Platelet-rich plasma efficacy in alopecia areata patients with normal and elevated levels of antibodies against thyroglobulin and thyroid peroxidase.

AIM: To evaluate and compare the efficacy of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy in alopecia areata (AA) patients with normal and with elevated levels of anti-thyroglobulin antibodies and/or anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies.

Desmoglein autoantibodies and disease severity in pemphigus patients - correlations and discrepancies.

AIM: To assess the correlation between the levels of anti-desmoglein-1 and anti-desmoglein-3 autoantibodies and disease severity in pemphigus patients.

A study of flavonoid composition and antimicrobial activity of Scutellaria altissima L. from different floristic regions of Bulgaria.

INTRODUCTION: Scutellaria extracts and its constituents, especially the characteristic flavonoids such as baicalein and its glycoside baicalin, exhibit significant antimicrobial activity. AIM: To perform a comparative analysis of flavonoid composition and antimicrobial activity of extracts obtained from aerial parts and roots of Scutellaria altissima from the regions of Mezek and Bachkovo, Bulgaria. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 70% ethanol and aqueous extracts of aerial parts and roots of S. altissima were used. HPLC analysis of S. altissima extracts was performed. Microbiological tests were done on clinical isolates of Streptococcus mitis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans. Minimal bactericidal and minimal bacteriostatic concentrations of S. altissima extracts were determined by the agar method. RESULTS: The ethanol extracts contain flavonoids approximately twice as much in comparison with the aqueous extracts. The baicalin content in the aerial parts of S. altissima from the region of Mezek is 5 times higher than that in the roots. S. altissima extracts have effective antimicrobial activity against S. mitis only. The minimal bactericidal concentration of ethanol extracts of S. altissima aerial parts and S. altissima roots is 2000 µg/ml and 8000 µg/ml at 24 hours, respectively. The bactericidal effect of aqueous extracts occurs at 48 hours at minimal bactericidal concentration of S. altissima aerial parts - 2000 µg/ml and of S. altissima roots - 6000 µg/ml. CONCLUSIONS: The finding that extracts of Bulgarian S. altissima possess effective antimicrobial properties against S. mitis suggests that it can be used as a potential source for the development of natural antimicrobial agents to suppress oral pathogens and prevent some oral infections.

Oral Microbial Flora in Bulgarian Adolescents with Moderate Plaque-induced Gingivitis.

INTRODUCTION: In children and adolescents, the most common periodontal disease is the plaque-induced gingivitis. AIM: The aim of this study was to reveal the bacterial species associated with supragingival plaque of Bulgarian adolescents diagnosed with plaque-induced gingivitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Supragingival plaque samples from 70 healthy subjects with moderate plaque-induced gingivitis (37 females and 33 males), aged 12-18 years, were obtained and examined microbiologically. RESULTS: A total of 224 microorganisms were isolated. Gram-negative bacteria were predominant compared to Gram-positive [132 (59%) vs. 92 (41%). CONCLUSION: The most frequently isolated microbiota in our study is part of the normal oral bacterial flora. The presence of anaerobes such as.

A study of chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of Bulgarian propolis.

UNLABELLED: Propolis is a natural product which exhibits pronounced antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects. AIM: To analyze the chemical composition and antimicrobial effect of Bulgarian propolis, p-cumaric acid and ferulic acid on certain Gram-positive and Gram-negative microorganisms. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ethanol extract of Bulgarian propolis (Propolin) and water extract of Bulgarian propolis (Propolstom), ferulic acid and p-cumaric acid were used. The chemical HPLC-analysis of propolis was performed with Varian Prostar system. Microbiological tests were done on isolates of Streptococcus beta-haemolyticus, Enterococcus faecalis, Candida albicans and Escherichia coli. Non-treated and ethanol-treated cultures of the corresponding strains were used as controls. Minimal bactericidal and bacteriostatic concentration of Propolin were determined by agar method. RESULTS: The concentration of p-cumaric acid and ferulic acid in ethanol extract of propolis is about 1%. The minimal bactericidal concentration of Bulgarian propolis against Streptococcus beta-haemolyticus is 281 +/- 89.3 microg/ml, against Enterococcus faecalis--3490 +/- 633.1 microg/ml, against Candida albicans--1375 +/- 255.2 microg/ml, and against Escherichia coli--24306 +/- 1706.4 microg/ml. The minimal bactericidal concentration of p-cumaric acid and ferulic acid against Streptococcus beta-haemolyticus is 212 +/- 6.5 microg/ml and 208 +/- 7.7 microg/ml, against Enterococcus faecalis--3013 +/- 176.6 and 3032 +/- 203.4 microg/ml, against Candida albicans--157 +/- 15.5 microg/ml and 149 +/- 23.2 microg/ml, and against Escherichia coli--798 +/- 7.7 microg/ml and 801 +/- 22.8 microg/ml, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The phenolic compounds p-cumaric acid and ferulic acid are 10 times less extracted in water extraction than in ethanol extraction. The most susceptible strains to the Bulgarian propolis and phenolic compounds are Streptococcus beta-haemolyticus and Candida albicans and the least affected are Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis.