Evaluation of the Antifungal Effect of Rhus verniciflua Stokes Extract for Oral Application Potential.

Background and Objectives: This study confirms the possibility of using Rhus verniciflua Stokes (RVS) extract as a natural treatment for oral candidiasis. Materials and Methods: RVS was extracted with 70% ethanol to examine the antioxidant activity through polyphenol, flavonoid content, and DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl). To evaluate the antifungal effect against Candida albicans (C. albicans; KCTC 7965/ATCC 10231) and evaluate the stability of RVS, a water-soluble tetrazolium salt (WST-1) assay was performed in human keratinocytes (HaCaT). Results: The findings revealed that RVS extract has fairly high antioxidant activity. The clear zones of the RVS extract against C. albicans increased in diameter due to the inhibition of fungal growth at higher concentrations. Treatment with the 1.25 mg/mL RVS extract had a more than 99% antifungal effect against C. albicans, and the 20 mg/mL RVS extract had a 100% antifungal effect. The WST-1 assay showed that the RVS extract induced low cell viability in the HaCaT cells, which inhibited their proliferation, and the RVS extract is also toxic to normal cells. Conclusions: Although the RVS extract with high antioxidant activity showed clear antifungal activity against C. albicans, it exhibited a low survival rate. Therefore, the development of a safe natural antibiotic is necessary.

Differences in Oral Health and Generalized Anxiety Disorder According to Secondhand Smoke Exposure in Public Places.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to provide basic data for minimizing exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) by confirming the relationship between exposure to SHS and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). METHODS: Using the third year data of the eighth National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 3874 people were selected as subjects. Complex sampling analysis was applied to all analyses, and 307 people were exposed to the SHS group (SHSG) and 3567 people were not exposed to the SHS group (NSHSG). Complex sample linear regression analysis was conducted to confirm the effect of exposure to SHS on oral health and GAD. RESULTS: Among oral-health-related factors, exposure to SHS in Korean adults was related to the presence of implants. Additionally, exposure to SHS had a significant effect on GAD despite adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics and oral-health-related factors (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the relationship between passive smoking and GAD was confirmed. Therefore, to reduce GAD, oral health management is necessary and exposure to SHS should be minimized.

Changes in Oral Health Behavior According to Dental Calculus Removal Health Insurance in Korea.

BACKGROUND: Periodontal disease is a chronic disease that is increasing year by year. Korea also recognizes the seriousness of periodontal disease and has been applying preventive scaling in the National Health Insurance since 2013 to prevent it. Studies confirming the effectiveness of such insurance coverage are very scarce. Therefore, this study intended to confirm the effect of such policy by comparing and analyzing the oral health characteristics and oral health behavior of the South Koreans before and after the scaling insurance. METHODS: For all the analyses, complex sampling analysis with the stratification variable, clustering variable, and weight was applied. For a total of 40,945 people, the demographic characteristics, oral health characteristics, dental clinic use, brushing, and use of oral care supplies were compared through chi-square tests. RESULTS: Scaling insurance showed a positive effect (p < 0.05) on the unemployed and elderly people, who had lost their previous economic status; on smoking and willingness to quit smoking as well as on consultation on drinking problems; on dental-clinic use and oral examination in terms of utilization of dental clinics; and on brushing after lunch, before breakfast, and before sleeping. CONCLUSIONS: The study results showed that the scaling rate was universalized, and there was a positive effect on willingness to quit smoking and undergo oral examination. An active reimbursement policy for oral health education is needed, however, if a substantial change in oral health behavior is to be achieved.

Effect of oral gargle containing Lespedeza cuneata extract on periodontal health improvement and disease prevention: a randomized, controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the antiplaque and antibacterial effects of a mouthwash containing Lespedeza cuneata (LC) extract through clinical periodontal disease (PD) indicators and changes in PD-causing bacteria. METHODS: A total of 63 subjects participated in this double-blind clinical trial. Subjects were divided into two groups: 32 participants gargled with LC extract, and 31 used saline. Scaling was performed 1 week before the experiment to secure the homogeneity of the subjects' oral conditions. After gargling with 15 ml of each solution for 1 min, participants spit out the solution to remove any residual mouthwash solution. Then, PD-related bacteria were measured via the O'Leary index, plaque index (PI), and gingival index (GI). The clinical data were collected three times: before gargling, immediately after gargling, and 5 d after gargling. RESULTS: After 5 d, the O'Leary index, PI, and GI scores were significantly reduced in the LC extract gargle group (p < 0.05). PD-inducing Gram-positive and -negative bacteria were also reduced, confirming the LC extract's effect on periodontal health improvement and disease prevention. CONCLUSION: Mouthwash containing LC extract, a new alternative natural substance that is safe and effective, may be used to treat PD because of its ability to inhibit and prevent PD.

Association between depressive mood and chronic periodontitis among senior residents using the National Health Insurance Service-Senior Cohort Database.

BACKGROUND: Bacteria involved in chronic periodontal disease induce inflammatory cytokines. These cytokines can enter the brain through systemic circulation and cause depression. In this study, we investigated the association between depressed mood and chronic periodontitis in older adults in Korea. METHODS: This study used data from the Life-changing Period Health Checkup (2007-2008), performed only at 66 years of age, which is available from the National Health Insurance Service-Senior Cohort Database. The depressed mood status was evaluated by three questions in the mental health examination. The definition of chronic periodontitis was determined based on the diagnosis and treatment codes for chronic periodontitis. Based on the three questions, we investigated the association between depressive mood and chronic periodontal disease by dividing the study population into 9622 depressed mood subjects (DMS) and 9091 non-depressed mood subjects (NDMS). Multivariable-adjusted logistic regression analysis was performed, and odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were presented. RESULTS: Among the NDMS, 5390 patients with chronic periodontitis were identified, and among the DMS, 5964 patients with chronic periodontitis were identified. The crude OR (95% CI) for chronic periodontitis in DMS compared to NDMS was 1.12 (1.06-1.19). The adjusted OR (95% CI) for chronic periodontitis was 1.12 (1.06-1.19). As a result of confirming the effect of sex and comorbidity on the association between depressed mood and chronic periodontitis, a significant association was observed for women at 1.15 (1.07-1.25). In addition, the adjusted OR (95% CI) for depressive mood and chronic periodontitis was 1.15 (1.07-1.25) for patients with hypertension, 1.13 (1.03-1.25) for patients with diabetes, 1.12 (1.02-1.22) for patients with dyslipidemia, and 1.18 (1.04-1.34) for patients with heart disease. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirmed the relationship between depressed mood and chronic periodontitis in older adults. Therefore, education to strengthen the emotional management of older adults, especially with respect to depression, would play an auxiliary role in preventing and treating periodontitis.

The risk of stroke according to statin medication compliance in older people with chronic periodontitis: an analysis using the Korea National Health Insurance Service-Senior Cohort Database.

OBJECTIVES: We investigated the risk of stroke according to statin medication compliance in older people with chronic periodontitis. METHODS: Chronic periodontitis patients were extracted from the National Health Insurance Service-Senior Cohort Database from 2002 to 2014. Among 255,056 chronic periodontitis patients, 41,412 patients with statin prescriptions for 28 days or more were included. The study population was divided into the top 25% of medication compliance group (TSG) and the lower 25% of medication compliance group (BSG). After 1:1 propensity score matching was performed, the final number of patients in the BSG and TSG was 6,172 each. To analyze the risk of stroke, a Cox proportional hazard model was performed to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) after adjusting for age, sex, income level, hypertension, diabetes, and Charlson comorbidity index. RESULTS: In the Kaplan-Meier curve, the disease-free probability was prominently lower in the BSG than in the TSG (p for log-rank= 0.001). The HR in the multivariable-adjusted model for stroke occurrence in the TSG compared to the BSG was 0.79 (95% CI, 0.67 to 0.92; p= 0.002). Subgroup analyses showed significant associations between compliance to statin medication and stroke, especially in female, people 85 years or older, and patients with comorbidities. CONCLUSIONS: Increasing compliance to statins may reduce stroke risk in older adults with chronic periodontitis. Therefore, in order to increase medication compliance among older people with chronic periodontitis, it is necessary for medical staff to make efforts to provide effective medication guidance.

Risk Factors on the Progression to Clinical Outcomes of COVID-19 Patients in South Korea: Using National Data.

10-20% of COVID (Corona Virus Disease)-19 cases proceed to a severe stage, and age and the presence of comorbidity increased the risk of death from COVID-19. The identification of risk factors on progression to the severity stages is essential in providing more efficient and suitable management to COVID-19 patients. However, there is insufficient study on risk factors for severity stages of COVID-19 patients. In this study, 2959 confirmed COVID-19 patients were analyzed while using national data, COVID-19 patients Clinical Epidemiological Information provided from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. The epidemiological variable, hospital room, periods from confirmation to release, initial symptom and vital signs, underlying comorbidities, and initial blood variables were used to verify the relation with progression to severity stages of COVID-19 and severe COVID-19. The chi-square test, welch test, multiple regression and logistic regression analysis were performed. The ICU (Intensive Care Unit) admission rate of patients having characteristics, such as older age, male, abnormal BMI (Body Mass Index), high heart rate, high body temperature, fever, cough, sputum, sore throat, rhinorrhea, fatigue, dyspnea, change of consciousness, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, chronic artery disease, chronic kidney disease, cancer, dementia, abnormal hemoglobin, abnormal hematocrit, abnormal lymphocyte, abnormal platelets, and abnormal white blood cell were high. The risk factors for severe COVID-19 were older age, shorter hospitalization, abnormal lymphocyte, abnormal platelets, dyspnea, change of consciousness, and dementia. Whereas, significant predictors for progression to severity stages of COVID-19 were older age, longer period from confirmation to release, higher BMI, higher body temperature, abnormal lymphocyte, abnormal platelets, fever, no sore throat, dyspnea, no headache, COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), and dementia. Therefore, classifying patients with a high risk of severe stage of COVID-19 and managing patients by considering the risk factors could be helpful in the efficient management of COVID-19 patients.