The influence of centrifugation and inoculation time on the number, distribution, and viability of intratubular bacteria and surface biofilm in deciduous and permanent bovine dentin.

The present study aimed to assess the influence of centrifugation and inoculation time on the number, distribution, and viability of intratubular bacteria and surface monospecies E. faecalis biofilm. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-four semicylindrical specimens cut from primary (n = 22) and permanent (n = 22) bovine teeth were randomly assigned to the experimental groups. Teeth of each type were inoculated with E. faecalis with and without centrifugation for 1 and 14 days. The number, localization, viability of bacteria and depth of their penetration were assessed with bacterial culturing of dentin shavings, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal laser electron microscopy (CLSM). Three-way ANOVA with post-hoc Tukey test were used to assess the influence of different experimental setups on dentin infection. RESULTS: Severe dentin infection was observed in permanent and deciduous teeth after centrifugation and 1-day incubation: bacteria reached the full length of dentinal tubules and colony-forming units were too numerous to count. The volume of green fluorescence didn't differ significantly in permanent teeth compared with deciduous (p = 1.0). After 1-day stationary inoculation, small number of cultivable bacteria and few viable bacteria in dentinal tubules were found in both groups. After 14-day stationary inoculation, the dentin infection according to CLSM was deeper in deciduous teeth compared with permanent (p = 0.006 and p = 0.019 for centrifugation and stationary inoculation, respectively). CONCLUSION: The most even and dense dentin infection was observed in primary and permanent bovine teeth after centrifugation and 1-day inoculation, and in deciduous teeth after 14-day stationary inoculation.

Emerging Concepts and Challenges in Rheumatoid Arthritis Gene Therapy.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic inflammatory joint disease affecting about 1% of the population worldwide. Current treatment approaches do not ensure a cure for every patient. Moreover, classical regimens are based on nontargeted systemic immune suppression and have significant side effects. Biological treatment has advanced considerably but efficacy and specificity issues remain. Gene therapy is one of the potential future directions for RA therapy, which is rapidly developing. Several gene therapy trials done so far have been of moderate success, but experimental and genetics studies have yielded novel targets. As a result, the arsenal of gene therapy tools keeps growing. Currently, both viral and nonviral delivery systems are used for RA therapy. Herein, we review recent approaches for RA gene therapy.

Enterovirus A71 Meningoencephalitis Outbreak, Rostov-on-Don, Russia, 2013.

Seventy-eight cases of enterovirus infection, including 25 neuroinfections, occurred in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, during May-June 2013. The outbreak was caused by an enterovirus A type 71 (EV-A71) subgenotype C4 lineage that spread to neighboring countries from China ≈3 years earlier. Enterovirus associated neuroinfection may emerge in areas with a preceding background circulation of EV-A71 with apparently asymptomatic infection.

Seroepidemiology and molecular epidemiology of enterovirus 71 in Russia.

Enterovirus 71 (EV71) is an emerging human pathogen causing massive epidemics of hand, foot and mouth disease with severe neurological complications in Asia. EV71 also circulates in Europe, however it does not cause large outbreaks. The reason for distinct epidemiological patterns of EV71 infection in Europe and Asia and the risk of EV71 epidemic in Europe and Russia remain unknown. Seroepidemiology of EV71 and molecular epidemiology of occasional EV71 isolates were studied to explore circulation of EV71 in Russia. In six regions of Russian Federation, seroprevalence of EV71 in sera collected in 2008 ranged from 5% to 20% in children aged 1-2 years and from 19% to 83% in children aged 3-5 years. The seroprevalence among elder children was significantly higher (41-83% vs. 19-27%) in Asian regions of Russia. EV71 strains identified in Russia in 2001-2011 belonged to subtypes C1 and C2, while genotype C4 that was causing epidemics in Asia since 1998 emerged in 2009 and became dominant in 2013.