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Objectives: In early life, children are exposed to microorganisms from maternal and environmental sources, which influence the development of their microbiome throughout life. Several studies have demonstrated the influence of the delivery mode and breastfeeding on the oral microbiome of children, mostly regarding bacterial colonization. However, their influence on the oral fungal carriage is still underexplored. This study aimed to assess the association of the delivery and feeding mode with the oral carriage of yeasts in adulthood. Method and materials: Fungal oral carriage was evaluated by collecting unstimulated saliva in 185 healthy dental students (mean age of 21.51 ± 1.55 years old; 81.6% women). Yeast identification was performed by culture in ChromAgar Candida medium and sequencing of the 18S genes and ITS regions for determination of the species. Demographic and clinical data of each participant were recorded through questionnaires, and oral examinations were performed in a subgroup of participants (n = 49). Results: Candida species were isolated in 37.5% of all participants. The prevalence of yeasts in the oral cavity was significantly higher in those who were born by vaginal delivery compared to those born by caesarean section (P = .035), whereas no statistically significant differences were observed regarding breastfeeding (P = .398). Low salivary flow rate and frequency of dental visits also were associated with oral yeast carriage (P < .05). Conclusion: The results suggest a possible impact of the type of delivery on fungal colonization, which is sustained throughout life due to oral health-related factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Establishing geographical location is a crucial aspect of forensic sciences, distinguishing between primary and secondary crime scenes, linking an individual to a crime scene, or detecting sources of disease. Microorganisms can be used as geolocation indicators since microbial communities vary according to climatic factors (e.g. temperature, humidity, soil properties, altitude). Therefore, this systematic review aimed to investigate whether the human or environmental microbiomes help to determine a crime's geolocation. Articles were searched in PubMed,Scopus and Web of Science using keywords and data fields. The final selection included seven (of 172) manuscripts. The results showed that the microbial profile of either human or environmental samples have the potential to link a cadaver or a crime scene to a given location, highlighting microbes' usefulness in obtaining information from geographical locations (e.g. soil samples from a suspect's shoe matched to a source). However, research is required before applying this forensic strategy to real scenarios. For instance, optimizing and standardizing the microbiome analysis methods and determining several factors that may influence the results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pressure overload-induced hypertrophy compromises cardiac stretch-induced compliance (SIC) after acute volume overload (AVO). We hypothesized that SIC could be enhanced by physiological hypertrophy induced by pregnancy's chronic volume overload. This study evaluated SIC-cardiac adaptation in pregnant women with or without cardiovascular risk (CVR) factors. Thirty-seven women (1st trimester, 1stT) and a separate group of 31 (3rd trimester, 3rdT) women [healthy or with CVR factors (obesity and/or hypertension and/or with gestational diabetes)] underwent echocardiography determination of left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV) and E/e' before (T0), immediately after (T1), and 15 min after (T2; SIC) AVO induced by passive leg elevation. Blood samples for NT-proBNP quantification were collected before and after the AVO. Acute leg elevation significantly increased inferior vena cava diameter and stroke volume from T0 to T1 in both 1stT and 3rdT, confirming AVO. LVEDV and E/e' also increased immediately after AVO (T1) in both 1stT and 3rdT. SIC adaptation (T2, 15 min after AVO) significantly decreased E/e' in both trimesters, with additional expansion of LVEDV only in the 1stT. NT-pro-BNP increased slightly after AVO but only in the 1stT. CVR factors, but not parity or age, significantly impacted SIC cardiac adaptation. A distinct functional response to SIC was observed between 1stT and 3rdT, which was influenced by CVR factors. The LV of 3rdT pregnant women was hypertrophied, showing a structural limitation to dilate with AVO, whereas the lower LV filling pressure values suggest increased diastolic compliance. NEW & NOTEWORTHY The sudden increase of volume overload triggers an acute myocardial stretch characterized by an immediate rise in contractility by the Frank-Starling mechanism, followed by a progressive increase known as the slow force response. The present study is the first to characterize echocardiographically the stretch-induced compliance (SIC) mechanism in the context of physiological hypertrophy induced by pregnancy. A distinct functional adaptation to SIC was observed between first and third trimesters, which was influenced by cardiovascular risk factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: Recent reports describe the existence of a blood microbiome profile not associated with an infection state. Given the high impact that the dysbiotic human microbiome appears to have in chronic kidney disease and, in particular, in the outcome of kidney transplant recipients (KTRs), we aimed to explore the variations and correlations of the gut, oral, and blood microbiome of recipients, 3 months after kidney transplantation. Materials and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study where the microbiome of stool, saliva, and blood collected from recipients 3 months after kidney transplantation (N = 6) was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and sequencing of the V3--V4 hypervariable regions of the 16S rRNA gene using MiSeq Illumina® technology. Results: Blood of KTRs harbors a distinct low-abundance microbiome dominated by Proteobacteria and Firmicutes. Gut and oral microbiome of KTRs also present distinct profiles. The existence of a proportion of shared operational taxonomic units among the different body sites is reported, mainly classified as Proteobacteria and Firmicutes. Conclusions: This study provides evidence of existence a blood microbiome in KTRs, different from the gut and the oral microbiome profiles, with a small number of operational taxonomic units representing a shared microbiome. The clinical relevance of this observation should be further explored in these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a public health problem worldwide. Currently, the link between oral health status, dialysis modality, and dialysis vintage is still not clear. The aim of this study was to evaluate periodontal disease, dental caries, and Candida colonization among patients under hemo dialysis (HD) therapy, peritoneal dialysis (PD) therapy, and PD with previous history of HD (HD/PD). Method and materials: The clinical history, smoking, and oral hygiene habits were recorded. Decayed, missing, or filled teeth (DMFT) index, Visible Plaque Index (VPI), clinical attachment level (CAL), bleeding on probing, saliva flow rate, saliva pH, and oral yeast colonization were assessed. Results: HD/PD patients were generally submitted to longer periods of dialysis therapy than the other groups. The number of decayed and filled teeth did not differ between groups; HD patients presented a higher number of teeth, but poor periodontal status. Among the three groups, HD patients presented higher VPI, CAL, and oral Candida colonization, independently of the time under dialysis therapy. Candida albicans (HD and PD), Candida krusei (HD), and Candida carpophila (PD) were isolated in these patients. Conclusion: HD presented a more adverse impact on oral health than PD, particularly periodontal disease and oral Candida colonization; however, this impact on oral health appears to be reduced or ameliorated when patients change from HD to PD therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]