Spatial distribution, ecological indices and interactions of arthropods on Sapindus saponaria (Sapindaceae) plants.

Sapindus saponaria L. (Sapindaceae) is a pioneer species used in programs to recover degraded areas. The trees also assist in the pest control of some insects due to the composition of saponins on their leaves. In addition, these chemical components are important to pharmaceutical product production. The objective was to evaluate the impact of spatial distribution, indices and ecological relationship of arthropods on S. saponaria leaves to preserve the balance of biodiversity. Aggregated distribution of arthropods was observed; the numbers of phytophagous arthropods were higher on the adaxial leaf face than on the abaxial part. Only Aleyrodidae (Hemiptera) had a higher presence on the abaxial leaf face of S. saponaria saplings. Abundance, diversity, and species richness of natural enemies correlated positively with phytophagous and pollinators insects. On the other hand, the number of Lyriomyza sp. mines correlated negatively with Pseudomyrmex termitarius (Smith) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). All this information can assist and guide integrated pest management programs.

Single-Implant Overdentures Retained by a Novel Attachment: A Mixed Methods Crossover Randomized Clinical Trial.

INTRODUCTION: Single-implant mandibular overdentures (SIMOs) are one of the least invasive implant treatments for edentulism. The new Novaloc attachment system can improve the clinical performance of implant-retained overdentures but has not been tested for SIMOs. OBJECTIVES: To compare Novaloc and a gold standard system (Locator) for SIMOs in an edentate elderly population in terms of patient-reported outcomes and device- and treatment-related complications. METHODS: In this single-center crossover randomized clinical trial (RCT), 10 edentulous participants received an implant in the lower midline and had their lower complete dentures converted to SIMOs. The participants received each attachment system for 3 mo in a randomized order, followed by measurement of patient satisfaction and oral health-related quality of life via the McGill Denture Satisfaction Questionnaire and the Oral Health Impact Profile for Edentulous People questionnaire, respectively. Complications were registered throughout the RCT. Patients were interviewed for their experiences with SIMOs and preference for one of the attachment systems. Quantitative analysis employed mixed linear models and chi-square tests (α = 0.05), whereas interview data underwent thematic analysis and, in turn, integration into quantitative data (mixed methods explanatory design). RESULTS: All 10 randomized participants completed the trial. Mean ± SD general satisfaction was 92% ± 8% with Novaloc versus 85% ± 13% with Locator (mean difference, 9%; 95% CI, 1% to 17%). For specific McGill Denture Satisfaction Questionnaire items, only denture stability was significantly increased for Novaloc. Seven participants preferred Novaloc over Locator at the end of the RCT (chi-square, P = 0.045). No difference was found between the attachments in terms of oral health-related quality of life based on the Oral Health Impact Profile for Edentulous People and complications. Thematic analysis revealed high patient satisfaction with SIMOs, with denture stability the main criterion for their satisfaction and attachment preference. CONCLUSION: Among elderly edentulous patients wearing SIMOs, Novaloc led to increased patient satisfaction and preference. Better patient-perceived denture stability may explain this result. The attachment systems exhibited similar short-term maintenance needs. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03126942 (first registered on April 13, 2017). Secondary identifiers: A03-M07-17A (McGill University, Institutional Review Board) and 2018-3873 (McGill University Health Centre, Research Ethics Board). KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER STATEMENT: The results of this mixed methods study can be used by clinicians when choosing which attachment system to use for SIMOs. Results suggest that edentulous patients prefer attachments with a better-defined seating position, such as that of the Novaloc system, as opposed to the nylon matrix on metallic abutment of the Locator system.

Dynamics of coreless defects during winding up transitions in confined chiral nematic liquid crystals.

Twist-coupled elastic deformations are ubiquitous and in the limelight of interest for next-generation self-shaping materials. Here, we describe how twist dynamics under fixed anchoring lead to bend deformation and defect dynamics in a field-unwound chiral liquid crystal material. We use the Q-tensor dynamics under the Landau-de Gennes formalism in a finite-element mesh to explore the texture pathways from the unwound (homeotropic) to the helical planar structure. Our simulations describe well previously reported experiments and confirm that the process occurs by forming pairs of coreless defects that interact with each other and create quadrupolar structures called Lehmann clusters. The dynamics and coarsening of dipoles and quadrupoles of defects are described. This numerical study describes the full dynamics, which has been sought for several years.

A period of 10 weeks of increased protein consumption does not alter faecal microbiota or volatile metabolites in healthy older men: a randomised controlled trial.

Diet has a major influence on the composition and metabolic output of the gut microbiome. Higher-protein diets are often recommended for older consumers; however, the effect of high-protein diets on the gut microbiota and faecal volatile organic compounds (VOC) of elderly participants is unknown. The purpose of the study was to establish if the faecal microbiota composition and VOC in older men are different after a diet containing the recommended dietary intake (RDA) of protein compared with a diet containing twice the RDA (2RDA). Healthy males (74⋅2 (sd 3⋅6) years; n 28) were randomised to consume the RDA of protein (0⋅8 g protein/kg body weight per d) or 2RDA, for 10 weeks. Dietary protein was provided via whole foods rather than supplementation or fortification. The diets were matched for dietary fibre from fruit and vegetables. Faecal samples were collected pre- and post-intervention for microbiota profiling by 16S ribosomal RNA amplicon sequencing and VOC analysis by head space/solid-phase microextraction/GC-MS. After correcting for multiple comparisons, no significant differences in the abundance of faecal microbiota or VOC associated with protein fermentation were evident between the RDA and 2RDA diets. Therefore, in the present study, a twofold difference in dietary protein intake did not alter gut microbiota or VOC indicative of altered protein fermentation.

Effect of Ni content in PdNi/C anode catalysts on power and methanol co-generation in alkaline direct methane fuel cell type.

PdNi electrocatalysts supported on carbon were used as anode materials for methane oxidation in alkaline direct methane fuel cells (ADMEFCs). The electrocatalysts were successfully synthesized by the NaBH4 reduction method. X-ray diffraction measurements showed the formation of non-alloyed Pd in the face- centered cubic (FCC) structure for all materials and formation of NiO and Ni(OH)2 species. TEM images showed that the metal particles are well dispersed on the support with small agglomeration regions. Information about the surface structure of the catalyst were obtained by Raman spectra, mainly confirming the presence of Ni(OH)2. The species observed by DEMS, that is, methanol (m/z = 32), CO2 (m/z = 44) and potassium formate (m/z = 84) were confirmed by FTIR, which also showed the presence of a high amount of carbonate in the methane oxidation products of the ADMEFC with Pd50Ni50/C as the anode catalyst. Tests in ADMEFCs showed that the dependence of the maximum power density on nickel content in the catalysts goes through a maximum value of 13.5 µW cm-2 at 50 at% Ni. Moreover, the amount of produced methanol decreases with increasing Ni content in the PdNi/C catalysts. Both these results can be explained by the enhanced methanol oxidation in the presence of nickel.

Inflexibility of the plasma miRNA response following a high-carbohydrate meal in overweight insulin-resistant women.

CONTEXT: Metabolic inflexibility is a characteristic of insulin resistance, limiting the ability to transiently regulate oxidative metabolism and gene expression in response to nutrient availability. Little is known of the flexibility of post-transcriptional regulation, including circulatory miRNAs (c-miRNAs). DESIGN: The abundances of targeted c-miRNAs, with reported functions in metabolic regulation, were analysed in response to a high-carbohydrate meal in healthy weight insulin-sensitive (IS) and overweight insulin-resistant (IR) women. PARTICIPANTS: Age-matched healthy weight IS (n = 20, BMI = 24.3 ± 0.70) and overweight IR (n = 20, BMI = 28.6 ± 0.67) women. METHODS: An abundance of c-miRNAs was quantified prior to and following a high-carbohydrate breakfast meal (2500 kJ; 50% carbohydrate, 20% fat and 27% protein). Target genes of the differentially regulated c-miRNA were measured in RNA extracted from circulatory peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). RESULTS: In healthy weight IS women, both miR-15a-5p (p = 0.03) and miR-17-5p (p < 0.01) levels were halved at 4 h post-meal. These miRNA remained unaltered following the same meal in the overweight IR women. Furthermore, amongst genes targeted by these miRNA, CPT1A (p = 0.01) and IL8 (p = 0.03) had also reduced expression 4 h post-meal only in the healthy weight IS women. CONCLUSIONS: The study findings provide preliminary evidence for a possible extension of metabolic inflexibility to include c-miRNAs. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The clinical trial is registered with Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry under Trial registration: ANZCTR: ACTRN12615001108505. Registered on 21 October 2015.

Circulatory miRNA biomarkers of metabolic syndrome.

AIMS: Circulatory microRNAs (c-miRNAs) exert important roles in the molecular dysregulation of cardio-metabolic diseases. However, little is known whether dysregulated miRNA expression occurs when risk factors are elevated, as in the metabolic syndrome (MetS). This study quantified c-miRNA expression in individuals with MetS compared to healthy, further examining the relationship of gene pathways with the underlying pathogenesis. METHODS: Expression of 26 miRNAs was quantified in plasma from 40 women (20 healthy and 20 MetS) and 39 men (20 healthy and 19 MetS) by qPCR. In silico analysis was performed to investigate biological effects of the dysregulated miRNAs. Dysregulated miRNA expression was further validated in an independent cohort of 20 women (10 healthy and 10 MetS). RESULTS: Regression model adjusted for age and sex identified miR-15a-5p, miR-17-5p, miR-370-3p and miR-375 as important predictors of MetS presence. Analysis of predictive miRNAs in the validation cohort strengthened the relationship with miR-15a-5p and miR-17-5p expression. These miRNAs share genes involved in the regulation of metabolic pathways including insulin, wnt, fatty acid metabolism and AMPK. CONCLUSIONS: miR-15a-5p and miR-17-5p were identified as predictive biomarkers of MetS, irrespective of sexes, further demonstrating the relationship of c-miRNAs to known pathways of metabolic disturbances present in cardio-metabolic diseases.

Regulation of Amino Acid Transporters and Sensors in Response to a High protein Diet: A Randomized Controlled Trial in Elderly Men.

BACKGROUND: The mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) is fundamental for many cellular processes, yet it is often dysregulated with aging. Increased amino acid (AA) availability is correlated with the expression of AA transporters (AAT) and mTORC1 activity. Although many AA sensors and mediators have been proposed to relay the AA signal to mTORC1, it has not yet been determined if chronic dietary intervention affects the expression of AAT, sensors and mediators and their relationships with mTORC1 activity. OBJECTIVE AND DESIGN: This study investigated whether the consumption of a diet containing either the current recommended daily allowance (RDA) of protein intake (0.8 g/kg/d) or twice the RDA (2RDA) for ten weeks affected the expression of targets associated with AA transport, sensing and mTORC1 regulation in 26 older men (70-81 years). METHOD: Muscle biopsies were collected before and after the intervention under fasting conditions. Diets were controlled by providing fully prepared meals and snacks. Western blot and quantitative polymerase chain reaction were used to measure protein and gene expression respectively. RESULTS: Consumption of 2RDA reduced the protein expression of L-type amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1). However, plasma leucine concentration and basal mTORC1 activity were unaltered. The downregulation of LAT1 did not affect the expression of AA sensors and mediators, including leucyl tRNA synthetase (LRS), cytosolic arginine sensor for mTORC1 (CASTOR1), Sestrin2 and Rag proteins. Instead, total ribosomal protein S6 (RPS6) was upregulated with 2RDA. CONCLUSION: Ten weeks of 2RDA diet did not affect the fasting mTORC1 signaling, but increased total RPS6 might suggest improved muscular translational capacity to maintain muscular mass.

Salivary Biomarkers in Denture Stomatitis: A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVE: Denture stomatitis (DS) is an oral biofilm-associated inflammation of the denture-bearing mucosa. The objective of this review was to identify and evaluate the quality of evidence on the association between the levels of salivary biomarkers and DS among adults with and without palatal DS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Following the PRISMA guidelines, Medline, PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register for Controlled Trials were searched for eligible studies from the beginning of the archives until December 2018. Experimental and observational studies with adult participants were included that had a control group or subgroup analysis and provided data on salivary biomarkers and DS. Articles in languages other than English or French were excluded. The level of evidence and grades of recommendation were established with the 2011 scale of the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine. Additionally, the assessment of methodological quality was conducted with the STROBE statement (Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology) and graded according to the Olmos scale. RESULTS: From 1,008 citations, 9 studies were included in the systematic review (8 observational, 1 clinical trial). Seven studies suggested a statistically significant difference in the levels of salivary cytokines (IL-6, CCL3, TGF-ß, CXCL8, GM-CSF, and TNF-α) between participants with DS and controls (P < 0.05). In contrast, 2 studies concluded that the difference in the levels of several salivary cytokines (IL2, IL12, IFN-g, IL-4, IL-8, IL-10, IL-17, TNF-α, and ICAM-1) between the groups was not statistically significant. The level of evidence for the majority of studies was 3, while the grade of recommendation for all the studies was B, interpreted as "favorable." In terms of methodological quality, most studies met 50% to 80% of STROBE criteria and were graded B. CONCLUSION: Palatal inflammation in DS is significantly associated with the levels of salivary cytokines. KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER STATEMENT: The results of this study identified altered levels of specific salivary biomarkers associated with denture stomatitis, which may aid in the early diagnosis and treatment of this disease.

Estimating physical properties from liquid crystal textures via machine learning and complexity-entropy methods.

Imaging techniques are essential tools for inquiring a number of properties from different materials. Liquid crystals are often investigated via optical and image processing methods. In spite of that, considerably less attention has been paid to the problem of extracting physical properties of liquid crystals directly from textures images of these materials. Here we present an approach that combines two physics-inspired image quantifiers (permutation entropy and statistical complexity) with machine learning techniques for extracting physical properties of nematic and cholesteric liquid crystals directly from their textures images. We demonstrate the usefulness and accuracy of our approach in a series of applications involving simulated and experimental textures, in which physical properties of these materials (namely: average order parameter, sample temperature, and cholesteric pitch length) are predicted with significant precision. Finally, we believe our approach can be useful in more complex liquid crystal experiments as well as for probing physical properties of other materials that are investigated via imaging techniques.

Effect of dynamically changing the substrate's easy axis on the response time of nematic samples.

Recent discoveries of advanced photocontrolled materials have kindled a great deal of interest on their use as command surfaces that switch easy axis under light radiation. One noticeable point when using switchable surfaces on any application is how the dynamical process propagates to the bulk directors. In this paper, we theoretically study the effect of a relaxing easy axis over time on a nematic sample when finite anchoring energy and surface viscosity are included. We first consider the case where just one of the substrates decay over time in an initially distorted director organization. Next, we assume that both substrates can be switched simultaneously. From the calculated director we obtained the optical profile and finally the molecular response time of the material. The response time depends on both the materials and the surfaces properties including its decay time. Our results might be used for understanding and engineering liquid crystal displays and other electro-optical devices with photocontrolled alignment layers.

Lactobacillus casei BL23 modulates the innate immune response in Staphylococcus aureus-stimulated bovine mammary epithelial cells.

Probiotics have been adopted to treat and prevent various diseases in humans and animals. They were notably shown to be a promising alternative to prevent mastitis in dairy cattle. This inflammation of the mammary gland is generally of infectious origin and generates extensive economic losses worldwide. In a previous study, we found that Lactobacillus casei BL23 was able to inhibit the internalisation of Staphylococcus aureus, one of the major pathogens involved in mastitis, into bovine mammary epithelial cells (bMEC). In this study, we further explored the capacity of this strain to modulate the innate immune response of bovine mammary epithelial cells during S. aureus infection. L. casei BL23 was able to decrease the expression of several pro-inflammatory cytokines, including interleukins 6, 8, 1α and 1ß and tumour necrosis factor alpha, in S. aureus-stimulated bMEC, 8 h post-infection. On the other hand, L. casei did not impair the induction of defensins, such as lingual antimicrobial peptide and defensin ß1 in the presence of S. aureus, and even slightly increased the induction of tracheal antimicrobial peptide during S. aureus infection. Finally, this strain did not alter the expression of the pattern recognition receptor nucleotide-binding oligomerisation domain proteins (NOD2). This study demonstrates that L. casei BL23 displayed anti-inflammatory properties on S. aureus-stimulated bMEC. These results open the way to further characterisation of the BL23 probiotic potential in a bovine mammary gland context and to a better understanding of how all these beneficial properties combine in vivo to combat mastitis pathogens.

Geometry-dependent DNA-TiO2 immobilization mechanism: A spectroscopic approach.

DNA nucleotides are used as a molecular recognition system on electrodes modified to be applied in the detection of various diseases, but immobilization mechanisms, as well as, charge transfers are not satisfactorily described in the literature. An electrochemical and spectroscopic study was carried out to characterize the molecular groups involved in the direct immobilization of DNA structures on the surface of nanostructured TiO2 with the aim of evaluating the influence of the geometrical aspects. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy at O1s and P2p core levels indicate that immobilization of DNA samples occurs through covalent (POTi) bonds. X-ray absorption spectra at the Ti2p edge reinforce this conclusion. A new species at 138.5eV was reported from P2p XPS spectra analysis which plays an important role in DNA-TiO2 immobilization. The POTi/OTi ratio showed that quantitatively the DNA immobilization mechanism is dependent on their geometry, becoming more efficient for plasmid ds-DNA structures than for PCR ds-DNA structures. The analysis of photoabsorption spectra at C1s edge revealed that the molecular groups that participate in the C1s→LUMO electronic transitions have different pathways in the charge transfer processes at the DNA-TiO2 interface. Our results may contribute to additional studies of immobilization mechanisms understanding the influence of the geometry of different DNA molecules on nanostructured semiconductor and possible impact to the charge transfer processes with application in biosensors or aptamers.

Surface induced twist in nematic and chiral nematic liquid crystals: stick-slip-like and constrained motion.

Surface driven pattern formation is an intriguing phenomenon in the liquid crystal field. Owing to its ability to transmit torque, one can generate different patterns by propagating distortions on the optical wavelength scale in the sample from the surface. Here, we theoretically investigate (from the elasticity point of view) twist deformations induced by a rotating easy axis at one surface, by considering the anchoring energy and surface viscosity of nematic and chiral nematic samples. The model is solved analytically in the limit of strong anchoring and numerically for a low anchoring strength situation. Such rotation could be induced, in principle, by light-controlling the orientation of an azobenzene monolayer coated at one of the glass substrates or by an in-plane rotating field. We discuss the role of the surface parameters and the different distortions, and calculate light transmission using the Jones method. Three different regimes are identified: free twist, stick-slip twist, and constrained twist. The results obtained here may be relevant for liquid crystal active waveplates and for determining surface viscosity and the azimuthal anchoring energy.

Mini-Implants for Mandibular Overdentures: Cost-Effectiveness Analysis alongside a Randomized Trial.

Mandibular overdentures retained by 2 conventional implants have been considered the standard of care for complete edentulism, according to the McGill and York consensuses. However, many patients refuse this treatment modality due to the associated costs and postsurgical discomfort. Mini-implants have the chance to overcome these limitations due to their potentially lower costs and a relatively uncomplicated surgical technique. This study compared treatment costs and incremental cost-effectiveness following the insertion of mini-implants (2 or 4) or 2 standard-size implants for the retention of mandibular overdentures, by means of a randomized clinical trial. In total, 120 edentulous participants (mean age 59.5 ± 8.5 y) were randomly allocated into 3 groups according to treatment received: 4 mini-implants (group 1), 2 mini-implants (group 2), or 2 standard implants (group 3). Treatment costs and outcomes (Oral Health Impact Profile for Edentulous [OHIP-EDENT] and satisfaction with the dentures) were evaluated after 6 mo. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) were calculated for each intervention in terms of cost per 1-point change in patient outcomes. A 1-way sensitivity analysis was performed considering a 95% confidence interval variation in cost and outcome parameters, represented in tornado diagrams. Overall treatment cost was the lowest for group 2 (average cost: US$318.08), followed by group 1 (US$510.75) and group 3 (US$566.13). Groups did not differ in terms of the length of unscheduled appointments and time spent by participants. In summary, our findings indicate that mandibular overdentures retained by 2 or 4 mini-implants are less costly compared to 2-implant overdentures. Despite the lower costs of overdentures retained by 2 mini-implants, those retained by 4 mini-implants showed further improvement in patient-reported outcomes and reduced costs compared to standard implants ( ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01411683). Knowledge Transfer Statement: This report shows that mini-implant retained overdentures are less costly than overdenture treatment on 2 standard-sized implants. Treatment with 2 mini-implants is an effective procedure to substantially save resources, whereas treatment with 4 mini-implants provides better results from a patient perspective combined with slightly reduced costs compared to the treatment with 2 standard implants. Therefore, mini-implant overdentures may be effective and more accessible than overdentures on 2 standard-size implants for those with limited incomes.

Short communication: Muscle protein synthetic response to microparticulated whey protein in middle-aged men.

Whey protein concentrate (WPC) is a high-quality dairy ingredient that is often included in formulated food products designed to stimulate muscle anabolism. Whey protein concentrate can be affected by UHT processing, and its sensory properties are not compatible with some formulated food products. Microparticulated WPC (mWPC) is a novel ingredient that is resistant to heat treatment and has enhanced sensory properties. When 16 healthy middle-aged men consumed 20 g of either WPC or mWPC, both proteins increased plasma essential AA and leucine concentrations with no detectable difference in curve kinetics. Myofibrillar protein synthesis was increased in both groups for 90 min after ingestion with no difference between groups. Ingestion of mWPC resulted in a muscle anabolic response that was equivalent to that of WPC over the full 210-min measurement period. Formulated products incorporating mWPC or standard WPC would provoke equivalent anabolic responses.

Functional and evolutionary characterization of Ohr proteins in eukaryotes reveals many active homologs among pathogenic fungi.

Ohr and OsmC proteins comprise two subfamilies within a large group of proteins that display Cys-based, thiol dependent peroxidase activity. These proteins were previously thought to be restricted to prokaryotes, but we show here, using iterated sequence searches, that Ohr/OsmC homologs are also present in 217 species of eukaryotes with a massive presence in Fungi (186 species). Many of these eukaryotic Ohr proteins possess an N-terminal extension that is predicted to target them to mitochondria. We obtained recombinant proteins for four eukaryotic members of the Ohr/OsmC family and three of them displayed lipoyl peroxidase activity. Further functional and biochemical characterization of the Ohr homologs from the ascomycete fungus Mycosphaerella fijiensis Mf_1 (MfOhr), the causative agent of Black Sigatoka disease in banana plants, was pursued. Similarly to what has been observed for the bacterial proteins, we found that: (i) the peroxidase activity of MfOhr was supported by DTT or dihydrolipoamide (dithiols), but not by ß-mercaptoethanol or GSH (monothiols), even in large excess; (ii) MfOhr displayed preference for organic hydroperoxides (CuOOH and tBOOH) over hydrogen peroxide; (iii) MfOhr presented extraordinary reactivity towards linoleic acid hydroperoxides (k=3.18 (±2.13)×108M-1s-1). Both Cys87 and Cys154 were essential to the peroxidase activity, since single mutants for each Cys residue presented no activity and no formation of intramolecular disulfide bond upon treatment with hydroperoxides. The pKa value of the Cysp residue was determined as 5.7±0.1 by a monobromobimane alkylation method. Therefore, eukaryotic Ohr peroxidases share several biochemical features with prokaryotic orthologues and are preferentially located in mitochondria.

Rotational diffusion of shape switching particles in nematic liquid crystals.

The theory of rotational diffusion of particles of various symmetry embedded in a liquid crystal host, essential to interpret a variety of spectroscopic observables, has been available for some time, but only for the case of rigid molecules. Here we generalize the treatment and present a theory to describe the rotational diffusion of shape-changing particles dispersed in nematic liquid crystals. The interaction of the particles with the environment is modeled by an effective field potential, while the particles are allowed to assume an arbitrary discrete number of shapes. The transition between shapes is modeled by a Markovian process which is combined with rotational diffusion. Our model is applied to the simple case of a particle that can exchange between three shapes: a rod, a disk, and a sphere. We consider in detail the effect of shape transitions in some selected correlation functions which are relevant for experiments.

Tooth Loss Increases the Risk of Diminished Cognitive Function: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Emerging evidence suggests that oral health is associated with cognitive function. This review aims to systematically assess this association in adult populations via prospective cohort study designs. Eligible study reports were identified by searching the MEDLINE (via Ovoid), EMBASE, PsycoINFO, and Cochrane Library databases. Pooled hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated with a random effects model. From 1,251 identified articles, 10 were included in the systematic review and 8 in the meta-analysis. Random effects analysis showed, with statistically low heterogeneity, that individuals with suboptimal dentition (<20 teeth) were at a 20% higher risk for developing cognitive decline (HR = 1.26, 95% CI = 1.14 to 1.40) and dementia (HR = 1.22, 95% CI = 1.04 to 1.43) than those with optimal dentition (≥20 teeth). Studies on the association between periodontal disease and cognitive status showed conflicting results. Within the limits of the quality of published evidence, this meta-analysis lends further support to the hypothesis that tooth loss is associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairment and dementia. Knowledge Transfer Statement: Based on the published literature, the results of this study show that the risk for cognitive impairment and dementia increases with loss of teeth. This information adds to the evidence showing links between oral and general health and suggests that oral health strategies aimed to preserve teeth may be important in reducing risk of systemic disease.