Biomedical subjects

J Tenovuo

Publications and source records attributed to J Tenovuo.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Oral adhesion and survival of probiotic and other lactobacilli and bifidobacteria in vitro.

INTRODUCTION: Most probiotic products are consumed orally and hence it is feasible that the bacteria in these products may also attach to oral surfaces; however, the effects of these bacteria on the oral ecosystem are mostly unknown. Our aim was to evaluate the oral colonization potential of different probiotic, dairy, and fecal Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains in vitro. METHODS: The binding of 17 Lactobacillus and seven Bifidobacterium strains to hydroxyapatite and microtitre wells coated with human saliva was tested. Binding of selected strains to human buccal epithelial cells and co-adherence with Fusobacterium nucleatum were also investigated. In addition, the survival in sterilized human whole saliva was examined. RESULTS: There was a large variation in binding to saliva-coated surfaces and buccal epithelial cells but all strains survived in saliva. The binding pattern of the probiotics did not differ from the binding of the fecal strains. F. nucleatum altered the binding of both the low-binding bifidobacteria and the high-binding lactobacilli. CONCLUSION: The differences in binding in vitro may indicate that there are also differences in the persistence of the different probiotic strains in the oral cavity in vivo.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Effects of homeopathic treatment on salivary flow rate and subjective symptoms in patients with oral dryness: a randomized trial.

Twenty-eight patients with xerostomia participated in a blind, placebo-controlled longitudinal study of the possible effects of homeopathic medicines on oral discomfort. All patients were first divided in two groups according to their medication. After that the two groups were randomly assigned according to a coin-toss to the experimental or control group. Most patients had systemic diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and/or Sjögren's syndrome, and frequent daily medications. The randomly selected experimental group (n=15) got an individually prescribed homeopathic medicine and the control group (n=13) a placebo substance (sugar granules), both for 6 weeks. Neither group knew of the nature of the medicine. Oral dryness was evaluated by measurement of unstimulated and wax-stimulated salivary flow rates and visual analogue scale. With only two exceptions, the experimental group experienced a significant relief of xerostomia whereas no such effect was found in the placebo group. Stimulated salivary flow rate was slightly higher with homeopathy than placebo but no consistent changes occurred in salivary immunoglobulin (IgA, IgG) levels. In an open follow-up period those receiving homeopathic medicine continued treatment and the placebo group patients were treated with individually prescribed homeopathic medicines. The symptoms of xerostomia improved in both groups. Our results suggest that individually prescribed homeopathic medicine could be a valuable adjunct to the treatment of oral discomfort and xerostomic symptoms.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Effects of anaesthesia using endotracheal intubation or the laryngeal mask airway, or spinal anaesthesia, on oral mucosal host defences during minor surgery.

BACKGROUND: Oral mucosal host defences are altered after anaesthesia and surgery. The effects of endotracheal intubation (ET) and the use of the laryngeal mask airway (LMA) on oral mucosal host defences after minor surgery were compared. METHODS: Immunological (immunoglobulin A (IgA), IgG and IgM) and non-immunological (myeloperoxidase, total peroxidase, thiocyanate) oral host defence factors, and amylase and protein concentrations, were measured from saliva pre-operatively and on the first post-operative day in 60 ASA I-II patients undergoing minor surgery. The patients underwent general anaesthesia using oral ET or LMA. Spinal anaesthesia (S) was used as control. Serum IgG, IgM and IgA concentrations were determined. RESULTS: Protein-related salivary secretion of amylase and salivary concentration of IgM showed the only statistically significant overall differences between the groups. By contrast, changes were observed within the ET group in the salivary flow rate, protein concentration, amylase activity and immunological host defence factors. Some changes were also observed in the LMA group, but none in the S group. Most non-immunological test values did not change within any of the groups. CONCLUSIONS: ET and LMA induced similar oral mucosal host defence responses. There were, however, observations in this study that indicated a stronger response during ET than when LMA was used.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Determination of safety levels of horseradish peroxidase-iodide system to human gingival keratinocytes and fibroblasts in vitro.

The peroxidase-iodide (I-) system is a potential antimicrobial agent, and its bacteriocidal activity against various periodontal bacteria has been shown in many studies. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible cytotoxic effects of a non-physiological horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-I- system on human gingival keratinocytes and fibroblasts. Immortalized human skin keratinocyte cell line was used as a reference. Three indicators were studied: membrane permeability (trypan blue staining), cell growth (crystal violet staining) and metabolic activity (alamarBlue stain). The cells were cultured in microtitration plates, and the most commonly used exposure time to the HRP system was 1 h. The effects of HRP system on cell growth and metabolic activity were observed at lower I- and H2O2 concentrations than its effects on membrane permeability. Gingival fibroblasts were more prone to detachment than keratinocyte cell lines, but no differences in changes of growth or metabolic activities were observed between gingival fibroblasts and gingival keratinocytes. The highest concentrations of the HRP-I- system components which did not have any significant detrimental effects on the metabolic activity and cell growth of gingival keratinocytes and fibroblasts were: 50 microg/ml HRP, 500 micromol/L I- and 500 micromol/L H2O2. Although this system has been shown to be antibacterial against oral bacteria, no recommendations about the usage of the HRP-I- system in oral cavity can be made yet due to the in vitro nature of this study. Our results form the basis for future safety studies investigating the chronic toxicity of this system to oral epithelium.

Cell Division↗

PubMed2002

Clinical applications of antimicrobial host proteins lactoperoxidase, lysozyme and lactoferrin in xerostomia: efficacy and safety.

Innate human salivary defence proteins, lysozyme, lactoferrin and peroxidase, are known to exert a wide antimicrobial activity against a number of bacterial, viral and fungal pathogens in vitro. Therefore, these proteins, alone or in combinations, have been incorporated as preservatives in foods and pharmaceuticals as well as in oral health care products to restore salivas' own antimicrobial capacity in patients with dry mouth. These antimicrobials used in oral health care products, such as dentifrices, mouth-rinses, moisturizing gels and chewing gums, have been purified from bovine colostrum. In this review I critically evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of this kind of preventive approach against various oral diseases and symptoms.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Salivary defense factors in herpes simplex virus infection.

Saliva may contribute to a lowering of the infectious herpes simplex virus (HSV) dose during transmission and consequently abrogate infection or lead to decreased reactivation. To test this hypothesis, we assayed saliva for innate defense factors, immunoglobulin content, and the capacity to interfere with HSV infection. Serum or salivary anti-HSV IgG levels did not correlate with control of recurrent labial herpes (RLH) and were significantly higher in subjects with RLH compared with asymptomatic seropositive subjects. Although no differences in levels or output rate of innate defense factors between the groups were observed, the salivary neutralizing activity correlated with lactoferrin and hypothiocyanite concentrations in the asymptomatic seropositive group. Our results suggest that saliva contains factors, in addition to anti-HSV immunoglobulins, that neutralize HSV and may indirectly contribute to the control of RLH.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

Efficacy of a slow-release device containing fluoride, xylitol and sorbitol in preventing infant caries.

A novel slow-release administration device, the "Fall-Asleep Pacifier" (FAP), was studied as a prophylactic measure against mutans streptococcal oral infection and dental caries in a risk group of 1-year-old children by comparing the test (T, n = 34) and control (C, n = 88) groups in a prospective cohort study. In the T group the children received their fluoride tablets (Fludent, containing NaF corresp. 0.25 mg F0- , xylitol 159 mg and sorbitol 153 mg) in the evenings in FAP. In the C group the children received the same dose of Fludent crushed in food in the evenings. The proportion of children, whose plaque samples from the upper incisors were mutans streptococcus positive at the age of 24 months, was significantly (P < 0.05) greater in group C (25%) than in group T (9%). The children in the T group developed significantly (P < 0.001) less (none) new dentinal carious lesions in their primary dentitions than the children in the C group between 2 and 3 1/2 years of age. Fifty-four percent of the children to whom the FAP was offered complied with regular use of it. The beneficial effect observed in the T group compared with the C group was apparently mostly due to the administration mode via FAP, which could prolong the intra-oral bioavailability of the prophylactic preparation.

Chi-Square Distribution↗

PubMed2000

Resistance to mercury and antimicrobial agents in Streptococcus mutans isolates from human subjects in relation to exposure to dental amalgam fillings.

Resistance to cefuroxime, penicillin, tetracycline, and mercury is reported for 839 Streptococcus mutans isolates from 209 human study subjects. The MICs of these drugs did not differ for isolates from one dental amalgam group and two nonamalgam subsets: a group with no known exposure to amalgam and a group whose members had their amalgam fillings removed.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

Influence of maternal xylitol consumption on acquisition of mutans streptococci by infants.

Xylitol is effective as a non-cariogenic sugar substitute. Habitual xylitol consumption appears to select for mutans streptococci (MS) with impaired adhesion properties, i.e., they shed easily to saliva from plaque. One hundred sixty-nine mother-child pairs participated in a two-year study exploring whether the mothers' xylitol consumption could be used to prevent mother-child transmission of mutans streptococci. All mothers showed high salivary levels of mutans streptococci during pregnancy. The mothers in the xylitol group (n = 106) were requested to chew xylitol-sweetened gum (65% w/w) at least 2 or 3 times a day, starting three months after delivery. In the two control groups, the mothers received either chlorhexidine (n = 30) or fluoride (n = 33) varnish treatments at 6, 12, and 18 months after delivery. The children did not chew gum or receive varnish treatments. MS were assessed from the mothers' saliva at half-year intervals and from the children's plaque at the one- and two-year examinations. The MS were cultured on Mitis salivarius agars containing bacitracin. The salivary MS levels of the mothers remained high and not significantly different among the three study groups throughout the study. At two years of age, 9.7% of the children in the xylitol, 28.6% in the chlorhexidine, and 48.5% in the fluoride varnish group showed a detectable level of MS. In conclusion, therefore, habitual xylitol consumption by mothers was associated with a statistically significant reduction of the probability of mother-child transmission of MS assessed at two years of age. The effect was superior to that obtained with either chlorhexidine or fluoride varnish treatments performed as single applications at six-month intervals.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

Non-immunoglobulin defense factors in canine saliva and effects of a tooth gel containing antibacterial enzymes.

Selected innate: non-immunoglobulin defense factors in canine saliva were characterized and quantitated. The samples from dogs showed increased pH, higher lysozyme and salivary peroxidase activities, but lower hypothiocyanite concentration and myeloperoxidase activity when compared with human saliva. Secondly, a 1-month clinical pilot study was performed using a commercial tooth gel to determine acute and long-term changes in salivary host defense proteins. Daily application of the tooth gel did not substantially affect the concentrations of these factors in dogs with normal salivation. Our results suggest that canine saliva may be similar to human saliva, comprised of both immune and non-immune antimicrobial factors. However, as in humans, oral administration of antimicrobial proteins as reported here does not seem to benefit dogs with normal saliva secretion. Products such as the tooth gel evaluated in this study may benefit dogs with xerostomia or other clinical conditions causing decreased saliva production.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Effects of the common cold and intranasal fluticasone propionate treatment on mucosal host defense assessed by human saliva.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this investigation was to study the effect of a potent topical steroid, fluticasone propionate, on patients with early signs and symptoms of the common cold. To characterize the mucosal inflammatory response, salivary defense factors and flow rate in these patients were analyzed. STUDY DESIGN: Forty patients with symptoms of the common cold were randomized into 2 groups to receive either high-dose fluticasone propionate (100 microg per nostril) or placebo 4 times daily for 6 days. Paraffin-stimulated whole saliva was collected on day 1 (before the onset of medication), day 7 (posttreatment), and day 21 (follow-up). RESULTS: Salivary flow rate, innate host defense factors, and total protein content were not affected by the common cold. IgA increased between day 7 and day 21 (P < or = .01; Student 2-tailed t test), and the relative proportions of salivary peroxidase and IgA increased on day 7 (P = .01) and day 21 (P= .05). In patients receiving fluticasone, saliva flow rate was lower on day 21 (P < or = .05) than on days 1 and 7. The innate salivary defense factors were not affected, but IgA increased both on day 7 (P < or = .001) and on day 21 (P < or = .001) in comparison with day 1. CONCLUSIONS: Of the oral mucosal defense factors, only IgA is activated during the common cold. Intranasally administrated fluticasone propionate does not have a suppressive effect on salivary antimicrobial capacity.

Administration, Intranasal↗

PubMed1999

Effects of bovine immune and non-immune whey preparations on the composition and pH response of human dental plaque.

Colostral products from non-immunized cows (CP) and cows immunized with mutans streptococci (IP) were used as mouth rinses in a short-term human study. The acidogenic potential of the products was tested and found to be negligible in vivo before application to subsequent rinsing tests. At first, all the participants received a professional tooth cleaning, after which they rinsed with one of the solutions (IP; CP; water) three times per day for 3 d. After each rinsing period, the resting pH and decrease in plaque pH after sucrose challenge were determined, the amount of plaque was estimated, and all available plaque was collected. No significant differences were recorded in the composition or in the amounts of accumulated plaque. The resting pH values of plaques with low "innate" pH were increased after the IP rinsing period. Surprisingly, the lowest pH values after the sucrose challenge were recorded in IP plaques. The number of cultivable facultative flora or total streptococci were not affected by different rinsings, but the relative number of mutans streptococci significantly decreased after the IP rinsing period when compared to the CP period. Thus, the short term rinsing indicates favourable effects of bovine immune whey on human dental plaque.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Colostral proteins from cows immunised with Streptococcus mutans/S. sobrinus support the phagocytosis and killing of mutans streptococci by human leucocytes.

Passive immunisation, based on bovine colostral preparations, is an area of active research. Specific bovine antibodies inhibit the virulence factors of target pathogens but the interactions between whey preparations and human immune defence cells are not well known. Bovine colostrum inhibits the phagocytic activity of bovine leucocytes and this may reflect the biological activity of immunoglobulins in it. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the effects of bovine whey protein preparations from the colostrum of Streptococcus mutans/S. sobrinus-immunised and sham-immunised cows on binding, ingestion and killing of these bacteria by human leucocytes. Binding and ingestion of FITC-labelled bacteria were estimated by flow cytometry and leukocyte activation was measured as chemiluminescence. Killing rate was estimated by plate counting and by measuring bioluminescence from S. mutans- containing the insect luciferase gene. Colostral whey protein preparation from hyperimmunised cows activated human leucocytes by opsonising specific bacteria. Neutrophils, eosinophils and monocytes weakly phagocytosed non-opsonised bacteria and bacteria opsonised with control product. On the contrary, binding and ingestion were efficient in the presence of the preparation from immunised cows. Thus, these results show that bovine colostral whey proteins are able to support the activation of human phagocytes against pathogenic microbes and that this property is related to specific antibodies in whey preparations. These whey proteins may also be clinically useful, especially in preventing the colonisation of newly erupted teeth by mutans streptococci.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Concentrated bovine colostral whey proteins from Streptococcus mutans/Strep. sobrinus immunized cows inhibit the adherence of Strep. mutans and promote the aggregation of mutans streptococci.

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of bovine colostral whey proteins from cows immunized with Streptococcus mutans/Strep. sobrinus on the adherence and aggregation of caries-inducing bacteria, i.e., mutants streptococci. Both adherence and aggregation are important phenomena in the bacterial colonization of the human oral cavity. In all adherence experiments there was a significant difference between treatments by immune product (IP; from immunized cows) and a control product (CP; a similar product from non-immunized cows). The adherence of 35S-labelled Strep. mutans cells (serotype c) to parotid saliva-coated hydroxyapatite (SHA) was dose-dependently inhibited by both IP and CP if SHA was coated with either product before exposure to bacteria, but markedly lower concentrations of IP than CP were effective. When instead of SHA the bacterial cells were pretreated with IP or CP, only IP strongly and dose-dependently inhibited streptococcal adherence. When bacteria, IP or CP, and SHA were incubated simultaneously, a significant difference between IP and CP treatments was again found. Further, IP effectively aggregated both Strep. mutans and Strep. sobrinus cells, whereas hardly any effect was seen with CP. Both IP and CP aggregated the control bacterium Strep. sanguis, which affected the adherence of the pretreated bacteria.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Mucosal host defence response to hysterectomy assessed by saliva analyses: a comparison of propofol and isoflurane anaesthesia.

We compared the effects of propofol-based (n = 15) and isoflurane-based anaesthesia (n = 15) on mucous host defences by measuring the salivary flow and the concentrations/activities of salivary total protein and amylase, and of salivary immunological (IgA, IgG and IgM) and nonimmunoglobulin defence factors (lysozyme, myeloperoxidase, total salivary peroxidase and thiocyanate) in patients undergoing elective abdominal hysterectomy. The saliva samples were collected pre-operatively and on the first and fourth postoperative days. The concentrations of salivary protein and amylase as well as those of immunological and nonimmunological defence factors were significantly increased on the first postoperative day. The secretion rate of total protein, amylase, lysozyme, total peroxidase, thiocyanate and IgG, however, decreased owing to a marked decrease in the salivary flow, but no alterations were found in secretion rate of myeloperoxidase, IgA and IgM. The changes were similar in both groups. These findings show that nonimmunological oral mucous host defences are altered after major surgery, but immunoglobulin responses are better maintained. Both types of anaesthesia induce marked short-term hyposalivation.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Antimicrobial function of human saliva--how important is it for oral health?

Human saliva contains a number of physical physicochemical, and chemical agents that protect oral tissues against noxious compounds, in particular those produced by various microorganisms. Among such protective factors, the flushing effect of saliva flow is the most important one, not only because it so effectively removes exogenous and endogenous microorganisms and their products into the gut but also because a steady supply of saliva guarantees continuous presence of both non-immune and immune factors in the mouth. A great number of studies with controversial results have been published regarding various individual agents and their possible association to oral health, particularly to dental caries. It appears that no single chemical agent is far more important than the others. For example, patients with selective IgA deficiency have normal levels of non-immune defense factors and often display a compensatory increase in the other immunoglobulin isotypes. The concerted action of all agents in whole saliva, both saliva- and serum-derived, provides a multifunctional protective network that is collapsed only if salivary flow rate is substantially reduced. In this mixture of defense factors, many show additive or even synergistic interactions against oral pathogens. Increased knowledge of the molecular functions of various agents has made it possible to prepare oral hygiene product that include host-derived antimicrobial agents instead of synthetic agents. Although the clinical efficacy of such products is still unsatisfactory and poorly described, new technologies, for example in the production of specific antibodies against oral pathogens, may considerably improve the antimicrobial power of these products.

Anti-Infective Agents↗

PubMed1998

Betaine-containing toothpaste relieves subjective symptoms of dry mouth.

Subjects with dry mouth often experience irritation of the oral mucosa when using sodium lauryl sulfate containing products for oral hygiene. Betaine, or trimethylglycine, reduces skin-irritating effects of ingredients of cosmetics such as sodium lauryl sulfate. The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of a betaine-containing toothpaste with a regular toothpaste on the oral microbial flora, the condition of the oral mucosa, and subjective symptoms of dry mouth in subjects with chronic dry mouth symptoms. Thirteen subjects with chronic dry mouth symptoms and with a paraffin-stimulated salivary flow rate < or = 1 mL/min participated in the double-blind crossover study. Ten subjects had a very low salivary flow rate (< or = 0.6 mL/min). The subjects used both experimental toothpastes (with or without 4% betaine) twice a day for 2 weeks. Oral examinations and microbiologic sample collections were made at the base lines preceding the two experimental periods and at the end. Standardized questions on subjective symptoms of dry mouth were used when the subjects were interviewed at the end of the two experimental periods. No study-induced significant changes were observed in the microbiologic variables (plaque index, mutans streptococci, lactobacilli, Candida species) or in the appearance of the oral mucosa. The use of the betaine-containing toothpaste was, however, associated with a significant relief of several subjective symptoms of dry mouth. Betaine appears thus to be a promising ingredient of toothpastes in general and especially of toothpastes designed for patients with dry mouth.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Combined inhibitory effect of bovine immune whey and peroxidase-generated hypothiocyanite against glucose uptake by Streptococcus mutans.

Immune whey product was obtained from Streptococcus mutans- and Streptococcus sobrinus-immunized cows. Hypothiocyanite (HOSCN/OSCN-) was generated in VMG-buffer, pH 5.5 or 6.5, by bovine milk lactoperoxidase, KSCN and hydrogen peroxide. The glucose incorporation by late-log cells of S. mutans 10449, serotype c, was followed by measuring the uptake of 14C-glucose at 37 degrees C. At pH 5.5 and 6.5 both immune whey product and HOSCN/OSCN- dose-dependently inhibited glucose uptake. The inhibition by their combination was additive if bacterial cells were treated with HOSCN/OSCN- before exposed to immune whey product. In contrast to immune whey product, the control product from sham-immunized cows increased the glucose uptake even when added simultaneously with HOSCN/OSCN-. However, when bacterial cells were pretreated with HOSCN/OSCN- an enhanced inhibitory effect was observed also with control product. The results indicate that colostral proteins from S. mutants- or S. sobrinus-immunized cows inhibit glucose uptake and that the effect is enhanced by pretreatment with lactoperoxidase-generated HOSCN/OSCN-.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗