The 10 most recently published documents
Prothrombotic and Proinflammatory Activities of the β-Hemolytic Group B Streptococcal Pigment
(2019)
A prominent feature of severe streptococcal infections is the profound inflammatory response that contributes to systemic toxicity. In sepsis the dysregulated host response involves both immunological and nonimmunological pathways. Here, we report a fatal case of an immunocompetent healthy female presenting with toxic shock and purpura fulminans caused by group B streptococcus (GBS; serotype III, CC19). The strain (LUMC16) was pigmented and hyperhemolytic. Stimulation of human primary cells with hyperhemolytic LUMC16 and STSS/NF-HH strains and pigment toxin resulted in a release of proinflammatory mediators, including tumor necrosis factor, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6. In addition, LUMC16 induced blood clotting and showed factor XII activity on its surface, which was linked to the presence of the pigment. The expression of pigment was not linked to a mutation within the CovR/S region. In conclusion, our study shows that the hemolytic lipid toxin contributes to the ability of GBS to cause systemic hyperinflammation and interferes with the coagulation system.
The aims of this study were to 1) determine if continuous eruption occurs in the maxillary teeth, 2) assess the magnitude of the continuous eruption, and 3) evaluate the effects of continuous eruption on the different periodontal parameters by using data from the population-based cohort of the Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP). The jaw casts of 140 participants from the baseline (SHIP-0) and 16-y follow-up (SHIP-3) were digitized as 3-dimensional models. Robust reference points were set to match the tooth eruption stage at SHIP-0 and SHIP-3. Reference points were set on the occlusal surface of the contralateral premolar and molar teeth, the palatal fossa of an incisor, and the rugae of the hard palate. Reference points were combined to represent 3 virtual occlusal planes. Continuous eruption was measured as the mean height difference between the 3 planes and rugae fix points at SHIP-0 and SHIP-3. Probing depth, clinical attachment levels, gingiva above the cementoenamel junction (gingival height), and number of missing teeth were clinically assessed in the maxilla. Changes in periodontal variables were regressed onto changes in continuous eruption after adjustment for age, sex, number of filled teeth, and education or tooth wear. Continuous tooth eruption >1 mm over the 16 y was found in 4 of 140 adults and averaged to 0.33 mm, equaling 0.021 mm/y. In the total sample, an increase in continuous eruption was significantly associated with decreases in mean gingival height (B = −0.34; 95% CI, −0.65 to −0.03). In a subsample of participants without tooth loss, continuous eruption was negatively associated with PD. This study confirmed that continuous eruption is clearly detectable and may contribute to lower gingival heights in the maxilla.
Although a potential link between periodontitis and cardiorespiratory fitness might provide a reasonable explanation for effects of tooth-related alterations seen on cardiometabolic diseases, evidence is currently limited. Thus, we investigated the association between clinically assessed periodontitis and cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET). Data from 2 independent cross-sectional population-based studies (5-y follow-up of the Study of Health in Pomerania [SHIP-1; N = 1,639] and SHIP-Trend-0 [N = 2,439]) were analyzed. Participants received a half-mouth periodontal examination, and teeth were counted. CPET was based on symptom limited-exercise tests on a bicycle ergometer. Associations of periodontitis parameters with CPET parameters were analyzed by confounder-adjusted multivariable linear regression. In the total sample, mean pocket probing depth (PPD), mean clinical attachment levels, and number of teeth were consistently associated with peak oxygen uptake (peakVO2) and exercise duration in both studies, even after restriction to cardiorespiratory healthy participants. Statistically significant associations with oxygen uptake at anaerobic threshold (VO2@AT), slope of the efficiency of ventilation in removing carbon dioxide, and peak oxygen pulse (VÉ/VCO2 slope) occurred. Further, interactions with age were identified, such that mainly older individuals with higher levels of periodontal disease severity were associated with lower peakVO2. Restricted to never smokers, associations with mean clinical attachment levels and the number of teeth mostly diminished, while associations of mean PPD with peakVO2, VO2@AT, VÉ/VCO2 slope, and exercise duration in SHIP-1 and SHIP-Trend-0 were confirmed. In SHIP-1, mean peakVO2 was 1,895 mL/min in participants with a mean PPD of 1.6 mm and 1,809 mL/min in participants with a mean PPD of 3.7 mm. To conclude, only mean PPD reflecting current disease severity was consistently linked to cardiorespiratory fitness in 2 cross-sectional samples of the general population. If confirmed in well-designed large-scale longitudinal studies, the association between periodontitis and cardiorespiratory fitness might provide a biologically plausible mechanism linking periodontitis with cardiometabolic diseases.
