Antimicrobial resistance and virulence of subgingival staphylococci isolated from periodontal health and diseases.

The dysbiotic biofilm of periodontitis may function as a reservoir for opportunistic human pathogens of clinical relevance. This study explored the virulence and antimicrobial susceptibility of staphylococci isolated from the subgingival biofilm of individuals with different periodontal conditions. Subgingival biofilm was obtained from 142 individuals with periodontal health, 101 with gingivitis and 302 with periodontitis, and cultivated on selective media.

Inflammatory and Oxidative Stress Markers in Experimental Allergic Asthma.

Ovalbumin-induced allergic lung inflammation (ALI) is a condition believed to be mediated by cytokines, extracellular matrix remodeling, and redox imbalance. In this study, we evaluated pulmonary function together with inflammatory markers as interleukin-4 (IL-4), myeloperoxidase (MPO), eosinophil cells, and redox markers in the lungs of BALB/c mice after ovalbumin (OVA) sensitization and challenge. Our results showed an increase in bronchial hyperresponsiveness stimulated by methacholine (Mch), inflammatory cell influx, especially eosinophils together with an increase of high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) and altered lipid peroxidation (LP) and antioxidant defenses in the OVA group compared to the control group (p ≤ 0.

Periodontal-disease-associated biofilm: A reservoir for pathogens of medical importance.

The ecological diversity of the periodontal microenvironment may provide suitable conditions for the colonization of species not usually considered members of the oral microbiota. In this investigation, we aimed to determine the prevalence and levels of pathogenic species of medical relevance in the microbiota of individuals with distinct periodontal clinical status. Subgingival biofilm was obtained from patients with periodontal health (H, n = 81), gingivitis (G, n = 55), generalized aggressive (AgP, n = 36) or chronic periodontitis (CP, n = 98), and analyzed for 39 microbial taxa using a checkerboard DNA-DNA hybridization technique.

Redox markers and inflammation are differentially affected by atorvastatin, pravastatin or simvastatin administered before endotoxin-induced acute lung injury.

Statins are standard therapy for the treatment of lipid disorders, and the field of redox biology accepts that statins have antioxidant properties. Our aim in this report was to consider the pleiotropic effects of atorvastatin, pravastatin and simvastatin administered prior to endotoxin-induced acute lung injury. Male mice were divided into 5 groups and intraperitoneally injected with LPS (10 mg/kg), LPS plus atorvastatin (10 mg/kg/day; A + LPS group), LPS plus pravastatin (5 mg/kg/day; P + LPS group) or LPS plus simvastatin (20 mg/kg/day; S + LPS group).

Endotoxin-induced acute lung injury is dependent upon oxidative response.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the involvement of oxidative stress in acute lung injury (ALI) induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and its effects upon cell structure, function and inflammation. In total, 108 male C57BL/6 mice were divided into seven groups: CTR Group (50 µL of saline) administered intratracheally (i.t.

Residual oil fly ash worsens pulmonary hyperreactivity in chronic allergic mice.

BALB/c mice received saline (SAL groups) or ovalbumin (OVA groups) intraperitoneally (days 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 and 13). After 27 days, a burst of intratracheal OVA or SAL (days 40, 43 and 46) was performed. Animals were then divided into four groups (N=8, each) and intranasally instilled with saline (SAL-SAL and OVA-SAL) or residual oil fly ash (SAL-ROFA and OVA-ROFA).

Comparative respiratory toxicity of particles produced by traffic and sugar cane burning.

The impact of particle emissions by biomass burning is increasing throughout the world. We explored the toxicity of particulate matter produced by sugar cane burning and compared these effects with equivalent mass of traffic-derived particles. For this purpose, BALB/c mice received a single intranasal instillation of either distilled water (C) or total suspended particles (15 microg) from an urban area (SP group) or biomass burning-derived particles (Bio group).