ABSTRACT
An extracellular glucosyltransferase (GT-S) synthesizing water-soluble glucan was purified from the culture supernatant of Streptococcus mutans BHT (serotype b, subsp. rattus) by DEAE-Sepharose chromatography and preparative isoelectric focusing. The Mr of the enzyme was 155,000 and the pI was 4.5. The GT-S had a specific activity of 10.2 i.u. (mg protein)-1, an optimum pH of 6.0 and a Km value of 0.8 mM for sucrose, and was activated twofold by dextran T10. The GT-S was immunologically partially identical with the corresponding enzymes in crude preparations from serotypes c, e and f. The glucan synthesized de novo from sucrose by the GT-S was water-soluble and consisted of 29 mol% of non-reducing terminal, 49 mol% of 1,6-alpha-linked, 11 mol% of 1,3-alpha-linked and 11 mol% of 1,3,6-alpha-branched glucose residues.
Subject(s)
Glucosyltransferases/isolation & purification , Streptococcus mutans/enzymology , Animals , Chromatography, Ion Exchange , Immunodiffusion , Isoelectric Focusing , RatsSubject(s)
Fluorides/analysis , Hydroxyapatites , Tea/analysis , Adsorption , Hydroxyapatites/analysis , SolubilitySubject(s)
Dentistry , Public Health , Disease/etiology , Humans , Interprofessional Relations , JapanSubject(s)
Dental Caries/epidemiology , Oral Health , Periodontal Diseases/epidemiology , DMF Index , Humans , Japan , Periodontal IndexABSTRACT
Historically the development of the Japanese dental care delivery system necessitated the enaction of the Dental Laboratory Technique Law. The Health Insurance Scheme, at present, is not able to operate without the collaboration of dental laboratory technicians. This means that the dental technician may introduce a possible competitive inter-relationship with the dentist who relies on prosthetic dentistry as the major source of his income. It does not mean illegal practice by dental technicians which has so far been negligible. The occupation of the dental technician, therefore, would seem to be very stable. Results obtained during the International Collaborative Study of the Dental Manpower Systems, however, showed some psychological conflict amongst the responding dental technicians.
Subject(s)
Attitude , Dental Technicians , Dentists , Interprofessional Relations , Adult , Employment , Female , Humans , Japan , Legislation, Dental , Male , Technology, DentalABSTRACT
Suzuki and Sato (1978) reported data obtained from 410 dental hygienists aged 24--39 years of age. The most frequent reasons for leaving their jobs were difficulties in personal relations and then disappointment with the commercialism of dentists. Additional reasons included no fixed programme of the routine aspects of their work, compulsory duties beyond those legally permitted them and no leadership in the clinic. In contrast, many dental hygienists felt rewarded by the success achieved through health instruction of patients, appreciation of their work by patients and having the opportunity to demonstrate their professional abilities. Given these kinds of perceptions about the occupation of dental hygienists, expressed by hygienists themselves, it would appear imperative that the dental profession and health administrators in Japan consider the disincentives inherent in the jobs and attempt to convert these to incentives.
Subject(s)
Dental Hygienists , Attitude , Humans , Japan , Job Satisfaction , Professional Practice , Professional-Patient RelationsABSTRACT
The affinity of some bacterial polysaccharides for hydroxyapatite was investigated. Water insoluble polysaccharide production by bacteria was inhibited by the presence of NaF in the growth medium, while the water soluble fraction was unaffected. The adsorption of the bacterial polysaccharide on hydroxyapatite decreased with decreasing levels of the water insoluble fraction. It is suggested that NaF can inhibit bacterial attachment and caries by interfering with bacterial attachment through reducing the production of water insoluble polysaccharide.
