In pregnant women with periodontitis, non-surgical periodontal therapy significantly reduced levels of periodontal pathogens. Baseline levels of selected periodontal pathogens or changes in these bacteria resulting from therapy were not associated with preterm birth.

Quantitative PCR (qPCR) has recently been used to quantify microorganisms in complex communities, including dental plaque biofilms. However, there is variability in the qPCR protocols being used. This study was designed to evaluate the validity of two of these variables with the intent of developing a more standardized qPCR protocol. The two variables evaluated were (1) the use of DNA content versus actual cell counts to estimate bacterial numbers in mixed plaque samples and (2) the effectiveness of three different universal primers versus species specific primers in amplifying specific target pathogens in these samples. Results lead to the development of a standardized protocol that was shown to be highly reproducible as demonstrated by low coefficients of variation. The results also confirmed that this standardized qPCR protocol can be used as a sensitive method for quantifying specific bacterial species in human plaque samples.

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Objectives: The authors present evidence that the d opioid receptor agonist Deltorphin-D variant (Delt-D var) and hibernating woodchuck plasma (HWP), but not summer-active woodchuck plasma (SAWP), can provide significant neuroprotection from focal ischemia in mice by a mechanism that relies in part on reducing nitric oxide (NO) release in ischemic tissue. Methods: Cerebral ischemia was produced in wild-type and NO synthase-deficient (NOS-⁄-) mice by transient, 1-hour middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Behavioral deficits were determined at 22 hours and infarct volume was assessed at 24 hours after MCAO. Mice were treated with saline or Delt-D var at 2.0 and 4.0 mg ⁄ kg, or 200 lL of HWP or SAWP. NOS-⁄-mice were treated with either saline or Delt-D var at 4.0 mg ⁄ kg. NO release was determined using an N9 microglial cell line pretreated with d-or l-specific opioids and HWP or SAWP prior to activation with lipopolysaccharide and interferon-c. Nitrate in the medium was measured as an indicator of NO production. Results: Infusion of Delt-D var or HWP (but not SAWP) decreased infarct volume and improved behav-ioral deficits following 1 hour of MCAO and 24 hours of reperfusion. In NOS-⁄-mice, endothelial NOS + ⁄ + is required to provide Delt-D var-induced neuroprotection. Delt-D var and HWP dose-dependently decreased NO release in cell culture, while SAWP and other d-and l-specific opioids did not. Conclusions: Delt-D var and HWP, but not SAWP, are effective neuroprotectant agents in a mouse model of transient MCAO. In cell culture, the mechanism of this ischemic neuroprotection may rely in part on their ability to block NO release. ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2008; 15:250-257 ª

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