgery:lessons learned from our initial experience

BACKGROUND:Minimally invasive surgery has achieved worldwide acceptance in various fields, however, pancreatic surgery remains one of the most challenging abdominal pro-cedures. In fact, the indication for robotic surgery in pancre-atic disease has been controversial. The present study aimed to assess the safety and feasibility of robotic pancreatic resec-tion. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed our experience of robotic pancreatic resection done in Sanchinarro University Hospital. Clinicopathologic characteristics, and perioperative and postoperative outcomes were recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: From October 2010 to April 2016, 50 patients underwent robotic-assisted surgery for different pancreatic pathologies. All procedures were performed using the da Vinci robotic system. Of the 50 patients, 26 were male and 24 female. The average age of all patients was 62 years. Operative time was 370minutes. Among the procedures performed were 16 pancreaticoduodenectomies (PD), 23 distal pan-createctomies (DP), 11tumor enucleations (TE). The mean hospital stay was 17.6 days in PD group, 9.0 days in DP group and 8.4 days in TE group. Pancreatic fistula occurred in 10 cases (20%), 2 after PD, 3 after DP, and 5 after TE. Four pa-tients had postoperativetransfusion in PD group and one in DP group. Conversion to open laparotomy occurred in four patients (8%). No serious intraoperative complications were observed. CONCLUSIONS:From our early experience, robotic pancre-atic surgery is a safe and feasible procedure. Further experi-ence and follow-up are required to confirm the role of robotic approach in pancreatic surgery.     

Ethanol Untangles the Amygdala‐Anxiety Circuit Through Tonic GABA Inhibition

The central amygdala (CeA) has a unique role in integrating stress and the rewarding effects of ethanol (EtOH) and plays a major role in the development of EtOH dependence via signaling of corticotropin‐releasing factor (CRF). A recent report by Herman and colleagues (2013) entitled “Novel Subunit‐Specific Tonic GABA Currents and Differential Effects of Ethanol in the Central Amygdala of CRF Receptor‐1 Reporter Mice” is the first study to investigate inhibitory tonic currents in relation to CRF signaling in the CeA. The findings of that study significantly enhance our understanding of inhibitory tonic currents in the CeA and give insight into how EtOH may differentially affect CRF signaling within the CeA, leading to the development of EtOH dependence. This commentary will focus on the recent findings of Herman and colleagues and will discuss the effects of EtOH on the entire anxiety/emotion circuitry.     

Impact of a Standardized Titration Protocol with Carvedilol in Heart Failure: Safety,Tolerability, and Efficacy—A Report from the GESICA Registry

Grupo de Estudio de la Sobrevida en la Insuficiencia Cardiaca en Argentina (GESICA) studied whether a standardized protocol for the initiation and titration of the β-blocker carvedilol in a multicenter, open-label program would optimize β-blocker use in heart failure (HF) patients. The program included: (1) the carvedilol initiation and titration period, and (2) long-term follow-up at 6 and 12 months. Of 1299 patients in the registry, 504 were excluded due to current therapy; of the remaining 795 eligible patients, 293 were excluded due to contraindications. Of the included patients with follow-up data (n = 316), 93.3% tolerated carvedilol initiation and 47.7% of the patients reached the target dose of 50 mg/day for a mean dose of 39 mg/day. Rates were comparable in the elderly (n = 83), of which 53% achieved a target dose for a mean dose of 43.08 mg/day. This protocol improved therapy rates and achieved target doses quickly (average of 4 visits). Concomitant medications did not have to be adjusted and there were low withdrawal rates (10%) and hospital admissions (7.2%) for HF. Patients were able to maintain carvedilol therapy at 6 and 12 months. These results indicate that a standardized titration protocol, as used in GESICA, for the initiation and titration of β-blockers is well tolerated and may improve β-blocker use in carefully selected heart failure patients.The study authors are members of the GESICA Steering Committee and Subcommittees     

First isolation of West Nile virus in the Caribbean

A sentinel chicken program for West Nile virus (WNV) surveillance was initiated in July 2006 in eastern Puerto Rico, yielding the first seroconversions on June 4, 2007. WNV was isolated from sentinel chicken serum and mosquito pools (Culex nigripalpus, Culex bahamensis) for the first time in Tropical America. Preliminary sequence analysis of the prM and E genes revealed a 1-amino acid difference (V159A) between the Puerto Rican 2007 and the NY99. This mutation has been observed in the current dominant clade circulating in the United States. Sentinel chicken surveillance was a useful tool for the detection of West Nile virus in the tropics.