Detection of periodontal pathogens in mothers of preterm birth and/or low weight.

BACKGROUND: The present study aims to estimate the possible relationship between periodontal pathogens in the oral cavity and the birth of Preterm Birth (PTB) and/or Low Birth Weight (LBW). MATERIAL AND METHODS: It's a case- control study with the subgengival biofilm samples were collected from four sites up deeper until 48 hours postpartum and were processes by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) for presence the periodontal pathogens Prevotella intermedia (Pi), Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn), Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg), Treponema denticola (Td), Tannerella forsythia (Tf) e Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa). The mothers were divided into case grup (babies weighing < 2500g and/or gestational age < 37 weeks) and control group (babies weighing ≥ 2500g and gestational age ≥ 37 weeks). Chi-square test and the measure of association obtained by Odds Ratio (OR) were used to estimate the association between the variables. RESULTS: Microbial analyses results showed no significant association between PTB and LBW with most periodontal pathogens in the oral cavity, even with association with the clinical presence of periodontitis. CONCLUSIONS: given the high presence of periodontal pathogens in the biofilm subgengival of recent mothers, it is suggested that the findings of this research serve as the basis for future studies on the pathophysiology involved in the relationship between periodontitis and PTB and/or LBW.

Differential metabolism of diastereoisomeric diterpenes by Preussia minima, found as endophytic fungus in Cupressus lusitanica.

The plant diastereoisomeric diterpenes ent-pimara-8(14)-15-dien-19-oic acid, obtained from Viguiera arenaria, and isopimara-8(14)-15-dien-18-oic acid, isolated from Cupressus lusitanica, were distinctly functionalized by the enzymes produced in whole cell cultures of the fungus Preussia minima, isolated from surface sterilized stems of C. lusitanica. The ent-pimaradienoic acid was transformed into the known 7ß-hydroxy-ent-pimara-8(14)-15-dien-19-oic acid, and into the novel diterpenes 7-oxo-8 ß-hydroxy-ent-pimara-8(14)-15-dien-19-oic and 7-oxo-9ß-hydroxy-ent-pimara-8(14)-15-dien-19-oic acids. Isopimara-8(14)-15-dien-18-oic acid was converted into novel diterpenes 11α-hydroxyisopimara-8(14)-15-dien-18-oic acid, 7ß,11α-dihydroxyisopimara-8(14)-15-dien-18-oic acid, and 1ß,11α-dihydroxyisopimara-8(14)-15-dien-18-oic acid, along with the known 7ß-hydroxyisopimara-8(14)-15-dien-18-oic acid. All compounds were isolated and fully characterized by 1D and 2D NMR, especially 13C NMR. The diterpene bioproduct 7-oxo-9ß-hydroxy-ent-pimara-8(14)-15-dien-19-oic acid is an isomer of sphaeropsidin C, a phytotoxin that affects cypress trees produced by Shaeropsis sapinea, one of the main phytopathogen of Cupressus. The differential metabolism of the diterpene isomers used as substrates for biotransformation was interpreted with the help of computational molecular docking calculations, considering as target enzymes those of cytochrome P450 group.

Electron correlation effects on the electric properties of fluorinated polyacetylene.

Using the Hartree-Fock (HF) and second-order Mo̸ller-Plesset perturbation theory (MP2) methods with the 6-31G(d) basis set, we have investigated the chain length dependence of the longitudinal dipole moment and longitudinal components of the static linear polarizability, first and second hyperpolarizabilities of fluorinated polyacetylene chains. It is found that geometry changes caused by the electron correlation (EC) effects imply in marked increases of the electric properties but to obtain a reliable description it is necessary to properly account for both geometric and electronic changes. Based on the fast convergence pattern presented by the MP2∕HF ratios and from the converged HF oligomeric results, we have estimated the MP2 electric properties of long chains. The asymptotic value for the MP2 second hyperpolarizability per unit cell is estimated in 1.9 × 10(8) a.u. This result is one order of magnitude larger than the corresponding result reported for the unsubstituted polyacetylene chains.

Bundle branch and atrioventricular block as complications of acute myocardial infarction in the thrombolytic era.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the incidence of intraventricular and atrioventricular conduction defects associated with acute myocardial infarction and the degree of in hospital mortality resulting from this condition during the era of thrombolytic therapy. METHODS: Observational study of a cohort of 929 consecutive patients with acute myocardial infarction. Multivariate analysis by logistic regression. Was used. RESULTS: Logistic regression showed a greater incidence of bundle branch block in male sex (odds ratio = 1.87, 95% CI = 1.02-3.42), age over 70 years (odds ratio = 2.31, 95% CI = 1.68-5.00), anterior localization of the infarction (odds ratio = 1.93, 95% CI = 1.03-3.65). There was a greater incidence of complete atrioventricular block in inferior infarcts (odds ratio = 2.59, 95% CI 1.30-5.18) and the presence of cardiogenic shock (odds ratio = 3.90, 95% CI = 1.43-10.65). Use of a thrombolytic agent was associated with a tendency toward a lower occurrence of bundle branch block (odds ratio = 0.68) and a greater occurrence of complete atrioventricular block (odds ratio = 1.44). The presence of bundle branch block (odds ratio = 2.45 95%, CI = 1.14-5.28) and of complete atrioventricular block (odds ratio = 13.59, 95% CI = 5.43-33.98) was associated with a high and independent probability of inhospital death. CONCLUSION: During the current era of thrombolytic therapy and in this population, intraventricular disturbances of electrical conduction and complete atrioventricular block were associated with a high and independent risk of inhospital death during acute myocardial infarction.