The Effect of Mechanical Tongue Cleaning on Oral Malodor and Tongue Coating

Background: Mechanical tongue cleaning is an important oral hygiene procedure; it is known that a significant cause of volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs), a major component of bad breath, is due to the bacteria coating the tongue. This study was conducted to identify the effect of mechanical tongue cleaning on reducing bad breath and tongue coating. Methods: Various mechanical tongue-cleaning methods were studied, including removing tongue coating using a toothbrush, removing tongue coating using a tongue scraper, and removing tongue coating using a toothbrush and a tongue scraper together. The results were as follows. Results: First, the organic bad breath measurement value after cleaning the tongue significantly decreased in the group using only the toothbrush, the group using only the tongue scraper, and the group using both the toothbrush and the tongue scraper. However, there was no difference between the groups. Second, after cleaning the tongue, the measured values of the tongue coating in the values of WTCI (Winkel’s tongue coating index) and Qray view were significantly reduced in all three groups, and there was no difference between the groups. Third, the gas measurement value in the oral cavity using a machine significantly decreased only the H2S value of the group using the tongue scraper immediately after the mechanical tongue cleaning. Conclusions: From these results, it can be confirmed that mechanical tongue cleaning is effective at reducing bad breath and tongue coating. However, in this study, there was no difference in the reduction effect according to the tools (groups) used for mechanical tongue cleaning. It can therefore be seen that wiping accurately from the rear of the tongue to the front is more effective at reducing bad breath and tongue coating.

The Influence of Decontamination Procedures on the Surface of Two Polymeric Liners Used in Prosthodontics

Polymeric liners are materials commonly used in prosthodontics to reshape denture surfaces contacting the soft tissues of the oral cavity. The aim of the study was to determine the impact of different cleaning methods on two polymeric materials used in prosthodontics as non-adhesive permanent liners. The material for the research consisted of samples made from Mollosil Plus (Detax, Ettlingen, Germany)—direct polysiloxan liner; and Plastitanium (Pressing Dental, San Marino, Republic of San Marino)—an injection-molded liner. A total of 198 samples were made, 99 of each assessed material. They were exposed to different cleaning methods—a toothbrush, a toothbrush and soap, a toothbrush and toothpaste (BlendaMed, Procter&Gamble, Cincinnati, OH, USA), a toothpaste and denture cleaning paste (Protefix Hygiene Denture Paste, Queisser Pharma, Germany), denture cleansing tablets (Protefix Hygiene Cleaning Tablets, Queisse Pharma, Germany), and a disinfecting spray (Aftermat, Port Jefferson Station, New York City, NY, USA)—for 1 min, 5 min, 10 min, and 15 min. The image acquisition was performed with scanning electron microscopy and samples were analyzed for the homogeneity of their surfaces—the presence of holes, grooves, precipitate, and small and large separating pieces of the material marking departures from this homogeneity. For each type of damage, one point was given. Continuous data from two groups were compared with Mann–Whitney U testing. Due to a small sample size and distribution of variables other than normal, to compare more than two groups, Kruskal–Wallis testing with post hoc analysis (Dunn test with Bonferroni correction) was used. Categorical data were compared with the chi-square test and the Fisher’s exact test. The Mollosil Plus material should be decontaminated with the use of a toothbrush or toothbrush with soap, while Plastitanium material should be disinfected. Plastitanium samples are more susceptible to damage during the decontamination procedures than Mollosil Plus.

The Effect of Different Cleaning Methods on Protein Deposition and Optical Characteristics of Orthokeratology Lenses

Orthokeratology lenses are commonly used for myopia control, especially in children. Tear lipids and proteins are immediately adsorbed when the lens is put on the cornea, and protein deposition may cause discomfort or infection. Therefore, we established an in vitro protein deposition analysis by mimicking the current cleaning methods for orthokeratology lens wearers for both short-term and long-term period. The results showed that the amounts of tear proteins accumulated daily and achieved a balance after 14 days when the lens was rubbed to clean or not. Protein deposition also affected the optical characteristics of the lens regardless of cleaning methods. Our results provided an in vitro analysis for protein deposition on the lens, and they may provide a potential effective method for developing care solutions or methods that can more effectively remove tear components from orthokeratology lenses.

Membrane cleaning in membrane distillation of reverse osmosis concentrate generated in landfill leachate treatment

As a thermally induced membrane separation process, membrane distillation (MD) has drawn more and more attention for the advantages of treating hypersaline wastewaters, especially the concentrate from reverse osmosis (RO) process. One of the major obstacles in widespread MD application is the membrane fouling. We investigated the feasibility of direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) for landfill leachate reverse osmosis concentrate (LFLRO) brine treatment and systematically assessed the efficiency of chemical cleaning for DCMD after processing LFLRO brine. The results showed that 80% water recovery rate was achieved when processing the LFLRO brine by DCMD, but the membrane fouling occurred during the DCMD process, and manifested as the decreasing of permeate flux and the increasing of permeate conductivity. Analysis revealed that the serious flux reduction was primarily caused by the fouling layer that consist of organic matters and inorganic salts. Five cleaning methods were investigated for membrane cleaning, including hydrogen chloride (HCl)-sodium hydroxide (NaOH), ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA)-NaOH, critic acid, sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) and sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) cleaning. Among the chemical cleaning methods investigated, the 3 wt.% SDS cleaning showed the best efficiency at recovering the performance of fouled membranes.

What Is the Appropriate Skin Cleaning Method for Nasopharyngeal Cancer Radiotherapy Patients? a Randomized Controlled Trial

Purpose To determine the effect of various cleaning methods for skin with acute radiation dermatitis (RD) in patients treated for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Methods A total of 168 NPC inpatients were randomized, while 152 patients completed the whole trial and the data were analyzed. Patients were randomly divided into non-washing group, washing with water alone group, and washing with water and soap group. All three groups received intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) among other treatments. Follow-up from recruitment or the initial radiotherapy dose to 1 month after the final radiotherapy dose. CONSORT checklist was applied as the reporting guidelines for this study. Study evaluated a range of endpoints including incidence, timing, severity of acute RD and quality of life (QOL).Results There were no allergic reactions or aggravating in both washing groups during the whole treatment. The incidence of acute RD was 100% in all three groups, while the degree of severity differed among groups. Washing moderately reduced severity compared with patients without washing; washing also delayed the onset time of acute RD, reduced the incidence of moist desquamation and pruritus. There were no significant difference among groups with respect to pain or burning sensation. Washing improved QOL on physical, emotional, and social functional dimensions. Washing with water and soap was the most effective on reducing itching and improving QOL among three groups. Conclusion Washing irradiated skin reduces the occurrence and severity of acute radiation dermatitis.Clinical trial information ChiCTR2000038231, date of registration 09.18.2020

Impacts of storage tanks under the indirect cold water supply system on household water quality: a case of Wakiso District, Uganda

Water supply systems form one of the most fundamental components of building services. In many communities especially in developing countries like Uganda, most households use the indirect cold water supply system, particularly because of the intermittent water supply problems. However, research has linked the main component of this system particularly water storage tanks to contamination of water. There is a paucity of research regarding which features of these tanks contribute to water contamination. This study investigated the effects of storage tank features and cleaning practices on water quality. The results revealed that the treated water received by households became significantly (α= 0.05) contaminated with faecal coliforms (p= 0.001), total coliforms (p < 0.001), and heterotrophic bacteria (p < 0.001) while in storage tanks. Furthermore, Fe, and Mn significantly increased in stored water (with p= 0.001, and p= 0.023, respectively) while residual free chlorine significantly reduced (p < 0.001). The study revealed that tank type, tank connectors, and tank age significantly affect water quality. The study concluded that tank cleaning does not guarantee improvement in quality of stored water. Further research is recommended to determine the best tank cleaning methods and optimal cleaning frequency.