Cigarette Smoking and Opium Use in Relation to the Oral Microbiota in Iran.

Cigarettes and opium contain chemicals and particulate matter that may modify the oral microbiota. This study aimed to investigate the association between cigarette and opium use with the oral microbiota. A total of 558 participants were recruited from Iran between 2011 and 2015. Individuals were categorized as never cigarette nor opium users, ever cigarette-only smokers, ever opium-only users, and ever both cigarette and opium users. Participants provided saliva samples for 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Logistic regression, microbiome regression-based kernel association test (MiRKAT), and zero-inflated beta regression models were calculated. For every increase in 10 observed amplicon sequence variants (ASVs), the odds for being a cigarette-only smoker, opium-only user, and both user compared to never users decreased by 9% (odds ratio [OR] = 0.91; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = 0.86 to 0.97), 13% (OR = 0.87; 95% CI = 0.75 to 1.01), and 12% (OR = 0.88; 95% CI = 0.80 to 0.96), respectively. The microbial communities differed by cigarette and opium use as indicated by MiRKAT models testing the three beta-diversity matrices (P < 0.05 for all). Three genera were less likely and one genus was more likely to be detected in cigarette-only smokers or opium-only users than in never users. The relative abundance of the phylum Actinobacteria (never, 14.78%; both, 21.20%) was higher and the phyla Bacteroidetes (never, 17.63%; both, 11.62%) and Proteobacteria (never, 9.06%; both, 3.70%) were lower in users of both cigarettes and opium, while the phylum Firmicutes (never, 54.29%; opium, 65.49%) was higher in opium-only users. Cigarette and opium use was associated with lower alpha-diversity, overall oral microbiota community composition, and both the presence and relative abundance of multiple taxa. IMPORTANCE Cigarette smoking and opium use are associated with periodontal disease caused by specific bacteria such as Porphyromonas gingivalis, which suggests a link between cigarette smoking and opium use and the oral microbiota. Alterations of the oral microbiota in cigarette smokers compared to nonsmokers have been reported, but this has not been studied across diverse populations. Additionally, the association of opium use with the oral microbiota has not been investigated to date. We conducted this study to investigate differences in the oral microbiota between ever users of cigarettes only, opium only, and both cigarettes and opium and never users of cigarettes and opium in Iran. Lower alpha-diversity, distinct overall oral microbial communities, and the presence and relative abundance of multiple taxa have been found for users of cigarettes and/or opium.

Oral health in the analysis of patients with hearing disabilities / Saúde bucal na análise de pacientes com deficiência auditiva

Objective: To assess the degree of knowledge of deaf and hard of hearing patients about oral health and relate it to clinical and demographic variables. Methods: The target population was schoolchildren from the 6th to the 9th grade of Elementary School and the 1st year of High School. Data collection took place through a structured questionnaire previously validated. The expressed as absolute and percentage frequencies it was analyzed using Fisher's exact test or Pearson's chi-square test (p <0.05). Results: Assessing the relationship between oral health and quality of life, to 53 students, 32.1% of students never reported pain in their teeth, mouth, or jaws, 55.8% never missed school due to problems with their teeth or dental treatments, 71, 2% never avoided smiling or laughing due to problems with teeth or dental treatments, 53.8% never avoided opening their mouths or talking due to problems with teeth or dental treatments. Conclusion: Professional and patient communication should be emphasized with the deaf and hard of hearing to intensify the importance of monitoring with the dental surgeon, carrying out activities to promote, prevent, cure, and rehabilitate oral health.

Objetivo: Avaliar o grau de conhecimento de pacientes portadores de deficiência auditiva sobre a saúde bucal, e relacionar com as variáveis clínicas e demográficas. Métodos: A população alvo foram escolares do 6º ao 9º ano do Ensino Fundamental e do 1º ano do Ensino Médio. A coleta de dados ocorreu de agosto a novembro de 2018, por meio de um questionário estruturado previamente validado. A análise dos dados foi realizada por meio do programa SPSS (Statistical Package of the Social Sciences) e expressos em forma de frequência absoluta e percentual e analisados pelo teste exato de Fisher ou qui-quadrado de Pearson (p<0,05). Resultados: Avaliando a relação da saúde bucal com a qualidade de vida de 53 alunos; 32,1% dos alunos nunca relataram dores nos dentes, na boca, ou nos maxilares, 55,8% nunca faltaram à escola devido problemas com os dentes ou tratamentos dentários, 71,2% nunca evitaram sorrir ou rir devido a problemas com os dentes ou tratamentos dentários, 53,8% nunca evitaram abrir a boca ou falar devido a problemas com os dentes ou tratamentos dentários. Conclusão: A comunicação profissional e paciente deve ser enfatizada com os portadores de deficientes auditivos, com o intuito de intensificar a importância do acompanhamento com o cirurgião dentista, realizando atividades de promoção, prevenção, cura e reabilitação à saúde bucal

[An in vitro study on effect of Nidus vespae extract on the acid production of three strains of oral bacteria].

OBJECTIVE: To inquire into the effect of different of Nidus Vespae extract (NVE) on growth and acid production of Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sanguis and Actinomyces viscosus. METHODS: Streptococcus mutans ATCC 25175, Streptococcus sanguis ATCC 10556 and Actinomyces viscosus ATCC 19246 were chosen as the experimental bacteria. Four extracts of Nidus Vespae were prepared and then the effects of these Nidus Vespae extracts on the acid production were determined. RESULTS: All of Nidus Vespae extracts could inhibit the growth the of the three strains, and NVE1, NVE3, NVE4 could inhibit the acid production of the three strains, NVE2 could inhibit the acid production of Actinomyces viscosus. CONCLUSION: Four extracts of Nidus Vespae could inhibit the acid production of three bacteria strains.

Detection of antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 in oral fluids: a large-scale evaluation of immunoassay performance.

Paired serum and oral-fluid (OF) specimens (n = 4,448) were collected from blood donors and patients attending local sexually transmitted disease clinics in Trinidad and Tobago and the Bahamas and were tested for the presence of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) antibodies. Sera were tested by Abbott AB HIV-1/HIV-2 (rDNA) enzyme immunoassay (EIA), and positive specimens were confirmed by Cambridge HIV-1 and HIV-2 Western blotting (WB). OF specimens were collected with the OraSure collection device and were tested by Murex GACELISA and by two EIAs from Organon Teknika (the Oral Fluid Vironostika HIV-1 Microelisa System [OTC-L] and the Vironostika HIV-1 Microelisa System [OTC-M]). EIA-reactive OF specimens were confirmed by miniaturized WB (OFWB). GACELISA detected all 474 HIV-1 seropositive specimens (sensitivity, 100%). OTC-L detected 470 positive specimens (sensitivity, 99.2%), while OTC-M detected 468 positive specimens (sensitivity, 98.8%). Specificities ranged from 99.2 to 100% for the three assays. Concordance of OFWB with serum WB was 99.4%, and banding patterns determined by the two methods were similar. The immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentration of OF specimens ranged from 0.21 to 100 microg/ml, with a mean of 17.1 microg/ml. Significant differences in OF IgG concentrations were observed between HIV antibody-positive and HIV antibody-negative persons (31.94 versus 15.28 microg/ml, respectively [P < 0.0001]). These data further confirm the suitability of OF specimens for detection of HIV-1 antibodies. Currently available HIV-1 antibody assays provide sensitivities and specificities with OF specimens comparable to those achieved with serum specimens.

PIP: The use of oral fluid (OF) as a specimen for detecting antibodies to infectious agents has become increasingly popular since the approach was first described in the 1980s. OF is a mixture of saliva, mucosal and bacterial products, and gingival crevicular fluid. 4448 paired serum and OF specimens collected from 4448 blood donors and patients attending 3 sexually transmitted disease clinics in Trinidad and Tobago and the Bahamas were tested for the presence of HIV-1 antibodies. The sera were tested by Abbott AB HIV-1/HIV-2 (rDNA) enzyme immunoassay (EIA), and positive specimens were confirmed by Cambridge HIV-1 and HIV-2 Western blotting (WB). OF specimens were collected using the OraSure collection device and were tested by Murex GACELISA and 2 EIAs from Organon Teknika (OTC-L and OTC-M). EIA-reactive OF specimens were confirmed by miniaturized WB (OFWB). GACELISA detected all 474 HIV-1 seropositive specimens, OTC-L detected 470 positive specimens, and OTC-M detected 468 positive specimens. Specificities were 99.2-100% for the three assays. There was a 99.4% concordance of OFWB with serum WB, and banding patterns determined by the two methods were similar. The immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentration of OF specimens was 0.21-100 mcg/ml, with a mean of 17.1 mcg/ml. Significant differences in OF IgG concentrations were observed between HIV antibody-positive and HIV antibody-negative persons. These data support the suitability of OF specimens for detecting HIV-1 antibodies. Currently available HIV-1 antibody assays provide sensitivities and specificities with OF specimens comparable to those achieved with serum specimens.

Cost-effectiveness of homoeopathic treatment in a dental practice

Dentists who accept social security patients in Germany today are bound by a large number of rules and regulations which impose severe limits on their free choice of treatment, cost-effectiveness being a prime consideration. The treatment of acute conditions predominates in a modern compulsory insurance practice. The author analysed his own case record and the statistics provided by the KZV (association of dental practitioners for patients with compulsory insurance) for the period from 1983 to 1990 to establish the effect of introducing consistent use of homoeopathic treatment from the end fo 1984 on the frequency with which certain standard treatments were required. The results were compared with the average figures of other dentists and a computation made of potential economic advantages at a national level

Odontologia versus criança maltratada / Odontology versus abused children

Este estudo investigou qual a atitude que os dentistas prefeririam tomar diante de uma criança maltratada nessa condiçäo em uma consulta. Os resultados mostraram que a classe odontológica e os acadêmicos näo têm um modo padräo de agir, embora a maioria (55 por cento) considere o diálogo com os pais ou responsáveis como a melhor forma de resoluçäo para esse problema social