Antimicrobial susceptibility surveillance of bacterial isolates recovered in Japan from odontogenic infections in 2013.

We report on the findings of the first antimicrobial susceptibility surveillance study in Japan of isolates recovered from odontogenic infections. Of the 38 facilities where patients representing the 4 groups of odontogenic infections were seen, 102 samples were collected from cases of periodontitis (group 1), 6 samples from pericoronitis (group 2), 84 samples from jaw inflammation (group 3) and 54 samples from phlegmon of the jaw bone area (group 4) for a total of 246 samples. The positivity rates of bacterial growth on culture were 85.3%, 100%, 84% and 88.9%, respectively, for groups 1, 2, 3 and 4. Streptococcus spp. isolation rates according to odontogenic infection group were 22% (group 1), 17.7% (group 3) and 20.7% (group 4). Anaerobic isolation rates were 66.9% (group 1), 71.8% (group 3) and 68.2% (group 4). Drug susceptibility tests were performed on 726 strains excluding 121 strains that were undergrown. The breakdown of the strains subjected to testing was 186 Streptococcus spp., 179 anaerobic gram-positive cocci, 246 Prevotella spp., 27 Porphyromonas spp., and 88 Fusobacterium spp. The isolates were tested against 30 antimicrobial agents. Sensitivities to penicillins and cephems were good except for Prevotella spp. The low sensitivities of Prevotella spp is due to ß-lactamase production. Prevotella strains resistant to macrolides, quinolones, and clindamycin were found. No strains resistant to carbapenems or penems were found among all strains tested. No anaerobic bacterial strain was resistant to metronidazole. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing performed on the S. anginosus group and anaerobic bacteria, which are the major pathogens associated with odontogenic infections, showed low MIC90 values to the penicillins which are the first-line antimicrobial agents for odontogenic infections; however, for Prevotella spp., penicillins combined with ß-lactamase inhibitor showed low MIC90 values.

Inulin-based glycopolymer: its preparation, lectin-affinity and gellation property.

The glycopolymer composed of an inulin scaffold and pendent ß-lactosides was developed from commercially available inulin through sequential chemical modification processes composed of tosylation, azidation, and the subsequent Huisgen cyclocoupling with an alkyne-terminated ß-lactoside. The resultant inulin-based glycopolymer has unique dual affinity towards ß-galactoside and α-glucoside specific lectins which is attributable to its pendent ß-lactosides and terminal α-glucoside. Its gellation property was also accessed to find that the inulin-based glycopolymer forms hydrogels whose critical gellation concentration (CGC) was lower than that required for hydrogels made from native inulin. Drug release properties of the inulin-based glycopolymer were also discussed in this paper.

Tosylated and azidated inulins as key substrates for further chemical modifications to access inulin-based advanced materials: an inulin-based glycocluster.

We successfully synthesized inulin tosylates by treating commercially available inulin with tosyl chloride and triethylamine in N,N-dimethylacetoamide at the ambient temperature for 24h. The subsequent S(N)2 reactions using sodium azide afford inulin azides that can act as useful substrates for the following Huisgen cycloaddition with alkyne-terminated ß-lactoside. The resultant inulin derivative having multiple ß-lactosides has excellent affinity towards a ß-lactoside binding lectin (RCA(120)). This synthetic strategy has various advantages, such as non-fragmentation of the inulin mainchain and wide applications for various alkyne-terminated functional units. Our strategy can be, therefore, used to develop various inulin derivatives that are applicable for food and medicinal industries.

Case of adenomatid odontogenic tumor during pregnancy.

Adenomatoid odontogenic tumor (AOT) is a relatively rare benign tumor, accounting for 2% to 7% of odontogenic tumors. AOT is generally found in the incisor region of the maxilla of young women. It is often misdiagnosed as a dentigerous cyst. We report a case of AOT during pregnancy. The patient was a 21-year-old Philippine woman who complained of a swelling in the right maxillary gingival; the swelling rapidly enlarged during pregnancy. We enucleated the tumor and the impacted canine, with the patient under general anesthesia. Histological examination revealed a pseudoglandular structure with odontogenic appearance. On the basis of these findings and the World health organization (WHO) classification, we diagnosed the tumor as an adenomatoid odontogenic tumor. The tumor cells were identified by an immunohistochemically positive reaction for Bcl-2 and estrogen receptor. The MIB-1 labeling index was less than 1%. There has been no sign of recurrence as of 1.5 years after the operation.