Molecular Analysis of Oral Bacteria in Heart Valve of Patients With Cardiovascular Disease by Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction.

Structural deficiencies and functional abnormalities of heart valves represent an important cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, and a number of diseases, such as aortic stenosis, have been recently associated with infectious agents. This study aimed to analyze oral bacteria in dental plaque, saliva, and cardiac valves of patients with cardiovascular disease. Samples of supragingival plaque, subgingival plaque, saliva, and cardiac valve tissue were collected from 42 patients with heart valve disease. Molecular analysis of Streptococcus mutans, Prevotella intermedia, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Treponema denticola was performed through real-time PCR. The micro-organism most frequently detected in heart valve samples was the S. mutans (89.3%), followed by P. intermedia (19.1%), P. gingivalis (4.2%), and T. denticola (2.1%). The mean decayed, missing, filled teeth (DMFT) was 26.4 ± 6.9 (mean ± SD), and according to the highest score of periodontal disease observed for each patient, periodontal pockets > 4 mm and dental calculus were detected in 43.4% and 34.7% of patients, respectively. In conclusion, oral bacteria, especially S. mutans, were found in the cardiac valve samples of patients with a high rate of caries and gingivitis/periodontitis.

The role of piRNA and its potential clinical implications in cancer.

Epigenetic mechanisms work in an orchestrated fashion to control gene expression in both homeostasis and diseases. Among small noncoding RNAs, piRNAs seem to meet the necessary requirements to be included in this epigenetic network due to their role in both transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation. piRNAs and PIWI proteins might play important roles in cancer occurrence, prognosis and treatment as reported previously. Nevertheless, the potential clinical relevance of these molecules has yet been elucidated. A brief overview of piRNA biogenesis and their potential roles as part of an epigenetic network that is possibly involved in cancer is provided. Moreover, potential strategies based on the use of piRNAs and PIWI proteins as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers as well as for cancer therapeutics are discussed.

Genetic data of twelve X-STRs in a Japanese immigrant population resident in Brazil.

In the last years, several works have been published on the variability of X-markers; however, few were on Asian populations. In this work, we present the genetic data of 12 X-STRs (DXS9895, DXS7132, DXS6800, DXS9898, DXS6789, DXS7133, GATA172D05, DXS7130, HPRTB, GATA31E08, DXS7423, DXS10011) obtained from a sample of 232 individuals of Japanese origin residing in Brazil. Most markers investigated present a high genetic diversity, with the exception of DXS6800. No deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium were observed, with the exception of DXS7133 locus. Linkage disequilibrium analysis did not reveal consistent evidence of association between the X-STRs used. The comparison of the Japanese immigrant population with other Asian populations (Japanese, Chinese, and Korean) demonstrates the inexistence of significant allelic frequency differences between these populations in most systems investigated.

Enzymatic isolation of Lacazia loboi cells from skin lesions of lobomycosis.

Lacazia loboi is the etiologic agent of Jorge Lobo's disease, a cutaneous and subcutaneous mycosis endemic to Latin America tropical regions and characterized by chronic nodular or keloidal lesions which develop after traumatic events. A new method for the extraction of L. loboi yeast cells from biopsies of lobomycosis skin lesions is presented. The method is based on the proteolytic action of the enzyme dispase which is known for its action against fibronectin and collagen type IV. Fungal identification was based on histological examination of the biological material and molecular analysis based on 18S ribosomal sequences. Observations under optic and fluorescence microscopy proved the efficacy of enzymatic isolation of the lobomycosis etiologic agent, as well as identifying the organism's main parasitic characteristics. Molecular phylogenetic analysis corroborated the histological examination and indicated L. loboi relationship with other members of the Onygenales. Use of dispase proved to be ideal for the isolation of L. loboi from human biopsies, shows promise as an important tool for improving biological studies of this peculiar fungus.

Genetic structure and demography of the human population of Obidos, in the brazilian Amazon

Foram estudados parâmetros demográficos e 13 sistemas genéticos em uma amostra de 250 indivíduos da populaçäo tri-híbrida de Obidos, Estado do Pará, Brasil. Os índices de dispersäo indicaram uma baixa mobilidade da populaçäo; 80 por cento dos indivíduos estudados nasceram em Obidos, e 88 por cento dos imigrantes nasceram no Estado do Pará. A distribuiçäo de fenótipos apresenta algumas diferenças quando comparada com as descritas para outras populaçöes amazônicas (Oriximiná, Parintins, Coari, Belém e Manaus). A heterozigosidade média foi estimada em 0,200 (E.P. 0,055), o número médio de alelos em 2,000 (E.P. 0,260), e a percentagem de locos polimórficos em 84,6 por cento. Em termos de mistura racial (38 por cento de brancos, 52 por cento de índios e 10 por cento de negros). Obidos apresenta valores mais similares aos obtidos para a populaçäo de Parintins, Estado do Amazonas, com reduzida contribuiçäo negróide e elevada contribuiçäo indígena