Digital Commons Network^™

Characterization Of The Spatiotemporal Representations Of Visual, Semantic, And Memorability Features In The Human Brain, Yue Wang, Peter Brunner, Jon T. Willie, Runnan Cao, Shuo Wang

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Object recognition requires integrated processing that extends beyond the visual cortex, incorporating semantic and memory-related processes. However, it remains unclear how different attributes, such as visual, semantic, and memorability features, are encoded and interact during perception. Here, we recorded intracranial electroencephalography from 5,143 channels while participants viewed natural object images. We systematically characterized the spatiotemporal patterns of neural encoding for visual, semantic, and memorability attributes and showed that memorability was encoded in a distributed manner, which can be dissociated from visual and semantic coding. While the ventral temporal cortex (VTC) was engaged in encoding all three attributes, the representations were …

Capacity And Site Readiness For Hypertension Control Program Implementation In Nigeria: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study, Innocent Ijezie Chukwuonye, Mark D. Huffman, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to determine the capacity and readiness of Nigerian primary healthcare facilities to adopt a multi-level approach for the diagnosis, treatment, and control of hypertension.

METHODS: Using a multi-stage sampling technique, 5 states were selected for the nationwide study, and 10 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) were selected from each of the participating states. The 50 PHCs were evaluated using the World Health Organization-modified Service Availability and Readiness Assessment, focusing on the diagnosis and treatment of hypertension in Nigeria. The indicator scores for general and cardiovascular service preparedness were computed using the proportion of PHCs …

Dysregulated Lactate Metabolism Synergizes With Als Genetic Risk Factors To Accelerate Motor Decline, Shweta Tendulkar, Tong Wu, Amy Strickland, Amber R. Hackett, Yurie Sato-Yamada, Xianrong Mao, Yo Sasaki, Jeffrey Milbrandt, A. Joseph Bloom, Aaron Diantonio

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Neurons rely on glial 'lactate shuttling' for metabolic support, which declines with aging and in neurodegenerative disease. Full disruption of lactate shuttling in peripheral nerves causes progressive axon degeneration, but we were interested to understand how partial disruption, a scenario more relevant to aging and disease, contributes to neurodegeneration risk. Pyruvate and lactate are interconverted by lactate dehydrogenases (LDHA and LDHB) in both lactate producing and consuming cells. We therefore began by investigating Ldhb knockout mice (loss of LDHA, the dominant LDH in liver and muscle, caused embryonic lethality), and discovered that they develop progressive neuromuscular junction atrophy and functional …

Safeguarding Public Pensioner Standing After Thole, Evelyn L. Stein

Vanderbilt Law Review

Today, public American pension funds hold over $6 trillion dedicated to rewarding the labor and stabilizing the retirements of millions of employees. These funds are facing increased scrutiny as activists draw more awareness to controversial investment strategies, resulting in litigation by plaintiffs arguing funds inappropriately prioritize goals other than financial returns. Structurally, many public funds operate with a defined benefit (DB) model, meaning fund beneficiaries are guaranteed specific payouts based on factors such as years of service and age at retirement. Because of this DB model, such litigation has been stymied by the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Thole v. …

Justifying The Fourth Amendment, Daniel Epps

Vanderbilt Law Review

Why does the Fourth Amendment belong in the Constitution? This question is not whether society should impose some legal restraints on government searches and seizures. Rather, why should such protections reside in our national charter, superior to other forms of law and insulated from change via ordinary majoritarian political processes? Despite major disputes about the Fourth Amendment's content, Fourth Amendment theorists rarely ask this question. Almost all agree that the Fourth Amendment's constitutional protections are critically important-even if no one can agree exactly what those protections are.
This Article seeks a justification for the Fourth Amendment-the reason why search-and-seizure protections …

Presidential Immunity: Before And After Trump, Thomas P. Schmidt

Vanderbilt Law Review

'All the officers of government," the Supreme Court said long ago, "from the highest to the lowest, are creatures of the law, and are bound to obey it." Despite that ringing and categorical language, however, the Court has held that the President-the "highest" and most powerful of all government officers-is "immune" from judicial oversight in several respects. Indeed, when the Court held last Term that former presidents are presumptively immune from criminal prosecution for officials acts, the dissenters warned: '`n every use of official power, the President is now a king above the law."

This Article unpacks the various presidential …

Crypto Exchanges In Market Regulation, Yesha Yadav

Vanderbilt Law Review

The cryptocurrency market has proven notoriously challenging to regulate despite a decade during which it has gained in economic size, sophistication, and cultural impact. Even as repeated crises have left ordinary savers wiped out, regulation has shown itself to be woefully absent as a means of mitigating risks ex ante or helping cover the cost of damage ex post. This Article looks to break this deadlock by proposing a tried-and-tested solution: It argues that regulators should task crypto exchanges with providing oversight as self-regulatory organizations of the crypto market in which they play an anchoring role. It offers three supporting …

A Direct Path Should Be Easy To Follow: Reframing The “Direct Effect” Test For Jurisdictional Immunity Under The Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, Greggory Cashmark

Vanderbilt Law Review

As sovereign nations become more involved in international commercial dealings, it becomes more important to establish a reliable and stable framework for resolving disputes with foreign sovereigns. The FSIA is the result of a long historical trend towards establishing that framework. While the FSIA is a step in the right direction, there are a number of interpretive questions regarding where it places the boundaries of a court's jurisdiction over foreign sovereign activity. While these questions remain open and while courts continue to find reasons to keep them open, they undermine the principal purpose of the FSIA: predictability. There is no …

Implementing Climate Remedies, Camila Bustos

Vanderbilt Law Review

Climate change litigation has emerged as a powerful tool for addressing the climate crisis, particularly in the face of executive and legislative inaction. Across jurisdictions, courts have issued landmark decisions mandating stronger mitigation targets and recognizing rights-based claims against governments and corporations. While recent scholarship has examined the trends, legal theories, and broader effects of this relatively new phenomenon, it has primarily focused on bringing and winning legal challenges. Less attention has been paid to a crucial phase: the implementation and enforcement of judicial rulings. A deeper understanding of how climate remedies are implemented can provide valuable insights for climate …

Psychophysiological Recovery From Viewing Nature And Urban Settings: A Multisite Replication, A. E. Van Den Berg, K. Dijkstra, D. Meuwese, F. Beute, P. M. Darcy, S. Dewitte, B. Gatersleben, C. J. Gidlow, C. M. Hägerhäll, J. A. Hipp, Y. Joye, Y. A.W. De Kort, S. C.M. Lechner, C. Neale, Sang Ode Sang, J. Roe, D. T. Scheepers, K. Smolders, H. Staats, R. S. Steensma, K. J. Wyles, S. L. Koole

School of Psychology

The idea that merely viewing nature can promote stress recovery has profound societal implications, driving the use of nature imagery in the design of environments where access to real nature is limited. Scientific support for this concept originates from a pioneering study by Ulrich et al. (1991), which demonstrated superior psycho-physiological stress recovery during exposure to nature videos compared to urban videos. Despite its influence, this foundational study has never been systematically replicated. To address this gap, ten research teams across the Netherlands, Belgium, the UK, Sweden, and the USA collaborated on a multisite replication. A final sample of 959 …

Does In-Bed Cycling Delivered Within 48 Hours Of Mechanical Ventilation, Reduce The Occurrence Of Delirium In Critically Ill Patients: A Mixed-Methods Feasibility Randomised Controlled Trial Protocol, Jacqueline Bennion, Mark Hudson, Mary Hickson, Victoria Allgar, Bridie Kent, David Mcwilliams, Daniel Martin

Peninsula Medical School

Background: Delirium is a severe neuropsychiatric clinical state presenting as an acute onset of cognitive deficits. Patients receiving invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV), have the highest incidence (50%–80%) of delirium amongst patients admitted to intensive care units. Preliminary data indicates that early mobilisation is associated with reduced delirium in critically ill patients. However, definitive evidence is lacking. Current practice varies due to many barriers to patients, who require IMV, receiving early mobilisation interventions. In-bed cycling may address some of these barriers. This research aims to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of early in-bed cycling to reduce delirium in critically ill patients. …

The Effectiveness Of Digital Therapeutics Intervention In Oral Anticoagulation Management: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Jiayue Guo, Lili You, Lu Liu, Xitong Jiao, Debasish Kar, Jitendra Jonnagaddala

Peninsula Medical School

Objective: To summarize the key intervention characteristics and evaluate the effectivenessand safety of digital therapeutics (DTx) in patients receiving oral anticoagulation, witheffectiveness evaluated using time in therapeutic range (TTR), thromboembolic events (TEE),and mortality, and safety evaluated based on bleeding events.Patients and Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the CochraneLibrary from inception to June 20, 2025, and identified ten randomized controlled trialsinvolving 7,237 patients. The criteria required studies to assess software-based DTxsupporting anticoagulation management and report effectiveness or safety outcomes. Studyquality was evaluated using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development,and Evaluation (GRADE) framework, and random-effects models were applied.Results: …

Microbial Collagenase Activity Is Linked To Oral–Gut Translocation In Advanced Chronic Liver Disease, Shen Jin, Aurelie Cenier, Daniela Wetzel, Bethlehem Arefaine, Mar Moreno-Gonzalez, Marilena Stamouli, Merianne Mohamad, Mariia Lupatsii, Emilio Ríos, Sunjae Lee, Ane Zamalloa, Shilpa Chokshi, Adil Mardinoglu, Saeed Shoaie, Naiara Beraza, Vishal C. Patel, Melanie Schirmer

Peninsula Medical School

Microbiome perturbations are associated with advanced chronic liver disease (ACLD), but how microorganisms contribute to disease mechanisms is unclear. Here we analysed metagenomes of paired saliva and faecal samples from an ACLD cohort of 86 individuals, plus 2 control groups of 52 healthy individuals and 14 patients with sepsis. We identified highly similar oral and gut bacterial strains, including Veillonella and Streptococcus spp., which increased in absolute abundance in the gut of patients with ACLD compared with controls. These microbial translocators uniquely share a prtC gene encoding a collagenase-like proteinase, and its faecal abundance was a robust ACLD biomarker (area …

Patient And Practitioner Workshops For An Intellectual Disabilities And Epilepsy Neuropsychiatric Genetic Research Database Register: Ethical Dilemmas For Study Design, Rohit Shankar, Jon Allard, Dannielle Bilkey, Brendan Mclean, Pamela Bowman, Chloe Staples, Lance Watkins, Anna Simpson, Elizabeth Boardman, Sarah Mitchell, Sarah Lennard

Peninsula Medical School

BackgroundThere is a need for more research studies focussed on People with ID (PwID) and Epilepsy and for the design of these studies to be shaped by this complex and vulnerable population and those who care for and support them.AimsTo develop understanding as to how a future NHS genetic research database register for PwID and Epilepsy should be conducted in a way which is inclusive, suitable and appropriate for them, their carers and the NHS settings where the research would be undertaken.MethodsThree workshops were completed with 17 formal participants: (1) PwID and Epilepsy (n2); (2) carers of PwID and Epilepsy …

Global Manta And Devil Ray Population Declines: Closing Policy And Management Gaps To Reduce Fisheries Mortality, Betty J.L. Laglbauer, Nidhi G. D'Costa, Joshua D. Stewart, Marta D. Palacios, Melissa Cronin, Daniel Fernando, Nerea Lezama-Ochoa, Asia O. Armstrong, Rima W. Jabado, Sarah Fowler, Julia M. Lawson, Olga Koubrak, Jefferson Murua, Thanda Ko Gyi, Divya Karnad, Mayuri Chopra, Giuseppe Notarbartolo-Di-Sciara, Joshua Rambahiniarison, Don Croll, Stefany Rojas, Abdulaziz Fahmi, Joanna L. Harris, Alifa Binthe Haque, Hilario Murua, Juan Carlos Pérez-Jiménez, Emily Humble, Ellen Barrowclift, Muhammad G. Salim, Godefroy De Bruyne, Issah Seidu

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Significant progress has been made in advancing priority actions to conserve manta and devil rays, yet implementation and enforcement of protective measures often fall short, leaving most mobulid populations at risk of overfishing. Drawing on a literature review, fisheries databases, agency reports, and expert interviews, we assess global trends in mobulid catch and mortality. We examine both targeted and incidental catch, in small (<15 m, ‘SV’) and large (>15 m, ‘LV’) vessel fisheries to identify hotspots with the highest risk of fisheries-related mortality and population decline. We estimate global fisheries catch at 264,520 (184,407–344,987) mobulids per year, with SV fisheries accounting for 87 % …

Growth In The Margins: Field Measured Protein Metabolism Rates In The Common Limpet, Patella Vulgata, Ignacio A. Cienfuegos, Benjamin J. Ciotti, Richard A. Billington, Paul A. Sutton, Keiron P.P. Fraser

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Intertidal shores are characterised by a high variability in abiotic conditions, resulting in marked daily, tidal, seasonal and vertical differences in stress conditions, yet our ability to understand the consequences for key physiological processes at corresponding scales are limited. In particular, no previous studies have directly measured protein metabolism, the key process underpinning animal growth, in the field, in any organism. We measured whole-animal (SGR) and tissue (TSGR) mass growth, protein metabolism (synthesis (k_s), degradation (k_d) and growth (k_g)), RNA to protein ratios and oxidative stress in Patella vulgata in the field every season …

Tinjauan Frasa “Setiap Orang” Dalam Pasal 3 Ayat (1) Peraturan Pemerintah Nomor 56 Tahun 2021 Tentang Pengelolaan Royalti Hak Cipta Lagu Dan/Atau Musik, Fajar Hidayansyah Ilham, Luna Dezeana Ticoalu

Jurnal Hukum & Pembangunan

Copyright is one form of legal protection for intellectual works, occupying an important position within the intellectual property law system. The Copyright Law explicitly grants exclusive rights to creators, encompassing both moral rights and economic rights. Economic rights, as stipulated in Article 9 paragraph (1), allow creators to obtain economic benefits from their works, ranging from publication, reproduction, distribution, performance, to communication to the public. This provision shows that creators hold a primary position as legal subjects entitled to protection, while also serving as central actors in the creative industry ecosystem. In practice, the mechanism for copyright protection requires implementing …

Implementasi Land Freezing Di Kabupaten Kutai Kartanegara Dan Penajam Paser Utara: Antara Pengendalian Pertanahan Dan Pelindungan Hak Keperdataan, Anggita Mustika Dewi, Destriananda Safa Aina, Ananda Mulia Putri Maharani

Jurnal Hukum & Pembangunan

To prevent land speculation by land mafias in the Nusantara Capital City (IKN), the government introduced a land-freezing policy aimed at restricting the transfer of land rights within the IKN area. However, in practice, this policy has been alleged to hinder land registration processes and undermine civil rights of communities within the IKN delineation zone. This study seeks to examine the regulatory framework, implementation, and impacts of the land-freezing policy on land registration and the civil rights of affected communities. Employing an empirical normative legal research method with a statute approach, this research finds that the land-freezing policy has not …

Editorial Board, Editorial Board

Journal of Dental Sciences

No abstract provided.

Applications And Potential Of Chatgpt In Dentistry: Scoping Review Of Research Perspectives, Masakazu Hamada, Sumire Kikuchi, Tatsuya Akitomo, Satoru Kusaka, Yuko Iwamoto, Ryota Nomura

Journal of Dental Sciences

Since ChatGPT was released in 2022, it has been used in various settings and has rapidly been adopted worldwide. The main objective of this review was to provide a comprehensive assessment of the accuracy, reliability, usefulness, and limitations of ChatGPT in dentistry. PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were searched using the terms “ChatGPT” and “dentistry”, and 63 papers were extracted. Of the 63 records identified, medical consultation and assistance were the most common, accounting for 35 of 63 records (53.8 %), followed by study assistance and confirmation tests with 16 records (24.6 %), national and specialist dental examinations …

Open Contacts Adjacent To Posterior Dental Implants: Current Understanding And Emerging Preventive Concepts, Chiun-Lin Steven Liu, Shih-Cheng Wen, Ching-Jung Chang Chien, Je-Kang Du

Journal of Dental Sciences

Open proximal contacts between posterior dental implant restorations and adjacent natural teeth are a common yet underappreciated complication. This review examines the multifactorial etiology of open contact formation, including biomechanical discrepancies, prosthetic and surgical factors, occlusal force dynamics, and natural tooth migration. The clinical consequences-ranging from food impaction and gingival inflammation to proximal bone loss and diminished patient satisfaction-are also analyzed. These complications not only affected oral hygiene and comfort but might also contribute to peri-implant tissue breakdown and increased maintenance needs. Existing preventive and corrective strategies, such as prosthetic over-contouring, splinted restorations, and occlusal equilibration, are reviewed with attention …

Pathological Premature Loss Of Primary Teeth And Its Influence On Aberrant Eruption Of Successors, Pakapol Wanitkitkurpol, Pornpoj Fuangtharnthip, Tsui-Hsein Huang, Chia-Tze Kao

Journal of Dental Sciences

No abstract provided.

Artificial Intelligence Applications In The Diagnosis And Management Of Cleft Lip And Palate: An Updated Review, Tu Manh Nguyen, Uyen Ngoc Thao Huynh, Thi Thuy Tien Vo, Yang-Che Wu, Chien-Fu Tseng, I-Ta Lee

Journal of Dental Sciences

According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health, cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) is one of the most common congenital anomalies, significantly affecting both function and aesthetics while placing a considerable burden on healthcare systems worldwide. With the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) in various medical fields, a thorough evaluation of its role in CL/P management has become essential. Therefore, this review was undertaken to summarize recent clinical applications of AI in the diagnosis, treatment, and care of CL/P. A comprehensive search of PubMed and IEEE Xplore was conducted from January 1, 2015, to May 31, 2025, using combined …

Impact Of Female Hormonal Changes Throughout Life On Oral Health: A Scoping Review, Inês Lopes Cardoso, Mayane Fryde, Maria Inês Guimarães, Fernanda Leal

Journal of Dental Sciences

This work looks at the impact of female hormonal fluctuations throughout life, during puberty, pregnancy and the menopause, on oral health. These physiological periods, marked by major variations in estrogen and progesterone levels, influence oral health, so the following question was formulated: to what extent do female hormonal fluctuations influence oral health? Through a scoping review of 37 scientific articles selected using a rigorous methodology (in particular using the Rayyan tool), it was possible to highlight clinical manifestations specific to each hormonal stage. In adolescent girls, puberty is frequently accompanied by exacerbated gingivitis, independent of dental plaque. During pregnancy, the …

Applications Of Artificial Intelligence In Tooth Extraction: A Systematic Review, Masakazu Hamada, Ryota Nomura, Tatsuya Akitomo, Satoru Kusaka, Yuko Iwamoto, Shiori Yamamoto, Yuko Ogaya, Kazuhiko Nakano

Journal of Dental Sciences

Background/purpose Tooth extraction is a common procedure in dental treatment. In recent years, with the advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, research on tooth extraction using AI has been increasing. In the present study, we consider the applicability of AI to tooth extraction through a literature review. Materials and methods The PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were searched for (“tooth extraction”) AND (“artificial intelligence” OR “machine learning” OR “deep learning”) in June 2024. Results Thirty-five articles matched the eligibility criteria and were extracted for this review. The most widely covered topics were “relationship between the root of the …

Piezo1-Mediated Mechanotransduction In Cementocytes Via Protein Kinase B And P38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Signaling, Kaixin Xiong, Yukihiko Sakisaka, Taichi Tenkumo, Eiji Nemoto, Kentaro Maruyama, Faisal Muhammad, Shigeki Suzuki, Hiroyuki Tada, Satoru Yamada

Journal of Dental Sciences

Background/purpose Cementocytes, terminally differentiated cells embedded within cellular cementum, are morphologically similar to osteocytes; however, their mechanosensory function remains poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate whether Piezo1, a mechanosensitive ion channel, contributes to the regulation of osteo/cementogenic gene expression in murine cementocyte-like IDG-CM6 cells. Materials and methods IDG-CM6 cells were subjected to cyclic stretch or treated with Piezo1-specific agonist Yoda1 or antagonist GsMTx4. Expression levels of osteo/cementogenic genes (Wnt1, Sost, Opg) and protein levels were analyzed. The involvement of intracellular signaling pathways was assessed using pharmacological inhibitors targeting mitogen-activated protein kinase and protein kinase B (PKB/AKT) pathways. Results Cyclic …

Hypoxic Stem Cells From Apical Papilla-Derived Exosomes Enhance Dental Pulp Stem Cells Migration And Differentiation Via Mitochondrial Activation, Deyan Yuan, Rui Tao, Bi Yin, Meng Gu

Journal of Dental Sciences

Background/purpose Stem cells from apical papilla (SCAPs) and dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) play critical roles in dental tissue regeneration. Although intercellular communication through exosomes is known to influence stem cell regulation, the effects of exosomes derived from hypoxic SCAPs on the migration and odontogenic differentiation of DPSCs have not been elucidated. This study aimed to investigate SCAPs derived exosomes mediated modulation of DPSCs biological functions under hypoxic conditions. Materials and methods Exosomes were obtained from SCAPs cultured under normoxic or hypoxic conditions. DPSCs were treated with these exosomes, and their migration capacity was evaluated using scratch and transwell assays. …

Multi-Institutional Observational Study On The Relationship Between Oral Infection Focus And Surgical Site Infection In Artificial Arthroplasty And The Clinical Significance Of Tooth Extraction: An Analysis Using Propensity Score Matching, Ryoji Kitamura, Sakiko Soutome, Naohisa Wada, Daisuke Akita, Takumi Hasegawa, Narihiro Hirahara, Yuichiro Imai, Hideto Imura, Yuki Hokita, Shinichiro Kato, Yuka Kojima, Yuji Kusafuka, Kousuke Matsumoto, Yumiko Matsusue, Hirokazu Nakahara, Kanae Niimi, Yu Ohashi, Mitsunobu Otsuru, Satoshi Rokutanda, Hironori Sakai, Yuki Sakamoto, Makoto Shimanishi, Yoshiko Yamamura, Akira Tachibana, Hideyuki Takano, Hiroshi Tsurumaki, Fumihiko Uchida, Nobuhiro Ueda, Koichiro Ueki, Toshiro Yamamoto, Madoka Funahara, Masahiro Umeda, Nagato Natsume

Journal of Dental Sciences

Background/purpose Surgical site infection (SSI) is a serious complication of artificial arthroplasty. Its relationship with dental infections and the necessity of preoperative dental screening remains debated. This study examined the relationship between oral condition and risk of SSI, along with preoperative tooth extraction effect, in patients undergoing artificial arthroplasty. Materials and methods Patients undergoing artificial hip or knee arthroplasty between April 2018 and September 2021 were retrospectively examined for age, sex, surgical site, surgical procedure, surgical time, preoperative hemoglobin level, white blood cell count, albumin level, creatinine level, remaining teeth, apical lesions ≥3 mm, periodontal pockets ≥4 mm, root fractures, …

Relationship Between Tooth Loss And Tongue Pressure And The Effectiveness Of Removable Denture For Older People Requiring Long-Term Care, Madoka Funahara, Yuki Sakamoto, Haruka Oyama, Sakiko Soutome

Journal of Dental Sciences

Background/purpose Aspiration pneumonia is a major health concern among older adults, particularly those requiring long-term care. It is often caused by silent aspiration of saliva-containing pathogenic bacteria and exacerbated by impaired oral and swallowing functions. Tongue pressure is a key factor in maintaining these functions, and its decline is associated with increased bacterial amount in the saliva and higher mortality. However, the relationship among tongue pressure, occlusal status, and prosthetic treatment in older individuals requiring care remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the association between tooth loss and decreased tongue pressure in older individuals requiring long-term care, and to …

Bacterial Counts In Saliva Of Patients With Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy: Cross-Sectional Research, Madoka Funahara, Akira Imakiire, Ryuichiro Funahara, Sakiko Soutome, Yuki Sakamoto, Masahiro Umeda

Journal of Dental Sciences

Background/purpose Dysphagia in older adults requiring long-term care often necessitates nutritional management via percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG). Although PEG effectively prevents food aspiration, it does not mitigate the risk of silent saliva aspiration, leaving patients vulnerable to aspiration pneumonia. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the bacterial count in the saliva of PEG users. Materials and methods This study included 13 PEG users and 13 oral feeders residing in a facility for individuals with disabilities. We investigated the participants’ age, sex, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, oral wetness, Oral Hygiene Index Debris Index (OHI-DI), Winkel Tongue Coating …