Oral Candida spp carriage and periodontal diseases in HIV-infected patients in Ribeirão Preto, Brazil

ABSTRACT The majority of HIV-infected patients develop Candida spp-associated clinical oral lesions. Studies have shown that asymptomatic oral colonization of Candida spp may lead to oral lesions or become a source of disseminated infections. The aim of this study was to verify the effects of periodontal conditions on Candida spp prevalence and Candida spp carriage in the oral cavity of HIV-infected patients compared to non-infected patients. Twenty-five patients not infected with HIV and 48 HIV-infected patients were classified according to periodontal conditions as being periodontal healthy or with periodontal disease. Candida spp carriage and classification were performed in oral rinse samples. Viral load and CD4+ T lymphocyte (CD4+L) counts were performed in blood samples from HIV-infected patients. No differences in Candida spp prevalence related to HIV status or periodontal condition were detected. However, Candida spp carriage was increased in periodontally affected HIV-infected patients when compared to periodontally healthy HIV-infected patients (p= 0.04). Periodontally healthy HIV-infected patients presented Candida spp carriage in similar levels as healthy or periodontally affected non-HIV-infected patients. Candida spp carriage was correlated with CD4+L counting in HIV-infected patients. We concluded that periodontal disease is associated with increased Candida spp carriage in HIV-infected patients and may be a predisposing factor to clinical manifestations of candidiasis.

Progressive effects of diabetes mellitus on the skin epithelium of the rat

Skin serves as interface between inner aand outer environment, and acts a a mechanical barrier. Changes in its characteristics may lead to a higher pathogenicity, less defense capacity, or both. Diabetes mellitus is a heterogeneous group of chronic hyperglycemic disorders, considered a syndrome rather than a simple disease. Complications by diabetes are mostly associated with the chronicity of the disease and very little information exists about its early pathological processes. Animal models are considered very useful for the study of early diabetes. Wistar rats with lloxan induccced diabetes were used in a way to study the progresive effects of diabetes mellitus on the skin epithelium. Five animals were sacrificed at 7 days (Phase I) and five others at 26 days (Phase II) after the comprovation of hyperglycemic state. Animals not inyected with alloxan were used as control. Histometric and stereologic methods were used for the tissue analysis. Our results allow us to observe that nevertheless progressive thickness decrease is observed with the progress of the disease, epithelial thickness is observed decreased very early in the course of the diabetes. Our results suggest that, although diabetes is a chronic disease, and many of its complications are related to the chronicity, it is reasonable to think about ddeficiency in the capacity of acting as a barier for the skin epithelium even in early phases of the disease. Professionals must be aware about patients with high risk for diabetes development.