Strengthening the relationship between intractable plantar keratosis and human papillomavirus.

The aim of the study was to determine the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) in patients with intractable plantar keratosis (IPK) by comparing the histopathological findings of biopsies. A prospective, observational, and concordance study was carried out. Three different specimens were taken from each IPK. A first punch was sent for histopathological examination, and a second punch and a superficial skin scraping were both sent for HPV  polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and type determination. A total of 51 patients were included. From the histopathological examination, it was determined that 35 (68.6%) samples were diagnosed as warts and 16 (31.3%) as keratosis. However, the presence of HPV was confirmed by PCR in 49 (96.1%) and in 42 (82.4%) samples obtained by punch and superficial scraping, respectively. In the 49 PCR-positive samples, the most common HPV types were HPV1, HPV2, HPV27, HPV57, and HPV65, accounting for 81.6% of the samples. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that HPV infection and IPK lesions are very closely related. Although we cannot confirm that HPV is the cause of the development of IPK, the high prevalence of HPV observed in these lesions calls for a change to the procedures for managing IPK.

A new biocompatible and antibacterial phosphate free glass-ceramic for medical applications.

In the attempt to find valid alternatives to classic antibiotics and in view of current limitations in the efficacy of antimicrobial-coated or loaded biomaterials, this work is focused on the development of a new glass-ceramic with antibacterial performance together with safe biocompatibility. This bactericidal glass-ceramic composed of combeite and nepheline crystals in a residual glassy matrix has been obtained using an antimicrobial soda-lime glass as a precursor. Its inhibitory effects on bacterial growth and biofilm formation were proved against five biofilm-producing reference strains. The biocompatibility tests by using mesenchymal stem cells derived from human bone indicate an excellent biocompatibility.

Urine bactericidal activity against resistant Escherichia coli in an in vitro pharmacodynamic model simulating urine concentrations obtained after 2000/125 mg sustained-release co-amoxiclav and 400 mg norfloxacin administration.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the urine bactericidal activity of co-amoxiclav and norfloxacin against Escherichia coli in an in vitro pharmacodynamic model simulating the human urinary concentrations observed after administration of a single oral dose of 2000/125 mg sustained-release co-amoxiclav and 400 mg norfloxacin. METHODS: Six E. coli isolates exhibiting amoxicillin/clavulanic acid MICs of 4/2 (two strains), 8/4, 16/8, 32/16 and 64/32 mg/L and norfloxacin MICs of < or =0.25 mg/L (three strains), 32, 64 and 256 mg/L were used. Colony counts were determined over 12 h and differences between the bacterial counts of initial inocula and the bacterial counts at each sampling time-point were calculated. RESULTS: With co-amoxiclav, bactericidal activity (>3 log(10) reduction) was obtained against the susceptible (MIC < or = 8/4 mg/L) and intermediate (MIC = 16/8 mg/L) strains from 3 to 12 h, and from 3 to 10 h against the resistant strains (MIC > or = 32/16 mg/L), which exhibited a 2 log(10) reduction at 12 h. With norfloxacin, bactericidal activity was obtained against the susceptible strains from 4 to 12 h and from 8 to 12 h against the resistant strain with an MIC of 32 mg/L. Regrowth, with respect to initial inocula, occurred from 8 h onwards with the strain with MIC = 64 mg/L and from 3 h onwards with the strain with MIC = 256 mg/L. CONCLUSIONS: While regrowth occurs after exposure of high norfloxacin-resistant E. coli to urine physiological concentrations of norfloxacin, this study suggests that clavulanic acid can be given twice daily (to protect amoxicillin activity) with respect to uncomplicated cystitis due to E. coli exhibiting amoxicillin/clavulanic acid MICs up to 64/32 mg/L.