Drugs or disease: evaluating salivary function in RA patients

Abstract Oral complications of RA may include temporomandibular joint disorders, mucosa alterations and symptoms of dry mouth. The aim of this study was to evaluate the salivary gland function of subjects with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) comparing it to healthy controls. Subjects with other systemic conditions known to affect salivary functions were excluded. A questionnaire was applied for the evaluation of xerostomia. Resting and chewing-stimulated salivary flow rates (SFR) were obtained under standard conditions. There were 145 subjects included of the study (104 RA and 38 controls). About 66.7% of the RA subjects and 2.4% in control group presented xerostomia. The median resting SFR were 0.24 ml/min for RA subjects and 0.40 mL/min for controls (p = 0.04). The median stimulated SFR were 1.31 mL/min for RA subjects and 1.52 ml/min for controls (p = 0.33). No significant differences were found between resting and stimulated SFR of RA subjects not using xerogenic medications and controls. There was significantly higher number of subjects presenting hyposalivation in the RA group than among controls, even when subjects using xerogenic medications were eliminated from the analysis. In conclusion, hyposalivation and xerostomia were more frequent among RA subjects not using xerogenic medication than among controls, although there were no significant differences in the median SFR between groups.

Alteration of the oral environment in patients undergoing esophagectomy during the perioperative period

Objective: During the perioperative period, oral ingestion is changed considerably in esophagectomy patients. The aim of this study was to investigate oral environment modifications in patients undergoing esophageal cancer treatments due to changes in dietary intake and swallowing functions. Material and Methods: Thirty patients who underwent operation for removal of esophageal cancer in Tokushima University Hospital were enrolled in this study. Results: It was found that 1) the flow rate of resting saliva decreased significantly at postoperative period by deprived feeding for one week, although it did not recover several days after oral ingestion began, 2) the accumulation of dental plaque and the number of mutans streptococci in saliva decreased significantly after operation, while both increased relatively quick when oral ingestion began, and 3) the swallowing function decreased significantly in the postoperative period. Conclusions: These results suggest that dental professionals should emphasize the importance of oral health care and provide instructions on plaque control to patients during the perioperative period of esophageal cancer treatment.

Physicochemical salivary properties, Lactobacillus, Mutans Streptococci counts and early childhood caries in preschool children of Colombia

Dental caries is a multifactorial disease, in which saliva has an important role. Saliva properties affect the growth of cariogenic microorganisms, so variations below threshold levels are considered risk factors for the development of dental caries. Salivary tests and microbiological counts of cariogenic bacteria are often used for clinical purposes in order to reveal problems that could explain caries development and have been evaluated in multiple studies, but these studies have mainly been carried out on adults. Thus, the aim of this study was to identify physicochemical salivary properties, mutans streptococci and Lactobacillus counts among preschool children, and their relationship with ECC in a cross-sectional study in Medellin, Colombia. Caries was determined using ICDAS criteria for a sample of 201 preschool children. Stimulated saliva samples were processed for bacterial detection, mean flow rate, pH and buffer capacity calculation. Risk variables for ECC were assessed individually and adjusted using a binary logistic regression model. The results showed that 71.14% of study subjects had ECC. Flow rate, final pH and Buffer capacity increased with age, but none of them were related to the presence of ECC. Although OR analysis detected correlations between ECC, gender, age, dental eruption stage and Lactobacillus presence, binary logistic regression analysis only showed gender and Lactobacillus as strongly associated with ECC. It can be concluded that gender and Lactobacillus presence are key variables for the presence of ECC in these children; whilst age and dental eruption stage play a minor role. Further studies are required to clarify the role of mutans streptococci counts in this population and to establish normal salivary parameters as well as threshold levels for hyposalivation in preschool children, as results showed differences with normal parameters used for adults.

La caries dental es una enfermedad multifactorial en la cual la saliva tiene un impacto importante. Las propiedades de la saliva afectan el crecimiento de microorganismos cariogenicos y por lo tanto las variaciones por debajo de los niveles umbral son consideradas factor de riesgo para el desarrollo de caries. Las pruebas salivares y los recuentos de microorganismos cariogenicos son utilizadas con frecuencia en la clinica para identificar factores que puedan explicar el desarrollo de lesiones cariosas y han sido evaluados en multiples estudios, pero estos han sido desarrollados principalmente en adultos. El objetivo de este trabajo fue identificar propiedades fisicoquimicas de la saliva y recuentos de estreptococos del grupo mutans y Lactobacillus, en relacion con la Caries de la Infancia Temprana (CIT). Para esto, se realizo un estudio descriptivo transversal. Se registraron las lesiones de caries dental con el sistema ICDAS en 201 ninos pre-escolares de hogares infantiles de estrato socioeconomico medio-bajo. Se obtuvieron muestras de saliva estimulada, que fueron procesadas para detectar estreptococos del grupo mutans y Lactobacillus; se calculo la tasa de secrecion salivar, pH y capacidad Buffer. Se analizaron posibles variables indicadoras de riesgo para CIT, mediante el calculo de OR individuales por variable y OR ajustadas mediante un modelo de regresion logistica binario. Los resultados indicaron que el 71.14% de los ninos presentaban CIT. Las propiedades de la saliva mostraron un mejor comportamiento con la edad, con valores diferentes a los parametros definidos para poblaciones adultas, pero ninguna tuvo relacion con la enfermedad. El genero y la presencia de Lactobacillus mostraron asociacion fuerte en el analisis de regresion sugiriendolos como principales indicadores de riesgo para CIT en esta poblacion. Se requieren estudios prospectivos y analizar variaciones biologicas, para clarificar el papel de los estreptococos del grupo mutans y revisar los valores umbral para la evaluacion de la secrecion salivar en preescolares.

Estudos estruturais e de interações proteína-proteína envolvendo componentes de um sistema de secreção do tipo IV de Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri / Structural and protein-protein interaction studies of type IV secretion system components from Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri

Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri (Xac) é o causador do cancro de plantas cítricas. Entre os potenciais fatores de virulência codificados por Xac, está o Sistema de Secreção do Tipo IV (T4SS), um grande complexo multiprotéico que atravessa o periplasma e as membranas interna e externa de bactérias Gram-negativas. O T4SS está envolvido com secreção de proteínas e/ou DNA para o meio extracelular ou diretamente no interior da célula do hospedeiro. Este Sistema requer tipicamente 12 proteínas para realizar suas funções: VirB1-VirB11 e VirD4. O T4SS codificado pelo cromossomo de Xac está aparentemente incompleto, devido a não codificar nenhuma proteína com similaridade de seqüência a VirB7. Os objetivos deste trabalho são estudar a estrutura, função e interações das proteínas do T4SS de Xanthomonas. Foram clonados 23 genes que codificam proteínas ou domínios relacionados ao T4SS, e os polipeptídeos foram produzidos de forma recombinante em E. coli. Treze deles foram purificados e submetidos a estudos estruturais, espectroscópicos e de interações proteína-proteína. A estrutura em solução de Xac262224-139 foi resolvida, apresentando uma região N-terminal desenovelada de aproximadamente 30 resíduos e um domínio globular. Este polipeptídeo oligomeriza em troca química rápida na escala de tempo de RMN e o seu N-terminal desenovelado reconhece o domínio C-terminal de VirB9 (VirB9154-255) em troca lenta. Análise de RMN demonstrou que VirB9154-255 possui uma estrutura flexível em solução, sofrendo uma marcante mudança conformacional na presença de Xac262224-139. Ambas proteínas se tornam rígidas após a interação. Xac2622 é o equivalente a VirB7 em Xanthomonas, baseado na localização do seu gene no lócus do T4SS, localização subcelular predita do polipeptídeo codificado e sua interação com VirB9...

Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri (Xac) is a gram-negative bacterial phytopathogen that infects citrus. One possible virulence determinant is a chromosomally encoded Type IV Secretion System (T4SS), a multiprotein complex that spans the bacterial periplasm and both inner and outer membranes. The T4SS is used by some bacteria to secrete proteins and/or DNA to the extracellular milieu or the host interior. The model T4SS from Agrobacterium tumefaciens is made up of twelve structural proteins: VirB1-VirB11 and VirD4. The Xanthomonas T4SS is apparently incomplete because of the lack of a polypeptide with sequence similarity to VirB7. The aim of this project is the study of structure-function relationships in the Xanthomonas T4SS. Twenty-three T4SS protein-coding genes, including full-length proteins or domains, were cloned and the proteins were produced in different E. coli strains. Thirteen polypeptides were purified and some of them were submitted to structural, spectroscopic and protein-protein interaction studies. We used NMR to solve the solution structure of Xac262224-139 which consists of an unfolded N-terminal segment of ~30 residues followed by a globular domain. Xac262224-139 oligomerizes in fast exchange at the NMR time scale and interacts via its unfolded N-terminus with the VirB9 C-terminus (VirB9154-255) in slow exchange. NMR analysis showed that VirB9154-255 has a flexible structure in solution. However, this polypeptide undergoes a significant conformational modification in the presence of Xac2622,24-139 and both proteins become rigid upon interaction. Xac2622 is the Xanthomonas VirB7, based on the chromosomal localization of its gene, predicted subcellular localization and protein interaction analysis. But surprisingly, unlike other VirB7 proteins, Xac2622 has an extra C-terminal folded domain whose topology and structure are strikingly similar to that of periplasmic domains found in outer membrane proteins of many bacterial Secretion Systems...

Use of graduated syringes for measuring salivary flow rate: a pilot study

The evaluation of the salivary flow rate is important in several situations of dental practice. However, weighing the collected salivary volume it is not a practical method in public health services. This work evaluated the use of hypodermic graduated syringes as a simpler alternative method to measure the salivary flow rate. Saliva samples were obtained from 50 individuals (31 females and 19 males) aged 8 to 32 years (mean age: 12.4 years), recruited at the outpatient dental clinics of two public health centers. After collection, the saliva was weighed in a graduated scale and the results compared with the volume obtained through its measurement, in mL, in graduated hypodermic syringes. There was a positive and significant relationship between the two methods of measuring salivary flow rates as demonstrated by the Pearson's correlation coefficient (r = 0.996, with p<0.05). Measurement of the salivary flow rate using graduated syringes demonstrated to be a reliable method, with lower cost and more practical than the traditional method of salivary weighing.

A avaliação do fluxo salivar é importante em várias situações da prática odontológica. Porém, sua mensuração é habitualmente realizada através da pesagem do volume coletado, o que não é prático na rede pública de saúde. Esse trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar o uso de seringas hipodérmicas graduadas como alternativa mais simples para mensurar o fluxo salivar. Foram analisadas amostras de saliva de 50 indivíduos (31 mulheres e 19 homens) com idades entre 8 e 32 anos (média:12,4 anos) saudáveis, recrutados no ambulatório de odontologia de dois centros da rede pública de saúde. Após a coleta, a saliva foi pesada numa balança analítica de precisão e comparada com o volume aferido através de sua mensuração em mililitros obtido com o uso de seringas hipodérmicas graduadas. O coeficiente de correlação de Pearson mostrou a existência de uma associação positiva e significativa entre os dois métodos de mensuração do fluxo salivar (r = 0,996; p<0,05). Neste estudo-piloto, a medida do fluxo salivar utilizando seringas graduadas mostrou-se um método confiável, de baixo custo e mais prático que o método tradicional de pesagem salivar.

Niveles de Ig A secretoria en niños de 1 a 11 años de edad residentes en la localidad de Coro Coro del departamento de La Paz en el año 2001 / Levels of Ig A secretory in children from 1 to 11 living years old in the locality of choir choir of the department of La Paz in 2001

La inmunidad natural se caracteriza porque forma parte del individuo desde el momento que nace y es inespecífica. Este tipo de inmunidad se compone principalmente de tres barreras importantes como la piel, mucosa y la conjuntiva y junto con sustancias químicas producidas por estas, dan por protección evitando el ingreso de microorganismos. Es bién conocido que las secreciones del epitelio mucoso como saliva, lagrimas y otras cuentan con la presencia de la inmunoglobulina A secretoria.

Salivary characteristics of diabetic children

Salivary components may suffer variations that can be detected by chemical determinations. The aim of this work was to determine physical and biochemical characteristics of the saliva of a group of diabetic children compared to those of a control group. Relation to oral health indices was also determined. Twenty diabetic children (3-15-years-old) and 21 control children (5-12-years-old) were included in this study. Total proteins, sugars and calcium were determined by colorimetric methods, and glucose, urea, alpha-amylase and acid phosphatase by enzymatic methods. Our results demonstrated that acidic pH, diminished salivary flow rate and excess foam are usually present in saliva of diabetic children. Total sugars, glucose, urea and total proteins were greater in diabetic patients than controls, while calcium values were decreased. These differences were confirmed by the discrimination test. Diabetic children have higher DMFT-dmft-deft and DMFS-dmfs-defs values compared to those of the control children despite their lower sugar intake. Some salivary components in addition to the diminished flow rate could be involved in the characterization of the oral health state of diabetic children

Secreçäo pulsátil de progesterona em mulheres ovulatórias normais e em mulheres com defeitos da fase lútea / Pulsatile progesterone secretion in normal ovulatory women wiht luteal ohase defects

Neste trabalho avaliamos a secreçao pulsátil de P(4) na fase lútea de mulheres ovulatórias normais e mulheres com LPD. Observamos que nao houve diferença significativa entre os grupos em relaçao aos níveis basais, secreçao média e outros parâmetros da secreçao pulsátil (amplitude absoluta e freqüência), a nao ser a amplitude percentual dos pulsos. Portanto, a dosagem exclusiva de P(4), valores absolutos ou secreçao pulsátil, nao se presta ao diagnóstico de LPD, necessitando de outros métodos omplementares.