Comparison of virulence factors of oral Candida dubliniensis and Candida albicans isolates in healthy people and patients with chronic candidosis.

We determined differences in the expression of certain virulence factors between oral Candida dubliniensis and Candida albicans species. In addition, clonal differences were sought among C. albicans isolates recovered from patients with and without compromised immune system. The material comprised 93 clinical yeast isolates originated in 40 subjects (1-5 isolates per subject). All 26 C. dubliniensis isolates and 46 C. albicans isolates originated from healthy routine dental clinic patients. Additionally, 21 C. albicans isolates were collected from patients with autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidosis-ectodermal dystrophy (APECED), who have chronic candidosis as one manifestation of their immunocompromising disease. Polymerase chain reaction amplification using the random sequence primer OPE-03 enabled grouping of the C. dubliniensis isolates in 2 genotypes (I and II) and C. albicans isolates in 15 genotypes (I-XV). No significant difference was found in the distribution of genotypes between the patients with APECED and the healthy subjects. C. dubliniensis isolates exhibited high-frequency phenotypic switching significantly more frequently than did C. albicans isolates, and vice versa regarding phospholipase and proteinase production. Proteinase production was significantly more frequent among C. albicans genotype V than genotype IX isolates. No significant difference was found in expression of virulence factors of C. albicans isolates between the patients with APECED and the healthy subjects.

Rigid reconstruction plates for immediate reconstruction following mandibular resection for malignant tumors.

Thirty-four primary alloplastic reconstructions of segmental mandibular defects caused by surgery for oral malignancy were performed during a 6-year period. Eighty-eight percent of the tumors were classified as stage III or IV. One third of the patients died during follow-up, nine with their primary reconstruction plate in place. During the follow-up, 12 patients required plate removal because of complications; four of them were treated with another plate. Nineteen of 21 patients alive at the end of follow-up were free of disease. Ten had their primary plate in place, and four had had a secondary plate installed because of plate fracture or screw loosening. Three patients had their mandible permanently reconstructed with bone. The functional and esthetic results were considered excellent or fair in a majority of the cases. Because the 5-year survival rate for patients with advanced mandibular malignancies is 15% to 20%, extensive, definitive reconstructive procedures during primary surgery are usually not justified.