The "Race for the Surface" experimentally studied: In vitro assessment of Staphylococcus spp. adhesion and preosteoblastic cells integration to doped Ti-6Al-4V alloys.

OBJECTIVE: Implant-related infection is a devastating complication in orthopedic surgery. Aiming to minimize this problem, many material modifications have been developed. Here we report a study of a surface modification of Ti-6 Al-4 V alloy using a methodology that enables the study of interactions between bacteria and the material in the presence of eukaryotic cells. METHODS: We mixed different concentrations of collection or clinical strains of staphylococci isolated from implant-related infections with preosteoblastic cells using a previously published methodology, analyzing the minimal concentration of bacteria able to colonize the surface of the material through image analysis. Ti-6 Al-4 V alloy was modified by anodization to obtain two F-doped nanostructured surfaces that have been previously described to have antibacterial properties. RESULTS: Our results show similar bacterial adhesion results to nanoporous and nanotubular F-doped surfaces. The presence of preosteoblastic cells increases the adherence of all bacterial strains to both structures. No effect of the surface on eukaryotic cells adherence was detected. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first time that anin vitro study emulating the race for the surface evaluates and compares the osseointegration and antibacterial properties between two nanostructured- modified titanium alloy surfaces. Clinical strains show different behavior from collection ones in bacterial adherence. The presence of cells increased bacterial adherence. NP and NT surface modifications didn´t show significant differences in bacterial adhesion and preosteoblastic cells integration.

The path of electron transfer to nitrogenase in a phototrophic alpha-proteobacterium.

The phototrophic alpha-proteobacterium, Rhodopseudomonas palustris, is a model for studies of regulatory and physiological parameters that control the activity of nitrogenase. This enzyme produces the energy-rich compound H2 , in addition to converting N2 gas to NH3 . Nitrogenase is an ATP-requiring enzyme that uses large amounts of reducing power, but the electron transfer pathway to nitrogenase in R. palustris was incompletely known. Here, we show that the ferredoxin, Fer1, is the primary but not sole electron carrier protein encoded by R. palustris that serves as an electron donor to nitrogenase. A flavodoxin, FldA, is also an important electron donor, especially under iron limitation. We present a model where the electron bifurcating complex, FixABCX, can reduce both ferredoxin and flavodoxin to transfer electrons to nitrogenase, and we present bioinformatic evidence that FixABCX and Fer1 form a conserved electron transfer pathway to nitrogenase in nitrogen-fixing proteobacteria. These results may be useful in the design of strategies to reroute electrons generated during metabolism of organic compounds to nitrogenase to achieve maximal activity.

Detection of Polyclonality among Clinical Isolates from Prosthetic Joint Infections.

Prosthetic joint infection (PJI) is an increasingly important health concern in the Western world due to the rising number of joint arthroplasties. Although most infections are considered to be monomicrobial, the introduction of sonication procedures has led to an increase in the detection of polymicrobial infections. To date, no published studies have investigated the presence of different clones of the same species in the infected patient. The objective of this study was to analyze whether the phenomenon of polyclonality, or the appearance of different clones in the same sample, occurs in PJI. Bacteria isolated by sonication of the retrieved implant from patients with theoretically monomicrobial PJI were included in the study. Two techniques (random amplified polymorphic DNA [RAPD] and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight [MALDI-TOF] mass spectrometry) were used to determine the presence of several clones in the same sample. Results were analyzed to determine bacterial species and infection type (acute versus chronic). RAPD showed a predominance of polyclonal cases (16 of 19). However, when performing the analysis with MALDI-TOF, all cases were shown to be polyclonal. We were unable to establish any relationship between the two methodologies. Polyclonality is a common phenomenon in acute and chronic PJI. Further studies are needed to establish the potential implications of this phenomenon on patient outcomes.

Kingella kingae keratitis.

We present the first two cases of Kingella kingae keratitis in adults. This species is a rare isolate from ophthalmic samples for which final identification was obtained with matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry. One of the patients recovered uneventfully with topical therapy. Results from the second patient cannot be confirmed as he was lost to follow-up.

Comportamiento epidemiológico de la estomatitis aftosa recurrente en pacientes del Instituto Superior de Medicina Militar "Dr. Luis Díaz Soto", 2007 / Epidemiologic behavior of the recurrent aphthous stomatitis present in patients from Dr Luis Díaz Soto Higher Institute of Military Medicine, 2007

La estomatitis aftosa recurrente es una forma de ulceración que afecta la mucosa bucal, de presentación frecuente, que se caracteriza por la aparición de una o varias úlceras dolorosas, variable en forma, tamaño y número; las lesiones se repiten periódicamente. Cura en pocos días, semanas o meses, en dependencia de los factores de riesgo que la desencadenaron; para su tratamiento se han ensayado una gran cantidad de terapias, pero sin resolver el problema subyacente. Con el objetivo de evaluar el comportamiento epidemiológico de la estomatitis aftosa recurrente en pacientes atendidos en el Instituto Superior de Medicina Militar Dr Luis Díaz Soto en el período de junio de 2006 hasta febrero de 2007, se realizó un estudio descriptivo de corte transversal a 97 pacientes, de uno y otro sexo con diagnóstico de estomatitis aftosa recurrente. Se tuvieron en cuenta los grupos de edades a partir de 15 hasta 60 años y más. Se evaluaron las variables: sexo, edad, forma clínica de la lesión, posibles factores de riesgo y tratamiento indicado. Se confeccionó una base de datos informatizado; para comprobar la relación entre las variables se utilizó la prueba chi cuadrado y se aplicó el valor porcentual. Desde el inicio del estudio se tuvieron en cuenta las consideraciones éticas que deben regir toda investigación. La mayoría de los individuos encuestados presentaron la forma menor de la enfermedad; solo el 6,2 y el 4,2 por ciento padecieron la forma mayor y herpetiforme, respectivamente; la mayor afectación ocurrió en los individuos más jóvenes y en el sexo femenino; la terapia combinada fue la que más se aplicó en los pacientes, seguida de las diferentes técnicas de tratamientos alternativos; se usó únicamente el tratamiento convencional en muy pocos casos.

Recurrent aphthous stomatitis is a way of ulceration affecting buccal mucosa, has a frequent presentation characterizing appearance of one or some painful ulcers, with a variable size, number and way, lesions are periodically repeated. It is recovery in days, weeks or months, depending of risk factors triggering it. For treatment of this condition we assayed many therapies but without solution of underlying problem. The aim of present paper is to assess the epidemiologic behavior of recurrent stomatitis in patients seen in Dr. Luís Díaz Soto Higher Institute of Military Medicine from June 2006 to February 2007. We made a cross-sectional and descriptive study in 97 patients of both sexes diagnosed with this condition. We took into account age groups aged from 15 up to 60 or more. We assessed the following variables: sex, age, clinical presentation of lesion, possible risk factors and treatment prescribed. An information database was created; to verify relation among variables we used Chi2 test and percentage value was applied. From the beginning of study we took into account the ethical considerations that must to determine a research. Most of surveyed individuals had the lower way of disease, only the 6,2 and the 4,2 percent suffered from the great way and the herpertiform type, respectively; the greatest affection was present in younger individuals and in female sex; combined therapy was the more used in patients, followed by different techniques of alternative treatments; we used only the conventional treatment in very few cases.

Comportamiento epidemiológico de la estomatitis aftosa recurrente en pacientes del Instituto Superior de Medicina Militar "Dr. Luis Díaz Soto", 2007 / Epidemiologic behavior of the recurrent aphthous stomatitis present in patients from Dr Luis Díaz Soto Higher Institute of Military Medicine, 2007

La estomatitis aftosa recurrente es una forma de ulceración que afecta la mucosa bucal, de presentación frecuente, que se caracteriza por la aparición de una o varias úlceras dolorosas, variable en forma, tamaño y número; las lesiones se repiten periódicamente. Cura en pocos días, semanas o meses, en dependencia de los factores de riesgo que la desencadenaron; para su tratamiento se han ensayado una gran cantidad de terapias, pero sin resolver el problema subyacente. Con el objetivo de evaluar el comportamiento epidemiológico de la estomatitis aftosa recurrente en pacientes atendidos en el Instituto Superior de Medicina Militar Dr Luis Díaz Soto en el período de junio de 2006 hasta febrero de 2007, se realizó un estudio descriptivo de corte transversal a 97 pacientes, de uno y otro sexo con diagnóstico de estomatitis aftosa recurrente. Se tuvieron en cuenta los grupos de edades a partir de 15 hasta 60 años y más. Se evaluaron las variables: sexo, edad, forma clínica de la lesión, posibles factores de riesgo y tratamiento indicado. Se confeccionó una base de datos informatizado; para comprobar la relación entre las variables se utilizó la prueba chi cuadrado y se aplicó el valor porcentual. Desde el inicio del estudio se tuvieron en cuenta las consideraciones éticas que deben regir toda investigación. La mayoría de los individuos encuestados presentaron la forma menor de la enfermedad; solo el 6,2 y el 4,2 por ciento padecieron la forma mayor y herpetiforme, respectivamente; la mayor afectación ocurrió en los individuos más jóvenes y en el sexo femenino; la terapia combinada fue la que más se aplicó en los pacientes, seguida de las diferentes técnicas de tratamientos alternativos; se usó únicamente el tratamiento convencional en muy pocos casos(AU)

Recurrent aphthous stomatitis is a way of ulceration affecting buccal mucosa, has a frequent presentation characterizing appearance of one or some painful ulcers, with a variable size, number and way, lesions are periodically repeated. It is recovery in days, weeks or months, depending of risk factors triggering it. For treatment of this condition we assayed many therapies but without solution of underlying problem. The aim of present paper is to assess the epidemiologic behavior of recurrent stomatitis in patients seen in Dr. Luís Díaz Soto Higher Institute of Military Medicine from June 2006 to February 2007. We made a cross-sectional and descriptive study in 97 patients of both sexes diagnosed with this condition. We took into account age groups aged from 15 up to 60 or more. We assessed the following variables: sex, age, clinical presentation of lesion, possible risk factors and treatment prescribed. An information database was created; to verify relation among variables we used Chi2 test and percentage value was applied. From the beginning of study we took into account the ethical considerations that must to determine a research. Most of surveyed individuals had the lower way of disease, only the 6,2 and the 4,2 percent suffered from the great way and the herpertiform type, respectively; the greatest affection was present in younger individuals and in female sex; combined therapy was the more used in patients, followed by different techniques of alternative treatments; we used only the conventional treatment in very few cases(AU)

Estomatología: la atención en el paciente geriátrico / Stomatology: attention to the geriatric patient

Los cubanos de la tercera edad han disfrutado durante cuatro décadas de atención estomatológica sistemática y gratuita, por lo que, en general, son cada vez más los que llegan a esta etapa de la vida con dientes. Este trabajo refiere una labora asistencial destinada a esa población

Pérdida ósea en dientes con periodontitis, sobrecargas e interferencias oclusales / Bone loss in dental pariodontitis, overloads and occlusal interferences

Se realizó un estudio en 102 dientes con periodontitis, sobrecargas e interferencias oclusales para determinar el comportamiento del hueso alveolar. Al realizar las intervenciones quirúrgicas se clasificaron las pérdidas óseas en pérdida ósea horizontal, pérdida ósea vertical; esta última fue clasificada según su morfología y número de paredes óseas en cráter, hemiotabique, margen incompatible y defecto óseo de una, dos y tres paredes óseas, respectivamente. La pérdida ósea horizontal fue la más frecuente (77,5 %) y se comportó de forma similar en el maxilar y en la mandíbula. La pérdida ósea vertical se registró en el 22,5 %de la muestra con una frecuencia mayor en el maxilar que en la mandíbula. El defecto óseo de dos paredes se registró en un número mayor de dientes

Pérdida ósea en dientes con periodontitis, sobrecargas e interferencias oclusales / Bone loss in dental pariodontitis, overloads and occlusal interferences

Se realizó un estudio en 102 dientes con periodontitis, sobrecargas e interferencias oclusales para determinar el comportamiento del hueso alveolar. Al realizar las intervenciones quirúrgicas se clasificaron las pérdidas óseas en pérdida ósea horizontal, pérdida ósea vertical; esta última fue clasificada según su morfología y número de paredes óseas en cráter, hemiotabique, margen incompatible y defecto óseo de una, dos y tres paredes óseas, respectivamente. La pérdida ósea horizontal fue la más frecuente (77,5

) y se comportó de forma similar en el maxilar y en la mandíbula. La pérdida ósea vertical se registró en el 22,5

de la muestra con una frecuencia mayor en el maxilar que en la mandíbula. El defecto óseo de dos paredes se registró en un número mayor de dientes