Spectrophotometric Analysis of Streptococcus mutans Growth and Biofilm Formation in Saliva and Histatin-5 Relate to pH and Viscosity

ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the ability of saliva in controlling the growth and the biofilm formation of Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) as well as the effect of histatin-5 anti-biofilm relate to pH and saliva viscosity. Material and Methods: The S. mutans biofilm assayed by crystal violet 1% and its growth measured by spectrophotometer. The saliva viscosity was analyzed by viscometer, and pH of saliva was measured by pH meter. Results: Based on the optical density values, growth of S. mutans in saliva ranged <300 CFU/mL (0.1 nm) at concentrations of 25%, 12.5% and 6.25% for 24 hours. Whereas at the 48 h and 72 h period of incubation shown an increase in growth of S. mutans ranged 300-600 CFU/mL (0.2-0.36 nm). The inhibitory biofilm formation of S. mutans in saliva was significantly higher at concentrations of 12.5% and 6.25% at 24 h incubation times on a moderate scale, whereas the histatin-5 was effective to inhibit S. mutans biofilm on the 50 and 25 ppm. The saliva possessed a higher inhibitory of biofilm S. mutans than histatin-5 and good level viscosity (0.91-0.92 cP). Conclusion: The saliva was able to control the growth of S. mutans, and histatin-5 can inhibit the biofilm formation S. mutans. Furthermore, the saliva was also able to respond to the pH change with good viscosity of saliva.

HLA-DRB1 allele distribution among children with rheumatic heart disease in Haji Adam Malik Hospital Medan, Indonesia.

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is influenced by genetic factor, microorganism's virulence, and environmental factor. The aim of this study was to determine human leukocyte (HLA)-DRB1 allele among children with RHD in Medan, Indonesia. Methods An observational study was conducted at the Department of Child Health, Haji Adam Malik Hospital Medan from April to June 2017. Inclusion criteria were children aged 5-18 years diagnosed with RHD. Children with concomitant congenital heart disease were excluded. HLA-DRB1 alleles were analyzed using the PCR sequence-specific priming (SSP) technique. Statistical analysis was done using computer software. Results A total of 62 children were enrolled. The mean age of children was 12.6 (SD 3.44) years; 33 (53.2%) were male. The most dominant allele was HLA-DRB1*12, followed by HLADRB1*15. Conclusion It is proven in this research that RHD is influenced by genetic factor with HLA-DRB1*12 allele found to be the most common allele in children with RHD in Medan, Indonesia.

The Role of Polymorphism Gen Methylene Tetra Hydrofolate Reductase (MTHFR) C677T in Ischaemic Stroke Patients with and Without Hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Stroke is a leading cause of disability and remains the second leading cause of death in the world. Some of the pathogenesis of stroke are interactions between genetic and acquired risk factors, the interaction is related with the atherosclerotic which is the main pathogenesis of ischaemic stroke. Previous studies demonstrated an association between methylene tetra hydro folate reductase (MTHFR) genotype and ischaemic stroke; the MTHFR C677T genotype is one of the independent risk factor. AIM: This study aims to know about the role of polymorphism gen MTHFR C677T in ischaemic stroke patients with and without hypertension. METHODS: This study is a cross-sectional study, the sample was taken consecutively, after approval by the Medical Faculty Science's Ethics Committee at University Sumatera Utara. All sample matched with inclusion and exclusion criteria, demography data and blood sample were taken. Demography data were analysed using descriptive statistic. RESULTS: Of the 106 ischaemic stroke patients were divided into two groups, the first group is patients with hypertension (53 patients), and the second group is without hypertension (53 patients). We have done the PCR- RFLP to all the patients, we got 78 patients with 677CC of MTHFR genotype, 23 patients with 677CT genotype and 5 patients with 677TT genotype. We found polymorphism C677T is more frequent in ischaemic stroke patients with hypertension (16 patients; 69.5%), and all the patient with 677TT genotype are an ischaemic stroke with hypertension (5 patients; 100%). CONCLUSION: We concluded that polymorphism MTHFR C677T have an important role in hypertension and ischaemic stroke.

Correlation between Vitamin D receptor gene FOKI and BSMI polymorphisms and the susceptibility to pulmonary tuberculosis in an Indonesian Batak-ethnic population.

AIM: To explore the role of FokI and BsmI polymorphisms the VDR gene in the susceptibility to pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) in an Indonesian Batak ethnic population. METHODS: Matched case-control study was conducted on 76 PTB patients and 76 healthy normal control. Genetic polymorphisms of Vitamin D Receptor (VDR) gene were analysed using PCR-RFLP. RESULTS: The frequencies of FokI genotypes were FF 35.5%, Ff 55.3%, ff 9.2% for PTB patients and FF 39.5%, Ff 44.7.% and ff 15.8% for normal control. The BsmI genotypes frequencies were BB 0%, Bb 68.4%, bb 31.6% for TB patients and BB 2.6%, Bb 23.7% and bb 73.7% for control. There was no significant association between FokI genotype and PTB (OR 1.39, 95% CI: 0.69-2.77 for Ff genotype and OR 0.64, 95% CI: 0.22-1.86 for ff genotype). There was a significant association between BsmI genotype and PTB; the bb genotype was associated with a decreased risk to PTB (OR 0.22, 95% CI: 0.11-0.45). CONCLUSION: In Indonesian Batak ethnic population, there was no association between FokI polymorphism of VDR gene with host susceptibility to PTB. There was a significant association between BsmI polymorphism of VDR gene; bb genotype was associated with a decreased risk to PTB.