Candidate gene polymorphisms related to lipid metabolism in Asian Indians living in Durban, South Africa

Background & objectives: Asian Indians have been shown to have a high prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS), related to insulin resistance and possibly genetic factors. The aim of this study was to determine the genetic patterns associated with MetS in Asian Indians living in Durban, South Africa. Methods: Nine hundred and ninety nine participants from the Phoenix Lifestyle Project underwent clinical, biochemical and genetic assessment. MetS was diagnosed according to the harmonized definition. The apolipoprotein A5 Q139X, lipoprotein lipase (LPL) Hinf I, human paraoxonase 1 (PON1) 192Arg/Gln, cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) Taq1B, adiponectin 45T>G and leptin (LEP) 25CAG were genotyped by real-time polymerase chain reaction in participants with and without MetS. Univariate-unadjusted and multivariate-adjusted relations were conducted for all analyses. Results: The prevalence of MetS was high (49.0%). More females had MetS than males (51.0 vs 42.8%). There was no significant difference in the distribution of genotypes between participants with MetS and those without. Males with the MetS who had the adiponectin TG genotype and human paraoxonase 1 AA genotype were more likely to have reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (P=0.001) and higher systolic blood pressure (P=0.018), respectively. Interpretation & conclusions: About half of the Asian Indians living in Phoenix had MetS. No association between the polymorphisms studied and the risk for MetS was observed. The adiponectin TG genotype may be associated with reduced HDL-C and the human paraoxonase 1 AA genotype with hypertension in males. This suggested that lifestyle factors were the major determinant for MetS in this ethnic group and the genetic risk might be related to its component risk factors than to MetS as an entity.

Natural products as a vital source for the discovery of cancer chemotherapeutic and chemopreventive agents

Throughout history, natural products have played a dominant role in the treatment of human ailments. For example, the legendary discovery of penicillin transformed global existence. Presently, natural products comprise a large portion of current-day pharmaceutical agents, most notably in the area of cancer therapy. Examples include Taxol, vinblastine, and camptothecin. These structurally unique agents function by novel mechanisms of action; isolation from natural sources is the only plausible method that could have led to their discovery. In addition to terrestrial plants as sources for starting materials, the marine environment [e.g., ecteinascidin 743, halichondrin B, and dolastatins], microbes [e.g., bleomycin, doxorubicin, and staurosporin], and slime molds [e.g., epothilone B] have yielded remarkable cancer chemotherapeutic agents. Irrespective of these advances, cancer remains a leading cause of death worldwide. Undoubtedly, the prevention of human cancer is highly preferable to treatment. Cancer chemoprevention, the use of vaccines or pharmaceutical agents to inhibit, retard, or reverse the process of carcinogenesis, is another important approach for easing this formidable public health burden. Similar to cancer chemotherapeutic agents, natural products play an important role in this field. There are many examples, including dietary phytochemicals such as sulforaphane and phenethyl isothiocyanate [cruciferous vegetables] and resveratrol [grapes and grape products]. Overall, natural product research is a powerful approach for discovering biologically active compounds with unique structures and mechanisms of action. Given the unfathomable diversity of nature, it is reasonable to suggest that chemical leads can be generated that are capable of interacting with most or possibly all therapeutic targets

Modelo de evaluación del riesgo a caries dental en población adulta: instrumentos e instrucciones / Use a method to asses the risk of dental caries in adult patients

Cuando se considera a la caries como una enfermedad, no como una lesión, y se identifican los factores de riesgo implicados en su etiología, se poseen las herramientas para prevenir la aparición de nuevas lesiones y la progresión de las existentes. Esto implica un cambio de conducta en los profesionales de la salud bucal, tanto a nivel académico en las escuelas de odontología, como en los servicios públicos y privados. Es por ello, que se hace necesario el diseño, evaluación, implementación y divulgación de mecanismos e instrumentos que faciliten el diagnóstico del riesgo a caries. Asignar al paciente en un nivel de riesgo es el primer paso para el manejo y tratamiento de la enfermedad caries. Esta evaluación se realiza en dos fases: en la primera se identifican factores patológicos específicos o indicadores de la enfermedad, factores biológicos predisponentes y factores protectores de cada paciente. En la segunda fase se determina el nivel de riesgo de acuerdo al análisis de todos los factores involucrados, y posteriormente se planifica, desarrolla y ejecuta estrategias personalizadas dirigidas a controlar la enfermedad.

When considering caries as a disease, not a lesion, and identifying the risk factors involved in their causes, you have the tools to prevent the appearance of new lesions and progression of existing ones. This implies a change in behavior in oral health professionals, both academic dental schools, and in public and private services. This is why it is necessary to do the design, evaluation, implementation and dissemination of mechanisms and tools to facilitate the diagnosis of caries risk. Assign the patient to a level of risk is the first step in the management and treatment of caries disease. This evaluation is performed in two phases: in the first phase are identified pathological factors specific or indicators of the disease, biological factors predisposing and protective factors of each patient. The second phase determines the level of risk according to the analysis of all the factors involved, and then plans, develops and implements customized strategies aimed at controlling the disease.

Caries secundaria

La caries secundaria también denominada caries recurrente constituye una de las razones principales de reemplazo de las restauraciones. Es una lesión de caries que se localiza adyacente a una restauración, y puede originarse como una lesión externa y /o lesión de pared. El diagnóstico clínico, esta basado en la presencia de pigmentación y brecha marginal, ambos signos no son criterios absolutos para el diagnóstico de caries secundaria. En la siguiente revisión se exponen estudios recientes de la asociación entre caries secundaria con los siguientes aspectos: brecha marginal, pigmentación marginal, dentina afectada y material restaurador.

The secondary or recurrent caries is one of the main reasons for replacement of restorations. The lesion secondary caries occurs at the margin of an existing restoration, and consist of two parts, an outer lesion and/or a wall lesion. The clinical diagnosis, is based on the presence of staining and ditching marginal, both signs are not absolute criteria for the diagnosis of secondary caries. The next literature review presents recent studies of the association between secondary caries to the following: marginal ditching, marginal staining, affected dentin and restorative material.

Microorganismos presentes en las diferentes etapas de la progresión de la lesión de Caries dental

La caries dental es una enfermedad infecciosa de etiología multifactorial, donde los microorganismos organizados en una biopelícula, denominada Placa Dental, constituyen un factor determinante en el desarrollo de la lesión de caries, y esta representa el signo tardío de la enfermedad. La etapa inicial de la lesión se aprecia clínicamente como una mancha blanca, y a medida que progresa se desarrolla una cavidad con la dentina expuesta al medio bucal. En cada etapa de progresión de la lesión predominan especies microbianas, como resultado de una sucesión de microorganismos. En el caso de sujetos sanos libres de caries se ha podido observar el predominio de microorganismos distintos a aquellos asociados con la enfermedad, tal como Streptococcus sanguinis. Sin embargo, en sujetos afectados por la caries dental los estreptococos pertenecientes al grupo mutans han sido los preponderantes durante el inicio y progresión de la lesión, especialmente Streptococcus mutans, mientras que Lactobacillus y Bifidobacterium predominan en las etapas avanzadas de la lesión.

Dental caries is a multifactorial disease, where the microorganisms as a main ethological factor are organized in a biofilm called Dental Plaque. This constitutes the main factor in the development of the carious lesion, which clinically is seen as a white spot and may progresses to develop a cavity with dentine exposed to oral cavity. At each stage of progression different microbial species lead as a result of a bacterial succession. In the case of caries free subjects, the presence of bacterial species other than those associated with the disease, such as S. sanguinis, had been observed. Whereas, at the onset and progression of the lesion species belong to the Mutans Streptococci group, especially Streptococcus mutans, are the main micoorganisms. Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium dominate in the advanced stages of the disease.

Microbiología de la Dentina Cariada en Humanos / Microbiology human carious dentin

La lesión de Caries Dentinaria representa el signo tardío de la Enfermedad Caries Dental. Esta Dentina Cariada ha sido objeto de estudios microbiológicos desde 1890 hasta la actualidad, con la finalidad de caracterizar la compleja y diversa microbiota que la compone. En esta revisión se citan los estudios mas recientes, basados en técnicas moleculares, como la reacción en cadena de la polimerasa (RCP), lo que ha permitido detectar microorganismos, que no habían sido identificados en estudios anteriores, donde sólo se aplicaban medios de cultivos selectivos y técnicas de identificación bioquímica. Entre las especies microbianas encontradas en Dentina Cariada podemos citar tanto bacterias Grampositivas: Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, Propionibacterium, Bifidobacterium, Actinomyces, Eubacterium, Rothia, Arachnia, Micromonas y Pseudoramibacterium; como bacterias Gramnegativas: Prevotella, Porphyromona y Selenomonas. Es importante continuar los estudios en este campo para entender los mecanismos microbianos responsables de la invasión y destrucción del tejido dentinario, y así poder comprender la patogénesis de la lesión de Caries Avanzada

Dentine Caries Lesion represents the latest sign of the Dental Caries Disease. In order to discover and characterize the complexity and diversity of caries dentine microbiota have been made microbiological studies from 1890 to the present time. In this review, recent studies based on molecular techniques (PCR) that have allowed detect microorganisms which have not been identified in previous studies based on biochemical techniques of identification and selective cultures, are mentioned. Among microbial species detected in caries dentine can mention as much Gram-positive bacteria: Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, Propionibacterium, Bifidobacterium, Actinomyces, Eubacterium, Rothia, Arachnia, Micromonasy Pseudoramibacterium; as Gram-negative bacteria: Prevotella, Porphyromona y Selenomonas. It is important to continue the studies in this field in order to understand the microbial mechanisms responsible for the invasion and destruction of the dentine structure

Invasive Salmonellosis in Malawi

The incidence of invasive salmonellosis has increased among children and HIV-infected adults in Malawi. This has been associated with the emergence of drug resistance in the non-typhoidal Salmonella serovars Enteritidis and Typhimurium. In contrast; S. Typhi isolates have remained fully sensitive to commonly used antibiotics and the estimated incidence of typhoid fever; although still present; has fallen slightly among both adults and children. Infection with S. Typhi is not closely associated with underlying immuno- suppression but it is possible that the non-typhoidal Salmonellae have adapted to the person-person human transmission niche in this frequently immunosuppressed population. The huge burden of invasive salmonellosis in Malawi; the high associated mortality; and the recent emergence of drug resistance emphasise the need for a better understanding of the epidemiology and the need for vaccine development