Antibacterial Effect of Hypochlorous Acid on Bacteria Associated with the Formation of Periodontal Biofilms: An in vitro Pilot Study

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the antibacterial effect of electrolytically generated hypochlorous acid on Streptococcus gordonii, Fusobacterium nucleatum, and Porphyromonas gingivalis. Material and Methods: In this in vitro experiment, the effect of hypochlorous acid (HOCl) on the strains S. gordonii, F. nucleatum, and P. gingivalis was evaluated using 4% sodium hypochlorite, 0.12% chlorhexidine, and distilled water as controls. The four groups were placed on each plate, and each group was replicated five times. The agar diffusion method by zones measurement was used. The data were processed with SPSS using the Kruskal-Wallis test and multiple comparison tests. Results: Hypochlorous acid showed an average inhibition halo of 9.28 mm on S. gordonii. As expected with distilled water, no zone of inhibition was noted for any of the bacteria, nor were zones of inhibition observed with HOCl for F. nucleatum and P. gingivalis. Conclusion: Hypochlorous acid showed antimicrobial properties against only S. gordonii and was less effective than 4% sodium hypochlorite and 0.12% chlorhexidine, although no significant differences were found between the latter.

Research policies and scientific production: A study of 94 Peruvian universities.

Studies of research policies and scientific production are essential for strengthening educational systems and achieving objectives such as quality improvement. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of research policies on the scientific production of public and private Peruvian universities. An observational, descriptive, secondary analysis study of the research policies of 92 universities and two graduate schools licensed by the National Superintendence of Higher Education of Peru (SUNEDU) was conducted for the period from 2016-2020. Scientific publications from educational institutions were collected from Scopus and Web of Science for the study period, and researchers certified by the National Council of Science and Technology of Peru (CONCYTEC) were divided by group and level. Multiple regression analysis was performed using two models. The analysis indicated that research policies did not influence scientific production in Scopus or Web of Science in either 2019 or 2020 (Model I) but that type of management (p < 0.01), number of National Scientific, Technological, and Technological Innovation Registry (RENACYT) researchers (p < 0.001) and 2016 scientific production (p < 0.001) did influence production when these variables were incorporated into the model (Model II). However, time of licensing and management type had no effects. The number of research policies implemented by Peruvian universities and licensed graduate schools was not large. Therefore, it is recommended that project funding policies, research training, and research collaboration be strengthened and that the management capacity of research centers and institutes be increased.

Chemical Composition and Antibacterial Effect of Plantago Major Extract on Periodontal Pathogens

Abstract Objective: To determine the in vitro antibacterial effect of different concentrations of the ethanol extract of Plantago major (plantain) on Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum. Material and Methods: Bacterial susceptibility tests were used in conjunction with the agar diffusion test and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) test using the broth macrodilution technique. Results: Different concentrations of ethanol extract (25%, 50%, 75% and 100%) dissolved in 70% ethanol were used, with a positive control (0.12% chlorhexidine + 0.05% cetyl-pyridinium chloride) and a negative control (70% alcohol). The extracts at 75% and 100% showed inhibition halos against both strains studied. With 0.12% chlorhexidine + 0.05% cetyl-pyridinium chloride, inhibition halos averaged 14.9 mm, in contrast to 70º alcohol, where no bacterial inhibition was observed. The MIC was 50% for both species. Conclusion: The ethanol extract of Plantago major presents an in vitro antibacterial effect on Porphyromonas gingivalis, they may have potential applications in food and pharmaceutical products.

Prevalencia de portadores asintomáticos de streptococcus pyogenes y streptococcus pneumoniae en estudiantes del primer año de la Facultad de Odontología USMP, agosto 2009 / Prevalence of asymptomatic carriers of Streptococcus pyogenes and Streptococcus pneumoniae in San Martín de Porres University Dentistry Students

Objetivo: Determinar la prevalencia de portadores asintomáticos de Streptococcus pyogenes y Streptococcus pneumoniae en estudiantes de Odontología de la Universidad San Martin de Porres. Material y Método: Se tomaron 64 muestras mediante hisopado faríngeo las que fueron sembradas en Agar sangre de carnero con gentamicina para aislamiento de la flora alfa hemolítica y con sulfametoxazol para los beta hemolíticos, las que fueron incubadas a 35 grados C por 48 horas. Posteriomente se realizaron pruebas de sensibilidad con optoquina y bacitracina para detectar Streptococcus pneumoniae y Streptococcus pyogenes, respectivamente. Adicionalmente se realizó la prueba de solubilidad en bilis con las cepas alfa hemolíticas para verificar la presencia de neumococos. Resultados: De la muestra estudiada, el 48,43% correspondió a portadores de Streptococcus pneumoniae, alcanzando el sexo femenino un mayor porcentaje (64,51%) mientras que el 6,25% de la muestra fue portador de Streptococcus pyogenes, en el cual también predominó el sexo femenino con un 75%.Conclusiones: La prevalencia de portación asintomática de Streptococcus pneumoniae fue de 48,43% y de Streptococcus pyogenes de 6,25% en los estudiantes, valor significativo que indica el riesgo de presentar las infecciones asociadas a estas especies o de transmitirlas a personas inmunocomprometidas.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of asymptomatic carriers of Streptococcus pyogenes and Streptococcus pneumoniae in San Martin de Porres Universitys dentistry students. Materials and Methods: Sixty four samples were taken using a pharyngeal swab; they were cultured in sheep blood agar with gentamicine in order to isolate alpha hemolytic bacteria and with sulfamethoxazole in order to isolate beta hemolytic bacteria. These were incubated at 35 grados C for 48hrs. Subsequently, optoquin and bacitracine tests were used to detect Streptococcus pneumoniae and Streptococcus pyogenes respectively. Additionally, the bile solubility test was performed for alpha hemolytic strains to verify the presence of pneumococcus. Results: Of the studied sample, 48.43% corresponded to carriers of Streptococcus pneumoniae, reaching the female sex a major percentage (64.51 %) than the masculine sex. Another 6.25% of the sample was a carrier of Streptococcus pyogenes in which also the female sex predominated with 75 % of the positive results. Conclusions: The prevalence of Streptococcus pneumoniae carrier state was 48.43 % and of Streptococcus pyogenes 6.25 % in the students. This significant value indicates a risk of presenting infections associated with these species or of infecting immunocompromised individuals.