Significant age-associated deterioration was observed in taste but not somatic sensations such as touch and burning pain in the tongue, showing that aging affects taste perception and oral somatic sensations differently. This suggests that decreased taste perception of foods in elderly people may be caused primarily by perceptual loss of taste among oral sensations.
Streptococcus mutans is a major pathogen of human dental caries. Strains harbouring the cnm gene, which encodes Cnm, a collagen-binding protein, contribute to the development of several systemic diseases. In this study, we analysed S. mutans strains isolated from the oral cavity of immunoglobulin (Ig)A nephropathy (IgAN) patients to determine potential relationships between cnm and caries status as well as IgAN conditions. Saliva specimens were collected from 109 IgAN patients and the cnm status of isolated S. mutans strains was determined using PCR. In addition, the dental caries status (decayed, missing or filled teeth [DMFT] index) in patients who agreed to dental consultation (n = 49) was evaluated. The DMFT index and urinary protein levels in the cnm-positive group were significantly higher than those in the cnm-negative group (p < 0.05). Moreover, the urinary protein levels in the high DMFT (≥15) group were significantly higher than those in the low DMFT (<15) group (p < 0.05). Our results show that isolation of cnm-positive S. mutans strains from the oral cavity may be associated with urinary protein levels in IgAN patients, especially those with a high dental caries status.
The adherence of Streptococcus sanguis ATCC 10556, S. sanguis ATCC 10557, S. mutans Ingbritt, and S. mutans OMZ 176 to the surfaces of composite resins, amalgam alloys, and a Au-Ag-Pd alloy was measured. Adhesion was correlated with values for hydrophobicity and zeta-potential of the bacteria and the restorative materials. The hydrophobicity of the restoratives showed a positive correlation between the numbers of adherent S. sanguis cells, suggesting that hydrophobic interactions are important for the adherence of this bacterial species. In contrast, the numbers of adherent S. mutans cells showed a positive correlation with the zeta-potential of the restoratives, suggesting that electrostatic interactions are important in adherence of this bacterium.
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