Factors affecting the formation of membranous substances in the palates of elderly persons requiring nursing care.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the causative factor behind the formation of membranous substances in the mouths of elderly patients requiring nursing care. BACKGROUND: Membranous substances are sometimes observed in the mouths of elderly persons requiring nursing care, and these can lead to bleeding, infection and asphyxiation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In April 2007, samples were collected from 70 patients at C Hospital, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, who were 65 years or older (median age, 81.1 ± 7.7 years). Sixteen of the subjects were confirmed to have a membranous substance containing a keratin degeneration product that had been derived from stratified squamous epithelium. The samples were examined microscopically, and the presence of epithelial components was confirmed through immunohistochemical staining with anti-cytokeratin-1 antibodies. RESULTS: Decision tree analysis and logistic regression suggest that the leading contributors to the formation of the membranous substances were the method of ingesting nutrients, dryness of the tongue dorsum and open mouth. These three factors are related to elderly persons requiring nursing care with impaired oral cavity function, and it was suggested that dryness of the oral mucosa was the major factor behind the membrane formation.

Complete genome sequence of a species of the genus Agarivorans from the Sea of Japan.

A strain of Agarivorans sp., named OAG1, predicted to be capable of degrading agar, was isolated from the Sea of Japan. Its 4.7 Mbp genome with 4,224 predicted protein-coding genes offers insight into the varied genes responsible for agar degradation, as observed in the comparative genomic study of Agarivorans species.

Whole-Genome Sequencing of Pseudoalteromonas sp. Strain KAN5, an Agar-Degrading Bacterium Isolated from the Gut of an Alga-Eating Fish.

A strain of Pseudoalteromonas that degrades agar was isolated from the intestines of an alga-eating fish (Andamia tetradactyla). We named the strain KAN5 and report on the genome sequenced with the Oxford Nanopore Technologies platform. The 3.8-Mbp genome contains 3,428 protein-coding genes, and the genes involved in agar degradation were confirmed.

Potential factors responsible for dryness of the dorsum of the tongue in elderly requiring care.

OBJECTIVE: This study explored potential factors in elderly requiring care that cause dryness of the dorsum of the tongue despite moisture retention in the sublingual mucosa. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Subjects were 224 elderly (mean age: 83.6 +/- 7.4 years) living in a nursing home and requiring individual care. Measurement of moisture of the dorsum of the tongue and sublingual mucosa was performed using a wetness tester (L-SALIVO) with a measurement time of 10 s. RESULTS: A significant difference in drying only of the dorsum of the tongue was noted depending on the degree of incapacity, level of consciousness, eating (oral ingestion or tube-feeding), and conversation. Multiple logistic regression identified the degree of incapacity in terms of eating (oral ingestion or tube-feeding) as a significant factor for dryness. The odds ratio for the degree of incapacity was 3.2 while that for eating was 11.226. CONCLUSION: Dry mouth of the dorsum of the tongue in elderly requiring care was associated with the degree of incapacity, tube feeding, and level of conversation.