Enzyme production by Candida albicans and Candida dubliniensis in periodontal HIV-positive patients receiving and not receiving antiretroviral therapy / Producción enzimática de Candida albicans y Candida dubliniensis de pacientes con periodontitis VIH+ con y sin tratamiento antirretroviral

ABSTRACT Candida dubliniensis (Cd) and Candida albicans (Ca) are the most frequently isolated yeasts in HIV+ patients. Some of the enzymes produced by these yeasts are considered virulence factors since they contribute to pathogenicity of Candida spp. The aim of the present study was to compare production of enzymes such as phospholipase (Ph), proteinase (P), and hemolysin (H) by Cd and Ca strains isolated from periodontal HIV-positive patients receiving and not receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Subgingival biofilm samples were obtained using paper points, and a sample of oral mucosa was taken using a swab. Phenotypic and molecular methods were used to isolate 39 strains of Candida, including 25 strains of Cd and 14 strains of Ca, obtained from 33 periodontal pocket samples and 6 oral mucosa samples collected from 15 HIV+ patients (8 receiving and 7 not receiving HAART). Malt egg-yolk agar, albumin agar and blood agar were used to evaluate pH, P and H production respectively. The strains were inoculated in duplicate and incubated at 37 ºC. Colony and halo diameters were measured. A greater proportion of Ca was observed in patients not receiving HAART, and a higher proportion of Cd was observed in those under HAART, Chi2 p< 0.001. Phospholipase production was observed in 92.9% percent of isolated Ca strains but in none of the isolated Cd strains. Proteinase production was high in Ca and Cd strains isolated from patients not receiving HAART. Hemolysin production was observed in all the studied strains, though it was significantly higher (p=0.04) in Ca and Cd strains isolated from patients not receiving HAART. To sum up, the proportion of Candida dubliniensis strains was highest in the subgingival biofilm of patients receiving HAART, and Cd strains were found to express fewer virulence factors than Ca strains.

RESUMEN Las levaduras más aisladas en pacientes VIH+ son Candida dubliniensis (Cd) y Candida albicans (Ca). Algunas de sus enzimas constituyen factores de virulencia ya que favorecen la diseminación tisular. El objetivo fue comparar la producción de enzimas como fosfolipasa (F), proteinasa (P) y hemolisina (H) en cepas de Cd y Ca aisladas de pacientes VIH+ tratados y no tratados con antirretrovirales (TARGA). Se realizó la toma del biofilm de placa subgingival con conos de papel y la muestra de la mucosa bucal con hisopo. Se aislaron y tipificaron por métodos fenotípicos y moleculares 39 cepas: 25 de Cd y 14 Ca, obtenidas 33 de bolsas periodontales y 6 de mucosa bucal de 15 pacientes VIH+ (8 con y 7 sin tratamiento). Se utilizó agar malta con yema de huevo, agar albúmina y agar sangre para demostrar la producción de F, P y H, respectivamente. Se inocularon por duplicado e incubaron a 37°C. Se midieron los diámetros de las colonias y los de hidrólisis alrededor de las mismas. Se observó mayor proporción de Ca en los pacientes sin tratamiento y mayor proporción de Cd en los con tratamiento; Chi2 p< 0.001. El 92,9% de las Ca estudiadas, fueron productoras de fosfolipasa. En tanto que ninguna Cd produjo la enzima. En cuanto a la producción de proteinasa se observa una alta producción tanto en las cepas de Ca, como en las Cd aisladas en los pacientes no tratados. Todas las cepas estudiadas produjeron hemolisina, observándose una diferencia estadísticamente significativa (p=0,04) en ambas especies a favor de la alta producción de la enzima en las cepas obtenidas de pacientes no tratados. Podemos concluir que en el biofilm subgingival, en los pacientes bajo TARGA, se aíslan mayor proporción de Candida dubliniensis las cuales expresan menos factores de virulencia.

Oral lichen planus: study of 21 cases

Abstract BACKGROUND: Lichen planus is considered to be the most common dermatological disease involving the oral mucosa. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the profile, clinical features, and the presence of dysplasia and candidiasis in patients with oral lichen planus. METHODS: A total of 21 patients were selected from 258 patients at risk for oral cancer development. RESULTS: Most of the patients were white (76,2%), female (66,6%), with mean age of 58.8 years. Eight were smokers and seven were alcohol consumers. The buccal mucosa was the most affected site, followed by the tongue and the gingiva. The reticular pattern was the most common appearance. Histopathology depicted dysplasia in nine cases and cytopathology was positive for Candida in eight cases in the first appointment. CONCLUSION: Our data are similar to the literature. Cytopathology was important for the diagnosis of candidiasis. Although the presence of dysplasia was verified, further studies are necessary to clarify the importance of this finding. .

Tratamento de candidíase oral em pacientes com câncer de cabeça e pescoço: uma revisão sistemática / Treatment of oral candidiasis in patients with head and neck cancer: a systematic review

Introdução: A candidíase constitui uma das infecções oportunistas mais frequentes em pacientes oncológicos, sendo resultado do desequilíbrio da ecologia do ambiente, em virtude dos tratamentos antineoplásicos. Objetivo: Investigar através de uma revisão sistemática as intervenções para o tratamento de candidíase orofaríngea em pacientes com câncer de cabeça e pescoço. Metodologia: Consulta em bases de dados eletrônicos MEDLINE, LILACS e BBO, cuja coleta de dados incluiu estudos de intervenção (ensaio clínico), apresentando desfechos relacionados à avaliação clínica e microbiológica da candidíase através dos antifúngicos. As estratégias de buscas utilizadas incluíram como palavras: cancer and (oral or bucal or neck or head) and (treatment or therapy), nos idiomas português, inglês e espanhol, no período de 1966 a 2007. Resultados: Foram selecionados três estudos, todos no idioma inglês, sendo que apenas um objetivou avaliar a resposta dos indivíduos ao fluconazol e os demais compararam a resposta do fluconazol a outras drogas (voriconazol, itraconazol e anfotericina B). Conclusão: O fluconazol apresentou melhores resultados, sendo eficaz em debelar a candidíase orofaríngea. No entanto, deve-se atentar para a resistência de determinadas linhagens de cândida ao fluconazol, devendo o profissional ser capaz de escolher o medicamento de melhor efeito para cada caso.

Introduction: Candidiasis (thrush) is one of the most common opportunistic infections among cancer patients, being a result of an imbalance in the environmental ecology because of the antineoplastic therapies. Aim: To investigate through a systematic review the available interventions for treatment of oral candidiasis in patients with head and neck cancer. Methods: A review was made of electronic databases MEDLINE, LILACS and BBO, in which data collection included intervention studies (clinical trials) presenting outcomes related to clinical and microbiological evaluation of candidiasis through antifungal drugs. The search strategies included words like cancer and (oral or buccal or neck or head) and (treatment or therapy), in Portuguese, English and Spanish, from 1966 to 2007. Results: Three studies were selected, all written in English, one of which evaluating patient response to fluconazole and the other two comparing response to fluconazole with other drugs (voriconazole, itraconazole and amphotericin B). Conclusion: Fluconazole presented the best results, being effective to suppress oral candidiasis. However, the resistance of certain candida strains to fluconazole must be considered, so as to be able to select the drug that is most likely to succeed in each particular case.

Candida albicans in patients with oronasal communication and obturator prostheses

Patients using obturator prostheses often present denture-induced stomatitis. In order to detect the presence of oral Candida albicans in patients with oronasal communications and to evaluate the effectiveness of a topical antifungal treatment, cytological smears obtained from the buccal and palatal mucosa of 10 adult patients, and from the nasal acrylic surface of their obturator prostheses were examined. A therapeutic protocol comprising the use of oral nystatin (Mycostatin®) and prosthesis disinfection with sodium hypochlorite was prescribed for all patients. Seven patients were positive for C. albicans in the mucosa, with 1 negative result for the prosthetic surface in this group of patients. Post-treatment evaluation revealed the absence of C. albicans on prosthesis surface and on the oral mucosa of all patients. The severity of the candidal infection was significantly higher in the palatal mucosa than in the buccal mucosa, but similar in the palatal mucosa and prosthesis surface, indicating that the mucosa underlying the prosthesis is more susceptible to infection. The therapeutic protocol was effective in all cases, which emphasizes the need for denture disinfection in order to avoid reinfection of the mucosa.

Os pacientes portadores de prótese obturadora freqüentemente apresentam estomatite protética. Com o objetivo de detectar a presença de Candida albicans oral em pacientes com comunicação oronasal e avaliar a eficácia de um tratamento tópico antifúngico foi realizada citologia esfoliativa da mucosa palatina e jugal e da superfície acrílica nasal da prótese obturadora. O protocolo terapêutico consistiu de nistatina (Mycostatin®) para tratamento da mucosa oral e uma solução de hipoclorito de sódio para desinfecção da prótese. Sete pacientes (70 por cento) apresentaram resultado positivo para C. albicans na mucosa, com um resultado negativo para a superfície protética neste grupo. A avaliação após o tratamento revelou ausência de C. albicans na mucosa oral de todos os pacientes, bem como na superfície protética. A infecção por C. albicans das mucosas jugal e palatina diferiram significantemente, enquanto que a mucosa palatina e a superfície protética apresentaram valores semelhantes. O grau de infecção da mucosa palatina foi significantemente maior quando comparado àquele da mucosa jugal e semelhante ao apresentado pela prótese, sugerindo que a mucosa subjacente à prótese é mais susceptível à infecção. O protocolo terapêutico foi efetivo em todos os casos, o que enfatiza a necessidade da desinfecção protética para se evitar a reinfecção da mucosa oral.

Incidence and anatomic localization of oral candidiasis in patients with AIDS hospitalized in a public hospital in Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil

The objective of this study was to evaluate the incidence, anatomic localization and yeast species isolated from each clinical type of oral candidiasis. The clinical samples were obtained from 67 patients with AIDS with CD4 cell counts below 200 cells/mm³ and hospitalized in a public hospital (Eduardo de Menezes Hospital) in the city of Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. Yeasts were isolated using Chromagar® Candida. The results show that 50.7 percent of these patients had oral candidiasis. The pseudomembranous form was the most frequent clinical manifestation of oral candidiasis, followed by the erythematous and angular cheilite forms. The most common site of these clinical forms of oral candidiasis was the tongue. Candida albicans was the most common yeast species isolated from the lesions. However, other species were also found to be associated with these forms of oral candidiasis.

Phenotypic switching and its influence on expression of virulence factors by Candida albicans causing candidiasis in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study was to determine the degree of expression of virulence factors such as adherence, cell surface hydrophobicity (CSH) and production of proteinase by different morphological forms of Candida albicans causing oral candidiasis in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals. METHODS: C. albicans 3153A and two strains isolated from oral thrush in HIV infected individuals were induced to undergo phenotypic switching by exposure to UV light and the degree of expression of virulence factors by the different morphological forms was studied. RESULTS: Three different morphological forms of C. albicans were obtained namely, star (S), wrinkled (W) and ring (R) types from the original smooth (O) variety. It was found that proteinase production was greatest with the W type followed by the R type and O type. The S type produced the least proteinase. Expression of cell surface hydrophobicity and adherence was greatest in the O type followed by the R and then the W type and finally the S type. CONCLUSIONS: The differential expression of virulence factors occurs with different phenotypic forms of C. albicans and this may provide a particular morphological type with a distinct advantage over other types in causing candidiasis.

DNA fingerprinting elicited evolutionary trend of oral Candida tropicalis isolates from diverse geographic locales.

PURPOSE: To study molecular profiles of oral Candida tropicalis isolates from five different geographic locales to determine the molecular diversity, clonality and evolutionary trends of this opportunistic pathogen. METHODS: A total of 36 strains from five countries (China, Canada, Scotland, Japan and Tanzania) were genotyped by PCR fingerprinting with 11 separate primers. Of these, primers RSG9, RSG8, T3B and RSD12 generated complex fingerprinting patterns. RESULTS: Three significantly dissimilar profiles were derived from the primer T3B and particularly focused on tDNA suggested the prevalence of genetic subtypes within the species. Comparison of tDNA and rDNA (RSD12) fingerprints of C. tropicalis suggested that rDNA is much more heterogeneous than the relatively distinct tDNA. Further analysis of similarity coefficient (SAB) of gel profiles derived from computer-generated dendrograms indicated some degree of similarity in isolates from five-disparate geographic locales as well as the presence of unique isotypes in each region. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the evolutionary divergence of distinct genetic subgroups within Candida tropicalis .

Pediatric HIV-related oral manifestations: a five-year retrospective study

O objetivo deste estudo foi realizar um acompanhamento descritivo retrospectivo da freqüência de manifestações bucais, da condição sistêmica e do tipo de medicação utilizada em um grupo de crianças e adolescentes infectados pelo HIV após a introdução da terapia anti-retroviral combinada. Cinqüenta e oito pacientes foram examinados em 2001/2002, enquanto seus exames médicos e odontológicos retrospectivos (1997 a 2000) foram pesquisados em prontuário. Foram observados 7 novos casos de AIDS em uma amostra de 19 pacientes, enquanto 46,5% da amostra total (n = 58) progrediram quanto à classificação da infecção pelo HIV. Não foram observadas diferenças entre as freqüências de manifestações bucais, das categorias de imunossupressão e da carga viral. O quadro de manifestações bucais no grupo de crianças e adolescentes acompanhados neste estudo manteve-se estável, mesmo após a introdução da terapia anti-retroviral combinada. Contudo, foi observada uma tendência de diminuição da freqüência de candidíase bucal e hipertrofia de parótidas.

Toxinas killer e produção de enzimas por Candida albicans isoladas da mucosa bucal de pacientes com câncer / Killer toxin and enzyme production by Candida albicans isolated from buccal mucosa in patients with cancer

Opportunistic infections of the oral cavity are primarily caused by Candida and frequently occur in patients with cancer who are undergoing chemotherapy and antibiotic treatment. Of the specimens received from the oral mucosa of 44 patients with cancer, 25 (56.8%) yielded Candida on culture in Sabouraud agar. Twenty four of these isolates were identified as C. albicans (96%) and 1 as C. krusei (4%). The phenotypic characteristics of these isolates showed that all of them were strongly proteolytic, had a high ability to produce phospholipase, and presented the byotypes characterized as 811 (95.8%) and 511 (4.2%) in terms of susceptibility to killer toxins.

Infecções oportunistas da cavidade bucal são primariamente causadas por fungos do gênero Candida e freqüentemente ocorrem em pacientes com câncer que estão sobtratamento quimioterápico e antibacteriano. De 44 amostras coletadas da mucosa oral de pacientes com câncer, observou-se o isolamento de 25 leveduras do gênero Candida em cultivo realizado em ágar Sabouraud-dextrose. Foram identificados Candida albicans em 24 (96%) isolados e C. krusei em 1 (4%). As características fenotípicas das amostras de Candida albicans mostraram que todos os isolados foram fortemente proteolíticos, capazes de produzir fosfolipases e possuíam os biotipos caracterizados como 811(95,8%) e 511 (4,2%) em relação a susceptibilidade às toxinas killer.

A study on interrelationship of 60 HIV positive cases with coexistent oral candidosis and tuberculosis.

Sixty HIV seropositive cases studied of inter-relationship of coexistent infections with tuberculosis and oral candidosis. Presence of oral candidosis either symptomatic/asymptomatic as revealed on microbiological studies have been recorded and the significance discussed. Presence of oral candidosis apparent of nonapparent with heavy growth, yield on culture in HIV seropositive cases could be considered a pointer of conversion of HIV infection to a disease. This observation needs further evaluation. Relevant literature reviewed briefly.

Lesiones vesiculosas y ulcerosas bucofaríngeas / Vesiculate and ulcerative oropharyngeal injuries

Se revisan brevemente los principales tipos de lesiones vesiculosas y ulcerosas de la cavidad orofaríngea. Según su etiopatogenia se distinguen lesiones virales, bacterianas, micóticas, inmunológicas y hematológicas. En general forman parte de un cortejo sintomático que incluye manifestaciones cutáneas (síndromes mucocutáneos), articulaciones y/o viscerales, así como fiebre y compromiso del estado general. Las lesiones más frecuentes son las virales y las de naturaleza inmunológica

Profilaxis de la candidiasis orofaríngea en pacientes con terapia antineoplásica. Estudio doble ciego comparativo con fluconazol vs placebo

OBJETIVO: demostrar la eficacia y seguridad del fluconazol en la profilaxis de la candidiasis orofaríngea en pacientes con neoplasia hematológica e inmunosuprimidos médicamente. DISEÑO: estudio doble ciego, prospectivo, comparativo con placebo. UBICACION: consulta externa de las instituciones que que participaron. PACIENTES: 53 pacientes ambulatorios con neoplasia hematológica, sin candidiasis orofarígea, comprobada por microbiología, a los cuales se les iniciaba ciclo terapéutico con antineoplásicos. INTERVENCION: doble ciego al azar; administración de 10 ml de jarabe en dosis única diaria conteniendo 50 mg de fluconazol o excipientes, durante todo el período de tratamiento antimicótico tópico o sistémico asociado. PRINCIPAL RESULTADO A EVALUAR: evitar la candidiasis orofarígea. RESULTADOS: 53 pacientes estudiados; 26 recibieron fluconazol y 27 placebo, CLINICA:ninguno de los pacientes que recibieron fluconazol presentó cuadro clínico durante tratamiento; cuatro de los que recibieron placebo sí la presentaron (p<0.02 en favor de fluconazol); adicionalmente, una paciente presentó candiduria y cuadro séptico, obligando a abrir el código. Fue tratada con fluconazol parenteral y curó en corto tiempo. MICROBIOLOGIA: frotis pretratamiento: un paciente colonizado en el grupo placebo (X²=no significativo); postratamiento, cuatro pacientes del grupo placebo tenían presencia de levaduras (P<0.05,en favor de fluconazol). Solo uno de los cultivos pretratamiento se apreció crecimiento, uno de ellos masivo (p<0.05,en favor de fluconazol). SEGURIDAD : cuatro pacientes presentaron eventos adversos. Tres fueron en el grupo que recibió fluconazol, uno de los cuales presentó vómito severo que obligo a la suspensión del tratamiento; otro, disnea moderada asociada a obstrucción de vías aéreas por reacción anafiláctica relacionada con administración concomitante de penicilina, y otro ictericia leve, que cedió espontáneamente al suspender el tratamiento. El otro paciente, que estaba recibiendo placebo, presentó dolores abdominales, tipo cólico, posiblemente relacionados con el empleo concomitante de un antiparasitario. CONCLUSIONES : el fluconazol en dosis única diaria de 50 mg durante el período de terapía inmunosupresora, demostró ser eficaz como profiláctico de la candidiasis orofaríngea, además de fácil cumplimiento por el paciente y muy bien tolerado.

Angiosarcoma de Kaposi en mujer HIV positiva / Kaposi`s Angiosarcoma in an HIV positive female

Se presenta el caso de una mujer de 23 años de edad,adicta parental y heterosexual (ejercía la prostitución), que desarrolló lesiones de Kaposi en mucosa oral e infección pulmonar a P. carinii. Se discute la infrecuencia de casos y los factores que pueden predisponer a que la mujer HIV positiva pueda desarrrollar un sarcoma de Kaposi

Síndrome de imunodeficiência adquirida: lesöes cutâneas / Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome: cutaneous lesions

Os autores fizeram um levantamento de 126 prontuários de pacientes internados nas enfermarias de Doenças Infecciosas e Parasitárias do Hospital Universitário C.F.F.-UFRJ e encontraram a candidose como manifestaçäo mais frequente - 44,44%, sífilis-18.25%, eczema seborréico-17,46% e sarcoma de Kaposi-14,28%. Apresentam outros dados de natureza epidemiológica sobre a doença