At the time of writing, in July 2020, the recently emerging SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has attracted major attention to viral diseases, in particular coronaviruses. In spite of alarming molecular evidence, documentation of interspecies transmission in livestock, and the emergence of two new and relatively virulent human coronaviruses within a 10-year period, many gaps remain in the study and understanding of this family of viruses. This paper provides an overview of our knowledge regarding the coronavirus family, while highlighting their key biological properties in the context of our overall understanding of viral diseases.
Biofilms are formed by the congregation of one or more types of microorganisms that can grow on a firm surface. Dental plaque is one of the most commonly forming biofilms in the oral cavity and appears as a slimy layer on the surface of the teeth. In general, the formation is slow, but biofilms are very adaptive to the changing environment, and a mature biofilm can cause many health-related problems in humans. These biofilms remain unaffected by antibiotics as they do not allow the penetration of antibiotics. Moreover, the increased level of virulence and antibiotic resistance of microorganisms in the oral biofilm or dental plaque has made its clinical management a serious clinical challenge worldwide. Chlorhexidine-like antimicrobial drugs have been partially effective in removing such organisms; however, the precise and continuous elimination of these microorganisms without disturbing the normal microbial flora of the oral cavity is still a challenge. This paper focuses on the process of oral biofilm formation, related complications, development of drug-resistant bacteria in these biofilms, and their effective management by the use of different novel techniques.
Objective: The aim of this study was to compare and correlate mast cell density (MCD) and microvessel density (MVD) between normal oral mucosa, oral lichen planus, various grades of dysplasia, and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).
Materials and Methods: The study comprised a total of 75 samples, of which 65 were archival tissue blocks of histopathologically confirmed cases, which included 10 cases of oral lichen planus, 25 cases of dysplasia (mild [n=10], moderate [n=10], and severe [n=5]), and 30 cases of OSCC (well differentiated [n=10], moderately differentiated [n=10], and poorly differentiated [n=10]), and 10 samples of normal oral mucosa. All the sections were immunohistochemically stained with anti-CD34 and counterstained with toluidine blue stain. Mean MCD and MVD were determined and analyzed using ANOVA test and compared between the lesions using Tukey HSD test. Pearson’s correlation coefficient test was used to correlate these two factors between various lesions.
Results: Mean MCD and mean MVD were found to be increased in all the lesions compared to normal oral mucosa, and the values were statically significant. Overall, MCD and MVD showed a significant positive correlation (r=0.640).
Conclusion: Increase of MCD and MVD and their positive correlation in all the lesions have emphasized their role in the pathogenesis and disease progression.
Background: Adequate lymphadenectomy is an important factor affecting survival in gastric cancer patients. Retrieval and examination of at least 15 lymph nodes is recommended in order to properly stage gastric malignancies. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the proportion of patients undergoing inadequate lymphadenectomies and possible risk factors for inadequate surgery.
Methods: This was a retrospective study that included patients, 18 years and older, who underwent gastrectomies with oncologic intent in the Hillel Yaffe Medical Center. We analyzed the association of demographic, clinical, and pathological variables with adequate number of lymph nodes.
Results: The retrieval of less than 15 lymph nodes was reported in 51% (53/104) patients undergoing gastrectomies with oncologic intent. The extent of surgery was the only variable associated with inadequate lymphadenectomy on univariate analysis: subtotal/proximal versus total gastrectomy (P=0.047). Differ¬ences observed for previous surgery (P=0.193), T stage (P=0.053), N stage (P=0.051), and lymphovascular invasion (P=0.14) did not reach significance. Subtotal/proximal gastrectomy resulted in inadequate resec¬tion of lymph nodes in 56% of the patients, while this occurred in only 30% of the patients undergoing total gastrectomy (relative risk 1.865; 95% CI 0.93, 3.741). Logistic regression confirmed that only subtotal/prox¬imal versus total gastrectomy was associated with inadequate number of lymph nodes resected (P=0.043).
Discussion and Conclusion: In this study we analyzed the association of patient, tumor, and surgery-related factors on adequate lymphadenectomy in patients undergoing gastrectomies for possible gastric cancer. Larger extent of the surgery (total, rather than subtotal/proximal gastrectomy) was revealed to be the only indicator positively associated with adequate lymphadenectomy.
Glucocorticosteroid-induced osteoporosis (GIO) is the most common cause of secondary osteoporosis but is underdiagnosed and undertreated. Our aim in this communication is to review the literature on the implementation of current GIO prevention practices such as calcium and vitamin D supplementation with emphasis on the rheumatologists’ perspective relating to the need for development of novel GIO educational prevention measures.
The personal reflections of Peter Hotez regarding the triple threats of illness, antiscience, and anti-Semitism indicate a shocking state of affairs, reveal¬ing the dark and sinister element of antivaccine activism which must be surmounted. This letter addresses basic lessons on vaccination from India in a nutshell.
Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is the most prevalent subtype of vasculitis in adults. In recent years, there has been substantial improvement in the diagnosis and treatment of GCA, mainly attributed to the introduction of highly sensitive diagnostic tools, incorporation of modern imaging modalities for diagnosis and monitoring of large-vessel vasculitis, and introduction of highly effective novel biological therapies that have revolutionized the field of GCA. This article reviews state-of-the-art approaches for the diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment options of GCA.
Children are infected with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) as often as adults, but with fewer symptoms. During the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS) in children (MIS-C), with symptoms similar to Kawasaki syndrome, was described in young minors testing positive for COVID-19. The United States (US) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defined MIS-C as occurring in <21-year-olds, triggering hundreds of PubMed-listed papers. However, postpubertal adolescents are no longer children biologically; the term MIS-C is misleading. Furthermore, MIS also occurs in adults, termed MIS-A by the CDC. Acute and delayed inflammations can be triggered by COVID-19. The 18th birthday is an administrative not a biological age limit, whereas the body matures slowly during puberty. This blur in defining children leads to confusion regarding MIS-C/MIS-A. United States and European Union (EU) drug approval is handled separately for children, defined as <18-year-olds, ascribing non-existent physical characteristics up to the 18th birthday. This blur between the administrative and the physiological meanings for the term child is causing flawed demands for pediatric studies in all drugs and vaccines, including those against COVID-19. Effective treatment of all conditions, including COVID-19, should be based on actual physiological need. Now, the flawed definition for children in the development of drugs and vaccines and their approval is negatively impacting prevention and treatment of COVID-19 in minors. This review reveals the necessity for redefining pediatric age groups to rapidly establish recommendations for optimal prevention and treatment in minors.
Background: The dental needs of cerebral palsy children are an area of study much in need of attention. The neglect of this aspect should be rectified, and simpler diagnostic methodologies should be established and used to serve this purpose.
Aim: This study aimed to determine oral health status and salivary biomarkers (salivary flow rate, pH, buffering capacity) among children with cerebral palsy (CP), to compare their data with that of their healthy siblings, and to evaluate the relationship between salivary biomarkers and dental caries.
Methods: A total of 30 CP children (study group) and 30 normal healthy siblings (controls) were selected between the ages of 5 and 12 years. Salivary biomarkers were assessed, and oral health status was examined.
Statistical Analysis: Chi-square test was used for comparison of oral health status. “Unpaired t test was used to compare caries indexes (decay/filled teeth–primary dentition [dft] and decay/missing/filled teeth–permanent dentition [DMFT]) and salivary biomarkers between the groups. Pearson correlation was used to find the correlation between salivary biomarkers and caries.
Results: The dft scores were significantly higher in the study group (P<0.05). The pH values and salivary flow rates were significantly lower in the study group (P<0.05 and P<0.001, respectively). There was a significant correlation between DMFT scores and salivary flow rate in the study group (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Low pH and low salivary flow rate might be risk factors for dental caries in CP populations; moreover, the significant correlation between DMFT score and salivary flow rate suggests that salivary flow rate could be used as a screening tool for assessing at-risk subjects in such populations.
Objectives: To assess the impact of different types of anemia and of concomitant non-cardiovascular chronic illnesses on outcomes of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and baseline anemia admitted to the Intensive Cardiac Care Unit.
Methods: Based on the mean corpuscular volume, anemia was stratified into: microcytic (<80 fL), normocytic (≥80, <96 fL), and macrocytic (≥96 fL). Data on concomitant chronic non-cardiovascular illnesses including malignancies were carefully collected. Endpoints included in-hospital bleeding as well as all-cause mortality at long-term follow-up.
Results: Of 1,390 patients with STEMI, 294 patients had baseline anemia (21.2%), in whom normocytic, microcytic, and macrocytic anemia was present in 77.2%, 17.0%, and 5.8% patients, respectively. In-hospital bleeding occurred in 25 (8.5%) of the study population without significant differences between the three groups. At a mean follow-up of 5.5±3.5 years, 104 patients (35.4%) had died. Mortality was the highest in patients with macrocytic anemia, followed by patients with normocytic anemia and microcytic anemia (58.8%, 37.0%, and 20.0%, respectively; P=0.009). Chronic non-cardiovascular condition was identified as an independent predictor of both in-hospital bleeding (odds ratio=2.57, P=0.01) and long-term mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 1.54, P=0.019). Performance of coronary angiography within index hospitalization was associated with lower long-term mortality (HR 0.38, P=0.001). Mean corpuscular volume did not predict either in-hospital bleeding or mortality.
Conclusions: Chronic non-cardiovascular illnesses are highly prevalent among patients with STEMI and baseline anemia, and are strongly associated with higher in-hospital bleeding and long-term mortality. Type of anemia is not related to prognosis post-STEMI.
