Patrícia de Maria Silva Figueiredo

In vitro differential activity of phospholipases and acid proteinases of clinical isolates of Candida

INTRODUCTION Candida yeasts are commensals; however, if the balance of normal flora is disrupted or the immune defenses are compromised, Candida species can cause disease manifestations. Several attributes contribute to the virulence and pathogenicity of Candida, including the production of extracellular hydrolytic enzymes, particularly phospholipase and proteinase. This study aimed to investigate the in vitro activity of phospholipases and acid proteinases in clinical isolates of Candida spp. METHODS Eighty-two isolates from hospitalized patients collected from various sites of origin were analyzed. Phospholipase production was performed in egg yolk medium and the production of proteinase was verified in a medium containing bovine serum albumin. The study was performed in triplicate. RESULTS Fifty-six (68.3%) of isolates tested were phospholipase positive and 16 (44.4%) were positive for proteinase activity. C. tropicalis was the species with the highest number of positive isolates for phospholipase (91.7%). Statistically significant differences were observed in relation to production of phospholipases among species(p<0,0001) and among the strains from different sites of origin (p=0.014). Regarding the production of acid protease, the isolates of C. parapsilosis tested presented a larger number of producers (69.2%). Among the species analyzed, the percentage of protease producing isolates did not differ statistically (χ2=1.9 p=0.5901 (χ2=1.9 p=0.5901). CONCLUSIONS The majority of C. non-albicans and all C. albicans isolates were great producers of hydrolytic enzymes and,consequently, might be able to cause infection under favorable conditions.

PREVALÊNCIA E PRODUÇÃO DE ENZIMAS POR ISOLADOS DE Candida PROVENIENTES DE AMOSTRAS DE SECREÇÃO VAGINAL

Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) ranks second among causes of vaginitis. Candida albicans is responsible for the majority of symptomatic episodes of VVC. However, one fact to consider is the increase of infections by species of non-C. albicans, which contribute to high rates of recurrence and resistance. The purpose of this study was to isolate Candida spp. samples from vaginal discharge, determine the prevalence of the species and assess the production of hydrolytic enzymes (proteases, phospholipases, hemolysins, catalase, and gelatinases) in clinical isolates. 144 samples from patients treated at a public hospital in São Luis-MA were analyzed. The production of hydrolytic enzymes was determined in triplicate with specific methods. Statistical analysis was performed using the x2, Kruskal-Wallis and Student-Newman-Keuh tests. Ninety patients had positive cultures for Candida spp. Candida parapsilosis was the main isolated species (43.3%). Forty-three patients (47.8%) showed clinical manifestations that suggested VVC. The correlation between the presence of Candida species and the presence or absence of symptoms was not statistically significant (x = 3.22, p = 0.073). The expression of enzymes by Candida spp. isolates was recorded with percentages: hemolysins (80%), phospholipases (8.9%), proteinases (17.8%), catalase (64.4%) and gelatinases (10.0%). Statistically significant differences were observed among the isolates for expression of phospholipases (p=0.0005), with C. albicans being the largest producer and for catalase (p=0.0045) with C. parapsilosis and C. albicans the species with increased expression. This study shows a predominance of non-albicans species in vulvovaginal samples and most of the isolates were producers of hemolysin and catalase, which may contribute to the virulence of the strains of Candida spp. and the development of vaginal infection under appropriate conditions.

Morning salivary cortisol with regard to gender in individuals with perceived facial pain

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Facial pain seems to be related to physiological responses to stress and sexual dimorphism. However, the relationship among facial pain, cortisol secretion and gender has been poorly investigated. This study aimed to investigate differences in morning salivary cortisol profile between males and females either with or without perceived facial pain symptoms. METHODS: Participated in the study 39 individuals reporting facial pain and 33 painless controls of both genders. Facial pain symptoms were evaluated with Axis II Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders, which has supplied chronic pain scores. Saliva was collected in the morning to obtain cortisol peaks, being stored for further use. Salivary cortisol levels were evaluated by immunosorbent assay. Statistical analysis has included hypotheses tests and ANOVA with significance level of 5% and a binary logistic regression, which has tested the association between gender, cortisol and each facial pain symptom. RESULTS: There has been no association between facial pain and gender. Cortisol levels were similar among individuals with and without facial pain, regardless of gender. The adjusted model has shown that most symptoms were not associated to gender, regardless of cortisol levels. CONCLUSION: In individuals with and without facial pain symptoms, morning salivary cortisol levels regulation has been similar for both genders.

1676Salivary Levels of Streptococcus mutans in Individuals with Temporomandibular Disorders

Background. Individuals with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) may experience higher levels of psychological stress and chronic pain, as well as some biochemical and immunological salivary changes; however, microbiological parameters related to dental caries have not yet been investigated in this population. The aim was to evaluate whether TMD patients present higher levels of Streptococcus mutans in saliva. Methods. Cross-sectional study which included 39 patients with TMD, selected according to the Fonseca’s questionnaire and the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD), and other 33 individuals with no TMD symptoms (control group). The volunteers were classified according to their caries risk in low, intermediate or high risk. Unstimulated saliva samples were collected from both TMD and the control group on the morning shift from 9 to 11am, at least one hour after the last meal. Aliquots of 100mL of each saliva sample were diluted, plated on Mitis Salivarius Agar containing Bacitracin, and then they were incubated (5% CO2, 37°C, 48 hours) in order to quantify S. mutans levels (CFU/mL); the colonies growth was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results. When the Student’s t-test was applied, there was no statistically significant difference between the TMD and the control group (p > 0.05). Conclusion. Individuals with TMD did not show higher levels of S. mutans in saliva than the control group. Further studies investigating such a relationship should be carried out. Disclosures. L. V. Galvão-Moreira, FAPEMA: Grant Investigator, Research grant and Research support C. Monteiro De Andrade, FAPEMA: Grant Investigator, Research grant P. D. M. Silva Figueiredo, FAPEMA: Grant Investigator, Research support L. S. Branco-De-Almeida, FAPEMA: Grant Investigator, Research support