Egg White Alginate as a Novel Scaffold Biomaterial for 3D Salivary Cell Culturing

Saliva production by salivary glands play a crucial role in oral health. The loss of salivary gland function could lead to xerostomia, a condition also known as dry mouth. Significant reduction in saliva production could lead to further complications such as difficulty in speech, mastication, and increased susceptibility to dental caries and oral infections and diseases. While some palliative treatments are available for xerostomia, there are no curative treatments to date. This study explores the use of Egg White Alginate (EWA), as an alternative scaffold to Matrigel® for culturing 3D salivary gland cells. A protocol for an optimized EWA was established by comparing cell viability using 1%, 2%, and 3% alginate solution. The normal salivary simian virus 40-immortalized acinar cell (NS-SV-AC) and the submandibular gland-human-1 (SMG-hu-1) cell lines were also used to compare the spheroid formation and cell viability properties of both scaffold biomaterials; cell viability was observed over 10 days using a Live–Dead Cell Assay. Cell viability and spheroid size in 2% EWA was significantly greater than 1% and 3%. It is evident that EWA can support salivary cell survivability as well as form larger spheroids when compared to cells grown in Matrigel®. However, further investigations are necessary as it is unclear if cultured cells were proliferating or aggregating.

The salivary glands

There are three paired major salivary glands of the head and neck, all named according to their location and each contributing to saliva and enzyme production via their respective ducts to assist with mastication and digestion. At rest, the lion’s share (60%) of saliva production is from the submandibular glands. On stimulation, the parotid contribution increases from 20% to 50%. There are up to 1000 minor salivary glands found within the submucosa of the oral cavity – 1-2mm in size and predominantly mucous in nature. The parotid glands are irregular shaped masses of lobulated tissue situated on the side of the face, reaching from the zygomatic arch superiorly to the upper part of the neck inferiorly where they overly the posterior belly of digastric and upper sternocleidomastoid muscle. Anteriorly, the gland lies between the posterior border of the mandibular ramus before continuing below the external acoustic meatus towards the mastoid process posteriorly.

Effect chewing tapioca pearls in the bubble tea drinks on the salivary α-amylase and phosphate level

Bubble tea drinks contained tapioca pearls, that can stimulate mastication. Chewing tapioca pearls may stimulate saliva production. Increased salivary secretion is thought to be correlated with an increase in inorganic components and salivary α-amylase (SAA). This study aimed to evaluate the effect of bubble tea on SAA and salivary phosphate (PO43-) levels. Subjects were 15 people with a total sample of 60. Each subject drank bubble tea with tapioca pearl for 3 days in the first week as the intervention group. In the second week the subjects drank tea without bubble for 3 days as a control group. Saliva samples were taken on day 1 before treatment and day 3 after treatment. Saliva was collected in the morning 09:00 am–12:00 pm for 1 minute. SAA levels were measured using an ELISA kit with Optical Density (OD) at 405 nm. Phosphate levels were measured using a semi-quantitative test kit. Data were analyzed using ANOVA, Kruskal Wallis, t-test, and Pearson test (p < 0.05). The results of ANOVA and Kruskall-Wallis showed that there was a significant difference in the effect of consumption of bubble tea and tea without bubble (p < 0.005) on SAA and phosphate levels. SAA and phosphate levels increased significantly after drinking bubble tea and tea without bubble (p < 0.05). SAA levels after drinking bubble tea were significantly higher than after drinking tea without bubble. Comparison between phosphate levels after drinking bubble tea and tea without bubble were not significantly different (p > 0.05). Correlation between SAA and phosphate level was a significant different (p < 0.05) and r was moderate category. It was concluded that the consumption of drinking bubble tea and tea without bubbles could increase salivary α-amylase (SAA) also phosphate level and may improve quality of saliva through a salivary buffer mechanism.

PSV-17 Measuring motivation for forage of finishing cattle fed high-concentrate diets using a short-term thwarting test

Beef cattle are commonly fed a high-concentrate, grain-based diet in the finishing period. Longer forage particles stimulate chewing and rumination, which may increase saliva production to buffer the rumen, mitigating a harmful drop in pH that can result from a high grain diet. Our objective was to quantify motivation of finishing cattle to access forage with a short-term thwarting test. We predicted cattle would show more interest in forage, versus an additional offering of their primary diet, during initial exposure and when access to this resource was thwarted. Sixteen finishing cattle were fed a high-concentrate primary diet (16% forage) ad-libitum. Twice per day for 4 days, cattle were exposed to 1 of 2 treatments for a maximum of 1 hr/exposure: 1) 100 g of beardless wheat hay (WH; n=7) or 2) 100 g of the primary diet (TMR; n=9). On the 5th day, the bins containing the dietary treatments were covered with a metal mesh that thwarted access to the contents while still allowing visual and olfactory contact. Interaction with and time spent in proximity to the bins were video recorded and feed intake recorded during days 1–4. T-tests did not detect treatment differences during the thwarting test in any behavioral response (p≥0.292). However, repeated measures analysis indicated that intake of the dietary treatments and interactions with the bin decreased over days 1–4 for WH cattle, while these same measures increased for TMR cattle (day*treatment, p≤0.001). These results suggest that animals were more interested in eating and interacting with additional high-concentrate diet than with a small amount of forage. Our findings may be explained by several factors, including that the TMR was highly palatable or that the inclusion rate of forage in the primary diet may have been sufficient, thus cattle showed little motivation for forage during the thwarting test.

PSIV-23 Variations in chewing behavior and rumino-reticular pH in dairy cows during gradual adaptation to a high-grain diet

Physical effective fiber in the diet promotes chewing, contributing to the regulation of ruminal pH through saliva production, which leads to rumen health. However, lower dietary fiber content in high-grain diets may reduce rumination time and compromise ruminal pH regulation. The objective of this experiment was to evaluate rumination behavior and rumino-reticular pH variations during an 8-day adaptation to a 65% concentrate diet. For this study nine ruminally cannulated non-lactating Holstein cows were used. Prior to the initiation of the adaptation, cows were transitioned from a forage-only grass silage diet to a 65% DM concentrate diet over eight days. Rumination was monitored using RumiWatch halters (RumiWacthSystem ITIN+HOCH). Rumino-reticular pH was measured using eCow indwelling pH systems in five of nine cows recording data every 15 minutes. Data were analysed with SAS, the statistical model included day as fixed effect and cow was considered as random effect. Adaptation days had an effect (P &lt; 0.01) on rumination time, number of rumination chews per minute, and mean daily (rumino-reticular) pH. Especially, rumination time decreased from 439 to 327±62.8 minutes per day from day 1 to 8, respectively. Concomitantly, rumination chews per minute decreased from 68.8 to 65.6±2.06, and mean daily pH decreased from 6.54 and 6.26±0.07, respectively. Nevertheless, daily dry matter intake (P = 0.23) and eating time (P = 0.37) were not affected during the adaptation period. In conclusion, adaptation to a high-grain diet and the associated decrease in physically effective fiber gradually reduced chewing activity and ruminal/reticular pH. However, compared to the forage-only diet, significant reduction in rumination time was only noted at the 65% concentrate level.

Reduced salivary flow and caries status are correlated with disease activity and severity in patients with diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis

Objective To analyze the correlations of saliva production and pH value with disease activity, disease severity, and oral health-related quality of life in patients with diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (dcSSc) without concomitant Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) or SS-related antibodies. Methods This cross-sectional study included 28 patients with dcSSc and matching healthy controls. Sialometric assessment and caries status were compared between the two groups. Clinical and laboratory parameters were used to evaluate disease severity, in accordance with the Medsger Severity Scale. Results In patients with dsSSc, reduced saliva production and higher pH value were associated with disease activity and severity; moreover, caries status was correlated with SSc disease characteristics, including disease duration and disease severity. Oral health-related quality of life was negatively correlated with mean salivary flow rate. Conclusions These findings contradict the existing notion that reduced saliva production in patients with SSc is linked to SS-related antibodies or caused by underlying SS. In addition, patients with dcSSc exhibit elevated risk of cardiovascular disease and invasive dental treatment has been shown to enhance the rates of stroke and heart attack in the general population; therefore, oral health is particularly important in patients with SSc.

Suppression of high-mobility group box 1 ameliorates xerostomia in a Sjögren syndrome-triggered mouse model

Xerostomia is a self-conscious symptom. High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) promotes pro-inflammatory effects in many diseases. This study aimed to clarify the role of HMGB1 in Sjögren syndrome (SS)-triggered xerostomia. Nonobese diabetic (NOD)/Ltj mice were used to establish an SS-triggered xerostomia model. The results showed that saliva production was decreased and anti-Sjögren syndrome B (anti-SSB) level was increased in SS. PCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry experiments indicated that the HMGB1 and aquaporin 5 (AQP5) levels were enhanced and diminished in SS compared with those in the control, respectively. While the mice were treated with anti-HMGB1, xerostomia was reversed due to the elevated saliva production and reduced anti-SSB level. In addition, it was found that the inhibition of HMGB1 restrained the toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) axis activation. The TLR4 and p-IκB levels were alleviated, while the IκBα and NF-κB p65 levels were augmented. The NF-κB p65 binding activity was attenuated via the electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) after anti-HMGB1 treatment. Moreover, the repression of HMGB1 facilitated the expression of AQP5. These findings demonstrate that suppression of HMGB1 ameliorates SS-triggered xerostomia via suppressing the HMGB1/TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway and upregulating AQP5 expression.

Oral Lesion Associated with Hypertension: A Mini Review

Background: Hypertension is a chronic condition due to the high level of blood pressure. There are 2 types of hypertension. Hypertension patients are usually consumed anti-hypertension medication to prevent the high blood pressure which can affect the damage of blood vessel in the body. The used of anti-hypertension drugs can cause the oral lesion because antihypertension drugs have several effect on oral mucosa until the dysfunction of salivary glands. Objective: to know the oral lesions that associated with hypertension. Problem Statement: The used of anti-hypertension drug in hypertension patients have side effect. The side effect can cause the oral lesion and tissue damage in oral cavity. Discussion: Cardiovascular drugs such as anti-hypertension can cause oral ulcers such as agranulocytosis and thrompositopenia with hemorrhagic bullae, peteki, ecchymosis with bleeding. Terasozin and prasozin which are anti-hypertensive drugs can inhibit the salivary glands of alpha-adrenoreceptors, causing dry mouth due to reduced saliva production. Conclusion: Hypertension has a specific role as a cause of oral lesion. The use of antihypertension drug has shown the associated with oral mucosa damage.