Human saliva is a protein-rich, easily accessible source of potential biomarkers for the diagnosis of oral and systemic diseases. However, little is known about the changes in salivary proteome associated with aging of patients with dental caries. Here, we applied isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) in combination with multiple reaction monitoring mass spectrometry (MRM-MS) to characterize the salivary proteome profiles of subjects of different ages, presenting with and without caries, with the aim of identifying age-related biomarkers for dental caries. Unstimulated whole saliva samples were collected from 40 caries-free and caries-susceptible young adults and elderly individuals. Salivary proteins were extracted, reduced, alkylated, digested with trypsin and then analyzed using iTRAQ-coupled LC–MS/MS, followed by GO annotation, biological pathway analysis, hierarchical clustering analysis, and protein–protein interaction analysis. Candidate verification was then conducted using MRM-MS. Among 658 salivary proteins identified using tandem mass spectrometry, 435 proteins exhibited altered expression patterns in different age groups with and without caries. Of these proteins, 96 displayed age-specific changes among caries-susceptible adults and elderly individuals, and were mainly associated with salivary secretion pathway, while 110 age-specific proteins were identified among healthy individuals. It was found that the age factor caused significant variations and played an important role in both healthy and cariogenic salivary proteomes. Subsequently, a total of 136 target proteins with complex protein–protein interactions, including 14 age-specific proteins associated with caries, were further successfully validated using MRM analysis. Moreover, non-age-specific proteins (histatin-1 and BPI fold-containing family B member 1) were verified to be important candidate biomarkers for common dental caries. Our proteomic analysis performed using the discovery-through-verification pipeline revealed distinct variations caused by age factor in both healthy and cariogenic salivary proteomes, highlighting the significance of age in the great potential of saliva for caries diagnosis and biomarker discovery.

This study was designed to evaluate two triple-wash procedures with commercial antimicrobials to inactivate foodborne pathogens and surrogate bacteria on cucumbers and tomatoes. Fresh, West Virginia locally grown cucumbers and tomatoes were dip-inoculated with Salmonella Typhimurium and Tennessee, Listeria monocytogenes (3-strain), and Enterococcus faecium. Produce was washed through two triple-wash steps (10 s each) including water dip, antimicrobial dip, and water dip (WAW), or water dip, water dip, and antimicrobial dip (WWA), followed by draining (2 min) on aluminum foil. A triple-water (WWW) process was also included as a water-only control. Tested treatments were (1) water; (2) sodium hypochlorite (SH, 100 ppm, pH 8.2); (3) acidified sodium hypochlorite (ASH, 100 ppm, pH 6.8 adjusted by citric acid); (4) lactic and citric acid blend (LCA, 2.5%); and (5) a H₂O₂-peroxyacetic acid mix [SaniDate-5.0 (SD) 0.0064, 0.25, and 0.50%]. Surviving bacteria were recovered on xylose lysine tergitol-4 (XLT-4, Salmonella), Modified Oxford (MOX, L. monocytogenes), and bile esculin agar (E. faecium). Data (two replicates, four samples/replicate) were analyzed using the mixed model procedure of SAS (P = 0.05). Counts of Salmonella, L. monocytogenes, and E. faecium on unwashed cucumbers and tomatoes were 5.42–6.23, 6.31–6.92, and 6.05 log colony-forming units (CFU)/produce, respectively. Triple-wash with water only reduced all three tested bacteria by 0.45–1.36 log CFU/fruit. Triple-wash by WWA with antimicrobials achieved additional reductions [least squares means (LsMeans)] of 0.38 log CFU/cucumber (Salmonella), 0.56 log CFU/cucumber (E. faecium), 1.48 log CFU/tomato (Salmonella), 1.09 log CFU/tomato (L. monocytogenes), and 0.71 log CFU/tomato more than the WAW procedure. Applying SD-0.25 and SD-0.50% solutions in triple-washing cucumbers and tomatoes resulted in reductions (P > 0.05) similar to ASH and greater reductions (P < 0.05) than SH and LCA. E. faecium was less susceptible (P < 0.05) or there was no difference (P > 0.05) in comparison with Salmonella in most cases, except for tomatoes treated with WWA. The results of this study indicate that SD could be used as an alternative antimicrobial agent for chlorine water in triple-wash processing at local small produce plants. Future pilot plant validation studies and cost-effectiveness analyses are needed for applying SD solutions in triple-wash by WV local small produce growers.

Dental caries is a prevalent biofilm-related oral infectious disease, in which Streptococcus mutans plays an important role in the pathological process. The discovery of novel agents with inhibitory effects on S. mutans is essential to develop effective strategies against dental caries. Plant extracts are a rich source of novel chemicals for the discovery of more effective antimicrobial agents. Coptis chinensis Franch. is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine with various pharmacological properties. This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of berberine (BBR), a bioactive alkaloid isolated from Coptis chinensis Franch., on the biofilm formation of S. mutans and to investigate the relevant mechanism of its action. The study found that BBR inhibited the growth of planktonic S. mutans , as demonstrated by Minimum Inhibitory Concentration, Minimum Bactericidal Concentration, and growth curve assay. BBR was found to inhibit biofilm formation and exhibit antimicrobial effects on S. mutans , as demonstrated by crystal violet staining assay, confocal laser scanning microscopy, and CFU counting assay. Moreover, the inhibitory effect of BBR on the virulence of S. mutans was evaluated by the anthrone-sulfuric method and lactic acid assay. Bacterial aggregation assay, membrane potential assay, and transmission electron microscopy were used to preliminarily elucidate the membrane-destructive bactericidal mechanism of BBR. The expression of virulence genes gtfB , gtfC , gtfD , ldh , vicR , liaR , and comD was measured using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). The cell viability assay on human oral cells and macrophages demonstrated that BBR exhibited no cytotoxicity to the tested host cells. In conclusion, the study demonstrates that BBR has significant anticaries activity against S. mutans and has the potential to be further developed as a novel anticaries agent for clinical use. IMPORTANCE: Dental caries is a chronic disease affecting people worldwide, which could cause a series of oral problems. Plant-derived compounds have shown antimicrobial properties against a wide range of pathogens. This study investigated the antimicrobial effect of BBR on Streptococcus mutans , including the inhibitory effect on the planktonic bacteria growth, biofilm formation, virulence factors, and explored the mechanism and biocompatibility of BBR. This study demonstrated the significant anticaries activity of BBR against S. mutans and its potential to be further developed as a novel anticaries agent for clinical prevention and treatment of dental caries.

Background: Neurological disorders such as stroke, cerebral palsy, Parkinson's disease, and multiple sclerosis frequently cause sensorimotor impairments, limiting independence and quality of life. Pressure garments (PGs), originally designed for burn and vascular conditions, have gained interest in neurorehabilitation for enhancing proprioceptive input and neuromuscular modulation. However, their scope and effectiveness remain unclear. Objective: To map current literature on the application of PGs in neurological disorders and evaluate their effects on sensorimotor function. Methods: A scoping review was conducted following the Arksey and O’Malley framework and PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Five databases and grey literature were searched up to February 2025. Included studies involved PGs used in neurological conditions and reported at least one sensory or motor outcome. Results: Twenty-three studies were included, covering stroke (n = 7), cerebral palsy (n = 12), multiple sclerosis (n = 3), and Parkinson's disease (n = 1). PGs showed potential benefits in improving proprioception, motor control, and postural stability, especially in stroke and cerebral palsy. However, evidence for spasticity reduction and long-term outcomes was inconsistent. Studies varied in garment type, intervention protocols, and outcome measures, with common methodological limitations. Conclusion: PGs may serve as useful adjuncts in neurorehabilitation to enhance sensorimotor function. However, further high-quality studies with standardized protocols are needed to clarify their clinical utility. Registration: OSF https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/H9B27 .