Identification of Candida species in the oral cavity of diabetic patients.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Diabetic patients are more susceptible to oral candidiasis infection than non-diabetics due to the factors promoting oral carriage of Candida. Several factors can increase colonization of Candida species in the oral cavity such as xerostomia, which reduces the salivary flow and is a salivary pH disorder. In the current study, we aimed to identify and compare the colonization level of Candida spp. in the oral cavity of diabetic and non-diabetic groups. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Swabs were taken from the mouth of 106 participants and were cultured on Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA) medium. Likewise, the saliva samples were collected for salivary glucose and pH measurements. The study was performed during June 2014-September 2015 on two groups of diabetic patients (n=58) and non-diabetics (n=48) as the control group. The Candida spp. were identified with PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) using the restriction enzymes HinfI and MspI and were differentiated by culture on CHROMagar Candida medium. RESULTS: The frequency of Candida spp. was higher in diabetic patients compared to non-diabetics. The most frequent Candida spp. in the diabetic patients were Candidaalbicans (%36.2),C. Krusei (%10.4), C. Glabrata (%5.1), and C.tropcalis .(%3.4)Likewise, C. albicans was the most frequent species (%27) in the non-diabetic individuals. In this study, the results of both methods for identification of the isolates were consistent with each other. CONCLUSION: Xerostomia and disturbance of physiological factors including pH and glucose can promote overgrowth of Candida flora in the oral cavity. These factors are considered important predisposing factors for oral candidiasis in diabetic patients. In the present study, it was observed that application of CHROMagar Candida and PCR-RFLP methods at the same time contributes to more accurate identification of isolates.

A new method based on electrospray ionisation ion mobility spectrometry (ESI-IMS) for simultaneous determination of caffeine and theophylline.

In this work for the first time, simultaneous analysis of caffeine and theophylline was done by ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) only, without a powerful separation technique (e.g., HPLC). Ion mobility spectrometry with low cost, inexpensive maintenance and very fast analysis makes an attractive technique for the simultaneous determination of the caffeine and theophylline in foodstuff samples and biological matrices. In this study, the extraction protocol using molecular imprinted polymer-solid phase extraction (MIP-SPE) was successfully used to directly extract caffeine and theophylline from real samples. The results obtained provided the detection limits of 0.2 and 0.3µgmL(-1) for caffeine and theophylline, respectively. The linear dynamic range of about two orders of magnitude was obtained for these compounds. Also, the proposed method was used to analyse various real samples of green tea and spiked human plasma, and the obtained results confirmed the capability of ESI-IMS for simultaneous detection of caffeine and theophylline.

Selective method based on negative electrospray ionization ion mobility spectrometry for direct analysis of salivary thiocyanate.

This study describes a novel technique for direct analysis of thiocyanate in human saliva using negative electrospray-ion mobility spectrometry (ESI-IMS) and without any considerable sample pretreatment. The ESI-IMS system with nearly complete desolvation cannot be useful for salivary thiocyanate analysis because complete overlapping occurs between the format peak of the solvent and the thiocyanate peak. In addition, the chloride ions existing in saliva produce a very broad peak, which has a drastically interfering effect on SCN(-) determination. In this study, with a little change in the operation conditions of the apparatus (lowering the flow rate of the drift gas), it was possible to overcome these problems. The desolvation process was decreased in the lower flow of drift gas, and this caused the SCN(-) peak to be separated completely from other interference peaks such as chloride ions. The results obtained in this proposed methodology provide the detection limit of 0.003 microg/mL and the linear dynamic range from 0.01 to 1.00 microg/mL for the thiocyanate. Several human saliva samples were analyzed with the proposed negative ESI-IMS, and the satisfactory results confirm the capability of the method for direct analysis of salivary thiocyanate.

Protective role of Pleurotus porrigens (Angel's wings) against gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicty in mice.

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to quantitatively evaluate the recovery effects of methanolic fraction Angel's wings on gentamicin (GM)-induced nephrotoxicity. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Renal injury was achieved by injecting 100 mg/kg, intraperitoneally of GM in normal saline. Extract were administrated intraperitoneally at doses 200 and 400 mg/kg. Blood samples were examined for serum creatinine, serum urea, and blood urea nitrogen after the 10 consecutive days of treatment. RESULTS: Results show that GM-induced nephrotoxic animal model was successfully prepared. Methanolic fraction of Angel's wings attenuated the gentamicin-induced increase in level of serum creatinine, serum urea, and blood urea nitrogen. CONCLUSIONS: The present study shows that the extract at the doses 200 and 400 mg/kg, intraperitoneally offered significant nephroprotective action that is comparable with control group.

Efficacy of two caries detector dyes in the diagnosis of dental caries.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of two caries detector dyes in the diagnosis of dental caries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty extracted human posterior teeth without pulpal exposure were sectioned mesiodistally through the center of the lesions using a water-cooled disk. The tooth halves were randomly divided into two groups and treated with Caries Detector (CD) and Caries Check (CC) detector dyes. Access cavities were prepared followed by caries removal and dye application. All cavities were arbitrarily divided into two right and left sections and excavation of the stained areas was performed on the left parts, while the right sections remained untouched. Bacterial penetration into dentinal tubules was evaluated using Gram-stained decalcified sections under light microscopy. Sensitivity and specificity of both dyes were calculated. RESULTS: The sensitivity of CD and CC were 74% and 71%, respectively. The specificity obtained for both dyes was 100%. CONCLUSION: Considering the low sensitivity of the dyes evaluated in the present study, it seems that they may not be reliable when used as the sole diagnostic technique for detection of carious lesions in posterior teeth.

Linezolid-induced optic neuropathy: a mitochondrial disorder?

We report a case of bilateral mitochondrial optic neuropathies secondary to long-term linezolid treatment, show the nature of recovery, review the findings in the literature and propose a potential mitochondrial mechanism for linezolid-induced mitochondrial optic neuropathy. This is an observational case report and literature review with presentation of the clinical course of linezolid mitochondrial optic neuropathies through clinical and psychophysical documentation. Main outcome measures included: visual acuity, funduscopical examinations and peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer (PRNFL) optical coherence tomography (OCT). A 6-year-old boy presented with bilateral optic neuropathies secondary to 1 year of linezolid treatment for osteomyelitis of the mandible. On presentation, visual acuities were 20/400 in both eyes, with considerable optic disc oedema, hyperaemia and PRNFL swelling confirmed by OCT. 2 weeks after the discontinuation of linezolid, visual acuities returned to 20/25 in both eyes, with reduction in the optic disc oedema, hyperaemia and PRNFL swelling. 3 months after the discontinuation of linezolid treatment, visual acuities were stable at 20/20 in both eyes, with a marked decrease in PRNFL swelling confirmed by OCT, and the development of mild temporal optic disc pallor in both eyes. Doctors should be aware of impairments of vision among patients on long-term linezolid treatment and promptly discontinue treatment to prevent irreversible vision loss. The development and resolution of bilateral optic neuropathies with considerable PRNFL swelling in this patient provide insight into the more general rubric of mitochondrial optic neuropathies.

Reduction of lower motor neuron degeneration in wobbler mice by N-acetyl-L-cysteine.

The murine mutant wobbler is a model of lower motoneuron degeneration with associated skeletal muscle atrophy. This mutation most closely resembles Werdnig-Hofmann disease in humans and shares some of the clinical features of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). It has been suggested that reactive oxygen species (ROS) may play a role in the pathogenesis of disorders such as ALS. To examine the relationship between ROS and neural degeneration, we have studied the effects of agents such as N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), which reduce free radical damage. Litters of wobbler mice were given a 1% solution of the glutathione precursor NAC in their drinking water for a period of 9 weeks. Functional and neuroanatomical examination of these animals revealed that wobbler mice treated with NAC exhibited (1) a significant reduction in motor neuron loss and elevated glutathione peroxidase levels within the cervical spinal cord, (2) increased axon caliber in the medial facial nerve, (3) increased muscle mass and muscle fiber area in the triceps and flexor carpi ulnaris muscles, and (4) increased functional efficiency of the forelimbs, as compared with untreated wobbler littermates. These data suggest that reactive oxygen species may be involved in the degeneration of motor neurons in wobbler mice and demonstrate that oral administration of NAC effectively reduces the degree of motor degeneration in wobbler mice. This treatment thus may be applicable in the treatment of other lower motor neuropathies.

Properties of the biosurfactant produced by Bacillus licheniformis strain JF-2.

The activity of the biosurfactant produced by Bacillus licheniformis strain JF-2 was quantified using a unit defined as the amount of the acid-precipitated biosurfactant that lowered the surface tension by 10 mN/m. One unit was equivalent to 37 micrograms/ml of the acid-precipitated biosurfactant. Acid precipitation was very effective in the removal of the biosurfactant from the spent medium. Among the solvents tested methanol was the most efficient in extracting the surfactant activity from acid-precipitated material. Thin-layer chromatography of the acid-precipitated biosurfactant revealed four components, two of which contained a lipid moiety and one of which contained an amino group. The methanol-soluble fraction also contained these four components. Studies suggested that all four components were needed for full activity. The lowest interfacial tensions against octane were observed when NaC1 concentrations were 50 g/l or greater. Calcium concentrations greater than 25 g/l significantly increased the interfacial tension.

A study of dermatophytoses in Esfahan (Iran).

The present study determined the extent and causative agents of dermatophytoses in Esfahan, a large city of Iran. Specimens from patients were examined for etiologic agents by direct microscopic procedure and by culture. Out of 12,000 patients with skin diseases, 10.8% were affected with dermatophytoses. Among the 10.8% group, lesions of tinea capitis were most common (72.1%) and Trichophyton verrucosum was the most frequent (43.8%) dermatophyte isolated from the patients. We found a relationship between the spread of dermatophytoses and live-stock infected with dermatophytoses.

Anaerobic Production of a Biosurfactant by Bacillus licheniformis JF-2.

Bacillus licheniformis JF-2 anaerobically produced a biosurfactant when grown in a glucose-mineral salts medium containing yeast extract and NaNO(3). Surface tension of the medium was reduced from 70 to 74 mN/m to as low as 28 mN/m due to the production of an anionic biosurfactant.