Introduction: The opinion that latent T. gondii infection is having a broadly asymptomatic projection has now been interrogated, in specific due to the echoed association between the latent infection and an elevated incidence of schizophrenia or even suicide attempts. Notwithstanding conducted studies aimed to understand this feasible link are restricted. Methods: In the present case-control study, we focused to illuminate the relationship between the serological and molecular presence of T. gondii and schizophrenia with or without the suicide attempts by comparing it with healthy individuals. A total of 237 participants (117 in schizophrenia; 120 in healthy control) were included in this study. Results: Overall, latent T. gondii infections were found statistically higher in 63 (53.8%) of the 117 patients with schizophrenia and in 33 (27.5%) of the 120 controls (p < 0.001). In schizophrenia patients, seroprevalence T. gondii was again found to be statistically higher in suicide attempters (59.6%), compared to no history of suicide attempts (48.3%) (p < 0.05). The molecular positivity rate of T. gondii DNA was higher in the schizophrenia group, compared to the healthy control group (p < 0.05), whereas the history of suicide attempts was not statistically associated (p = 0.831) with T. gondii DNA positivity by PCR. Conclusion: This case-control study enlightens additional demonstration to the belief that T. gondii infection would be an underlying component for the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Regardless of the clarity results of this study, this supposition warrants further endorsement.

Introduction: Dental caries is an infectious disease with predominantly of cariogenic bacteria such as Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans). Xylitol is considered as one of the effective agents that can limit this dental infection. In this randomized, placebo-controlled trial, we aimed to evaluate the potential reflection of short-term xylitol consumption on pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-, IL-6 and IL-8) and S. mutans counts by ELISA and qPCR (Quantitative real-time PCR), respectively. Methods: In this study, 154 participants were assigned to two groups, control and xylitol. Dental examination, saliva and swab samples were done at baseline and at 3-week for clinical and microbiological assessment. Results: In xylitol group at the end of 3-week, gingival and plaque index scores were significantly decreased with respect to baseline values (p<0.001 and p<0.05, respectively). The salivary concentration of TNF-, IL-6 and IL-8 were statistically declined at 3-week, more so than those at baseline in xylitol group (p<0.001). S. mutans expression was reduced about 5-fold at 3-week use of xylitol and it was a statistically significant difference compared to baseline (p<0.001). Conclusion: Intriguingly, even short-term consumption of xylitol might play a favorable role in maintaining the oral health status, possibly as a result of decreasing the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and the counts of S. mutans. Nonetheless, this investigation warrants further endorsement.