Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0029713 (immaturity)
 4,335 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The present paper reviews biological issues in early childhood caries (ECC) in light of the current understanding of the field. Despite the general global decline in dental caries in the past decades, ECC has become a significant problem in many developing countries and some minority communities in western industrialized nations. Like other types of caries, ECC is caused by mutans streptococci that ferment dietary carbohydrates to produce acid attacks on susceptible teeth over a period of time. However, while the general etiology of ECC appears similar to that of other types of caries, the predisposing factors are still unclear. The biology of ECC may be modified by several factors unique to young children, related to the implantation of cariogenic bacteria, immaturity of the host defense systems, as well as behavioral patterns associated with feeding and oral hygiene in early childhood.
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PMID:Biological mechanisms of early childhood caries. 967 Nov 97

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the secretory immune system and dental caries. Forty-nine 3-5-year-old children with primary dentition were classified into three groups according to their caries indices: no caries (group I), one or two surfaces with caries lesions (group II) and rampant caries (group III). Lower numbers of mutans streptococci were found in group I in relation to groups II and III. Secretory IgA and anti-S. mutans IgA, IgM and IgG antibody levels were not significantly different among the groups. Western blotting analysis showed that some S. mutans proteins, including the 39, 59, 97 and 150 kDa molecular mass bands, were recognized by almost all the saliva samples. Antibodies against the 185 kDa band, known as antigen I/II, were present in all adults' saliva and in only one child in group III. The absence of antibodies to the 185 kDa band in children's saliva suggest a specific immunologic immaturity. Further prospective studies will be necessary to establish the possible effect of reactivity to this antigen on the S. mutans colonization in this age group.
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PMID:Anti-Streptococcus mutans antibodies in saliva of children with different degrees of dental caries. 1047 17