Exposure and sensitization to dust mite allergens among asthmatic children in Sao Paulo, Brazil

A group of 20 mite allergic asthmatic children aged 6-12 years old. living in Sao Paulo, Brazil, was studied regarding their degree of sensitization to house dust mites and exposure to mite allergens in their homes. In 18 out of 20 houses at least one dust sample was obtained which contained > 10 μg Der p I/g of dust. The highest levels of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinm allergens, Der p I and Group II, were measured in bedding samples (geometric mean 38.4 and 36.6 μg/g, respectively), followed by bedroom floor, TV room and kitchen. Mite allergen levels in Brazilian houses were as high as those reported to be associated with sensitization and acute attacks of asthma in other parts of the world. In keeping with previous reports that D. farinae is rarely found in Brazil, Der fl was undetectable or found in very low levels (<0.5 μg/g). Levels of cat allergen Pel d I of > 8 μg/g of dust were obtained only in 2 houses only. Cockroach allergen Bia g I was detected in five out of 20 houses. Levels of IgE antibodies to D. pteronyssinus were > 200 RAST U/ml in 19 out of 20 children (geometric mean 1588 RAST U/ml). IgE antibodies to cat, cockroach, A. fumigatus, ragweed and rye grass pollens were undetectable or <80 RAST U/ml. IgE antibodies to the mite Blomia tropicalix were also measured, and levels >200 RAST U/ml were observed in 13 out of 20 sera. Immunoabsorption studies demonstrated that the bulk of the IgE- antibody to B. tropicafis (64%) was to species-specific allergens and that 36% were cross-reactive with D. pteronyssinus. The implication of our results is that management of children with asthma in São Paulo should include skin testing for allergy to both Dermatophagoides and B. tropicalis as well as recommendations about environmental control of house dust mite exposure.     

EXPERIMENTAL MODEL FOR TREATMENT OF EXTENDED SPECTRUM BETALACTAMASE PRODUCING-KLEBSIELLA PNEUMONIAE

Background

Animal models are useful to evaluate the efficacy of antimicrobials in experimental sepsis.

Aim

To elucidate the steps of producing an experimental model for the treatment of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae sepsis

Methods

Several ESBL inoculums ranging from 1.5x10⁹ colony-forming units per milliliter (CFU/mL) to 2.0x10¹⁰CFU/mL were administered by peritoneal injection in adults Wistar rats. Outcomes and microbiological data of quantitative peritoneal and blood cultures were observed in untreated animals. Animals which received 2.0x10¹⁰CFU/mL inoculums were treated with single meropenem dose (30mg/kg) after one hour and those which received 1.0x10¹⁰CFU/mL inoculums were treated immediately with three doses of meropenem 50 mg/kg. Outcomes were observed for 24 hours after inoculation.

Results

Solutions with 1.5 x10⁹ and 6.0x10⁹ CFU/mL were not lethal within 24 hours. Inoculums of 1.0x10¹⁰CFU/mL were lethal in 80% and solutions with 2.0x10¹⁰ CFU/mL were lethal in 100% of animals. ESBL lethal sepsis (1.0x10¹⁰CFU/mL) was treated immediately with 50 mg/kg of meropenem every eight hours for 24 hours and presented 40% mortality compared with 80% mortality of the control group (p=0.033). Quantitative cultures of peritoneal fluid presented 10⁴CFU/mL or less for treated animals compared to more than 10⁵ for untreated animals (p=0.001).

Conclusion

Inoculums of 1.0x10¹⁰CFU/mL achieved the best results to study a model of lethal sepsis and this model of treatment of carbapenem-susceptible Enterobacteriaceae can serve as control to further evaluation of treatment of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae models.     

Is there an association between anxiety/depression and temporomandibular disorders in college students?

Objective

Considering the high incidence of Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD) in the population aged 15-30 years and the fact that students are exposed to stressful psychosocial factors, the purposes of this study were: to verify clinical symptoms and jaw functionality in college students with TMD according to the anxiety/depression (A/D) level and to evaluate the correlation between A/D and functionality, maximum mouth opening (MMO) and pain and muscle activity.

Material and Methods

Nineteen students with TMD diagnosed according to the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders underwent two assessments during an academic semester. The evaluations were based on questionnaires (MFIQ - Mandibular Function Impairment Questionnaire; HADS - Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), clinical measurements (MMO without pain, MMO and assisted MMO; palpation of joint and masticatory muscles), and electromyography. The HADS scores obtained in the two assessments were used to classify all data as either "high" or "low" A/D. Data normality, differences and correlations were tested with the Shapiro-Wilk test, Student''s t-test (or the Wilcoxon test), and Spearman test, respectively. The alpha level was set at 0.05.

Results

None of the clinical variables were significantly different when comparing low and high A/D data. In low A/D there was a significant correlation between HADS score and: MFIQ (P=0.005, r=0.61), and MMO without pain (P=0.01, r=-0.55).

Conclusions

Variation in A/D level did not change clinical symptoms or jaw functionality in college students with TMD. Apparently, there is a correlation between TMJ functionality and A/D level, which should be further investigated, taking into account the source of the TMD and including subjects with greater functional limitation.     

Passive fit of frameworks in titanium and palladium–silver alloy submitted the laser welding

Summary  This study evaluated the precision of fit of implant frameworks cast in titanium (cp Ti) and palladium–silver alloy (Pd-Ag), made by the one-piece cast and laser welding techniques. From a metal matrix with five implants, 20 master casts were obtained, to which replicas of implants were incorporated. On these masters 10 frameworks were made for each type of material (cp Ti and Pd-Ag alloy). Half of these were made by the one-piece cast technique and the other half by the laser welding technique. The implant/prosthesis interface was analysed and measured in the vestibular and lingual regions of the central and distal implants with the help of a measuring microscope. The results indicated that in the central cylinders, the Tukey test ( P  < 0·0005) showed a significant difference in the passive fit between the laser-welded frameworks (34·73 μm) and those one-piece cast frameworks (151·39 μm), and as regards materials, the palladium–silver alloy (66·30 μm) showed better results than the titanium (119·83 μm). In the distal cylinders there was no significant difference between the frameworks cast in titanium and palladium–silver by the one-piece technique. However, after laser welding, there was a significant difference for the frameworks cast in titanium (31·37 μm) and palladium–silver (106·59 μm).