Mouth Research Articles

Association between oral frailty and Prevotella percentage in the oral microbiota of community‐dwelling older adults who participated in the CHEER Iwamizawa project, Japan

AbstractBackgroundPrevotella bacteria are associated with inherent diseases of the oral cavity, such as periodontal disease, and systemic diseases. Oral frailty (OF) has been associated with nursing necessity and death. However, the relationship between OF and oral microbiota has not been fully clarified.ObjectiveThis cross‐sectional study investigated the association between OF and Prevotella percentage in the oral microbiota of community‐dwelling older adults.MethodsOral bacteria species from saliva were identified in 208 community‐dwelling older individuals aged ≥60 years in Japan. The proportion of Prevotella in the oral microbiota was classified into three tertile groups, and its relationship with each test item for OF (number of remaining teeth, masticatory performance, oral diadochokinesis, tongue pressure, difficulties eating tough foods, difficulties swallowing tea or soup, number of applicable OF judgement items, and existence of OF) was examined using ordinal logistic regression analysis.ResultsThe Prevotella proportions were classified into lower, middle and upper groups, comprising 70, 69 and 69 participants, respectively. The three groups showed a significant relationship between the number of remaining teeth (odds ratio [OR]: 0.946, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.915–0.977), masticatory performance (OR: 0.897, 95% CI: 0.844–0.953), number of applicable OF judgement items (OR: 1.477, 95% CI: 1.14–1.915), and existence of OF (OR: 4.194, 95% CI: 1.519–11.576).ConclusionThe proportion of Prevotella in oral microbiota was high in individuals with OF. Among the older adults, the type of oral microbiota and systemic diseases may be related to the examination and management of oral function decline.

Effectiveness of Using Linanty Smart Dent Alarm As A Reminder to Brush Teeth for Primary School Age Children In Medan City

According to the data on the number of dental caries in elementary school students in Medan City is quite high, with an average value of caries of 6, meaning that there are 6 caries teeth in each child's oral cavity, One of the efforts made to remind and attract the attention of children to routinely brush their teeth properly and correctly is to make a media, introduce and use a reminder alarm to brush children's teeth that is packaged as attractive as possible, Embedded brushing song also as an alarm tone. This study aims to determine the effectiveness of using Linanty Smart Dent Alarm as a reminder to brush the teeth of elementary school-age children in the city of Medan. The first year of research (in 2023) carried out the creation of Linanty Smart Dent Alarm, to produce Alarm media embedded with brushing songs, the distal alarm sounds at the time of 2 minimum brushing times, namely, after breakfast and before going to bed at night. In obtaining the results of Linanty Smart Dent Alarm, trials were carried out by experts, namely by media experts, psychologists and education experts. In obtaining the results of Linanty Smart Dent Alarm, trials were carried out by experts, namely by media experts, psychologists and education experts and tested for feasibility by elementary school students. Due diligence results of 86.7% stated that Linanty Smart Dent Alarm is useful and very feasible to use.

New records of helminth infections in Bothrops atrox Linnaeus, 1758 from Marajó Island-Brazil and a literature review with a check list of helminths infecting Bothrops species (Squamata, Viperidae) in the neotropical region

Snakes of the genus Bothrops inhabit tropical forests in Central and South America and are important for the biomedical and pharmaceutical industries because of the chemical properties of their venom. They serve as either definitive or intermediate hosts for many parasitic helminths. The Marajó Island (Brazil) is the natural habitat of venomous snakes, Bothrops atrox and Bothrops marajoensis, which are often found around rural and peri-urban areas and are known to bite humans. Samples of helminths parasitizing the oral cavity, subcutaneous tissues, coelomic cavity, and intestine of four B. atrox from Marajó Island (Pará-Brazil) were collected. The specimens studied were taxonomically classified as trematodes of the species Stycholecitha serpentis, nematodes of the genera Eustrongylides and Camallanus and cystacanths of an acanthocephalan of the genus Centrorhynchus. The aims of the present study were: to record helminths found in B. atrox from the Marajó Island; to discuss their role as definitive, intermediate, or paratenic hosts; and to compile a list of helminths that have been recorded in snakes of the genus Bothrops of the Neotropical region.

Verruciformes Xanthom an der linken Wange bei einer 56-jährigen Patientin – Diagnostik, Therapie und Nachsorge

The oral verruciform xanthoma (OVX) is a rare, benign lesion that occurs predominantly in the masticatory region of the oral cavity. The OVX is small, slow growing, and mostly free of clinical symptoms. The exact pathogenesis is unknown, and a viral etiology such as from a human papillomavirus (HPV) infection has not been proven. Although primarily observed in healthy individuals, there have been cases in patients with autoimmune diseases and with chronic graft-versus-host disease (GvHD). The treatment of choice is complete excision of the lesion. This case report showcases a successful surgical removal of an oral verruciform xanthoma on the left buccal mucosa in a 56-year-old patient with GvHD 14 years after allo-genic stem cell transplantation due to a Non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Kurnia's Web-Based Drill Method Can Measure the Level of Toothbrushing Skills of Blind Children

Background: Blind children have limited vision so that the health of the oral cavity is lower than that of children with normal vision. To improve the dental and oral health of blind children, a change in skills is needed. Choosing the right method of delivering educational material is very helpful in changing target skills. Kurnia's Web-based Drill method with audio modification can be an innovation in providing dental and oral health education. Where audio media that relies on sound can help optimize the sense of hearing that is still functioning so that the message conveyed can be easily remembered and understood by blind children.Research Objective: Build a web-based model of Kurnia's Drill method to improve toothbrushing skills in blind children.Methods: Research and Development (RD) and model testing (Quasi-Experimental Control Group Pretest and Posttest Design studies). The research subjects of blind children were divided into 2 groups, namely intervention and control. The results of the model design are validated by experts. The data were tested using intraclass, paired t-test and independent t-test correlation coefficients.Results: Kurnia's Drill web-based method is feasible as an educational model for dental health maintenance in blind children (p= 0.000). The implementation of this model effectively improved the brushing skills of blind children (p= 0.047) and decreased the debris index of blind children (p= 0.000) compared to the control group.Conclusion: Kurnia's Drill web-based method effectively improves brushing skills and decreases debris index in visually impaired children.

Knowledge of Maintaining Dental and Oral Health for Pregnant Women in Baki District

Physiological processes that occur during pregnancy can cause hormonal changes and affect the oral cavity. Oral problems during pregnancy, such as periodontal disease, gingivitis, tooth erosion, halitosis, and epulis of pregnancy not only impact the mother but can also cause adverse pregnancy outcomes such as premature birth, low birth weight, preeclampsia to premature rupture of membranes. Many pregnant women do not care about the possible adverse effects of dental and oral diseases on pregnancy. This shows that the majority of pregnant women only focus on pregnancy and do not reduce dental and oral health. The occurrence of dental and oral diseases during pregnancy is not only influenced by the pregnancy itself but also the lack of knowledge about maintaining oral health it affects poor behavior in maintaining dental and oral health. The aim of this study was to find out the description of knowledge about maintaining the oral and dental health of pregnant women in Baki District. This research is a type of observational research with a cross-sectional study approach, and quantitative data, and is presented descriptively. The number of respondents in this study was 55 pregnant women in Baki District. Data collection techniques in this study used a questionnaire that had been tested for validity and reliability tests. Research data were analyzed using univariate analysis. The results showed that the proportion of pregnant women's level of knowledge about maintaining oral health was highest in the poor category, which was 69.1% with an average value of knowledge of pregnant women was 6.82. The conclusion of the study is that the level of knowledge regarding maintaining the oral and dental health of pregnant women in Baki District is still lacking.

Unravelling Quality of Life for Head and Neck Cancer Patients after VMAT Radiation Therapy: Insights from Toxicity, Dosimetry and Symptoms Correlation.

(1) Background: Head and neck cancer treatment, including advanced techniques like Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT), presents challenges for maintaining patient quality of life (QoL). Thus, thoroughly investigating how radiation therapy (RT) affects patients has been proved essential. Derived by that, this study aims to understand the complex interactions between not only RT and QoL but also symptom severity, and treatment-related toxicities in three distinct time points of patient's treatment; (2) Methods: To achieve that, EORTC-QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-H&N35 questionnaires were used in combination with EORTC_RTOG scoring criteria and Spearman's rho statistical analysis for 74 patients with cancer undergoing VMAT radiation therapy; (3) Results: The results revealed a significant improvement in the Overall Health Index post-treatment, indicating a temporary decline during therapy followed by subsequent recovery, often surpassing pre-treatment QoL levels. Concurrently a reduction in symptomatology was observed, notably in pain, swallowing difficulties, and dry mouth, aligning with prior research indicating decreased symptom burden post-treatment. However, Spearman's correlation coefficient analysis at two distinct time points during therapy uncovered varying degrees of correlation between dosimetric data at Organs at Risk (OARs) and reported symptoms, highlighting potential limitations in using QoL questionnaires as sole indicators of treatment efficacy. Our investigation into the correlation between dosimetric data, toxicity, and symptoms focused on the relationship between radiation doses and oral mucositis levels, a common toxicity in head and neck cancer patients. Significant associations were identified between toxicity levels and dosimetric parameters, particularly with OARs such as the parotid glands, oral cavity, and swallowing muscles, underlining the utility of the EORTC method as a reliable toxicity assessment tool; (4) Conclusions: To summarize, current research attempts to underscore the importance of refining QoL assessments for enhanced patient care. The integration of dosimetric data, symptom severity, and treatment-related toxicities in the QoL outcomes of head and neck cancer patients undergoing VMAT radiation therapy, can lead towards the optimization of treatment strategies and the improvement of patient outcomes in future patient-centered radiation therapy practices.

A founder deletion in ECM1 of 1163 bp causes lipoid proteinosis in the southeast region of Turkiye.

Lipoid proteinosis (LP) is an inherited disorder characterized by the accumulation of hyaline-like material in the skin, oral cavity, and larynx. The primary symptoms include hoarseness, restricted tongue movements, and various skin lesions. LP is caused by biallelic pathogenic variants in the ECM1 gene. We studied 20 patients from nine different families with LP, 19 of whom are from Şanlıurfa in the southeastern region of Turkiye. Overall, the clinical features of the patient cohort were consistent with those mentioned in the literature, except for one exhibited an atrophoderma vermiculatum-like lesion, which is atypical for LP. The clinical exome sequencing analysis revealed three different homozygous variants in the ECM1 gene (NM_004425). While c.1246C>T p.(Arg416*) on Exon 8 and c.806G>A p.(Cys269Tyr) on Exon 7 were detected in 1 patient each, an intragenic deletion of 1163 base-pairs including Exons 9 and 10 (c.1304 + 33_*300del) was identified in 18 patients from 7 unrelated families. The haplotype analysis of the deletion variant indicated a founder effect in the families from the Şanlıurfa province of Turkiye. Based on all this information, copy number variation analysis is recommended for patients with LP. In addition to this rare observation, this study represents the largest examination of the molecular spectrum of LP patients in Turkiye, alongside the clinical spectrum.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease as a risk factor of dental hard tissues erosions

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common chronic disease leading to a spontaneous and regular retrograde flow of gastric and/or duodenal contents into the esophagus. Reflux of the gastric contents into the oral cavity refers to the extraesophageal presentation of the disease, which, in the absence of timely treatment, can result in erosion of dental hard tissue (EDHT) through repeated exposure of the dental tissue to acidic contents. EDHT are non-carious lesions of the dental hard tissues (mainly enamel, and in some cases dentin), induced by a chemical reaction involving acids, which results in demineralization processes. The incidence rates of EDHT in adult patients with GERD are 32.5–51.5%. The EDHT in GERD develops in stages. Initially, the gradual degradation of tooth pelicula happens when it gradually becomes decayed by repeated acidic attacks. The loss of the pelicula results in direct contact of hydrochloric acid refluxate with the enamel surface and initiation of its demineralization at pH < 5.5 with dissolution of hydroxyapatite crystals. Given the high prevalence of GERD in the population, it seems important to update an integrated approach to the treatment of such patients, which involves pharmacotherapy provided by the gastroenterologist, as well as prevention and minimally invasive treatment of presentations in the oral cavity by the dentist. Patients with EDHT due to GERD need to maintain individual oral hygiene (use mouth washes with a neutral pH level, avoid abrasive toothpastes), use remineralization therapy at home applying remogels (Tooth Mousse), and also be observed by a dentist as part of the follow-up care. Minimally invasive treatment by the dentist involves restorations using composite tooth filling materials and ceramic veneers. It is reasonable to empirically use proton pump inhibitors twice a day for 3 months for the direct treatment of GERD in patients with EDHT.

Electrochemotherapy (ECT) in treatment of mucosal head and neck tumors. An international network for sharing practices on ECT (InspECT) study group report

The aim of this multicenter study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of electrochemotherapy (ECT) for the treatment of mucosal tumors in the head and neck.A total of 71 patients with 84 nodules of different histologies in the oral cavity, pharynx and larynx treated by ECT were evaluated. The data were collected from the InspECT database from 10 participating centers throughout Europe.Primary and recurrent/secondary tumors of different histologies were treated. The overall response rate was 65 %, with a 33 % complete response rate with limited side effects. The response rates of the primary and secondary tumors were not different. However, smaller tumors responded better than tumors larger than 3 cm in diameter. Furthermore, the tumors that were treated with curative intent responded significantly better than those treated with palliative intent.This study demonstrated the feasibility, safety and effectiveness of ECT in a larger cohort of patients with mucosal lesions in the head and neck region. Based on the available data, ECT can be used for the treatment of recurrent and, in some cases, primary mucosal tumors located in the oral cavity, larynx, and pharynx. A better response was obtained in patients with smaller primary tumors treated with curative intent.

Socioeconomic Status, Length of Stay, and Postoperative Complications in Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Background: Despite universal healthcare in Canada, low socioeconomic status (SES) has been associated with worse survival in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC) patients. However, the relationship between SES and outcomes during the acute postoperative period is poorly defined. Hamilton, Ontario, presents a unique population with widely varying SES within the same geography. The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between SES, length of hospital stay (LOHS), and postoperative complications in OCSCC. Methods: Newly diagnosed OCSCC patients receiving primary surgical treatment from 2010 to 2014 were identified within a prospectively collected database. Inclusion criteria included age >18 years old, pathological diagnosis of oral cavity cancer, and primary surgical treatment with curative intent. Patients were excluded if they were undergoing palliative treatment or had previous head and neck surgery/radiotherapy. Postal codes were used to identify neighborhood-level socioeconomic variables via 2011 Canada Census data. Income quartiles were defined from groups of neighboring municipalities based on Canada Census definitions. Demographic, social, pathological, staging, and treatment data were collected through chart review. Results: One hundred and seventy-four patients were included in the final analysis. OCSCC patients with lower SES were more likely to be younger (P = .041), male (P = .040), have significant tobacco and alcohol use (P = .001), higher Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI; P = .014), lower levels of education (P = .001), and have lower employment levels (P = .001). Lower SES patients had higher clinical tumor (P = .006) and clinical nodal (P = .004) staging and were more likely to receive adjuvant therapy (P = .001) and G-tubes (P = .001). Multivariable regression analysis showed that low SES was a statistically significant predictor of postoperative complications [β 2.50 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.200, 3.17); P = .014] and LOHS [β 2.03 (95% CI 1.06, 2.99); P = .0001]. Tobacco and alcohol use, clinical tumor, and nodal stage, CCI, and planned adjuvant therapy were also statistically significant predictors of postoperative complications and LOHS (P < .05). Conclusion: Patients with lower SES have more advanced OCSCC disease with increased comorbidities that owes itself to more acute postoperative complications and LOHS within this study population. Patients with low SES should be identified as patients that require more support during their cancer treatment.

Three-Dimension Epithelial Segmentation in Optical Coherence Tomography of the Oral Cavity Using Deep Learning.

This paper aims to simplify the application of optical coherence tomography (OCT) for the examination of subsurface morphology in the oral cavity and reduce barriers towards the adoption of OCT as a biopsy guidance device. The aim of this work was to develop automated software tools for the simplified analysis of the large volume of data collected during OCT. Imaging and corresponding histopathology were acquired in-clinic using a wide-field endoscopic OCT system. An annotated dataset (n = 294 images) from 60 patients (34 male and 26 female) was assembled to train four unique neural networks. A deep learning pipeline was built using convolutional and modified u-net models to detect the imaging field of view (network 1), detect artifacts (network 2), identify the tissue surface (network 3), and identify the presence and location of the epithelial-stromal boundary (network 4). The area under the curve of the image and artifact detection networks was 1.00 and 0.94, respectively. The Dice similarity score for the surface and epithelial-stromal boundary segmentation networks was 0.98 and 0.83, respectively. Deep learning (DL) techniques can identify the location and variations in the epithelial surface and epithelial-stromal boundary in OCT images of the oral mucosa. Segmentation results can be synthesized into accessible en face maps to allow easier visualization of changes.

Prognostic importance of modified geriatric nutritional risk index in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma

We probed the associations of preoperative modified geriatric nutritional risk index (mGNRI) values with prognosis in patients receiving surgery for oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC). This retrospective study analyzed the clinical data of 333 patients with OCSCC and undergoing surgery between 2008 and 2017. The preoperative mGNRI was calculated using the following formula: (14.89/C-reactive protein level) + 41.7 × (actual body weight/ideal body weight). We executed receiver operating characteristic curve analyses to derive the optimal mGNRI cutoff and employed Kaplan–Meier survival curves and Cox proportional hazard model to probe the associations of the mGNRI with overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). The optimal mGNRI cutoff was derived to be 73.3. We noted the 5-year OS and DFS rates to be significantly higher in the high-mGNRI group than in the low-mGNRI group (both p < 0.001). A preoperative mGNRI below 73.3 was independently associated with unfavorable DFS and OS. A mGNRI-based nomogram was constructed to provide accurate OS predictions (concordance index, 0.781). Hence, preoperative mGNRI is a valuable and cost-effective prognostic biomarker in patients with OCSCC. Our nomogram facilitates the practical use of mGNRI and offers individualized predictions of OS.

Computational Polarization Imaging In Vivo through Surgical Smoke Using Refined Polarization Difference.

In surgery, the surgical smoke generated during tissue dissection and hemostasis can degrade the image quality, affecting tissue visibility and interfering with the further image processing. Developing reliable and interpretable computational imaging methods for restoring smoke-affected surgical images is crucial, as typical image restoration methods relying on color-texture information are insufficient. Here a computational polarization imaging method through surgical smoke is demonstrated, including a refined polarization difference estimation based on the discrete electric field direction, and a corresponding prior-based estimation method, for better parameter estimation and image restoration performance. Results and analyses for ex vivo, the first in vivo animal experiments, and human oral cavity tests show that the proposed method achieves visibility restoration and color recovery of higher quality, and exhibits good generalization across diverse imaging scenarios with interpretability. The method is expected to enhance the precision, safety, and efficiency of advanced image-guided and robotic surgery.

Local delivery of methotrexate/glycyrrhizin-loaded hyaluronic acid nanofiber for the management of oral cancer

The challenges in treating oral cancer include the limited effectiveness and systemic side effects of conventional chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Hyaluronic acid (HA) based Glycyrrhizin (GL) and Methotrexate (MT) loaded localized delivery systems, specifically nanofiber (NF) based platforms, were developed to address these challenges. The electrospinning method was used for the successful fabrication of a homogenous NF membrane and characterized for morphology, drug entrapment efficiency, tensile strength, and ex-vivo mucoadhesive study. Also, it was evaluated for in-vitro drug release profile, ex-vivo drug permeability, in-vitro anti-inflammatory, apoptosis assay by MTT and flow, and against specific cell lines in order to determine their potential for therapeutic use. Superior tensile breaking force (50 g), mucoadhesive strength of 153 gm/cm2, drug permeability, and releasing properties of designed NF, making them perfect requirements for oral cavity delivery. The anticancer potential of MT in the MTT assay and flow cytometry analysis was significantly increased in oral epidermal carcinoma cell (KB cell) for drug-loaded NF with 63.97 ± 1.99 % apoptosis, at 24 h. With these incorporated, GL with MT in NF had an anti-inflammatory potential, also demonstrated in-vitro and in-vivo. In the Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma (EAC) induced mice model, the optimal formulation’s shows better potential for tumor regression when comparing the developed NF formulation to the drugs. Experimental results show that by lowering mucositis-related inflammation and enhancing the effectiveness of oral cancer treatment, a developed nanofiber-based local drug delivery system offers a feasible strategy for managing oral cancer.

Pendidikan dan Pelatihan tentang Pengaruh Gizi Seimbang Terhadap Kesehatan Umum dan Rongga Mulut Tim Penggerak PKK Cideng Jakarta Pusat

Nutrition has an important role during the growth and development of children in general, especially in the oral cavity. Children who are malnourished can cause abnormalities in the hard tissue of the teeth and periodontal. Abnormalities in the oral cavity can disrupt masticatory function, which can affect food intake. Parental knowledge is important in choosing food for the family, because it can affect the nutritional status of children and their families. This Community Service (PkM) were attended by 36 participants from the PKK mobilization team, Cideng, Central Jakarta. The materials provided are the effect of balanced nutrition on general health, the effect of nutrition on the tooth supporting tissue, the impact and prevention of poor dental health and good oral health care in power points, videos and posters. The results of the PkM training were evaluated by a pre-post test using a google form. The evaluation results showed an increase in participants' knowledge scores from an average pre-test score of 45.78 to an average post-test score of 82.19. It is hoped that this PkM activity can increase the knowledge of the PKK mobilization team, so that in the future they can provide education to the public regarding the influence of balanced nutrition on general health and the oral cavity as well as how to maintain oral health.

Penyuluhan Kegawatdaruratan Dalam Kedokteran Gigi Serta Penanggulangannya Kepada Orang Tua Murid SD Yasporbi I Jakarta Selatan

Management of dental emergencies focuses on immediate action to relieve pain and preserve injured tissue so that the condition does not get worse. Some of the causes of dental emergencies include pain due to inflammation of the dental nerve, bacterial infections that cause abscesses or swelling, broken or loose teeth due to falls or impacts. Dental emergencies can also occur with dental tools installed in the oral cavity, such as dentures or orthodontic wires, for example broken dentures or sharp orthodontic wires that can cause injuries to the soft tissue in the oral cavity. This empowerment activity aims to improve knowledge and ability to handle oral emergencies. This Community Service Activity was carried out by the Trisakti University Faculty of Dentistry Team for parents of students at Yasporbi I Elementary School, South Jakarta on February 16 2024. The method used was offline counseling using presentations regarding various emergency conditions in dentistry. Counseling was conducted on 13 participants for 60 minutes. Participants' knowledge was assessed with a pre-test and posttest using Google Form. From the results obtained, it can be seen that there has been an increase in the knowledge of the counseling participants by 25% (average pre-test score 8 and average post-test score 10).

Involvement of SARS-CoV-2 accessory proteins in immunopathogenesis.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the largest single-stranded RNA virus known to date. Its genome contains multiple accessory protein genes that act against host immune responses but are not required for progeny virus production. The functions of the accessory proteins in the viral life cycle have been examined, but their involvement in viral pathogenicity remains unclear. Here, we investigated the roles of the accessory proteins in viral immunopathogenicity. To this end,recombinant SARS-CoV-2 possessing nonsense mutations in the seven accessory protein open reading frames (ORFs) (ORF3a, ORF3b, ORF6, ORF7a, ORF8, ORF9b, and ORF10)was de novo generated using an early pandemic SARS-CoV-2 strain as a backbone. We confirmed that the resultant virus (termed ORF3-10 KO) did not express accessory proteins in infected cells and retained the desired mutations in the viral genome. In cell culture, the ORF3-10 KO virus exhibited similar virus growth kinetics as the parental virus. In hamsters, ORF3-10 KO virus infection resulted in mild weight loss and reduced viral replication in the oral cavity and lung tissue. ORF3-10 KO virus infection led to mild inflammation, indicating that an inability to evade innate immune sensing because of a lack of accessory proteins impairs virus growth in vivo and results in quick elimination from the body. Overall, we showed that SARS-CoV-2 accessory proteins are involved in immunopathogenicity.

Chitosan from the base of Flammulina velutipes stipe alleviates oral Candida albicans infection via modulating Th-17 cell differentiation and Streptococcus mutans

The base of Flammulina velutipes (F. velutipes) stipe are agricultural wastes generated during the cultivation of edible fungus F. velutipes with high amount of chitin. Herein, this study firstly prepared chitosan from the base of F. velutipes stipe (FVC) and its structure was identified. It was confirmed that FVC acted as an antigenic substance to activate the immune system in vivo and in vitro, drive T cells to differentiate into Th-17 cells, and establish an effective mucosal immune barrier in the oral cavity, thus inhibited C. albicans infection; On the other hand, FVC maintained the oral flora stability and significantly reduced the abundance of Streptococcus spp., which was closely related to C. albicans infection. On this basis, the inhibitory effects of FVC on oral pathogens Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus casei associated with C. albicans infection were further verified, and it was demonstrated that FVC effectively interfered with the growth of pathogenic bacteria by inducing the production of intracellular ROS to damage bacterial cells. Therefore, FVC may be potentially exploited as a novel approach to the prevention and treatment of oral C. albicans infection.

Impaired oral health: a required companion of bacterial aspiration pneumonia.

Laryngotracheal aspiration has a widely-held reputation as a primary cause of lower respiratory infections, such as pneumonia, and is a major concern of care providers of the seriously ill orelderly frail patient. Laryngeal mechanical inefficiency resulting in aspiration into the lower respiratory tract, by itself, is not the cause of pneumonia. It is but one of several factors that must be present simultaneously for pneumonia to develop. Aspiration of oral and gastric contentsoccurs often in healthy people of all ages and without significant pulmonary consequences. Inthe seriously ill or elderly frail patient, higher concentrations of pathogens in the contents of theaspirate are the primary catalyst for pulmonary infection development if in an immunocompromised lower respiratory system. The oral cavity is a complex and ever changing eco-environment striving to maintain homogeneity among the numerous microbial communities inhabiting its surfaces. Poor maintenance of these surfaces to prevent infection can result inpathogenic changes to these microbial communities and, with subsequent proliferation, can altermicrobial communities in the tracheal and bronchial passages. Higher bacterial pathogen concentrations mixing with oral secretions, or with foods, when aspirated into an immunecompromised lower respiratory complex, may result in bacterial aspiration pneumonia development, or other respiratory or systemic diseases. A large volume of clinical evidence makes it clear that oral cleaning regimens, when used in caring for ill or frail patients in hospitals and long-term care facilities, drastically reduce the incidence of respiratory infection and death. The purpose of this narrative review is to examine oral health as a required causative companionin bacterial aspiration pneumonia development, and the effectiveness of oral infection control inthe prevention of this disease.