Alterations of the oral ecosystem in children with celiac disease.

UNLABELLED: The aim of this work is to evaluate the alterations of the oral ecosystem in symptomatic children with celiac disease (CD), to establish a particular pattern of oral markers that can be used as presumptive diagnosis of CD. MATERIAL & METHODS: A sample of n=52 children with CD diagnosis according to the modified criteria of the European Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition (ESPGAN), 1990, was studied. A dental clinical evaluation of soft and hard tissues was performed. Saliva samples were obtained; in which buffer capacity, total proteins, calcium and phosphate were measured and SDS PAGE 12% electrophoretic profiles were performed. In addition, oral mucosa smears were collected by brushing. RESULTS: Low frequency of enamel structural alterations was found, particularly in the permanent teeth of children with CD. These alterations had characteristics of chronological coherence (31.7%), bilateralism (26.8%) and symmetry (29.23%). The celiac smears in the celiac group (20%) showed signifcant presence of polymorphic nuclei and free nuclei. The celiac group had significant differences in buffer capacity, IgA levels, minute volume, calcium and Ca/P ratio (p<0.05). The protein profiles of CD children showed the absence of bands of low, medium and high molecular weight. CONCLUSION: Our results enable us to develop an alteration pattern corresponding to the oral ecosystem of CD children. In the CD patients, the most relevant variables were tooth enamel alterations, oral mucosa morphology, and modifications of salivary parameters, which would enable the dentist to refer these patients to specialist physician.

Effect of the high molecular weight chitosan and sodium alginate on Candida albicans hydrophobicity and adhesion to cells.

UNLABELLED: The aim of the present paper is to evaluate the effect of the high molecular weight chitosan (HMWC) and of sodium alginate (NaAL) on surface hydrophobicity of Candida albicans and on adhesion of the yeast to epithelial cells and fibroblasts of different proceeding. For this study, a collection strain and seven isolates of C. albicans from saliva (patients with denture stomatitis) were grown in Sabouraud glucose agar supplemented with HMWC or NaAL or in absence of them (control). Hydrophobicity was determined by adhesion to hydrocarbons method using two organic media (xylene and chloroform). For adhesion experiments, aqueous suspensions of yeasts were contacted with solutions of biopolymers and different cells (rat and human fibroblasts and epithelial cells Hep-2). The quantification of adhesion was made by optical microscopy. RESULTS: A decrease in hydrophobicity was observed in the presence of HMWC (44%) and of NaAL (82%) when chloroform was employed as organic medium, meanwhile the decreases were of 30% with HMWC and 19% with NaAL in the presence of xylene. Adhesion of C. albicans to epithelial cells and human fibroblasts decreased significantly with both biopolymers. In the case of rat fibroblasts, a decrease was observed only with NaAL. None of experiments showed significant differences associated to fibroblast type. CONCLUSIONS: Biopolymers showed effectiveness in reducing hydrophobicity and adhesion of C. albicans to cells, which are important virulence factors related to colonization of the soft tissues of host or acrylic surfaces present in the oral system.

[High molecular weight chitosan and sodium alginate effect on secretory acid proteinase of Candida albicans]. / Efecto del quitosan de alto peso melecular y del alginato de socio sobre la proteinasa ácida secretoria de Candida albicans.

The effect of high molecular weight chitosan (HMWCh) and sodium alginate (NaAL) on acid proteinase secretion of Candida albicans (one of culture collection and five isolates) was evaluated. The secretion of acid proteinase was induced in the presence and the absence of these polymers in different concentrations and their enzymatic activity was determined. HMWCh and NaAL significantly diminished the enzymatic activity (>76% for the collection strains and > 89% for the isolates, p < 0.05). HMWCh did not modify protein concentrations, but NaAL did. It can be concluded that both polymers can inhibit the proteinase activity of Candida albicans.

Effect of Chitosan and Sodium Alginate on the adherence of autochthonous C. Albicans to oral epithelial cells (in vitro).

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of Heavy Molecular Weight Chitosan (HMWCh) and Sodium Alginate (NaAl) on fungal adherence. C albicans was identified and isolated from non-stimulated saliva extracted from male and female healthy adults. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined for each of the biopolymers. MIC values were 0.25 % (W/V) for HMWCh and 0.10 % (W/V) for NaAl. Fungal cell hydrophobicity was evaluated against xylene in the presence of HMWCh. Statistically significant differences between the control (without HMWCh) and the different HMWCh concentrations in fungal suspension were observed (P< 0.05). The fact that HMWCh and NaAl impaired fungal adherence to buccal epithelial cells (BEC) as compared to control revealed that polymers inhibit Candida albicans adherence to BEC (HMWCh and NaAl: P= 0.00001), NaAl being more effective than HMWCh (P = 0.00001). HMWCh dettached and aggregated C. albicans, including the fungi and BEC in the mesh. NaAl inhibited adherence, aggregated and entrapped the fungi in the mesh, excluding BEC. We may conclude that both biopolymers are effective. However, NaAl is a stronger inhibitor of adherence. Thus, in combination or alone, these biopolymers could be used in the treatment of oral candidosis.