Salivary biomarkers present in patients with periodontitis without clinical distinction: findings from a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: A new classification for periodontitis has been adopted in clinical practice. However, there are still discussions regarding this new classification and difficulties in its adoption, both by professionals and researchers. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate which salivary biomarkers are present in periodontitis, following the new classification of periodontal diseases through meta-analysis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A literature search was carried out in the scientific databases: PubMed, Scielo and Google scholar to select studies. The selection of studies was followed by two authors upon reading of the title, abstract and full text. The necessary data were collected and statistical analyses were performed using the Review Manager statistical software version 5.4, with calculation of Mean Difference, heterogeneity (I²) and funnel plot with P < 0.05. RESULTS: After following the selection criteria, 9 articles were selected for comparison. The studies address the presence of biomarkers in the saliva of patients with periodontitis and their possible use in the monitoring and diagnosis of the disease. For the meta-analytic comparison, a sample size of 1,983 individuals was used. Statistical analyses showed that nitric oxide, IL-6, IL-1B and osteoprotegerin are substances that are significantly present in patients with periodontitis (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: IL-6, nitric oxide, IL-1B, TNF-α and osteoprotegerin are among the most present biomarkers in patients with periodontitis, and may be used in the future as a monitoring of periodontal disease. The present study also revealed that there was no statistically significant difference in the concentration of these biomarkers for clinical distinction from periodontitis.

One or two ligatures inducing periodontitis are sufficient to cause fatty liver.

BACKGROUND: Periodontitis is a chronic disease that due to an intense inflammatory response triggers systemic changes such as hepatic alterations. This study aimed to compare hepatic damage in rats that received experimental periodontitis at one or two periodontal sites with ligatures. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Eighteen rats were separated into three groups: control, without ligature; periodontitis 1, with one ligature; and periodontitis 2, with two ligatures. The following parameters were assessed: gingival bleeding index, probing pocket depth, tooth mobility, alveolar bone loss, malondialdehyde (MDA) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in periodontal tissue; histopathological evaluation of hepatic tissue (steatosis score); glutathione levels (GSH), MDA, MPO, cholesterol and triglycerides in the liver; and serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). RESULTS: Periodontal evaluation data showed that the periodontitis model worked well. The groups with periodontitis did not differ significantly in relation to MPO activity and MDA levels in the gingival samples, but they were significantly different when compared with the control group. Steatosis was observed in the histological analysis of the groups with periodontitis, but between the periodontitis groups, two ligatures did not cause increase in steatosis score. The levels of GSH, MDA, total cholesterol and triglycerides in the hepatic tissue were not altered between groups with periodontitis, but they showed significant differences in comparison with the control group. The activity of MPO in hepatic tissue and serum levels of AST and ALT did not present significant difference among the three groups. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, our results demonstrated that one or two ligatures inducing periodontitis were both sufficient to cause fatty liver. Steatosis caused by two ligatures did not present larger extension and severity than steatosis caused by one ligature.

First report of the red palm mite, Raoiella indica Hirst (Acari: Tenuipalpidae), in Brazil

The presence of the red palm mite, Raoiella indica Hirst, is reported for the first time in Brazil. This invasive mite was found in July 2009 infesting coconut palms and bananas in urban areas of Boa Vista, State of Roraima, in northern Brazil. Comments on the possible pathways of R. indica into the country, present and potential impact of its introduction and mitigating measures to prevent or to delay the mite spread in Brazil are presented.

Poliorquidismo: aportación de un caso y revisión de la literatura actual / Polyorchidism: a case report and review of the literature

El poliorquidismo es una anomalía congénita urológica muy poco frecuente, con menos de cien casos publicados en la literatura mundial. Debe ser tenida en cuenta en todo estudio de masa escrotal. En ocasiones se encuentra asociado a otras entidades urológicas, entre ellas a malignidad, de ahí la importancia de su conocimiento y diagnóstico. Este último se logra confirmar mediante estudios imagenológicos, siendo los más importantes: la ecografía doppler y la resonancia nuclear, que nos permiten un preciso diagnóstico y ayudan a orientar el manejo definitivo. La posibilidad de malignidad en estos testículos supernumerarios (6%), hace que algunos autores consideren en el tratamiento la extracción quirúrgica como única opción, pero reportes recientes indican que pacientes asintomáticos y con estudios imagenológicos normales se pueden observar. Se realiza el reporte de un caso en un paciente de 14 años diagnosticado por clínica e imagenología, del cual reportamos su manejo. Se realiza además una revisión de la literatura actual

Polyorchidism is an uncommon congenital defect. In fact, less than one hundred cases have been reported in the medical literature worldwide. This problem should be considered in the differential diagnosis of all scrotal masses. It is associated with multiple other urologic entities including malignancy. It is for this reason that it is important to be familiar with potential diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. This diagnosis is usually documented by imaging, specifically doppler ultrasound (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The risk of malignancy approaches 6% in Polyorchidism and therefore several authors have advocated surgery as the most appropriate therapeutic approach. However, recent reports suggest that asymptomatic patients with normal imaging could be observed. We present a 14 year old boy with polyorchidism which was diagnosed clinically and confirmed with imaging. His treatment and a review of the literature are presented as well