Enfermedad periodontal en pacientes adolescentes con síndrome de Down: Presentación de caso / Periodontal disease in adolescent Down' syndrome patients: Clinical case presentation

El síndrome de Down o trisomía 21 es la alteración genética más frecuente en el ser humano; uno de cada 600-700 recién nacidos vivos es afectado por este síndrome. Éste se caracteriza por la presencia de un cromosoma adicional en el par 21, el cual provoca disminución generalizada en el crecimiento y discapacidad intelectual. Diversas manifestaciones craneofaciales y bucales han sido descritas en la literatura. El principal padecimiento bucal reportado en este grupo de pacientes es la enfermedad periodontal. Objetivo: Establecer cuidados bucales preventivos en el desarrollo de la enfermedad periodontal en pacientes adolescentes con síndrome de Down. Presentación del caso: Paciente indígena masculino de 15 años de edad con trisomía 21, bilingüe. Presenta cardiopatía congénita, hipertensión pulmonar y síndrome nefrótico, así como erupción ectópica y ausencias congénitas dentales, oclusión clase III de Angle, mordida cruzada unilateral anterior y posterior, respiración bucal, eversión labial, lengua y labios Asurados, clinodactilia y gingivitis localizada. El manejo de conducta se llevó a cabo a través de la técnica «decir-mostrar-hacer¼ y control de voz. El tratamiento inicial consistió en técnica de cepillado de barrido asistido por los padres, uso del hilo dental, CPDB (Dento Bacterial Plaque Control) (100%) y aplicación tópica de barniz de fluoruro. Se recomendó a los padres la aplicación en el hogar de un gel bioadhesivo (Perioxidin®) para la rehabilitación oral. Conclusiones: El aspecto más relevante fue la disminución de la cantidad de placa dentobacteriana reportada en controles posteriores (40%).

Down's syndrome or trisomy 21 is man's most frequent genetic disorder. It affects one out of 600-700 live births. It is characterized by the presence of an additional chromosome at the 21 pair which elicits generalized decrease of growth as well as intellectual disability. In scientific literature there are many reports of cranio-facial and oral manifestations of this disorder. Chief oral condition reported in this group of patients is periodontal disease. Objective: Establishment of preventive oral care for the development of periodontal disease in adolescent patients afflicted with Down's syndrome. Case presentation: 15 year old Mexican-Indian male patient with trisomy 21. The patient was bilingual, afflicted with congenital heart disease, pulmonary hypertension and nephrotic syndrome. The patient equally presented ectopic dental eruption as well as congenital dental absences, Angle's class III occlusion, anterior and posterior unilateral crossbite, oral respiration, labial eversion, fissured tongue and lips, clinodactyly and localized gingivitis. Behavior management was achieved with the «show-tell-do¼ technique alongside with voice control. Initial treatment consisted on sweeping brushing technique with parental assistance, use of dental floss (Dento Bacterial Plaque Control [DBPC]) (100%) as well as topical application of fluoride varnish. It was recommended to the parents they should use home applications of bioadhesive gel (Perioxidin®). After these measures, oral rehabilitation was undertaken. Conclusions: The most relevant aspect of the treatment was the decrease (40%) in bacterial plaque reported in later control visits.

A survey of some Indian medicinal plants for anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) activity.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: India has an extensive area of forest enriched with plant diversity. Several of these plants have been used as folklore medicines. However, the medicinal plants have rarely been investigated for anti-human immunodeficiency virus activity. Hence, some Indian medicinal plants were screened in vitro against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). METHODS: The inhibitory effect of plant extracts on HIV replication was monitored in terms of inhibition of virus induced cytopathogenicity in MT-4 cells. The MT-4 cells were infected with HIV. The HIV infected or mock infected MT-4 cells were incubated at 37 degrees C in a CO2 incubator in the presence of the plant extracts. After five days, cell viability was measured by tetrazolium based colorimetric assay. RESULTS & INTERPRETATION: Of the 69 plant species screened, 16 were effective against HIV-1 and 4 were against both HIV-1 and HIV-2. The most effective extracts against HIV-1 and HIV-2 are respectively Cinnamomum cassia (bark) and Cardiospermum helicacabum (shoot + fruit). The findings provide a rationale for further studies on isolation of active principles and pharmacological evaluation.

Ca2+ dependence of gluconeogenesis stimulation by glucagon at different cytosolic NAD+-NADH redox potentials

The influence of Ca2+ on hepatic gluconeogenesis was measured in the isolated perfused rat liver at different cytosolic NAD+-NADH potentials. Lactate and pyruvate were the gluconeogenic substrates and the cytosolic NAD+-NADH potentials were changed by varying the lactate to pyruvate rations from 0.01 to 100. The following results were obtained: a) gluconeogenesis from lactate plus pyruvate was not affected by Ca2+-free perfusion (no Ca2+ in the perfusion fluid combined with previous depletion of the intracellular pools); gluconeogenesis was also poorly dependent on the lactate to pyruvate rations in the range of 0.1 to 100; only for a ratio equal to 0.01 was a significantly smaller gluconeogenic activity observed in comparison to the other rations. b) In the presence of Ca2+, the increase in oxygen uptake caused by the infusion of lactate plus pyruvate at a ratio equal to 10 was the most pronounced one; in Ca2+-free perfusion the increase in oxygen uptake caused by lactate plus pyruvate infusion tended to be higher for all lactate to pyruvate ratios; the most pronounced difference was observed for a lactate/pyruvate ratio equal to 1.c) In the presence of Ca2+ the effects of glucagon on gluconeogenesis showed a positive correlation with the lactate to pyruvate rations; for a ratio equal to 0.01 no stimulation ocurred, but in the 0.1 to 100 range stimulation increased progressively, producing a clear parabolic dependence between the effects of glucagon and the lactate to pyruvate ratio. d) In the absence of Ca2+ the relationship between the changes caused by glucagon in gluconeogenesis and the lactate to pyruvate ratio was substantially changed; the dependence curve was no longer parabolic but sigmoidal in shape with a plateau beginning at a lactate/pyruvate ratio equal to 1; there was inhibition at the lactate to pyruvate ratios of 0.01 and 0.1 and a constant stimulation starting with a ratio equal to 1; for the lactate to pyruvate ratios of 10 and 100, stimulation caused by glucagon was much smaller than that found when Ca2+ was present. e) The effects of glucagon on oxygen uptake in the presence of Ca2+ showed a parabolic relationship with the lactate to pyruvate ratios which was closely similar to that found in the case of gluconeogenesis.

In vitro anti human immunodeficiency virus activity of mangrove plants.

Mangrove plant extracts were screened in vitro against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) on MT-4 cells. HIV infected MT-4 cells were cultured for five days in the presence of the extract, at various concentrations. Anti-HIV activity was evaluated by tetrazolium-based colorimetric assay. Seven extracts were found effective. Five of the active extracts completely inhibited the virus adsorption to the cells. Most of the active plants are from the family Rhizophoraceae.