A description of the first Candida auris-colonized individuals in New York State, 2016-2017.

Candida auris (C. auris) is a globally emerging multidrug-resistant yeast. New York State (NYS) first detected C. auris in July 2016 and is the state most affected. This brief report describes characteristics of the first 114 individuals colonized with C. auris identified through active surveillance/screening by NYS Department of Health. "Colonized/screened" individuals were old (median age, 74 year), had extensive health care exposures and underlying conditions (multiple health care facility admissions in the 90 days prior with more than 80% requiring mechanical ventilation), and had 30- and 90-day mortality rates of 17.5% and 37.7%, respectively (with approximately 60% expired in the 2-year follow-up period). This description is helpful to inform additional prevention measures and add to the collective understanding of C. auris in the United States.

Retention failures in cement- and screw-retained fixed restorations on dental implants in partially edentulous arches: A systematic review with meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: This systematic review aimed to evaluate retention failures in cement- and screw-retained fixed restorations on dental implants in partially edentulous arches. METHODS: The relevant articles were retrieved from MEDLINE (PubMed), Cochrane Library, and EBSCO electronic databases for articles published from January 1995 to January 2016 and were restricted to randomized controlled trials and retrospective and prospective studies on human subjects that were reported in English. A further hand search was conducted on individual journals and reference list of the articles found. Reviewed studies which reported retention failures in fixed implant-supported prostheses using screw and cement retention mechanism. Information on the type and nature of restoration, as well as different luting cement, were also collected. RESULTS: Thirty-three articles were finalized, 20 short-term clinical studies (up to 5 years) and 13 long-term studies (≥5 years). Out of 33 studies, 16 studies were included in meta-analysis, 8 in short-term and 8 in long-term studies. The results of the meta-analysis for short-term studies showed statistically significant difference between cement-retained and screw-retained prosthesis, with the forest plot favoring cement-retained prostheses (risk ratio [RR]: 0.26; confidence interval [CI]: 0.09-0.74; P < 0.0001; I2 = 79%). In long-term studies, the forest plot revealed statistically significant difference between both retention systems favoring cement-retained prostheses (RR: 0.31; CI: 0.13-0.76; P = 0.03; I2 = 56%). CONCLUSION: Analysis of the short- and long-term studies shows lesser retention failures with cement-retained prostheses when compared to screw-retained prostheses. Further, multicentric, high-quality randomized controlled studies with long-term observations and modified cementation protocols can yield higher grades of recommendation to avoid retention failures.

Detection of Matrix Metalloproteinases by Zymography.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) represent more than 20 zinc-containing endopeptidases that cleave internal peptide bonds, leading to protein degradation. They play a critical role in many physiological cell functions, including tissue remodeling, embryogenesis, and angiogenesis. They are also involved in the pathogenesis of a vast array of diseases, including but not limited to systemic inflammation, various cancers, and cardiovascular, neurological, and autoimmune diseases. Here, we describe gel zymography to detect MMPs in cell and tissue samples and in cell culture supernatants.

Preferential uptake of antioxidant carbon nanoparticles by T lymphocytes for immunomodulation.

Autoimmune diseases mediated by a type of white blood cell-T lymphocytes-are currently treated using mainly broad-spectrum immunosuppressants that can lead to adverse side effects. Antioxidants represent an alternative approach for therapy of autoimmune disorders; however, dietary antioxidants are insufficient to play this role. Antioxidant carbon nanoparticles scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS) with higher efficacy than dietary and endogenous antioxidants. Furthermore, the affinity of carbon nanoparticles for specific cell types represents an emerging tactic for cell-targeted therapy. Here, we report that nontoxic poly(ethylene glycol)-functionalized hydrophilic carbon clusters (PEG-HCCs), known scavengers of the ROS superoxide (O2•-) and hydroxyl radical, are preferentially internalized by T lymphocytes over other splenic immune cells. We use this selectivity to inhibit T cell activation without affecting major functions of macrophages, antigen-presenting cells that are crucial for T cell activation. We also demonstrate the in vivo effectiveness of PEG-HCCs in reducing T lymphocyte-mediated inflammation in delayed-type hypersensitivity and in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, an animal model of multiple sclerosis. Our results suggest the preferential targeting of PEG-HCCs to T lymphocytes as a novel approach for T lymphocyte immunomodulation in autoimmune diseases without affecting other immune cells.