Tannerella forsythia, a periodontal pathogen entering the genomic era

Several questions need to be addressed to evaluate whether Tannerella forsythia is to be considered a periodontal pathogen. T. forsythia has been detected in periodontal health and disease, so could it be a pathogen? The species was not detected in many studies despite finding other putative pathogens, so could it be important in pathogenicity? The challenges of working with T. forsythia include its fastidious and anaerobic growth requirements for cultural detection. Thus, studies associating T. forsythia with periodontal and other oral infections have used noncultural approaches (immunoassays and DNA-based assays) in addition to cultural approaches. We feel the timing of this review represents an interesting transition period in our understanding of the relationships of species with infection. Information from the recently released full genome sequence data of T. forsythia will provide new approaches and tools that can be directed to assess pathogenicity. Furthermore, molecular assessment of gene expression will provide a new understanding of the pathogenical potential of the species, and its effect on the host. T. forsythia, was described in reviews focusing on periodontal pathogens associated with herpesvirus detection (200), species for which genome projects were underway (41), members of polybacterial periodontal pathogenic consortium (91), and participants in periodontal microbial ecology (202). We will describe the history, taxonomy, and characteristics of T. forsythia, and related species or phylotypes in the genus Tannerella. To assess the pathogenic potential of T. forsythia, we first describe species associations with periodontal and other infections, including animal models, as has been the traditional approach arising from Koch’s postulates (203). Criteria for pathogenicity were expanded to incorporate sequence- derived information (58), and again more recently to include molecular signatures of pathogens and disease (170). We used sequence and genome-derived information, in addition to biofilm, pathogenic mediators, and host responses, to further explore the pathogenic potential of T. forsythia

Collagen peptides supplementation improves function, pain, and physical and mental outcomes in active adults

Introduction Chronic pain affects 19% of adults in the United States, with increasing prevalence in active and aging populations. Pain can limit physical activity and activities of daily living (ADLs), resulting in declined mental and social health. Nutritional interventions for pain currently target inflammation or joint health, but few influence both. Collagen, the most abundant protein in the human body and constituent of the extra cellular matrix, is such a nutraceutical. While there have been reports of reductions in pain with short-term collagen peptide (CP) supplementation, there are no long-term studies specifically in healthy middle-aged active adults. Purpose To determine the effects of daily CP consumption over 3, 6, and 9 months on survey measures of pain, function, and physical and mental health using The Knee Injury & Osteoarthritis Outcomes Score (KOOS) and Veterans Rand 12 (VR-12) in middle-aged active adults. Methods This study was a double-blind randomized control trial with three treatment groups (Placebo, 10 g/d CP, and 20 g/d CP). Results Improvements in ADLs (p = .031, ηp2 = .096) and pain (p = .037, ηp2 = .164) were observed with 10 g/d CP over 6 months, although pain only improved in high frequency exercisers (>180 min/week). Additionally, VR-12 mental component scores (MCS) improved with 10 g/d of CP over 3–9 months (p = .017, ηp2 = .309), while physical component scores (PCS) improved with 20 g/d of CP over 3-9 months, but only in females (p = .013, ηp2= .582). Conclusion These findings suggest 10 to 20 g/d of CP supplementation over 6 to 9 months may improve ADLs, pain, MCS, and PCS in middle-aged active adults

Jihadi Anashid, Islamic State Warfare and the Agency of Sound

Militant anashid (Islamic chants or recitations) are used, chanted and listened to by almost every jihadi armed group in the world. This chapter explores how the issue of the sacred nature of jihadi anashid has been developed in recent Salafi-related Islamic scholarship and examines testimonies on the role of these chants in Islamic State warfare. It argues that the collective beliefs on the sacred nature of jihadi anashid are based on a particular conceptualisation of sound and its agency, which assumes that both music and anashid are able to influence the body and soul of listeners. While the banning of music by the Islamic State strengthens and perpetuates conflict, jihadi anashid listening and chanting are involved in the process of enemy identification, coordinating militant practices and the justification of violence

Quadrant root planing versus same-day full-mouth root planing. II. Microbiological findings

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that over a period of 6 months, same-day full-mouth scaling and root planing (FM-SRP) resulted in greater reductions in the detection frequency of five putative periodontal pathogens compared with quadrant scaling and root planing (Q-SRP) in chronic periodontitis patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty patients were recruited into this study. Subjects were randomised into two groups. The FM-SRP group received full-mouth scaling and root planing completed within the same day, while the Q-SRP group received quadrant root planing at 2-weekly intervals over four consecutive sessions. Selected-site analyses were performed on the deepest site in each quadrant before and after therapy, at approximately 3 and 6 months from baseline (R1 and R2) and clinical indices were recorded with an electronic pressure-sensitive probe. In addition, subgingival plaque samples were collected from these sites at baseline (BAS), at reassessment 1 (R1), approximately 6 weeks after the completion of therapy and at reassessment 2 (R2), 6 months from baseline. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to determine the presence of Porphyromonas gingivalis, Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Prevotella intermedia, Treponema denticola and Bacteroides forsythus in plaque. RESULTS: Both therapies resulted in significant improvements in all clinical indices both at R1 and R2. A marked reduction in the presence of all candidate periodontal pathogens was noted after both treatment modalities, reaching statistical significance for the majority of the test organisms. These improvements were maintained over a period of 6 months. When the two treatment groups were compared, a significantly higher percentage of Q-SRP patients was positive for P. intermedia at R1 compared with FM-SRP patients (p < 0.05). In addition, a greater reduction in the patient prevalence for T. denticola was found for the FM-SRP group than the Q-SRP group at R1 and R2 from baseline (p < 0.005), but the significance of this is questionable given the skewed detection frequency of this organism at baseline between the two treatments (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: This study failed to confirm that same-day FM-SRP resulted in greater microbiological improvements compared with Q-SRP at 2-weekly intervals over a 6-month period, as determined by PCR