Microbiome composition comparison in oral and atherosclerotic plaque from patients with and without periodontitis

There is no conclusive evidence regarding a causal relationship between periodontitis and atherosclerosis. In this study, we examined the microbiome in the oral cavity and atheromatous plaques from atherosclerosis patients with or without periodontitis to investigate the role of oral bacteria in the formation of atheromatous plaques. We chose four patients with and without periodontitis, who had undergone carotid endarterectomy. Bacterial samples were extracted from the tongue surface, from periodontal pocket (during the oral examination), and from the atheromatous plaques (APs). We investigated the general and oral conditions from each patient and performed next-generation sequencing (NGS) analysis for all bacterial samples. There were no significant differences between both groups concerning general conditions. However, the microbiome patterns of the gingival pocket showed differences depending on the absence or presence of periodontitis, while those of the tongue surface were relatively similar. The microbiome pattern of the atheromatous plaques was entirely different from that on the tongue surface and gingival pocket, and oral bacteria were seldom detected. However, the microbiome pattern in atheromatous plaques was different in the presence or absence of periodontitis. These results suggested that oral bacteria did not affect the formation of atheromatous plaques directly

Acute Prevertebral Abscesses Caused by Bacterial-infected Traumatic Tooth Fractures

We report a case of acute prevertebral abscess caused by traumatic tooth fractures in a 77-year-old Japanese man. After being transferred to our hospital the patient was initially diagnosed with a neck hematoma; however, blood culture showed Streptococcus parasanguinis, an oral bacterium, and an MRI examination suggested prevertebral abscesses. Tooth fractures, severe periodontitis, and peri-implantitis with Streptococcus parasanguinis were observed. Antibiotics were administered and fractured teeth were extracted. The patient's condition then gradually improved. We concluded that bacteremia caused by traumatic tooth fractures induced the acute prevertebral abscesses

チアノーゼ性心疾患に対する肺動脈絞扼術

The early and late results of pulmonary artery banding (PAB) for cyanotic heart defects in early infancy were reviewed. Nine patients were divided into two groups : Group F (five patiens) in which Fontan type repairs were expected as definitive repair in the near future ; Group A (four patients) in which anatomical repairs were programmed in the near future. Six patients had a good early postoperative course, and then consisted of three patients of Group A and three patients of Group F. The band circumference, intraoperative pulmonary-to-systemic systolic pressure ratio and arterial oxygen tension after PAB in the good cases of Group A were 20.0±1.7 mm + 1 mm for each kilogram of the infant's weight, 0.52±0.07 and 46.4±11.3 mmHg respectively. These indices in the good cases of Group F were 21.1±1.7 mm + 1 mm for each kilogram of the infant's weight, 0.55±0.02 and 38.8±1.0 mmHg respectively. The standard deviations of every index for PAB in Group F were small. Three patients of Group A have undergone successful total correction. Intraoperative pulmonary-to-systemic systolic pressure ratio of 0.5 as the index of PAB is preferable to Group A. However, only two patient of Group F were waiting for Fontan type definitive repair. For the patient especially in Group F, careful observation and well-timed staged repair with regard to subaortic stenosis and restrictive atrial septal defect and ventricular septal defect are necessary after accurate PAB as mentioned above

Various meteorological conditions exhibit both immediate and delayed influences on the risk of stroke events: The HEWS–stroke study

<div><p>We hypothesized that meteorological conditions on the onset day and conditions on the former days may play important roles in the modulation of physical conditions. Associations of meteorological factors and their changes in former days with stroke onset are of interest. We conducted a multicenter retrospective study to evaluate the frequency of stroke events and their interaction with meteorological conditions and their daily changes. Acute stroke patients (n = 3935, 73.5±12.4 years, 1610 females) who were admitted to 7 stroke hospitals in three restricted areas were enrolled in this study. Poisson regression models involving time-lag variables was used to compare daily rates of stroke events with mean thermo-hydrological index (THI), atmospheric pressure, and their daily changes. We divided onset days into quintiles based on the THI, atmospheric pressure, and their daily changes for the last 7 days. The frequencies of ischemic stroke significantly increased when THI varied either cooler or warmer from a previous day (extremely cooler, risk ratio (RR) 1.19, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.05 to 1.34; extremely warmer, RR 1.16, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.31; r² = 0.001 for the best regression, p = 0.001). Intracerebral hemorrhage frequencies significantly decreased on high-THI days (extremely high, RR 0.72, 95% CI 0.54 to 0.95; r² = 0.013 for the best regression, p<0.001) and increased in high atmospheric pressure days (high, RR 1.31, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.65; r² = 0.009 for the best regression, p<0.001). Additionally, even after adjusting for the THI on the onset day and its changes for the other days, intracerebral hemorrhage increased when THI got extremely cooler in 4 days prior (RR 1.33, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.71, r² = 0.006 for the best regression, p<0.001). Various meteorological conditions may exhibit influences on stroke onset. And, when temperature cooled, there may be a possibility to show delayed influence on the frequency of intracerebral hemorrhage 4 days later.</p></div

Risk ratio of ischemic stroke (A) and intracerebral hemorrhage (B) with THI of the onset day and its daily changes for the last 7 days.

<p>EL, extremely low temperature, ≤7.9°C; L, low temperature, 8.0–12.7°C; I, intermediate temperature, 12.8–18.6°C; H, high temperature, 18.7–23.7°C; EH, extremely high temperature, ≥23.8°C; EC, extremely cooler, ≤-0.99°C; C, cooler, -0.98–-0.21°C; U, unchanged, -0.20–0.31°C; W, warmer, 0.32–0.98°C; and EW, extremely warmer, ≥0.99°C.</p

Risk ratio of ischemic stroke (A) and intracerebral hemorrhage (B) with atmospheric pressure of the onset day and its daily changes for the last 7 days.

<p>EL, extremely low pressure, ≤1006.6 hPa; L, low pressure, 1006.7–1010.7 hPa; I, intermediate pressure, 1010.8–1014.6 hPa; H, high pressure, 1014.7–1019.1 hPa; EH, extremely high pressure, ≥1019.2 hPa; ED, extremely decreased, ≤-2.8 hPa; D, decreased, -2.79–-0.70 hPa; U, unchanged, -0.69–1.00 hPa; In, increased, 1.01–3.20 hPa; and EIn, extremely increased, ≥3.21 hPa).</p

Baseline characteristics.

<p>Baseline characteristics.</p

Scatter diagrams of ischemic stroke rates with T₀-T₁ (A) and intracerebral hemorrhage with T₀-T₁ (B).

<p>Scatter diagrams of ischemic stroke rates with T₀-T₁ (A) and intracerebral hemorrhage with T₀-T₁ (B).</p