Salivary microbiome diversity in Chinese children with various caries states.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore oral microbiome diversity among children with various caries status based on dmft scores. METHODS: A total of 320 children aged 3-5 years were recruited, with 66 healthy children and 254 children affected by dental caries. According to dmft scores, these children with dental caries were classified as "mild group" (dmft score 1-3), "moderate group" (dmft score 4-6), and "severe group" (dmft score 7-14). Healthy children with dmft score of 0 served as control group. Illumina MiSeq sequencing was employed to analyze all salivary samples collected from these children. RESULTS: The salivary microbial diversity among four groups was similar (p > 0.05). A total of five bacterial genera were highly abundant in the control group including Bergeyella, Acidimicrobiales, Acidimicrobiia, Halomonas, and Blautia (p < 0.05). For mild group, there were nine bacterial genera identified to be predominant: Porphyromonadaceae, Porphyromonas, Enterobacteriales, Enterobacteriaceae, Weissella, Leuconostocaceae, Alphaproteobacteria, Stenotrophomonas, and Rhizobiales (p < 0.05). Only one genus, Aggregatibacter was predominant in moderate group (p < 0.05). There were six bacterial genera (Alistipes, Lachnoclostridium, Escherichia-Shigella, Romboutsia, Sphingomonadales, and Denitratisoma) enriched in severe group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Oral microbial profile was different in children with various caries status based on dmft scores. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The results might be beneficial to deeply understand microbiological diversity of early childhood caries (ECC) at various stages and inform effective strategies for ECC prevention.

An association analysis for genetic factors for dental caries susceptibility in a cohort of Chinese children.

OBJECTIVE: To comprehensively investigate the effects of 25 variants in 15 genes on dental caries susceptibility in a cohort of Chinese children. METHODS: A total of 25 variants in 15 genes were genotyped with MassARRAY iPLEX system and analyzed in 265 healthy controls and 254 children affected by dental caries with different dmft scores. The children with dental caries were stratified into "mild group" (scores from 1 to 3), "moderate group" (scores from 4 to 6), and "severe group" (scores from 7 to 14). RESULTS: The association analysis revealed that rs11362 of defensin ß1 (DEFB1) was significantly associated with dental caries susceptibility (OR = 2.447, p = 1.165E-04). Furthermore, rs11362 was positively correlated with the severity of dental caries. For another selected variant of DEFB1, rs1799946 was significantly associated with dental caries susceptibility in the severe group (OR = 0.473, p = 3.70E-03) and also significant in the group consisted of moderate and severe subjects (OR = 0.623, p = .033). The results from logistic regression in additive, dominant, and recessive models also exhibited the similar patterns. CONCLUSION: Out of 25 selected variants, only 2 of DEFB1 gene (rs11362 and rs1799946) were significantly associated with dental caries susceptibility in children.

Motivational interviewing for caries prevention in adolescents: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of motivational interviewing (MI) in changing health behaviors (snack and toothbrushing) and preventing dental caries among adolescents. METHODS: Five hundred and twelve adolescents with unfavorable caries-related behaviors ("snacking three times or more a day" and/or "toothbrushing less often than twice a day") were randomly assigned to three groups. Group I received prevailing health education (oral health talks and pamphlets). Participants in group II joined a one-on-one face-to-face MI session. In group III, a patient communication tool (Cariogram) was incorporated to facilitate the MI process. At baseline and 24 months post-intervention, a self-administered questionnaire gathered information of participants' sociodemographic characteristics and oral health self-efficacy and behaviors. Their oral hygiene and tooth status were assessed by a blinded examiner. RESULTS: After 24 months, 460 (89.8%) participants were followed up. Compared with group I, (i) restriction of frequent snacking was more likely in group II [OR (95% CI): 3.91 (1.48-10.33)] and group III [OR (95% CI): 6.33 (2.46-16.27)], whereas group III tended to adopt the behavior of toothbrushing twice a day [OR (95% CI): 4.80 (1.79-12.85)]; (ii) no significant between-group difference in plaque score reduction was found (p > 0.05); and (iii) groups II and III developed fewer cavitated teeth (△DICDASII 3-6MFT) [ß (95% CI): - 0.19 (- 0.37, - 0.01) and - 0.20 (- 0.38, - 0.02), respectively], whereas increment of total carious lesions (△DICDASII 1-6MFT) was lower in group III [ß (95% CI): - 0.63 (- 1.24, - 0.02)]. CONCLUSION: MI outperformed prevailing health education in improving oral health behaviors and preventing dental caries among adolescents. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Incorporating MI into dental care for caries-prone adolescents contributes to optimal health outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION: HKUCTR-1852 ( http://www.hkuctr.com/ ) (Hong Kong, 2013).

Children's dental fear and anxiety: exploring family related factors.

BACKGROUND: Dental fear and anxiety (DFA) is a major issue affecting children's oral health and clinical management. This study investigates the association between children's DFA and family related factors, including parents' DFA, parenting styles, family structure (nuclear or single-parent family), and presence of siblings. METHODS: A total of 405 children (9-13 years old) and their parents were recruited from 3 elementary schools in Hong Kong. Child's demographic and family-related information was collected through a questionnaire. Parents' and child's DFA were measured by using the Corah Dental Anxiety Scale (CDAS) and Children Fear Survey Schedule-Dental Subscale (CFSS-DS), respectively. Parenting styles were gauged by using the Parent Authority Questionnaire (PAQ). RESULTS: DFA was reported by 33.1% of children. The mean (SD) CFSS-DS score was 29.1 (11.0). Children with siblings tended to report DFA (37.0% vs. 24.1%; p = 0.034) and had a higher CFSS-DS score (29.9 vs. 27.4; p = 0.025) as compared with their counterpart. Children from single-parent families had lower CFSS-DS score as compared with children from nuclear families (ß = - 9.177; p = 0.029). Subgroup analysis showed a higher CFSS-DS score among boys with siblings (ß = 7.130; p = 0.010) as compared with their counterpart; girls' from single-parent families had a lower CFSS-DS score (ß = - 13.933; p = 0.015) as compared with girls from nuclear families. Children's DFA was not associated with parents' DFA or parenting styles (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Family structure (nuclear or single-parent family) and presence of siblings are significant determinants for children's DFA. Parental DFA and parenting style do not affect children's DFA significantly.

Photoelectric Multi-Signal Output Sensor Based on Two-Dimensional Covalent Organic Polymer Film Modified by Novel Aggregation-Induced Emission Probes.

Optical sensors, especially fluorescence sensors, have been widely used because of their advantages in sensing, such as the high sensitivity, good selectivity, no radiation source, and easy operation. Here, we report an example of fluorescence sensing based on two-dimensional (2D) covalent organic polymers and highlight that the material can achieve a fast response and multi-signal output. This 2DPTPAK+TAPB-based sensor can quickly detect aromatic hydrocarbons and Fe3+ by the fluorescence signal or electrical resistance signal.

An Artificial Universal Tactile Nociceptor Based on 2D Polymer Film Memristor Arrays with Tunable Resistance Switching Behaviors.

Nociceptor is an important receptor in the organism's sensory system; it can perceive harmful stimuli and send signals to the brain in order to protect the body in time. The injury degree of nociceptor can be divided into three stages: self-healing injury, treatable injury, and permanent injury. However, the current studies on nociceptor simulation are limited to the self-healing stage due to the limitation of the untunable resistance switching behavior of memristors. In this study, we constructed Al/2DPTPAK+TAPB/Ag memristor arrays with adjustable memory behaviors to emulate the nociceptor of biological neural network of all three stages. For this purpose, a PDMS/AgNWs/ITO/PET pressure sensor was assembled to mimic the tactile perception of the skin. The memristor arrays can not only simulate all the response of nociceptor, i.e., the threshold, relaxation, no adaptation, and sensitization with the self-healing injury, but can also simulate the treatable injury and the permanent injury. These behaviors are both demonstrated with a single memristor and in the form of pattern mapping of the memristor array.

Mineralization of calcium phosphate on two-dimensional polymer films with controllable density of carboxyl groups.

Two-dimensional polymers functionalized with controllable density of carboxyl groups were constructed with the Langmuir-Blodgett method. Mineralization of calcium phosphate shows significantly different characteristics on these films, which clearly indicates that the density of carboxy groups plays a determining role in controlling the nucleation and orientated growth of calcium phosphate.

Association of ENAM, TUFT1, MMP13, IL1B, IL10 and IL1RN gene polymorphism and dental caries susceptibility in Chinese children.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in six candidate genes (enamelin [ ENAM]; tuftelin 1 [ TUFT1]; matrix metallopeptidase 13 [ MMP13]; interleukin 1 beta [ IL1B]; interleukin 10 [ IL10]; interleukin 1 receptor antagonist [ IL1RN]) and dental caries in children from northwest China. METHODS: This case-control study enrolled children (12-15 years) who underwent routine dental examinations. The children were divided into two groups based on the presence of dental caries. A saliva sample was collected and seven SNPs (rs3806804A/G in ENAM, rs3811411T/G in TUFT1, rs2252070A/G and rs597315A/T in MMP13, rs1143627C/T in IL1B, rs1800872A/C in IL10 and rs956730G/A in IL1RN) were genotyped. RESULTS: A total of 357 children were enrolled in the study: 161 with dental caries and 196 without dental caries. No significant difference was found in the alleles and genotypes of five genes ( ENAM, TUFT1, MMP13, IL10 and IL1RN) between those with and without dental caries. A significant relationship was found between the IL1B rs1143627C/T polymorphism and dental caries susceptibility with those carrying the rs1143627CT genotype having a lower risk of dental caries compared with those carrying the CC genotype (odds ratio 0.557; 95% confidence interval 0.326, 0.952). CONCLUSION: The IL1B rs1143627C/T polymorphism may be associated with dental caries susceptibility in children from northwest China.

Motivational Interviewing to Promote Oral Health in Adolescents.

PURPOSE: Motivational interviewing (MI) is a counseling strategy to help people change their behaviors. This single-blinded randomized controlled trial evaluated the effectiveness of MI in improving adolescents' oral health. METHODS: Fifteen secondary schools were randomly assigned to three groups: (I) prevailing health education, (II) MI, and (III) MI coupled with interactive dental caries risk assessment (MI + RA). Adolescents (n = 512) with unfavorable oral health behaviors (infrequent toothbrushing and/or frequent snacking) were recruited; 161, 163, and 188 in groups I-III, respectively. Participants in the three groups received their respective interventions. At baseline and after 6 and 12 months, participants completed a questionnaire on their oral health self-efficacy and behaviors. Their oral hygiene (dental plaque score) and dental caries (number of decayed surfaces/teeth status) were recorded. RESULTS: Compared with group I, subjects in groups II and III were more likely to reduce their snacking frequency (odds ratios [95% confidence intervals {CIs}]: 7.12 [1.80-28.16] and 11.17 [2.90-42.98], respectively) and increase their toothbrushing frequency (odds ratios [95% CIs]: 5.26 [2.28-12.16] and 11.45 [4.99-26.26], respectively) after 12 months. Taking group I as a reference, groups II and III had lower number of new carious teeth △D ICDAS II 1-6MFT (ß [95% CI]: -.24 [-.44 to -.04] and -.31 [-.51 to -.11], respectively). CONCLUSIONS: MI was more effective than prevailing health education strategy in eliciting positive changes in adolescents' oral health behaviors and preventing dental caries.

[The correlation between oral colonization of Helicobacter pylori and gastrointestinal disease].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) colonization in the oral cavity and gastrointestinal disease. METHODS: 173 patients with gastrointestinal disease were grouped according to age, gender, periodontal status and types of gastrointestinal disease. H. pylori were detected from saliva samples of all patients by in vitro cultur. The H. pylori-positive rates in different groups were statistically analysed. RESULTS: The H. pylori-positive rate in all patients was 40.46% and the difference between male and female showed significant (P<0.05). The H. pylori-positive rate was 56.72% in the age range 45-64, which was significantly higher than two younger age groups (P<0.05). The H. pylori-positive rate in patients with atrophic gastritis was 77.78%, of which the difference was significantly higher than superficial gastritis group and gastric and duodenal ulcer group respectively (P<0.05). The H. pylori-positive rate in healthy periodontia group was 15.38%, while that in periodontitis group was 72.73% (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: H. pylori is a conditional pathogen. The H. pylori-positive rate from saliva is closely related to the types of gastrointestinal disease in patients, and it is correlated with the periodontal diseases as well. These findings suggest that the oral cavity with periodontal diseases is an ecological niche of H. pylori which might be an important cause for occurrence and re-occurrence of gastrointestinal disease.