Comparative Clinical Study of Two Tooth Bleaching Protocols with 6% Hydrogen Peroxide

Objective. The objective was to compare the clinical efficacy of two different tooth bleaching protocols after 1 and 2 weeks of treatment with an over-the-counter paint-on gel containing 6% hydrogen peroxide. Material and methods. Sixteen volunteer patients (minimum shade A2 or darker on maxillary teeth) were selected to participate in this randomized, single-blind (examiner-blinded), single-center, 2-group clinical trial using a divided mouth model. The product was applied in our clinic to one hemi-arch (Group I) in each patient at two sessions one week apart, making five applications at each session (separated by 10 min intervals). The patients themselves applied the product once a day for 10 days in the other hemiarch (Group II). Efficacy was measured according to the Vita Classical shade guide at baseline and at one and two weeks. Differences between groups (office-treated vs. home-treated hemiarches) were tested by repeated-measures analysis of variance. Results. Significant (P < .05) differences in shade values were detected between pre- and post-bleaching in both groups. The two groups did not significantly differ in tooth shade at the end of the treatment. Conclusions. Treatment with 6% hydrogen peroxide gel using the paint-on system shows significant clinical efficacy whether applied by clinicians or by the patients themselves

RedLabRA; a Spanish Network of Microbiology Laboratories for the Surveillance of Antibiotic Resistant Microorganisms

Factor de impacto: 1,553 Q4There is an urgent need to control the clinical and public health impact that antibiotic resistance (AR) causes worldwide. Any measure for its control must be based on an up-to-date and comprehensive knowledge of the situation. However, it is difficult to determine the current dimension of AR because a large part of the available information is based on heterogeneous, insufficiently unified and retrospective data. The integration of genomic information in the surveillance of AR is another important factor for improvement. The Spanish Network of Laboratories for the Surveillance of Resistant Microorganisms (RedLabRA) is a structured network of interconnected microbiology laboratories developed within the Spanish National Plan against Antibiotic Resistance. Its main objective is to support the diagnosis of resistance to antibiotics, integrating molecular characterization in the surveillance.S

Applications of 1H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy in Clinical Microbiology

Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) is a spectroscopic technique usually used for structural determination of molecules. In recent years, this technique has been employed for easy and quick recognition of microorganisms, in antimicrobial susceptibility tests and even for the diagnosis of different infectious conditions. Though 1H NMR shows great potential for expanded applications in microbiological studies, to date applications of proton NMR to microbiological research are not totally standardized. In this chapter, we summarize the state of knowledge about 1H NMR and its current and potential applications in this field

Evolution of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae at the global and national level : What should be expected in the future?

In recent years, Enterobacteriaceae isolates have increased their potential to become highly drug resistant by acquiring resistance to carbapenems, primarily due to the production of acquired carbapenemases. The carbapenemases detected in Enterobacteriaceae are largely of the KPC, VIM, NDM, IMP and OXA-48 types. Although the epidemiological origin and geographic distribution of carbapenemases are clearly different, they all first appeared in the late 20th Century. Only a decade later, these enzymes have already become established and have expanded globally. An important epidemiological change has occurred in Spain in recent years, characterized by a rapid increase in the number of cases of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE), causing both nosocomial outbreaks and single infections. The impact of CPE in Spain is primarily due to OXA-48-producing and VIM-1-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates, although other species such as Escherichia coli and Enterobacter cloacae are also increasing. The emergence of CPE as a cause of community-onset infections is a matter of great concern. Taking into account recent experience, and considering the fact that increasing numbers of patients are becoming infected by CPE and reservoirs of carbapenemases are growing globally, the trend of the CPE epidemic points toward a rise in its incidence. To prevent a massive CPE pandemic, a well-coordinated response from all health professionals and national and supranational authorities is clearly needed

Increased Amoxicillin–Clavulanic Acid Resistance in Escherichia coli Blood Isolates, Spain

To determine the evolution and trends of amoxicillin–clavulanic acid resistance among Escherichia coli isolates in Spain, we tested 9,090 blood isolates from 42 Spanish hospitals and compared resistance with trends in outpatient consumption. These isolates were collected by Spanish hospitals that participated in the European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System network from April 2003 through December 2006

Construyendo la alternativa sanitaria para la Comunidad de Madrid. La sanidad solidaria, eficiente y de calidad que legaremos a la siguiente generación

Este Libro Blanco es el resultado del esfuerzo de muchas personas; quizás la razón más importante es la dolorosa conciencia de que la situación sanitaria de Madrid es intolerable. Madrid no puede seguir con el actual proceso de deterioro y confrontación en su Sistema Público de Salud. Madrid es una de las Comunidades Autónomas peor gobernadas en lo sanitario; el radicalismo ideológico la aparta de otras experiencias de gobierno de centro-derecha; el sectarismo partidario reduce la libertad para expresar y trabajar problemas y consolida modelos cortesanos y clientelares en el ámbito directivo y profesional; y la incompetencia creciente en políticas sectoriales lleva a la Comunidad de Madrid a un estilo de gobierno de ignorancia atrevida donde no se rectifican los errores sino que se profundizan y agrandan. Para mucha gente de distintas ideologías y sensibilidades, esto es simplemente inaceptable. La sanidad es un tema demasiado importante para los ciudadanos, como para exigir y exigirnos un gran esfuerzo de construcción de propuestas que permitan recuperar la senda de la racionalidad y del consenso básico entre todos los agentes políticos, sociales y ciudadanos. Por eso, los que queremos a la sanidad pública, y creemos que es posiblemente el servicio de bienestar más importante para crear sociedades justas y decentes, hemos dado un paso al frente, y hemos decidido hacer algo. En este punto ha habido una feliz coincidencia con la iniciativa de Tomás Gómez, el Secretario General del Partido Socialista de Madrid, de buscar un puente hacia el ámbito técnico y profesional del sector sanitario para explorar alternativas de cambio. Este encuentro se materializó en una encomienda para hacer un Libro Blanco. El encargo de estudios y propuestas para basar las políticas en la mejor evidencia y criterios disponibles, revela una actitud de respeto al conocimiento y la experiencia técnica; y en éste caso es particularmente meritoria, porque está siendo cada vez más inusual en nuestro medio. La construcción de alternativas tiene también algunos peligros. La irracionalidad técnica y la pasión privatizadora del ejecutivo autonómico permiten hacer una crítica excesivamente fácil, y con poco esfuerzo. Deslizarse por la impugnación de toda medida impopular es una tentación tan irresistible como precaria, pues hipoteca el futuro al sólo posicionarse negativamente, y no emplear el tiempo y la energía necesaria para articular un discurso y una estrategia alternativa.Presentación.Índice.Introducción.Prólogo de Tomás Gómez.Capítulos del Libro:Buen gobierno de la sanidad de Madrid.Madrid, comunidad saludable.Ciudadanía Sanitaria.Rediseñando el Servicio Madrileño de Salud (SERMAS).Compromiso por la sostenibilidad.Nota de los Editores.Recomendaciones.Decálogo.Cómo participar-apoyar.Enlace

Selective Oxidation of Glycerol via Acceptorless Dehydrogenation Driven by Ir(I)-NHC Catalysts

After pandemic, healthcare workers experienced a series of emotional and psychological disturbances that could impact their mental well-being. In this study, the feasibility of morphological characteristics of photoplethysmographic (PPG) waveform to quantify stress and depression level posed by COVID-19 in first-line healthcare workers is explored. Results show that higher stress and depression level are moderately correlated with large systolic amplitude and parameters that might indicate early wave reflection. These results suggest that an arterial stiffness, quantified with PPG morphological characteristics, could provide valuable information in assessing mental healt

Production of HlyA and ClyA haemolysins among quinolone-resistant Escherichia coli isolated from clinical samples

Most Escherichia coli resistant to quinolones are not haemolytic. The objective of this study was to determine the phylogroup, clonal relationship, mechanism of quinolone resistance and virulence factors in 70 haemolytic E. coli resistant to nalidixic acid. Sixty-six isolates contained the hlyA gene, belonged to phylogroup B2, and 61 of them presented low-level resistance to fluoroquinolones. Four isolates presented high-level resistance to fluoroquinolones, contained the clyA gene and were included in phylogroup D. One single isolate (phylogroup D, with low level resistance to fluoroquinolones) contained both cytotoxins.Supported by Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain, co-financed by European Development Regional Fund “A way to achieve Europe” ERDF, Spanish Network for the Research in Infectious Diseases (REIPI RD12/0015). Alicia Márquez-López was supported by the REIPI and has been supported by a grant from the Instituto de Formación e Investigación Marqués de Valdecilla (IFIMAV), Santander, Spain. We want to thank Eduardo López for his review of English version of the manuscript.S