Publications by authors named "Moynihan P"

Article Synopsis
  • The study investigated the link between oral function and mental health among older adults in Japan, focusing on the roles of fruit and vegetable consumption and social interactions.
  • Involving 478 participants aged 75 and older, the research used structural equation modeling to show that better oral function positively impacts mental health status, while fruit and vegetable intake and social interactions serve as mediators in this relationship.
  • Results indicated a direct association between oral function and mental health, but the mediation analysis showed that the relationship was primarily indirect, driven by dietary habits and social engagement.
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  • Adolescents have high sugar diets and need effective methods to reduce sugar intake for better dental health.
  • A systematic review was conducted on studies from 1990 to 2023 to discover effective behavior change techniques (BCTs) that help reduce sugar consumption among 10 to 16-year-olds.
  • Out of over 16,000 articles, 35 studies were included, revealing that feedback on behavior and information about social/environmental impacts were the most successful techniques, achieving 100% effectiveness in reducing sugar intake.
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Mycobacterial glycolipids are important cell envelope structures that drive host-pathogen interactions. Arguably, the most important are lipoarabinomannan (LAM) and its precursor, lipomannan (LM), which are trafficked from the bacterium to the host via unknown mechanisms. Arabinomannan is thought to be a capsular derivative of these molecules, lacking a lipid anchor.

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Background: Wearing complete denture in one or both arches can impact enjoyment of eating and affect quality of life compared with being dentate. Clinicians focus on issuing technically sound dentures but ignore the impact of wearing dentures on the eating-related quality of life which affects the success of treatment.

Objectives: The aim of this research was to qualitatively explore ERQoL in Australian adults wearing complete dentures using a validated questionnaire and through focus groups.

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There are no high-quality data on dietary behaviour of adolescents in India. This study aimed to assess the intake of energy (E), macronutrients and selected micronutrients in a sample of 11-13-year-old schoolchildren in Delhi, India. Participants from private schools (=10) recorded dietary intake using a 3-d food diary.

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Reducing free sugars intake is important for the prevention of dental caries and obesity in children. The study aimed to determine the amount and sources of free sugars known to contribute to dental caries, and identify sociodemographic determinants of intake by children aged 5 years in Australia. Cross-sectional analysis of dietary data from a cohort study, collected using a customized food frequency questionnaire were used to calculate free sugars intake as grams/day and percentage contribution to Estimated Energy Requirement (EER).

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Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the association between the number of teeth, food intake, and cognitive function in Japanese community-dwelling older adults.

Methods: This 9-year longitudinal study included a total of 293 analyzable participants who participated in baseline and follow-up surveys. Dental status (number of teeth and periodontal pocket depth), dietary assessment using the brief-type self-administered diet history questionnaire, cognitive function, and the following confounding factors were evaluated: educational level, financial satisfaction, living situation, smoking and drinking habits, history of chronic diseases, apolipoprotein E-ε4 carrier, body mass index, handgrip strength, instrumental activities of daily living, and depressive symptomatology.

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Gram-negative bacteria have a thin peptidoglycan layer between the cytoplasmic and outer membranes protecting the cell from osmotic challenges. Hydrolases of this structure are needed to cleave bonds to allow the newly synthesized peptidoglycan strands to be inserted by synthases. These enzymes need to be tightly regulated and their activities coordinated to prevent cell lysis.

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To conserve energy during starvation and stress, many organisms use hibernation factor proteins to inhibit protein synthesis and protect their ribosomes from damage. In bacteria, two families of hibernation factors have been described, but the low conservation of these proteins and the huge diversity of species, habitats and environmental stressors have confounded their discovery. Here, by combining cryogenic electron microscopy, genetics and biochemistry, we identify Balon, a new hibernation factor in the cold-adapted bacterium Psychrobacter urativorans.

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Mycobacterial glycolipids are important cell envelope structures that drive host-pathogen interactions. Arguably, the most important amongst these are lipoarabinomannan (LAM) and its precursor, lipomannan (LM), which are both trafficked out of the bacterium to the host via unknown mechanisms. An important class of exported LM/LAM is the capsular derivative of these molecules which is devoid of its lipid anchor.

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Background: Oral health promotion initiatives must be evidence-based and consistent with broader health messaging. The Oral Health Messages for the Australian Public were first produced in 2009 and sought to enable a focused, and strategic approach to oral health promotion in Australia. As the evidence base and needs of the Australian population have since changed, this consensus statement was updated in 2022-2023.

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The aim of this umbrella review was to collate and appraise the evidence base regarding modifiable risk factors for the prevention of oral diseases to inform the update of the Oral Health Messages for Australia. Eleven questions related to modifiable risk factors and dental disease were investigated. Electronic databases (Medline, Embase and PubMed) were searched from January 2010 to October 2022.

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Article Synopsis
  • The World Health Organization is examining the effects of taxing sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) as a way to improve oral health and reduce sugar intake, specifically looking at its impact on dental caries.
  • Data from various sources showed that a 20% tax on SSBs could lead to noticeable reductions in both SSB consumption and sugar intake, potentially decreasing the incidence of dental caries in both high-income (HIC) and low-to-middle income countries (LMIC).
  • Specifically, the findings indicate a minor reduction in the number of cavities in adults and children over a decade, highlighting the potential benefits of such taxation in promoting oral health.
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  • A study in Australia assessed public support for six policy initiatives aimed at improving diet, such as taxing soft drinks and restricting junk food advertising to children.
  • The analysis of 4,040 Australians aged 15 and older revealed overall high support for all initiatives, especially those focused on children, with about 75% in favor of such policies.
  • The findings suggest that targeting policies towards children's health can effectively influence public health policy implementation, though young adults showed lower support across the board.
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Bacterial cell growth and division require the coordinated action of enzymes that synthesize and degrade cell wall polymers. Here, we identify enzymes that cleave the D-arabinan core of arabinogalactan, an unusual component of the cell wall of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and other mycobacteria. We screened 14 human gut-derived Bacteroidetes for arabinogalactan-degrading activities and identified four families of glycoside hydrolases with activity against the D-arabinan or D-galactan components of arabinogalactan.

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Article Synopsis
  • The review aims to explore how older residents in aged care facilities are involved in designing their own care services through co-design methods.
  • This study will include various types of literature, focusing on older individuals, including those from diverse backgrounds and those with dementia, who are engaged in the co-design process.
  • The methodology will adhere to established guidelines, searching multiple academic and gray literature databases for relevant studies published since 1999, and results will be presented in both table and narrative formats.
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Introduction: Sarcopenia is loss of both muscle mass and function with age and is associated with inadequate protein intake. However, evidence to suggest an association with oral health is less clear.

Objective: To scope peer-reviewed published evidence (2000-2022) pertaining to oral function in relation to sarcopenia and/or protein intake in older people.

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DprE2 is an essential enzyme in the synthesis of decaprenylphosphoryl-β-d-arabinofuranose (DPA) and subsequently arabinogalactan, and is a significant new drug target for . Two compounds from the GSK-177 box set, GSK301A and GSK032A, were identified through -DprE2-target overexpression studies. The -DprE1-DprE2 complex was co-purified and a new DprE2 assay developed, based on the oxidation of the reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide cofactor of DprE2 (NADH/NADPH).

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Objective: A scoping review of available advice to address eating problems experienced by people who wear dentures was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA statement. The objective was to identify and map type, volume, and content of the available eating advice.

Methods: Medline, CINAHL, and grey literature databases and Google were searched.

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Bacterial amidases are essential to split the shared envelope of adjunct daughter cells to allow cell separation. Their activity needs to be precisely controlled to prevent cell lysis. In amidase activity is controlled by three regulatory proteins NlpD, EnvC and ActS.

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Introduction: To outline the development and implementation of a food science and nutrition module for dental undergraduate students that provides basic knowledge and clinical skills for improving oral health outcomes and understanding their importance for overall health.

Materials And Methods: Interdisciplinary discussions with professionals with expertise in food science and nutrition, including dentists, dietitians and nutritionists, were held to agree on core subject areas in line with the evidence base. The module was delivered online to 2nd-year dental students due to COVID-19 restrictions.

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An update of the systematic review of evidence on the association between amount of sugars intake and dental caries, as well as on the effect of restricting sugars intake to <10% and <5% energy (E) on caries, was conducted, almost 10 y since the review that informed the World Health Organization (WHO) Guideline on Sugars. The aim was to systematically review epidemiological data published from 2011 to 2020 on the amount of sugars consumption and levels of caries and to report the findings for adults and children. Data sources included MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Database, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Scopus, and Google Scholar.

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Following a request from five European Nordic countries, the EFSA Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA) was tasked to provide scientific advice on a tolerable upper intake level (UL) or a safe level of intake for dietary (total/added/free) sugars based on available data on chronic metabolic diseases, pregnancy-related endpoints and dental caries. Specific sugar types (fructose) and sources of sugars were also addressed. The intake of dietary sugars is a well-established hazard in relation to dental caries in humans.

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