Dental research advances
Print version
Dental researchers from King’s College London’s Dental Institute, based at Guy’s Hospital, have seen studies published in two leading dental journals over the past few weeks.Both studies were supported by the National Institute for Health Research, through the comprehensive Biomedical Research Centre, a partnership between Guy’s and St Thomas’ and King’s College London.
One of the studies saw Professor David Beighton and his team study the salivary levels of bifidobacteria and other caries-associated organisms in 156 adults over 60 years of age, either with a full set of teeth or some tooth loss.
The oral cavity harbours over 700 different species of bacteria and an important aim for dental researchers is understanding the role of these bacteria in the tooth decay process, so that dentists can identify patients at risk.
It is already understood that lactobacilli, yeasts and mutans streptococci play a role in the tooth decay process, and there is increasing evidence that bifidobacteria may also be involved.
Professor David Beighton, lead author of the study published in the Journal of Dental Research, said: “Through this study we were able to demonstrate a positive association between the levels of bifidobacteria in saliva and the number of filled and decayed tooth surfaces. What we need to do now, is to study this bacteria’s role in the tooth decay process and determine whether monitoring levels in saliva can be used to help identify individuals at risk of tooth decay.”
In the second study, researchers studied the composition of saliva on surfaces in the mouth of both healthy volunteers and patients with dry mouth.
The subjective perception of dry mouth is a relatively prevalent condition frequently associated with the intake of prescribed drugs and reduced production of saliva. Severe oral dryness associated with salivary gland disease leads to increased tooth damage and oral infection, difficulties in eating and swallowing food and consequently impacts on quality of life. Of particular interest to researchers studying dry mouth are mucins, which are glycoproteins vital in the coating of mucosal surfaces and retention of moisture.
In healthy controls, high-molecular-weight mucin (MUC5B) was present in greater amounts on the tongue than on other mouth surfaces. In dry mouth patients who were unable to provide a measurable saliva sample, MUC5B was often still present on all mucosal surfaces but in reduced amounts on the tongue.
Ms Rashida Pramanik, lead author of the study published in the European Journal of Oral Sciences said: “The results of this study are interesting, but the patients with dry mouth studied had a range of diagnoses, such as primary Sjögren’s syndrome, Sjögren’s syndrome secondary to rheumatoid arthritis and drug-induced hypofunction. We now hope to carry out further research of residual mucosal fluid protein and glycoprotein to see if we can discern changes that might be used as diagnostic biomarkers for a specific condition, such as primary Sjögren’s syndrome.”
Notes to editors
To read the papers in full:
Beighton D, Al-Haboubi M, Mantzourani M, Gilbert SC, Clark D, Zoitopoulos L, Gallagher JE. Oral bifidobacteria: caries-associated bacteria in older adults. J Dent Res 2010 May 26 (Epub ahead of print)
Rashida Pramanik, Samira Osailan, Stephen Challacombe, David Urquhart, Gordon Proctor. Protein and mucin retention on oral mucosal surfaces in dry mouth patients. Eur J Oral Sci 2010 Jun; 118 (3): 245-53
1. Contact: Andrea Ttofa, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust tel: 020 7188 5577 or email: andrea.ttofa@gstt.nhs.uk. Out of hours, please call our pager bureau on 0844 822 2888, ask for pager number 847704 and give the pager operator your message.
2. The comprehensive Biomedical Research Centre at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust and King's College London, is one of five National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) comprehensive Biomedical Research Centres in England. With its strong focus on ‘translational research’ across seven research themes and a number of cross-cutting disciplines, it aims to take advances in basic medical research out of the laboratory and into the clinical setting to benefit patients at the earliest opportunity. Access to the uniquely diverse patient population of London and the south east enables it to drive forward research into a wide range of diseases and medical conditions. Website: www.biomedicalresearchcentre.org
3. Guy's and St Thomas' provides around 900,000 patient contacts in acute and specialist hospital services every year. As one of the biggest NHS Trusts in the UK, it employs almost 11,000 staff. The Trust works in partnership with the Schools of Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing and Biomedical Sciences of King's College London and other Higher Education Institutes to deliver high quality education and research. Website: www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk.
4. King's College London is one of the top 25 universities in the world (Times Higher Education 2009) and the fourth oldest in England. A research-led university based in the heart of London, King's has nearly 23,000 students (of whom more than 8,600 are graduate students) from nearly 140 countries, and some 5,500 employees. King's is in the second phase of a £1 billion redevelopment programme which is transforming its estate.
5. Guy’s and St Thomas’ and King’s College London are part of King’s Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre (AHSC), a pioneering collaboration between King’s College London, and Guy’s and St Thomas’, King’s College Hospital and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trusts.
King’s Health Partners is one of only five AHSCs in the UK and brings together an unrivalled range and depth of clinical and research expertise, spanning both physical and mental health. Our combined strengths will drive improvements in care for patients, allowing them to benefit from breakthroughs in medical science and receive leading edge treatment at the earliest possible opportunity.
For more information, visit www.kingshealthpartners.org
6. The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) provides the framework through which the research staff and research infrastructure of the NHS in England is positioned, maintained and managed as a national research facility. The NIHR provides the NHS with the support and infrastructure it needs to conduct first-class research funded by the Government and its partners alongside high-quality patient care, education and training. Its aim is to support outstanding individuals (both leaders and collaborators), working in world-class facilities (both NHS and university), conducting leading-edge research focused on the needs of patients. www.nihr.ac.uk
Posted on 29 July 2010
The oral cavity harbours over 700 different species of bacteria and an important aim for dental researchers is understanding the role of these bacteria in the tooth decay process, so that dentists can identify patients at risk.
It is already understood that lactobacilli, yeasts and mutans streptococci play a role in the tooth decay process, and there is increasing evidence that bifidobacteria may also be involved.
Professor David Beighton, lead author of the study published in the Journal of Dental Research, said: “Through this study we were able to demonstrate a positive association between the levels of bifidobacteria in saliva and the number of filled and decayed tooth surfaces. What we need to do now, is to study this bacteria’s role in the tooth decay process and determine whether monitoring levels in saliva can be used to help identify individuals at risk of tooth decay.”
In the second study, researchers studied the composition of saliva on surfaces in the mouth of both healthy volunteers and patients with dry mouth.
The subjective perception of dry mouth is a relatively prevalent condition frequently associated with the intake of prescribed drugs and reduced production of saliva. Severe oral dryness associated with salivary gland disease leads to increased tooth damage and oral infection, difficulties in eating and swallowing food and consequently impacts on quality of life. Of particular interest to researchers studying dry mouth are mucins, which are glycoproteins vital in the coating of mucosal surfaces and retention of moisture.
In healthy controls, high-molecular-weight mucin (MUC5B) was present in greater amounts on the tongue than on other mouth surfaces. In dry mouth patients who were unable to provide a measurable saliva sample, MUC5B was often still present on all mucosal surfaces but in reduced amounts on the tongue.
Ms Rashida Pramanik, lead author of the study published in the European Journal of Oral Sciences said: “The results of this study are interesting, but the patients with dry mouth studied had a range of diagnoses, such as primary Sjögren’s syndrome, Sjögren’s syndrome secondary to rheumatoid arthritis and drug-induced hypofunction. We now hope to carry out further research of residual mucosal fluid protein and glycoprotein to see if we can discern changes that might be used as diagnostic biomarkers for a specific condition, such as primary Sjögren’s syndrome.”
Notes to editors
To read the papers in full:
Beighton D, Al-Haboubi M, Mantzourani M, Gilbert SC, Clark D, Zoitopoulos L, Gallagher JE. Oral bifidobacteria: caries-associated bacteria in older adults. J Dent Res 2010 May 26 (Epub ahead of print)
Rashida Pramanik, Samira Osailan, Stephen Challacombe, David Urquhart, Gordon Proctor. Protein and mucin retention on oral mucosal surfaces in dry mouth patients. Eur J Oral Sci 2010 Jun; 118 (3): 245-53
1. Contact: Andrea Ttofa, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust tel: 020 7188 5577 or email: andrea.ttofa@gstt.nhs.uk. Out of hours, please call our pager bureau on 0844 822 2888, ask for pager number 847704 and give the pager operator your message.
2. The comprehensive Biomedical Research Centre at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust and King's College London, is one of five National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) comprehensive Biomedical Research Centres in England. With its strong focus on ‘translational research’ across seven research themes and a number of cross-cutting disciplines, it aims to take advances in basic medical research out of the laboratory and into the clinical setting to benefit patients at the earliest opportunity. Access to the uniquely diverse patient population of London and the south east enables it to drive forward research into a wide range of diseases and medical conditions. Website: www.biomedicalresearchcentre.org
3. Guy's and St Thomas' provides around 900,000 patient contacts in acute and specialist hospital services every year. As one of the biggest NHS Trusts in the UK, it employs almost 11,000 staff. The Trust works in partnership with the Schools of Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing and Biomedical Sciences of King's College London and other Higher Education Institutes to deliver high quality education and research. Website: www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk.
4. King's College London is one of the top 25 universities in the world (Times Higher Education 2009) and the fourth oldest in England. A research-led university based in the heart of London, King's has nearly 23,000 students (of whom more than 8,600 are graduate students) from nearly 140 countries, and some 5,500 employees. King's is in the second phase of a £1 billion redevelopment programme which is transforming its estate.
5. Guy’s and St Thomas’ and King’s College London are part of King’s Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre (AHSC), a pioneering collaboration between King’s College London, and Guy’s and St Thomas’, King’s College Hospital and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trusts.
King’s Health Partners is one of only five AHSCs in the UK and brings together an unrivalled range and depth of clinical and research expertise, spanning both physical and mental health. Our combined strengths will drive improvements in care for patients, allowing them to benefit from breakthroughs in medical science and receive leading edge treatment at the earliest possible opportunity.
For more information, visit www.kingshealthpartners.org
6. The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) provides the framework through which the research staff and research infrastructure of the NHS in England is positioned, maintained and managed as a national research facility. The NIHR provides the NHS with the support and infrastructure it needs to conduct first-class research funded by the Government and its partners alongside high-quality patient care, education and training. Its aim is to support outstanding individuals (both leaders and collaborators), working in world-class facilities (both NHS and university), conducting leading-edge research focused on the needs of patients. www.nihr.ac.uk
Posted on 29 July 2010