Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether chewing gum affects mask contamination. Methodology and results: Two groups of participants were requested to wear a mask for 15 min with (experimental group) or without (control group) chewing gum. Then, masks were collected and CFU calculation and 16S rDNA sequencing was performed. We found that temperature, humidity and bacterial CFU inside of the mask significantly increased when wearing a mask while chewing gum. Staphylococcus epidermidis was found in both groups. Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus haemolyticus, Streptococcus oralis, Streptococcus parasanguinis and Bacillus wiedmannii were found in only the experimental group. Conclusion, significance and impact of study Chewing gum significantly increased the temperature, humidity and bacterial CFU inside the mask. Staphylococcus epidermidis, S. aureus, S. haemolyticus, S. oralis, S. parasanguinis and B. wiedmannii were detected inside the mask after chewing gum.
Chewing Gum ; Food Contamination

BACKGROUND: Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is a hereditary chronic hemolytic anemia with several clinical consequences. Intravascular sickling of red blood cells leads to multi-organ dysfunction. Moreover, several biochemical abnormalities have been associated with SCA. Gum arabic (GA) is an edible dried gummy exudate obtained from Acacia Senegal tree. GA showed antioxidant and cytoprotective activities and demonstrated protection against hepatic, renal, and cardiac toxicities in experimental rats. We hypothesized that regular intake of GA improves renal and liver functions in patients with SCA. METHODS: Forty-seven patients (5–42 yr) carrying hemoglobin SS were recruited. The patients received 30 g/day GA for 12 weeks. Blood samples were collected before administering GA and then after 4, 8, and 12 weeks. Liver enzymes, total protein, albumin, electrolytes, urea, creatinine, and uric acid were determined in the serum. The study was approved by the Al Neelain University Institutional Review Board and Research Ethics Committee Ministry of Health. The trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (identifier: NCT02467257). RESULTS: GA significantly decreased direct bilirubin level [statistical significance (P-value)=0.04]. It also significantly decreased serum alanine transaminase level after 4 weeks, which was sustained till the 8th week. GA, however, had no effect on serum aspartate transaminase level. In terms of renal function, GA decreased serum urea level but the effect was not sustained after the first month. CONCLUSION: GA may alter the disease severity in SCA as demonstrated by its ability to decrease direct bilirubin and urea levels in the serum.
Acacia ; Alanine Transaminase ; Anemia, Hemolytic ; Anemia, Sickle Cell ; Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Bilirubin ; Cardiotoxicity ; Creatinine ; Electrolytes ; Erythrocytes ; Ethics Committees, Research ; Exudates and Transudates ; Gingiva ; Gum Arabic ; Hemoglobin, Sickle ; Humans ; Liver ; Rats ; Senegal ; Trees ; Urea ; Uric Acid

Two types(A model and B model) of articular cartilage defect models were prepared by using adult New Zealand white rabbits. A model group was applied by drilling without through subchondral bone, whose right joint was repaired by composite scaffolds made by seed cell, gum-bletilla as well as Pluronic F-127, and left side was blank control. B model group was applied by subchondral drilling method, whose right joint was repaired by using composite scaffolds made by gum-bletilla and Pluronic F-127 without seed cells, and left side was blank control. Autogenous contrast was used in both model types. In addition, another group was applied with B model type rabbits, which was repaired with artificial complex material of Pluronic F-127 in both joint sides. 4, 12 and 24 weeks after operation, the animals were sacrificed and the samples were collected from repaired area for staining with HE, typeⅡcollagen immunohistochemical method, Alcian blue, and toluidine blue, and then were observed with optical microscope. Semi-quantitative scores were graded by referring to Wakitanis histological scoring standard to investigate the histomorphology of repaired tissue. Hyaline cartilage repairing was achieved in both Group A and Group B, with satisfactory results. There were no significant differences on repairing effects for articular cartilage defects between composite scaffolds made by seed cell, gum-bletilla and Pluronic F-127, and the composite scaffolds made by gum-bletilla and Pluronic F-127 without seed cell. Better repairing effects for articular cartilage defects were observed in groups with use of gum-bletilla, indicating that gum-bletilla is a vital part in composite scaffolds material.
Animals ; Arthroplasty, Subchondral ; Cartilage, Articular ; surgery ; Cells, Cultured ; Orchidaceae ; chemistry ; Plant Gums ; chemistry ; Poloxamer ; Rabbits ; Tissue Engineering ; Tissue Scaffolds

PURPOSE: This study aim to determine the effect of chewing gum on the reduction of postoperative ileus and recovery after surgery. METHODS: The study was conducted as a randomized controlled trial among 82 patients who underwent spine surgery between May 2015 and October 2015. Patients in experimental group chewed sugarless gum 3 times daily for 30 minutes each time until POD 5. Abdominal discomfort, the first defecation, and CAS score (Constipation Assessment Scale) were monitored. RESULTS: After the experiment, abdominal discomfort was significantly decreased in the experimental group compared to that of the control group (F=2.46, p=.044). However, the first defecation occurred on postoperative hour 69.6 in the chewing gum group and on hour 60.2 in the control group (t=−1.63, p=.107). CAS was significantly decreased in the experimental group compared to that of the control group (F=3.51, p=.012). CONCLUSION: Chewing gum is expected to help patient recover after surgery as safe nurse intervention which can reduce abdominal discomfort and constipation during early postoperative days after spine surgery.
Chewing Gum ; Constipation ; Defecation ; Gingiva ; Humans ; Ileus ; Mastication ; Spine

OBJECTIVETo study the anti-halitosis effect of sugar-free chewing gum through their influence on odor induced by cysteine.

METHODSTen volunteers were randomly divided into the treatment group and the untreated group; each group consisted of five volunteers. All volunteers consented to participate in a test in which breath odor was induced by cysteine. After the test, the treatment group chewed sugar-free chewing gum for 1 min, whereas the untreated group did not undergo any treatment. The effectiveness was determined by the percent reduction of H2S, CH3SH, and (CH3)2S response after the volunteers chewed gum for 1, 10, and 20 min.

RESULTSAt 1, 10, and 20 min, H2S of the treatment group was reduced by 82.68%, 92.27%, 97.47%, respectively, CH3SH was reduced by 65.49%, 73.79%, and 82.89%, respectively, and (CH3)2S was reduced by 60.45%, 73.82%, and 59.72%, respectively. The differences between the two groups at different times were significant (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONChewing gum can effectively inhibit cysteine-induced odor.

Chewing Gum ; Cysteine ; metabolism ; Halitosis ; therapy ; Humans

Kenaf has a high content of gum that is difficult to remove. Traditional chemical degumming process causes serious environmental pollution. To solve the problem, we developed a new method to degum kenaf. We pretreated the kenaf with steam explosion followed by ultrasonic treatment. We chose the single factor tests to select the ultrasonic frequency, sodium hydroxide concentration and processing time. Combined with orthogonal tests, we found that the optimum conditions were as follows: ultrasonic frequency was 28 kHz, sodium hydroxide concentration was 2%, and processing time was 60 min. Under these conditions, the residual gum of kenaf fiber was 9.72% and the fineness was 139.45 N(m). Steam explosion combined with ultrasonic method is effective in degumming of kenaf.
Hibiscus ; Plant Gums ; isolation & purification ; Sodium Hydroxide ; chemistry ; Steam ; Ultrasonics

PURPOSE: We aimed to examine the effect of gum chewing after laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of patients who underwent laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery in Incheon St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea School of Medicine. We divided the patients into 2 groups: group A consisted of 67 patients who did not chew gum; group B consisted of 65 patients who chewed gum. We analyzed the short-term clinical outcomes between the two groups to evaluate the effect of gum chewing. RESULTS: The first passage of gas was slightly earlier in group B, but the difference was not significant. However, the length of hospital stay was 6.7 days in group B, which was significantly shorter than that in group A (7.3 days, P = 0.018). CONCLUSION: This study showed that length of postoperative hospital stay was shorter in the gum-chewing group. In future studies, we expect to elucidate the effect of gum chewing on the postoperative recovery more clearly.
Chewing Gum ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Gingiva* ; Humans ; Incheon ; Korea ; Laparoscopy ; Length of Stay ; Mastication* ; Medical Records

OBJECTIVETo examine the safety and efficacy of chewing gum in promoting intestinal function recovery after colorectal surgery.

METHODSA thorough search of PubMed, Cochrane Library, CNKI, CBM and Wanfang data was performed. Randomized controlled trials(RCTs) about efficacy and safety of chewing gum in promoting intestinal function recovery after colorectal surgery were collected and meta-analysis was carried out with RevMan 5.0 software.

RESULTSThirteen RCTs including 993 patients were enrolled in this study with 499 patients in the chewing gum group and 494 patients in control group. Meta-analysis revealed that chewing gum could significantly reduce the time to first passage of flatus(MD=-11.66 h, 95%CI:-17.26--6.07, P<0.05), the time to the first defecation (MD=-32.31 h, 95%CI:-56.89--7.73, P<0.05), and postoperative hospital stay(MD=-1.10 d, 95%CI:-1.93--0.27, P<0.05) after colorectal surgery. Patients in chewing gum group also experienced less discomfort from bowel distension(OR=0.52, 95%CI:0.35-0.80, P<0.05) due to postoperative paralytic ileus. No significant difference in the incidence of nausea and vomiting was found.

CONCLUSIONSThe addition of chewing gum, a well tolerated intervention, to standard treatment may facilitate intestinal recovery and contribute to a shorter hospital stay following colorectal surgery.

Chewing Gum ; Colonic Diseases ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Colorectal Surgery ; Defecation ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Postoperative Complications ; Postoperative Period ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Recovery of Function

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the bleaching effect of chewing gum containing amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP), hydroxyapatite (HA), and tricalcium pyrophosphate (TSP) on human enamel. METHODS: Seventy-three subjects aged 20-30 years were recruited after obtaining their informed consent and approval of the Institutional Review Board. All subjects were randomly assigned to the following four groups: (I) negative control group; (II) 50% gum group; (III) 100% gum group; and (IV) positive control group (10% carbamide peroxide). They received gum containing ACP, HA, and TSP, three times a day, for 4 weeks. Group IV also received 10% CP application using individual trays, once a day, for 2 weeks. Color change was measured using the Shade Eye-NCC colorimeter at weekly intervals, during the 4-week period. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 18.0. RESULTS: Color changes (DeltaE*) were significantly different among the groups at 2 and 4 weeks after chewing the gum (P<0.05). Given that bleaching effect of Group IV was 100%, bleaching effects of Group III, Group II, and Group I were 54%, 46%, and 36%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Chewing gum containing ACP, HA, and TSP was effective enough to bleach the human enamel. Further comprehensive studies and assessment will be required to ascertain the bleaching effects and mechanism of chewing gum containing various components such as ACP, HA, and TSP using various methods of experiment and analysis.
Aged ; Calcium ; Calcium Phosphates ; Chewing Gum ; Dental Enamel ; Diphosphates ; Durapatite ; Ethics Committees, Research ; Gingiva ; Humans ; Informed Consent ; Mastication ; Urea

Daily use of probiotic chewing gum might have a beneficial effect on oral health, and it is important that the viability of the probiotics be maintained in this food product. In this study, we examined the stability of probiotic chewing gum containing Weissella cibaria. We evaluated the effects of various factors, including temperature and additives, on the survival of freeze-dried probiotic W. cibaria powder. No changes in viability were detected during storage at 4degrees C for 5 months, whereas the viability of bacteria stored at 20degrees C decreased. The stability of probiotic chewing gum decreased steadily during storage at 20degrees C for 4 weeks. The viability of the freeze-dried W. cibaria mixed with various additives, such as xylitol, sorbitol, menthol, sugar ester, magnesium stearate, and vitamin C, was determined over a 4-week storage period at 20degrees C. Most of the freeze-dried bacteria except for those mixed with menthol and vitamin C were generally stable during a 3-week storage period. Overall, our study showed that W. cibaria was more stable at 4degrees C than that at 20degrees C. In addition, menthol and vitamin C had a detrimental effect on the storage stability of W. cibaria. This is the first study to examine the effects of various chewing gum additives on the stability of W. cibaria. Further studies will be needed to improve the stability of probiotic bacteria for developing a novel probiotic W. cibaria gum.
Ascorbic Acid ; Bacteria ; Chewing Gum ; Gingiva ; Magnesium ; Menthol ; Oral Health ; Probiotics ; Sorbitol ; Stearic Acids ; Weissella ; Xylitol