Colchicine reduces the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome in COVID-19 patients.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether colchicine treatment was associated with the inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome activation in patients with COVID-19. METHODS: We present a post hoc analysis from a double-blinded placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial (RCT) on the effect of colchicine for the treatment of COVID-19. Serum levels of NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome products-active caspase-1 (Casp1p20), IL-1ß, and IL-18-were assessed at enrollment and after 48-72 h of treatment in patients receiving standard-of-care (SOC) plus placebo vs. those receiving SOC plus colchicine. The colchicine regimen was 0.5 mg tid for 5 days, followed by 0.5 mg bid for another 5 days. RESULTS: Thirty-six patients received SOC plus colchicine, and thirty-six received SOC plus placebo. Colchicine reduced the need for supplemental oxygen and the length of hospitalization. On Days 2-3, colchicine lowered the serum levels of Casp1p20 and IL-18, but not IL-1ß. CONCLUSION: Treatment with colchicine inhibited the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, an event triggering the 'cytokine storm' in COVID-19. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBERS: RBR-8jyhxh.

Sensitive vs. tolerant Nitzschia palea (Kützing) W. Smith strains to atrazine: a biochemical perspective.

Organic contaminants, and herbicides in particular, represent a risk for aquatic ecosystems. The primary target of herbicides are producers, the base of food webs, but frequently they end up far from the application point affecting non-target species. Its presence can work as sub-lethal stimulus, which sort the genetic and phenotypic differences within a species. Intraspecific variation allows adaptation to changes in the environment but also to new niches due to variations in species' sensitivity and biochemical response to a certain chemical. A better understanding of these variations can lead to the development of improved strategies for ecosystem protection. This research aimed to compare a sensitive and a tolerant strain of the freshwater diatom Nitzschia palea to atrazine. Strains were exposed to three concentrations within their tolerance range, during 96 h. The activity of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione-S-transferases and glutathione peroxidases was determined. In addition, chlorophylls a and c, carotenoids, reduced glutathione, proteins and lipid peroxidation were quantified. Both strains displayed different strategies to deal with atrazine toxicity: while the sensitive strain decreased the oxidative stress, increasing the activity of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, the tolerant strain invested in conjugation pathways and carotenoids' maintenance.

Efficacy of antimicrobial agents incorporated in orthodontic bonding systems: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

AIMS: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of orthodontic bonding systems containing different antimicrobial agents, as well as the influence of antimicrobial agent incorporation in the bonding properties of these materials. METHODS: Eight databases were searched: PubMed (Medline), Web of Science, Scopus, Lilacs, Ibecs, BBO, Scielo and Google Scholar. Any study that evaluated antimicrobial activity in experimental or commercial orthodontic bonding systems was included. DATA EXTRACTION: Data were tabulated independently and in duplicated by two authors on pre-designed data collection form. DATA SYNTHESIS: The global analysis was carried out using a random-effects model, and pooled-effect estimates were obtained by comparing the standardised mean difference of each antimicrobial orthodontic adhesive with the respective control group. A p-value < .05 was considered as statistically significant. RESULTS: Thirty-two studies were included in the qualitative analysis; of these, 22 studies were included in the meta-analysis. Antimicrobial agents such as silver nanoparticles, benzalkonium chloride, chlorhexidine, triclosan, cetylpyridinium chloride, Galla chinensis extract, acid ursolic, dimethylaminododecyl methacrylate, dimethylaminohexadecyl methacrylate, 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine, 1,3,5-triacryloylhexahydro-1,3,5-triazine, zinc oxide and titanium oxide have been incorporated into orthodontic bonding systems. The antimicrobial agent incorporation in orthodontic bonding systems showed higher antimicrobial activity than the control group in agar diffusion (overall standardised mean difference: 3.71; 95% CI 2.98 to 4.43) and optical density tests (0.41; 95% CI -0.05 to 0.86) (p < .05). However, for biofilm, the materials did not present antimicrobial activity (6.78; 95% CI 4.78 to 8.77). Regarding bond strength, the global analysis showed antimicrobial orthodontic bonding systems were statistically similar to the control. CONCLUSIONS: Although there is evidence of antibacterial activity from in vitro studies, clinical and long-term studies are still necessary to confirm the effectiveness of antibacterial orthodontic bonding systems in preventing caries disease.

Clinical, laboratory and epidemiological aspects of HPV infection in a low-income population from South Bahia, Brazil.

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors for human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in the Southern region of the State of Bahia, evaluating the performance of alternative complementary methods for cervical lesion detection. Cervical samples from women who attended healthcare units were collected and diagnosed by visual inspection, cervical cytology and nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Moreover, hemi-nested PCR was performed to detect different HPV genotypes. The prevalence of HPV infection was 47·7%, with genotype 16 detected in most cases. Infection was associated with dyspareunia and bleeding (P < 0·001, odds ratio (OR) 5·6, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2·815-11·14) and hormonal contraceptive use (P = 0·007, OR 2·33, 95% CI 1·25-4·34). There was a positive correlation between positive PCR and positive visual inspection, cervical cytology and symptoms reported. Furthermore, visual inspection was twice as specific, and had a greater positive predictive value than cytology. We showed a high prevalence of HPV infection in Southern Bahia, with HPV 16 being the most common type, and visual inspection being most effective at detecting HPV lesions, corroborating the suggestion that it can be applied in routine gynecologic examinations for low-income populations.

Periodontal treatment in patients with chronic kidney disease: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: This pilot cohort study evaluated the effect of periodontal treatment on renal function, metabolic markers and asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) in patients with pre-dialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD) presenting chronic periodontitis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-six patients with CKD and severe chronic periodontitis were selected. Periodontal parameters included plaque index, bleeding on probing, probing pocket depth and clinical attachment level. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), triglycerides, total cholesterol, albumin and ADMA levels were evaluated at baseline, 90 and 180 d after periodontal therapy. eGFR was evaluated by the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease equation. RESULTS: All periodontal clinical parameters significantly improved (p < 0.05) 180 d after periodontal therapy. There was a significant improvement on the median values (25%; 75% percentiles) of eGFR from 34.6 (27; 44.7) mL/min/1.73 m2 on baseline to 37.6 (29.7; 57) mL/min/1.73 m2 on day 90, and to 37.6 (28.6; 56) mL/min/1.73 m2 (p < 0.05) on day 180. ADMA levels significantly reduced 180 d after periodontal treatment. No significant differences were observed at the median values of metabolic markers comparing baseline and 180 d after periodontal treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The results point to a link of kidney disease with endothelium dysfunction and periodontitis, suggesting that periodontal treatment may be beneficial to the course of CKD.

Immunogenetic profiling of 23 SNPs of cytokine and chemokine receptor genes through a minisequencing technique: Design, development and validation.

The minisequencing technique offers accuracy and robustness to genotyping of polymorphic DNA variants, being an excellent option for the identification and analyses of prognostic/susceptibility markers in human diseases. Two multiplex minisequencing assays were designed and standardized to screen 23 candidate SNPs in cytokine, chemokine receptor and ligand genes previously associated with susceptibility to cancer and autoimmune disorders as well as to infectious diseases outcome. The SNPs were displayed in two separate panels (panel 1-IL2 rs2069762, TNFα rs1800629, rs361525; IL4 rs2243250; IL6 rs1800795; IL10 rs1800896, rs1800872; IL17A rs8193036, rs2275913 and panel 2-CCR3 rs309125, CCR4 rs6770096, rs2228428; CCR6 rs968334; CCR8 rs2853699; CXCR3 rs34334103, rs2280964;CXCR6 rs223435, rs2234358; CCL20 rs13034664, rs6749704; CCL22 rs4359426; CXCL10/IP-10 rs3921, rs56061981). A total of 305 DNA samples from healthy individuals were genotyped by minisequencing. To validate the minisequencing technique and to encompass the majority of the potential genotypes for all 23 SNPs, 20 of these samples were genotyped by Sanger sequencing. The results of both techniques were 100% in agreement. The technique of minisequencing showed high accuracy and robustness, avoiding the need for high quantities of DNA template samples. It was easily to be conducted in bulk samples derived from a highly admixed human population, being therefore an excellent option for immunogenetic studies.

Speckle patterns produced by an optical vortex and its application to surface roughness measurements.

In this work, we report on the analysis of speckle patterns produced by illuminating different rough surfaces with an optical vortex, a first-order (l=1) Laguerre-Gaussian beam. The generated speckle patterns were observed in the normal direction exploring four different planes: the diffraction plane, image plane, focal plane, and exact Fourier transform plane. The digital speckle patterns were analyzed using the Hurst exponent of digital images, an interesting tool used to study surface roughness. We show a proof of principle that the Hurst exponent of a digital speckle pattern is more sensitive with respect to the surface roughness when the speckle pattern is produced by an optical vortex and observed at a focal plane. We also show that Hurst exponents are not so sensitive with respect to the topological charge l. These results open news possibilities of investigation into speckle metrology once we have several techniques that use speckle patterns for different applications.

Exploring the genomic diversity of black yeasts and relatives (Chaetothyriales, Ascomycota).

The order Chaetothyriales (Pezizomycotina, Ascomycetes) harbours obligatorily melanised fungi and includes numerous etiologic agents of chromoblastomycosis, phaeohyphomycosis and other diseases of vertebrate hosts. Diseases range from mild cutaneous to fatal cerebral or disseminated infections and affect humans and cold-blooded animals globally. In addition, Chaetothyriales comprise species with aquatic, rock-inhabiting, ant-associated, and mycoparasitic life-styles, as well as species that tolerate toxic compounds, suggesting a high degree of versatile extremotolerance. To understand their biology and divergent niche occupation, we sequenced and annotated a set of 23 genomes of main the human opportunists within the Chaetothyriales as well as related environmental species. Our analyses included fungi with diverse life-styles, namely opportunistic pathogens and closely related saprobes, to identify genomic adaptations related to pathogenesis. Furthermore, ecological preferences of Chaetothyriales were analysed, in conjuncture with the order-level phylogeny based on conserved ribosomal genes. General characteristics, phylogenomic relationships, transposable elements, sex-related genes, protein family evolution, genes related to protein degradation (MEROPS), carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes), melanin synthesis and secondary metabolism were investigated and compared between species. Genome assemblies varied from 25.81 Mb (Capronia coronata) to 43.03 Mb (Cladophialophora immunda). The bantiana-clade contained the highest number of predicted genes (12 817 on average) as well as larger genomes. We found a low content of mobile elements, with DNA transposons from Tc1/Mariner superfamily being the most abundant across analysed species. Additionally, we identified a reduction of carbohydrate degrading enzymes, specifically many of the Glycosyl Hydrolase (GH) class, while most of the Pectin Lyase (PL) genes were lost in etiological agents of chromoblastomycosis and phaeohyphomycosis. An expansion was found in protein degrading peptidase enzyme families S12 (serine-type D-Ala-D-Ala carboxypeptidases) and M38 (isoaspartyl dipeptidases). Based on genomic information, a wide range of abilities of melanin biosynthesis was revealed; genes related to metabolically distinct DHN, DOPA and pyomelanin pathways were identified. The MAT (MAting Type) locus and other sex-related genes were recognized in all 23 black fungi. Members of the asexual genera Fonsecaea and Cladophialophora appear to be heterothallic with a single copy of either MAT-1-1 or MAT-1-2 in each individual. All Capronia species are homothallic as both MAT1-1 and MAT1-2 genes were found in each single genome. The genomic synteny of the MAT-locus flanking genes (SLA2-APN2-COX13) is not conserved in black fungi as is commonly observed in Eurotiomycetes, indicating a unique genomic context for MAT in those species. The heterokaryon (het) genes expansion associated with the low selective pressure at the MAT-locus suggests that a parasexual cycle may play an important role in generating diversity among those fungi.

Molecular prevalence of Merkel cell polyomavirus in nonmelanoma skin cancer in a Brazilian population.

BACKGROUND: Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV), a newly described oncogenic virus, has been found in association with tumours other than Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). As yet, little is known about the involvement or influence of MCPyV on the development of these tumours and its prevalence in various populations. AIM: To assess the prevalence of MCPyV DNA in cases of nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC). METHODS: The prevalence of MCPyV DNA was assessed in 96 cases of NMSC in a Brazilian population comprising 76 subjects, and these results were correlated with epidemiological and demographical data. RESULTS: MCPyV DNA was detected in 23 of 69 (33.3%) basal cell carcinomas, in 2 of 11 (18%) squamous cell carcinomas, 2 of 4 Bowen disease case, 0 of 1 MCC and 4 of 11 other skin disorders. CONCLUSION: Despite the frequent detection of MCPyV DNA in NMSC, its possible role in the development of NMSC still needs further investigation.

Influence of Cone-Beam Computed Tomography filters on diagnosis of simulated endodontic complications.

AIM: To evaluate the influence of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) filters on diagnosis of simulated endodontic complications. METHODOLOGY: Sixteen human teeth, in three mandibles, were submitted to the following simulated endodontic complications: (G1) fractured file, (G2) perforations in the canal walls, (G3) deviated cast post, and (G4) external root resorption. The mandibles were submitted to CBCT examination (I-Cat® Next Generation). Five oral radiologists evaluated the images independently with and without XoranCat® software filters. Accuracy, sensitivity and specificity were determined. ROC curves were calculated for each group with the filters, and the areas under the curves were compared using anova (one-way) test. McNemar test was applied for pair-wise agreement between all images versus the gold standard and original images versus images with filters (P < 0.05). RESULTS: G1 was the most difficult endodontic complication to diagnosis, followed by G2, G4 and G3. There were no differences between areas under the ROC curves for the filters in all groups; however, Sharpen Super Mild filter had the best results for G1 (0.47), Angio Sharpen Low 3 × 3 for G2 (0.93), Angio Sharpen Low 3 × 3, S9, Shadow and Sharpen for G3 (1.00) and Sharpen 3 × 3 for G4 (1.00). The McNemar test revealed significant differences between all filters with the gold standard (P = 0.00 for all filters) and the originals images (P = 0.00 for all filters) only in G1 group. There were no differences in the other groups. CONCLUSIONS: The filters did not improve the diagnosis of the simulated endodontic complications evaluated. Their diagnosis remains a major challenge in clinical practice.

ESR1 polymorphisms and statin therapy: a sex-specific approach.

Lipid-lowering therapy has shown a high degree of variability in clinical response and there is evidence that the variability in drug response between individuals is due to genetic factors. Thirteen single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the ESR1 gene were evaluated with basal lipid and lipoprotein levels, as well as response to lipid-lowering therapy, in 495 hypercholesterolemic individuals of European descent receiving simvastatin or atorvastatin. Significant associations were detected between rs4870061 (P=0.040, corrected P-value (PC)=0.440), rs1801132 (P=0.002, PC=0.022) and the SNP rs3020314 (P=0.013, PC=0.143) with triglyceride (TG) baseline levels. The rs4870061 was also associated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) baseline levels (P=0.045, PC=0.495). Regarding statin efficacy, rs2234693 C/C was associated with greater HDL-C increase (P=0.037; PC=0.407) and rs3798577 T allele was associated with greater total cholesterol (TC) reduction (P=0.019; PC=0.209) and greater TG reduction (P=0.026; PC=0.286). These associations suggest that ESR1 polymorphisms are in part responsible for the TC, HDL-C and TG variation levels and this effect may be sex-specific.

Assessment of ventilation and indoor air pollutants in nursery and elementary schools in France.

The aim of this study was to characterize the relationship between Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) and ventilation in French classrooms. Various parameters were measured over one school week, including volatile organic compounds, aldehydes, particulate matter (PM2.5 mass concentration and number concentration), carbon dioxide (CO2 ), air temperature, and relative humidity in 51 classrooms at 17 schools. The ventilation was characterized by several indicators, such as the air exchange rate, ventilation rate (VR), and air stuffiness index (ICONE), that are linked to indoor CO2 concentration. The influences of the season (heating or non-heating), type of school (nursery or elementary), and ventilation on the IAQ were studied. Based on the minimum value of 4.2 l/s per person required by the French legislation for mechanically ventilated classrooms, 91% of the classrooms had insufficient ventilation. The VR was significantly higher in mechanically ventilated classrooms compared with naturally ventilated rooms. The correlations between IAQ and ventilation vary according to the location of the primary source of each pollutant (outdoor vs. indoor), and for an indoor source, whether it is associated with occupant activity or continuous emission.

Performance of an artefact reduction algorithm in the diagnosis of in vitro vertical root fracture in four different root filling conditions on CBCT images.

AIM: To evaluate the influence of an artefact reduction algorithm (ARA) and several root filling materials on the detection of root fractures on cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images. METHODOLOGY: Forty-four teeth were divided into control and fractured groups and scanned on a Picasso Trio CBCT device under four conditions: unrestored, filled with gutta-percha cones, cast-gold or fibreglass posts; either with or without applying the ARA. Three calibrated examiners assessed the images. ROC analysis, anova and pairwise Tukey LSD test were performed. RESULTS: No significant difference between the groups with and without the ARA was observed. There was no significant interaction between the algorithm and root condition. On the other hand, there was a significant difference in the mean values of sensitivity (Sn) and accuracy (Ac) amongst the different root filling groups (P ≤ 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The application of the ARA did not influence the diagnosis of root fractures, and its effects did not depend on root conditions. In relation to the filling materials, gold posts reduced the overall CBCT diagnostic ability, regardless of the use of the ARA.

Genetic ACE I/D and ACTN3 R577X polymorphisms and adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

The etiology of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis remains unknown. Angiotensin-converting enzyme and α-actinin-3 polymorphisms influence the characteristics of muscle fibers. The aim of this study was to examine the association between idiopathic scoliosis and genetic polymorphism of angiotensin-converting enzyme and α-actinin-3. Ninety-seven females with scoliosis, and 137 healthy, age-matched control females were studied. The presence of polymorphisms was determined by PCR. A χ2 test was used to analyze differences, and odds ratios were estimated. The frequencies of ACE genotypes in the scoliotic group were 46.4% DD, 45.4% ID, and 8.2% II, while in the control group they were 40.1% DD, 43.8% ID, and 16.1% II (P = 0.197). The D allele had a frequency of 69.1% in patients with idiopathic scoliosis and 62% in the control group (P = 0.116). The frequencies of ACTN3 genotypes in females with scoliosis were 31.8% RR, 49.4% RX, and 18.8% XX, while in the control group they were 35% RR, 49% RX, and 16% XX (P = 0.810). The frequency of the R allele was 56.4% in the scoliotic group and 59.6% in the control group (P = 0.518). There was no statistically significant association between angiotensin-converting enzyme or α-actinin-3 polymorphisms and the presence of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis in females.

The paradox of expert judgment in rivers ecological monitoring.

A great investment has been done in the last decades in the development of numerical and qualitative assessment methods to classify the ecological quality of water bodies. Yet, in spite of all attempts to avoid subjectivity, expert judgment is still used at numerous steps of the ecological classification and is considered by some authors as indispensible for management purposes. Thus, the aim of this study is to test the hypothesis that expert judgment, when done by the adequate experts (limnologists/river ecologist) with experience in the study area (i.e., natural conditions and expected communities), could be as good as quantitative indices and measures (i.e., result in the same classification), but quicker and with lower cost. For that we compared the classifications (on 13 aspects of rivers ecosystems) attributed by two experts to 20 sites (10 each) located in their study areas, with the classifications of ecological quality based on biological indices (for invertebrates and diatoms), hydromorphology and water chemistry, calculated by an independent team. Our results show that assessments made by experts and those calculated through indices (biological quality and hydromorphology) are globally very similar (RELATE test; Rho = 0.442; p < 0.001, 999 permutations). Most differences were of one class and experts tended to attribute a better condition than indices to the best quality sites but a worse condition to the worse quality sites. A Principal Components Analysis revealed that sites to which experts attributed a moderate quality had higher nitrate concentration and pH but were well oxygenated. The sites classified as poor and bad where those with stronger modifications in their habitats (given by the higher values of HMS). The difference between experts and indices is small but still represents 15% of sites, and includes both situations: the experts or the indices lead to the need of measures (i.e., classifications below class Good). Experts' evaluations on hydromorphological conditions of the channel and margins are also significantly correlated with the quality assessments made by the field team that has no experience in the study area (Rh0 = 0.518; p = 0.001; 999 permutation), indicating geographic independence in the expert judgment. We concluded that expert judgment could be used in the determination of streams and rivers ecological quality, saving money and time and helping to redirect monitoring funds to actual implementation of restoration measures. Yet, classification' scoring methods may still be useful for a better targeting of restoration measures.

Functional variations in MBL2 gene are associated with cutaneous leishmaniasis in the Amazonas state of Brazil.

Functional variations in the mannose-binding lectin (MBL2) gene causing low levels of serum MBL are associated with susceptibility to numerous infectious diseases. We investigated whether there is genetic association of MBL2 variant alleles with cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) caused by Leishmania guyanensis. We used PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism to genotype six MBL2 variants, three in the promoter region and three in the exon 1. An association was noted between the single nucleotide polymorphism -221X/Y of the MBL2 gene and CL (P=2.9 × 10(-6); odds ratio (OR)=1.9 (1.4-2.5) consistent with the hypothesis that the -221X allele confers high risk to development of CL among L. guyanensis-infected individuals. Furthermore, L. guyanensis-infected individuals bearing the codon 57 allele C had a higher risk of developing CL (P=5 × 10(-5); OR=1.9 (1.4-2.6)). The low MBL expressor haplotype LXPB was also associated to CL (P=6 × 10(-4)). This study raises the possibility that functional polymorphisms in MBL2 gene play a role in clinical outcome of Leishmania infection.

Angiopreventive versus angiopromoting effects of allopurinol in the murine sponge model.

Recent data has indicated that, besides its classical therapeutic indication in hyperurecemia and gout, xanthine oxidase inhibitors can be used to various forms of ischemia and other types of tissue and vascular injuries. We tested the hypothesis that allopurinol, an inhibitor of xanthine oxidase (XO), might modulate acute and/or chronic inflammatory angiogenesis induced by subcutaneous implantation of synthetic matrix in mice. C57/BL6 male mice (6-7 weeks) were implanted with polyether-polyurethane sponge discs. The animals received by oral gavage 1.0mg/kg of allopurinol for six consecutive days in two treatment regimen. In the first series of experiments, the treatment was initiated 24h post-implantation and the implants were removed at day 7 post-implantation. For the assessment of the effect of the compound on chronic inflammation, the treatment was initiated at day 8 post-implantation and the implants removed 14days post-implantation. Angiogenesis as determined by hemoglobin content, VEGF levels and number of vessels intraimplant, and inflammation (myeloperoxidase -MPO, n-acetyl-ß-d-glucosaminidase -NAG, TNF-α and CCL2 levels) were reduced by allopurinol treatment in acute phase. Similarly, the treatment inhibited nitric oxide and H2O2 production. However, fibrogenesis determined by collagen deposition and levels of TGF-ß1 increased in the implants after allopurinol treatment. In marked contrast with the effects when the treatment initiated 24h post-implantation, allopurinol increased angiogenesis and inflammation but reduced collagen and TGF-ß1 levels intra-implant, when the treatment was started during the chronic inflammatory process. The dual effects of allopurinol described here, extend its range of actions as a potential agent able to modulate the components of the fibrovascular tissue present in both physiological (healing processes) as well as in chronic fibroproliferative diseases. These modulatory effects depended on the phase at which the treatment was initiated.

Prevalence, risk factors, and epidemiology of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus carried by adults over 60 years of age.

The epidemiology of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in the community in Portugal is not completely understood. To evaluate S. aureus and MRSA carriage among the elderly, we conducted a large cross-sectional study between April 2010 and December 2012. A total of 3,361 adults over 60 years of age were screened for S. aureus nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal carriage. MRSA were characterized by staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) typing, spa typing, multilocus sequence typing (MLST), and tested for the presence of Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL). Risk factors for MRSA carriage were identified by multiple logistic regression analysis. The prevalence of S. aureus and MRSA carriage among the elderly was 20.1 % and 1.8 %, respectively. The risk of being an MRSA carrier was higher among the elderly living in retirement homes [odds ratio (OR) = 2.90, 95 % confidence interval (CI): 1.48-5.48] and those that had been hospitalized in the previous year (OR = 2.64, 95 % CI: 1.47-4.58). Among the 62 MRSA isolates, 64.5 % were multidrug-resistant and none carried PVL. Most MRSA (82.3 %) were related to three hospital-associated (HA-MRSA) clones disseminated in Portugal: ST105-II (New York/Japan clone; 43.5 %), ST5-IVc (Pediatric clone; 19.4 %), and ST22-IVh (EMRSA-15 clone; 19.4 %). The New York/Japan and Pediatric clones were significantly associated with carriers living in retirement homes, while the EMRSA-15 clone was associated with carriers that had been hospitalized. We conclude that the elderly population in Portugal is essentially free of MRSA. Given the current European societal challenges for a healthy active aging, these results are of importance to healthcare professionals and public authorities to decide on strategies to promote health in this age group.

Techniques for restoring enlarged canals: an evaluation of fracture resistance and bond strength.

AIM: To verify the influence of fibreglass post diameter, as well as use of accessory posts on fracture resistance and bond strength, when used for restoring enlarged root canals. METHODOLOGY: One hundred maxillary single-rooted canine human teeth were decoronated and root canals were prepared using a No.4 drill (White Post, FGM, Joinville, SC, Brazil). The roots were assigned to five groups: (EC1) post No.1 (Exacto Cônico, Angelus, Londrina, PR, Brazil); (EC2) post No.2 (Exacto Cônico, Angelus); (EC3) post No.3 (Exacto Cônico, Angelus); (ECA) post No.1 (Exacto Cônico, Angelus) plus two accessory posts (Reforpin, Angelus); (WP) post No.4 (White Post, FGM). Posts 1-4 have a crescent diameter. Posts were luted (Rely X-Arc, 3M ESPE, USA) and composite resin filling cores were prepared for the fracture resistance test (n = 10). For the push-out test (n = 10), roots were sectioned into 1 mm thick slices. Both tests were performed in a universal testing machine. Data were analysed using anova and Tukey's test. RESULTS: Groups WP and EC3 had higher fracture resistance than the other groups (P < 0.05), which were statistically similar. Root fractures occurred in 14% of the specimens. Groups EC1 and EC2 had lower bond strength values than Groups EC3 and ECA which were lower than the WP Group (P < 0.05). Bond strength was lower in the apical and middle third than in the cervical third of root canals (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Thicker posts were associated with higher resistance to fracture and bond strength to root canals. Using a post plus two accessory posts improved the bond strength but not the fracture resistance.

Role of ACE and AGT gene polymorphisms in genetic susceptibility to diabetes mellitus type 2 in a Brazilian sample.

The aim of the current study was to investigate the association between the InDel polymorphism in the angiotensin I-converting enzyme gene (ACE) and the rs699 polymorphism in the angiotensinogen gene (AGT) and diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2) in a sample population from Southern Brazil. A case-control study was conducted with 228 patients with DM2 and 183 controls without DM2. The ACE InDel polymorphism was genotyped by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with specific primers, followed by electrophoresis on 1.5% agarose gel. The AGT rs699 polymorphism was genotyped using a real-time PCR assay. No significant association between the ACE InDel polymorphism and DM2 was detected (P = 0.97). However, regarding the AGT rs699 polymorphism, DM2 patients had a significantly higher frequency of the AG genotype and lower frequency of the GG genotype when compared to the controls (P = 0.03). Our results suggest that there is an association between the AGT rs699 polymorphism and DM2 in a Brazilian sample.