Serotypes of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans in relation to periodontal status and geographic origin of individuals-a review of the literature

Objectives: Several studies have focused on the relationship among serotype distribution, ethnical status and geo - graphic populations, and periodontal conditions. Studies that have investigated the prevalence and the distribution of A. actinomycetemcomitans serotypes and the relation between the different serotypes of the bacterium and periodontal status were reviewed. Material and Methods: A systematic literature search for publications regarding the distribution of A. actinomyc - etemcomitans serotypes in subgingival samples of periodontitis patients and periodontally healthy subjects by employing polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was conducted. Results: From the 85 studies identified in the first analysis, only 12 met all inclusion and exclusion criteria. Clinical isolates from diverse geographic populations with different periodontal conditions were evaluated. Serotypes a, b and c were largely found, and serotype c was the most prevalent. They were isolated from various periodontal conditions, including aggressive periodontitis. Conclusions: The available literature suggests that serotypes a, b, and c are globally dominant, serotypes d and e are rare, and the prevalence of the most recently identified serotype f is still unknown. It is widely accepted that distribution patterns of A. actinomycetemcomitans vary among subjects of different ethnicity and geographic re - gions. The correlation of different serotypes with various periodontal conditions remains unclear

Use of cashew gum combined with galactomannan for encapsulation of Rosmarinus officinalis essential oil

Encapsulating matrices are important to maintain the properties, promote the low and controlled release, and avoid these bioactive compounds' undesirable reactions. This study's objective was to evaluate cashew gum (CG) use combined with galactomannan (GAL) in the rosemary essential oil encapsulation by atomization. During the emulsification, the polysaccharides were crosslinked with sodium trimetaphosphate. The particles obtained after encapsulation were evaluated for moisture, solubility, particle size, encapsulation efficiency, morphology, antimicrobial activity, and chemical composition of the essential oil volatiles. GAL/CG blend showed higher encapsulation efficiency and lower oil release than the cashew gum matrix. Undoubtedly, galactomannan combined with cashew gum improved the microparticles' characteristics due to the galactomannan's high emulsifying property even in low concentration. Essential oil maintained its antimicrobial and chemical properties practically after the encapsulation procedure

Efeito antimicrobiano e modulador do óleo essencial extraído da casca de frutos da Hymenaea courbaril L.

O Jatobá (Hymenaea courbaril L.) possui um amplo histórico de utilização, seus frutos são compostos por óleos essenciais, taninos, substâncias amargas, matérias resinosas e pécticas, amido e açúcares, O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a atividade antimicrobiana e moduladora do óleo essencial extraído da casca de frutos da Hymenaea courbaril L, (OEHc) sobre cepas de S, aureus oxacilina sensíveis (OSSA) de referência, Para a avaliação da atividade antimicrobiana foram determinadas as Concentrações Inibitória (CIM) e Letal Mínimas (CLM) do OEHc e o efeito do tempo de exposição a concentrações do OEHc, o efeito modulador do OEHc sobre antibióticos de uso clínico foi avaliado pelo teste de difusão em ágar modificado, OEHc inibiu o crescimento das cepas de S, aureus ATCC 6538P (CIM = CLM = 0,28% v/v) e S, aureus ATCC 14458 (CIM = 0,28% v/v, CLM = 0,56% v/v), A CLM do OEHc foi capaz de inviabilizar as cepas OSSA testadas em 8 horas (S, aureus ATCC 6538P) e 24 horas (S, aureus ATCC 14458) e a CIM inibiu o crescimento de S, aureus ATCC 14458 até 48h de exposição, A ação moduladora do OEHc na atividade de antibióticos de uso clínico variou com o ATM e com a cepa testada, Os resultados encontrados mostram que o OEHc possui uma boa atividade antimicrobiana sobre a espécie Gram-positivo S, aureus, revelando seu efeito modulador sinérgico quando associado a antibióticos de uso clínico, demonstrando ser o OEHc um forte candidato para o desenvolvimento de fármacos com atividade antimicrobiana

In vitro determination of the antimicrobial potential of homemade preparations based on medicinal plants used to treat infectious diseases

The majority of the population in developing countries uses plants or plant preparations in their basic health care. Many plant species used nowadays in folk medicine have been proved to have antimicrobial properties. However, several factors, such as incorrect preparation of the plants, can interfere with the effectiveness of the treatment. The purpose of this study was to assess the use of homemade preparations of medicinal plants in the treatment of infectious diseases, by in vitro determination of their antimicrobial potential. Based on recipes elicited by questionnaires that were previously applied to a participant population, the samples were prepared in a similar manner and analyzed by the agar diffusion method. Members of 41 families, whose children attend a center of education that serves several needy communities in the city of Fortaleza (Ceará, Brazil), were interviewed; of these, 97.6% said they had used herbal therapy as a means to treat infectious diseases. In replies to a total of 39 questionnaires, 97 different homemade preparations of medicinal plants were cited. Out of 45 samples subjected to an in vitro assessment of antimicrobial activity, 25 (55.6%) had some inhibitory effect on the growth of at least one of the microorganisms used. Most of the plants with known antimicrobial properties and cited by respondents showed variations in their in vitro activity, according to the manner in which they were prepared. Keywords: Medicinal plants. Products with Antimicrobial Action. Traditional Medicine. Homemade preparation. RESUMO Determinação in vitro do potencial antimicrobiano de preparações caseiras de plantas medicinais utilizadas para o tratamento de doenças infecciosas Grande parte da população de países em desenvolvimento utiliza plantas ou preparações vegetais nos cuidados básicos à saúde. Muitas das espécies vegetais utilizadas na medicina popular apresentam propriedades antimicrobianas comprovadas; no entanto, diversos fatores, como a metodologia incorreta de preparo, podem interferir na eficácia do tratamento. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a utilização de preparações caseiras de plantas medicinais para o tratamento de doenças infecciosas através da determinação in vitro do potencial antimicrobiano. A partir de informações contidas em questionários que foram previamente aplicados à população participante, as amostras foram preparadas de forma semelhante e analisadas através do método de difusão em ágar. Foram entrevistadas 41 famílias, das quais 97,6% afirmaram utilizar as plantas medicinais como opção terapêutica no tratamento de doenças. Em um total de 39 questionários, foram citadas 97 diferentes preparações caseiras de plantas. Das 45 amostras (indicadas para tratar algum sinal ou sintoma que podem estar relacionado a um quadro infeccioso) submetidas à avaliação da atividade antimicrobiana in vitro, 55,6% (25 amostras) apresentaram atividade inibitória sobre o crescimento de pelo menos um dos microrganismos utilizados. A maioria das plantas com propriedade antimicrobiana conhecida e que foram citadas pelos entrevistados apresentaram variações na sua atividade in vitro de acordo com o modo como foram preparadas. Palavras-chave: Plantas Medicinais. Produtos naturais com ação antimicrobiana. Medicina tradicional

Debridamento ultrassônico de boca toda no tratamento da periodontite crônica: uma revisão sistematizada

INTRODUÇÃO: O debridamento ultrassônico de boca toda visa a uma instrumentação mais leve e conservadora da superfície radicular, evitando a recolonização da bolsa periodontal. OBJETIVO: Este trabalho verificou os efeitos do debridamento subgengival com o uso de ultrassom sobre os parâmetros clínicos periodontais no tratamento da periodontite crônica por meio de uma revisão na literatura. MATERIAL E MÉTODO: A revisão foi realizada nas bases de busca bibliográfica PubMed, Lilacs, Scielo, Medline e Centro de Registro de Ensaios Clínicos Controlados (Biblioteca Cochrane). Foram incluídas publicações na língua inglesa que abordaram estudos clínicos de intervenção em humanos, randomizados e controlados, e que utilizaram o debridamento ultrassônico para o tratamento não cirúrgico da periodontite crônica. RESULTADO: Inicialmente, foram encontradas 167 referências e, a partir da análise dos títulos e resumos, dez estudos perfizeram as características exigidas e foram considerados válidos para a realização desta revisão. Os estudos mostraram que a abordagem pelo debridamento ultrassônico pode ser terapia favorável ao tratamento da periodontite crônica. CONCLUSÃO: O tratamento da periodontite crônica por meio do debridamento ultrassônico periodontal de boca toda produz resultados clínicos semelhantes aos conseguidos na raspagem e no alisamento radicular convencionais

Analysis of polymorphisms in Interleukin 10, NOS2A, and ESR2 genes in chronic and aggressive periodontitis

Abstract The objective of this study was to investigate the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the IL10, NOS2A, and ESR2 genes and chronic periodontitis (CP) and aggressive periodontitis (AgP). Three groups of patients underwent periodontal and radiographic evaluations: CP (n = 61), AgP (n = 50), and periodontally healthy (control group=61). Genomic DNA was extracted from oral epithelial cells and used for genotyping by real-time polymerase chain reaction using TaqMan® probes. The investigated SNPs were: -1087G > A, -819C > T and -592C > A in the IL10; +2087G > A in the NOS2A, and +1730G > A in the ESR2 gene. Differences in genotype and allele frequencies of each polymorphism and some individual characteristics were analyzed using the chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Analysis of SNPs and haplotypes in the IL10 and SNP in the ESR2 gene did not present any significant association with AgP or CP. The +2087G allele of the NOS2A gene tended to be significantly associated with periodontal disease. Patients carrying the genotype +2087GG in the NOS2A gene were genetically protected against the development of CP (p = 0.05; OR = 0.44; 95%CI = 0.20–0.95). This result showed greater significance when patients with AgP and CP were combined (total PD) (p = 0.03; OR = 0.46; 95%CI = 0.23–0.92). In conclusion, the studied Brazilian population had a significantly higher frequency of the GG genotype for the +2087 SNP in the NOS2A gene in individuals without periodontitis, although statistical significance was not maintained after multiple logistic regression

Latex constituents from Calotropis procera (R. Br.) display toxicity upon egg hatching and larvae of Aedes aegypti (Linn.)

Calotropis procera R. Br. (Asclepiadaceae) is a well-known medicinal plant with leaves, roots, and bark being exploited by popular medicine to fight many human and animal diseases. This work deals with the fractionation of the crude latex produced by the green parts of the plant and aims to evaluate its toxic effects upon egg hatching and larval development of Aedes aegypti. The whole latex was shown to cause 100% mortality of 3rd instars within 5 min. It was fractionated into water-soluble dialyzable (DF) and non-dialyzable (NDF) rubber-free materials. Both fractions were partially effective to prevent egg hatching and most of individuals growing under experimental conditions died before reaching 2nd instars or stayed in 1st instars. Besides, the fractions were very toxic to 3rd instars causing 100% mortality within 24 h. When both fractions were submitted to heat-treatment the toxic effects were diminished considerably suggesting low thermostability of the toxic compounds. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of both fractions and their newly fractionated peaks obtained through ion exchange chromatography or desalting attested the presence of proteins in both materials. When submitted to protease digestion prior to larvicidal assays NDF lost most of its toxicity but DF was still strongly active. It may be possible that the highly toxic effects of the whole latex from C. procera upon egg hatching and larvae development should be at least in part due to its protein content found in NDF. However the toxicity seems also to involve non protein molecules present in DF