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More reasons to look after your teeth
SCIENCE AND MEDICINE
Nanobacteria may lie at the heart of kidney stones of 0·2–0·5m and are the smallest known cell-walled bacteria. Although hard to detect, nanobacteria have been found in human and cow blood and are cytotoxic in vitro and in vivo. By examining nanobacterial 16S rRNA, Kajander, Çiftçioglu, and coworkers have put nanobacteria in the -2 subgroup of Proteobacteria, a subgroup that includes Brucella and Bartonella species. The researchers now Bacteria in Tourette’s syndrome? report that nanobacteria The idea that antibodies made in response to produce carbonate apatite streptococcal infection may attack brain nerve on their cell envelope cells in some children with Tourette’s syndrome during growth. Mineral has long been proposed. A new study shows that aggregates “closely children with the syndrome had “higher serum resembling those found in levels of antineuronal antibodies against putamen tissue calcification and than did controls”. But, the relation of these kidney stones” form antibodies to streptococcal infection “remains around nanobacteria in equivocal” (Neurology 1998; 50: 1618–24). serum-free medium. The authors describe these
eposits of insoluble calcium salts can occur at several sites in the body but how they form is unclear. Now, Olavi Kajander and Neva Çiftçioglu (University of Kuopio, Finland) propose that very small bacteria—nanobacteria—may act as crystallisation centres for the initiation of kidney stones and other pathological calcifications. Nanobacteria have a cell diameter
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More reasons to look after your teeth lated with elevated counts of white arly data from the ARIC blood cells, lowered serum albumin, (Atherosclerosis Risk In and to a lesser extent, elevated Communities) trial are helping to fibrinogen concentrations. revive the focal-infection theory that In the dental substudy, DARIC, links oral and systemic disease. In the James Beck and Stephen Offenbacher prospective US community study, (UNC School of Dentistry) found moderate and late-stage periodontitis that moderate-to-severe periodontitis were consistently associated with was associated with increased risk of thickening of the both coronary heart coronary arteries as disease (CHD) and well as with other type 2 diabetes, early signs of CHD. delegates learned at Offenbacher conthe annual meeting cluded that periof the International odontal disease Association for should be considered Dental Research a risk factor for CHD (Nice, France; June equivalent to raised 24–27). cholesterol values or The emerging At the root of systemic disease? smoking. ARIC data were In addition, other research suggests reported by a research group from the links between periodontal disease and University of North Carolina (UNC; several important disease states, noted Chapel Hill, NC, USA) who sugOffenbacher. These disorders include gested that infection should be added not only atherosclerosis and myocarto the list of risk factors for cardiovasdial infarction, but also stroke, pneucular disease and type 2 diabetes. monia, osteoporosis, and obstetric Furthermore, in follow-up data from complications leading to spontaneous 12 000 people without diabetes in premature labour. four communities, Maria Ines New delivery systems for local Schmidt of the Department of administration of antibiotics were also Epidemiology at UNC found an assodescribed at the meeting. Thus, there ciation between concentrations of seems to be considerable scope for tumour necrosis factor- and key prevention and treatment of infection markers of infection and inflammaat the oral level, which could have an tion. impact on chronic systemic diseases. During the 3-year project, 714 new cases of type 2 diabetes occurred, and the risk of developing diabetes correJames Magee Science Photo Library
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THE LANCET • Vol 352 • July 11, 1998
micrometre-thick mineral layers as “dwelling places” for the organisms. When they looked at 30 human kidney stones, all stained positively with nanobacteria-specific monoclonal antibodies. Bacteria with a morphological appearance consistent with nanobacteria were present in strongly stained stones (Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1998; 95: 8274–79). The scientists suggest that apatite produced by nanobacteria may “play a key role in the formation of all kidney stones” by making a central calcium phosphate deposit around which other crystalline components can collect. And, they add: “The possible role of nanobacteria in a variety of pathological calcification conditions [eg, in atherosclerotic plaques] is under investigation.” Jane Bradbury
News in brief More nvCJD According to UK Department of Health figures, definite and probable cases of newvariant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease numbered 27 by the end of May. Pass the nicotine patch Quitting smoking is obviously beneficial, but acute nicotine withdrawal may have adverse effects. When up to 2 million smokers stayed off cigarettes for UK No Smoking Day, non-fatal accidents in the workplace rose significantly. The investigators conclude that wider use of nicotine replacement might be beneficial (Nature 1998; 394: 137). Spotlight on childhood care On July 8, UNICEF released their annual league tables that rank nations according to the wellbeing of their children. Progress of Nations 1998 focuses on immunisation, teenage births, and civil rights (see http://www.unicef.org). Neuroprotection from cannabis Cannabis compounds (cannabinoids), particularly the non-psychoactive compound cannabidiol, can protect neurons from glutamateinduced death in vitro. This finding may point the way to useful drugs for treatment of cerebral ischaemia (Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1998: 95: 8268–73).
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Nanobacteria may lie at the heart of kidney stones of 0·2–0·5m and are the smallest known cell-walled bacteria. Although hard to detect, nanobacteria have been found in human and cow blood and are cytotoxic in vitro and in vivo. By examining nanobacterial 16S rRNA, Kajander, Çiftçioglu, and coworkers have put nanobacteria in the -2 subgroup of Proteobacteria, a subgroup that includes Brucella and Bartonella species. The researchers now Bacteria in Tourette’s syndrome? report that nanobacteria The idea that antibodies made in response to produce carbonate apatite streptococcal infection may attack brain nerve on their cell envelope cells in some children with Tourette’s syndrome during growth. Mineral has long been proposed. A new study shows that aggregates “closely children with the syndrome had “higher serum resembling those found in levels of antineuronal antibodies against putamen tissue calcification and than did controls”. But, the relation of these kidney stones” form antibodies to streptococcal infection “remains around nanobacteria in equivocal” (Neurology 1998; 50: 1618–24). serum-free medium. The authors describe these
eposits of insoluble calcium salts can occur at several sites in the body but how they form is unclear. Now, Olavi Kajander and Neva Çiftçioglu (University of Kuopio, Finland) propose that very small bacteria—nanobacteria—may act as crystallisation centres for the initiation of kidney stones and other pathological calcifications. Nanobacteria have a cell diameter
D
More reasons to look after your teeth lated with elevated counts of white arly data from the ARIC blood cells, lowered serum albumin, (Atherosclerosis Risk In and to a lesser extent, elevated Communities) trial are helping to fibrinogen concentrations. revive the focal-infection theory that In the dental substudy, DARIC, links oral and systemic disease. In the James Beck and Stephen Offenbacher prospective US community study, (UNC School of Dentistry) found moderate and late-stage periodontitis that moderate-to-severe periodontitis were consistently associated with was associated with increased risk of thickening of the both coronary heart coronary arteries as disease (CHD) and well as with other type 2 diabetes, early signs of CHD. delegates learned at Offenbacher conthe annual meeting cluded that periof the International odontal disease Association for should be considered Dental Research a risk factor for CHD (Nice, France; June equivalent to raised 24–27). cholesterol values or The emerging At the root of systemic disease? smoking. ARIC data were In addition, other research suggests reported by a research group from the links between periodontal disease and University of North Carolina (UNC; several important disease states, noted Chapel Hill, NC, USA) who sugOffenbacher. These disorders include gested that infection should be added not only atherosclerosis and myocarto the list of risk factors for cardiovasdial infarction, but also stroke, pneucular disease and type 2 diabetes. monia, osteoporosis, and obstetric Furthermore, in follow-up data from complications leading to spontaneous 12 000 people without diabetes in premature labour. four communities, Maria Ines New delivery systems for local Schmidt of the Department of administration of antibiotics were also Epidemiology at UNC found an assodescribed at the meeting. Thus, there ciation between concentrations of seems to be considerable scope for tumour necrosis factor- and key prevention and treatment of infection markers of infection and inflammaat the oral level, which could have an tion. impact on chronic systemic diseases. During the 3-year project, 714 new cases of type 2 diabetes occurred, and the risk of developing diabetes correJames Magee Science Photo Library
E
THE LANCET • Vol 352 • July 11, 1998
micrometre-thick mineral layers as “dwelling places” for the organisms. When they looked at 30 human kidney stones, all stained positively with nanobacteria-specific monoclonal antibodies. Bacteria with a morphological appearance consistent with nanobacteria were present in strongly stained stones (Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1998; 95: 8274–79). The scientists suggest that apatite produced by nanobacteria may “play a key role in the formation of all kidney stones” by making a central calcium phosphate deposit around which other crystalline components can collect. And, they add: “The possible role of nanobacteria in a variety of pathological calcification conditions [eg, in atherosclerotic plaques] is under investigation.” Jane Bradbury
News in brief More nvCJD According to UK Department of Health figures, definite and probable cases of newvariant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease numbered 27 by the end of May. Pass the nicotine patch Quitting smoking is obviously beneficial, but acute nicotine withdrawal may have adverse effects. When up to 2 million smokers stayed off cigarettes for UK No Smoking Day, non-fatal accidents in the workplace rose significantly. The investigators conclude that wider use of nicotine replacement might be beneficial (Nature 1998; 394: 137). Spotlight on childhood care On July 8, UNICEF released their annual league tables that rank nations according to the wellbeing of their children. Progress of Nations 1998 focuses on immunisation, teenage births, and civil rights (see http://www.unicef.org). Neuroprotection from cannabis Cannabis compounds (cannabinoids), particularly the non-psychoactive compound cannabidiol, can protect neurons from glutamateinduced death in vitro. This finding may point the way to useful drugs for treatment of cerebral ischaemia (Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1998: 95: 8268–73).
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