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The oral cavity is particularly susceptible to viral infections that are self-recovering in most cases. However, complications may appear in severe cases and/or immunocompromised subjects. Cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC)-containing mouthwashes are able to decrease the infectivity of the SARS-CoV-2 virus by disrupting the integrity of the viral envelope. Here, we show that CPC, as the active ingredient contained in commercialized, exerts significant antiviral activity against enveloped viruses, such as HSV-1, but not against non-enveloped viruses, such as HPV. CPC-containing mouthwashes have been used as antiseptics for decades, and thus, they can represent a cost-effective measure to limit infection and spread of enveloped viruses infecting the oral cavity, aiding in reducing viral transmission.

Background: Exposure to recurrent infections in childhood was linked to an increased risk of cancer in adulthood. There is also evidence that a history of tonsillectomy, a procedure often performed in children with recurrent infections, is linked to an increased risk of leukemia and Hodgkin lymphoma. Tonsillectomy could be directly associated with cancer risk, or it could be a proxy for another risk factor such as recurrent infections and chronic inflammation. Nevertheless, the role of recurrent childhood infections and tonsillectomy on the one hand, and the risk of breast cancer (BC) in adulthood remain understudied. Our study aims to verify whether a history of tonsillectomy increases the risk of BC in women. Methods: A systematic review was performed using PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science databases from inception to January 25, 2022, to identify the studies which assessed the association between the history of tonsillectomy and BC in females. Odds ratio (OR) was calculated using the random/fixed-effects models to synthesize the associations between tonsillectomy and BC risk based on heterogeneity. Results: Eight studies included 2252 patients with breast cancer of which 1151 underwent tonsillectomy and 5314 controls of which 1725 had their tonsils removed. Patients with a history of tonsillectomy showed a higher subsequent risk of developing BC (OR, 1.24; 95% CI: 1.11-1.39) as compared to patients without a history of tonsillectomy. Influence analyses showed that no single study had a significant effect on the overall estimate or the heterogeneity. Conclusions: Our study revealed that a history of tonsillectomy is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. These findings underscore the need for frequent followups and screening of tonsillectomy patients to assess for the risk of BC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Baculoviruses initiate oral infection in the highly alkaline midgut of insects via a group of envelope proteins called per os infectivity factors (PIFs). To date, no high-resolution structural information has been reported for any PIF. Here, we present the crystal structure of the PIF5 ectodomain (PIF5e) from Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) at a 2.2-Å resolution. It revealed an open cavity between the N-terminal E1 domain and the C-terminal E2 domain and a cysteine-rich region with three pairs of disulfide bonds in the E2 domain. Multiple conserved intramolecular interactions within PIF5 are essential for maintaining its tertiary structure. Two conserved arginines (Arg8 and Arg74) play critical roles in E1-E2 interactions, and mutagenesis analysis supported their crucial role in oral infection. Importantly, the reduction in the oral infectivity of the Arg8, Arg74, or cysteine mutant viruses was related to the proteolytic cleavage of PIF5 by the endogenous protease embedded in occlusion bodies during alkaline treatment. This suggested that the structural stability of PIF5 under physiological conditions in the insect midgut is critical for baculoviral oral infectivity. IMPORTANCE Per os infection mediated by PIFs is the highly complex mechanism by which baculoviruses initiate infection in insects. Previous studies revealed that multiple PIF proteins form a large PIF complex on the envelope of virions, while PIF5 functions independently of the PIF complex. Here, we report the crystal structure of AcMNPV PIF5e, which, to our knowledge, is the first atomic structure reported for a PIF protein. The structure revealed the precise locations of three previously proposed disulfide bonds and other conserved intramolecular interactions, which are important for the structural stability of PIF5 and are also essential for oral infectivity. These findings advance our understanding of the molecular mechanism of baculovirus oral infection under alkaline conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common type of dementia. Tau hyperphosphorylation and amyloid β (Aβ) deposition are the key pathological hallmarks of AD. Recent studies have shown that periodontitis is a significant risk factor for AD. The periodontal pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis and its virulence factors have been shown to initiate and promote the hallmark pathologies and behavioral symptoms of AD. A possible link between Treponema denticola, another main periodontal pathogen, and AD has been reported. However, the role of T. denticola in AD pathogenesis is still unclear, and whether T. denticola and P. gingivalis exert a synergistic effect to promote AD development needs to be further studied. In this study, we investigated whether oral infection with T. denticola caused tau hyperphosphorylation in the hippocampi of mice and explored the underlying mechanisms. Orally administered T. denticola induced alveolar bone resorption, colonized brain tissues, and increased the activity of the phosphokinase GSK3β by activating neuroinflammation in the hippocampus, thus promoting the hyperphosphorylation of the tau protein at Ser396, Thr181, and Thr231 in mice. An in vitro study with BV2 and N2a cell models of T. denticola invasion also verified the role of this pathogen in tau phosphorylation. T. denticola and P. gingivalis were not found to exert a synergistic effect on tau phosphorylation. In summary, these findings provide new insight into the important role of T. denticola in AD pathogenesis, providing biological connections between periodontal diseases and AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundExposure to recurrent infections in childhood was linked to an increased risk of cancer in adulthood. There is also evidence that a history of tonsillectomy, a procedure often performed in children with recurrent infections, is linked to an increased risk of leukemia and Hodgkin lymphoma. Tonsillectomy could be directly associated with cancer risk, or it could be a proxy for another risk factor such as recurrent infections and chronic inflammation. Nevertheless, the role of recurrent childhood infections and tonsillectomy on the one hand, and the risk of breast cancer (BC) in adulthood remain understudied. Our study aims to verify whether a history of tonsillectomy increases the risk of BC in women.MethodsA systematic review was performed using PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science databases from inception to January 25, 2022, to identify the studies which assessed the association between the history of tonsillectomy and BC in females. Odds ratio (OR) was calculated using the random/fixed-effects models to synthesize the associations between tonsillectomy and BC risk based on heterogeneity.ResultsEight studies included 2252 patients with breast cancer of which 1151 underwent tonsillectomy and 5314 controls of which 1725 had their tonsils removed. Patients with a history of tonsillectomy showed a higher subsequent risk of developing BC (OR, 1.24; 95% CI: 1.11-1.39) as compared to patients without a history of tonsillectomy. Influence analyses showed that no single study had a significant effect on the overall estimate or the heterogeneity.ConclusionsOur study revealed that a history of tonsillectomy is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. These findings underscore the need for frequent follow-ups and screening of tonsillectomy patients to assess for the risk of BC.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infections are found in children, but transmission modes and outcomes are incompletely understood. We evaluated oral samples from 331 children in Finland who participated in the Finnish Family HPV Study from birth during 9 follow-up visits (mean time 51.9 months). We tested samples for 24 HPV genotypes. Oral HPV prevalence for children varied from 8.7% (at a 36-month visit) to 22.8% (at birth), and 18 HPV genotypes were identified. HPV16 was the most prevalent type to persist, followed by HPV18, HPV33, and HPV6. Persistent, oral, high-risk HPV infection for children was associated with oral HPV carriage of the mother at birth and seroconversion of the mother to high-risk HPV during follow-up (odds ratio 1.60–1.92, 95% CI 1.02–2.74). Children acquire their first oral HPV infection at an early age. The HPV status of the mother has a major impact on the outcome of oral HPV persistence for her offspring.

Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes and Enterococcus faecalis can colonize the tooth root canals, adhere to dentin walls, and frequently cause periodontitis in dogs. Bacterial periodontal diseases are common in domesticated pets, causing severe oral cavity inflammation and a strong immune response. This study investigates the antioxidant effect of a natural antimicrobial mixture (Auraguard—Ag) on the ability of S. aureus, S. pyogenes and E. faecalis to infect primary canine oral epithelial cells as well as its impact on their virulence factors. Our data show that a concentration of 0.25% Ag is sufficient to inhibit the growth of all three pathogens, whereas a concentration of 0.5% will become bactericidal. The sub-inhibitory concentration of 0.125% Ag reveals that the antimicrobial mixture can significantly reduce biofilm formation and exopolysaccharide production. The impact on these virulence factors was further translated into a significantly reduced ability to infect primary canine oral epithelial cells and restore epithelial tight junctions, with no impact on the epithelial cell viability. The post-infection inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β and IL-8) and the COX-2 mediator were also reduced both in mRNA and protein expression levels. The oxidative burst, detected upon infection, was also decreased in the presence of Ag, as our results show a significant decrease in H2O2 released by the infected cells. We show that inhibition of either NADPH or ERK activity will result in a downregulation of COX-2 expression and lower levels of H2O2 in infected cells. Conclusively, our study shows that natural antimicrobials reduce pro-inflammatory events, post infection, through an antioxidative mechanism that involves the downregulation of the COX-2 mediator via the inactivation of ERK in the absence of H2O2. As a result, they significantly reduce the risk of secondary bacterial infections and host oxidative stress caused by Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes and Enterococcus faecalis accumulation in biofilms in an in vitro canine oral infection model.

Prevalence of oral infections in diabetic patients is a health challenge due to persistent hyperglycemia. However, despite great concerns, limited treatment options are available. We therefore aimed to develop nanoemulsion gel (NEG) for oral bacterial infections based on essential oils. Clove and cinnamon essential oils based nanoemulgel were prepared and characterized. Various physicochemical parameters of optimized formulation including viscosity (65311 mPa·S), spreadability (36 g·cm/s), and mucoadhesive strength 42.87 N/cm2) were within prescribed limits. The drug contents of the NEG were 94.38 ± 1.12% (cinnamaldehyde) and 92.96 ± 2.08% (clove oil). A significant concentration of clove (73.9%) and cinnamon essential oil (71.2 %) was released from a polymer matrix of the NEG till 24 h. The ex vivo goat buccal mucosa permeation profile revealed a significant (52.7–54.2%) permeation of major constituents which occurred after 24 h. When subjected to antimicrobial testing, significant inhibition was observed for several clinical strains, namely Staphylococcus aureus (19 mm), Staphylococcus epidermidis (19 mm), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (4 mm), as well as against Bacillus chungangensis (2 mm), whereas no inhibition was detected for Bacillus paramycoides and Paenibacillus dendritiformis when NEG was utilized. Likewise promising antifungal (Candida albicans) and antiquorum sensing activities were observed. It was therefore concluded that cinnamon and clove oil-based NEG formulation presented significant antibacterial-, antifungal, and antiquorum sensing activities.

The aim of this study is to highlight the properties of ozone as an aid to non-surgical therapy compared to non-surgical therapy alone. This study included thirty Caucasian patients (eighteen women and twelve men) aged between 35 and 65, recruited at the Oral Hygiene and Prevention Center of the Dental Clinic of the Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, at the San Raffaele hospital in Milan. The periodontal probing was recorded with a PC-PUNC 15 manual probe (Hu Friedy) at time 0; the scaling and root planing session was performed at T1 with or without the aid of ozone therapy, and then, the patients were re-evaluated at one month (T2), three months (T3), and six months (T4). The results obtained show that there are not statistically significant differences in terms of reduction in clinical periodontal indices such as plaque, bleeding, and pocket depth between the two groups. Therefore, treatment with ozoral gel would not seem to improve non-surgical periodontal therapy alone. However, clinical periodontal indices significantly improved in patients treated with non-surgical therapy and ozone gel. From this point of view, ozone gel can be used as an aid to non-surgical therapy due to its excellent characteristics, in particular, its powerful virucidal action.

Aims: The present study determined Candida species occurrence in the mouth of HIV/AIDS, pregnant women and healthy individuals, and Candida susceptibility to antimycotics. Methodology and results: A cross-sectional study of the Candida species occurrence and their in vitro sensitivity to nystatin, clotrimazole, ketoconazole and fluconazole was studied. Oral swabs were taken from the dorsum of the tongue of 63 HIV/AIDS patients, 38 pregnant women and 53 apparently healthy humans served as control. All participants gave their consent. The samples were cultured for isolation of Candida species. The susceptibility of commonly used antimycotics against Candida species was determined using agar-well and disc-diffusion methods. The broth dilution method was adopted in the determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration of the drugs. The rate of Candida species colonization in HIV/AIDS patients was higher than that among pregnant women and apparently healthy humans. Candida albicans had the highest frequency. Candida species displayed higher sensitivity to nystatin and clotrimazole than ketoconazole and fluconazole. Candida albicans exhibiting low sensitivity to fluconazole were found in the mouth of AIDS patients, pregnant women and apparently healthy humans. Conclusion, significance and impact of study: Candida species prevalence was highest among HIV patients. Candida albicans had the highest frequency among the study groups and had reduced susceptibility to fluconazole. The findings of the study underscore the need for regular surveillance and susceptibility testing of Candida isolates before prescription of antimycotics, especially in cases of chronic infection, as well as the development of safe and efficacious treatment alternatives since Candida isolates are becoming less susceptible to fluconazole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oral fungal infections are a worldwide healthcare problem. Although Candida albicans is still the most common yeast involved in the infections of oral cavity, non-Candida albicans Candida species (NCACs) have been highly related to these infections, particularly in older, immunosuppressed or patients with long exposure to antimicrobial drugs. The goal of this work was to perform a quick epidemiological and mycological study on the oral samples collected from a laboratory of a hospital in Slovakia, for 60 days. The samples' identification was performed by Germ-tube formation test, CHROMID® Candida, Auxacolor 2, ID 32C automated method, and the antifungal susceptibility testing determined by E-test®. Results confirm that comparing with bacteria, yeasts still occur in the lower number, but there is a high rate of antifungal resistance (81.6%)—to, at least one drug—among the collected samples, particularly to azoles and 5′-FC, which is clinically noteworthy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Mucosal vaccine strategy can protect against T. cruzi infection. • TS antigen plus c-di-AMP trigger systemic and mucosal TS-specific antibodies. • TS antigen plus c-di-AMP display a Th1-biased response. • A nasal vaccine based in TS antigen plus c-di-AMP control oral T. cruzi infection. The new generation of vaccines for Chagas disease, are focused to induce both humoral and cellular response to effectively control Trypanosoma cruzi parasites. The administration of vaccine formulations intranasally has the advantage over parenteral routes that can induce a specific response at mucosal and systemic levels. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the immunogenicity and prophylactic effectiveness of two Trans-sialidase (TS)-based mucosal vaccines against T. cruzi administered intranasally. Vaccines consisted of a recombinant fragment of TS expressed in Lactococcus lactis formulated in two different adjuvants. The first, was an immunostimulant particle (ISPA, an ISCOMATRIX-like adjuvant), while the second was the dinucleotide c-di-AMP, which have shown immunostimulant properties at the mucosal level. BALB/c mice were immunized intranasally (3 doses, one every two weeks) with each formulation (TS + ISPA or TS + c-di-AMP) and with TS alone or vehicle (saline solution) as controls. Fifteen days after the last immunization, both TS + ISPA or TS + c-di-AMP induced an evident systemic humoral and cellular response, as judged by the increased plasma anti-TS IgG2a titers and IgG2a/IgG1 ratio and enhanced cellular response against TS. Plasma derived antibodies from TS + c-di-AMP also inhibit in vitro the invasion capacity of T. cruzi. Furthermore, specific secretory IgA was more enhanced in TS + c-di-AMP group. Protective efficacy was proved in vaccinated animals by an oral T. cruzi -challenge. Parasitemia control was only achieved by animals vaccinated with TS + c-di-AMP, despite all vaccinates groups showed enhanced CD8+IFN-γ+ T cell numbers. In addition, it was reflected during the acute phase in a significant reduction of tissue parasite load, clinical manifestations and diminished tissue damage. The better prophylactic capacity elicited by TS + c-di-AMP was related to the induction of neutralizing plasma antibodies and augmented levels of mucosal IgA since TS + ISPA and TS + c-di-AMP groups displayed similar immunogenicity and CD8+IFN-γ+ T-cell response. Therefore, TS + c-di-AMP formulation appears as a promising strategy for prophylaxis against T. cruzi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study investigated the relationship between oral high-risk HPV (HR HPV) infection and sexual behavior in Japanese medical professionals. Materials and methods: We collected oral specimens and a self–administered questionnaire from 234 men and 171 women. Results: The oral HR HPV infection prevalence was 4.7% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.0–7.2]) overall, 7.3% (95% CI: 4.6–11.3) for men, and 1.2% (95% CI: 0.3–4.2) for women. The number of sex partners had a significant influence on this prevalence, with variation by type of sexual behavior. The prevalence of oral HR HPV infection was significantly higher (p < 0.0001) among those with more than 20 lifetime overall sex partners (23.8%, 95% CI: 13.5–38.5) or oral sex partners (25.0%, 95% CI: 14.2–40.2). In terms of the number of vaginal sex partners, the prevalence was approximately the same for those with 6–10 (8.3%, 95% CI: 3.9–17.0), 11–20 (11.1%, 95% CI: 5.2–22.2), or more than 20 (11.5%, 95% CI: 4.0–29.0) partners (p = 0.0043). Furthermore, dividing the number of vaginal and oral sex partners into four categories (both>5, only vaginal>5, only oral>5, and both≤5), the infection prevalence was significantly higher when both vaginal and oral sex partners were more than five (12.5%, 95% CI: 7.7–19.6). The prevalence was also higher for those who had more oral than vaginal partners, compared with other groups (13.5%, 95% CI: 6.7–25.3). Conclusions and clinical relevance: Oral HR HPV infection in Japan seems to be influenced by sexual behavior, and preventive health efforts such as vaccination and health education should be implemented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Stockholm Studies are a series of investigations started in 1985 and still ongoing. Out of 105,798 inhabitants, aged 30 and 40 years and living in the greater Stockholm area in Sweden, 3273 subjects were randomly selected. Of them, 1676 were clinically examined focusing on oral health. The subjects were then followed up using national population and health registers in order to study associations between oral health parameters and systemic health outcomes and finally death. The 35 years of observation provides unique possibilities to analyze, for example, how periodontitis links to a number of systemic health issues. The results have consequently provided numerous new associations and confirmed earlier observations on how poor oral health is associated with heart diseases and cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the acute phase of Chagas disease, Trypanosoma cruzi circulation through the bloodstream leads to high tissue parasitism in the host. In primary lymphoid organs, progenitor cell reduction paralleled transient immunosuppression. Herein we showed that acute oral infection in mice promotes diffuse parasitism in bone marrow cells at 14 and 21 days post-infection (dpi), with perivascular regions, intravascular regions, and regions near the bone being target sites of parasite replication. Phenotypic analysis of hematopoietic differentiation in the bone marrow of infected mice showed that the cell number in the tissue is decreased (lineage-negative and lineage-positive cells). Interestingly, analysis of hematopoietic branching points showed that hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) were significantly increased at 14 dpi. In addition, the pool of progenitors with stem plasticity (HSC-MPP3), as well as multipotent progenitors (MPPs) such as MPP4, also showed this pattern of increase. In contrast, subsequent progenitors that arise from MPPs, such as common lymphoid progenitors (CLPs), lymphoid-primed MPPs (LMPPs), and myeloid progenitors, were not enhanced; conversely, all presented numeric decline. Annexin V staining revealed that cell death increase in the initial hematopoietic branching point probably is not linked to CLPs and that myeloid progenitors decreased at 14 and 21 dpi. In parallel, our investigation provided clues that myeloid progenitor decrease could be associated with an atypical expression of Sca-1 in this population leading to a remarkable increase on LSK-like cells at 14 dpi within the HSPC compartment. Finally, these results led us to investigate HSPC presence in the spleen as a phenomenon triggered during emergency hematopoiesis due to mobilization or expansion of these cells in extramedullary sites. Splenocyte analysis showed a progressive increase in HSPCs between 14 and 21 dpi. Altogether, our study shows that the bone marrow is a target tissue in T. cruzi orally infected mice, leading to a hematopoietic disturbance with LSK-like cell bias accounting on HSPCs possibly affecting myeloid progenitor numbers. The LMPP and CLP reduction converges with defective thymocyte development. Lastly, it is tempting to speculate that the extramedullary hematopoiesis seen in the spleen is a mechanism involved in the hematological maintenance reported during the acute phase of oral T. cruzi infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the acute phase of Chagas disease, Trypanosoma cruzi circulation through the bloodstream leads to high tissue parasitism in the host. In primary lymphoid organs, progenitor cell reduction paralleled transient immunosuppression. Herein we showed that acute oral infection in mice promotes diffuse parasitism in bone marrow cells at 14 and 21 days post-infection (dpi), with perivascular regions, intravascular regions, and regions near the bone being target sites of parasite replication. Phenotypic analysis of hematopoietic differentiation in the bone marrow of infected mice showed that the cell number in the tissue is decreased (lineage-negative and lineage-positive cells). Interestingly, analysis of hematopoietic branching points showed that hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) were significantly increased at 14 dpi. In addition, the pool of progenitors with stem plasticity (HSC-MPP3), as well as multipotent progenitors (MPPs) such as MPP4, also showed this pattern of increase. In contrast, subsequent progenitors that arise from MPPs, such as common lymphoid progenitors (CLPs), lymphoid-primed MPPs (LMPPs), and myeloid progenitors, were not enhanced; conversely, all presented numeric decline. Annexin V staining revealed that cell death increase in the initial hematopoietic branching point probably is not linked to CLPs and that myeloid progenitors decreased at 14 and 21 dpi. In parallel, our investigation provided clues that myeloid progenitor decrease could be associated with an atypical expression of Sca-1 in this population leading to a remarkable increase on LSK-like cells at 14 dpi within the HSPC compartment. Finally, these results led us to investigate HSPC presence in the spleen as a phenomenon triggered during emergency hematopoiesis due to mobilization or expansion of these cells in extramedullary sites. Splenocyte analysis showed a progressive increase in HSPCs between 14 and 21 dpi. Altogether, our study shows that the bone marrow is a target tissue in T. cruzi orally infected mice, leading to a hematopoietic disturbance with LSK-like cell bias accounting on HSPCs possibly affecting myeloid progenitor numbers. The LMPP and CLP reduction converges with defective thymocyte development. Lastly, it is tempting to speculate that the extramedullary hematopoiesis seen in the spleen is a mechanism involved in the hematological maintenance reported during the acute phase of oral T. cruzi infection.

Actinomycosis is an uncommon suppurative chronic disease caused by Actinomyces spp., an anaerobic Gram‑positive bacteria. It normally colonizes the human mouth and digestive and genital tracts. In the oral cavity, Actinomyces are particularly prevalent within gingival crevices, tonsillar crypts, periodontal pockets, and dental plaques, as well as on carious teeth; however, they are rarely pathogenic. The authors report an unusual case of this disease entity at an unusual location the tongue, which rendered its diagnosis difficult based on history and clinical examination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Baculoviruses are natural enemies of agricultural and forest insect pests and play an important role in biological pest control. Oral infection by baculovirus in the insect midgut is necessary for establishing systemic infection and eventually killing the insect. Since the insect midgut continuously encounters microbiota, the gut microbiota could affect baculovirus infection. Here, we demonstrated that gut microbiota modulates immune responses and promotes baculovirus infection in the cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera. After oral infection, numerous host immunity‐related genes including genes encoding Toll and immune deficiency (IMD) pathway components were upregulated in the midgut. Elimination of the gut microbiota significantly increased the resistance to viral infection in H. armigera. Quantitative real‐time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and proteomic analysis showed that downregulation of the antiviral factor prophenoloxidase (PPO) could be mediated by microbiota during infection. It implied that midgut microbiota diminishes the expression of PPO to facilitate viral infection in H. armigera. Our findings revealed that the microbiota plays an important role in modulating the resistance of H. armigera to baculovirus infection, providing new insights in applying biopesticide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Objective: Malva sylvestris, one of the most important plants used in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and health industries in most developing countries, has antiseptic properties. Therefore, this research aimed to study essential oil components of Malva sylvestris juice collected from Meshkinshahr and its anti-bacterial property compared to chlorhexidine mouthwash on common bacteria of oral infection. Materials & Methods: In this research, Malva sylvestris was collected from the Anzan Meshkin-Shahr area in the northwest of Iran. The essential oil was extracted by Clevenger's apparatus, GC and GC/MS devices were used for the analysis of essential oil compounds and accurate measurements of the compounds. Then, the effect of the essential oil of the Malva sylvestris and control on the common bacteria of the oral infection was evaluated in two ways: Disc diffusion And minimum inhibitory concentration(MIC). Results: According to the results, the essential oil of the herb has a significant inhibitory effect on the types of gram-negative and positive bacteria. Also, comparing the diameter of the non-growth of the plant with chlorhexidine , it was found that the essence of the herb medicine showed relatively similar results to that of the chlorhexidine. Conclusion: According to the findings, the essential oil of the herb has a good anti-microbial effect against the common bacteria of oral infections. As a result, the essential oil of this plant with different concentrations, after completing studies, can be an appropriate alternative for chemical drugs and chemical mouthwashes in the treatment of oral bacterial infections.

Hongxiang Xie,1,2,* Yuanyuan Wu,3,* Cuiping Liu,4 Jianzhuang Guo,2 Jianping Ma,2 Xiaofeng Li,2 Xiaojun Sun2 1Department of Clinical Laboratory, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital, People’s Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Mainland China; 2Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Mainland China; 3Department of Shungen Conservative and Endodontic Dentistry, Jinan Stomatology Hospital, Jinan, Mainland China; 4Department of General Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Mainland China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Xiaojun Sun Department of Clinical LaboratoryThe First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, 16766 Jingshi Road, Jinan, Shandong 250014, Mainland ChinaTel +86-571-87666666Fax +86-571-85335800Email 2439@sdhospital.com.cnAbstract: Non-O1/non-O139 Vibrio cholerae (NOVC) are increasingly being recognized as causes of sporadic cases of gastroenteritis and extra-intestinal invasive infections, such as bacteremia as well as skin and wound infections in immunosuppressed hosts. However, oral infections caused by these microorganisms have rarely been reported. We present a case of oral infection caused by NOVC in a patient undergoing chemoradiotherapy after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. The patient recovered well after antibiotic treatment. The isolate from the patient was screened for phenotypic and genetic characteristics with reference to their major virulence genes. Our report provides supporting evidence for oral infection due to NOVC in a patient with esophageal cancer and suggests that some putative accessory virulence factors may be crucial in the pathogenicity of this strain. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first documented case of oral infection due to NOVC.Keywords: non-O1/non-O139 Vibrio cholerae, oral infection, esophageal cancer, chemoradiotherapy

The 2nd International Conference on Oral Mucosal Immunity and the Microbiome (OMIM) took place at the Grecotel Kos Imperial Hotel, Kos, Greece, between 25th and 30th September 2021, under the auspices of the Aegean Conferences. This has only been the second Aegean Conference of this thematic, the first one having taken place in 2018 in Crete, during the same period of the year. Given the hardships in travel and heightened infection transmission risks amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Conference was well attended by 29 international speakers across the world. For many of the participants, this was the first conference travel in the post-pandemic era, and quite significant that it has taken place on the island of Hippocrates. Stringent regional health and safety regulations had to be followed to accomplish for this in-person Conference to take place. Frontiers in Oral Health has hosted papers from presentations of the Conference, whereas the present article serves as the proceedings of the Conference with summaries of the presentations.

Clostridium subterminale is an anaerobic spore-forming bacterium rarely isolated in human infections. This case study presents a necrotizing C. subterminale infection stemming from a dental abscess that progressed into sepsis, a small pericardial effusion, moderate bilateral pulmonary effusions, and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. The management of the infection, along with other relevant cases is discussed.

Essential oils (EO) are used as a natural remedy to treat various chronic diseases, although clinical evidence is lacking. In this context, we have endeavored to measure the percentage of chemical composition and biological efficacy of Psidium guajava (guava) leaf essential oil in treating oral infections and oral cancer. The essential oil obtained from hydrodistillation of P. guajava L. leaves was analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The activities of selected oral pathogens Candida albicans (C. albicans) and Streptococcus mutans (S. mutants) were studied in vitro and in silico. MTT assay was used to test for anticancer activity against human oral epidermal carcinoma (KB). GC–MS showed that the main components of PGLEO were limonene (38.01%) and β-caryophyllene (27.98%). Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 0.05–0.1% were demonstrated against C. albicans and S. mutans. Antimicrobial activity against C. albicans and S. mutans, as shown by molecular linkage analysis, revealed that the main metabolites, limonene and β-caryophyllene, potentially inhibited the receptors of C. albicans and S. mutans. PGLEO showed significant (p < 0.001) anticancer activity (45.89%) at 200 µg/mL compared to doxorubicin (47.87%) with an IC50 value of 188.98 µg/mL. The outcomes of the present study suggest that PGLEO has promising antimicrobial and anticancer activities and could be a useful source for developing a natural therapeutic agent for oral infections and oral cancer.

Baculoviruses enter insect midgut epithelial cells via a set of occlusion-derived virion (ODV) envelope proteins called per os infectivity factors (PIFs). P74 of Autographa californica multicapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV), which was the first identified PIF, is cleaved by an endogenous proteinase embedded within the occlusion body during per os infection, but the target site(s) and function of the cleavage have not yet been ascertained. Here, based on bioinformatics analyses, we report that cleavage was predicted at an arginine and lysine-rich region in the middle of P74. A series of recombinant viruses with site-directed mutants in this region of P74 were generated. R325 or R334 was identified as primary cleavage site. In addition, we showed that P74 is also cleaved by brush border membrane vesicles (BBMV) of the host insect at R325 or R334, instead of R195, R196, and R199, as previously reported. Simultaneous mutations in R195, R196, and R199 lead to instability of P74 during ODV release. Bioassays showed that mutations at both R325 and R334 significantly affected oral infectivity. Taken together, our data show that both R325 and R334 of AcMNPV P74 are the primary cleavage site for both occlusion body endogenous proteinase and BBMV proteinase during ODV release and are critical for oral infection., Importance: Cleavage of viral envelope proteins is usually an important trigger for viral entry into host cells. Baculoviruses are insect-specific viruses that infect host insects via the oral route. P74, a per os infectivity factor of baculoviruses, is cleaved during viral entry. However, the function and precise cleavage sites of P74 remain unknown. In this study, we found that R325 or R334 between the N- and C-conserved domains of P74 was the primary cleavage site by proteinase either from the occlusion body or host midgut. The biological significance of cleavage seems to be the release of the potential fusion peptide at the N-terminus of the cleaved C-terminal P74. Our results shed light on the cleavage model of P74 and imply its role in membrane fusion in baculovirus per os infection., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Problem: Maternal tolerance during pregnancy increases the risk of infection with certain intracellular pathogens. Systemic Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S.Tm) infection during pregnancy in normally resistant 129X1/SvJ mice leads to severe placental infection, as well as fetal and maternal deaths. However, the effect of oral infection with S.Tm in pregnant mice and the roles of infection‐induced inflammation and cell death pathways in contributing to susceptibility to infection are unclear. Method of Study: Non‐pregnant and pregnant C57BL/6J wild‐type (WT) and cell death pathway‐altered mice (IFNAR1−/−, Caspase‐1, 11−/−, RIP3−/−) were infected orally with S.Tm. Host survival and fetal resorption were determined. Bacterial burden in mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs), spleen, liver, and placentas was enumerated at various time points post‐infection. Serum cytokine expression was measured through cytometric bead array. Results: Oral infection of WT mice with S.Tm on days 9–10 of gestation resulted in systemic dissemination of the bacteria, substantial placental colonization, and fetal loss 5 days post‐infection. Histopathological examination of the placentas indicated that infection‐induced widespread focal necrosis and neutrophil infiltration throughout the spongiotrophoblast (SpT) layer. In the non‐pregnant state, IFNAR1−/− mice exhibited increased survival following oral S.Tm infection relative to Caspase‐1, 11−/−, RIP3−/−, and WT mice. The increased resistance to S.Tm infection in IFNAR1−/− mice was seen during pregnancy as well, with decreased bacterial burden within MLNs, spleen, and placenta, which correlated with the decreased resorptions relative to WT and Caspase‐1, 11−/− mice. Conclusion: Oral S.Tm exposure leads to placental infection, inflammation, and resorption, whereas IFNAR1 deficiency enhances host resistance both in the non‐pregnant and pregnant states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory disease in which gradual destruction of tissues around teeth is caused by plaque formed by pathogenic bacteria. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential of 75% ethanol extract of Colocasia antiquorum var. esculenta (CA) as a prophylactic and improvement agent for periodontal disease in vitro and in vivo. Materials and Methods: The antimicrobial efficacy of CA against Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis, ATCC 33277) was evaluated using minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) test, and cytotoxicity was confirmed by CCK-8 assay. For the in vivo study, P. gingivalis was applied by oral gavage to BALB/c mice. Forty-two days after the first inoculation of P. gingivalis, intraoral swabs were taken for microbiome analysis, and the mice were sacrificed to evaluate the alveolar bone loss. Results: The MIC of CA against P. gingivalis was 31.3 µg/mL, the MBC was 62.5 µg/mL, with no cytotoxicity. The diversity of the oral microbiome decreased in the positive control group, while those of the VA (varnish) and VCA (varnish added with CA) groups increased as much as in the negative control group, although the alveolar bone loss was not induced in the mouse model. Conclusions: CA showed antibacterial effects in vitro, and the VA and VCA groups exhibited increased diversity in the oral microbiome, suggesting that CA has potential for improving periodontal disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AimIn most infectious disease models, it is assumed that gavage needle infection is the most reliable means of pathogen delivery to the GI tract. However, this methodology can cause esophageal tearing and induces stress in experimental animals, both of which have the potential to impact early infection and the subsequent immune response.Materials & methodsC57BL/6 mice were orally infected with virulent Salmonella Typhimurium SL1344 either by intragastric gavage preceded by sodium bicarbonate, or by contamination of drinking water.ResultsWe demonstrate that water contamination delivery of Salmonella is equivalent to gavage inoculation in providing a consistent model of infection. Furthermore, exposure of mice to contaminated drinking water for as little as 4 h allowed maximal mucosal and systemic infection, suggesting an abbreviated window exists for natural intestinal entry.ConclusionTogether, these data question the need for gavage delivery for infection with oral pathogens.

Aim: To investigate the effects of liver fibrosis (LF) on the pro‐inflammatory mediators and periapical bone resorption of apical periodontitis (AP) in rats. Methodology: Forty male Wistar rats were distributed into four groups: C – control, AP – rats with AP, LF – rats with LF, AP + LF – rats with AP and LF. LF was induced by carbon tetrachloride administration for 8 weeks and surgical bile duct ligation for 4 weeks; AP was induced in the teeth of rats by dental pulp exposure to the oral environment for 30 days. Jaws and livers were removed after euthanasia. Haematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) and Picrosirius Red (PSR) staining were used to confirm fibrosis in the livers. The jaws were analysed using H&E staining, immunohistochemical assays of interleukin (IL)‐1β, IL‐6 and tumour necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α). Student's t‐test and Mann–Whitney's U‐test were used for statistical analysis (P < 0.05). Results: Inflammatory infiltrate was moderate in the AP group and severe in the AP + LF group (P < 0.05). Periapical bone resorption was significantly larger in the AP + LF group compared with the AP group (P < 0.05). IL‐1β, IL‐6 and TNF‐α levels were significantly higher in AP + LF group when compared to the AP group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: More intense inflammatory infiltrate, greater amounts of pro‐inflammatory cytokines and increased periapical bone resorption were observed in the presence of liver fibrosis in rats with exposed pulps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the increase in survival rates, childhood cancers are among the leading causes of death. Oral and systemic infections are one of the most important problems in the management of cancer patients treated with intensive treatment protocols. The most important and common source of sepsis in patients with cancer is the mouth. Microorganisms can contribute to the development of systemic infections. The absence of a normal barrier facilitates sepsis in cases such as mucositis. Oral infections during treatment can be seen in 40-90% of patients. Risk factors associated with infection are neutropenia/neutrophil dysfunction, impairment in lymphopenia/lymphocyte functions, mucositis, dry mouth, malnutrition, poor oral hygiene, type of cancer, stage, and treatment protocol, history of previous oral/non-oral infections, history of previous pulpal and periodontal disease, pericoronitis, and endodontic treatment. Patients diagnosed with cancer should be seen by the dentist before treatment, and if there is enough time before treatment, dental filling, extraction, and periodontal care and treatment should be planned. However, because tumors with a high growth rate are observed in children, a faster approach is required in diagnosis and treatment. Often, there is not enough time. As a result, oral infections are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in children with cancer. Oral and dental examination should be evaluated before treatment in children diagnosed with cancer. During treatment, they should also be part of the routine examination. Patients and their families should be given regular training in this regard. Culture and/or biopsies should be performed from suspicious lesions and appropriate treatment should be initiated without delay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The information about comorbidities (excluding lymphoma) in primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) is relatively scarce. Cardiovascular disease, infections, musculoskeletal conditions or malignancy are likely the most relevant comorbid conditions in pSS. Different infections (particularly oral candidal infections) and fibromyalgia are extremely frequent in the daily clinical practice. On the other hand, the incidence of cardiovascular events and cancer in pSS is low, so information about them comes from large epidemiological studies or meta-analysis. For this reason, preclinical vascular disease is investigated by different techniques, demonstrating the presence of early atherosclerosis in pSS patients. Coronary events could be slightly more frequent in pSS than in the general population. The overall risk of malignancy in pSS patients seems to be slightly increased, likely due to excess occurrence of lymphoma. An association between pSS and thyroid cancer might exist, although it should be confirmed by further investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Overuse of computed tomography (CT) is a prevalent problem across multiple disciplines in healthcare and is common in the workup of odontogenic infections. To address this problem, an imaging pathway was created through collaboration of the oral maxillofacial surgery and emergency medicine departments to reduce unnecessary CT orders. A prospective study was implemented to assess the success of the imaging pathway to guide in the selection of the most appropriate radiological imaging modality when managing an odontogenic infection. Subjects included were adults, presenting through the emergency department for confirmed odontogenic infection. The primary outcome was the rate of unnecessary CT scans performed after the introduction of the pathway. Statistics were performed via the t -test, χ2 test, and multiple regression analysis; P < 0.05 was considered significant. Between February 1 and December 15, 2019, 100 patients met the inclusion criteria and were enrolled. The rate of unnecessary CT scans was 25.6%, compared to 56.6% prior to the introduction of the imaging pathway. The pathway did not misclassify any patient to not receive a CT when it was medically necessary. Use of the imaging pathway has the potential to reduce unnecessary CT imaging for odontogenic infections, without negatively affecting patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last few years, the role of oral microbiota in the setting of oral diseases such as caries, periodontal disease, oral cancer and systemic infections, including rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular disease and brain abscess (BA), has attracted the attention of physicians and researchers. Approximately 5–7% of all BAs have an odontogenic origin, representing an important pathological systemic condition with a high morbidity and mortality. A systematic search of two databases (Pubmed and Ovid EMBASE) was performed for studies published up to 5 January 2021, reporting multiple BAs attributed to an odontogenic origin. According to PRISMA guidelines, we included a total of 16 papers reporting multiple BAs due to odontogenic infections. The aim of this review is to investigate the treatment modality and the clinical outcome of patients with multiple BAs due to odontogenic infections, as well as to identify the most common pathogens involved in this pathological status and their role, in the oral microbiota, in the onset of oral infections. A multidisciplinary approach is essential in the management of multiple BAs. Further studies are required to understand better the role of microbiota in the development of multiple BAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Dental evaluation and management prior to hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) plays a vital role in identifying and treating infections that may be life-threatening. The purpose of this study is to describe the dental management of patients undergoing pre-HSCT examination with the Dental Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) and to report on odontogenic complications. Methods: Patients referred for evaluation as part of the standard preparation for HSCT were included. Following clinical and radiological examination, patients were assigned to one of three groups based on risk of odontogenic infection, and treatment was provided as indicated. Patients were followed, and their medical records were reviewed for odontogenic complications during the transplant admission. Results: Of the 375 patients evaluated, 350 patients underwent HSCT: allogeneic 143 (40.9%) and autologous 207 (59.1%). The distribution of primary cancer diagnosis was as follows: multiple myeloma 104 (29.7%), leukemias 95 (27.1%), Hodgkin's lymphoma 28 (8.0%), non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma 99 (28.3%), and other conditions 24 (6.9%). The median time from dental evaluation to transplant was 29 days. The median Decayed, Missing, Filled Teeth Index was 17. The median Community Periodontal Index was 1. Based on dental status, 145 patients (41.4%) were classified as low risk, 133 (38%) as moderate risk and 72 (20.6%) as high risk of odontogenic infection. One hundred fourteen patients (32.6%) required dental treatment prior to HSCT, and 100 of these (28.6%) completed treatment. Two (0.57%) patients had odontogenic complications. Conclusions: With conservative pre-HSCT dental treatment based on an infection risk classification system, a low odontogenic complication rate was observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infections are found in children, but transmission modes and outcomes are incompletely understood. We evaluated oral samples from 331 children in Finland who participated in the Finnish Family HPV Study from birth during 9 follow-up visits (mean time 51.9 months). We tested samples for 24 HPV genotypes. Oral HPV prevalence for children varied from 8.7% (at a 36-month visit) to 22.8% (at birth), and 18 HPV genotypes were identified. HPV16 was the most prevalent type to persist, followed by HPV18, HPV33, and HPV6. Persistent, oral, high-risk HPV infection for children was associated with oral HPV carriage of the mother at birth and seroconversion of the mother to high-risk HPV during follow-up (odds ratio 1.60-1.92, 95% CI 1.02-2.74). Children acquire their first oral HPV infection at an early age. The HPV status of the mother has a major impact on the outcome of oral HPV persistence for her offspring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oral fungal infections are a worldwide healthcare problem. Although Candida albicans is still the most common yeast involved in the infections of oral cavity, non-Candida albicans Candida species (NCACs) have been highly related to these infections, particularly in older, immunosuppressed or patients with long exposure to antimicrobial drugs. The goal of this work was to perform a quick epidemiological and mycological study on the oral samples collected from a laboratory of a hospital in Slovakia, for 60 days. The samples’ identification was performed by Germ-tube formation test, CHROMID® Candida, Auxacolor 2, ID 32C automated method, and the antifungal susceptibility testing determined by E-test®. Results confirm that comparing with bacteria, yeasts still occur in the lower number, but there is a high rate of antifungal resistance (81.6%)—to, at least one drug—among the collected samples, particularly to azoles and 5′-FC, which is clinically noteworthy.

The Stockholm Studies are a series of investigations started in 1985 and still ongoing. Out of 105,798 inhabitants, aged 30 and 40 years and living in the greater Stockholm area in Sweden, 3273 subjects were randomly selected. Of them, 1676 were clinically examined focusing on oral health. The subjects were then followed up using national population and health registers in order to study associations between oral health parameters and systemic health outcomes and finally death. The 35 years of observation provides unique possibilities to analyze, for example, how periodontitis links to a number of systemic health issues. The results have consequently provided numerous new associations and confirmed earlier observations on how poor oral health is associated with heart diseases and cancer.

The genus Hypericum sp. has a number of uses in traditional medicine like curing the burns, ulcers, haemorrhoids and wound healing. The species Hypericum lydium Boiss. (Hypericaceae), however, has not been known to have any properties related to the healing of injuries or antimicrobial working against the oral microorganisms. The present study was aimed to evaluate the efficiency of H. lydium in soft tissue healing and its capacity to prevent infections after dental extraction. H. lydium was extracted with ethanol and the obtained extract was tested for its inhibition ability on extracellular matrix-degrading enzymes; collagenase, hyaluronidase and elastase. To determine the cytotoxicity and wound healing capacity of the extract, MTT and in vitro scratch wound healing assay were performed using the NIH-3T3 fibroblast cells, respectively. Antimicrobial activity was investigated by microdilution method against oral pathogenic microorganisms. The highest enzyme inhibition activity was determined against elastase (80.27±0.1%). According to the cytotoxic activity results, the IC50 value of the H. lydium was found to be 82.20±4.05 µg/mL. Scratch wound healing assay of the extract exhibited a significant enhancement at 24 h with a closed wound area when compared with the control. The extract showed potent antimicrobial properties against oral pathogenic microorganisms. The results of the study revealed out that H. lydium can be considered as a natural compound for dental industry to improve soft tissue healing and to prevent the possible infections after dental extraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fascial space of the oral and maxillofacial region contains loose connective tissues, which possess weak anti-infection ability and are often prone to infection, leading to acute suppurative inflammation and sepsis through blood. Although antibiotic use can reduce the probability of bacterial infections, owing to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, the search for new antimicrobial drugs is imminent. Herein, we report a metal-organic framework (MOF) antibacterial material designed and synthesized with gallium (Ga) as the central atom, which possesses significant antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects. Our data suggested that GA-based MOFs (Ga-MOFs; 1 μg/mL) could sufficiently kill Porphyromonas gingivalis , Streptococcus pyogenes , and Staphylococcus aureus . Ga-MOFs exhibited a bactericidal effect against these three pathogens by disrupting biofilm formation, exopolysaccharide production, and bacterial membrane integrity. In addition, we found that 1 μg/mL of Ga-MOFs was not cytotoxic to human oral epithelial cell (HOEC) lines and it significantly reduced the adhesion of the three pathogens to HOEC. Ga-MOFs protect macrophages from excessive oxidative stress by scavenging excess intracellular reactive oxygen species and upregulating antioxidant gene levels, thereby enhancing cellular antioxidant defense. In addition, Ga-MOFs can promote the transformation of macrophages from the proinflammatory phenotype to the anti-inflammatory phenotype, thereby protecting oral health. Herein, novel Ga-MOF materials were chemically synthesized for therapeutic applications in oral infections, which provides new ideas for the development of novel nonantibiotic drugs to accelerate patient recovery., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors.)

Proven cases of vector-transmitted acute autochthonous Chagas disease in the United States are rare (<10 cases). Possible or probable cases of unknown duration determined by serology are uncommon as well (<100). In Latin America it is widely accepted that after feeding, the kissing bug defecates and Trypanosoma cruzi in the feces is rubbed into the bite punctum. This is an inefficient method of parasite transmission. The average infected individual in Latin America suffers more than 1000 bites, but more importantly, there are often thousands of kissing bugs in a household dropping feces on the inhabitants and living quarters. Today in Brazil the most common form of acute Chagas is secondary to oral ingestion of the parasite in food and drink. We present our experience with many hundreds of individuals bitten by kissing bugs and the possibility of oral ingestion occurring in the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanisms involved in determining arbovirus vector competence, or the ability of an arbovirus to infect and be transmitted by an arthropod vector, are still incompletely understood. It is well known that vector competence for a particular arbovirus can vary widely among different populations of a mosquito species, which is generally attributed to genetic differences between populations. What is less understood is the considerable variability (up to several logs) that is routinely observed in the virus titer between individual mosquitoes in a single experiment, even in mosquitoes from highly inbred lines. This extreme degree of variation in the virus titer between individual mosquitoes has been largely ignored in past studies. We investigated which biological factors can affect titer variation between individual mosquitoes of a laboratory strain of Aedes aegypti, the Orlando strain, after Sindbis virus infection. Greater titer variation was observed after oral versus intrathoracic infection, suggesting that the midgut barrier contributes to titer variability. Among the other factors tested, only the length of the incubation period affected the degree of titer variability, while virus strain, mosquito strain, mosquito age, mosquito weight, amount of blood ingested, and virus concentration in the blood meal had no discernible effect. We also observed differences in culture adaptability and in the ability to orally infect mosquitoes between virus populations obtained from low and high titer mosquitoes, suggesting that founder effects may affect the virus titer in individual mosquitoes, although other explanations also remain possible.

Background: Stroke mortality comprises different specific diagnoses as cerebral infarction, different haemorrhagic conditions and unspecified stroke. This study seeks to explore the prediction of oral health indicators versus known cardiovascular disease risk factors for stroke mortality. Methods: Altogether, 12,764 men aged 58 to 77 years were invited to the health screening Oslo II in the year 2000. It included general medical measurements and questionnaire information. Mortality data were supplied by Statistics Norway for the 6530 attending men. Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were used to establish prediction models for mortality. Results: Oral health by number of tooth extractions >10 was found to be an independent predictor for cerebral infarction hazard ratio = 2.92, 95% confidence interval (1.24–6.89). This was independent of HDL-Cholesterol (inversely) hazard ratio = 0.21, 95% confidence interval (0.06–0.76), frequent alcohol consumption (drinking 4–7 times per week) hazard ratio = 3.58, 95% confidence interval (1.40–9.13) and diabetes hazard ratio = 4.28, 95% confidence interval (1.68–10.89). Predictors for cerebral haemorrhage were age, hs-C-reactive protein and body mass index (inversely). Age and total cholesterol (inversely) were predictors for unspecified stroke. Conclusions: Oral health measured by number of tooth extractions >10 was an independent predictor for cerebral infarction in addition to age, HDL-C, hs-C-reactive protein and diabetes. The pattern of risk factors varied between the specific stroke diagnoses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetes Mellitus [DM] is a metabolic disorder characterised by relative or obsolete insufficiency of insulin and resultant disturbances of carbohydrate metabolism. People with poorly controlled DM are at greater risk for dental problems. They are more likely to affect with oral infections. High and low blood sugar may also be able to cause many oral manifestations and some emergency situations in dental office. This article highlights on oral manifestations and dental considerations while treating these DM patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]