Efficacy of cranial electrotherapy stimulation in patients with burning mouth syndrome: a randomized, controlled, double-blind pilot study.

Background: The Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is a chronic pain syndrome characterized by a burning sensation in the oral mucous membranes. The etiology and pathophysiology of BMS is largely unexplained. To date, there is no evidence-based treatment strategy for BMS.

Diagnosis of differentiated dysplasia as a variant of oral epithelial dysplasia.

Objectives: The World Health Organization's definition of oral epithelial dysplasia includes differentiated dysplasia, which is defined by purely architectural abnormalities of oral mucosa without cytological changes. We analysed differentiated dysplasia's frequency, progression risk and correlation with oral brush cytology.

Materials And Methods: Cytoarchitectural criteria and expression patterns of keratin 13/17 and ki67 were studied in oral biopsies clinically diagnosed with leukoplakia.

Forecasting local hospital bed demand for COVID-19 using on-request simulations.

Accurate forecasting of hospital bed demand is crucial during infectious disease epidemics to avoid overwhelming healthcare facilities. To address this, we developed an intuitive online tool for individual hospitals to forecast COVID-19 bed demand. The tool utilizes local data, including incidence, vaccination, and bed occupancy data, at customizable geographical resolutions.

CHROMAgar™ LIN-R as an efficient screening tool to assess the prevalence of linezolid-resistant enterococci in German hospital patients-a multicentre study approach, 2021-2022.

Background: In recent years, an increasing number of linezolid-resistant enterococci (LRE) was recognized at the German National Reference Centre (NRC) for Enterococci. National guidelines on infection prevention recommend screening for LRE in epidemiologically linked hospital settings without referring to a reliable and rapid diagnostic method. Since 2020, CHROMAgar™ provide a chromogenic linezolid screening agar, LIN-R, suitable to simultaneously screen for linezolid-resistant staphylococci and enterococci.

High incidence of carbapenemase-producing clinical isolates from Lagos, Nigeria.

Background: Carbapenem-resistant strains are on the rise worldwide. This study characterized clinical isolates of from three Nigerian hospitals for carbapenem resistance.

Methods: Strains isolated from wounds ( = 88), urine/catheter tips ( = 25), sputum/tracheotomy aspirates ( = 5), ear swabs ( = 4) and vaginal swabs ( = 1) were identified by MALDI-TOF and antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed using the VITEK 2 system.

Impact of early antibiotic exposure on the risk of colonization with potential pathogens in very preterm infants: a retrospective cohort analysis.

Background: Sepsis is one of the most important complications in preterm infants. For this reason, most preterm infants receive antibiotics during their first postnatal week. Since 2013, a weekly colonization screening has been installed in German neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), including multi-drug resistant organisms (MDRO) and pathogens with increased epidemic potential.

Infection control of COVID-19 in pediatric tertiary care hospitals: challenges and implications for future pandemics.

Background: More than 2 years into the COVID-19 pandemic, SARS-CoV-2 still impacts children's health and the management of pediatric hospitals. However, it is unclear which hygiene and infection control measures are effective and useful for pediatric hospitals. Here, we report infection control measures implemented at a tertiary care children's hospital.

Surveillance of Enterobacter cloacae complex colonization and comparative analysis of different typing methods on a neonatal intensive care unit in Germany.

Background: Enterobacter cloacae complex is a group of common opportunistic pathogens on neonatal intensive care units. Active microbiological screening to guide empirical antimicrobial treatment or to detect transmission events is recommended in high-risk preterm neonates. A rise in colonization with E.

An optimized 3D-printed perfusion bioreactor for homogeneous cell seeding in bone substitute scaffolds for future chairside applications.

A clinical implementation of cell-based bone regeneration in combination with scaffold materials requires the development of efficient, controlled and reproducible seeding procedures and a tailor-made bioreactor design. A perfusion system for efficient, homogeneous, and rapid seeding with human adipogenic stem cells in bone substitute scaffolds was designed. Variants concerning medium inlet and outlet port geometry, i.

sp. nov., isolated from human throat swabs.

Two isolates of a non-fermenting, Gram-negative bacterial strain were cultured from two throat swabs that were taken from a pair of twins during routine microbiological surveillance screening. As these isolates could not be unambiguously identified using routine diagnostic methods, whole genome sequencing was performed followed by phylogenetic analysis based on the gene sequence and by whole genome datasets. The two strains compose a separate branch within the clade formed by the (ACB) complex with CIP 70.

Establishment and characterization of patient-derived head and neck cancer models from surgical specimens and endoscopic biopsies.

Background: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is heterogeneous in etiology, phenotype and biology. Patient-derived xenografts (PDX) maintain morphology and molecular profiling of the original tumors and have become a standard "Avatar" model for human cancer research. However, restricted availability of tumor samples hindered the widespread use of PDX.

Tracking of Antibiotic Resistance Transfer and Rapid Plasmid Evolution in a Hospital Setting by Nanopore Sequencing.

Infections with multidrug-resistant bacteria often leave limited or no treatment options. The transfer of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARG) carrying plasmids between bacterial species by horizontal gene transfer represents an important mode of expansion of ARGs. Here, we demonstrate the application of Nanopore sequencing in a hospital setting for monitoring transfer and rapid evolution of antibiotic resistance plasmids within and across multiple species.

Feasibility and Effects of a Supervised Exercise Program Suitable for Independent Training at Home on Physical Function and Quality of Life in Head and Neck Cancer Patients: A Pilot Study.

Head and neck cancer patients often suffer from physical and cognitive impairments after cancer treatment. During rehabilitation, exercise therapy can improve physical function and quality of life (QoL). Surveys demonstrated patients' preference for home training with low- to moderate-intensity.

Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy for Typing of Clinical Complex Isolates.

Members of the () complex have emerged as important pathogens frequently encountered in nosocomial infections. Several outbreaks with complex have been reported in recent years, especially in neonatal units. Fast and reliable strain typing methods are crucial for real-time surveillance and outbreak analysis to detect pathogen reservoirs and transmission routes.

Expansion of Vancomycin-Resistant in an Academic Tertiary Hospital in Southwest Germany: a Large-Scale Whole-Genome-Based Outbreak Investigation.

Vancomycin-resistant (VREfm) is a frequent cause of nosocomial outbreaks. In the second half of 2015, a sharp increase in the incidence of VREfm was observed at our university medical center. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) was used to analyze the first isolates of VREfm recovered from patients between 2010 and 2016 ( = 773) in order to decipher epidemiological change, outbreak dynamics, and possible transmission routes.

Typing and Species Identification of Clinical Klebsiella Isolates by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry.

and related species are frequent causes of nosocomial infections and outbreaks. Therefore, quick and reliable strain typing is crucial for the detection of transmission routes in the hospital. The aim of this study was to evaluate Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) as rapid methods for typing clinical isolates in comparison to whole-genome sequencing (WGS), which was considered the gold standard for typing and identification.

Type I Interferon Signaling Is Required for CpG-Oligodesoxynucleotide-Induced Control of , but Not for Spontaneous Cure of Subcutaneous Primary or Secondary Infection.

We previously showed that in mice infected with type I interferons (IFNs) initiate the innate immune response to the parasite at day 1 and 2 of infection. Here, we investigated which type I IFN subtypes are expressed during the first 8 weeks of infection and whether type I IFNs are essential for a protective immune response and clinical cure of the disease. In self-healing C57BL/6 mice infected with a high dose of , IFN-α4, IFN-α5, IFN-α11, IFN-α13, and IFN-β mRNA were most prominently regulated during the course of infection.

Slit lamps and lenses: a potential source of nosocomial infections?

Purpose: The aim of the study was to evaluate the bacterial contamination level of contact surfaces on slit lamps and the grip areas of lenses.

Methods: Within unannounced audits, two regions of the slit lamps (headrest and joystick), indirect ophthalmoscopy devices, and ultrasound probes were obtained with rayon-tipped swab. Non-contact lenses used for indirect fundoscopy were pressed on RODAC (Replicate Organism Detection and Counting) plates.

Genomic characterisation of clinical and environmental Pseudomonas putida group strains and determination of their role in the transfer of antimicrobial resistance genes to Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Background: Pseudomonas putida is a Gram-negative, non-fermenting bacterium frequently encountered in various environmental niches. P. putida rarely causes disease in humans, though serious infections and outbreaks have been reported from time to time.

Guided Bone Regeneration Using Collagen Scaffolds, Growth Factors, and Periodontal Ligament Stem Cells for Treatment of Peri-Implant Bone Defects .

Introduction: The aim of the study was an evaluation of different approaches for guided bone regeneration (GBR) of peri-implant defects in an animal model.

Materials And Methods: In minipigs ( = 15), peri-implant defects around calcium phosphate- (CaP-; = 46) coated implants were created and randomly filled with (1) blank, (2) collagen/hydroxylapatite/-tricalcium phosphate scaffold (CHT), (3) CHT + growth factor cocktail (GFC), (4) jellyfish collagen matrix, (5) jellyfish collagen matrix + GFC, (6) collagen powder, and (7) collagen powder + periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSC). Additional collagen membranes were used for coverage of the defects.

Formyl-peptide receptor 2 governs leukocyte influx in local infections.

Leukocytes express formyl-peptide receptors (FPRs), which sense microbe-associated molecular pattern (MAMP) molecules, leading to leukocyte chemotaxis and activation. We recently demonstrated that phenol-soluble modulin (PSM) peptides from highly pathogenic are efficient ligands for the human FPR2. How PSM detection by FPR2 impacts on the course of infections has remained unknown.

Advances toward fully automated in vivo assessment of oral epithelial dysplasia by nuclear endomicroscopy-A pilot study.

Background: Uncertainties in detection of oral epithelial dysplasia (OED) frequently result from sampling error especially in inflammatory oral lesions. Endomicroscopy allows non-invasive, "en face" imaging of upper oral epithelium, but parameters of OED are unknown.

Methods: Mucosal nuclei were imaged in 34 toluidine blue-stained oral lesions with a commercial endomicroscopy.

Enhanced periodontal regeneration using collagen, stem cells or growth factors.

The regeneration of periodontal tissues still remains a challenge in periodontology. The aim of the present study was to examine the regenerative potential of a) different collagen support versus blank, b) different collagen support +/- a growth factor cocktail (GF) and c) a collagen powder versus collagen powder + periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) comparatively in a large animal model. The stem cells (SC) were isolated from extracted teeth of 15 adult miniature pigs.

Prevotella colorans sp. nov., isolated from a human wound.

A strain of obligately anaerobic, Gram-stain-negative and non-spore-forming rod-shaped bacterium was isolated from a human wound and characterized both phenotypically and genotypically. The strain was moderately saccharolytic and proteolytic. Phylogenetic analysis was based on full-length 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis and revealed the strain to represent a member of the genus Prevotella, but to be different from the described species, with the closest relationship to Prevotella bergensis and Prevotella multisaccharivorax.

A Wave of Regulatory T Cells into Neonatal Skin Mediates Tolerance to Commensal Microbes.

The skin is a site of constant dialog between the immune system and commensal bacteria. However, the molecular mechanisms that allow us to tolerate the presence of skin commensals without eliciting destructive inflammation are unknown. Using a model system to study the antigen-specific response to S.