Antibacterial effects of blackberry extract target periodontopathogens.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Antimicrobial agents provide valuable adjunctive therapy for the prevention and the control of oral diseases. Limitations in their prolonged use have stimulated the search for new, naturally occurring agents with more specific activity and fewer adverse effects. Here we sought to determine the antibacterial properties of blackberry extract (BBE) in vitro against oral bacterial commensals and periodontopathogens. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The effects of whole and fractionated BBE on the metabolism of 10 different oral bacteria were evaluated using the colorimetric water-soluble tetrazolium-1 assay. The bactericidal effects of whole BBE against Fusobacterium nucleatum were determined by quantitating the numbers of colony-forming units (CFUs). Cytotoxicity was determined in oral epithelial (OKF6) cells. RESULTS: BBE at 350-1400 µg/mL reduced the metabolic activity of Porphyromonas gingivalis, F. nucleatum and Streptococcus mutans. The reduced metabolic activity observed for F. nucleatum corresponded to a reduction in the numbers of CFUs following exposure to BBE for as little as 1 h, indicative of its bactericidal properties. An anthocyanin-enriched fraction of BBE reduced the metabolic activity of F. nucleatum, but not of P. gingivalis or S. mutans, suggesting the contribution of species-specific agents in the whole BBE. Oral epithelial cell viability was not reduced following exposure to whole BBE (2.24-1400 µg/mL) for ≤ 6 h. CONCLUSION: BBE alters the metabolic activity of oral periodontopathogens while demonstrating a minimal effect on commensals. The specific antibacterial properties of BBE shown in this study, along with its previously demonstrated anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties, make this natural extract a promising target as an adjunct for prevention and/or complementary therapy of periodontal infections.

[Economical body platform for neonatal rats stereotaxic surgery]. / Plataforma economica para cirugia estereotaxica en rata neonata.

INTRODUCTION: Usually, most commercial platforms that adapt to the stereotaxic apparatus in neonatal rats or small animals, to carry out surgery are very expensive. Moreover, the operator must have certain experience in its handling. DEVELOPMENT: The present work presents two platforms, one of them made in acrylic and the other of expanded polystyrene. These adapt perfectly to conventional stereotaxic apparatus, while operator does not require a great entrainment to carry out the surgical procedure. Histological slides of the prefrontal cortex, ventral hippocampus and basolateral amygdala from adult rats (postnatal day 70), staining with cresyl violet are shown. The neonatal lesions were made at postnatal day 7 with ibotenic acid applied in the prefrontal cortex, ventral hippocampus or basolateral amygdala. CONCLUSIONS: The present data suggest that it is possible to carry out lesions or to apply drugs in neonatal rats, by using an acrylic or expanded polystyrene adaptor for the stereotaxic apparatus. These have the advantage of being economic and having a simple design. Also, the type of anesthesia used in neonatal lesion rats, is discussed.

Plataforma económica para cirugía estereotáxica en rata neonata / Economical body platform for neonatal rats sterotaxic surgery

Introducción. Usualmente, los aditamentos o plataformas comerciales que se adaptan a los aparatos estereotáxicospara realizar cirugía en ratas neonatas o animales pequeños como el ratón son muy costosos. Además, el operador debe contar con una cierta experiencia en su manejo. Desarrollo. Se describen dos nuevas plataformas, una de acrílico y otra de poliestireno expandido. Ambas plataformas se adaptan perfectamente a un aparato estereotáxico convencional y el operadorno requiere gran experiencia para efectuar dicho procedimiento quirúrgico. Se muestran cortes histológicos donde se observan las lesiones realizadas al séptimo día de edad, con ácido iboténico, por vía estereotáxica, en la corteza prefrontal, en elhipocampo ventral o en la amígdala basolateral, teñidos con violeta de cresilo, de ratas adultas (70 días de edad). Conclusiones. Los resultados sugieren que es posible realizar lesiones o aplicar sustancias por vía estereotáxica a ratas neonatas utilizandoestos dos soportes de acrílico o poliestireno expandido, que son de diseño sencillo, de fácil construcción y económicos. Adicionalmente, se revisa el tipo de anestesia utilizada en ratas neonatas

Introduction. Usually, most of commercial platforms that adapt to the stereotaxic apparatus in neonatal rats orsmall animals, to carry out surgery are very expensive. Moreover, the operator must have certain experience in its handling. Development. The present work presents two platforms, one of them made in acrylic and the other of expanded polystyrene. These adapt perfectly to conventional stereotaxic apparatus, while operator does not require a great entrainment to carry outthe surgical procedure. Histological slides of the prefrontal cortex, ventral hippocampus and basolateral amygdala from adult rats (postnatal day 70), staining with cresyl violet are shown. The neonatal lesions were made at postnatal day 7 with ibotenic acid applied in the prefrontal cortex, ventral hippocampus or basolateral amygdala. Conclusions. The present data suggest that it is possible to carry out lesions or to apply drugs in neonatal rats, by using an acrylic or expanded polystyrene adaptor for the stereotaxic apparatus. These have the advantage of being economic and having a simple design. Also, the type ofanesthesia used in neonatal lesion rats, is discussed

Effects of peripheral sympathetic denervation induced by guanethidine administration on the mechanisms regulating puberty in the female guinea pig.

The effects of peripheral sympathetic denervation induced by guanethidine administration to newborn and 10-day-old female guinea pigs on puberty, ovulation and the follicular population were analysed. Peripheral sympathetic denervation beginning at birth resulted in the loss of ovarian norepinephrine content (0.95. +/- 0.1 ng/mg wet tissue in untreated control animals vs non detectable in treated animals). Guanethidine administration to newborn or 10-day-old guinea pigs advanced puberty (age of vaginal opening: 27 +/- 1.2 days (newborn), 26 +/- 1.7 (10-day-old) vs 37 +/- 0.7 (control), P < 0.001) and ovulation. The number of corpora lutea in control and denervated animals was similar (3.5 +/- 0.2 vs 3.3 +/- 0.3). The relative weight (mg/100 g body weight) of the ovaries and adrenals in the denervated animals autopsied during the late follicular phase (24-48 h after vaginal opening) increased (ovaries: 27.8 +/- 1.3, 28.9 +/- 3.0 vs 20.9 +/- 0.8, P < 0.05; adrenals 36.4 +/- 1.4, 37.0 +/- 0.8 vs 31.6 +/- 1.5, P < 0.05), while the uterine weight diminished (179 +/- 13, 149 +/- 28 vs 292 +/- 20). When the animals were killed during the late luteal phase (9-11 days after vaginal closure), the relative weight of the ovaries of newborn guanethidine-treated animals was higher than that of the control animals (21.4 +/- 1.7 vs 16.8 +/- 1.4, P < 0.05). The mean number of follicles counted in the ovaries of denervated animals was significantly higher than in control animals (1736 +/- 230 vs 969 +/- 147, P < 0.05). The mean diameter of the follicles in the untouched control ovary in animals killed in the late follicular phase was significantly larger than from animals killed in the late luteal phase (263 +/- 3.9 microns vs 248 +/- 3.0 microns, P < 0.01). The mean diameter of the follicles measured in the ovaries of denervated animals was significantly higher than in controls (animals treated from birth 274 +/- 2.0 microns vs 255 +/- 2.4, P < 0.05; animals treated from day 10, 286 +/- 2.3 microns vs 257 +/- 2.3, P < 0.05). When the mean diameter of the follicles in the left and right ovary of the untouched control was analysed, the follicular diameter in the left ovary was significantly larger than in the right ovary (309 +/- 6.0 microns vs 214 +/- 3.9, P < 0.01); the response of the left and right ovaries to sympathetic denervation was the opposite. The results obtained in the present study suggest that ovarian innervation plays a role in the regulation of follicular growth, maturation and atresia which is not related to changes in steroid secretion by the ovary, but to other regulatory mechanisms.

[Phenomena and syndrome of subclavian steal. Two cases]. / Fenómeno y síndrome del robo de la subclavia. A propósito de dos casos.

INTRODUCTION: The phenomenon of subclavian steal is a frequent haemodynamic phenomenon which rarely causes symptoms in the vertebrobasilar territory. When this does occur, it is known as the subclavian steal syndrome. CLINICAL CASES: We describe two patients with the syndrome of left subclavian steal diagnosed by doppler. In one of them, symptoms appeared after exercise of the left arm. Various aspects of the syndrome are discussed in relation to diagnosis and indications for treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The subclavian steal syndrome is a condition which can be reliably diagnosed using doppler and the treatment of which should be decided individually in each case.

Intestinal obstruction and bezoars.

BACKGROUND: Bezoars are large conglomerates of vegetable fibers, hairs, or concretions of various substances located in the stomach or small intestine of humans and certain animals, mainly ruminants. Gastrointestinal bezoars have constituted a relatively common clinical reality ever since the introduction of truncal vagotomy associated with drainage or gastric resection in the treatment of gastroduodenal peptic ulcer. STUDY DESIGN: This study presents a series of 87 cases of intestinal bezoar treated in our department of general surgery. Analysis was made of data obtained retrospectively from clinical histories, together with a clinical and endoscopic review of the patients. RESULTS: Most of the patients had had previous operative treatment (76.3 percent), the most commonly used technique being bilateral truncal vagotomy plus pyloroplasty (75.8 percent). An excessive intake of vegetable fiber was revealed in 39.5 percent of the cases, and alterations in dentition and mastication in 24 percent. Operative treatment was used in all patients. We attempted to fragment the bezoar and milk it to the cecum. Enterotomy and bezoar extraction were reserved for cases where fragmentation was impossible, as enterotomy was associated with more complications (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Bilateral truncal vagotomy plus pyloroplasty and a excessive ingestion of vegetable fiber are the main factors predisposing to bezoar formation. Clinically, intestinal bezoars manifest themselves in most cases as complete intestinal obstruction. Simple roentgenography of the abdomen is the fundamental technique for diagnosing the occlusive syndrome. Treatment must be operative, during which the bezoar is fragmented and milked to the cecum. The stomach must be explored for associated bezoars.

Gastrointestinal bezoars.

Of 99 patients with 117 gastrointestinal bezoars, 69 had undergone previous surgery, the most common operation being bilateral truncal vagotomy with pyloroplasty (55 patients). An excessive intake of vegetable fibre was found in 38 patients and poor mastication in 27. Thirty bezoars presented with gastric symptoms and patients had endoscopy as the diagnostic technique; 87 caused symptoms of intestinal obstruction with the diagnosis made by plain abdominal radiography. Medical treatment by enzymic or endoscopic fragmentation was used for 17 of 30 gastric bezoars; surgery was required in the remainder. Intestinal bezoars causing obstruction can be fragmented and 'milked' to the caecum. The stomach should be explored for associated gastric bezoars.

Gastric surgery and bezoars.

We present a series of 56 patients with gastrointestinal bezoar following previous gastric surgery for gastroduodenal peptic ulcer. The following parameters were studied: factors predisposing to bezoar formation (type of previous surgery, alimentation, and mastication), form of clinical presentation, diagnostic tests, and treatment. A bilateral truncal vagotomy plus pyloroplasty had been performed previously on 84% of patients, 44% revealed excessive intake of vegetable fiber, and 30% presented with bad dentition. The most frequent clinical presentation was intestinal obstruction (80%). This was diagnosed mainly by clinical data and simple abdominal radiology. The main exploratory technique for diagnosing cases of gastric bezoar was endoscopy. Surgery is necessary for treating the intestinal forms, and one should always attempt to fragment the bezoar and milk it to the cecum, reserving enterotomy and extraction for cases where this is not possible. The small intestine and stomach should always be explored for retained bezoars. Gastric bezoars should always receive conservative treatment, endoscopic extraction, and/or enzymatic dissolution; gastrotomy and extraction should be performed when this fails.