Human microbiome: a fascinating underworld dictating our health?

Marine mussels clinging to rocks inspire the development of novel materials. Characterization of mussel adhesive plaques describes a matrix of proteins containing 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA), which provides cross-linking chemistry that allows mussels to attach fi rmly. Several synthetic polymer systems have been developed based on this DOPA chemistry. High strength bonding has been achieved with poly[(3,4-dihydroxystyrene)-co -styrene], a simplifi ed mimic of mussel proteins in which 3,4-dihydroxystyrene provides the cross-linking and adhesion of DOPA. The poly(styrene) host polymer stands in for a protein backbone. Prior efforts showed that a monomer ratio of 1:2 3,4-dihydroxystyrene:styrene within the statistical copolymer poly[(3,4dihydroxystyrene)-co -styrene] yields the highest adhesion. To enhance adhesive performance of this biomimetic polymer, a systematic study is carried out in which a range of cross-linking agents, cure times, cure temperatures, polymer concentrations, and fi llers are examined. Lap shear adhesion testing revealed substantial increases in bond strength from each study. Consensus conditions are then determined and bonding performance is assessed on several substrates. Adhesion of this system turns out to be one of the strongest of all biomimetic polymers. These studies show that DOPA chemistry may be able to stand alongside of cyanoacrylate (e.g., Super Glue) and epoxy when it comes to high strength bonding.

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Enhancing the Adhesion of a Biomimetic Polymer Yields Performance Rivaling Commercial Glues

Meredith

Jenkins

Wilker

2014

Adv Funct Materials

170

220

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Measuring oral health literacy: a scoping review of existing tools

et al. 2014

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BackgroundThis article presents findings from a scoping review of tools used to measure oral health literacy. Internationally, interest in oral health literacy is driven by oral health disparities, particularly for disadvantaged groups, with conditions such as dental caries and periodontal disease contributing substantially to the global burden of disease. The increasing focus on measuring oral health literacy aligns with reasons for measuring broader health literacy, that is, by assessing oral health literacy, decisions can be made about instigating interventions at policy and practice level to improve individual and population level oral health. There are numerous tools available that measure oral health literacy using a range of indicators.MethodsA scoping review was designed to map the existing tools designed to measure oral health literacy (OHL). Key search terms were developed and mapped. Selected databases were used that identified 32 relevant studies reporting a range of OHL tools.ResultsWe identified 32 articles that reported a range of oral health literacy tools. Many of the studies used the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Dentistry (REALD) and/or the Test of Functional Health Literacy in Dentistry (ToFHLiD) that were developed from earlier tools designed to measure broader health literacy. These tools have been widely criticised for providing only an approximate measure of OHL based mainly on word recognition. A number of newer tools have included new measures of oral health literacy including numeracy and oral health conceptual knowledge however tools that measure important indicators of oral health literacy such as service navigation are rare.ConclusionsFindings from this scoping exercise confirm our findings from preliminary scans that the majority of tools are heavily biased towards word recognition, numeracy and reading skills, rather than what this means in terms of health behaviours and service utilisation. More recent developments have attempted to incorporate other aspects considered important, including decision making and service navigation. The incorporation of these aspects into newer tools will provide oral health researchers and policy makers with further evidence of the importance of oral health literacy when designing interventions to improve oral health.

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Validation of an online version of the rapid estimate of adult literacy in dentistry-30 for use by medical and dental students in Nigeria

Afolabi,

Foláyan

2024

BMC Oral Health

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Background The need for online adaptations of research instruments became more pronounced amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. This study sought to modify the REALD-30 for online application (eREALD-30) and evaluate its content validity and internal reliability among medical and dental students in Nigeria. Methods The eREALD-30 required participants to identify if each of the listed words were related to dentistry by ticking either a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ response with the option to mark ‘don’t know’ for words they were unsure about. Scores ranged from 0 to 30. Five oral health experts reviewed the eREALD-30 for cultural appropriateness, while content validity was evaluated by 10 medical and dental students. Internal reliability was assessed with 320 students recruited from 15 medical and dental schools spanning the country’s six geopolitical zones. These students also completed an oral health status assessment tool. Data collection utilized an online survey platform. Validity of the eREALD-30 was determined through correlation analysis between eREALD-30 scores and the oral health status assessment tool. Furthermore, binary logistic regression analysis was employed to explore the assocations between participants’ oral health status and their oral health literacy, adjusting for age, sex, and level of medical and dental education. Results Out of the respondents, 178 (55.6%) exhibited poor oral health literacy, while 205 (64.1%) reported having good oral health status. Those with good oral health literacy demonstrated significantly higher odds of having good oral health status (OR: 1.61; 95% CI: 1.02–2.54; p = 0.04). However, individuals with good oral health literacy had increased odds of good oral health status after adjusting for confounding factors,, though this association did not retain statistical significance (AOR: 1.39; 95% CI: 0.86–2.24; p = 0.17). The eREALD-30 displayed strong internal consistency (Cronbach alpha = 0.933), indicating its reliability in assessing oral health literacy levels, alongside a high content validity score of 0.90. Conclusion The study finding suggests that the e-version of the REALD-30 was reliable and valid for use among medical and dental students in Nigeria.

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Human microbiome: a fascinating underworld dictating our health?

Cited by 5 publications

References 14 publications

Enhancing the Adhesion of a Biomimetic Polymer Yields Performance Rivaling Commercial Glues

Enhancing the Adhesion of a Biomimetic Polymer Yields Performance Rivaling Commercial Glues

Measuring oral health literacy: a scoping review of existing tools

Validation of an online version of the rapid estimate of adult literacy in dentistry-30 for use by medical and dental students in Nigeria

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