Occurrence of Helicobacter pylori in dental plaque and saliva of dyspeptic patients.

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori infection in the stomach is associated with gastric and duodenal ulcers, gastric cancers and gastric lymphoma. The organism is transmitted by ingestion, but the oral-oral route and the fecal-oral route are also suggested. The prevalence of infection with H. pylori in developing countries, including Brazil, is higher than in developed countries. PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the role of the oral cavity as a reservoir of this species, by evaluating the occurrence of H. pylori in supragingival dental plaque and in saliva of Brazilian dyspeptic patients, whether harboring the organism or not in the stomach. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty-nine patients reporting dyspeptic symptoms were subjected to oral clinical examination and collection of saliva and supragingival dental plaque samples prior to the endoscopic examination. The detection of H. pylori in oral samples was performed by PCR using 16S rRNA primers. The bacteria were detected in stomach by means of the rapid urease test. RESULTS: Helicobacter pylori was detected in the stomach of 20 of 49 subjects reporting dyspeptic symptoms. The organism was detected in only one supragingival plaque sample, obtained from a patient positive for the urease test in the stomach and in none of the salivary samples. CONCLUSION: Supragingival dental plaque and saliva may not be relevant reservoirs of H. pylori.

Candida albicans: Frequency and characterization in oral cancer (Stage I) from smokers and drinkers.

The frequency and the biotype of Candida albicans, from patients with epidermoid carcinoma of the oral mucosa (stage I) were evaluated. The patients chosen were habitual drinkers and smokers, aged 34 to 81 years who had not submitted previously to any treatment. They exhibited ulcero-vegetative lesions, mainly on the floor of the mouth, palate and tongue and were classified as stage TNM 100 - TNM 200. Samples from the buccal mucosa were collected for mycological study including: identification of yeasts, serotyping, determination of exo-enzymes as proteinase and phospholipase as well as "killer" assay for biotype characterization. Positive cultives for yeasts were observed in 51.5% of the patients(17/33), being 21.2% represented by C. albicans, all serotype A. The "killer" test demonstrated two different biotypes of C. albicans, namely 211(71.4%) and 611(28.6%), with high levels of proteinase (Prz < 0.30), while phospholipase presented intermediary levels (Pz > 0.29 and =/< 0.69). These data suggested a potentiality to virulence of C. albicans, although did not show an association of a particular biotype with the carcinogenic factors present or with the development of oral epidermoid carcinoma in this initial stage.