Comprehensive evaluation of methods for differential expression analysis of metatranscriptomics data.

Understanding the function of the human microbiome is important but the development of statistical methods specifically for the microbial gene expression (i.e. metatranscriptomics) is in its infancy. Many currently employed differential expression analysis methods have been designed for different data types and have not been evaluated in metatranscriptomics settings. To address this gap, we undertook a comprehensive evaluation and benchmarking of 10 differential analysis methods for metatranscriptomics data. We used a combination of real and simulated data to evaluate performance (i.e. type I error, false discovery rate and sensitivity) of the following methods: log-normal (LN), logistic-beta (LB), MAST, DESeq2, metagenomeSeq, ANCOM-BC, LEfSe, ALDEx2, Kruskal-Wallis and two-part Kruskal-Wallis. The simulation was informed by supragingival biofilm microbiome data from 300 preschool-age children enrolled in a study of childhood dental disease (early childhood caries, ECC), whereas validations were sought in two additional datasets from the ECC study and an inflammatory bowel disease study. The LB test showed the highest sensitivity in both small and large samples and reasonably controlled type I error. Contrarily, MAST was hampered by inflated type I error. Upon application of the LN and LB tests in the ECC study, we found that genes C8PHV7 and C8PEV7, harbored by the lactate-producing Campylobacter gracilis, had the strongest association with childhood dental disease. This comprehensive model evaluation offers practical guidance for selection of appropriate methods for rigorous analyses of differential expression in metatranscriptomics. Selection of an optimal method increases the possibility of detecting true signals while minimizing the chance of claiming false ones.

Isolation of phages against Streptococcus species in the oral cavity for potential control of dental diseases and associated systemic complications.

Dental infections and systemic complications caused by Streptococcus species in the oral cavity are increasingly exhibiting resistance to commonly used antibiotics, posing a potential threat to global public health. Phage therapy may offer a superior alternative, given that bacteriophages can be easily isolated and rapidly replicate in large numbers. In this study, six Streptococcus species from the oral cavity were characterized. Bacteriophages isolated from wastewater using five of these species as hosts produced plaques ranging from 0.2 to 2.4 mm in size. The phages demonstrated stability within a temperature range of 4 â„ƒ to 37 â„ƒ. However, at temperatures exceeding 45 â„ƒ, a noticeable reduction in bacteriophage titer was observed. Similarly, the phages showed greater stability within a pH range of 5 to 10. The isolated phages exhibited latency periods ranging from 15 to 20 min and had burst sizes varying from 10 to 200 viral particles. This study supports the potential use of bacteriophages in controlling infections caused by Streptococcus species.

Common Oral Conditions: A Review.

Importance: Dry mouth, oral candidiasis, and recurrent aphthous ulcers are 3 of the most common oral conditions that may be associated with patient discomfort, decreased quality of life, and morbidity. Observations: In a meta-analysis of 26 population-based cohort and cross-sectional studies, the global prevalence of dry mouth symptoms was 23% (95% CI, 18% to 28%), placing individuals at risk of oral candidiasis, dental caries, dysgeusia, masticatory/speech impairment, and oropharyngeal dysphagia. Dry mouth is associated with using more than 3 oral medications per day (odds ratio [OR], 2.9 [95% CI, 1.4 to 6.2]), head and neck radiation, and Sjögren disease. Symptoms may include difficulty swallowing and speaking, thirst, and halitosis. Dry mouth is associated with an 11.5% (95% CI, 3.6% to 27%) higher risk of oral candidiasis, based on a meta-analysis of 6 observational cohorts. Management of dry mouth includes mechanical salivary stimulants, oral moisturizers, and/or systemic sialagogues. Oral candidiasis is an opportunistic fungal infection caused by overgrowth of the Candida genus with C albicans, which accounts for 76.8% of infections. The prevalence of oral candidiasis is higher in patients who are immunosuppressed, for example, those with HIV (35% [95% CI, 28% to 42%]) and those with salivary gland hypofunction (OR, 3.02 [95% CI, 1.73 to 5.28]). Common risk factors associated with oral candidiasis include use of antibiotics (P = .04) and oral mucosal disorders such as lichen planus. Oral burning and dysgeusia are common symptoms of oral candidiasis. Treatment includes addressing risk factors and use of topical and/or systemic antifungal medications. Recurrent aphthous stomatitis is characterized by symptomatic round or oval oral ulcers, which are covered by a gray-white fibrin layer and encircled by an erythematous ring. A meta-analysis of 10 case-controlled studies revealed an increased risk of recurrent aphthous stomatitis associated with polymorphism of IL-1ß (+3954C/T) (OR, 1.52 [95% CI, 1.07 to 2.17]) and IL-1ß (-511C/T) (OR, 1.35 [95% CI, 1.09 to 1.67]). Another meta-analysis of 9 case-control studies reported that patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis had a higher frequency of nutritional deficiencies, including vitamin B12 (OR, 3.75 [95% CI, 2.38 to 5.94]), folic acid (OR, 7.55 [95% CI, 3.91 to 14.60]), and ferritin (OR, 2.62 [95% CI, 1.69 to 4.06]). Recurrent aphthous stomatitis can be associated with systemic diseases. A meta-analysis of 21 case-control studies revealed that celiac disease is associated with a higher incidence of recurrent aphthous stomatitis (25% vs 11%; OR, 3.79 [95% CI, 2.67 to 5.39]; P <.001). Topical corticosteroids are first-line agents to manage recurrent aphthous stomatitis; however, systemic medications may be necessary in more severe cases. Conclusions and Relevance: Dry mouth, oral candidiasis, and recurrent aphthous ulcers are common oral conditions that may be associated with patient discomfort, decreased quality of life, and morbidity. First-line treatment includes over-the-counter sialagogues for dry mouth, topical antifungals for oral candidiasis, and topical corticosteroids for aphthous ulcers. Oral conditions that do not improve with first-line treatment may require treatment with systemic medications.

CLINICAL FINDINGS OF DENTAL DISEASE AND POTENTIAL CONTRIBUTING FACTORS IN PYGMY SLOW LORISES (NYCTICEBUS PYGMAEUS) UNDER HUMAN CARE.

Dental disease is a common finding in pygmy slow lorises (Nycticebus pygmaeus) under human care, but the etiology is not fully understood. The small oral cavity in this species can make diagnosis of dental disease difficult. This retrospective study evaluated medical records and diet and husbandry protocols from 18 participating institutions with the objective of describing the signalment, clinical signs, physical exam findings, tooth type, tooth location, diagnostics used, and treatments performed to help guide care for dental disease. In addition, the study aimed to identify potential contributing factors to dental disease in this species. Of 59 animals with medical records evaluated, 42 (71.2%) had dental disease: 19 (44.2%) males, 20 (46.5%) females, and 3 (9.3%) without gender documented. Average age at onset of dental disease was 7.6 yr in males and 9 yr in females. Multiple lorises with dental disease (n = 12; 28.6%) had no premonitory clinical signs, and dental disease was found incidentally on examination. On dental examination, 30 lorises (71.4%) had evidence of gingivitis. In 13 cases skull radiographs were taken, but the majority of images (n = 8; 61.5%) were nondiagnostic for pathologic dental changes. A small proportion of cases with dental abnormalities (n = 4; 9.5%) were diagnosed using computed tomography. In total, 175 teeth were extracted from 31 patients; molars were the most frequently extracted tooth (n = 55; 31.4%). No substantial differences in diets were noted among many of the participating institutions, and not all slow lorises evaluated developed dental disease (n = 17; 28.8%). This retrospective study provides clinical findings on slow loris dental disease and guidance for the veterinary care and management of slow lorises under human care.

The study of dental status through determination of the degree of preservation of paleoanthropological material.

OBJECTIVE: Aim: To introduce a simple classification system for the degree of preservation and quality of the dentoalveolar apparatus into scientific circulation to further investigate dental diseases in ancestral populations.. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and Methods: The sample analyzed consisted of the remains of 499 individuals from the human populations that existed in the territories of Ukraine from the Copper Age to the Bronze Age. Teeth and jaws were examined macroscopically under bright light; dental changes were evaluated by probing. Dental radiographic examinations were performed using retroalveolar and panoramic X-ray films in adult individuals. RESULTS: Results: The authors divide the dentoalveolar apparatus of fossil and subfossil skeletons into ten levels for further medical investigation of dental diseases. These levels depend on the preservation degree and changes in jaws and teeth. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: The study of bone and tooth preservation, determination of skeletal sex, and age characteristics is a separate section and stage in reconstructing the physical type of individuals and the health status of a community. Studying the taphonomic features of odontologic anthropological material should be a mandatory prerequisite preceding its analysis in paleopathology. The condition of the dentoalveolar system can be classified into ten levels for paleopathological conclusions. This classification will be helpful to doctors specializing in forensic medicine and anthropologists.

Impact of Establishing Dental Access for Preventable Infectious Dental Diseases (PIDD) in Medical Settings: Case Study from Rural Wisconsin.

OBJECTIVE: The frequency of Preventable Infectious Dental Disease (PIDD) visits in medical centers was examined pre and post establishment of expanded dental access and adoption of an integrated medical-dental care delivery model. METHODS: A retrospective observational study of patient attributes and frequency of unscheduled PIDD visits between January 1, 1990 and February 29, 2020. Chi-squared tests compared (a) the number of PIDD visits (pre/post dental center establishment), (b) age at first diagnosis, (c) gender, (d) race, (e) primary insurance at the time of PIDD visits and (f) healthcare setting where visit occurred. RESULTS: System-wide, 21,957 unique patients were documented with a total of 34,892 PIDD visits as the primary diagnosis. Patients between 18-30 years and patients with Medicaid had the highest frequency of PIDD visits in medical settings. Following the establishment of dental centers, reduced relative risk of PIDD visits was observed for patients with no health insurance or self-pay/other coverage. PIDD visits in primary care settings was 0.87 times as likely as PIDD visits at ED/UCs after dental centers opened. CONCLUSIONS: The number of PIDD visits to medical centers increased before the dental infrastructure was established, followed by a decline afterwards, inclusive of disparity populations. Some residual persistence of PIDD visits to primary care settings was identified. This study reinforced importance of dental healthcare access for achieving appropriate PIDD management while reducing PIDD visits to medical settings.

Screening and Preventive Interventions for Oral Health in Children and Adolescents Aged 5 to 17 Years: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement.

Importance: Oral health is fundamental to health and well-being across the lifespan. Oral health conditions affect the daily lives of school-age children and adolescents, leading to loss of more than 51 million school hours every year. Untreated oral health conditions in children can lead to serious infections and affect growth, development, and quality of life. Objective: The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) commissioned a systematic review to evaluate screening and preventive interventions for oral health conditions in children and adolescents aged 5 to 17 years. Population: Asymptomatic children and adolescents aged 5 to 17 years. Evidence Assessment: The USPSTF concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of screening for oral health conditions (eg, dental caries) performed by primary care clinicians in asymptomatic children and adolescents aged 5 to 17 years. The USPSTF concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of preventive interventions for oral health conditions (eg, dental caries) performed by primary care clinicians in asymptomatic children and adolescents aged 5 to 17 years. Recommendations: The USPSTF concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of routine screening performed by primary care clinicians for oral health conditions, including dental caries, in children and adolescents aged 5 to 17 years. (I statement) The USPSTF concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of preventive interventions performed by primary care clinicians for oral health conditions, including dental caries, in children and adolescents aged 5 to 17 years. (I statement).

[Diagnostic Prevalence of Dental Findings in Children, Adolescents and Young Adults with Mental Disorders Compared to Healthy People - an Analysis and Estimation Based on Claims Data from 2019]. / Zahnmedizinische Diagnoseprävalenzen bei Kindern, Jugendlichen und jungen Erwachsenen mit psychischen Störungen im Vergleich zu Gesunden-Analyse und Abschätzung kassenärztlicher Abrechnungsdaten (2019).

AIM: To analyse oral health-related diagnostic prevalences in children, adolescents (KiJu), young adults with mental/behavioural disorders (PEVS) and those of the general population in Germany based on claims data. METHOD: Anonymously provided ZI (Zentralinstitut)-data sets of GKV-insured persons (0-44 years) were i. e. stratified according to gender, age groups, ICD-K00-K14 diagnosis. RESULT: No reliable oral or dental health-related information was generated from the requested data set. Regardless of the F diagnosis, according to the data set, 1.8% of all 11,854,384 KiJu-GKV-insured persons and 0.2% of 18-44-year-olds (23,348,399 GKV-insured persons) had a diagnosis related to the dental hard tissue (ICD-10 K02/K03.2). Based on available literature on the prevalence of caries in KiJu with PEVS, a mean unweighted prevalence of 51% can be assumed. According to the available literature on the prevalence of caries in KiJu with PEVS a mean unweighted prevalence of 51% can be calculated. Following this and the diagnosis prevalence of PEVS in 0- to 17-year-olds from 2017, an estimated 957.952 children with PEVS should also have a caries. CONCLUSION: The nationwide data on the prevalence of oral health-related diagnoses made by physicians in the general population and in people of the same age with PEVS are very low. Apparently, dental diagnoses are only given very rarely by general practitioners and paediatricians, among others. The existing literature as well as the clinical experience of the authors indicate that this claim data is not suitable to realistically represent the dental and oral health of the examined group of people. Thus, for networking, the improvement of health care research and the care, e. g. of subgroups of the society, is an interprofessional dental/medical, data protection-compliant central database to be driven forward.

Factors affecting oral and dental services` utilization among Elderly: a scoping review.

BACKGROUND: Regular use of oral and dental services by the elderly is one of the important factors in reducing oral and dental diseases. This study aimed to identify the factors affecting oral and dental services` utilization among elderly. METHODS: The published articles on the factors affecting oral and dental services` utilization among elderly were found through a scoping search and using related keywords in PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science databases within January 2000 - December 2022 according to the PRISMA guidelines. The data were analyzed using the thematic analysis method. RESULTS: Among the 2381 articles retrieved from the databases, forty-two were extracted. The factors affecting oral and dental services` utilization among elderly were classified into five main components as follows: access, demographic factors, social factors, health level, and mental factors. The results showed that income, education level, living area, number of teeth, and importance of care were the most frequent in the main components of access, demographic factors, social factors, health level, and mental factors, respectively. CONCLUSION: Equitable utilization of oral and dental services is the right of all members of the society, especially the elderly. Therefore, it is necessary to provide the elderly with suitable conditions to utilize such services, which are mostly luxury items. Furthermore, increasing the elderly's awareness and encouraging them to use oral and dental services regularly can help reduce the burden of oral and dental diseases.

[The impact of primary prevention programs of dental diseases on the main trends in the development of dental services]. / Vliyanie programm pervichnoi profilaktiki stomatologicheskikh zabolevanii na osnovnye tendentsii razvitiya stomatologicheskoi sluzhby.

The vision of the global strategy on oral health is universal health coverage for oral health for all individuals and communities by 2030, enabling them to enjoy the highest attainable state of oral health and contributing to healthy and productive lives (WHO, 2022). To achieve this goal, it is necessary to ensure the development of the dental care system in Russia on the basis of primary prevention of dental diseases. OBJECTIVE: Analysis of the methodology for the development, implementation and evaluation of programs for the primary prevention of dental diseases and their impact on the main trends in the development of dental services. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The main research methods were search for publications, analysis and systematization of information on the methodology for developing, implementing and evaluating programs for the primary prevention of dental diseases. RESULTS: Despite the single main goal of dental disease prevention programs, the analysis of the methodology of their construction and implementation must be carried out considering their impact on the main trends in the development of dental services. CONCLUSIONS: The main directions of development of the methodology for the development, implementation, and evaluation of primary prevention programs of dental diseases should include the use of indicators of oral health recognized by the international community, which allow us to trace the degree of their influence on the development of the system of dental care.

[The effect of overweight on the dental status and biochemical parameters of the oral fluid]. / Vliyanie izbytochnoi massy tela na stomatologicheskii status i biokhimicheskie parametry rotovoi zhidkosti.

OBJECTIVE: To increase the effectiveness of the diagnosis and treatment of dental diseases, based on the study of anthropometric and bioimpedance analysis data in adolescents and adult patients to identify the effect of overweight on dental status. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study involved 60 adolescents aged 15-18 years, 28 of whom were overweight, and 32 with normal body weight. All 52 adult patients aged 30-50 years who participated in the study were overweight (body mass index >25 kg/m2) and had chronic generalized periodontitis. In all patients dental status was assessed by DMF and PMA index, Silness-Loe and Stallard hygienic indices, Muleman bleeding index, Green-Vermillion tartar index. Biochemical parameters of the oral fluid were also evaluated: malondialdehyde, elastase, urease, catalase and lysozyme activity. The adolescents underwent an anthropometric study with the determination of body mass index. Adult patients underwent bioimpedance analysis of body composition to determine the main indicators of fat metabolism in the body: body mass index, fat mass (kg), the proportion of adipose tissue (%) and the mass of extracellular fluid (kg). RESULTS: The study showed that overweight in patients of different ages worsens their dental status and biochemical parameters of oral fluid. CONCLUSION: The inclusion of an anthropometric study with the determination of body mass index and bioimpedance analysis of body composition in the examination of dental patients will allow the development of individual programs for the prevention of dental diseases, implementing a personalized approach to the provision of medical and preventive care.

Identification of novel genome-wide pleiotropic associations with oral inflammatory traits.

Oral inflammatory diseases (OIDs) are a group of dental diseases with multiple clinical manifestations that impact the majority of the world's population. Many studies have investigated the associations between individual OID traits and genomic variants, but whether pleiotropic loci are shared by oral inflammatory traits remains poorly understood. Here, we conducted multitrait joint analyses based on the summary statistics of genome-wide association studies (GWASs) of five dental traits from the UK Biobank. Among these genome-wide significant loci, two were novel for both painful gums and toothache. We identified causal variants at each novel locus, and functional annotation based on multiomics data suggested IL10 and IL12A/TRIM59 as potential candidate genes at the novel pleiotropic loci. Subsequent analyses of pathway enrichment and protein-protein interaction networks suggested the involvement of the candidate genes in immune regulation. In conclusion, our results uncover novel pleiotropic loci for OID traits and highlight the importance of immune regulation in the pathogenesis of OIDs. These findings will enhance our understanding of the pathogenesis of OIDs and be beneficial for risk screening, prevention, and the development of novel drugs targeting the immune regulation of OIDs.

Deep Learning Models for Classification of Dental Diseases Using Orthopantomography X-ray OPG Images.

The teeth are the most challenging material to work with in the human body. Existing methods for detecting teeth problems are characterised by low efficiency, the complexity of the experiential operation, and a higher level of user intervention. Older oral disease detection approaches were manual, time-consuming, and required a dentist to examine and evaluate the disease. To address these concerns, we propose a novel approach for detecting and classifying the four most common teeth problems: cavities, root canals, dental crowns, and broken-down root canals, based on the deep learning model. In this study, we apply the YOLOv3 deep learning model to develop an automated tool capable of diagnosing and classifying dental abnormalities, such as dental panoramic X-ray images (OPG). Due to the lack of dental disease datasets, we created the Dental X-rays dataset to detect and classify these diseases. The size of datasets used after augmentation was 1200 images. The dataset comprises dental panoramic images with dental disorders such as cavities, root canals, BDR, dental crowns, and so on. The dataset was divided into 70% training and 30% testing images. The trained model YOLOv3 was evaluated on test images after training. The experiments demonstrated that the proposed model achieved 99.33% accuracy and performed better than the existing state-of-the-art models in terms of accuracy and universality if we used our datasets on other models.

Transformation and Prospects of Dentistry Innovations in China.

The burden of dental diseases is increasing in the Chinese population. However, the development of the dental industry falls behind the average development level of medical industry in China. The emergence of digital dental technologies has created significant opportunities for the development of the dental industry in China. This article explores the innovative development background of the Chinese dental industry, describes the current innovation status in Chinese medical colleges and enterprises, highlights key problems faced by the nation, enterprises, and hospitals, proposes solutions to these issues, and puts forwards a new concept of building an open and collaborative service system, a transformation path, and a whole-chain support system for innovations in dentistry.

[Professor G.N. Pakhomov]. / Professor G.N. Pakhomov.

Pakhomov Gennady Nikolayevich - Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor, in 1975-1985. - In 1975-1985 he was Deputy Director for Science at the Central Research Institute of Dental Diseases of the Ministry of Health of the USSR, Head of the Department for the Prevention of Dental Diseases.

[Department of dental diseases prevention of the Central Research Institute of Dentistry and Maxillofacial Surgery]. / Otdelenie profilaktiki stomatologicheskikh zabolevanii FGBU NMITs «TsNIIS i ChLKh¼.

The article is devoted to the creation and development history of the Dental Diseases Prevention department in National Medical Research Center of Dentistry and Maxillofacial Surgery, Moscow, Russia. The main scientific and clinical achievements of the department's staff are presented in chronological order. The main directions of the scientific and clinical activities of the department are currently: the study of various factors affecting dental morbidity; the development of regionally-oriented programs for the prevention of dental diseases; organizational and methodological guidance and monitoring of primary prevention activities in organized groups of children and adolescents; the implementation of a set of measures for the primary prevention of dental diseases among adolescents and adult population applying to the polyclinic; introduction into practice of new methods and means of prevention and treatment of dental diseases; testing of new methods and means of prevention corresponding to the profile of the department, providing dental care to adolescents and adults; raising the level of theoretical knowledge and training practical skills in the prevention of dental diseases of medical personnel of healthcare institutions; promotion of sanitary and hygienic knowledge among the population.

Study of oral microorganisms contributing to non-carious cervical lesions via bacterial interaction and pH regulation.

There is a lack of evidence about the relationship between microorganisms and non-carious cervical lesions (NCCLs) due to limited technologies. A group of 78 patients was enrolled for microbial 16S rRNA sequencing of dental plaques on normal and defective cervical surfaces. Parallel data from 39 patients were analysed with paired t tests, and Fusobacteriales exhibited significantly less distribution on NCCLs than on normal surfaces. As a result, Fusobacterium nucleatum, the most common oral bacterial strain belonging to the order Fusobacteriales, was selected for further research. From a scanning electron microscopy (SEM) scan, the tooth surface with Fusobacterium nucleatum and Streptococcus mutans culture was more intact than that without Fusobacterium nucleatum. Furthermore, the calcium contents in groups with Fusobacterium nucleatum were significantly higher than that without it. In further mechanistic research, Fusobacterium nucleatum was demonstrated to adhere to and disturb other organisms as well as producing alkaline secretions to neutralize the deleterious acidic environment, protecting the tooth structure. In conclusion, microorganisms and NCCLs were confirmed directly related through adherent bacterial interactions and pH regulation. The research provides a new perspective and experimental evidence for the relation between microorganisms and NCCLs, which guides clinical treatment and preventive dentistry in the future.

Novel molecular cues for dental defects in hypophosphatasia.

Mineralization disorders with a broad range of etiological factors represent a huge challenge in dental diagnosis and therapy. Hypophosphatasia (HPP) belongs to the rare diseases affecting predominantly mineralized tissues, bones and teeth, and occurs due to mutations in the ALPL gene, which encodes tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (TNAP). Here we analyzed stem cells from bone marrow (BMSCs), dental pulp (DPSCs) and periodontal ligament (PDLSCs) in the absence and presence of efficient TNAP inhibitors. The differentiation capacity, expression of surface markers, and gene expression patterns of donor-matched dental cells were compared during this in vitro study. Differentiation assays showed efficient osteogenic but low adipogenic differentiation (aD) capacity of PDLSCs and DPSCs. TNAP inhibitor treatment completely abolished the mineralization process during osteogenic differentiation (oD). RNA-seq analysis in PDLSCs, comparing oD with and without TNAP inhibitor levamisole, showed clustered regulation of candidate molecular mechanisms that putatively impaired osteogenesis and mineralization, disequilibrated ECM production and turnover, and propagated inflammation. Combined alteration of cementum formation, mineralization, and elastic attachment of teeth to cementum via elastic fibers may explain dental key problems in HPP. Using this in vitro model of TNAP deficiency in DPSCs and PDLSCs, we provide novel putative target areas for research on molecular cues for specific dental problems in HPP.

Schizophrenia and Dental Health: A Systematic Review.

ABSTRACT: Schizophrenia is characterized not only by psychopathological symptoms but also by medical comorbidities. Among the latter, there are limited data on dental health. We conducted a systematic review with the primary aim of clarifying the extent of the relationship between dental diseases and schizophrenia. The second aim was to delineate an intervention program based on illness-related factors that influence dental health. The preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses statement for reporting systematic reviews was used. Only articles published in English language peer-reviewed journals were considered; we excluded case reports, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews, as well as studies that did not clearly report statistical analysis, diagnostic criteria, or the number of patients included. Twenty-one studies comprising 13,110 patients with schizophrenia and 9025 healthy controls were included. Negative symptomatology, long duration of illness, smoking habit, drug-induced xerostomia, and neuroinflammation are the most critical areas. We suggest an intervention program for prevention and treatment of dental diseases in schizophrenia.

Bulleidia extructa: An underappreciated anaerobic pathogen.

Bulleidia extructa is a rarely recognized anaerobic Gram-positive bacterium with an oral and gastroenterological ecological niche. It is difficult to isolate due to slow growth in culture and usually requires identification techniques such as 16S rRNA gene sequencing or matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). While most often isolated from infections related to the oral cavity (gingivitis, periodontitis, brain and lung abscess), it has also been recovered from cases of prosthetic joint hip infections after unprophylaxed dental procedures.