Candida and Other Fungal Species

In the last half-decade or so, interest in the bacterial part of the human microbiome and its role in maintaining health have received considerable attention. Since 2009, over 300 publications have appeared describing the oral bacterial microbiome. Strikingly, fungi in the oral cavity have been studied exclusively in relation to pathologies. However, little to nothing is known about a role of fungi in establishing and maintaining a healthy oral ecology. In a healthy ecology, balance is maintained by the combined positive and negative influences between and among its members. Interactions between fungi and bacteria occur primarily at a physical and chemical level. Physical interactions are represented by (co-)adhesion and repulsion (exclusion), while chemical interactions include metabolic dependencies, quorum-sensing, and the production of antimicrobial agents. Information obtained from oral model systems and also from studies on the role of fungi in gastro-intestinal ecology indicates that fungi influence bacterial behavior through these different interactions. This review describes our current knowledge of the interactions between fungi and bacteria and aims to illustrate that further research is required to establish the role of fungi in maintaining a healthy oral cavity.

Determination of leucine and alpha-ketoisocaproic acid concentrations and specific activity in plasma and leucine specific activities in proteins using high-performance liquid chromatography

Plasma concentrations and 3H and 14C specific activities (specific radioactivities) of leucine and alpha-ketoisocaproate (KIC) and leucine specific radioactivity in hydrolyzed tissue and plasma proteins were determined using an automated isocratic high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) system. Within-day variability of leucine and KIC specific radioactivity in plasma was congruent to 1%, whereas that observed for leucine derived from protein hydrolysis was congruent to 5%. Day-to-day variability of leucine and KIC specific radioactivity in plasma was congruent to 5% and in protein-derived leucine congruent to 6%. In addition, an indirect method is described to measure low specific activities of [3H]- and [14C]leucine derived from the hydrolysis of in vivo labeled proteins with low turnover rates (skeletal muscle and diaphragm). In proteins with higher turnover rates (fibrin, kidney, liver, jejunum and heart muscle), this indirect method gave similar results to the direct HPLC method. Using these methods, fractional protein synthetic rates in a variety of tissues can be accurately determined using radioisotopes of KIC and/or leucine.

Effect of a zinc phosphate suspension of a long-acting somatostatin analog on postprandial plasma glucose, triglyceride and glucagon concentrations in alloxan diabetic dogs

The effects of a zinc phosphate suspension of a long-acting, reportedly selective somatostatin analog, Des-Ala1,Gly2 [His4,5,D-Try]-somatostatin (100 micrograms/kg) on postprandial plasma glucose, glucagon, xylose and triglyceride levels were evaluated in alloxan diabetic dogs. Compared to the analog in aqueous solution, the zinc phosphate suspension had a more gradual onset of action in suppressing plasma glucose and xylose levels but a similar onset of action on suppression of plasma triglyceride and glucagon responses. On all these responses, the zinc suspension had a duration of action (greater than 6 hrs) at least three times as long as the aqueous solution. We conclude that such a somatostatin analog in zinc phosphate suspension may have a sufficient duration of action to be useful as an adjunct to insulin in the treatment of diabetes mellitus.