Biomedical subjects

C M Flaitz

Publications and source records attributed to C M Flaitz.

147 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

Detection of fungal organisms in saliva from HIV-infected children: a preliminary cytologic analysis.

PURPOSE: Fungal infections in HIV-infected individuals are associated with advancement of disease. In pediatric HIV infection, symptomatic children have a significantly higher incidence of clinical candidiasis and persistent drug-resistant candidiasis than do asymptomatic HIV-infected children. The purpose of this preliminary cytologic study was to determine the prevalence of fungal organisms in whole unstimulated saliva from children with vertically acquired HIV infection. METHODS: The subjects included 27 HIV-infected and 11 HIV-exposed, but uninfected, children. Whole unstimulated saliva was obtained for cytologic evaluation (hematoxylin and eosin, silver stains) with selected samples evaluated by electron microscopy. RESULTS: Yeast and hyphae were identified cytologically in 19% of HIV-infected (22% symptomatic HIV-infected, 11% asymptomatic HIV-infected) and 9% of HIV-exposed, but uninfected, children. Fungal organisms were found more frequently in HIV-infected with moderate (18%) and severe (27%) suppression. Fungi were more frequent with antiretroviral therapy (22%) vs no antiretroviral therapy (0%) and no antifungal therapy (20%) vs. antifungal therapy (7%). Yeast and hyphal fungal forms are more prevalent in symptomatic HIV-infection with moderate and severe suppression, and those receiving antiretroviral agents, but no antifungal medications. CONCLUSION: Fungal organisms in the saliva may reflect oral carriage or mucosal colonization, which may influence the development of clinically significant candidiasis in these immunocompromised children.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Caries formation in vitro around a fluoride-releasing pit and fissure sealant in primary teeth.

The purpose of this in-vitro study was to compare the caries preventive effects of a fluoride releasing sealant (FS) with a conventional sealant (CS) using an artificial secondary caries system. Twelve primary teeth with caries-free buccal and lingual surfaces were selected for this study. The teeth were sectioned into quarters. Following a fluoride-free prophylaxis, cavity preparations were placed in the buccal and lingual surfaces of the tooth quarters, acid-etched and sealed with FS and CS per the manufacturer's instructions as follows: 1) mesiobuccal and mesiolingual quarters (FS, Fissurit-F, VocoChemie): and 2) distobuccal and distolingual quarters (CS, Fissurit, VocoChemie). The specimens were thermocycled (500 cycles) in artificial saliva and then exposed to an artificial caries system. Longitudinal sections were taken and examined by polarized light microscopy to determine mean surface lesion depth and presence of wall lesions, following lesion initiation (6 weeks of gel exposure) and lesion progression (9 weeks of gel exposure). Mean surface lesion depth was 124 mu for FS and 176 mu for CS (p < 0.05, paired t-test) after lesion initiation, and 167 mu for FS and 238 mu for CS (p < 0.05, paired t-test) after lesion progression. Wall lesions were less frequent (p > 0.05, paired t-test) with FS (21 percent initiation, 29 percent progression) than with CS (25 percent initiation, 38 percent progression). Improved caries resistance in enamel adjacent to a fluoride-releasing pit and fissure sealant may prove to be beneficial in reducing primary surface lesion depth during caries formation and progression, while decreasing caries susceptibility of enamel sealed with a fluoride-releasing pit and fissure sealant.

Acid Etching, Dental↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Saliva collection technique for cytologic, microbiologic and viral evaluation in pediatric HIV infection.

Acquisition of saliva for biologic, immunologic and chemical analyses has been extremely difficult in infants and young children due to lack of cooperation and motor skills necessary for expectorating adequately. The purpose of this study was to investigate a technique for obtaining satisfactory quantities of whole, unstimulated saliva in the typical dental operatory setting for cytologic, microbiologic and viral evaluation, while requiring minimal cooperation and motor skills from pediatric patients. A low vacuum-assisted aspiration device was utilized to obtain samples from infants and children who were at risk for vertically acquired HIV-infection (age-range 6 mos to 8 yrs). Adequate saliva samples were collected in 175 of 196 (89 percent) attempts in 88 of 89 (99 percent) children (2.3 samples/child). Saliva was not obtained in twenty-one attempts primarily due to xerostomia (62.5 percent). Saliva sample volume obtained was variable, ranging from 1.2 to 3.6 mls with a collection time of approximately three to five minutes. Cell block preparations were made from the saliva, which allowed for cytologic evaluation of sloughed superficial squamous cells, evaluation of oral flora, and detection of yeast and hyphal fungal forms. Adequate volumes of supernate were also available for microbiologic and viral cultures, immunologic studies and PCR study for various viral agents shed in the saliva. Use of a vacuum-assisted collection device for whole unstimulated saliva in infants and young children in the dental operatory setting provides adequate saliva for multiple analyses, which may provide information regarding HIV disease status and early diagnosis of opportunistic infections.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗