An automated sonic tomography system for the inspection of historical masonry walls.

The conservation of the built masonry heritage requires a comprehensive understanding of its geometrical, structural, and material characteristics. Non-destructive techniques are a preferred approach to survey historical buildings, given the cultural value of their fabric. However, currently available techniques are typically operated manually, consuming much time at operational and processing level and thus hindering their use for the on-site inspection of heritage structures.

Prevalence of the colonization of Helicobacter pylori among students of the school of dentistry, University of Granada, Spain.

Background: The oral cavity is a reservoir for Helicobacter pylori, and occupations that involve close contact with it, like Dentistry, could entail a higher risk of colonization. The aim of this study was to evaluate if the length of stay at the School of Dentistry of the University of Granada could influence colonization by H. pylori, , and to furthermore correlate colonization by H.

Two cases of an atypical presentation of necrotizing stomatitis.

Purpose: The purpose of this report was to describe the clinical and microbiological characteristics of two rare cases of necrotizing stomatitis, and the outcomes of a non-invasive treatment protocol applied in both cases.

Methods: We report two cases of necrotizing stomatitis in a rare location in the hard palate of a 40-year-old woman and a 28-year-old man. Neither had a relevant medical history and both presented with highly painful ulceration in the palate and gingival margin that was accompanied by suppuration and necrosis.

Serologic control against hepatitis B virus among dental students of the University of Granada, Spain.

Background: To evaluate the immunological situation against hepatitis B virus (HBV) of a cohort of dentistry students, to analyze the behavior of the levels of hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) after the administration of one or three vaccine doses, and to determine the influence of age and sex on the immune response.

Material And Methods: This retrospective cohort study included students attending the School of Dentistry of the institution where the study was performed from 2005 to 2012 who had completed the public health vaccination calendar for HBV at the age of 12-13. Data on age, sex, basal anti-HBs levels, post-vaccination anti-HBs results and final anti-HBs levels were collected.

Horizontal transmission of Streptococcus mutans in schoolchildren.

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze possible horizontal transmission patterns of S. mutans among 6-7-yr-old schoolchildren from the same class, identifying genotypes and their diversity and relationship with caries disease status.

Study Design: Caries indexes and saliva mutans streptococci and lactobacilli counts were recorded in 42 schoolchildren.

Discriminant ability for caries risk of modified colorimetric tests.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the caries risk in children over a two-year period and their baseline caries status, salivary levels of mutans streptococci and lactobacilli, and results of the Alban test and modifications thereof using different substrates.

Study Design: Ninety-five children aged 6-7 were examined in Granada (southern Spain) for dental caries at baseline and every six months. Stimulated saliva was sampled and inoculated in 7 colorimetric tests based on Snyder's medium with different sugars and polyalcohols.

Activity of daptomycin against multiresistant clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus agalactiae.

The activity of daptomycin against 141 Staphylococcus aureus and 63 Streptococcus agalactiae isolates was assessed. The isolates were previously characterized and showed resistance to the antibiotics normally used against gram-positive cocci. Daptomycin was active against 100% of the isolates (minimum inhibitory concentration [MIC(90)] = 0.

In vitro reduction of mutans streptococci by means of ozone gas application.

Objective: To evaluate, in vitro, the antimicrobial effect of ozone gas on strains of reference mutans streptococci and strains isolated from children at a high risk of developing caries.

Method And Materials: A series of dilutions was obtained from a total of 41 strains, and the effect of ozone was determined for applications of 10, 20, and 40 seconds, as well as a control, in terms of the reduction of viable bacteria.

Results: Ozone application for 10 and 20 seconds produced a significant reduction in the number of bacteria, inversely proportional to the bacterial concentration.

Genotypes of Streptococcus mutans in saliva versus dental plaque.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate whether genotypes of Streptococcus mutans strain can be detected as effectively in saliva samples as in plaque samples from buccal surfaces and occlusal surface fissures of permanent first molars.

Design: The study included 20 school children aged 6-7 years who were positive for mutans streptococci. Samples of stimulated saliva and of dental plaque on buccal surfaces and occlusal surface fissures of permanent first molars were collected.

A comparison of the activity of tigecycline against multiresistant clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus agalactiae.

We evaluated the activity of several antibiotics against 225 clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus and 252 isolates of Streptococcus agalactiae. Only tigecycline, glycopeptides, and linezolid were active against all the isolates of S. aureus, whereas the beta-lactams were also active against S.

Periodontal and oral microbiological status of an adult population undergoing haemodialysis: a cross-sectional study.

Objectives: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the periodontal status and oral microbiological patterns of a population with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), undergoing haemodialysis (HD).

Design: This was a cross-sectional study, involving 52 patients from the Nephrology Department and 52 matched control subjects.

Materials And Methods: The subjects had a periodontal clinical examination; subgingival plaque samples were taken and analysed using a semiquantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test to detect Porphyromas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia, Prevotella intermedia, Prevotella nigrescens and Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans.

High presence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases and resistance to quinolones in clinical isolates of Escherichia coli.

A study was conducted to detect the presence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) in 706 isolates of Escherichia coli, largely from outpatients (75.2%). The Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (formerly NCCLS)-recommended disk diffusion procedure was used to detect ESBL presence; the VITEK 2 system (bioMérieux, Marcy L'Etoile, France) was used to determine the susceptibility to antibiotics of clinical interest, and the ESBLs were characterized by biochemical study, determining the isoelectric point, and by molecular study with PCR.

Interference of antibiotics in the growth curves of oral streptococci.

The growth curve interference (GCI) induced by different antibiotics was studied using reference strains of oral streptococci. This parameter may prove to be useful in preventing subacute endocarditis of odontological origin in high-risk patients. The growth curves using different concentrations of antibiotics and with an initial optical density (OD) of 0.

Periodontal diseases: microbiological considerations.

The location of plaque-associated gingivitis at the gingival portion of the tooth plays an essential role in its genesis. However, at times local and other host response modifying factors also have an influence. The pathogeny of periodontitis is more complex.

[A study of clinical response to antibiotic treatment in subjects with chronic bacterial prostatitis].

A study was carried out on the clinical response to antibiotics in 105 patients with chronic bacterial prostatitis. Two groups of patients were compared in a retrospective study. The results of rectal examination, ultrasound scan, microbiological analysis, and response to different antibiotic therapy regimens were compared.

A new biotyping method for Streptococcus mutans with the API ZYM system.

OBJECTIVE: To test a new system for the biotyping of Streptococcus mutans, based on the measurement of enzyme activity, and to investigate the relationship between biotype and in vitro susceptibility to seven clinically useful antibiotics. METHODS: In total, 160 oral isolates of S. mutans were classified into different biotypes with the APIZYM test for enzyme activity, excluding results that were positive or negative in >80% of the strains.

Comparative study of the influence of melatonin and vitamin E on the surface characteristics of Escherichia coli.

Aims: Melatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland and that affects the response of various cell membranes to an oxidative stimulus.

Methods And Results: The present study evaluates the hydrophobic characteristics of Escherichia coli in response to melatonin (100 nmol l(-1), 200 micromol l(-1)) and to vitamin E (5 mg dl(-1)). A reduction was found in the surface hydrophobicity of E.

In vitro antibacterial activity of glass-ionomer cements.

The in vitro antibacterial activity of the glass-ionomer restorative cements Ketac-Cem, Ketac-Bond, Ketac-Silver and Vitrebond was studied in conjunction with 32 strains of five bacteria involved in the development of caries: Streptococcus spp., Lactobacillus spp., Actinomyces spp.

Antibacterial activity of resin adhesives, glass ionomer and resin-modified glass ionomer cements and a compomer in contact with dentin caries samples.

A total of 103 clinical samples of carious dentin were used to study the antibacterial action of different dental resin adhesive materials (Gluma 2000, Syntac, Prisma Universal Bond 3, Scotchbond Multi-Purpose and Prime&Bond 2.0) glass ionomer cements (Ketac-Cem, Ketac-Bond, Ketac-Silver, Ketac-Fil) resin-modified glass ionomer cements (Fuji II LC, Vitremer and Vitrebond) and a compomer (Dyract). The agar plate diffusion method was used for the microbial cultures and a chlorhexidine control.

Post-pH effect in oral streptococci.

Objectives: To study the post-pH effect (PpHE) in 11 strains of oral streptococci belonging to Streptococcus sanguis, S. mitis, S. gordonii, S.

The influence of different concentrations of melatonin on the cell surface hydrophobic characteristics of Neisseria meningitidis.

The cell surface hydrophobicity of micro-organisms is a characteristic that has been associated with the colonization of mammalian epithelia and with their capacity to induce diseases. Melatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland that affects the immune response mechanism. This study investigated, as an expression of the virulence of Neisseria meningitidis, how its hydrophobic characteristics were affected by exposure to increasing concentrations of melatonin.

[Analysis using ELISA test of antibody response to Fusobacterium nucleatum and Eikenella corrodens in subjects with periodontal disease].

Background: To know the synthesis of IgG, IgA, and IgM to Fusobacterium nucleatum and Eikenella corrodens in serum, crevicular liquid and saliva in subjects with periodontal disease, using ELISA test.

Patients And Methods: We studied 26 patients with high bias to the disease aged less than 35 years and 30 individuals with comparable age and with scarce bias to the disease.

Results: No differences were found for IgG and IgM titers between the groups, except for IgM to E.

In-vitro susceptibility, tolerance and glycocalyx production in Streptococcus mutans.

We studied the presence of high-level resistance to aminoglycosides, penicillin tolerance and glycocalyx production in 160 isolates of Streptococcus mutans. Susceptibility to amoxycillin, cefazolin, imipenem, erythromycin, clindamycin, vancomycin and teicoplanin was also investigated. Of the isolates analysed, 58.

Initial pH as a determining factor of glucose consumption and lactic and acetic acid production in oral streptococci.

Lactic and acetic acid production was evaluated from six strains of oral streptococci, viz Streptococcus gordonii, Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus oralis, Streptococcus salivarius, Streptococcus sanguis and Streptococcus sobrinus cultured in the presence of 1, 5, 10 mM glucose and without glucose, at initial pH values of 5, 5.5, 6 and 7. S.