Thimmegowda Umapathy, Kuri Pallavi Nagappa, Dhamnekar Pradnya
Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, RajaRajeswari Dental College and Hospital, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
Int J Clin Pediatr Dent. 2024 Aug;17(8):877-880. doi: 10.5005/jp-journals-10005-2942.
BACKGROUND/INTRODUCTION: Early childhood caries (ECC) is one of the most prevalent diseases in children worldwide. Early childhood caries is driven by a dysbiotic state of oral microorganisms, mainly caused by a sugar-rich diet. Additionally, poor oral hygiene or insufficient dental plaque removal leads to the rapid progression of ECC. Early childhood caries leads not only to dental destruction and pain in children but also affects the quality of life of the caregivers.Additionally, upon neutrophil activation at inflammatory locations, these proteases are externalized in an active state, aiding in the control of inflammatory and immunological responses. Any enzyme that catalyzes proteolysis reactions is known as a protease. Proteases are produced by human glands or derived from microbes in the oral cavity. Additionally, the oropharyngeal mucosae and crevicular fluids are sources of protease.
This study is aimed at the estimation and correlation of salivary protease enzymatic activity in the saliva of children with and without ECC.
A total of 50 children were included in the study, which was divided into two groups: group I (caries-active) and group II (caries-free)-each consisting of 25 children. Unstimulated saliva samples were collected and subjected to a spectrophotometer for analysis. Salivary protease levels were estimated and correlated between caries-active and caries-free children.
The correlation between caries score and salivary protease activity was statistically significant with a moderate correlation. The comparison of mean salivary protease activity between caries-active and caries-free groups was statistically significant. However, the comparison of salivary protease activity based on different age-groups was not statistically significant, whereas gender and caries scores in group A were statistically significant.
In conclusion, there is a substantial correlation between salivary protease enzyme levels and the severity of dental caries, and an increase in salivary protease enzyme levels is linked to a considerable rise in caries severity. As a result, prevention may be possible with early detection.
Thimmegowda U, Kuri PN, Dhamnekar P. Role of Salivary Protease Enzymatic Activity in Saliva of Children with and without Early Childhood Caries: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2024;17(8):877-880.
背景/引言：幼儿龋齿（ECC）是全球儿童中最常见的疾病之一。幼儿龋齿是由口腔微生物的生态失调状态引起的，主要是由高糖饮食导致的。此外，口腔卫生不良或牙菌斑清除不足会导致幼儿龋齿迅速发展。幼儿龋齿不仅会导致儿童牙齿破坏和疼痛，还会影响照顾者的生活质量。此外，在炎症部位中性粒细胞被激活后，这些蛋白酶会以活性状态外化，有助于控制炎症和免疫反应。任何催化蛋白水解反应的酶都被称为蛋白酶。蛋白酶由人体腺体产生或源自口腔中的微生物。此外，口咽黏膜和龈沟液也是蛋白酶的来源。
本研究旨在评估患和未患幼儿龋齿的儿童唾液中唾液蛋白酶的酶活性，并进行相关性分析。
本研究共纳入50名儿童，分为两组：第一组（患龋活跃组）和第二组（无龋组），每组各25名儿童。收集未刺激的唾液样本，并用分光光度计进行分析。评估患龋活跃组和无龋组儿童的唾液蛋白酶水平，并进行相关性分析。
龋齿评分与唾液蛋白酶活性之间的相关性具有统计学意义，且呈中度相关。患龋活跃组和无龋组之间唾液蛋白酶平均活性的比较具有统计学意义。然而，基于不同年龄组的唾液蛋白酶活性比较无统计学意义，而A组中的性别和龋齿评分具有统计学意义。
总之，唾液蛋白酶水平与龋齿严重程度之间存在显著相关性，唾液蛋白酶水平的升高与龋齿严重程度的显著增加有关。因此，早期检测可能实现预防。
Thimmegowda U, Kuri PN, Dhamnekar P. 唾液蛋白酶酶活性在患和未患幼儿龋齿儿童唾液中的作用：一项随机临床试验。《国际临床儿科牙科学杂志》2024；17(8):877 - 880。
