Prophylaxis of infective endocarditis for dental procedures Report of a Working party of the European Society of Cardiology

Bacterial endocarditis still remains a serious disease withsignificant morbidity and mortality. In patients with knownvalve disease, most cases are caused by oral viridans streptococci.These organisms are present in vast numbers on the gum marginsand in gum pockets. They cause transient bacteraemia duringeating and tooth brushing. More substantial, but short-livedbacteraemia can occur during dental treatment such as extractionand scaling. Bacteria may then become attached to abnormal endocardiumleading to the development of infective endocarditis. Prophylaxisof endocarditis during dental procedures in patients with knownvalve disease should thus be aimed at reducing the number ofbacteria entering the blood stream and eliminating those thatget there. This can be sought first by good oro-dental hygieneand secondly by the use of prophylactic antibiotics.In thispaper, we set out simple guidelines for practitioners in thosecountries that do not already have recommendations of theirown. They are based on guidelines already in use in the UnitedKingdom, France, Switzerland and the United Stated(1–4)     

Androgen receptor (AR), estrogen receptor-alpha (ER-α) and estrogen receptor-beta (ER-β) expression in the testis of the newt, Triturus marmoratus marmoratus during the annual cycle

Expression of androgen receptor (AR), estrogen receptor alpha (ER-α) and estrogen receptor beta (ER-β) in the testis of the marbled newt ( Triturus marmoratus marmoratus ) was investigated, with special attention to changes during the annual testicular cycle, using light microscopy immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis. Primordial germ cells, primary and secondary spermatogonia and spermatocytes showed a positive reaction to the 3 receptor antibodies during the annual reproductive cycle. Follicular cells were positive to AR, ER-α and ER-β during the spermiogenesis and quiescence periods in the glandular tissue. Interstitial cells showed reactivity to AR, ER-α and ER-β in the spermiogenesis and the quiescence periods, and presented no labelling to these receptors in the proliferative period. These findings suggest that, as in mammals, there is an androgen-estrogen regulation of the function and development of the newt testis.     

The hatching gland cells of trout embryos: characterisation of N- and O-linked oligosaccharides

A histochemical, light and electron microscopy study of the hatching gland cells (HGCs) in incubated 50-d-old trout embryos is reported. The distribution of carbohydrate residues in the glycoconjugates of these cells was studied by means of a battery of 13 different lectins conjugated with horseradish peroxidase (PNA, ConA, LCA, WGA, SBA, UEA-I, HPA, DBA) or digoxigenin (DSA, MAA, AAA, SNA, GNA). Identification of N- and O-linked oligosaccharides in HGCs was performed by application of both chemical and enzymatic treatments. Present results suggest that HGCs are seromucous cells which store both high choriolytic enzyme (HCE) and low choriolytic enzyme (LCE), and that their cytoplasmic granules, endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi complex contain additional sialic acid-rich glycoproteins. The negative charge of these glycoproteins might be responsible for the rapid expansion of mucin to form a highly hydrated gel, which would facilite the action of these enzymes in programmed cell death and might play a major role during the morphogenic events.