Microbial Ecosystem Analysis in Root Canal Infections Refractory to Endodontic Treatment

Introduction To combine Multiple Displacement Amplification (MDA) and checkerboard DNA–DNA hybridization to qualitatively and quantitatively evaluate the microbiota present in infections refractory to endodontic treatment. Methods The subjects of this study were 40 patients presenting periapical lesions refractory to endodontic treatment. Samples were taken by scraping or filing root canal walls with a #10 K-type hand file. Sample DNA was amplified by MDA, and the levels of 107 bacterial taxa were analyzed by checkerboard DNA–DNA hybridization. The taxa were divided into three distinct microbial populations, depending on their mean proportion in samples (% DNA probe counts ± SEM), as follows: dominant (≥3.0%), sub-dominant (\u3e1.6 to 3.0%) and residual (≤1.6%) populations. The significance of differences was determined using the Mann-Whitney test. Results The taxa present with the highest mean proportions (constituting the dominant population) were Corynebacterium diphtheriae (8.03±0.98), Porphyromonas gingivalis (5.42±2.09), Streptococcus sobrinus (5.33±0.69), and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (4.72±1.73). Among the sub-dominant population were Eubacterium saphenum (3.85±1.06), Helicobacter pylori (3.16±0.62), Dialister pneumosintes (3.12±1.1), Clostridium difficile (2.74±0.41), Enterobacter agglomerans (2.64±0.54), Salmonella enterica (2.51±0.52), Mobiluncus mulieris (2.44±0.6), and Klebsiella oxytoca (2.32±0.66). In the population of bacteria present at the lowest mean proportions (the residual population), Bacteroides ureolyticus (0.04±0.01), Haemophilus influenzae (0.04±0.02), and Prevotella oris (0.01±0.01) were found at the lowest mean proportions. Enterococcus faecalis was detected in the residual population (0.52±0.26). Conclusion The microbial climax community in teeth refractory to endodontic treatment not only harbor medically important species, but also contains distinct microbial consortia present with different population levels

Experimental furcal perforation treated with mineral trioxide aggregate plus selenium: immune response

Abstract The aim of this study is to evaluate the expression of cytokines in response to mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) plus selenium in germ-free mice with experimental furcal perforation. The first left maxillary molar was opened, and the furcal area was perforated and treated with post-MTA-Se (experimental group). The same surgical intervention was performed for the maxillary right first molar, which was treated with MTA (control group). Fifteen mice were sacrificed 7, 14, and 21 days after furcal perforation, and periapical tissue samples were collected. The mRNA expression levels of the cytokines TGF-β, TNF-α, IFN-γ, HPRT, IL-10, IL-4, RANK, RANKL, IL-1, and IL-17 were assessed by using real-time polymerase chain reaction. In the experimental group, at 21-days post-MTA-Se sealing, the mRNA levels of TNF-α and IL-10 were upregulated compared with those in the control group (p 0.05). In conclusion, MTA+Se sealing favoured increased expression of IL-10 and TNF-α at later time points (day 21)

Antiparasitic Activity of Oxindolimine–Metal Complexes against Chagas Disease

Some copper(II) and zinc(II) complexes with oxindolimine ligands were tested regarding their trypanocidal properties. These complexes have already shown good biological activity in the inhibition of tumor cell proliferation, having DNA and mitochondria as main targets, through an oxidative mechanism, and inducing apoptosis. Herein, we demonstrate that they also have significant activity against the infective trypomastigote forms and the intracellular amastigote forms of T. cruzi, modulated by the metal ion as well as by the oxindolimine ligand. Selective indexes (LC50/IC50) determined for both zinc(II) and copper(II) complexes, are higher after 24 or 48 h incubation with trypomastigotes, in comparison to traditional drugs used in clinics, such as benznidazole, and other metal-based compounds previously reported in the literature. Additionally, tests against amastigotes indicated infection index <10% (% of infected macrophages/average number of amastigotes per macrophage), after 24 or 48 h in the presence of zinc(II) (60–80 µM) or analogous copper(II) complexes (10–25 µM). The copper complexes exhibit further oxidative properties, being able to damage DNA, proteins and carbohydrates, in the presence of hydrogen peroxide, with the generation of hydroxyl radicals. This redox reactivity could explain its better performance towards the parasites in relation to the zinc analogs. However, both copper and zinc complexes display good selective indexes, indicating that the influence of the ligand is also crucial, and is probably related to the inhibition of some crucial proteins

Sickle cell anemia in Brazil: personal, medical and endodontic patterns

Abstract Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is the most prevalent genetic disease worldwide. Recurrent vaso-occlusive infarcts predispose SCA patients to infections, which are the primary causes of morbidly and mortality. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between SCA and endodontic diseases. Personal information, medical data (hematological indices, virologic testing, blood transfusions, medications received, splenectomy) and information on the need for endodontic treatment were obtained from SCA patients who were registered and followed up by the Fundação Hemominas, Minas Gerais, Brazil.These data were compared with the need for root canal treatment in SCA patients. One hundred eight patients comprised the studied population, and the rate of the need for endodontic therapy was 10.2%. Among the medical data, a significant difference was observed for eosinophil (p = 0.045) counts and atypical lymphocyte counts (p = 0.036) when the groups (with and without the need for endodontic treatment) were compared. Statistical relevance was observed when comparing the patients with and without the need for root canal therapy concerned eosinophil counts and atypical lymphocyte counts. The differences in statistical medical data, observed between the groups suggest that both parameters are naturally connected to the stimulation of the immune system that can occur in the presence of root canal infections and that can be harmful to SCA individuals

The role of IFN-g and IL-4 in gastric mucosa inflammation associated with Helicobacter heilmannii type 1 infection

Submitted by Nuzia Santos ([email protected]) on 2013-05-15T14:23:08Z No. of bitstreams: 1 The role v39n2a12.pdf: 503323 bytes, checksum: 330f5ccc895e8634d30aef726af8b9cc (MD5)Made available in DSpace on 2013-05-15T14:23:08Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 The role v39n2a12.pdf: 503323 bytes, checksum: 330f5ccc895e8634d30aef726af8b9cc (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006CNPq, CAPES, FIOCRUZ, and FAPEMIGUniversidade Federal de Minas Gerais. Instituto de Ciências Biológicas. Laboratório de Pesquisa em Bacteriologia. Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil.Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. Instituto de Ciências Biológicas. Laboratório de Pesquisa em Bacteriologia. Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil.Fundação Osvaldo Cruz . Cento de Pesquisa Renê Rachou. Belo Horizonte, MG, BrasilUniversidade Federal de Minas Gerais. Instituto de Ciências Biológicas. Laboratório de Pesquisa em Bacteriologia. Belo Horizonte, MG, BrasilUniversidade Federal de Minas Gerais . Instituto de Ciências Biológicas. Departamento de Microbiologia. Belo Horizonte, MG, BrasilUniversidade Federal de Minas Gerais. Instituto de Ciências Biológicas. Laboratório de Pesquisa em Bacteriologia. Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil.Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. Faculdade de Medicina. Departamento de Patologia. Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil.Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. Faculdade de Medicina. Departamento de Patologia. Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil.Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais..Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia. Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil.Fundação Osvaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisa Renê Rachou. Belo Horizonte, MG, BrasilUniversidade Federal de Minas Gerais. Instituto de Ciências Biológicas. Laboratório de Pesquisa em Bacteriologia. Belo Horizonte, MG, BrasilAlthough Helicobacter heilmannii infection is less common than H. pylori infection in humans, it is considered to be of medical importance because of its association with gastritis, gastric ulcer, carcinoma, and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma of the stomach. However, there have been no studies evaluating the role of the Th cell response in H. heilmannii gastric infection. We evaluated the participation of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines, IFN-and IL-4, in H. heilmannii gastric infection in genetically IFN-- or IL-4-deficient mice. The serum IFN-and IL-4 concentrations were determined by ELISA. The gastric polymorphonuclear infiltrate was higher (P = 0.007) in H. heilmannii-positive than in H. heilmanniinegative wild-type (WT) C57BL/6 mice, whereas no significant inflammation was demonstrable in the stomach of H. heilmannii-positive IFN--/- C57BL/6 mice. The degree of gastric inflammatory cells, especially in oxyntic mucosa, was also higher (P = 0.007) in infected IL-4-/- than in WT BALB/c mice. Serum IFN-levels were significantly higher in IL-4-/- than in WT BALB/c mice, independently of H. heilmannii-positive or -negative status. Although no difference in serum IFN-levels was seen between H. heilmannii-positive (11.3 ± 3.07 pg/mL, mean ± SD) and -negative (11.07 ± 3.5 pg/mL) WT BALB/c mice, in the group of IL-4-/- animals, the serum concentration of IFN-was significantly higher in the infected ones (38.16 ± 10.5 pg/mL, P = 0.04). In contrast, serum IL-4 levels were significantly decreased in H. heilmannii-positive (N = 10) WT BALB/c animals compared to the negative (N = 10) animals. In conclusion, H. heilmannii infection induces a predominantly Th1 immune response, with IFN-playing a central role in gastric inflammation