Clinical outcomes of periodontal therapy are not influenced by the ATC/TTC haplotype in the IL8 gene.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Although chronic periodontitis (CP) is a multifactorial condition, few studies have investigated the potential association of gene variants with the outcome of periodontal therapy. In a previous study, we reported that variants in the interleukin-8 (IL8) gene were associated with CP in a Brazilian population. The aim of this nonrandomized study was to investigate whether genetic susceptibility to CP, conferred by the presence of the IL8 ATC/TTC haplotype, influences the clinical outcomes of nonsurgical periodontal therapy and the IL-8 protein levels in the gingival crevicular fluid. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty-one individuals were grouped according to the presence (susceptible to CP; n = 21) or absence (not susceptible to CP; n = 20) of the IL8 ATC/TTC haplotype. These individuals received nonsurgical periodontal therapy from one periodontist, who was blinded to the genetic status of each patient, and follow up continued for 45 d. The clinical parameters and gingival crevicular fluid samples were collected at baseline and on day 45. The IL-8 levels were determined by an ELISA. The data were subjected to the Mann-Whitney U-test, Wilcoxon and Spearman tests and to multiple logistic-regression analysis. RESULTS: No significant differences between patients with or without the IL8 ATC/TTC haplotype were found for the outcome of nonsurgical periodontal therapy and IL-8 levels. The multiple logistic-regression analysis did not show a statistically significant association between the IL8 haplotype and the variables studied. CONCLUSION: In this longitudinal clinical study, we observed that neither the outcome of nonsurgical periodontal therapy nor the IL-8 levels were influenced by the IL8 ATC/TTC CP-susceptibility haplotype. Additional studies of CP patients from other ethnic populations are necessary to confirm these results.

First description of an olfactory neuroblastoma in goldfish Carassius auratus: a case report.

An external pinkish growing mass that emerged from the right nostril of an adult goldfish Carassius auratus L. was evaluated by means of light microscopy and immunohistochemistry. The neoplasm presented a well-developed fibrovascular stroma associated with solid cell nests and a large number of Flexner-Wintersteiner rosettes. Myelinated fibres were observed around them. Neoplastic cells showed a prominent degree of nuclear atypia and low mitotic activity. The latter was in agreement with the low reactivity of tumour cells to anti-proliferating cell nuclear antigen antibody. Immunohistochemistry also revealed anti-neuronal nitric oxide synthase, anti-S100 protein, antineuropeptide Y, and anti-cytokeratin immunoreactivity in tumour cells as well as in normal olfactory epithelium of goldfish control sections. Histopathological and immunohistochemical findings strongly suggest a diagnosis of an olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB). To our knowledge this is the first description of ONB in goldfish.

Preservation of Haemal Nodes Fixed by Means of Two Different Aldehyde Fixatives: a Scanning Electron Microscopic Study / Preservación de Nodos Linfáticos Hemales Fijados por Dos Fijadores de Aldehído Diferentes: un Estudio de Microscopía Electrónica de Barrido

Glutaraldehyde is the fixative most commonly used in electron microscope studies of biological tissues, however it is often necessary to use samples which were not fixed in this fixative, even with the usual uncertainty of the results that may be obtained. The fixation is the more delicate step of the sample processing. Therefore in this work, the quality of preservation of haemal nodes fixed with two classic aldehyde fixatives: formaldehyde and glutaraldehyde we have compared under the scanning electron microscope. Our results showed that both fixatives were successful in preserving the morphology of haemal nodes components; however glutaraldehyde conferred satisfactory results mainly in the preservation of parenchymal cells, whereas formaldehyde was better for preservation of stromal fibres.

El glutaraldehido es el fijador que se utiliza con más frecuencia en estudios en los tejidos biológicos a través microscopía electrónica. Sin embargo, a menudo es necesario utilizar muestras que no han sido fijadas con este fijador, aún con la incertidumbre de los resultados que se puedan obtener. La fijación es el paso más importante en el procesamiento de los tejidos. Por lo anterior, hemos efectuado este estudio comparando la calidad de conservación de nodos linfáticos hemales fijados con formaldehido y glutaraldehido. Los resultados muestran que ambos fijadores conservaron adecuadamente la morfología de los componentes de los nodos linfáticos hemales, sin embargo, el glutaraldehido conservó en mejores condiciones, principalmente, las células del parénquima, pero el formaldehido conservó mejor las fibras del estroma en nodos linfáticos.

A genetic polymorphism of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) affects the changes in circulating MMP-9 levels induced by highly active antiretroviral therapy in HIV patients.

We examined whether two functional polymorphisms (g.-1562C>T and g.-90(CA)14-24) in the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 gene or MMP-9 haplotypes affect the circulating levels of pro-MMP-9 and pro-MMP-9/TIMP-1 (tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1) ratios in AIDS patients, and modulate alterations in these biomarkers after highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). We studied 82 patients commencing HAART. Higher pro-MMP-9 concentrations and pro-MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratios were found in CT/TT patients compared with CC patients. HAART decreased pro-MMP-9 levels and pro-MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratios in CT/TT patients, it did not modify pro-MMP-9 levels and it increased pro-MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratios in CC patients. The g.-90(CA)14-24 polymorphism, however, produced no significant effects. Moreover, we found no significant differences in HAART-induced changes in plasma pro-MMP-9, TIMP-1 and pro-MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratios when different MMP-9 haplotypes were compared. These findings suggest that the g.-1562C>T polymorphism affects pro-MMP-9 levels in patients with AIDS and modulates the alterations in pro-MMP-9 levels caused by HAART, thus possibly affecting the risk of cardiovascular complications.

Rosenthal fiber encephalopathy in a dog resembling Alexander disease in humans.

A young male Bernese mountain dog presented with neurologic abnormalities consisting of nonambulatory tetraparesis, generalized tremors, and depressed mental status. At necropsy only a mild enlargement of the lateral ventricles was seen. The histologic examination revealed the presence of eosinophilic deposits consistent with Rosenthal fibers (RFs) throughout the white matter of the central nervous system. There was also a marked proliferation of abnormally large astrocytes and limited myelin changes. RFs were most prominent in perivascular, subpial, and subependymal areas, where they were perpendicularly located, producing a pallisaded arrangement. Immunohistochemically, RFs were strongly positive for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and when they were examined ultrastructurally they appeared as electron-dense amorphous masses located within the processes of astrocytes, most particularly in the perivascular feet. The histologic and immunohistochemical findings of this canine case were consistent with the published neuropathologic descriptions of Alexander disease in humans and in a few dogs, a rare condition that in humans has been shown to be caused by dominant mutations in the GFAP gene.

Response of Ig-positive cells to Enteromyxum scophthalmi (Myxozoa) experimental infection in turbot, Scophthalmus maximus (L.): A histopathological and immunohistochemical study.

In recent years, a new parasite that causes severe losses has been detected in farmed turbot, Scophthalmus maximus (L.), in Northwestern Spain. Dead fish showed emaciation and cachexia caused by severe necrotizing enteritis that affected all portions of the digestive tract. The parasite was classified as a myxosporean and named Enteromyxum scophthalmi. This study was set up to gain insights into the immune response of fish against this parasitic infection. The kinetics of immunoglobulin positive (Ig+) cells in spleen, kidney and intestine from turbot experimentally infected with E. scophthalmi was studied. For evaluating both the progress of infection and the lesions induced by the parasite, we performed histopathological studies and for detecting Ig+ cells in situ we used an indirect immunohistochemical method. In fish exposed to the parasite, the number of Ig+ cells significantly increased in the intestine, the target organ of the parasite, whereas in spleen and kidney, haematopoietic organs where the parasite was not detected, the number of Ig+ cells decreased. Furthermore, the pattern of distribution of Ig+ cells changed in all three organs examined in recipient/infected fish compared with control fish (not exposed to the parasite). The results obtained in this study indicate that the infection by E. scophthalmi in turbot induced an immune response that involved changes in the number and distribution of Ig+ cells.

Temporary inhibition of neuronal apoptosis in Aujeszky's disease virus-infected swine.

Previous studies have shown that during acute infection of the porcine trigeminal ganglia (TG), Aujeszky's disease virus (ADV)-infected neurons are protected from apoptosis induced by the virus itself and by cells of the immune system. However, TG neurons productively infected by ADV finally die and are phagocytosed by adjacent cells, a fact that leads us to speculate that the inhibition of neuronal apoptosis by ADV may be temporary rather than absolute. To address this issue we used TG and brain stem from pigs during acute infection by ADV. Infected cells were detected by immunohistochemical staining of viral antigens, whereas apoptotic cells were identified with an anti-active caspase-3 antibody, the TUNEL assay and by transmission electron microscopy. The results obtained in this study support the contention that the inhibition of neuronal apoptosis by ADV is temporary, since activation of caspase-3 could be detected in infected neurons at late stages in infection and because foci of advanced neuronophagia contained neurons exhibiting typical ultrastructural features of apoptosis.

A scanning and immunohistochemical study in bovine haemal node.

The bovine haemal nodes are lymphatic organs with haemal circulation. The blood circulates inside of them through virtual cavities named sinuses. In these sinuses there is passage of cells and particulate materials from parenchyma to sinuses and vice versa. For this passage temporal overtures exist in the sinus walls. The sinus wall is composed of endothelial cells, basal membrane and reticular cells. Our results have demonstrated that type IV collagen was one of the basal membrane constituents in bovine haemal nodes and by this constitution a dynamic equilibrium of the sinus walls was permitted.