Maria Belazi

Candidal overgrowth in diabetic patients: potential predisposing factors

This study was designed to investigate the potential factors that influence the prevalence of the oral carriage of Candida species in patients with type II diabetes mellitus. One hundred and twenty‐eight diabetic patients (68 males and 60 females, mean age 54 ± 7 years) were sequentially enrolled along with 84 (44 males and 40 females mean age 52 ± 8 years) healthy subjects. Samples were obtained by swabbing the oral mucosa of all participants. Yeast isolates were identified by germ tube test, with API 32 ID system, and by chlamydospore production on ‘cornmeal’ Tween‐80 agar. Candida spp. was recovered from the oral cavity of 64% of the diabetic group, in contrast to 40% of the control group. Candida albicans was the most frequently isolated species in both groups. Potential etiologic factors such as xerostomia, dentures, age, gender and diabetes on oral carriage of Candida spp. were evaluated. The oral carriage of Candida spp. was significantly higher in ‘diabetic’ patients compared with the healthy subjects but it seems that parameters such as xerostomia, dentures, age, gender and glycemic control cannot be directly associated with Candida growth in the oral cavity in the presence of diabetes.

Concurrence of torus palatinus with palatal and buccal exostoses. Case report and review of the literature

Exostoses, also known as hyperostoses, are localized bony protuberances that arise from the cortical plate. These developmental anomalies, or hamartomas, frequently affect the skeletal jaw. Different types of exostoses have been described. Torus palatinus and torus mandibularis are two of the most common intraoral exostoses. Other types of exostoses, affecting the palatal aspect of the maxilla (palatal exostoses) or the buccal aspects of the jaws (buccal exostoses), are less commonly encountered. Concurrence of different forms of exostoses in the same individual is very rare. A 48-year-old woman manifesting excessive palatal exostoses, torus palatinus, and buccal exostoses is described. We present the clinical and histopathologic features and applied therapy and provide a comprehensive review of the current features of exostoses.

Epidemiologic survey of pemphigus vulgaris with oral manifestations in northern Greece: Retrospective study of 129 patients

Objective  To evaluate the epidemiology of pemphigus vulgaris (PV) in a Greek population and to compare it with other countries.

Histopathological and Immunohistochemical Features of the Labial Salivary Glands in Children With Type I Diabetes

The aim of this study was to investigate the morphological alterations of labial salivary glands in children with type I diabetes. For this purpose labial salivary glands under local anesthesia were excised from the lower lip of ten diabetic children at the onset of diabetes (mean age, 10 years). Additionally ten similar biopsies were obtained from ten healthy children (mean age, 9 years). The tissues were conventionally processed and embedded in paraffin wax. The first section was stained with hematoxylin/eosin, while two additional sections were stained immunohistochemically using the indirect immunoperoxidase avidin-biotin method to detect T and B lymphocytes. The results showed that a mononuclear infiltration was apparent in all diabetic children. Lymphocytes were particularly seen around various ducts. In contrast, the salivary glands of healthy controls were free of infiltrates. The immunohistochemical analysis showed that the majority of these cells were T cells. B cells were found to a lesser extent. These findings indicate that a destruction of labial salivary glands takes place in type I diabetes. This phenomenon is T-cell mediated. The similarity of this condition with the insulitis suggests that labial salivary glands and pancreas may share a common antigen that might be the target of the autoimmune process in type I diabetes.

Glutamic acid decarboxylase autoantibodies in saliva of children with type 1 diabetes.

The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) autoantibodies in the saliva of children with type 1 diabetes. A total of 30 diabetic children were used in this study while 80 healthy individuals of similar age were used as controls. Total saliva and peripheral blood was collected from all diabetic children and controls. Determination of GAD autoantibodies was performed using an enzyme immunoassay (Varelisa) which is based on a recombinant human GAD65. The results of this study showed that GAD autoantibodies were found to be present in 21 out of 30 diabetic serum samples, while they were present in all samples of diabetic saliva. In contrast, they were absent from serum and saliva of healthy controls. Since GAD is considered one of the basic antigenic targets of the autoimmune process in type 1 diabetes in the pancreatic beta cells, its presence in the saliva may be relevant as a predictive marker.

Comparison of salivary IgA and systemic IgA and IgG antibodies to Saccharomyces cerevisiae in HIV-infected subjects

Our objective was to investigate the concentrations of IgA and IgG antibodies to Saccharomyces cerevisiae in whole saliva and serum samples from HIV-infected patients and to compare them with the corresponding antibody values of healthy controls. A cross-sectional design was used. The test group consisted of 23 HIV-infected male individuals, aged 20-41 years old, free of any other systemic disease. Twenty healthy subjects aged 27-43 years old served as controls. Whole unstimulated saliva and blood were collected from all subjects. IgA concentrations in saliva and IgA and IgG concentrations in serum were measured by solid-phase enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Salivary antibody concentrations were calculated by reference to a pooled standard saliva obtained from 10 healthy males with high levels of anti-S. cerevisiae antibody activity. Total IgA and IgG concentrations were measured by nephelometry/tholocymetry assay. No significant difference was observed in salivary specific IgA and serum specific IgG levels to S. cerevisiae, while serum specific IgA were significantly lower in HIV infected patients compared to control group. Opportunistic infections due to S. cerevisiae, although rare, cannot be dismissed. This yeast can show a potential virulence in debilitated patients, therefore, further extensive investigation should be considered.