The prevalence of A. actinomycetemcomitans, P. gingivalis and P. intermedia in selected subjects with periodontitis

Abstract. The present study was carried out in a private periodontal practice. 8 clinical criteria were chosen to select patients for microbiological examination. These criteria characterize prominent features of disease which at the start, during, or in the maintenance phase of treatment suggest difficulties in the progress of the periodontal therapy. Based on these clinical characteristics, an inventory was made of the prevalence of the 3 putative periodontal pathogens: Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia. Out of 320 referred patients 91 patients did meet 1 of the clinical criteria and consequently were selected for microbiological examination. Results showed that young patients (19–30 years) with periodontitis demonstrated the presence of A. actinomycetemcomitans more often (69%: p (0.005) compared to older age cohorts. A. actinomycetemcomitans was found more often when localized breakdown (in particular in the 1 st molar and incisor region) was observed and in patient who responded poorly to scaling and rootplaning. P. gingivalis and P. intermedia were most frequently recovered in patients showing primarily a bone loss pattern of angular defects of 5 mm. Retrospectively, these patients were further categorized, based on full mouth radiographs, in (1) patients with primarily horizontal bone loss and (2) patients with primarily angular bony defects. Results showed that A. actinomycetemcomitans occurred less frequently in patients showing horizontal bone loss ( p (0.05).     

Investigating the effects of bone cement, cyanoacrylate glue and marine mussel adhesive protein from Mytilus edulis on human osteoblasts and fibroblasts in vitro

Bone cement is a widely used standard fixation substance in Orthopaedic Surgery. Cyanoacrylate glue is available for wound closure to supplement suturing. The mussel adhesive protein extracted from Mytilus edulis (Cell-Tak©, BD Biosciences, Heidelberg, Germany) is an experimental fixation device used for in vitro purposes of cell adhesion.

The aim of this study is to introduce a cell culture model investigating the effects of commonly applied and experimental glues on human fibroblasts and osteoblasts in vitro. Cells cultured without additives served as a control group. Microscopic examination was performed to evaluate the morphologic changes. An apoptosis test (Apo-Tag©, Chemicon International, Temecula, CA, U.S.A.) was applied to determine the rate of natural cell death at the end of the study.

It could be demonstrated that morphological changes in bone cement are different in fibroblasts and osteoblasts. Osteoblasts seem to grow on bone cement and develop an orderly formation. Fibroblasts grow in a confluent monolayer around bone cement but do not adhere to the cement itself. This is a desirable effect since most Orthopaedic applications aim at osteointegration as opposed to fibrous tissue overgrowth. Apoptosis attributed to bone cement is comparable to the respective natural rate of apoptosis. Cyanoacrylate glue and the mussel adhesive protein lead to an almost complete apoptosis in the investigated cells. Their routine application should be avoided. The developed cell culture model seems appropriate for performing further investigations.     

RP—HPLC法测定苦参素在大鼠胃肠中的吸收动力学

目的：研究苦参素在大鼠胃肠的吸收动力学特征。方法：采用大鼠在体胃肠吸收模型，以HPLC法测定胃肠灌注液中药物的含量。结果：苦参素在胃、十二指肠、空肠、回肠和结肠中的吸收百分率分别为（31.02±10.08）%、（21.13±2.71）%、（28.22±6.09）%、（35.66±9.01）%和（33.12±13.22）%。结论：苦参素在胃和小肠上段中吸收良好，制剂研究应考虑其吸收特征。     

海洋药物资源的微生物的分离技术

海洋微生物是海洋药物的重要资源,资源微生物的分离是开发海洋药物的第一步,本文报道各种资源微生物的分离技术,其包括常规海洋放线菌,细菌和真菌的资源,同样包括极端环境条件下的嗜碱,嗜盐和低的微生物。     

The Ozobranchus leech is a candidate mechanical vector for the fibropapilloma-associated turtle herpesvirus found latently infecting skin tumors on Hawaiian green turtles (Chelonia mydas)

Fibropapillomatosis (FP) of marine turtles is a neoplastic disease of ecological concern. A fibropapilloma-associated turtle herpesvirus (FPTHV) is consistently present, usually at loads exceeding one virus copy per tumor cell. DNA from an array of parasites of green turtles (Chelonia mydas) was examined with quantitative PCR (qPCR) to determine whether any carried viral loads are sufficient to implicate them as vectors for FPTHV. Marine leeches (Ozobranchus spp.) were found to carry high viral DNA loads; some samples approached 10 million copies per leech. Isopycnic sucrose density gradient/qPCR analysis confirmed that some of these copies were associated with particles of the density of enveloped viruses. The data implicate the marine leech Ozobranchus as a mechanical vector for FPTHV. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis of FPTHV gene expression indicated that most of the FPTHV copies in a fibropapilloma have restricted DNA polymerase expression, suggestive of latent infection.     

Burden or benefit? Virus–host interactions in the marine environment

Viruses are the most numerous and diverse biological entities in the oceans. We are now beginning to understand the ecological role of viruses in the marine environment. As a result, we believe that viruses have important roles in both biochemical cycling and structuring of marine communities.     

Primary biliary cirrhosis: a multi‐faced interactive disease involving genetics,environment and the immune response

Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is considered a model autoimmune disease based on several features, including the presence of a highly directed and very specific immune response to mitochondrial autoantigens, a female predominance, a targeted destruction of the biliary epithelium, and homogeneity between patients. It is essentially a chronic progressive cholestatic liver disease characterized by immune‐mediated destruction of small‐ and medium‐sized intrahepatic bile ducts. There is considerable variation in the incidence and prevalence of the disease between regions of the world, although such differences likely reflect not only a true disparity in disease but also differences in awareness; for example, in the United States, PBC is often detected in an asymptomatic stage based on multi‐phasic clinical testing. There has been considerable progress at defining the immune response in this disease, including quantitation of autoreactive T cells against PDC‐E2, the major mitochondrial autoantigen. The overwhelming data suggests that patients develop PBC based on a genetic predisposition and loss of tolerance to one or more environmental agents. In this review, we will present an updated overview of PBC and place it in the context of autoimmunity.     

Emergency Department Presentation of Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome: Two Cases in Marine Corps Recruits

Background: Superior mesenteric artery (SMA) syndrome is a relatively rare etiology of proximal intestinal obstruction. Obstruction results from marked narrowing of the angle between the SMA and aorta, causing compression of the third portion of the duodenum, most commonly as a result of precipitous weight loss. Intermittent non-specific symptoms at presentation often result in a delayed diagnosis, thus the importance of being aware of this condition. Objective: To familiarize emergency physicians with the presentation of SMA syndrome and discuss its diagnosis and management in the emergency department (ED). Case Report: We present two cases of SMA syndrome identified in Marine Corps recruits presenting to our ED. Conclusion: Emergency physicians should include SMA syndrome in the differential diagnosis of abdominal pain and vomiting in individuals with predisposing factors.     

The coastal medicinal plant Vitex rotundifolia: a mini-review on its bioactive compounds and pharmacological activity

Humans have long used natural remedies like plants and herbs to treat disease.Furthermore,research has been ongoing to find alternative pharmaceutical drugs based on traditionally used plants,as natural products show fewer side effects compared to synthetic drugs.Medicinal plants have long been targeted in drug development due to their bioactive compounds like alkaloids,flavonoids,and terpenoids.This is not only the case for terrestrial plants,but marine environments also provide a larger diversity of flora and fauna with medicinal bioactive compounds.Vitex rotundifolia,also known as Beach Vitex,is a coastal plant that has been traditionally used to treat a variety of diseases including premenstrual syndrome,headaches,migraines,colds,and eye pain.There have been many review papers on V.rotundifolia,emphasizing its taxonomy,distribution,and biological activity.Our current mini-review not only summarizes the pharmacology and bioactivity of V.rotundifolia,but it also provides new information on the main bioactive compounds of V.rotundifolia such as flavonoids,phenolic acid,and terpenes and their current pharmacological activity in vitro and in vivo research.This information can be useful for developing new pharmaceutical and nutraceutical agents to treat and manage disease.