Aim: Elderly individuals face the risk of reductions in saliva secretion and occlusal force caused by systemic diseases or medications that can eventually result in malnutrition and systemic complications. We tested the hypothesis that regular gum chewing exercises (GCE) would enhance saliva secretion and occlusal force in an elderly population. Methods:A total of 12 community-dwelling elderly individuals (3 men and 9 women) participated in this study after providing informed consent. Participants carried out GCE regimens using a soft gum (GCE-S) or hard gum (GCE-H) for 2 weeks each, with a 2-week rest period between trials. Mucosal moisture on the tongue surface, resting saliva, and occlusal force were measured before and after each test gum, and changes in parameters at relevant time-points were statistically analyzed. Differences in each measurement item were assessed using the Friedman test for before and after the GCE. We used the Holm's correction for multiple comparisons if the Friedman test results were significant. The critical value for rejecting the null hypothesis was set at P < 0.05. Results:Resting saliva secretion significantly increased after GCE-S, returned to baseline levels during the rest period and significantly increased again after GCE-H. Mucosal moisture and occlusal force followed a similar trend, with a significant rise after GCE-H. Conclusions:The results of the present study suggest that GCE can increase resting saliva secretion and occlusal force in elderly individuals. Further investigations are required on the appropriate use of soft and hard gums to address oral frailty in elderly individuals. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 48-53.

Lactoferrin and lactoperoxidase-containing tablet ingestion showed antibacterial effects on periodontal bacteria present in the tongue coating and supragingival plaque, indicating that long-term ingestion could improve the oral hygiene of older individuals. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 714-721.

Background/Aim: Rapid spread of resulted in the revision of the value of ultraviolet C (UVC) sterilization in working spaces. This study aimed at investigating the UVC sensitivity of eighteen malignant and nonmalignant cell lines, the protective activity of sodium ascorbate against UVC, and whether Dectin-2 is involved in UVC sensitivity. Materials and Methods: Various cell lines were exposed to UVC for 3 min, and cell viability was determined using the MTT assay. Anti-UV activity was determined as the ratio of 50% cytotoxic concentration (determined with unirradiated cells) to 50% effective concentration (that restored half of the UV-induced loss of viability). Dectin-2 expression was quantified using flow cytometry. Results: The use of culture medium rather than phosphate-buffered saline is recommended as irradiation solution, since several cells are easily detached during irradiation in phosphate-buffered saline. Oral squamous cell carcinoma cell lines showed the highest UV sensitivity, followed by neuroblastoma, glioblastoma, leukemia, melanoma, lung carcinoma cells, and normal oral and dermal fibroblasts. Human dermal fibroblasts were more resistant than melanoma cell lines; however, both expressed Dectin-2. Sodium ascorbate at micromolar concentrations eliminated the cytotoxicity of UVC in these cell lines. Conclusion: Normal cells are generally UVC-resistant compared to corresponding malignant cells, which have higher growth potential. Dectin-2 protein expression itself may not be determinant of UVC sensitivity.In December 2019, several cases of pneumonia with unknown etiology emerged in Wuhan, China. From the throat swab sample of a patient, a novel coronavirus (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, SARS-CoV-2) was identified, and the disease was named coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) (1). Coronavirus infects the transbronchial and alveolar epithelial cells, inducing lung damages and other organ impairments (2). The COVID-19 disease causes psychological and physical complications (3).Environmental sodium hypochlorite cleaning and wearing masks effectively prevent infection of healthcare workers of hospitals, clinics, and schools. Also, the risk of infection in contaminated rooms can be reduced by disinfection with ultraviolet C (UVC) (4, 5). Intensive Care Units at the University Hospital use six 15 W low-vapor-pressure mercury lamps emitting 253.7 nm UVC [the average dose rate in the UVC cabinet was (2.7±0.5) mW/cm 2 ] (6). This value is about 27,000-fold higher than the effective and safe irradiation intensity for skin application (UVB: 0.1 μW/cm 2 ) (7). UVC disinfection lamps, which have strong bactericidal and virucidal power, have been solely used to improve indoor air quality in hospitals. Therefore, with increased time spent in such areas, their harmful effect on humans (such as skin cancer and cataract) may be augmented. If sterilization lamps are introduced at home, it would be necessary for us to protect ourselves from the injuring effects of UVC. It has been reported that Dectin...

In the present study we examined the effects of neonatal orosensory deprivation on taste-elicited gustatory activity in the rat parabrachial nucleus (PBN) using the functional anatomical marker cFos. Animals in three groups (GG, GO and GM) received gastric cannula implantation surgery on postnatal day 9 (P9). Animals in the fourth group (MR) did not receive any surgery. GG rats were fed by infusion of artificial milk directly into the stomach. GO rats were fed by intraoral infusion of artificial milk. GM and MR rats were reared by their mother with free access to mother's milk, water and rat chow. Rats from all groups were similar in body weight and length by P21. On P21 rats in all groups were intraorally presented with 0.5 M sucrose solution and the brains were extracted and processed for c-Fos immunohistchemistry. Taste-elicited c-Fos expression in both the gustatory waist area, and the external lateral subnucleus of the PBN in rats in the GG group was significantly more robust than in the other three groups. These findings suggest a substantial alteration in orosensoryevoked neuronal response in this nucleus, due to sensory or motor deprivation during a critical developmental stage.