Dynamics of salivary human herpesvirus-6 and -7 shedding in pregnant women.

Reactivation of Betaherpesvirinae (Human herpesvirus 6A: HHV-6A, -6B, HHV-7) may be associated with mental illness and host fatigue. This study aimed to determine whether viral reactivation, measured by monitoring salivary viral DNA load, can be used to monitor depression in pregnant and postpartum women. Saliva samples were collected from 64 pregnant women at five points of observation periods. The HHV-6- and HHV-7-specific qPCRs were carried out to measure viral DNA load. When HHV-6 DNA was detected in saliva, nested PCR was used to discriminate between HHV-6A and -6B. In both viruses, a significant correlation was observed between detection frequency and viral DNA load in saliva. In the low-shedding group, HHV-6 DNA was significantly higher in the third trimester (p < 0.0001), the time of delivery (p = 0.0003), 1 month after birth (p = 0.0023) compared with the first trimester, and HHV-7 was at the time of delivery (p = 0.0277) and 1 month after birth (p = 0.0235). Most of the detected HHV-6 DNAs in saliva were HHV-6B. Both viral DNA loads were significantly lower (HHV-6: p = 0.0101, HHV-7: p = 0.0044) in the subjects with abnormal Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) scores. The detection rate and viral DNA load of both viruses in saliva increased after the third trimester. Salivary virus DNA shedding was significantly lower in subjects with an abnormal EPDS score.

Methadone in post-herpetic neuralgia: A pilot proof-of-concept study.

OBJECTIVE: This research was designed as a pilot proof-of-concept study to evaluate the use of low-dose methadone in post-herpetic neuralgia patients who remained refractory after first and second line post-herpetic neuralgia treatments and had indications for adding an opioid agent to their current drug regimens. METHODS: This cross-over study was double blind and placebo controlled. Ten opioid naïve post-herpetic neuralgia patients received either methadone (5 mg bid) or placebo for three weeks, followed by a 15-day washout period and a second three-week treatment with either methadone or placebo, accordingly. Clinical evaluations were performed four times (before and after each three-week treatment period). The evaluations included the visual analogue scale, verbal category scale, daily activities scale, McGill pain questionnaire, adverse events profile, and evoked pain assessment. All patients provided written informed consent before being included in the study. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01752699 RESULTS: Methadone, when compared to placebo, did not significantly affect the intensity of spontaneous pain, as measured by the visual analogue scale. The intensity of spontaneous pain was significantly decreased after the methadone treatment compared to placebo on the category verbal scale (50% improved after the methadone treatment, none after the placebo, p=0.031). Evoked pain was reduced under methadone compared to placebo (50% improved after the methadone treatment, none after the placebo, p=0.031). Allodynia reduction correlated with sleep improvement (r=0.67, p=0.030) during the methadone treatment. The side effects profile was similar between both treatments. CONCLUSIONS: Methadone seems to be safe and efficacious in post-herpetic neuralgia. It should be tried as an adjunctive treatment for post-herpetic neuralgia in larger prospective studies.

Periodontitis and Metabolic Control: A Preliminary Study / Periodontitis y Control Metabólico: Estudio Preliminar

The aim of this study was to evaluate the periodontal condition and the metabolic control of patients with diabetes mellitus type 2. Patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 were evaluated pre- and post (30 days) treatment of the periodontitis through the following exams: glycemia, glycosylated hemoglobin, plaque index, gingival bleeding index and periodontal pocket depth index. Periodontal treatment consisted of: Scaling, root planning and plaque control, associated with systemic antibiotic therapy with amoxicillin. Seventeen patients (12 women and 5 men; mean age = 55.94 years) were included. The chief complaints were: gingival bleeding (n=13); gingival pain (n=8), tooth mobility (n=3), gingival swelling (n=2) and halitosis (n=2). The mean time of these complaints ranged from 2 months to 20 years. None of them had ever received guidance on oral hygiene or dental assessment. There was a reduction in the following indexes (30 days after the periodontal treatment): plaque, from 41.79±24% to 12.26±13%) (p0.0005), gingival bleeding from 51.58±25%) to 15.77±15% (p0.0005), periodontal pocket depth from 0.98±0.91 mm to 1.76±0.63 mm) (p0.0005). In 15 patients there was a reduction in the glycosylated hemoglobin (10.85±3.03% to 8.72±1.68%) (p0.0005). This preliminary study shows that patients of this sample had chronic and severe periodontal disease; there was a reduction in the glycosylated hemoglobin levels, but not of glycemia, 30 days after periodontal treatment. Long-standing studies are necessary; however patients with diabetes mellitus need control of chronic infections, including periodontal disease.

El objetivo fue evaluar la condición periodontal y el control metabólico de pacientes con diabetes mellitus tipo 2. En los pacientes con diabetes mellitus tipo 2 se evaluaron previo y posterior (30 días) al tratamiento de la periodontitis los siguientes exámenes: glucemia, hemoglobina glicosilada, índice de placa bacteriana, índice de sangrado gingival e índice de profundidad de la bolsa periodontal. El tratamiento periodontal consistió en: curetage, alisado radicular y control de placa, asociado a la terapia sistémica antibiótica con amoxicilina. Se evaluaron 17 pacientes (12 mujeres y 5 hombres, con una edad media de 55,94 años). Las principales complicaciones fueron: sangrado gingival (n= 13), dolor gingival (n= 8), movilidad dental (n= 3), edema gingival (n= 2) y halitosis (n= 2). El tiempo medio de estas complicaciones varió entre 2 meses y 20 años. Ninguno de ellos reconoció haber recibido orientación sobre higiene oral o evaluación dental. Hubo una reducción (30 días después del tratamiento periodontal) en los siguientes índices: placa, de 41,79±24% a 12,26±13%) (p0,0005); sangrado gingival, de 51,58±25%) a 15,77±15% (p0,0005), profundidad de la bolsa periodontal, de 0,98±0,91 mm a 1,76±0,63 mm) (p0,0005). En 15 pacientes se observó una reducción en la hemoglobina glucosilada (10,85±3,03% a 8,72±1,68%) (p0,0005). Observamos que los pacientes de esta muestra tenían enfermedad periodontal crónica y severa; que hubo una reducción en los niveles de hemoglobina glucosilada, pero no de la glucemia, 30 días después del tratamiento periodontal. Estudios longitudinales son necesarias, sin embargo los pacientes con diabetes mellitus requieren control de las infecciones crónicas, como la enfermedad periodontal.

Methadone in post-herpetic neuralgia: A pilot proof-of-concept study

OBJECTIVE: This research was designed as a pilot proof-of-concept study to evaluate the use of low-dose methadone in post-herpetic neuralgia patients who remained refractory after first and second line post-herpetic neuralgia treatments and had indications for adding an opioid agent to their current drug regimens. METHODS: This cross-over study was double blind and placebo controlled. Ten opioid naïve post-herpetic neuralgia patients received either methadone (5 mg bid) or placebo for three weeks, followed by a 15-day washout period and a second three-week treatment with either methadone or placebo, accordingly. Clinical evaluations were performed four times (before and after each three-week treatment period). The evaluations included the visual analogue scale, verbal category scale, daily activities scale, McGill pain questionnaire, adverse events profile, and evoked pain assessment. All patients provided written informed consent before being included in the study. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01752699 RESULTS: Methadone, when compared to placebo, did not significantly affect the intensity of spontaneous pain, as measured by the visual analogue scale. The intensity of spontaneous pain was significantly decreased after the methadone treatment compared to placebo on the category verbal scale (50% improved after the methadone treatment, none after the placebo, p = 0.031). Evoked pain was reduced under methadone compared to placebo (50% improved after the methadone treatment, none after the placebo, p = 0.031). Allodynia reduction correlated with sleep improvement (r = 0.67, p = 0.030) during the methadone treatment. The side effects profile was similar between both treatments. Conclusions: Methadone seems to be safe and efficacious in post-herpetic neuralgia. It should be tried as an adjunctive treatment for post-herpetic ...

Changes of the skin temperature at the pressure sore treatment by artificial CO2 pack / 日本温泉気候物理医学会雑誌

The therapeutic effect of artificial CO₂ pack on pressure sores of five patients with neurological diseases was confirmed using an infrared thermometer.<br>The artificial CO₂ pack was prepared by dissolving a 5-g KAO-BABU tablet in 250ml of water at 50°C.<br>It was proven that the pressure sore recovered faster after treatment with artificial CO₂ hot-pack than that with plain water hot-pack.<br>In addition, the skin temperature in the area around the pressure sore became lower than the temperature just before the treatment presumably because of the steal phenomenon of blood flow under the skin.