Design, synthesis, and evaluation of benzodioxolane compounds for antitumor activity.

This study reports the design, synthesis, and comprehensive biological evaluation of 13 benzodioxolane derivatives, derived from the core structure of piperine, a natural product with established antitumor properties. Piperine, primarily found in black pepper, has been noted for its diverse pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer effects. Leveraging piperine's antitumor potential, we aimed to enhance its efficacy through structural modifications. Among the synthesized compounds, HJ1 emerged as the most potent, exhibiting a 4-fold and 10-fold increase in inhibitory effects on HeLa and MDA-MB-231 cell lines, respectively, compared to piperine. Furthermore, HJ1 demonstrated a favorable safety profile, characterized by significantly lower cytotoxicity towards the human normal cell line 293T. Mechanistic investigations revealed that HJ1 markedly inhibited clonogenicity, migration, and adhesion of HeLa cells. In vivo studies utilizing the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model substantiated the robust antitumor activity of HJ1, evidenced by its ability to suppress tumor angiogenesis and reduce tumor weight. These results suggest that HJ1 holds significant promise as a lead compound for the development of novel antitumor therapies.

Application of deep machine learning for the radiographic diagnosis of periodontitis.

OBJECTIVE: Successful application of deep machine learning could reduce time-consuming and labor-intensive clinical work of calculating the amount of radiographic bone loss (RBL) in diagnosing and treatment planning for periodontitis. This study aimed to test the accuracy of RBL classification by machine learning. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 236 patients with standardized full mouth radiographs were included. Each tooth from the periapical films was evaluated by three calibrated periodontists for categorization of RBL and radiographic defect morphology. Each image was pre-processed and augmented to ensure proper data balancing without data pollution, then a novel multitasking InceptionV3 model was applied. RESULTS: The model demonstrated an average accuracy of 0.87 ± 0.01 in the categorization of mild (< 15%) or severe (≥ 15%) bone loss with fivefold cross-validation. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive, and negative predictive values of the model were 0.86 ± 0.03, 0.88 ± 0.03, 0.88 ± 0.03, and 0.86 ± 0.02, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Application of deep machine learning for the detection of alveolar bone loss yielded promising results in this study. Additional data would be beneficial to enhance model construction and enable better machine learning performance for clinical implementation. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Higher accuracy of radiographic bone loss classification by machine learning can be achieved with more clinical data and proper model construction for valuable clinical application.

Application of three-dimensional proximal isovelocity surface area method in tricuspid regurgitation quantification.

OBJECTIVES: Recently, three-dimensional proximal isovelocity surface area (3D PISA) method has already been widely used in tricuspid regurgitation assessment. This study attempts to demonstrate the feasibility and accuracy of 3D PISA quantifying tricuspid regurgitation and explore the clinical value of 3D PISA in quantifying tricuspid regurgitation. METHODS: Fifty-four patients with more than mild tricuspid regurgitation (TR) were enrolled. Effective regurgitant orifice area (EROA) and regurgitant volume (Rvol) were assessed by transthoracic 3D PISA method and three-dimensional vena contracta area (3D VCA) method. The 3D VCA was used as reference method. We analyzed the correlation and differences of EROA between 3D PISA method and the reference method. RESULTS: Both EROA and Rvol assessed by the 3D PISA had good correlations with the reference method, particularly in the assessment of eccentric jets, with the correlation coefficients of r (EROA) = 0.83, P < 0.001, r (Rvol) = 0.90, P < 0.001, respectively. 3D PISA method had good agreement with 3D VCA method in grading TR. Intra-observer and inter-observer agreement were also good. CONCLUSIONS: Three-dimensional proximal isovelocity surface area method can accurately quantify the degree of tricuspid regurgitation with good repeatability and shorter time-consuming, which is worthy of further study. 3D PISA method is expected to be a new method for evaluating tricuspid regurgitation in clinic practice.

A retrospective study on molar furcation assessment via clinical detection, intraoral radiography and cone beam computed tomography.

BACKGROUND: Accurate determination of bone loss at the molar furcation region by clinical detection and intraoral radiograph is challenging in many instances. Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) is expected to open a new horizon in periodontal assessment. The purpose of this study was to compare and correlate accuracy of molar furcation assessment via clinical detection, intraoral radiography and CBCT images. METHODS: Eighty-three patients with chronic periodontitis who had existing CBCT scans were included. Furcation involvement was assessed on maxillary and mandibular first molars. Periodontal charts (modified Glickman's classification), intraoral (periapical and/or bitewing) radiographs (recorded as presence or absence) and axial CBCT reconstructions were used to evaluate furcation involvement on buccal and palatal/lingual sites. The correlation of furcation assessment by the three methods was evaluated by Pearson analysis. RESULTS: There were significant correlations (p < 0.05) between clinical detection and intraoral radiography, clinical detection and CBCT, as well as intraoral radiography and CBCT at all the measured sites (r values range between 0.230 to 0.644). CBCT generally exhibited higher correlation with clinical detection relative to intraoral radiography, especially at distal palatal side of maxillary first molar (p < 0.05). In addition, CBCT provided more accurate assessment, with bone loss measurement up to 2 decimals in millimeters, whereas clinical detection had 3 classes and the intraoral radiographs usually only detected the presence of furcation involvement in Glickman Class 2 and 3. CONCLUSIONS: This study validates that CBCT is a valuable tool in molar furcation assessment in addition to clinical detection and intraoral radiography.

Cone Beam Computed Tomography of mandibular bone density in non-diabetic vs. diabetic populations.

BACKGROUND: The successful placement of dental implant largely depends on the properties of alveolar bone at the recipient site. Systemic conditions such as diabetes mellitus could impair bone quality and compromise implant treatment. However, limited information in this area exists so far. The objective of the study is to use cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) to assess mandibular bone mineral density (BMD) in diabetic and non-diabetic populations. METHODS: The patients who had CBCT scans in the school from 2011-2015 were screened, and 14 diabetic and 14 non- diabetic patients with matched age, gender, and ethnicity were recruited. BMD was measured on reconstructed CBCT sagittal views at 7 mm2 rectangular areas on 6 sites for each patient. For cortical bone, BMD was measured at the inferior border of mandible in the midline and between the first and second premolar bilaterally. For cancellous bone, BMD was measured in the midline of mandible halfway between the lingual foramen/canal and the inferior border of mandible, and at the premolar area halfway between the mandibular canal and the inferior border of mandible bilaterally. For diabetic patients, the glycosylated hemoglobin (HbAlc) values were obtained after informed consent. Statistical significant difference was set at p <0.05. The correlation between BMD and the age, gender, and HbAlc value of the patients was analyzed. An institutional IRB approval was obtained for the study. RESULTS: Diabetic patients had significantly lower cancellous BMD than non-diabetic subjects in the posterior mandibles (367 vs. 430, p<0.05). For both groups, cancellous BMD in the posterior mandible was significantly lower than that of anterior mandible. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetic patients have decreased BMD in the posterior mandible which could adversely affect implant placement at these areas.

Oral microbiome associated with differential ratios of Porphyromonas gingivalis and Streptococcus cristatus.

Periodontitis has recently been defined as a dysbiotic disease caused by an imbalanced oral microbiota. The transition from commensal microbial communities to periodontitis-associated ones requires colonization by specific pathogens, including Porphyromonas gingivalis. We previously reported an antagonistic relationship between Streptococcus cristatus and P. gingivalis. To determine the role of S. cristatus in altering the interactions of P. gingivalis with other oral bacteria in a complex context, we collected dental plaque samples from patients with periodontitis and assigned them to two groups based on the ratios of S. cristatus and P. gingivalis. We then characterized the microbial profiles of the dental plaque samples using shotgun metagenomic sequencing and compared the oral microbial composition and functional capabilities of the group with high S. cristatus-P. gingivalis ratios with the low ratio group. Taxonomic annotation revealed significant differences in the microbial composition at both the genus and species levels between the low and high S. cristatus-P. gingivalis ratio groups. Notably, a higher microbial diversity was observed in the samples with low S. cristatus-P. gingivalis ratios. Furthermore, the antibiotic resistance gene profiles of the two groups were also distinct, with a significantly increased abundance of the genes in the dental plaque samples with low S. cristatus-P. gingivalis ratios. It, therefore, indicates that the S. cristatus-P. gingivalis ratios influenced the virulence potential of the oral microbiome. Our work shows that enhancing the S. cristatus-P. gingivalis ratio in oral microbial communities can be an attractive approach for revising the dysbiotic oral microbiome.IMPORTANCEPeriodontitis, one of the most common chronic diseases, is linked to several systemic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Although Porphyromonas gingivalis is a keystone pathogen that causes periodontitis, its levels, interactions with accessory bacteria and pathobionts in the oral microbiome, and its association with the pathogenic potential of the microbial communities are still not well understood. In this study, we revealed the role of Streptococcus cristatus and the ratios of S. cristatus and P. gingivalis in modulating the oral microbiome to facilitate a deeper understanding of periodontitis and its progression. The study has important clinical implications as it laid a foundation for developing novel non-antibiotic therapies against P. gingivalis and improving the efficiency of periodontal treatments.

Oral microbiome associated with differential ratios of Porphyromonas gingivalis and Streptococcus cristatus.

Background: Periodontitis has been recently defined as a dysbiotic disease resulting from imbalanced oral microbiota. The transition of microbial communities from commensal to periodontitis-associated ones likely requires colonization by specific pathogens, including Porphyromonas gingivalis. We previously reported an antagonistic relationship between Streptococcus cristatus and P. gingivalis and the role of S. cristatus in inhibition of the biofilm formation, invasion, and gingipain enzymatic activity of P. gingivalis. Given the importance of P. gingivalis as a keystone pathogen of polymicrobial communities, the determinants of P. gingivalis levels, its interaction with the core microbiota, and association with the pathogenic potential of the microbial communities need to be addressed. Results: This present study intends to determine the role of S. cristatus in altering interactions of P. gingivalis with other oral bacteria in a complex context. We collected dental plaque samples from periodontitis patients and assigned them into two groups based on their ratios of S. cristatus and P. gingivalis. We then characterized microbial profiles of the dental plaque samples using shotgun metagenomic sequencing and subsequently compared oral microbial composition and functional capabilities between groups with high or low S. cristatus-P. gingivalis ratios. Taxonomic annotation showed significant differences in microbial compositions at both genus and species levels between the two groups. Notably, a higher microbial composition diversity was observed in the samples with low S. cristatus-P. gingivalis ratios. The antibiotic resistance gene profiles of the two groups are also distinct, with significantly increased diversity and abundance of antibiotic resistance genes in the dental plaque samples with low S. cristatus-P. gingivalis ratios, which likely lead to elevated virulence potential. Conclusions: Overall, our work highlights the importance of S. cristatus-P. gingivalis ratios in influencing the virulence of the oral microbiome. Approaches to enhance S. cristatus-P. gingivalis ratios in oral microbial communities will be attractive for revising the dysbiotic oral microbiome.

Identification of microbiological factors associated with periodontal health disparities.

The present study aimed at identifying risk factors associated with periodontitis development and periodontal health disparities with emphasis on differential oral microbiota. The prevalence of periodontitis is recently rising dentate adults in the US, which presents a challenge to oral health and overall health. The risk of developing periodontitis is higher in African Americans (AAs), and Hispanic Americans (HAs) than in Caucasian Americans (CAs). To identify potentially microbiological determinations of periodontal health disparities, we examined the distribution of several potentially beneficial and pathogenic bacteria in the oral cavities of AA, CA, and HA study participants. Dental plaque samples from 340 individuals with intact periodontium were collected prior to any dental treatment, and levels of some key oral bacteria were quantitated using qPCR, and the medical and dental histories of participants were obtained retrospectively from axiUm. Data were analyzed statistically using SAS 9.4, IBM SPSS version 28, and R/RStudio version 4.1.2. Amongst racial/ethnic groups: 1) neighborhood medium incomes were significantly higher in the CA participants than the AA and the HA participants; 2) levels of bleeding on probing (BOP) were higher in the AAs than in the CAs and HAs; 3) Porphyromonas gingivalis levels were higher in the HAs compared to that in the CAs; 4) most P. gingivalis detected in the AAs were the fimA genotype II strain that was significantly associated with higher BOP indexes along with the fimA type IV strain. Our results suggest that socioeconomic disadvantages, higher level of P. gingivalis, and specific types of P. gingivalis fimbriae, particularly type II FimA, contribute to risks for development of periodontitis and periodontal health disparities.

Influences of race/ethnicity in periodontal treatment response and bacterial distribution, a cohort pilot study.

Objectives: Periodontitis disproportionately affects different racial and ethnic populations. We have previously reported the higher levels of Porphyromonas gingivalis and lower ratios of Streptococcus cristatus to P. gingivalis may contribute to periodontal health disparities. This prospective cohort study was designed to investigate if ethnic/racial groups responded differently to non-surgical periodontal treatment and if the treatment outcomes correlated to the bacterial distribution in patients with periodontitis before treatment. Methods: This prospective cohort pilot study was carried out in an academic setting, at the School of Dentistry, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. Dental plaque was collected from a total of 75 African Americans, Caucasians and Hispanics periodontitis patients in a 3-year period. Quantitation of P. gingivalis and S. cristatus was carried out using qPCR. Clinical parameters including probing depths and clinical attachment levels were determined before and after nonsurgical treatment. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA, the Kruskal-Wallis test, the paired samples t-test and the chi-square test. Results: The gains in clinical attachment levels after treatment significantly differed amongst the 3 groups-Caucasians responded most favorably, followed by African-Americans, lastly Hispanics, while numbers of P. gingivalis were highest in Hispanics, followed by African-Americans, and lowest in Caucasians (p = 0.015). However, no statistical differences were found in the numbers of S. cristatus amongst the 3 groups. Conclusion: Differential response to nonsurgical periodontal treatment and distribution of P. gingivalis are present in different ethnic/racial groups with periodontitis.

A novel formulation effective in killing oral biofilm bacteria.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if a novel formulation is effective in killing oral biofilm streptococci in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: Efficacy of 0.5% levulinic acid and 0.05% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) in killing Streptococcus gordonii CH1, Streptococcus gordonii DL1, Streptococcus mitis NCTC10712, Streptococcus oralis KS32AR, Streptococcus mutans BM71, and Streptococcus mutans GS5 in their biofilm form was measured in vitro, using microtiter plates and subsequent counts on Mitis-Salivarius agar plates. The safety and efficacy in vivo were evaluated using a mouse model. RESULTS: Our anti-microbial formulation completely eliminated all the biofilm streptococcal species tested within 30 seconds (a reduction of 10(7) CFU/ml), whereas the positive control Listerine only demonstrated moderate reduction in vitro. Application of the formulation twice a day for 7 days in the murine oral cavity resulted in significantly more reduction of established S. gordonii DL1 oral biofilm bacteria than Listerine. The formulation did not cause any adverse effect in the murine oral cavity within a 2-week period. CONCLUSIONS: We have demonstrated that the novel mouth rinse exhibits high efficacy in killing oral bacteria in their biofilm forms, results in no adverse effect in vivo, and contains alcohol-free components.

Correlation Analysis between Airway Volume and Risk of Sleep Apnea/Periodontitis.

Objectives: Sleep apnea and periodontitis have high incidences in general population. They share common risk factors such as obesity, smoking, and aging. As cone-beam computed tomography becomes popular in dentistry, airway analysis is very accessible to dentists. However, not many studies have investigated the correlations between airway volume and risk of sleep apnea and periodontitis. The purpose of this retrospective study was to investigate the association between airway volume and the occurrence of sleep apnea and periodontitis. Material and Methods: Overall, 258 patients were enrolled (male: 118, female: 140, age from 13 to 88). axiUm® was used to collect demographical/physical information and the status of sleep apnea and periodontitis. Invivo™ software was utilized to measure airway dimensions. One-way ANOVA followed by Tukey's HSD post-hoc test and Pearson analysis were run to determine statistical difference in airway volumes among patients with various demographic and health status, and association of airway dimensions with their sleep apnea and periodontal conditions. Results: Sleep apnea patients had significantly higher body weight, body mass index, and significantly smaller airway compared to non-apnea patients (P < 0.05). Old age, male, and diabetes were found to be positively correlated with sleep apnea. No association between airway dimension and periodontal status was identified. Conclusions: Patients with high body mass index are at higher risk of developing constricted airway and sleep apnea. There appears to be no association between restricted airway and occurrence of periodontitis. Cone-beam computed tomography plays a critical role in identifying narrow airway and necessitating proper referral.

Effect of imatinib on oral wound healing after extraction: A rare case report.

BACKGROUND: Proper tissue repair and healing after oral surgery are vital to achieve optimal outcomes. Certain medications may interfere with wound healing, but this debilitating adverse drug reaction is often not reported in the literature. It is unknown whether imatinib (Gleevec; Novartis Pharmaceuticals) interferes with gingival healing after oral surgery. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 58-year-old man with a dislodged crown and core buildup of tooth no. 19 sought treatment at a prosthodontic clinic. After examination, the patient consented to extraction, ridge preservation, and future implant placement. He had previous surgical resection of a gastrointestinal stromal tumor and was taking 400 mg of imatinib daily. After extraction and ridge preservation, delayed soft-tissue healing and loss of the coronal portion of bone graft were observed at 8 weeks after surgery. Delayed wound healing was observed again after revision surgery. After imatinib therapy was paused, the adverse effect subsided and the wound healed properly. On the basis of causality assessment and clinical judgment, the authors determined that imatinib was the probable cause of this adverse drug reaction. To their best knowledge, this is the first report of delayed gingival healing after oral surgery secondary to imatinib. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Dental practitioners should consider the possibility of impaired healing among their patients taking imatinib, especially before procedures that damage gingival tissue, although this adverse drug reaction is not reported in the drug's package insert. Consult with the patient's oncologist is advised before dental manipulations; temporary discontinuation (or dose reductions) of imatinib may be warranted until wounded tissue heals properly.

Combining single-cell sequencing data to construct a prognostic signature to predict survival, immune microenvironment, and immunotherapy response in gastric cancer patients.

Background and objective: Gastric cancer (GC) represents a major factor inducing global cancer-associated deaths, but specific biomarkers and therapeutic targets for GC are lacking at present. Therefore, the present work focused on developing an immune-related genetic signature at the single-cell level for categorizing GC cases and predicting patient prognostic outcome, immune status as well as treatment response. Methods: Single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) data were combined with bulk RNA-seq data in GC patients for subsequent analyses. Differences in overall survival (OS), genomic alterations, immune status, together with estimated immunotherapeutic outcomes were measured between different groups. Results: Nine cell types were identified by analyzing scRNA-seq data from GC patients, and marker genes of immune cells were also selected for subsequent analysis. In addition, an immune-related signature was established to predict OS while validating the prediction power for GC patients. Afterwards, a nomogram with high accuracy was constructed for improving our constructed signature's clinical utility. The low-risk group was featured by high tumor mutation burden (TMB), increased immune activation, and microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H), which were related to the prolonged OS and used in immunotherapy. By contrast, high-risk group was associated with microsatellite stability (MSS), low TMB and immunosuppression, which might be more suitable for targeted therapy. Meanwhile, the risk score generated by our signature was markedly related to the cancer stem cell (CSC) index. In addition, the immunotherapeutic response prediction accuracy of our signature was validated in an external dataset IMvigor210 cohort. Conclusion: A signature was constructed according to scRNA-seq data analysis. The signature-screened low- and high-risk patients had different prognoses, immune statuses and enriched functions and pathways. Such results shed more lights on immune status of GC, prognosis assessment, and development of efficient immunotherapeutic treatments.

Features of gastric cancer by anatomic subsite in northern China: A multi-center Health Science Report database study.

BACKGROUND: The features of gastric cancer based on the anatomic site remain unknown in northern China patients. AIM: To analyze gastric cancer features and associated trends based on the anatomical site in northern China patients. METHODS: This cross-sectional study used incident gastric cancer case data from 10 Peking University-affiliated hospitals (2014 to 2018). The clinical and prevailing local features were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 10709 patients were enrolled, including antral (42.97%), cardia (34.30%), and stomach body (18.41%) gastric cancer cases. Cancer in the cardia had the highest male:female ratio, proportion of elderly patients, and patients with complications, including hypertension, diabetes, cerebrovascular, and coronary diseases (P < 0.001). gastric cancer involving the antrum showed the lowest proportion of patients from rural areas and accounted for the highest hospitalization rate and cost (each P < 0.001). The proportion of patients with cancer involving the cardia increased with an increase in the number of gastroesophageal reflux disease cases during the same period (P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that tumor location in the cardia increased the risk of in-hospital mortality (P = 0.046). Anatomical subsite was not linked to postoperative complications. CONCLUSION: The features of gastric cancer based on the anatomical site differ between northern China and other regions, both globally and within the country. Social factors may account for these differences and should affect policy-making and clinical practice.

The effects of thyroid hormone abnormalities on periodontal disease status.

Thyroid hormones play an important role in the regulation of physiologic processes. Thyroid disease can lead to imbalance in the homeostasis of the body and affect the healing capacity of tissues. However, limited data are available regarding the relationship between thyroid hormone imbalance (thyroid disease) and periodontal health. This review is carried out to summarize the relationship between thyroid disease and periodontal status. PUBMED and MEDLINE searches of both human and animal studies were performed to investigate the relationship between thyroid disease, periodontal status, and dental implants. Results suggest that thyroid diseases may affect the status of periodontal diseases, especially in hypothyroid conditions. The duration from disease onset to treatment of thyroid disorders may be critical, since uncontrolled thyroid disease may result in destruction of the periodontium. Further controlled studies are needed to explore the relationship between thyroid hormone imbalance and periodontal status. Periodontal therapies, including dental implant placement, appear to be safe with no increase in treatment failure, so long as the status of the thyroid gland is controlled.

The whole is greater than the sum of its parts: dental plaque bacterial interactions can affect the virulence properties of cariogenic Streptococcus mutans.

It has been well established that dental caries results from the accumulation of dental plaque on tooth surfaces. Several decades of in vitro and as well as clinical studies have identified Streptococcus mutans as an important etiological agent in carious lesion formation. In addition, a variety of approaches have suggested that interactions between the bacterial components of biofilms can influence the properties of such polymicrobial structures. Therefore, it is likely that the mere presence of S. mutans in dental plaque does not alone account for the cariogenic potential of such biofilms. Recent studies have indicated that several bacteria commonly found in dental plaque can influence either the viability and/or virulence properties of S. mutans. This review will summarize some of the more recent findings in this regard as well as their implications for the development of novel anti-caries strategies.

Influence of bisphosphonates on alveolar bone loss around osseointegrated implants.

The relationship between bisphosphonates (BP) and dental implant failure has not been fully elucidated. The purpose of this retrospective radiographic study was to examine whether patients who take BP are at greater risk of implant failure than patients not using those agents. Treatment records of 362 consecutively treated patients receiving endosseous dental implants were reviewed. The patient population consisted of 227 women and 135 men with a mean age of 56 years (range: 17-87 years), treated in the University at Buffalo Postgraduate Clinic from 1997-2008. Demographic information collected included age, gender, smoking status, as well as systemic conditions and medication use. Implant characteristics reviewed included system, date of placement, date of follow-up radiographs, surgical complications, number of exposed threads, and implant failure. The relationship between BP and implant failure was analyzed using generalized estimating equation (GEE) analysis. Twenty-six patients using BP received a total of 51 dental implants. Three implants failed, yielding success rates of 94.11% and 88.46% for the implant-based and subject-based analyses, respectively. Using the GEE statistical method we found a statistically significant (P  =  .001; OR  =  3.25) association between the use of BP and implant thread exposure. None of the other variables studied were statistically associated with implant failure or thread exposure. In conclusion, patients taking BP may be at higher risk for implant thread exposure.

Ginsenoside distribution in different architectural components of Panax notoginseng inflorescence and infructescence.

The roots of Panax notoginseng (Burk) F. H. Chen are used as a highly valuable Chinese herbal medicine in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular and hematological diseases. Several aerial parts of plant are usually abandoned as the wastes. Panax notoginseng inflorescence (IFO) is commonly used as a folk medicine and dietary ingredient, its fruiting stage is referred as infructescence (IFU). Owing to high chemical complexity and structural similarity of ginsenosides, the co-eluting phenomenon, especially for the isomers, is inevitable in the chromatogram, resulting in the inaccurate quantitation. A novel LCMS method using hybrid positive full scan and multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) modes was developed to characterize ginsenoside distribution in different architectural components of IFO and IFU. MRM was performed for the quantification of G-Ra2 and NG-Fp2, a pair of co-eluting isomers with identical negative MS and MS/MS characteristics, and full scan was conducted to quantify other investigated saponins. Our data indicate that flower buds have the highest abundance of the summed saponins, fruit pedicel and fruit pericarp, commonly considered as the useless by-products of seed processing, contain the abundant saponins. Additionally, the contents of the detected ginsenosides in these architectural components significantly increased along with their growth years. Our findings will facilitate comprehensive utilization and exploitation of P. notoginseng inflorescence and infructescence.

Potential Microbiological Risk Factors Associated With Periodontitis and Periodontal Health Disparities.

Periodontitis disproportionately affects different racial and ethnic populations. In this study, we used qPCR to determine and compare oral microbial profiles in dental plaque samples from 191 periodontitis patients of different ethnic/racial backgrounds. We also obtained the periodontal parameters of these patients retrospectively using axiUm and performed statistical analysis using SAS 9.4. We found that in this patient cohort, neighborhood median incomes were significantly higher among Caucasians Americans (CAs) than among African Americans (AAs) and Hispanic Americans (HAs). Levels of total bacteria and Porphyromonas gingivalis, a keystone periodontal pathogen, were not evenly distributed among the three groups. We confirmed our previous findings that Streptococcus cristatus reduces P. gingivalis virulence potential and likely serves as a beneficial bacterium. We also showed the ratio of S. cristatus to P. gingivalis to be significantly higher in CAs than in HAs and AAs. Our results suggest that higher levels of P. gingivalis and lower ratios of S. cristatus to P. gingivalis may contribute to periodontal health disparities.

Negative correlation of distributions of Streptococcus cristatus and Porphyromonas gingivalis in subgingival plaque.

Porphyromonas gingivalis is one of the major causative agents of adult periodontitis. One of the features of this periodontal pathogen is its ability to attach to a variety of oral bacterial surfaces and to colonize subgingival dental plaque. We have shown that Streptococcus cristatus CC5A inhibits expression of fimA, a gene encoding the major protein subunit of long fimbriae in P. gingivalis; as a result, S. cristatus interrupts formation of P. gingivalis biofilms. Here we further demonstrate that the inhibitory activity of S. cristatus affects multiple strains of P. gingivalis and that optimal inhibitory activity correlates with levels of arginine deiminase expression in S. cristatus. More strikingly, the impact of S. cristatus on P. gingivalis colonization was revealed by comparing levels of P. gingivalis and S. cristatus in subgingival dental plaque. Spearman correlation analysis indicated a negative correlation between the distributions of S. cristatus and P. gingivalis (r = -0.57; P < 0.05). These data suggest that some early colonizers of dental plaque, such as S. cristatus, may be beneficial to the host by antagonizing the colonization and accumulation of periodontal pathogens such as P. gingivalis.