Fructan-hydrolyzing enzyme from Streptococcus salivarius KTA-19 isolated from human dental plaque was investigated. The enzyme was purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation, acetone fractionation, and column chromatography on Bio-Gel and DEAE-cellulose. The purified enzyme showed a single band on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing. Its molecular ...

Introduction and objectives: positive correlation have been seen between high salivary calcium content and periodontal disease. This study was designed to compare inorganic salivary calcium, phosphate, flow rate and ph, of paraffin wax stimulated saliva of patients with gingivitis; mild periodontitis; moderate periodontitis; severe periodontitis. Methods: the present study consisted of 125 pati...

BACKGROUND Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), accounting for 23% of all malignancies in children, is the most prevalent pediatric malignancy. This study compared dental caries, oral hygiene status, salivary pH, and Streptococcus mutans counts in dental plaques and saliva of children with leukemia with those of healthy controls. MATERIALS AND METHODS This case-control cross-sectional study as...

The cytoplasmic plaque of the spot desmosome or macula adhaerens mediates the attachment of bundles of intermediate filaments to the plasma membrane. We have isolated from a bovine epidermal desmosome preparation a fraction that is highly enriched in the non-glycosylated desmosomal proteins. Plastic-embedded and thin-sectioned high-speed pellets of this fraction reveal closely packed filaments ...

Patients with gastroesophageal reflux may have extra-esophageal manifestations. We report a 46 years old ex-smoker woman presenting with a sensation of burning mouth, xerostomia and glossitis. The patient had a history of heartburn, dysphonia and cough. Mouth examination showed a bad hygiene and abundant accumulation of plaque. Esophageal pH measurement was abnormal. Laryngoscopy showed a poste...

Whole cells of Actinomyces naeslundii ATCC 12104, either in a dispersed form or in the form of plaque, enzymatically degraded sucrose to glucose and fructose. Washed whole cells expressed beta-fructofuranosidase specificity and hydrolyzed sucrose to essentially equimolar quantities of glucose and fructose. The cells readily hydrolyzed sucrose, raffinose, and Actinomyces viscosus or Aerobacter l...