Oral Candida species in head and neck cancer patients treated by radiotherapy.

OBJECTIVE: This paper aimed to identify and quantify Candida on head and neck irradiated patients with two comparative elderly populations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Saliva was sampled from 29 head and neck irradiated patients (group 1) 34 non-institutionalized elderly patients (group 2) and 29 institutionalized elders (group 3) and matched by age. For quantification, the obtained saliva was sewed on CHROMagar Candida(®), which was used also for presumptive identification of Candida, API 20C AUX(®), microculture and RAPD (OPE-18) were used for the final identification. RESULTS: Among the 92 patients surveyed, 51 (55.4%) had scores classified as positive for Candida, and among individuals of groups 1 and 3, 58.6% had Candida. There was higher positive/carrier conditions (CFU/sample) in groups 1 and 3, comparing with group 2 (P=0.011). Gender was not associated with Candida portability (P=0.334). Candida portability was significantly associated with the presence of candidosis (P=0.031) and xerostomic state (P=0.007). The isolates and definitive confirmed colonies were Candida albicans, Candida dubliniensis, Candida tropicalis, Candida krusei, Candida glabrata, Candida parapsilosis, Candida guilliermondii, Candida lusitaniae, and Candida kefyr. Among the species identified, C. albicans was the most frequent, followed by C. tropicalis, C. parapsilosis and C. glabrata. C. albicans was more prevalent in group 2 and 3, 45% and 41.2%, respectively, whereas, the most prevalent species in group 1 were C. tropicalis (27%), C. albicans and C. parapsilosis (16.2% for both). On multiple statistical models, only radiotherapic treatment was associated with positiveness to Candida. CONCLUSIONS: Diversification and major prevalence of non-albicans species were observed in irradiated patients on head and neck and this treatment is straightly associated with fungus positiveness.

Antibacterial activity of a plant extract and its potential for disinfecting gutta-percha cones.

This study evaluated the antibacterial activity of Rosmarinus officinalis extract and its potential for disinfecting guttapercha (GP) cones. In the first experiment, a hydro-alcoholic extract of Rosmarinus officinalis (leaves) in a dilution ratio of 10% m/v was tested against Enterococcus faecalis by using the disk diffusion method. Positive and negative controls were 70% cereal alcohol and antibiotics, respectively. The procedures were performed in triplicate, and the diameters of the zones of growth inhibition were measured with a caliper after 24 h at 37 degrees C. In the second experiment, the disinfection procedures were evaluated on GP cones artificially contaminated with Enterococcus faecalis. The R. officinalis extract was compared with 2% chlorhexidine digluconate and 2.5% sodium hypochlorite, using a direct exposure test (5 min treatment). Sterilized and non-disinfected cones were used as negative and positive controls, respectively. After 24 h of incubation, bacterial counts were taken. For both experiments, the data were statistically analyzed by Kruskall-Wallis and Tukey's tests (p < 0.05). The plant extract produced zones of inhibition comparable to those of tested antibiotics. Significant GP cone disinfection was verified with all disinfectant solutions, with no significant difference between them. R. officinalis extract showed bactericidal effect on Enterococcus faecalis and capacity to disinfect GP cones contamined with it.

Sealing ability of MTA-Angelus with propyleneglycol in furcal perforations.

This study evaluated the sealing ability of gray MTA-Angelus mixed with propyleneglycol in furcal perforations using a bacterial leakage test. Furcal perforations were created in 30 human mandibular molars using a size 3 round bur The samples were divided randomly into 2 experimental groups (n=10) according to the mixing agent. In G1, the MTA powder was mixed with propyleneglycol, while distilled water was used in G2. A 3:1 powder-liquid ratio was used for both groups. The MTA was placed in the perforation with an MTA carrier and condensed with hand pluggers. Non-repaired (n=5) and totally sealed (n=5) perforations served as positive and negative controls, respectively. Bacterial leakage was assessed daily for 30 days in a double-chamber apparatus with Enterococcus faecalis. Data were analyzed using Fisher exact test (p < 0.05) for three leakage periods: 1st to 10th day (P1); 11th to 20th day (P2); and 21st to 30th day (P3). The positive control presented leakage in all specimens within the first 24 hours, while no leakage was observed in the negative control during the experimental period. Leakage was observed in five (50%) of the 10 samples of the propyleneglycol group (G1) and seven (70%) of the distilled water group (G2) by the 20th day, without significant difference between the groups in periods P1 and P2 (p = 0.137). The leakage was significantly lower for G1 than G2 in period P3 (50% versus 100%, respectively, p = 0.016). In this single aerobic bacterial leakage method, the use of propyleneglycol as a vehicle for gray MTA-Angelus increased its sealing ability in furcal perforations at the end of the 30-day experimental period.

Sealing ability of MTA-Angelus with propyleneglycol in furcal perforations

This study evaluated the sealing ability of gray MTA-Angelus mixed with propyleneglycol in furcal perforations using a bacterial leakage test. Furcal perforations were created in 30 human mandibular molars using a size 3 round bur. The samples were divided randomly into 2 experimental groups (n=10) according to the mixing agent. In G1, the MTA powder was mixed with propyleneglycol, while distilled water was used in G2. A 3:1 powder-liquid ratio was used for both groups. The MTA was placed in the perforation with an MTA carrier and condensed with hand pluggers. Nonrepaired (n=5) and totally sealed (n=5) perforations served as positive and negative controls, respectively. Bacterial leakage was assessed daily for 30 days in a double-chamber apparatus with Enterococcus faecalis. Data were analyzed using Fisher exact test (p<0.05) for three leakage periods: 1st to 10th day (P1); 11th to 20th day (P2); and 21st to 30th day (P3). The positive control presented leakage in all specimens within the first 24 hours, while no leakage was observed in the negative control during the experimental period. Leakage was observed in five (50%) of the 10 samples of the propyleneglycol group (G1) and seven (70%) of the distilled water group (G2) by the 20th day, without significant difference between the groups in periods P1 and P2 (p=0.137). The leakage was significantly lower for G1 than G2 in period P3 (50% versus 100%, respectively, p=0.016). In this single aerobic bacterial leakage method, the use of propyleneglycol as a vehicle for gray MTAAngelus increased its sealing ability in furcal perforations at the end of the 30-day experimental period.

Este estudo avaliou a capacidade de selamento do MTA-Angelus cinza manipulado com propilenoglicol em perfuracoes de furca usando um teste de infiltracao bacteriana. Perfuracoes de furca foram criadas em 30 molares inferiores usando uma broca esferica numero 3. As amostras foram divididas aleatoriamente em dois grupos experimentais (n=10) de acordo com o agente de manipulacao. Em G1, o po do MTA foi manipulado com propilenoglicol enquanto que a agua destilado foi utilizada no G2. A proporcao po-liquido de 3:1 foi usada para ambos os grupos. O MTA foi colocado na perfuracao com uma porta- MTA e condensado com condensadores manuais. Perfuracoes nao-reparadas (n=5) e totalmente impermeabilizadas (n=5) serviram como controle positivo e negativo, respectivamente. A infiltracao bacteriana foi verificada diariamente durante 30 dias em um aparato de dupla camara com Enterococcus faecalis. Os dados foram analisados pelo teste exato de Fisher (p<0,05) para tres periodos: 1o ao 10o dia (P1), 11o ao 20o dia (P2) e do 21o ao 30o dia (P3). O controle positivo apresentou infiltracao em todas as amostras nas primeiras 24 horas, enquanto nenhuma infiltracao foi observada no controle positivo durante o periodo experimental. Infiltracao foi observada em 5 (50%) das 10 amostras do grupo do propilenoglicol (G1) e 7 (70%) do grupo da agua destilada no 20o dia, sem diferenca significativa entre o grupos nos periodos P1 e P2 (p=0,0137). A infiltracao foi significantemente menor para G1 que para G2 no periodo P3 (50% versus 100%, respectivamente, p=0,016). Neste metodo de infiltracao de apenas uma bacteria aerobica, o uso do propilenoglicol como veiculo para o MTA-Angelus cinza aumentou sua capacidade de selamento em perfuracoes de furca no final do periodo experimental de 30 dias.