Fever-like temperature impacts on Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa interaction, physiology, and virulence both in vitro and in vivo.

BACKGROUND: Staphylococcus aureus (SA) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) cause a wide variety of bacterial infections and coinfections, showing a complex interaction that involves the production of different metabolites and metabolic changes. Temperature is a key factor for bacterial survival and virulence and within the host, bacteria could be exposed to an increment in temperature during fever development. We analyzed the previously unexplored effect of fever-like temperatures (39 °C) on S. aureus USA300 and P. aeruginosa PAO1 microaerobic mono- and co-cultures compared with 37 °C, by using RNAseq and physiological assays including in vivo experiments. RESULTS: In general terms both temperature and co-culturing had a strong impact on both PA and SA with the exception of the temperature response of monocultured PA. We studied metabolic and virulence changes in both species. Altered metabolic features at 39 °C included arginine biosynthesis and the periplasmic glucose oxidation in S. aureus and P. aeruginosa monocultures respectively. When PA co-cultures were exposed at 39 °C, they upregulated ethanol oxidation-related genes along with an increment in organic acid accumulation. Regarding virulence factors, monocultured SA showed an increase in the mRNA expression of the agr operon and hld, pmsα, and pmsß genes at 39 °C. Supported by mRNA data, we performed physiological experiments and detected and increment in hemolysis, staphyloxantin production, and a decrease in biofilm formation at 39 °C. On the side of PA monocultures, we observed an increase in extracellular lipase and protease and biofilm formation at 39 °C along with a decrease in the motility in correlation with changes observed at mRNA abundance. Additionally, we assessed host-pathogen interaction both in vitro and in vivo. S. aureus monocultured at 39οC showed a decrease in cellular invasion and an increase in IL-8-but not in IL-6-production by A549 cell line. PA also decreased its cellular invasion when monocultured at 39 °C and did not induce any change in IL-8 or IL-6 production. PA strongly increased cellular invasion when co-cultured at 37 and 39 °C. Finally, we observed increased lethality in mice intranasally inoculated with S. aureus monocultures pre-incubated at 39 °C and even higher levels when inoculated with co-cultures. The bacterial burden for P. aeruginosa was higher in liver when the mice were infected with co-cultures previously incubated at 39 °C comparing with 37 °C. CONCLUSIONS: Our results highlight a relevant change in the virulence of bacterial opportunistic pathogens exposed to fever-like temperatures in presence of competitors, opening new questions related to bacteria-bacteria and host-pathogen interactions and coevolution.

Effect of a Toothpaste for Sensitive Teeth on the Sensitivity and Effectiveness of In-office Dental Bleaching: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to evaluate the desensitizing effect of toothpaste for sensitive teeth on patient tooth sensitivity and on bleaching efficacy of the 38% hydrogen peroxide bleaching agent used for in-office bleaching compared to a regular toothpaste in a randomized clinical trial. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Forty-eight patients having maxillary right central incisors with darkness greater than A1 were selected for the present double-blind randomized clinical trial. Patients were randomly allocated into two groups: the placebo group, which used regular toothpaste, and the experimental group, which used sensitivity toothpaste. The intervention consisted of applying toothpaste with the aid of an individual tray for a period of 4 minutes daily, starting one week before the first bleaching session and interrupting use immediately after the second session. After allocation to one of the groups, individuals received in-office dental bleaching with a 40-minute application of 38% hydrogen peroxide for two sessions with an interval of one week. The incidence and intensity of sensitivity were assessed using a visual analogue scale and a numeric analogue scale. Sensitivity was measured immediately before each session, 1 hour, 24 hours, and 48 hours after each bleaching session and four weeks after the second bleaching session. Tooth shade was evaluated using a spectrophotometer and by comparison with the VITA Classical Shade Guide (Vita Zahnfabrik, Bad Säckingen, Germany). Tooth shade was evaluated before the first bleaching session, one week after the first bleaching session, one week after the second bleaching session and four weeks after the second bleaching session. Participants and professionals who performed the bleaching, shade, and sensitivity assessments were blinded to the group of patients they were treating or assessing. For the incidence of hypersensitivity, the results were evaluated by comparing the groups at different evaluation times with the Mann-Whitney test for comparison between groups, the Friedman test for repeated measures, and the Tukey test for comparison of times. Shade change on the guide was analyzed using the Mann-Whitney test for comparison between groups and the Wilcoxon test for comparison between times. Shade change by the spectrophotometer was analyzed using the t-test for comparison between groups and the paired t-test for comparison between times. All analyses were performed with a significance level of 5%. RESULTS: There was no difference in the pattern of dental hypersensitivity between groups. For all shade measures, there was no difference between the bleaching results, and no statistically significant difference was observed between the study groups. CONCLUSION: The use of arginine-based desensitizing toothpaste did not interfere with the bleaching ability of hydrogen peroxide and was not effective in reducing the sensitivity caused by in-office tooth bleaching.

Fever-like temperature impacts on Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa interaction, physiology, and virulence both in vitro and in vivo.

Background: Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa cause a wide variety of bacterial infections and coinfections, showing a complex interaction that involves the production of different metabolites and metabolic changes. Temperature is a key factor for bacterial survival and virulence and within the host, bacteria could be exposed to an increment in temperature during fever development. We analyzed the previously unexplored effect of fever-like temperatures (39°C) on S. aureus USA300 and P. aeruginosa PAO1 microaerobic mono- and co-cultures compared with 37°C, by using RNAseq and physiological assays including in-vivo experiments. Results: In general terms both temperature and co-culturing had a strong impact on both PA and SA with the exception of the temperature response of monocultured PA. We studied metabolic and virulence changes on both species. Altered metabolic features at 39°C included arginine biosynthesis and the periplasmic glucose oxidation in S. aureus and P. aeruginosa monocultures respectively. When PA co-cultures were exposed at 39°C they upregulated ethanol oxidation related genes along with an increment in organic acid accumulation. Regarding virulence factors, monocultured SA showed an increase in the mRNA expression of the agr operon and hld, pmsα and pmsß genes at 39°C. Supported by mRNA data, we performed physiological experiments and detected and increment in hemolysis, staphylxantin production and a decrease in biofilm formation at 39°C. On the side of PA monocultures, we observed increase in extracellular lipase and protease and biofilm formation at 39°C along with a decrease in motility in correlation with changes observed at mRNA abundance. Additionally, we assessed host-pathogen interaction both in-vitro and in-vivo . S. aureus monocultured at 39°C showed a decrease in cellular invasion and an increase in IL-8 -but not in IL-6- production by A549 cell line. PA also decreased its cellular invasion when monocultured at 39°C and did not induce any change in IL-8 or IL-6 production. PA strongly increased cellular invasion when co-cultured at 37°C and 39°C. Finally, we observed increased lethality in mice intranasally inoculated with S. aureus monocultures pre-incubated at 39°C and even higher levels when inoculated with co-cultures. The bacterial burden for P. aeruginosa was higher in liver when the mice were infected with co-cultures previously incubated at 39°C comparing with 37°C. Conclusion: Our results highlight a relevant change in the virulence of bacterial opportunistic pathogens exposed to fever-like temperatures in presence of competitors, opening new questions related to bacteria-bacteria and host-pathogen interactions and coevolution.

Implementation of a psychodermatology clinic at a major health system in Detroit.

The association between psychiatric and dermatologic disorders has been well characterized in the present literature with estimates of up to 40% of dermatology patients having concomitant psychiatric problems that are often related to their skin condition. Here, we present our experience regarding the implementation of a psychodermatology clinic in Detroit, Michigan. The most commonly referred conditions were delusions of parasitosis, neurotic excoriations, and isotretinoin initiation for patients with a history of psychiatric conditions. Seventy-three percent of referred patients were female. By creating a monthly clinic for patients who are diagnosed with skin conditions and associated psychiatric disorders or psychological symptoms, we are able to meet the needs of these patients with a synergistic relationship between health care providers.

Development of the National Kidney Transplantation Program in Uruguay.

The first kidney transplantation (KT) in Uruguay was performed in 1969. We report the rates of KT and survival of patients and grafts up to December 2014. The country has a surface of 176,215 km(2) and a population of 3,286,314 inhabitants (18.6 inhabitants per km(2)). Till December 31, 2014, 1,940 KT have been performed in Uruguay (41.8 pmp that year); 90.4% of them were from cadaveric donors (CD). Median age of recipients (R) was 44 ± 14 years; R older than 55 years increased from 0 to 27% during the period. Our pre-emptive KT program started in 2007. Optimal donors (D) decreased from 65.2% to 35.5%, and D older than 45 years old increased from 9% to 37%. Trauma as cause of death decreased from 49% to 32% and stroke as cause of death increased from 25% to 39%. Patient survival rates at 1, 5, and 8 years were 93%, 87%, and 78%, respectively for KT performed between 1980 and 1989; they were 98%, 93%, and 89%, respectively, for KT performed between 1990 and1999; they were 97%, 91%, and 90%, respectively, for KT performed between 2000 and 2010. In December 2013, there were 1098 patients pmp in renal replacement therapy, 758 pmp in dialysis, and 340 pmp (30.9%) with a functioning graft. Our national KT program is mainly based (90.6%) on cadaveric donation. Epidemiological changes in the characteristics of R and D followed the changes in aging that occurred in the general population and the dialysis population. The survival rates from patients and kidneys are similar to those reported by the European and the American registries.

PP147. Prevalence of hypertensive syndromes according to pregnancy age.

INTRODUCTION: The decision of a woman to get pregnant at later age of her reproductive cycle has be a phenomenon around the world. Epidemiology data show frequent increase of clinical complications in direct proportion in advanced age motherhood, hypertensive disturbances being more prevalent. OBJECTIVES: Analyse the prevalence of hypertensive syndromes in pre-determined age groups at Hospital Guilherme Álvaro in Santos, São Paulo, Brazil showing the different segments in each one. METHODS: From data collected in the outpatient department of Hospital Guilherme Álvaro of High Risk Pre-natal between 04/06/2008 and 30/05/2011, a prevalence transversal study was carried out where data were obtained from 628 patients aged between 16 and 46years. Procedures of homogeny analysts were set out, always collecting data such as age and disorder for high risk gestation. According to age, patients were divided into groups: precocious (up to 19years old), middle age (between 20 and 34) and late pregnancies (over 35). RESULTS: In the precocious pregnancies, clinical illnesses/no hypertension (31%) were observed in first place, 25% (8) twin pregnancy in second place, 19% (6) showed hypertensive disturbances. Concerning pregnancies between 20 and 34years old, 36% (144 patients) showed hypertensive syndromes, 23% (92 patients) showed endocrine disturbances, 22% (90 patients) showed clinical illnesses/no hypertension, and 9% twin pregnancy. Regarding late pregnancies, the most frequent disturbance was isolated hypertensive syndromes: 44% (88 patients) in first place, only endocrine disturbances, 24% (47 patients) in second place followed by association between hypertensive syndromes and endocrinopathy with 13% (26 patients). CONCLUSION: About precocious pregnancies, greater prevalence showed clinical illnesses/no hypertension, whereas middle age and late pregnancies showed greater hypertensive syndrome prevalence, results, which are compatible with other studies, have been observed that due to advance of age, hypertensive syndromes are more frequent. For late pregnancies, the prevalence of clinical illnesses/no hypertension was a lower percentage regarding the other two groups: precocious pregnancies (31%=10 women), middle age pregnancies (22%=90 women), and late pregnancies (2%=7 women). Considering the fact that the occurrence of pregnancy is more and more late in life, it can be concluded that the professionals must be prepared to attend pregnancies on women with hypertensive disturbances and their eventual complications.

Endothelium-derived nitric oxide is involved in the hypotensive and vasorelaxant effects induced by discretamine in rats.

The aim of this study was to investigate the pharmacological effects of discretamine, an isoquinoline alkaloid isolated from Duguetia magnolioidea Maas, on the cardiovascular system, using a combined in vivo and in vitro approach. Blood pressure and heart rate measurements, as well as changes in isometric tension in rat superior mesenteric arterial rings, elicited by discretamine were recorded. In normotensive non-anaesthetized rats (n = 6), discretamine (0.01; 0.05; 0.1; 0.5; 1, 5 and 10 mg/kg i.v., randomly) injections produced hypotension (-5.2 +/- 1.7; -5.1 +/- 2.1; -7.7 +/- 2; -8.9 +/- 1.7; -9.6 +/- 2.2; -16.8 +/- 2.8 and -13.4 +/- 1.3 mmHg, respectively) accompanied by tachycardia (24.2 +/- 6.1; 36.8 +/- 11.3; 44.2 +/- 7.7; 45.9 +/- 6.4; 48.2 +/- 9.1; 72.1 +/- 14.5 and 64 +/- 17 bpm, respectively). Hypotensive and tachycardic responses were significantly attenuated after L-NAME (20 mg/kg, i.v.) administration. In isolated rat mesenteric artery rings, with endothelium intact, discretamine (10(-12) - 10(-5) M) induced concentration-dependent relaxation of the contractions induced by phenylephrine (10 microM) [pD2 = 6.8 +/- 0.1]. The effect of the discretamine on phenylephrine induced contractions was significantly attenuated after removal of the vascular endothelium [pD2 = 5.8 +/- 0.04]. Similar results were obtained after pre-treatment with L-NAME 100 microM [pD2 = 5.8 +/- 0.04], L-NAME 300 microM [pD2 = 5.9 +/- 0.06], Hydroxocobalamin 30 microM [pD2 = 5.8 +/- 0.06] or ODQ 10 microM [pD2 = 5.8 +/- 0.04]. In addition, in rabbit aorta endothelial cell line, discretamine significantly increased NO3- levels. These results suggest that the hypotensive effect induced by discretamine is probably due to a peripheral vasodilatation, at least, in part, due to the release of NO from vascular endothelium and consequent activation of soluble guanylyl cyclase (GC) in the vascular smooth muscle cells.

A triple therapy regimen after failed Helicobacter pylori treatments.

BACKGROUND: Following standard triple therapy, up to 20% of patients require further Helicobacter pylori eradication treatment. Data regarding the efficacy of re-treatment in these patients are scarce. AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of a triple therapy after one or more consecutive treatment failures. METHODS: A total of 51 patients with persistent H. pylori infection after at least one unsuccessful standard 1-week regimen were enrolled in the study. H. pylori infection at entry was assessed by rapid urease test and histology on biopsies from the antrum and the corpus. Patients were given a 2-week triple therapy, comprising ranitidine bismuth citrate 400 mg b.d., tetracycline 500 mg t.d.s., and tinidazole 500 mg b.d. Ranitidine bismuth citrate was given during meals, whilst tetracycline and tinidazole was given after meals. Bacterial eradication was assessed by endoscopy (36 patients) or 13C-urea breath test (15 patients) 4-6 weeks after therapy had ended. RESULTS: All 51 patients completed the study and H. pylori eradication was achieved in 46, with an eradication rate of 90% (95% CI: 82-98). In detail, bacterial eradication was obtained in 96% of patients who had previously failed one course of clarithromycin-amoxicillin based triple therapy, in 88% patients who had failed a clarithromycin-tinidazole based triple therapy, in 83% patients who had failed both treatment schedules, and in the only patient who had failed three consecutive therapeutic attempts. Two patients took the therapy for 9 and 10 days instead of the full 14 day-course. No major side-effects were reported, whilst six (12%) patients complained of mild side-effects. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that this triple therapy regimen is effective for re-treatment of H. pylori infection.

Chaotic behavior in noninteger-order cellular neural networks

In this paper, a simple system showing chaotic behavior is introduced. It is based on the well-known concept of cellular neural networks (CNNs), which have already given good results in generating complex dynamics. The peculiarity of the CNN model consists in the fact that it replaces the traditional first-order cell with a noninteger-order one. The introduction of the fractional cell, with a suitable choice of the coupling parameters, leads to the onset of chaos in a simple two-cell system. A theoretical approach, based on the harmonic balance theory, has been used to investigate the existence of chaos. A circuit realization of the proposed fractional two-cell chaotic CNN is reported and the corresponding strange attractor is also shown.

Postirradiation sarcomas of the head and neck.

We discuss four cases of postirradiation sarcomas of the head and neck. Two cases were metachronous sarcomas that appeared after operation and irradiation for primary sarcomas, 1 case was a mandibular malignant fibrous histiocytoma that developed on the opposite side of the jaw from a malignant histiocytic neoplasm that was irradiated 8 years previously, and 1 case was a laryngeal tumor that appeared 5 years after combined operative and radiation therapy for a laryngeal squamous carcinoma. Immunohistochemical studies more precisely defined and classified these tumors, and assisted in determining a therapeutic protocol. The therapy for postirradiation sarcomas includes extirpative operation when possible, but the role of chemotherapy is uncertain. The aggressive behavior of these neoplasms was attested to by the death of three patients within 18 months of their operations.

Oral cavity reconstruction using the free radial forearm flap.

While a number of flaps are available that can "plug the hole" created by the resection of an oral cavity malignancy, the final functional and cosmetic result is often far from satisfactory. The ideal flap for this area should provide a one-stage, reliable reconstruction (regardless of previous surgery or irradiation) with the options of thin pliable skin and/or vascularized bone. Donor-site morbidity must be acceptable. In our experience, the free radial forearm flap best approaches these ideals. Unfortunately, it has received relatively little attention in the otolaryngology literature. The results of using 15 of these flaps to reconstruct 14 oral cavity defects are reported here. Despite the fact that most of the reconstructions were performed in older patients who had undergone irradiation (nine of 14) and previous surgical treatment (ten of 14), there were no flap failures. Hospital stays were short (less than two weeks), cosmetic results were good, and all but one patient had resumed oral intake by the time of hospital discharge. The specific applications and limitations of this flap are emphasized so that the reader can better understand its role in head and neck reconstructive surgery.

Frontal sinus fractures. Analysis of treatment results.

A retrospective study of 112 consecutive patients with frontal sinus fractures who were available for follow-up is presented. Significant complications are possible, especially with fracture of the posterior sinus wall. When indicated, the sinus is reconstructed with wire using free denuded fragments if available. Severe complications in displaced posterior wall fractures were less common when treatment was by sinus obliteration than by cranialization. Computed tomography has improved the evaluation, especially when a posterior wall fracture is suspected.

Rhabdomyolysis in the patient undergoing head and neck surgery.

Rhabdomyolysis is increasingly recognized as a cause of acute renal failure. Though often the result of extensive trauma, rhabdomyolysis may also appear in the postoperative period. We describe three recent cases in patients undergoing head and neck surgery. Early diagnosis is based on laboratory and clinical examination. Treatment aimed at renal hyperperfusion with hydration and diuretics may prevent nephrotoxic reaction.

Neuroendocrine carcinoma of the larynx.

Neoplasms of the larynx showing neuroendocrine differentiation are uncommon, with less than 100 previously reported cases. These tumors encompass subcategories that have been designated heretofore as "malignant carcinoid" and "oat cell carcinoma" and have been associated with ectopic production of neuropeptides and biogenic amines. We report a case of neuroendocrine carcinoma that arose in the epiglottis in an elderly man, metastasized widely, and was responsible for death. Immunohistochemical studies showed the presence of serotonin, calcitonin, ACTH, met-enkephalin, chromogranin, and neuron-specific enolase within tumor cells, although clinical endocrinopathy was absent. This case is used as a focus for discussion of the spectrum of neuroendocrine tumors of the head and neck, including recommended treatment approaches for such neoplasms.

Infantile lobar emphysema.

Infantile lobar emphysema is a symptom complex representing a spectrum of diseases characterized by overdistention of a pulmonary lobe by a check valve mechanism. The earlier in life infantile lobar emphysema presents, the more severe are the symptoms. Half of the cases appear in the first 4 weeks of life. The chest radiograph is the best diagnostic tool but can be misinterpreted. Computed tomography sometimes discloses the cause, which appears to be bronchial obstruction in 25% of cases. The bronchial obstruction may be due to intrinsic defects or to extrinsic compression. Bronchoscopy should be performed only in certain cases and then only with careful anesthetic management.

Plastic bronchitis.

Plastic bronchitis is an uncommon disease of children characterized by the formation of long, branching bronchial casts. Of three children with such bronchial casts, one developed status asthmaticus and coughed out a complete cast of the tracheobronchial tree. One other child also had a course of desensitization for allergies. Two children presented with what was originally thought to be pneumonitis, but when chest x-rays were taken, one child was suspected of having an inhaled foreign body, and the other had complete opacification of one lung. When these two children were examined bronchoscopically the tracheobronchial tree was found to be filled with white, cheesy material. This material was extremely hard to remove bronchoscopically as the material was too soft to grab with forceps but too thick to suction. The material extended all the way down into the tertiary bronchi, and in one child multiple bronchoscopies were necessary to remove this material, and even so he developed bronchiectasis. The pathologic examination of these casts showed layers of inspissated mucus and inflammatory cells.

Long-term results with nasofrontal duct reconstruction.

The findings and results of 50 consecutive nasofrontal duct reconstructions are analyzed and presented. Postoperative recurrence of frontal sinus disease occurred in 14% of the cases and there were no significant postoperative or intraoperative complications. There was no instance of failure in patients with a history of trauma to the nasofrontal duct and only two recurrences in patients with mucocele or pyocele. Nasofrontal duct reconstruction offers more direct access to the ethmoid cell system than osteoplastic flap obliteration. In addition, it is a lesser procedure with fewer complications. The physiologic function of the sinus is restored without the risk of burying disease. Nasofrontal duct reconstruction is an effective option for the treatment of chronic frontal sinus disease if the sinus mucosa is not irreversibly damaged.