Enhanced Mott cell formation linked with IgM Fc receptor (FcµR) deficiency.

In previous studies, Mott cells, an unusual form of plasma cells containing Ig-inclusion bodies, were frequently observed in peripheral lymphoid tissues in our IgM Fc receptor (FcµR)-deficient (KO) mouse strain. Because of discrepancies in the reported phenotypes of different Fcmr KO mouse strains, we here examined two additional available mutant strains and confirmed that such enhanced Mott-cell formation was a general phenomenon associated with FcµR deficiency. Splenic B cells from Fcmr KO mice clearly generated more Mott cells than those from WT mice when stimulated in vitro with LPS alone or a B-1, but not B-2, activation cocktail. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the Ig variable regions of a single IgMλ+ Mott-hybridoma clone developed from splenic B-1 B cells of Fcmr KO mice revealed the near (VH) or complete (Vλ) identity with the corresponding germline gene segments and the addition of six or five nucleotides at the VH/DH and DH/JH junctions, respectively. Transduction of an FcµR cDNA into the Mott hybridoma significantly reduced cells containing IgM-inclusion bodies with a concomitant increase in IgM secretion, leading to secreted IgM binding to FcµR expressed on Mott transductants. These findings suggest a regulatory role of FcµR in the formation of Mott cells and IgM-inclusion bodies.

Short- and medium-term exposure to ambient air pollution and periodontal status.

We investigated the association between ambient air pollutant exposure and periodontal health using data from 17,271 adults in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2012-2015). Participants' periodontal status was categorized based on their community periodontal index (CPI) scores. Using multiple logistic regression models, we examined the relationship between air pollutant levels and poor periodontal status at various lag periods. After adjusting for potential confounders, PM10 exposure was associated with a poor periodontal status (short-term: 0-1 and 0-2 lag days; medium-term: 0-1 and 0-2 lag months). SO2 exposure showed similar associations (short-term, 0-2 to 0-7 lag days; medium-term, 0-4 to 0-6 lag months). Only increased medium-term O3 exposure (0-2 to 0-6 lag months) was associated with a poor periodontal status. NO2 exposure was inversely associated with poor periodontal status for both short- and medium-term durations.

Smartphone-based combined oral and whole-body exercise programme aimed at improving oral functions: A randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effects of a smartphone-based oral and whole-body exercise programme on oral function in older adults. METHODS: Individuals aged 65 years or above were randomized into three groups (non-app use, app use and control group), and a combined oral and whole-body exercise programme was conducted for 5 weeks. Oral muscle strength, saliva flow rate, Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14), and Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI) were measured before and after the intervention. The changes in each group were analysed at the end of the programme using paired sample t-tests, and the differences among the groups were analysed using the chi-square test, Fisher's exact test and ANOVA. RESULTS: The anterior tongue strength increased by 2.80 kPa after the intervention in the non-app use group; however, the change was not statistically significant. In the app use group, the anterior tongue strength significantly increased by 4.48 kPa. The saliva flow rate increased by 0.54 and 0.71 g/min in the non-app and app use groups, respectively, after the intervention (p < 0.05), and the change was greater in the app use group than in the other groups (p < 0.01). There were no significant changes in the posterior tongue strength, cheek strength, OHIP-14 or GOHAI scores over the course of the study. CONCLUSIONS: A smartphone-based combined oral and whole-body exercise programme can improve anterior tongue strength and saliva flow rate in older participants. The programme, however, did not result in significant changes in posterior tongue strength, cheek strength and perceived oral health.

Optimization Method to Predict Optimal Noise Reduction Parameters for the Non-Local Means Algorithm Based on the Scintillator Thickness in Radiography.

The resulting image obtained from an X-ray imaging system depends significantly on the characteristics of the detector. In particular, when an X-ray image is acquired by thinning the detector, a relatively large amount of noise inevitably occurs. In addition, when a thick detector is used to reduce noise in X-ray images, blurring increases and the ability to distinguish target areas deteriorates. In this study, we aimed to derive the optimal X-ray image quality by deriving the optimal noise reduction parameters based on the non-local means (NLM) algorithm. The detectors used were of two thicknesses (96 and 140 µm), and images were acquired based on the IEC 62220-1-1:2015 RQA-5 protocol. The optimal parameters were derived by calculating the edge preservation index and signal-to-noise ratio according to the sigma value of the NLM algorithm. As a result, a sigma value of the optimized NLM algorithm (0.01) was derived, and this algorithm was applied to a relatively thin X-ray detector system to obtain appropriate noise level and spatial resolution data. The no-reference-based blind/referenceless image spatial quality evaluator value, which analyzes the overall image quality, was best when using the proposed method. In conclusion, we propose an optimized NLM algorithm based on a new method that can overcome the noise amplification problem in thin X-ray detector systems and is expected to be applied in various photon imaging fields in the future.

Effectiveness of an oral health education programme using a mobile application for older adults: A randomised clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effectiveness of an oral health education programme using a mobile app for adults aged 65 years or older. METHODS: Participants aged 65 or older were randomly allocated into non-app use (n = 25), app use (n = 22) and control (n = 26) groups. The non-app use group received lecture-based oral health education using PowerPoint presentations and participated in workbook activities twice a week for five weeks, whereas the app use group underwent oral health education using a smartphone app and workbook activities for five weeks. Before and after the intervention, a questionnaire survey and oral health examination were performed to examine changes in oral health-related indices. RESULTS: The non-app use group showed significant changes, with a 2.1 increase in oral health knowledge score, 0.2 decrease in the O'Leary index and 0.6 decrease in tongue coating. The app use group showed significant changes, with a 3.1 increase in oral health knowledge score, a 2.5 increase in oral health perception, a 0.3 decrease in the O'Leary index and a 1.4 decrease in tongue coating. Repeated-measures ANOVA showed that interaction between time and group was significant only in tongue coating variable. CONCLUSION: The smartphone app developed in this study carries the possibility to convey informative content for oral health education among older adults.

Association of oral health and activities of daily living with cognitive impairment.

OBJECTIVES: This study compared the oral health status between elderly individuals with and without cognitive impairment and explored the association of oral health and activities of daily living (ADL) with cognitive impairment. METHODS: We conducted convenience sampling on patients aged more than 65 years and analysed data from 630 participants. Data were collected and analysed via a survey evaluating general characteristics, oral health behaviour, subjective oral health status, Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14), Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI) and ADL. RESULTS: The path analysis and regression analysis of the association of oral health and ADL with cognitive impairment showed that the OHIP-14 was not significantly associated with cognitive impairment, whereas the GOHAI and ADL had significant associations with cognitive impairment. A 1-point increase in the GOHAI was associated with a 0.024-point increase in the cognitive impairment score, and a 1-point increase in the ADL was associated with a 0.006-point decrease in the cognitive impairment score (normal = 0, cognitive impairment = 1). CONCLUSIONS: Poor oral health and ADL were associated with cognitive impairment. Therefore, oral hygiene management is important in maintaining oral health in elderly individuals with cognitive impairment.

Effectiveness of an oral health education programme for older adults using a workbook.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the effects of an oral health education programme utilising a workbook for people aged 65 years or older. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A pre-post quasi-experimental design was used to verify the effectiveness of an oral health education programme using a workbook. Oral health education was provided once a week for 5 weeks from May to June 2019. Intervention group I only received lectures on oral health education, while intervention group II reviewed the content using the workbook immediately after the lecture. Chi-square test, Fisher's exact test and a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were conducted to compare differences among the three groups; a paired t test was also carried out to identify the changes before and after the programme. RESULTS: Intervention group I showed a significant increase of 3.52 on oral health knowledge and 3.47 on oral health recognition, while exhibiting a significant decrease of 0.21 on the O'Leary index and 0.69 on the tongue coating index. Intervention group II depicted a significant increase of 4.48 on oral health knowledge and 3.97 on oral health recognition and a significant decrease of 0.32 on the O'Leary index and 2.10 on the tongue coating index. CONCLUSIONS: The oral health education programme using the workbook increased knowledge and recognition of oral health and lowered the O'Leary and tongue coating indexes. Hence, the use of a workbook may facilitate the effectiveness of oral health education for older people.

Nomenclature of Toso, Fas apoptosis inhibitory molecule 3, and IgM FcR.

Hiromi Kubagawa and John E. Coligan coordinated an online meeting to define an appropriate nomenclature for the cell surface glycoprotein presently designated by different names: Toso, Fas apoptosis inhibitory molecule 3 (FAIM3), and IgM FcR (FcµR). FAIM3 and Faim3 are the currently approved symbols for the human and mouse genes, respectively, in the National Center for Biotechnology Information, Ensembl, and other databases. However, recent functional results reported by several groups of investigators strongly support a recommendation for renaming FAIM3/Faim3 as FCMR/Fcmr, a name better reflecting its physiological function as the FcR for IgM. Participants included 12 investigators involved in studying Toso/FAIM3(Faim3)/FµR, representatives from the Human Genome Nomenclature Committee (Ruth Seal) and the Mouse Genome Nomenclature Committee (Monica McAndrews), and an observer from the IgM research field (Michael Carroll). In this article, we provide a brief background of the key research on the Toso/FAIM3(Faim3)/FcµR proteins, focusing on the ligand specificity and functional activity, followed by a brief summary of discussion about adopting a single name for this molecule and its gene and a resulting recommendation for genome nomenclature committees.

Involvement of Toso in activation of monocytes, macrophages, and granulocytes.

Rapid activation of immune responses is necessary for antibacterial defense, but excessive immune activation can result in life-threatening septic shock. Understanding how these processes are balanced may provide novel therapeutic potential in treating inflammatory disease. Fc receptors are crucial for innate immune activation. However, the role of the putative Fc receptor for IgM, known as Toso/Faim3, has to this point been unclear. In this study, we generated Toso-deficient mice and used them to uncover a critical regulatory function of Toso in innate immune activation. Development of innate immune cells was intact in the absence of Toso, but Toso-deficient neutrophils exhibited more reactive oxygen species production and reduced phagocytosis of pathogens compared with controls. Cytokine production was also decreased in Toso(-/-) mice compared with WT animals, rendering them resistant to septic shock induced by lipopolysaccharide. However, Toso(-/-) mice also displayed limited cytokine production after infection with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes that was correlated with elevated presence of Listeria throughout the body. Accordingly, Toso(-/-) mice succumbed to infections of L. monocytogenes, whereas WT mice successfully eliminated the infection. Taken together, our data reveal Toso to be a unique regulator of innate immune responses during bacterial infection and septic shock.

Association Between Subjective Masticatory Function and Mild Cognitive Impairment in Older Adults.

AIM: This study aimed to examine the effect of subjective masticatory function on the occurrence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) by analysing the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing (KLoSA) data. METHODS: The study participants were 2954 KLoSA participants aged 60 years or older in the first wave (2006) who had normal cognitive function. The subjective masticatory function was determined using a survey item, and the responses were grouped into 3 categories, ie, good, moderate, and poor. The occurrence of MCI in the 3 groups was followed up until 2020. Cognitive function was assessed based on the Korean Mini-Mental State Examination score. Age, sex, education level, residence, health insurance type, smoking status, drinking status, and the number of chronic diseases were considered as potential confounders. To examine the occurrence of MCI according to subjective masticatory function, Cox proportional hazard regression analysis was performed. RESULTS: Cox proportional hazard regression models adjusted for confounders yielded the following results: in men, the risk of MCI was higher in those whose subjective masticatory function was moderate and poor, as compared to those with good subjective masticatory function (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.33; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12-1.58; aHR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.04-1.46). In contrast, in women, subjective masticatory function did not significantly influence the occurrence of MCI (aHR, 1.05; 95% CI, 0.89-1.24; aHR, 1.08; 95% CI, 0.92-1.28). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that poor masticatory function may be a risk factor for MCI in older men.

Toso regulates the balance between apoptotic and nonapoptotic death receptor signaling by facilitating RIP1 ubiquitination.

The regulation of cellular survival and apoptosis is of critical importance for the immune system to maintain immune homeostasis and to establish tolerance. Here, we demonstrate that the immune specific cell surface molecule Toso exhibits antiapoptotic effects on death receptor signaling by a novel regulatory mechanism involving the adaptor kinase RIP1. The antiapoptotic function of Toso depends on RIP1 ubiquitination and involves the recruitment of the death adaptor FADD to a Toso/RIP1 protein complex. In response to CD95L and TNFα, Toso promotes the activation of MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways. Because of this relative augmentation of survival versus apoptotic signals, Toso raises the threshold for death receptor-mediated apoptosis. Our analysis of Toso-deficient mice revealed that Toso is essential for TNFα-mediated liver damage. Furthermore, the antiapoptotic function of Toso could be blocked by a Toso-specific monoclonal antibody, opening up new therapeutic prospects for the treatment of immune disorders and hematologic malignancies.

Anti-inflammatory cycloartane-type saponins of Astragalus membranaceus.

A new cycloartane-type triterpene glycoside, agroastragaloside V (1) was isolated from the roots of Astragalus membranaceus. The structure was identified as 3-O-ß-(2'-O-acetyl)-D-xylopyranosyl-6-O-ß-D-glucopyranosyl-(24S)-3ß,6α,24α,25-tetrahydroxy- 9,19-cyclolanostane, by means of spectroscopic methods, including HR-FAB/MS, 1D NMR (1H, 13C, DEPT), 2D NMR (gCOSY, gHSQC, gHMBC, NOESY), and IR spectroscopy. Four known cycloartane glycosides, namely, agroastragaloside I (2), agroastragaloside II (3), isoastragaloside II (4) and astragaloside IV (5) were also isolated. All isolated compounds were tested for the ability to inhibit LPS-induced nitric oxide production in RAW264.7 macrophages.

Effects of Integrative Cognitive Function Improvement Program on Cognitive Function, Oral Health, and Mental Health in Older People: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

We aimed to investigate the effects of an integrative cognitive function improvement program that combined existing cognitive, emotional, and physical therapies on cognitive function, oral health, and mental health in elder participants. Participants were classified into one of the following groups: cognitively normal (CN; n = 18), mild cognitive impairment (MCI; n = 17), and control (n = 17). An integrative cognitive function improvement program was administered to the CN and MCI groups for six weeks. To measure cognitive function, electroencephalogram (EEG) and cerebral blood flow (CBF) were evaluated, and to measure oral health, the O'Leary index, Löe & Silness index, tongue coating, unstimulated saliva flow rate, and oral muscle strength were measured. To measure mental health status, mental health, happiness and social support were measured. The CN and MCI groups showed a significant change in EEG-based indices for awareness level and physical stress. Regarding oral health, the O'Leary and the Löe & Silness index score decreased significantly in the CN and MCI groups. Saliva flow rate increased significantly in the CN and MCI groups. In regards to mental health, the happiness score increased post-intervention in the CN and MCI groups. In conclusion, the integrative cognitive function improvement program was effective in improving cognitive function, oral health, and mental health of elder people.

The complete chloroplast genome of Ziziphus jujuba cv. Bokjo (Rhamnaceae).

We have sequenced the Ziziphus jujuba cv. Bokjo chloroplast genome by de novo assembly using next-generation sequencing. The complete circular chloroplast genome consisted of 161,714 bp and contained four parts: a large single-copy (LSC) region of 89,323 bp, a small single-copy (SSC) region of 19,361 bp, and two inverted repeat regions (IRa and IRb) of 26,515 bp each. The genome annotation predicted a total of 110 genes, including 76 protein-coding genes, 30 tRNA genes, and four rRNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated the close taxonomic relationship between Z. jujuba cv. Bokjo and two other members of the Ziziphus genus, Z. spina-christi and Z. mauritiana. We found 135 polymorphic loci, 63 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and 72 insertion-deletion (InDel), from the comparison of Z. jujuba cultivar Bokjo and Z. jujuba reference (NC_030299). The polymorphic loci could be used for the differentiation of Z. jujuba genetic resources and for breeding in the future.

B cell-mediated regulatory mechanisms control tumor-promoting intestinal inflammation.

Mechanisms underlying tumor-promoting inflammatory processes in colitis-associated colorectal cancer (CAC) remain largely elusive. Here, we provide genetic evidence for distinct B cell-mediated immunoregulatory mechanisms that protect from chronic colitis versus CAC. We demonstrate an inherent capacity of interleukin-10 (IL-10)-producing B cells to differentiate into immunoglobulin A (IgA) plasma cells (PCs) upon Toll-like receptor (TLR) activation. Our data show that B cell-derived IL-10 is essential to limit pathogenic T helper type 1 (Th1)/Th17 T cell responses during chronic colitis, while IgA PCs derived from IL-10+ B cells are being implicated in restraining tumorigenesis during CAC. Formation of a tumor-protective intestinal environment was associated with clonal expansion of specific types of colonic IgA PCs and development of an altered microbiota that attenuated CAC. We thus propose that regulatory B cell-mediated immunomodulation entails temporal release of IL-10, which is superseded by the generation of specific IgA affecting the microbial community, thereby controlling chronic inflammation and tumorigenesis in a distinctive but interrelated manner.

Quantitative classification of DNA damages induced by submicromolar cadmium using oligonucleotide chip coupled with lesion-specific endonuclease digestion.

Implementation of proper analytical tool for systematic investigation and quantitative determination of different classes of cadmium ion-induced DNA damages, especially at low metal ion concentrations, is still lacking. Using lesion-specific enzymes that cleave DNA at specific classes of damage and a fluorometric approach developed for quantifying fluorophore-labeled oligonucleotides bound to chip surfaces, we determined the frequencies of different lesions (strand breaks, oxidized purines, oxidized pyrimidines, or abasic sites) induced by submicromolar Cd(2+). Cd(2+)-treated oligonucleotide chips were digested with various endonucleases (Fpg protein, endonuclease III, endonuclease IV), producing a de novo single strand break (SSB) at their substrate modifications. The frequency of SSB and double strand break (DSB) was computed from the difference of pre- and post-Cd(2+)-treatment oligonucleotide coverage on the chip. While the frequency of SSBs and oxidized bases were successfully quantified even at 0.5 µM of Cd(2+), DSB frequency could be easily quantitated at 8.7 µM [Cd(2+)]. The numbers of abasic sites were below the oligonucleotide detection limit (2.4 amole; equivalent to 0.24 fM for a reaction volume of 100 µL). SSBs were found to constitute about 85-90% of single strand damages, while oxidized bases comprise only 4-7% of the total at 0.9 to 8.7 µM [Cd(2+)].

Periodontitis as a Risk Factor for Rheumatoid Arthritis: a Matched-Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: The intent was to analyse the association of periodontitis with the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) using a representative population-based cohort and longitudinal matched-cohort design. METHODS: Participants were 40 years of age or older and had not been diagnosed with RA between 2002 and 2006. Among the participants, those who were newly diagnosed with periodontitis between 2004 and 2006 (excluding cases that had already been diagnosed with periodontitis between 2002 and 2003) were allotted to the periodontitis group. Among the participants, those who had never been diagnosed with periodontitis between 2002 and 2006 formed the control group, matched by sex, age, and household income at a 1:1 ratio. From 2007 to 2018, the 2 groups (n = 691,506) were followed to monitor the development of RA. The t-test and χ2 test compared the general characteristics and health-related variables of both groups. The Kaplan-Meier method with a log-rank test was conducted to compare the incidence of RA in both groups. The hazard ratio (HR) and adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) were calculated using a Cox proportional hazard regression analysis to evaluate the risk of subsequent RA. RESULTS: Univariate analysis revealed that the periodontitis group was more likely to develop RA than the control group (hazard ratio 1.10), and multivariate analysis also revealed a higher incidence risk of RA (adjusted hazard ratio 1.09) in the periodontitis group. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate that periodontitis is associated with an increased risk of developing RA.

Changes in Antibiotic Prescription After Tooth Extraction: A Population-Based Study from 2002 to 2018.

OBJECTIVE: Microbial resistance due to antibiotic misuse is a worldwide problem. This study aimed to examine the trends in antibiotic prescription after tooth extraction in Korea. METHODS: From the database of National Health Insurance Sharing Service, patients who underwent tooth extraction from 2002 to 2018 were selected as subjects, and 10% of them were selected via stratified sampling based on sex and age. Overall, 15,838,529 cases were observed for annual antibiotic prescription and broad-spectrum antibiotic prescription patterns. Additionally, standardized annual antibiotic use was calculated using a defined daily dose. RESULTS: Prescriptions were issued in 13,429,770 (84.8%) of the tooth extraction cases, of which 12,179,185 (90.7%) included antibiotics. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the likelihood of prescribing antibiotics after tooth extraction decreased in 2003 compared to 2002 (odds ratio, 0.95) but increased from 2004 to 2018. In the case of the broad-spectrum antibiotic prescription rate, there was no clear trend between 2002 and 2012 (odds ratio, 0.89-1.07); however, over the last 5 years, the likelihood of broad-spectrum antibiotic prescription has steadily increased. The value of antibiotics based on the defined daily dose of 1000 patients per day was calculated to be 4.39 in 2002, exhibiting a steady increase later and reaching 6.97 in 2018, whereas that of broad-spectrum antibiotics was 1.68 in 2002 and has since been on the rise; the highest was 3.82 in 2018. CONCLUSIONS: Antibiotic use after tooth extraction increased over the last 17 years; additionally, the rate of prescribing broad-spectrum antibiotics has increased over the last 5 years.

Associations between Mental Health and Oral Health among Korean Adolescents: Analysis of the National Surveys (2008-2017).

We aimed to analyze the trends and associations between the oral and mental health of Korean adolescents using the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Surveys. In total, 713,713 adolescents who participated in the surveys were included. To examine trends in oral and mental health, Pearson's correlation coefficients were calculated between the weighted percentages and years, and the regression line slope was assessed to estimate annual changes. A complex sample logistic regression analysis was also performed. Experiencing oral symptoms and suicide-related factors both showed a gradually decreasing trend from 2008 and slight increases in 2017 and 2016, respectively. Compared with adolescents who had no oral symptoms, those with all six oral symptoms showed an increase in suicide attempts in the last 12 months, suicide ideation, and feelings of sadness and despair. In conclusion, experiencing more oral symptoms is associated with an increased risk of suicide-related factors.