Effect of Lactobacillus species on Streptococcus mutans biofilm formation.

Streptococcus mutans is the primary pathogen responsible for initiating dental caries and decay. The presence of sucrose, stimulates S. mutans to produce insoluble glucans to form oral biofilm also known as dental plaque to initiate caries lesion. The GtfB and LuxS genes of S. mutans are responsible for formation and maturation of biofilm. Lactobacillus species as probiotic can reduces the count of S. mutans. In this study effect of different Lactobacillus species against the formation of S. mutans biofilm was observed. Growing biofilm in the presence of sucrose was detected using 96 well microtiter plate crystal violet assay and biofilm formation by S. mutans in the presence of Lactobacillus was detected. Gene expression of biofilm forming genes (GtfB and LuxS) was quantified through Real-time PCR. All strains of Lactobacillus potently reduced the formation of S. mutans biofilm whereas Lactobacillus acidophilus reduced the genetic expression by 60-80%. Therefore, probiotic Lactobacillus species can be used as an alternative instead of antibiotics to decrease the chance of dental caries by reducing the count of S. mutans and their gene expression to maintain good oral health.

Occurrence of macroprolactinemia in schizophrenia patients treated with risperidone or amisulpride.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate macroprolactinemia caused by antipsychotics and its clinical significance. METHODS: A total of 133 patients with schizophrenia were selected, all of whom were treated with either risperidone or amisulpride alone. The levels of total prolactin (T-PRL) and macroprolactin (MPRL) were measured before treatment as well as the second, fourth, and sixth weeks of treatment. RESULTS: After 2 weeks of treatment, 75.09% (100/133) of the patients met the diagnostic criteria for hyperprolactinemia, the incidence of macroprolactinemia was 43% (43/100), and MPRL levels were positively correlated T-PRL levels. CONCLUSION: Risperidone and amisulpride caused hyperprolactinemia and macroprolactinemia; thus, detection of MPRL in the clinical setting should be performed as this phenomenon appears early in treatment (the second week) and continues, that can avoid unnecessary examination and treatment for asymptomatic patients with macroprolactinemia.

The impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on tuberculosis control in China.

BACKGROUND: In response to the COVID-19 epidemic, China implemented a series of interventions that impacted tuberculosis (TB) control in the country. METHODS: Based on routine surveillance data and questionnaires, the study analyzed TB notification, follow-up examinations, and treatment outcomes. The data were split into three phases in relation to outbreak, lockdown and reopen when the nationwide COVID-19 response started in 2020: control (11 weeks prior), intensive (11 weeks during and immediately after), and regular (4 additional weeks). Data from 2017-2019 were used as baseline. FINDINGS: The notified number of TB patients decreased sharply in the 1st week of the intensive period but took significantly longer to rebound in 2020 compared with baseline. The percentages of TB patients undergoing sputum examination within one week after 2 months treatment and full treatment course in the intensive period were most affected and decreased by 8% in comparison with control period. 75•2% (221/294) of counties reallocated CDC and primary health care workers to fight the COVID-19 epidemic, 26•9% (725/2694) of TB patients had postponed or missed their follow-up examinations due to travel restrictions and fear of contracting COVID-19. INTERPRETATION: In the short term, the COVID-19 epidemic mostly affected TB notification and follow-up examinations in China, which may lead to a surge of demand for TB services in the near future. To cope with this future challenge, an emergency response mechanism for TB should be established. FUNDING: National Health Commission of China-Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation TB Collaboration project (OPP1137180).

A functional SNP associated with atopic dermatitis controls cell type-specific methylation of the VSTM1 gene locus.

BACKGROUND: Expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) databases represent a valuable resource to link disease-associated SNPs to specific candidate genes whose gene expression is significantly modulated by the SNP under investigation. We previously identified signal inhibitory receptor on leukocytes-1 (SIRL-1) as a powerful regulator of human innate immune cell function. While it is constitutively high expressed on neutrophils, on monocytes the SIRL-1 surface expression varies strongly between individuals. The underlying mechanism of regulation, its genetic control as well as potential clinical implications had not been explored yet. METHODS: Whole blood eQTL data of a Chinese cohort was used to identify SNPs regulating the expression of VSTM1, the gene encoding SIRL-1. The genotype effect was validated by flow cytometry (cell surface expression), correlated with electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA), chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and bisulfite sequencing (C-methylation) and its functional impact studied the inhibition of reactive oxygen species (ROS). RESULTS: We found a significant association of a single CpG-SNP, rs612529T/C, located in the promoter of VSTM1. Through flow cytometry analysis we confirmed that primarily in the monocytes the protein level of SIRL-1 is strongly associated with genotype of this SNP. In monocytes, the T allele of this SNP facilitates binding of the transcription factors YY1 and PU.1, of which the latter has been recently shown to act as docking site for modifiers of DNA methylation. In line with this notion rs612529T associates with a complete demethylation of the VSTM1 promoter correlating with the allele-specific upregulation of SIRL-1 expression. In monocytes, this upregulation strongly impacts the IgA-induced production of ROS by these cells. Through targeted association analysis we found a significant Meta P value of 1.14 × 10-6 for rs612529 for association to atopic dermatitis (AD). CONCLUSION: Low expression of SIRL-1 on monocytes is associated with an increased risk for the manifestation of an inflammatory skin disease. It thus underlines the role of both the cell subset and this inhibitory immune receptor in maintaining immune homeostasis in the skin. Notably, the genetic regulation is achieved by a single CpG-SNP, which controls the overall methylation state of the promoter gene segment.

Botulinum toxin-A with and without rehabilitation for the treatment of spastic cerebral palsy.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of botulinum toxin-A (BTX-A) nerve block, with and without rehabilitation, in the treatment of spastic cerebral palsy. METHODS: Patients (aged 1-23 years) with spastic cerebral palsy underwent nerve block with BTX-A, followed by ≥ 2 h/day rehabilitation (experimental group) or <2 h/day rehabilitation (control group). Muscle tension and motor function were evaluated pre-block using the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) and gross motor function measure (GMFM), respectively. MAS was assessed weekly to determine duration of action of BTX-A; GMFM was assessed at 1 year post-block. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the experimental group (n = 120) and the control group (n = 124) in age, body weight, pre-block MAS or GMFM, or BTX-A duration of action. MAS was significantly improved in both groups at 1 month post-block. At 1 year post-block, GMFM was significantly improved in both groups, with a significantly greater improvement seen in the experimental group compared with the control group. CONCLUSION: BTX-A block improved muscle tension and motor function. Rehabilitation training, following the block, resulted in greater improvements to motor function than block alone.