Comparison of Candida species isolated from children with and without early childhood caries: A descriptive cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Early childhood caries (ECC) is characterized by the presence of one or more decayed, missing (due to caries), or filled teeth surfaces in any primary tooth, in a child below 6 years of age. Although ECC is primarily associated with high levels of maternal Streptococcus mutans, there has been an increased interest in finding the relationship between oral fungal flora and dental caries. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to identify and characterize the Candida species and to compare the candidal isolates in children with ECC and without ECC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted on children below 6 years of age, who were categorized into ECC and non-ECC groups of fifty children each. Samples were collected using sterile cotton swabs and were inoculated on Sabouraud's Dextrose Agar and incubated at 37°C for 24 h. Candidal colonies were isolated, species identified and virulence factors tested for both ECC and non-ECC groups. RESULTS: The candidal carriage among the ECC children was found to be 84%, which was significantly higher than the non-ECC group of 24%. Candida albicans and non-albicans Candida (NAC) were isolated in both ECC and non-ECC groups. Phospholipase production was significantly high in ECC group whereas hemolysin production and germ tube formation showed no significant difference between the two groups. CONCLUSION: A significant correlation was found between the presence of Candida and ECC. NAC also plays an important role in the development of ECC. The virulence factors such as phospholipase may be responsible for the pathogenicity of Candida in the development of ECC.

Heparin immobilized chitosan--poly ethylene glycol interpenetrating network: antithrombogenicity.

This work deals with the synthesis and blood compatibility studies of Heparin immobilized chitosan--polyethyleneglycol (Chit-PEG) hydrogels for various biomedical applications. Chit-PEG interpenetrating net work (IPN) had been synthesised by crosslinking different ratios of chitosan with glutaraldehyde using schiffs base reaction mechanism and interpenetrating polyethyleneglycol (PEG) to form hydrogen bonding between the amino hydrogen in chitosan and polyether oxygen. An optimum gel combination was selected from the IPN of Chit-PEG and used for bonding heparin. This modified gel had dramatically improved its blood compatibility. The antithrombotic function of this gel and the release profile of heparin had been investigated using coagulation assays, and spectrophotometric quantitation. Recalcification times of plasma exposed to heparin immobilized Chit-PEG hydrogel were markedly increased as compared to heparin free gels. The anticoagulant function of this gel matrix may be due to partially released heparin and bonded heparin.

Phenyl alanine, tryptophan immobilized chitosan beads as adsorbents for selective removal of immunoproteins.

The use of adsorbents for the treatment of patients suffering from various immune diseases is still in its infancy. Therefore, the development of selective absorbents for the removal or decrease of immunoproteins from plasma is of great importance. In this study, chitosan, a natural polysaccharide having structural characteristics similar to glycosamino glycans, which is non-toxic and biocompatible, has been used for protein adsorption studies. Amino acids like phenyl alanine and tryptophan in different ratios are bonded to these polymers to observe immunoadsorption. Several layers of phenyl alanine or tryptophan have been coated covalently on chitosan beads using N2-plasma, carbodiimide or glutaraldehyde treatments. Scanning electron micrographs have revealed the surface morphological changes after such modifications. The surface modified chitosan beads have exhibited high binding affinity for gamma-globulin compared to bare beads. It is also observed that the amount of fibrinogen adsorption is reduced on modified substrate. A selective removal of IgG and IgM has also been observed with these modified matrix when tested with human plasma, using immuno diffusion methods. The modified chitosan membranes have demonstrated a reduction in platelet attachment, showing that these substrates have become more blood compatible. Hence, it appears that modified chitosan surfaces may be an excellent sorbent system for haemoperfusion due to their high binding affinity for immunoproteins and blood compatibility. Further studies are needed to determine the behaviour under clinical conditions.