Association of Filifactor alocis and its RTX toxin gene ftxA with periodontal attachment loss, and in synergy with Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans.

The Gram-positive bacterium, Filifactor alocis is an oral pathogen, and approximately 50% of known strains encode a recently identified repeat-in-toxin (RTX) protein, FtxA. By assessing a longitudinal Ghanaian study population of adolescents (10-19 years of age; mean age 13.2 years), we recently discovered a possible correlation between deep periodontal pockets measured at the two-year follow-up, presence of the ftxA gene, and a high quantity of F. alocis. To further understand the contribution of F. alocis and FtxA in periodontal disease, we used qPCR in the present study to assess the carriage loads of F. alocis and the prevalence of its ftxA gene in subgingival plaque specimens, sampled at baseline from the Ghanaian cohort (n=500). Comparing these results with the recorded clinical attachment loss (CAL) longitudinal progression data from the two-year follow up, we concluded that carriers of ftxA-positive F. alocis typically exhibited higher loads of the bacterium. Moreover, high carriage loads of F. alocis and concomitant presence of the ftxA gene were two factors that were both associated with an enhanced prevalence of CAL progression. Interestingly, CAL progression appeared to be further promoted upon the simultaneous presence of F. alocis and the non-JP2 genotype of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans. Taken together, our present findings are consistent with the notion that F. alocis and its ftxA gene promotes CAL during periodontal disease.

The Effect of Alginate Encapsulated Plant-Based Carbohydrate and Protein Supplementation on Recovery and Subsequent Performance in Athletes.

The main purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a novel alginate-encapsulated carbohydrate-protein (CHO-PRO ratio 2:1) supplement (ALG) on cycling performance. The ALG, designed to control the release of nutrients, was compared to an isocaloric carbohydrate-only control (CON). Alginate encapsulation of CHOs has the potential to reduce the risk of carious lesions. METHODS: In a randomised cross-over clinical trial, 14 men completed a preliminary test over 2 experimental days separated by ~6 days. An experimental day consisted of an exercise bout (EX1) of cycling until exhaustion at W~73%, followed by 5 h of recovery and a subsequent time-to-exhaustion (TTE) performance test at W~65%. Subjects ingested either ALG (0.8 g CHO/kg/hr + 0.4 g PRO/kg/hr) or CON (1.2 g CHO/kg/hr) during the first 2 h of recovery. RESULTS: Participants cycled on average 75.2 ± 5.9 min during EX1. Levels of plasma branched-chain amino acids decreased significantly after EX1, and increased significantly with the intake of ALG during the recovery period. During recovery, a significantly higher plasma insulin and glucose response was observed after intake of CON compared to ALG. Intake of ALG increased plasma glucagon, free fatty acids, and glycerol significantly. No differences were found in the TTE between the supplements (p = 0.13) nor in the pH of the subjects' saliva. CONCLUSIONS: During the ALG supplement, plasma amino acids remained elevated during the recovery. Despite the 1/3 less CHO intake with ALG compared to CON, the TTE performance was similar after intake of either supplement.

Asthma medication and risk of dental diseases in children - A prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Dental caries and enamel defects are the main causes of poor dental health in children, with a substantial impact on their well-being. Use of inhaled asthma medication is a suspected risk factor, but there is a lack of prospective studies investigating this and other prenatal and early life risk factors. METHODS: Copenhagen Prospective Studies on Asthma in Childhood 2010 mother-child cohort (COPSAC2010 ) consists of 700 women who were recruited at 24 weeks of pregnancy. 588 of their children participated in a dental examination at 6 years of age (84%) at the COPSAC2010 research unit. Caries was defined as decayed, missing, or filled surfaces. Enamel defect was defined as demarcated opacity, post-eruptive enamel breakdown, and/or atypical restoration on at least one molar. Caries and enamel defects were assessed in both deciduous and permanent dentitions. RESULTS: We found no associations between inhaled corticosteroids or ß2 -agonists or asthma symptoms in early childhood and the risk of caries or enamel defects by 6 years of age. Furthermore, we found no strong pre-, peri-, or postnatal risk factors for dental diseases at 6 years, except from nominally significant associations between antibiotic use in pregnancy (OR = 1.25, [1.01-1.54]), maternal education level (OR = 1.57, [1.01-2.45]), having a dog at home (OR = 0.50, [0.27-0.93]), and risk of enamel defects. CONCLUSIONS: Use of inhaled corticosteroids, ß2 -agonists, or asthma symptoms in the first 6 years of life were not associated with the development of caries or enamel defects. This finding is reassuring for parents and physicians prescribing asthma medication for young children.

Craniofacial morphology in adults with osteogenesis imperfecta-A cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare the craniofacial and neurocranial morphology of adults with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) with controls and to elucidate whether osseous origin impacts on morphological deviations in OI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-four adults (mean age 45.8) with OI type I, 14 adults (mean age 42.6) with OI types III/IV and 49 adult controls (mean age 41.0) were included. All participants had European ethnicity. Cranial morphology was assessed by 2D-cephalometry. Comparison between groups was made by multiple regression analyses. RESULTS: Comparison between OI groups and controls: (1) Dimension of the maxilla and mandible, respectively was reduced (P < .01), and in relation to the posterior cranial base, the maxilla was retro-positioned (P < .001), and the mandible was prognathic (P < .001). (2) The anterior face height was reduced (P < .04), and in OI types III/IV only, the maxilla was posteriorly inclined (P < .001). (3) Anterior cranial base (P < .001) and the dimension sella-frontale (P < .02) were short. (4) The sagittal dimension of the posterior cranial fossa was increased (P < .01), and the vertical dimension was reduced (P < .01). CONCLUSIONS: Adults with OI had a hypoplastic, retro-positioned and posteriorly inclined maxilla, a hypoplastic and forward-positioned mandible, and a reduced anterior face height. Deviations were seen in morphology of the posterior cranial fossa. The impact of OI on cranial morphology was generally more evident in OI type III/IV than in OI type I. OI impacts on osseous cranial structures irrespective of bony origin being intramembranous or endochondral.

Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and Filifactor alocis as Associated with Periodontal Attachment Loss in a Cohort of Ghanaian Adolescents.

The aims of the present study were to document the presence of Aggregatibacter actinomyctemcomitans and the emerging oral pathogen Filifactor alocis, as well as to identify genotypes of these bacterial species with enhanced virulence. In addition, these data were analyzed in relation to periodontal pocket depth (PPD) and the progression of PPD from the sampled periodontal sites during a two-year period. Subgingival plaque samples were collected from 172 periodontal pockets of 68 Ghanaian adolescents. PPD at sampling varied from 3-14 mm and the progression from baseline, i.e., two years earlier up to 8 mm. The levels of A. actinomycetemcomitans and F. alocis were determined with quantitative PCR. The highly leukotoxic JP2-genotype of A. actinomycetemcomitans and the ftxA a gene of F. alocis, encoding a putative Repeats-in-Toxin (RTX) protein, were detected with conventional PCR. The prevalence of A. actinomycetemcomitans was 57%, and 14% of the samples contained the JP2 genotype. F. alocis was detected in 92% of the samples and the ftxA gene in 52%. The levels of these bacterial species were significantly associated with enhanced PPD and progression, with a more pronounced impact in sites positive for the JP2 genotype or the ftxA gene. Taken together, the results indicate that the presence of both A. actinomycetemcomitans and F. alocis with their RTX proteins are linked to increased PPD and progression of disease.

Self-perception of periodontal health and pain experience during periodontal examination in 14- to 15-year-old Danish adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate different aspects of periodontal examination among Danish adolescents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In all, 521 Danish adolescents underwent a periodontal examination and answered a questionnaire concerning their self-perception of periodontal health (PH). Furthermore, 107 participants reported their pain experience during periodontal examination using a visual analog scale. The self-perception of PH and the pain experience were correlated with plaque score (PS), bleeding on probing (BOP), probing pocket depth (PPD), and interdental clinical attachment loss (CAL). RESULTS: Good PH was reported by 424 (81%) of the participants. However, the association between PH and PS, BOP, PPD, and CAL was small (sensitivity: 7.7, 7.8, 12.0, and 0.0%, respectively). Only 57 (11%) of the participants reported bleeding gums (BG) during tooth brushing, but the correlation with BOP showed a sensitivity of 11.7%. The specificity of both self-perception of PH and BG was high. Sixty-seven (66.6%) of the participants experienced 'mild pain' during periodontal examination. There were no differences in periodontal outcomes between the pain groups (p > .05). CONCLUSIONS: The adolescents showed a poor ability to identify themselves as having poor PH and BG, and 67 (66.6%) of the adolescents experienced mild pain during periodontal examination. The findings emphasize the need for dental staff to monitor the PH of Danish adolescents and advise them as necessary.

The Highly Leukotoxic JP2 Genotype of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans Is Present in the Population of the West African Island, Sal in Cape Verde: A Pilot Study.

Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans is strongly associated with severe periodontitis, possibly due to its production of a potent leukotoxin. A genetic variant, the JP2 genotype, was found to produce more leukotoxin than the wild type because of a mutation in the leukotoxin gene, and this genotype is frequently found in African populations. The aim of this study was to investigate whether this JP2 genotype can be found in a randomly selected group of inhabitants of Sal, Cape Verde. Twenty-nine adults between 20 and 59 years of age (58.6% female) participated, and information on their oral health and living standards was collected. An oral examination was performed for each participant, including DMF-T and CPI scores. Plaque and saliva samples were collected and transported to Europe, where DNA was isolated, and the concentration of A. actinomycetemcomitans and its JP2 genotype was determined using dedicated PCR analyses. All 29 plaque and 31% of the saliva samples harboured A. actinomycetemcomitans, and two participants were positive for the JP2 genotype. The presence of this JP2 genotype was not associated with either CPI or DMF-T. This pilot study is the first to describe the presence of the A. actinomycetemcomitans JP2 genotype in a Cape Verdean population living in the Cape Verde Islands, and the findings warrant further research.

Vitamin D status and tooth enamel hypomineralization are not associated in 4-y-old children: An Odense Child Cohort study.

Early fetal stages of tooth development are vitamin D-dependent, suggesting an impact of vitamin D status in pregnancy on tooth mineralization in human populations. We examined the association between pregnancy and cord serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (s-25(OH)D) and hypomineralization of the second primary molars (HSPM) in the 4-year-old children in the prospective, population-based Odense Child Cohort, Denmark. S-25(OH)D was measured in early pregnancy (<20 weeks, n = 753); late pregnancy (≥20 weeks, n = 841); and in umbilical cord blood (n = 1,241) using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. HSPM was scored using modified European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry judgment criteria. The median [Q1;Q3] s-25(OH)D was 65.0 [49.4;78.0], 79.2 [60.4;95.8], and 45.1 [31.2;60.5] nmol/L in early pregnancy, late pregnancy, and cord blood, respectively. The prevalence of HSPM was 54.7%; creamy/white demarcated opacities 79.5%; yellowish/brownish demarcated opacities 14.9%; post-eruptive breakdown 5.2%; atypical restoration 0.4%. No univariate or adjusted associations with HSPM were detected for pregnancy or cord s-25(OH)D as a continuous variable or categorized into quartiles or routine clinical cut-offs, or when classifying HSPM by severity. In exploratory multiple regression analysis, HSPM was inversely associated with the length of gestation, adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 0.82 (95% C.I 0.74-0.92, p < 0.001), and directly associated with maternal education, aOR 1.57 (95% C.I 1.18-2.08, p = 0.002). In a population with relatively high s-25(OH)D concentrations and generally healthy mothers and children, pregnancy and cord blood vitamin D status was not associated with HSPM. The associations between HSPM and shorter gestational length and higher maternal education warrant further study.

Prevalence of the JP2 genotype of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans in the world population: a systematic review.

PURPOSE: To investigate the global prevalence of the JP2 genotype of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa). METHODS: A comprehensive electronic search of databases, PUBMED, MEDLINE, EMBASE, BIOSIS, and SCOPUS, was conducted up to August 2021. All published articles and studies were considered, excluding animal studies, editorials, personal opinions, letters to editor, conference abstracts, posters, and those studies without full text. The primary objective of this systematic review was to determine the presence of the JP2 genotype of Aa in the world population. RESULTS: A total of 295 articles were identified, of which 62 were preselected, and 51 were finally included in this review. Due to variable study designs and high heterogeneity, a meta-analysis was not conducted. A total of 9744 subjects were screened for the presence of the JP2 genotype of Aa worldwide, and only 621 cases were found positive. CONCLUSIONS: A relatively high presence of JP2 genotype of Aa was found in subjects from South America, North America, and Africa. There were no studies estimating the presence of the JP2 genotype of Aa in the Oceania region. The heterogeneity and quality of the included publications suggest that caution should be exercised when interpreting the data and that there remains an important need for additional evidence. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Periodontitis is a highly prevalent inflammatory oral disorder with substantial aesthetic, functional, and psychological implications for patients. The JP2 genotype of Aa is implicated in the pathogenesis of periodontitis. To the best of our knowledge, there is a lack of systematic reviews estimating the presence of the JP2 genotype of Aa in the global population. We identified a relatively high presence of the JP2 genotype of Aa in specific geographic areas of the world, and we propose that cross-sectional and longitudinal studies are lacking in the Oceania region and need to be conducted to estimate the presence of the JP2 genotype of Aa in this region.

Multilocus Sequence Typing of Non-JP2 Serotype b Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans Strains of Ghanaian and Swedish Origin.

Objective and Methods: The Gram-negative bacterium, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans is associated with periodontitis affecting young individuals. The geographic dissemination of the highly leukotoxic JP2 genotype of serotype b of this species was previously studied by multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Here, we have used MLST to genetically characterize non-JP2 genotype strains of serotype b, isolated from individuals living in Ghana (n=41), and in Sweden (n=13), respectively. Results: The MLST analysis revealed a total of nine sequence types (ST). Both Ghanaian and Swedish isolates were distributed in ST 1-3. ST 5 and 6 were only identified among the Ghanaian strains, whereas ST 4, 7, 8 and 9 were uniquely represented among the Swedish strains. Previously, we characterized these non-JP2 genotype strains of A. actinomycetemcomitans serotype b by arbitrarily-primed (AP)-PCR, which distributed them into three groups, AP-PCR type 1, 2, and 3, respectively. AP-PCR type 1 strains are generally highly leukotoxic, and are associated with progression of periodontal attachment loss. As AP-PCR type 1 includes both JP2 genotype strains and a proportion of non-JP2 genotype strains of serotype b, a straightforward diagnostic procedure has been sought. This has revealed a gene, cagE, which appears to be conserved only in this AP-PCR type. According to our results, MLST was not a highly discriminatory method to identify AP-PCR type 1, as strains of this AP-PCR type could be found within three different ST: ST 2, ST 3 and ST 8. Conclusion: According to MLST, a geographic dissemination of non-JP2 genotype A. actinomycetemcomitans serotype b appears to exist. However, aiming to identify carriers of AP-PCR type 1, non-JP2 genotype serotype b, PCR with cagE-specific primers is likely the most efficient diagnostic procedure known today.

Multilocus Sequence Typing of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans Competently Depicts the Population Structure of the Species.

We developed a multilocus sequence typing scheme (MLST) for Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans based on seven housekeeping genes, adk, atpG, frdB, mdh, pgi, recA, and zwf. A total of 188 strains of seven serotypes were separated into 57 sequence types. Whole-genome sequences were available for 140 strains, and in contrast to comparison of 16S rRNA genes, phylogenetic analysis of concatenated MLST gene fragments was in accordance with the population structure revealed by alignment of 785 core genes. MLST could not decisively identify the so-called JP2 clone associated with rapidly progressing periodontitis in adolescents, but noticeable clustering of JP2 genotype strains was revealed. The MLST scheme of A. actinomycetemcomitans can be assessed at www.pubmlst.org. IMPORTANCE Accurate diagnosis of infectious disease comprise identification, typing, and antimicrobial resistance of the infective agent. Bacteria are sometimes grouped within their species according to expression of specific toxins or particular antimicrobial resistance traits, but explicit typing for infection control and survey of pathogenesis necessitates genetic analysis such as multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Schemes for the most prevalent human pathogens have been available for more than 10 years, and time has come to extend the scrutiny to second-line infectious agents. One such pathogen is Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, which is commonly involved in periodontitis, and more rarely as the cause of infective endocarditis or spontaneous brain abscess. A MLST scheme for A. actinomycetemcomitans is now available at www.pubmlst.org. Whole-genome sequencing of a large number of isolates confirms that MLST competently depicts the population structure of the species.

Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and Aggregatibacter aphrophilus in a Kenyan Maasai Adolescent Population and Inhibition of Leukotoxic Activity by Herbal Plants Used as Part of Oral Hygiene Procedures.

BACKGROUND: A virulent genotype (JP2) of the periodonto-pathogen, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa), is widespread in North and West Africa, while its presence in East Africa has not been thoroughly investigated. This JP2 genotype is associated with periodontitis in adolescents and has a high leukotoxicity. The aim of the study was to examine the prevalence of Aa and its JP2 genotype, the prevalence of the oral, commensal Aggregatibacter aphrophilus in a Maasai adolescent population, and the effect of herbal plants for inhibition of leukotoxicity. METHODS: A total of 284 adolescents from Maasai Mara, Kenya, underwent an oral examination and microbial sampling. The presence of Aa and A. aphrophilus was analyzed by quantitative PCR and cultivation (the 58 samples collected at the last day of field study). The collected Aa strains were characterized and leukotoxin promoter typed. Additionally, herbal plants commonly used for oral hygiene were assessed for the inhibition of leukotoxicity. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of Aa in stimulated whole saliva was high (71.8%), with the JP2 genotype detected in one individual, and A. aphrophilus in 99% of the sampled individuals. The commonly used herbal plant, Warburgia ugandensis, inactivated Aa leukotoxicity. The Aa virulence might be reduced through use of W. ugandensis and the high levels of A. aphrophilus.

Prevalence of JP2 and Non-JP2 Genotypes of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and Oral Hygiene Practice of Kenyan Adolescents in Maasai Mara.

Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans is implicated in the etiology of periodontitis that affects adolescents. The monitoring and mapping of the geographic dissemination pattern of JP2 and non-JP2 genotypes of A. actinomycetemcomitans are of interest. In Africa, the highly leukotoxic JP2 genotype is known to be prevalent, particularly in north-west Africa. The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of JP2 and non-JP2 genotypes and investigate the oral hygiene practices among adolescents living in Maasai Mara, Kenya. A total of 284 adolescents (mean age: 15.0 yrs; SD 1.1) were interviewed regarding their age, gender, medical history, and oral hygiene practice, and the number of teeth present was recorded. One subgingival pooled plaque sample from all the first molars of each participant was analyzed by conventional PCR. The mean number of permanent teeth present was 27.9 (SD: 2.0; range: 22-32; 95% CI: 27.7-28.1). Sixteen (5.6%) and two (0.7%) adolescents were positive for non-JP2 and JP2 genotypes, respectively. For the vast majority of the adolescents, the use of a toothbrush (99.3%) and toothpaste (80.1%), as well as some kind of toothpick (>60.2%), were part of their oral hygiene practice, with dental floss (0.4%) and/or mouth rinses (0.4%) rarely being used. We have, for the first time, identified Kenyan adolescents colonized with the JP2 genotype. The prevalence of the JP2 genotype of A. actinomycetemcomitans is low, a possible indicator that it spreading through human migration from North and West Africa to East Africa is a rare occasion.

Molar-incisor hypomineralization: an umbrella review.

OBJECTIVE: In recent years, Molar Incisor Hypomineralization (MIH) has become a subject that concerns the Paediatric Dentistry Community. The aim of the present umbrella review was to analyse previously published systematic reviews (SRs) on MIH in children and adolescents. METHODS: Electronic database search was conducted (including PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane, Web of Science, and LILACS) until July 2020. Studies were included, if they were SR on MIH in children and adolescents. The methodological quality of SRs was judged by use of the MeaSurement Tool to Assess systematic Reviews 2. The primary outcomes included prevalence, aetiology, and clinical management of MIH. Data extraction and methodological quality assessment were performed. RESULTS: Eighteen systematic reviews were included for data extraction. Among these, two were focussing on prevalence, five addressed aetiology, one highlighted the mechanical and chemical characteristics of enamel in MIH, one underlined the association between MIH and dental caries, six addressed the treatment, and one focussed on hypomineralization of primary teeth as a predictor of MIH. The results showed a high worldwide prevalence of MIH and an unknown aetiology of MIH, but reporting that the aetiology is most likely multifactorial. Different treatment approaches used were desensitizing and remineralizing products, resin infiltration, fissure sealant, atraumatic restorative treatment, resin composite restoration, and stainless steel crown (SSC), but also extraction associated with orthodontic treatment of the permanent first molars (PFMs) was reported on. The AMSTAR criteria 2 was applied, where six studies were assessed as having critically low quality, two studies as having low quality, and nine studies as having moderate quality. CONCLUSIONS: MIH is highly prevalent worldwide and has most likely a multifactorial aetiology. Different treatment approaches according to the degree of severity of lesion(s) are reported on. The quality of evidence produced by the available SRs was not favourable. More well-designed clinical trials and high standard systematic reviews are necessary to elucidate better MIH characteristics and treatment outcomes.

Oral health-related quality of life in X-linked hypophosphataemia and osteogenesis imperfecta.

X-linked hypophosphataemia (XLH) and osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) are rare congenital disorders characterised by skeletal dysplasia. The two disorders may include dental anomalies potentially affecting individual well-being. The aims of study were (a) to assess the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in Danish adults with XLH or OI, and (b) to compare the results of the groups. A cross-sectional study including 35 adults with XLH, 56 adults with OI type I and 17 adults with OI types III-IV was conducted. The OHRQoL was assessed by the 49-item version of the questionnaire Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP). Summed domain scores (seven) were compared between XLH and OI groups. Prevalence of severe impact on OHRQoL (scores 3-4) was compared between groups. The median scores in XLH group exceeded the medians in OI (P < .05) in the domains functional limitation (XLH:6.5; OI:4.0), pain (XLH:9.5; OI:5.0), psychological discomfort (XLH:5.5; OI:2.0), psychological disability (XLH:2.0; OI:0.0), handicap (XLH:2.0; OI:0.0) and total OHIP (XLH:35.0; OI:14.0). Differences in domains physical disability (XLH: 4.0; OI: 1.0) and social disability (XLH: 0.0; OI: 0.0) were not significant. Prevalence of severe impact on OHRQoL in the XLH group significantly exceeded the level in OI group in the domains functional limitation (XLH: 59%; OI: 35%), psychological discomfort (XLH: 38%; OI: 20%) and physical disability (XLH: 32%; OI: 13%). In conclusion, adults with XLH experience a higher negative impact on their OHRQoL than adults with OI. Only to a minor degree, individuals with OI types III-IV experience a higher impact on OHRQoL than individuals with OI type I.

Parental mental illness, attendance at preventive child healthcare and dental caries in the offspring: a nation-wide population-based cohort study.

PURPOSE: Severe mental illness (SMI) may interfere with parental caregiving practices and offspring development. Adhering to preventive well-child visits and maintaining good oral hygiene during early childhood requires parental involvement. Whether these activities are affected by parental SMI is unclear. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether children exposed to parental SMI are at increased risk of non-attendance to preventive well-child visits and vaccinations at age 0-5 years and of child dental caries experience at age 5 years. Furthermore, interactions between maternal psychiatric and sociodemographic variables in relation to an adverse child outcome were assessed. METHODS: Data were obtained from national Danish health registers. All children born in Denmark between January 1997 and December 2010 were followed from birth until their 6th birthday. RESULTS: 679,339 children were included in the study (51% male). Of these, 49,059 children (7.8%) had at least one parent with a lifetime SMI diagnosis. Children of parents with SMI had elevated odds of missing well-child visits and vaccinations (OR 1.41; 95% CI 1.39-1.44, p < 0.0001), and of child dental caries (OR 1.58; 95% CI 1.55-1.62, p < 0.0001). In the presence of maternal SMI, low socioeconomic classification and single-mother status added more to the elevated risk than specific maternal diagnosis or timing of last psychiatric contact. CONCLUSION: Parents with SMI are less compliant with preventive child healthcare activities than parents without SMI. This indicates a need for practical support to these families in order to prevent inequality in health among their offspring.

Prevalence of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and Periodontal Findings among 14 to 15-Year Old Danish Adolescents: A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study.

Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa) is a keystone pathogen associated with periodontitis in adolescents. The knowledge on the prevalence of Aa and periodontitis among adolescents in Northern Europe is sparse. A total of 525 14- to 15-year-old adolescents from the municipality of Aarhus, Denmark, underwent a full-mouth clinical examination. Plaque score (PS), bleeding on probing (BOP), probing pocket depth (PPD), and clinical attachment loss (CAL) were recorded. Subgingival plaque samples (SPS) and stimulated saliva samples (SSS) were collected and analyzed for the presence of JP2 and non-JP2 genotypes of Aa using real-time PCR. A total of 70 (13.3%) individuals were positive for Aa, with 17 found in SPS, 19 in SSS, and 35 in both. The highly leukotoxic JP2 genotype of Aa was not detected. The individuals positive for Aa in both SPS and SSS had poorer periodontal outcomes (PPD and CAL) than individuals without Aa and individuals carrying Aa in either SPS or SSS only. In conclusion, 13% of 14- to 15-year-old Danish adolescents were positive for Aa, and the presence of Aa in both SPS and SSS was associated with poorer periodontal outcomes.

Characterization of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans Serotype b Strains with Five Different, Including Two Novel, Leukotoxin Promoter Structures.

The JP2 genotype of A. actinomycetemcomitans, serotype b has attracted much interest during the past three decades due to its close association with periodontitis in young individuals and the enhanced expression of a leukotoxin (LtxA). A typical feature of this genotype is a 530-base pair (bp) deletion in the ltxCABD promoter region controlling leukotoxin expression. In the present work, we have characterized serotype b strains with four additional promoter types. Two novel types have been recognized, that is, one with a 230-bp deletion and one with a 172-bp duplication. Moreover, a strain with a 640-bp deletion and three strains with a full-length promoter, including the type strain Y4, were included in the present study. The seven strains were characterized by multi locus sequence typing (MLST) and arbitrarily primed polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and assessed for LtxA production. MLST showed that the strains with the non-JP2-like deletions represented distinct monophyletic groups, whereas the JP2 strain, HK1651, represented a separate branch. LtxA production was high in all three strains with a promoter deletion, whereas the other four strains showed significantly lower levels. It can be concluded that the genetic characterization and determination of LtxA production of A. actinomycetemcomitans isolates from individuals with periodontitis can contribute to the identification of novel virulent genotypes of this bacterium.

Use of asthma drugs and prevalence of molar incisor hypomineralization.

BACKGROUND: Asthma and molar incisor hypomineralization (MIH) are common diseases among children and have been suspected to be associated with each other. AIM: To examine the association between asthma or the use of asthma drugs and the prevalence of MIH. DESIGN: In a population-based cross-sectional study, we recorded MIH in 9-year-old children in Aalborg Municipality, Denmark, born in the year 2000. We used a unique 10-digit civil personal number to link data on MIH to population-based medical register data. The exposure was inhaled asthma medication from birth date until date of dental examination. The outcome was the overall prevalence of MIH according to use of asthma medication. Odds ratios (OR) of having MIH were adjusted for gender, use of antibiotics and amoxicillin, maternal smoking, pre- and perinatal complication, and hospital admissions. RESULTS: We examined 1837 children, of which 542 (29.5%) had one or more molar(s) with MIH. The adjusted odds ratio of having MIH was 0.95 (95% CI: 0.60-1.51) among children with prescriptions of inhaled asthma medication. CONCLUSION: In this study, where the results have been adjusted for confounding, we found no association between use of inhaled asthma medication and the prevalence of MIH.

Chemical Composition, Antimicrobial activity, in Vitro Cytotoxicity and Leukotoxin Neutralization of Essential Oil from Origanum vulgare against Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans.

In this study, the essential oil of Origanum vulgare was evaluated for putative antibacterial activity against six clinical strains and five reference strains of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, in comparison with some antimicrobials. The chemical composition of the essential oil was analyzed, using chromatography (CG) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry coupled (CG-MS). The major compounds in the oil were Carvacrol (32.36%), α-terpineol (16.70%), p-cymene (16.24%), and Thymol (12.05%). The antimicrobial activity was determined by an agar well diffusion test. A broth microdilution method was used to study the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC). The minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) was also determined. The cytotoxicity of the essential oil (IC50) was <125 µg/mL for THP-1 cells, which was high in comparison with different MIC values for the A. actinomycetemcomitans strains. O. vulgare essential oil did not interfere with the neutralizing capacity of Psidium guajava against the A. actinomycetemcomitans leukotoxin. In addition, it was shown that the O. vulgare EO had an antibacterial effect against A. actinomycetemcomitans on a similar level as some tested antimicrobials. In view of these findings, we suggest that O.vulgare EO may be used as an adjuvant for prevention and treatment of periodontal diseases associated to A. actinomycetemcomitans. In addition, it can be used together with the previously tested leukotoxin neutralizing Psidium guajava.