SLEEP BEHAVIOUR STUDIED LONGITUDINALLY

ABSTRACT. Data on sleep behaviour have been extracted from a prospective longitudinal study of growth in a random sample of, originally, about 200 children, with annual examinations. The purpose was to assess to what extent data at 4 years on duration of sleep, night-awakening and habitual sharing of the parents'bed can predict conditions in these respects at 8, 12 and 16 years. The predictive power is slight in general concerning the first two variables, while the habit of sharing the parents'bed is rather more difficult to shake off, above all when the child has reached school age (6–7 years in Sweder).     

Chemistry of the sulfate groups in a sulfated glycoprotein from rabbit submandibular gland

abstract – A ³⁵S-labeled sulfated glycoprotein was isolated from rabbit submandibular glands. Acid stability studies on the ³⁵sulfate groupings present in the intact glycoprotein gave a half-life of 45 min. Partial acid hydrolysis of the ³⁵S-labeled glycoprotein in 0.1 M HCl for 90 min at 100°C liberated a radioactive fraction which was free from peptide and fractionated in the monosaccharide range of a Sephadex G-15 column. Examination of this fraction by paper chromatography revealed the presence of a major component having the characteristics of N-acetylglucosaminc 6-0-sulfate and a minor component having the properties of N-acetylgalactosaminc 6-0-sulfate. The presence of ester sulfate groups in the intact glycoprotein was confirmed by infrared spectroscopy.     

Relation of amylase to starch and Lycasin® metabolism in human dental plaque in vitro

abstract — Acid production activity (APA) in plaque suspensions from glucose, boiled soluble starch and hydrogenated starch hydrolysate (Lycasin®) was studied in 11 subjects. Amylase (alpha-1,4-glucan 4-glucanohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.1) activity was measured in plaque and whole saliva samples from the same persons. Lycasin was found to be hydrolyzed by salivary amylase under the formation of di- and oligosaccharides, however, with a lower rate than starch. A high correlation was found between APA from glucose and from soluble starch and between APA from soluble starch and plaque amylase activity. No correlation was found between amylase activity in saliva and APA from soluble starch or between amylase activity in saliva or plaque and APA from Lycasin. APA from Lycasin was about 62% and from soluble starch about 76% of the APA from glucose. 0–25% of the total number of cultivable microorganisms from the plaque produced extracellular starch-degrading enzymes. No correlation was found between number of starch-degrading microorganisms and APA from soluble starch or between these numbers and the plaque amylase activity. By electrophoreses only amylase fractions of human origin were found in whole saliva, plaque supernatants and plaque suspensions, indicating that the microbial amylase activity in the plaque is low compared with that of salivary origin.     

Late results of treatment of functional disorders of the masticatory system

A questionnaire was se111 to 104 persons who had 3–5 years earlier been examined and treated because of functional disorders of the lmaslicatory system. The questionnaires were filled in and returned by eighty-two persons. The pain and disorders reported by the patients before treatment bad been described by three out of four as severe. After trextnwnt 75% reported liltle or no trouble while 7%, still had severe pain and disorders. After diagnosis of the probable cause of the complaint, treatment had consisted usually of splints, occlusal grinding, fitting or correclion of dentures, and/or mandibular exercises. Half of the patients reported substantial improvement or complete recovery witbin 2 months and about four-Rfths within 2 year of the beginning of treatment. while 16% reported no improvement. About one-third of the participants, predominantly elderly persons. reported in the questionnaire that they still required treatment. The lindings indicated the need of followin_p up patients with functional disorders of the masticatory syslem in order Lo evalunle residual symptoms, to rc-institute suitable slomatognathic lrealmenl or to refer the palients for other treatlllcnl.     

Immune response in rats against lipopolysaccharides of Fusobacterium nucleatum and Bacteroides oralis administered in the root canal

Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) prepared from one strain of Fusobacterium nucleatum and one strain of Bacteroides oralis were examined for immunological responses in rats. The LPS were applied to the pulp chamber of the two mandibular incisors. Using the plaque forming cell (PFC) method both antigens showed a rapid IgM response in the spleen, and a slower one in the submandibular lymph nodes. In comparison with the IgM response, the IgG response was somewhat slower and weaker for LPS of Bacteroides, while for LPS of Fusobacterium it was hardly detectable. After about 3 weeks both antigens gave a significant antibody titer in serum. The results showed that locally applied antigens of oral microorganisms cam stimulate to an immune response both in the lymph nodes and the spleen resulting in circulating antibodies. The nature of this response is dependent on the chemical characteristics of the LPS-antigen.