Biological and chemical forms in controlling oral biofilms

Although there have been many advances in the medical field regarding disease control and management, it has been demonstrated that certain diseases and infections still represent a significant challenge. For example, the presence of oral biofilms indicates the virulence of the underlying infection in different dental infections diseases, including peri-implantitis, periapical periodontitis, periodontitis, gingivitis, and dental caries. We have discussed various mechanical, chemical, and biological modalities that can be applied to control biofilms and limit plaque formation and secondary caries. Although physical brushing might be efficacious in cleaning, evidence indicates that it cannot eradicate the underlying bacteria. Accordingly, using biological and chemical materials is essential to achieve adequate disinfection and enhance the outcomes. Many modalities have been proposed in the literature, such as nanomaterials, organic compounds such as arginine, dietary substances, and the various chemical oral cleansers discussed in the current study. Bacteriophages are also promising in this context. However, they need further exploration regarding their efficacy and safety. In addition, resistance against these compounds is a serious issue and needs to be addressed in future research.

Conflict and COVID-19 in Yemen: beyond the humanitarian crisis

Background Yemen has been left in shambles and almost destroyed by its devastating civil war, and is now having to deal with the spread of coronavirus. The Yemeni people have been are left to fend for themselves and faced many problems such as hunger, the ongoing war, infections, diseases and lack of equipment even before the COVID-19 pandemic. All together it is a humanitarian crisis. Only around 50% of the hospitals and healthcare facilities are in full working condition, and even those that are functioning are operating at nowhere near full potential. Healthcare staff and facilities lack necessary essential equipment and money. Conclusion As, sadly, is common in conflict-affected regions, the violence has brought with it a secondary disaster of infectious disease outbreaks. Yemen is not only battling COVID-19 amid a catastrophic war, but also has to deal with other diseases such as cholera, diphtheria and measles. A number of key measures are needed to support the current efforts against this deadly epidemic and its potential subsequent waves as well as to prevent further epidemics in Yemen.

Culturable fungi associated with the marine shallow-water hydrothermal vent crab Xenograpsus testudinatus at Kueishan Island, Taiwan

Reports on fungi occurring on marine crabs have been mostly related to those causing infections/diseases. To better understand the potential role(s) of fungi associated with marine crabs, this study investigated the culturable diversity of fungi on carapace of the marine shallow-water hydrothermal vent crab Xenograpsus testudinatus collected at Kueishan Island, Taiwan. By sequencing the internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS), 18S and 28S of the rDNA for identification, 12 species of fungi were isolated from 46 individuals of X. testudinatus: Aspergillus penicillioides, Aspergillus versicolor, Candida parapsilosis, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Mycosphaerella sp., Parengyodontium album, Penicillium citrinum, Penicillium paxili, Stachylidium bicolor, Zasmidium sp. (Ascomycota), Cystobasidium calyptogenae and Earliella scabrosa (Basidiomycota). With additional data from other published reports, a total of 26 species of fungi (23 Ascomycota, three Basidiomycota) have been recorded from X. testudinatus. Aspergillus is the most speciose genus on the crab, followed by Penicillium and Candida. All but one species (Xylaria arbuscula) had been previously isolated from substrates in the marine environment, although many are typical terrestrial taxa. None of the recorded fungi on X. testudinatus are reported pathogens of crabs, but some have caused diseases of other marine animals. Whether the crab X. testudinatus is a vehicle of marine fungal diseases requires further study.

Investigation of Phytochemical and Evaluation of Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activities from Abies Extract

Algerian fir (Abies numidica de Lannoy) is an endemic evergreen tree belonging to the Pinaceae family. Little is known about this plant, and few papers have been reported, despite its traditional uses. The objectives of this study were to investigate the chemical composition of n-butanol extract from A. numidica leaves as well as to evaluate its biological activities (antibacterial and antioxidant). The total phenolics and total flavonoids were found in high amounts (381.15±22.70µg GAE/ml; 49.79±2.81 µg QE /ml, respectively). The data of the antibacterial effect showed a potential inhibitory zone, especially against Proteus vulgaris (17.5±0.70 mm). The antioxidant activity findings disclosed that this fraction has a moderate radical scavenging power and metal chelating ability, compared with the standards used. The liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) analysis results showed that the major compounds presented in this extract were hyperoside (399.91µg/g), astragalin (147.22 µg/g) and rutin (102.62 µg/g). Thus, A. numidica leaves were suggested as being useful to prevent free radicals and bacterial infections diseases.

EVALUASI PENGGUNAAN ANTIBIOTIK PADA PASIEN PNEUMONIA DI RUMAH SAKIT UMUM DAERAH TULUNGAGUNG

Pneumonia adalah infeksi jaringan paru yang disebabkan oleh bakteri, jamur, virus atau parasit. Antibiotik merupakan terapi utama pada pneumonia oleh bakteri. Tujuan penelitian ini untuk mengetahui gambaran dan kesesuaian atau ketepatan penggunaan antibiotik pada pasien pneumonia di Rumah Sakit Umum Daerah Tulungagung periode Januari-Juni 2017. Metode penelitian observasional, data diambil secara retrospektif dari rekam medis pasien dan data penggunaan antibiotik dari Instalasi Farmasi, kemudian dianalisis secara deskriptif. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan jenis antibiotik terbanyak yang digunakan pada 130 pasien pneumonia unspecified rawat inap non ICU di Ruang Pulmonary adalah levofloxacin iv (62,71%), ceftriaxone (27,21%), dan cefotaxim (5,67%). Kesesuaian penggunaan antibiotik berdasarkan pedoman terapi berupa Panduan Praktik Klinik RSUD Dr. Iskak Tulungagung SM Paru 2014, Perhimpunan Dokter Paru Indonesia (PDPI, 2014), Infections Diseases Sociaty of America/American Thoracis Consensus Guidelines on the Managemen of Community-Acquired Pneumonia in Adult (IDSA/ATS, 2014) dan Drug Information Handbook (DIH, 2011) didapatkan hasil penelitian bahwa yang tepat jenis antibiotik 85,38%, tepat dosis 100%, tepat frekuensi 100% dan tepat lama pemberian 42,34%. Penilaian ketepatan penggunaan antibiotik yang rasional berdasarkan rata-rata kriteria 4 tepat adalah sebesar 81, 93%.

Trained Immunity at a Glance; A Review on the Innate Immune Memory and its Potential Role in Infections, Diseases and New Therapeutic Strategies

Despite the existence of two different branches of immunity, innate and adaptive, it has been described that both systems are characterized by the establishment of memory responses. Indeed, it has been shown that cells belonging to the innate immune system can express a so-called “trained” memory, although it has different features from the adaptive immune memory. Adaptive memory is a long-lasting specific memory whereas innate memory involves non-specific responses which enhance the immune response during a second reinfection. However, many aspects of the trained immunity are still unclear. Metabolic and epigenetic reprogramming have been pointed as the two processes responsible for the establishment of the innate memory. Trained immunity seems to be responsible for the heterologous effect of many vaccines such as BCG, thus giving insights for the development of new therapies. Although its potential beneficial role, trained immunity could also have detrimental effects that might worsen the progress of certain diseases. The purpose of this literature review is to provide an in-depth review on the major characteristics of trained immunity, describing the main pathways at the basis of the evolution and establishment of memory in innate cells. In addition, the present review assesses the modern evidence of the impact of trained immunity in health and disease, strengthening the hypotheses that this innate memory may be considered both in the formulation of new therapeutic strategies and in the current therapeutic approaches.

Patients With APECED Have Increased Early Mortality Due to Endocrine Causes, Malignancies and infections

Context Autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy (APECED) is an autoimmune endocrinopathy with severe and unpredictable course. The impact of APECED on mortality has not been determined. Objective To assess overall and cause-specific mortality of patients with APECED. Design and Setting A follow-up study of Finnish patients with APECED from 1971 to 2018. Causes and dates of death were collected from Finnish registries. Patients Ninety-one patients with APECED. Main Outcome Measure Overall and cause-specific standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) determined by comparing the observed numbers of death and those expected on the basis of respective population death rates in Finland. Results The overall disease mortality was significantly increased (29 deaths, SMR 11; 95% confidence interval [CI] 7.2-16; P < 0.001). The relative risk (SMR) was highest in the youngest age groups but the absolute excess risk was similar (about 10 per 10 000 person-years) in all age categories. The highest SMRs were seen for endocrine and metabolic diseases (SMR 570; 95% CI, 270-1000; P < 0.001) and for oral and esophageal malignancies (SMR 170; 95% CI, 68-360; P < 0.001). Mortality was also increased for infections, diseases of digestive system, alcohol-related deaths, and for accidents. Due to the small number of cases we were unable to evaluate whether mortality was affected by disease severity. Conclusions Patients with APECED have significantly increased mortality in all age groups. Highest SMRs are found for causes that are directly related to APECED but also for infections. Increased alcohol- and accident-related deaths may be influenced by psychosocial factors.

Assessment of French Beans Production at Kariua in Kandara, Murang’a County- Kenya

A sample survey research was conducted in November 2017 to January 2018 at Kariua area in Murang’a county, Kenya, with a sole aim to assess the current situation experienced by the French bean farmers in the area as well as form basis for further research, in which 43 farmers were interviewed. The parameters of interest were the average input levels of various factors (manure, fertilizers and water), average spacing of the crops in the field, the average output of the beans, the general plants’ health- all these were per crop point, land sizes under French beans cultivation as well as the demographic factors like age, gender and family size. The questionnaire was the main data collecting tool. Analysis of the data collected was carried out using both descriptive and inferential statistics: Using both R software and Ms-Excel. The results showed that farmers are experiencing very low yields at peak on average and poor plant health (harvest=13.4 g, infected leaves= 8 and immature pods= 15, all per crop point). Average land size under French beans farming, D.A.P and C.A.N fertilizers applied, manures applied, crop spacing and water for irrigation were found to be approximately 79.80 m2, 4.75 decigrams, 2.49 decigrams, 24.69 grams, 9.81 cm by 27 cm and 4.38 litres respectively. Low yields and poor crop health, scarce resources, pests, infections, diseases and intercropping and were also evident in the region.

Research of influence of working conditions on the general incidence of foundrymen

Working conditions of workers in foundries and their influence on morbidity with temporary disability are considered. The results of the distribution of diseases in the foundry shops with different character of production for individual nosological forms. It is noted that the increased levels of noise and vibration, high dust concentration in the air of the working area, significant values of air temperature, the intensity of infrared radiation increase the number of cases of morbidity with temporary disability, such as acute respiratory infections, diseases of the musculoskeletal system, respiratory diseases, infections and skin diseases, etc.