Isolation of Candida spp. from mastitic bovine milk in Brazil

The purpose of this study was to isolate yeast (Candida) from the quarter milk of cow udders from 37 dairy farms in Brazil and to identify the different species involved in mastitis. The samples were collected between October 2002 and February 2003. Two-hundred-and-sixty milk samples from cows with clinical and subclinical mastitis were examined. Milk samples were plated onto Blood agar, Mac Conkey agar and Sabouraud dextrose agar. Forty-five (17.3%) samples were positive for the genus Candida. The Candida species isolated were C. krusei (44.5%), C. rugosa (24.5%), C. albicans (8.9%), C. guilliermondii (8.9%), and others (13.2%). We also isolated Escherichia coli (26.5%), coagulase-positive Staphylococcus (25.0%), Streptococcus spp. (8.1%), Enterobacter spp. (8.1%), and other fungi (8.1%), among others.

Expression of fibroblast growth factor-8 and regulation of cognate receptors, fibroblast growth factor receptor-3c and-4, in bovine antral follicles

Paracrine cell signaling is believed to be important for ovarian follicle development, and a role for some members of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family has been suggested. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that FGF-8 and its cognate receptors (FGFR3c and FGFR4) are expressed in bovine antral follicles. RT-PCR was used to analyze bovine Fgf8, Fgfr3c and Fgfr4 mRNA levels in oocytes, and granulosa and theca cells. Fgf8 expression was detected in oocytes and in granulosa and theca cells; this expression pattern differs from that reported in rodents. Granulosa and theca cells, but not oocytes, expressed Fgfr3c, and expression in granulosa cells increased significantly with follicle estradiol content, a major indicator of follicle health. Fgfr4 expression was restricted to theca cells in the follicle, and decreased significantly with increasing follicle size. To investigate the potential regulation of Fgfr3c expression in the bovine granulosa, cells were cultured in serum-free medium with FSH or IGF-I; gene expression was upregulated by FSH but not by IGF-I. The FSH-responsive and developmentally regulated patterns of Fgfr3c mRNA expression suggest that this receptor is a potential mediator of paracrine signaling to granulosa cells during antral follicle growth in cattle.

Longitudinal clinical evaluation of adjunct minocycline in the treatment of chronic periodontitis

Background: the clinical benefits of minocycline in combination with thorough scaling and root planing (SRP) have been examined in multicenter studies. The aim of this longitudinal investigation was to evaluate the clinical response to scaling and root planing combined with the use of locally delivered minocycline microspheres for 720 days in individuals with advanced chronic periodontitis.Methods: A total of 26 individuals aged 26 to 69 years (mean: 46.8 +/- 12.1 years) were included in this double-blind randomized clinical trial. After randomization, 13 individuals were selected for the test group (TG) and treated with SRP plus subgingival minocycline at baseline and 90, 180, and 270 days, and 13 individuals were selected for the control group (CG) and received SRP plus vehicle at the same time-points. Two homologous sites with probing depth (PD) >= 6 mm were chosen in each subject. To evaluate the clinical response after treatment, PD, plaque index (PI), and gingival index (GI) were assessed at baseline and 90, 180, 270, 360, and 720 days.Results: No statistical differences were found between test and control groups in relation to PD at the different timepoints. The mean values of PD demonstrated a higher reduction in the test group at 270 and 360 days. No statistical differences were observed at 90, 180, and 720 days between TG and CG (P < 0.05; Wilcoxon test). There were no statistically significant differences between TG and CG concerning PI and GI (P < 0.05; analysis of variance and t test) at all evaluated timepoints.Conclusion: Our findings demonstrated that both therapies reduced mean PD from 90 to 360 days; however, SRP combined with the use of subgingival minocycline showed a higher reduction at 270 and 360 days following therapy.

Comparative ''in vitro'' study on the susceptibility and emergence of mutants resistant to danofloxacin and ciprofloxacin among Staphylococcus aureus isolated from bovine mastitis

The antimicrobial susceptibility of danofloxacin was compared in vitro with ciprofloxacin against mastitogenic Staphylococcus aureus. Danofloxacin was more active than ciprofloxacin, showing minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC90), minimal bactericidal concentrations (MBC90) and MBC/MIC ratio lower than those of ciprofloxacin. Ciprofloxacin-resistant mutants occurred at higher frequencies (greater than or equal to 10(-6)) than for danofloxacin (10(-9)).

A comparison of one versus two appointment endodontic therapy in dogs' teeth with apical periodontitis

This study was conducted to observe the healing process in dogs' teeth with apical periodontitis after root canal treatment in one or two appointments. Premolars and anterior dogs' teeth had their root canals opened to the oral environment for 6 months before being treated. After root canal negotiation they were filled by the lateral condensation technique with gutta-percha points and Sealapex in one appointment or after a dressing with calcium hydroxide for 7 and 15 days. Six months after the treatment the animals were killed and the tissues prepared for histomorphological analysis. Scores attributed to the different histomorphological events were submitted to statistical analysis, which resulted in ranking the experimental groups from the best to the worst in the following way: (a) calcium hydroxide 14 days; (b) calcium hydroxide 7 days; and (c) one appointment. It was concluded that the use of a calcium hydroxide dressing helps to achieve better results (p < 0.01) than the treatment in one appointment.

Role of inflammatory mediators in priming, activation, and deformability of bovine neutrophils

Objective-To determine the capacity of inflammatory mediators tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-8 (IL-8), platelet-activating factor (PAF), lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and leukotoxin to prime, activate, or alter deformability of adult bovine neutrophils.Sample Population-Blood collected from 5 healthy adult Holstein cows.Procedure-Isolated neutrophils or whole brood was incubated with TNF-alpha, IL-8, PAF, LPS, or leukotoxin, and neutrophil chemiluminescence, degranulation, deformability, shape change, CD11b expression, and size distribution was measured.Results-incubation with TNF-alpha, IL-8; PAF, and IFS primed neutrophils for oxygen radical release but caused minimal oxygen radical release by themselves. None of the inflammatory mediators induced degranulation. Incubation with TNF-alpha and PAF resulted in a decrease in neutrophil deformability and induced shape change in neutrophils. incubation with PAF consistently resulted in an increase in neutrophil size as measured by use of flow cytometry. Only IL-8 caused an increase in expression of CD11b by neutrophils.Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Inflammatory mediators tested had minimal effects on neutrophil oxygen radical production or degranulation but did prime neutrophils for oxygen radical production. Incubation with PAF and TNF-alpha caused a decrease in neutrophil deformability and altered neutrophil shape and size. Results of our study indicate that PAF- and TNF-alpha-induced changes in neutrophil deformability and size may cause integrin- and setectin-independent trapping of neutrophils in the lungs of cattle with pneumonic pasteurellosis.

Influence of root canal dressings and sealers on repair of apical periodontitis after endodontic treatment

Objective. The objective of this study was to evaluate the histopathologic response of periapical tissues after root canal treatment of necrotic dog teeth with chronic apical periodontitis by using 2 calcium hydroxide-based root canal dressings and 2 root canal sealers.Study design. Seventy-eight root canals were instrumented by using 5.25% sodium hypochlorite as the irrigating solution, after which a calcium hydroxide paste (Calen/PMCC or Calasept) was placed for 30 days as a dressing. The root canals were then filled by using cold lateral gutta-percha condensation and an enclodontic sealer (Sealapex or AH Plus). After 360 days, the animals were killed by anesthetic overdose; then, the teeth were histologically prepared, sectioned, and stained with hematoxylin and eosin for optical microscopic analysis of apical and periapical tissue repair.Results. Statistical analysis showed that the poorest histopathologic results were observed in the Calasept/AH Plus group and that the Sealapex sealer overall resulted in better apical repair than the AH Plus sealer. The histopathologic results of Calen/PMCC paste with both AH Plus and Sealapex and Calasept paste with only Sealapex were statistically similar but were different from the results of Calasept with AH Plus.Conclusions. The results of this study in the dog showed differences in apical and periapical tissue repair of teeth with chronic apical periodontitis by using 2 calcium hydroxide root canal dressings and 2 sealers. More research is necessary to determine the best combination of dressings and sealers.