Effect of allicin on the production of polysaccharide intercellular adhesin in Staphylococcus epidermidis.

AIMS: Polysaccharide intercellular adhesin (PIA) is the main agglutination agent in the biofilm forming strain Staphylococcus epidermidis. To find an explanation for the observed inhibition of biofilm formation by allicin, we studied the effect of allicin on PIA production in samples treated with sub MIC doses of allicin and compared this with a control culture without allicin. METHODS AND RESULTS: Bacteria (Staph. epidermidis ATCC 35984) were grown in glass tubes, and PIA was extracted by vortex vibration using microbeads and NN dimethyl acetamide/LiCl as solvent. The extracts were filtered and passed through size exclusion columns. Chromatographic fractions were analysed with an excess of sodium metaperiodate and the excess was determined spectrophotometrically using 2,4,6-tripyridyl-s-triazine. CONCLUSION: The amount of exopolysaccharides in samples previously treated with allicin is significantly lower than in the control. This finding suggests a specific enzymatic inhibition in PIA synthesis. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study provides an insight into the mechanism of biofilm formation, and is a biochemical model for PIA inhibition by allicin. The analysis proposed may be useful in studies of production of exopolysaccharides responsible for adherence and agglutination of Staph. epidermidis. Prevention of biofilm formation by allicin opens up a new field of in vitro studies and permits us to envisage future clinical applications.

[Update on the treatment of genital herpes]. / Actualización en el tratamiento del herpes genital.

Genital herpes is a chronic infection characterized by periodic reactivation. It can produce symptomatic disease in the host although asymptomatic viral excretion can also occur. It is currently the main cause of genital ulceration and an important public health problem that has substantial clinical, psychological, and economic repercussions. This review analyzes the currently available therapeutic options and regimens, which are based mainly on systemic use of antiviral agents such as aciclovir, valacyclovir, and famciclovir. In addition, special emphasis is placed on the prevention and management of this infection in specific situations, such as pregnant, pediatric, and immunocompromised patients.

Actualización en el tratamiento del herpes genital / Update on the Treatment of Genital Herpes

El herpes genital es una infección crónica que se caracteriza por una reactivación periódica, con capacidad tanto de producir una enfermedad sintomática en el huésped como de excreción viral asintomática. Hoy en día constituye la primera causa de ulceración genital y representa un importante problema de salud pública, con considerables repercusiones clínicas, psicológicas y económicas. Se revisan y actualizan las distintas opciones y pautas terapéuticas disponibles en la actualidad, basadas fundamentalmente en el empleo por vía sistémica de los fármacos antivirales aciclovir, valaciclovir y famciclovir. Por otro lado, se pone especial énfasis en la prevención y el manejo de esta infección en situaciones particulares, como en embarazadas, en niños, o en pacientes inmunodeprimidos (AU)

Genital herpes is a chronic infection characterized by periodic reactivation. It can produce symptomatic disease in the host although asymptomatic viral excretion can also occur. It is currently the main cause of genital ulceration and an important public health problem that has substantial clinical, psychological, and economic repercussions. This review analyzes the currently available therapeutic options and regimens, which are based mainly on systemic use of antiviral agents such as aciclovir, valacyclovir, and famciclovir. In addition, special emphasis is placed on the prevention and management of this infection in specific situations, such as pregnant, pediatric, and immunocompromised patients (AU)

Standards for mesiodistal and buccolingual crown size and height of primary molars in a sample of Spanish children.

AIM: The aim of this study was to obtain mesiodistal, buccolingual and height sizes of dental crowns of first and second primary molars in a sample of Spanish children given, not only their anthropological and forensic significance, but also their clinical interest for the future analysis of restorative and orthodontic treatments. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Measurements of mesiodistal, buccolingual size and height of the crowns of primary molars were studied. A transversally descriptive design was carried out and the interrelationship between these three dimensions was established. A sample of 703 first and second primary molars was selected from healthy Spanish boys and girls from 4 to 9 years old. Molars presenting anomalies of the crowns, caries or restorations were excluded. Measurements were made on dental plaster models, using a vernier caliper. Descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation coefficient was obtained and Wilcoxon's non- parametric test was applied for comparison of the mean, analysis of sexual dimorphism and comparison of antimeric teeth. RESULTS: Average sizes of each group of molars were obtained. Sexual dimorphism was studied utilizing the Wilcoxon test. A variability of relationship between the measurements was found in each molar studied. Primary second molars had less variability than first molars in the three measurements obtained. The measurement with the least variability was height, followed by mesiodistal size. CONCLUSIONS: Measurements of primary molars showed that average sizes of boys' molars were significantly larger than those of girls. Relationship between the three measurements studied was variable but second molars showed less variability than first molars. The relationship between height and width was found significant in most of the molars. i.

Xantomas eruptivos en el debut de diabetes mellitus / Eruptive Xanthomas After Onset of Diabetes Mellitus

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Utilidad de la dermatoscopia para el diagnóstico de la pediculosis capitis / No disponible

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[Chondroid syringoma: a clinical and histological review of eight cases]. / Siringoma condroide: revisión clínica e histológica de ocho casos.

INTRODUCTION: Chondroid syringoma is a rare skin tumor that presents as a slow growing, indolent lesion, that is more frequent in male adults and is usually benign. It is treated surgically and its diagnosis is histological. It can be classified as eccrine and apocrine according to its pathological characteristics. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Eight cases diagnosed of chondroid syringoma in our Department in the last eight years were reevaluated clinically and histologically and the epiluminiscence microscopy was used in one of them. RESULTS: Most of the cases occurred as well-defined nodular lesions, whose presumptive clinical diagnosis was adnexal or cystic pathology. All were treated surgically. The epiluminiscence microscopy showed a pattern of homogenous whitish-blue coloring. All the cases had a myxoid matrix and most also had a chondroid one. Five of the eight cases were apocrine, one of them with follicular and sebaceous differentiation. DISCUSSION: The chondroid syringoma is usually a small-sized skin tumor, frequently on the head and neck. The dermatoscopy does not seem to supply any specific trait to this lesion. The microscopic examination of these lesions reveals tubuloalveolar and glandular type structures positioned as islets within a fibroadipose, chondroid, myxoid or hyaline stroma. The final treatment of these tumors is surgical. As a general rule, it is a benign tumor. Some authors have proposed the term of atypical mixed tumor of the skin for those chondroid syringomas with histological traits of malignancy but without evidence of metastasis.

Siringoma condroide: revisión clínica e histológica de ocho casos / Chondroid syringoma: a clinical and histological review of eight cases

Introducción. El siringoma condroide es un tumor cutáneo raro que se presenta como una lesión de lento crecimiento, indolente, más frecuente en varones adultos y habitualmente benigna. Se trata quirúrgicamente y su diagnóstico es histológico. Se puede clasificar en ecrino y apocrino según sus características anatomopatológicas. Material y métodos. Se reevalúan clínica e histológicamente 8 casos diagnosticados de siringoma condroide en nuestro Servicio en los últimos 8 años, así como la microscopía de epiluminiscencia de uno de ellos. Resultados. La mayoría de los casos se presentaron como lesiones nodulares, bien delimitadas, cuyo diagnóstico clínico de presunción fue de patología anexial o quística. Todas fueron tratadas quirúrgicamente. La microscopía de epiluminiscencia mostró un patrón de coloración blanquecino-azulado homogéneo. Todos los casos presentaban una matriz mixoide, y la mayoría también condroide. Cinco de los 8 casos fueron del tipo apocrino, uno de ellos con diferenciación folicular y sebácea. Discusión. El siringoma condroide habitualmente es un tumor cutáneo de pequeño tamaño, con localización, frecuentemente, en cabeza y cuello. La dermatoscopia no parece aportar ningún rasgo específico a esta lesión. El examen microscópico de estas lesiones revela estructuras tubuloalveolares y de tipo glandular dispuestas a modo de islas en el seno de un estroma fibroadiposo, condroide, mixoide o hialino. El tratamiento definitivo de estos tumores es quirúrgico. Como regla general, se trata de un tumor benigno. Algunos autores han propuesto el término de tumor mixto cutáneo atípico para aquellos siringomas condroides con rasgos histológicos de malignidad, pero sin evidencia de metástasis

Introduction. Chondroid syringoma is a rare skin tumor that presents as a slow growing, indolent lesion, that is more frequent in male adults and is usually benign. It is treated surgically and its diagnosis is histological. It can be classified as eccrine and apocrine according to its pathological characteristics. Material and methods. Eight cases diagnosed of chondroid syringoma in our Department in the last eight years were reevaluated clinically and histologically and the epiluminiscence microscopy was used in one of them. Results. Most of the cases occurred as well-defined nodular lesions, whose presumptive clinical diagnosis was adnexal or cystic pathology. All were treated surgically. The epiluminiscence microscopy showed a pattern of homogenous whitish-blue coloring. All the cases had a myxoid matrix and most also had a chondroid one. Five of the eight cases were apocrine, one of them with follicular and sebaceous differentiation. Discussion. The chondroid syringoma is usually a small-sized skin tumor, frequently on the head and neck. The dermatoscopy does not seem to supply any specific trait to this lesion. The microscopic examination of these lesions reveals tubuloalveolar and glandular type structures positioned as islets within a fibroadipose, chondroid, myxoid or hyaline stroma. The final treatment of these tumors is surgical. As a general rule, it is a benign tumor. Some authors have proposed the term of atypical mixed tumor of the skin for those chondroid syringomas with histological traits of malignancy but without evidence of metastasis

In vitro activity of allicin against Staphylococcus epidermidis and influence of subinhibitory concentrations on biofilm formation.

AIMS: The aim of this study is to determine the in vitro activity of allicin against Staphylococcus epidermidis and to evaluate the influence of allicin on biofilm formation. METHODS AND RESULTS: In vitro activity of allicin (diallyl thiosulphinate) against 38 strains of S. epidermidis was investigated. The activity of allicin was similar against S. epidermidis methicillin susceptible and methicillin resistant strains [minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC)90=8 mg l(-1)]. In general, subinhibitory concentrations (sub-MIC) of allicin diminished biofilm formation in the five strains analysed. CONCLUSION: The results confirm the antibacterial effect of allicin. Sub-MICs of allicin also diminished the biofilm formations by S. epidermidis. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The present study shows that allicin is active in vitro against S. epidermidis and that sub-MICs of allicin may play a role in the prevention of adherence of this bacteria to medical devices.

Adenocarcinoma de pulmón colitis ulcerosa y azatioprina / Lung adenocarcinoma, inflammatory bowel disease and azatioprine

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Sindrome de Takayasu y embarazo. / Takayasu's syndrome and pregnancy

Se informa la experiencia de cuatro pacientes con cinco embarazos asociados a sindrome de Takayasu tratados en el Departamento de Perinatologia del HGO 2 del CMN. Se analiza la evolucion de la gestacion, complicaciones y metodo de resolucion. Asimismo, se revisa la literatura mundial en relacion con dicha asociacion, en la que se encontraron solamente quince casos informados hasta la fecha y analizan los resultados de los mismos. El objetivo de este estudio es revisar las complicaciones maternas y fetales de la gestacion complicada con el sindrome de Takayasu; en esta revision se encontro una mayor tendencia a la aparicion de cuadros hipertensivos y a un retardo en el crecimiento intrauterino del feto