Effects of Lactobacillus salivarius WB21 combined with green tea catechins on dental caries, periodontitis, and oral malodor.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the combined use of Lactobacillus salivarius WB21 and (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg) for oral health maintenance. DESIGN: The effects of L. salivarius WB21 on growth of Streptococcus mutans, the insoluble glucan produced by S. mutans, and on growth of Porphyromonas gingivalis were evaluated in vitro. In addition, the susceptibility of five oral pathogenic bacteria and L. salivarius WB21 to EGCg, the inhibiting effect of EGCg on methyl mercaptan, and the effects of L. salivarius WB21 and EGCg in combination on growth of P. gingivalis were examined. RESULTS: Lactobacillus salivarius WB21 showed concentration-dependent inhibition of the growth of S. mutans. Addition of L. salivarius WB21 inhibited production of the insoluble glucan by S. mutans (p < 0.001). A filtrate of L. salivarius WB21 culture solution inhibited growth of P. gingivalis (p < 0.001 vs. control), and this effect was enhanced when it was used in combination with EGCg (p < 0.001 vs. the addition of L. salivarius WB21). In addition, EGCg directly inhibited methyl mercaptan in a concentration-dependent manner (p < 0.001). Concerning bacterial susceptibility to EGCg, growth of P. gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, and Fusobacterium nucleatum was inhibited at 2.5 mg/mL of EGCg, while that of L. salivarius WB21 was inhibited at 25 mg/mL EGCg. CONCLUSIONS: Our results imply that L. salivarius WB21 may be useful for controlling dental caries, periodontitis, and oral malodor. In addition, the effects of L. salivarius WB21 on periodontitis and oral malodor may be synergistically enhanced by use in combination with EGCg.

Effects of 5α-dihydrotestosterone and 17ß-estradiol on the mouse ovarian follicle development and oocyte maturation.

We have previously reported that androstenedione induces abnormalities of follicle development and oocyte maturation in the mouse ovary. In granulosa cells of the ovarian follicle, androstenedione is aromatized to 17ß-estradiol (E2). To determine whether the androgen or estrogen acts directly on the follicle to induce the above-mentioned abnormalities, we compared the effects of a non-aromatizable androgen, 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT), with those of E2 on murine follicular development and oocyte maturation in a single follicle culture system. The high dose (10(-6) M) of DHT prompted normal follicular development, and there was no effect on oocyte meiotic maturation after stimulation with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and epidermal growth factor (EGF). In contrast, culture with the high dose (10(-6) M) of E2 delayed follicular growth and also suppressed proliferation of granulosa cells and antrum formation. Furthermore, culture with E2 delayed or inhibited oocyte meiotic maturation, such as chromosome alignment on the metaphase plate and extrusion of the first polar body, after addition of hCG and EGF. In conclusion, these findings demonstrate that E2, but not DHT, induces abnormalities of follicular development, which leads to delay or inhibition of oocyte meiotic maturation.

Hippo signaling disruption and Akt stimulation of ovarian follicles for infertility treatment.

Primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) and polycystic ovarian syndrome are ovarian diseases causing infertility. Although there is no effective treatment for POI, therapies for polycystic ovarian syndrome include ovarian wedge resection or laser drilling to induce follicle growth. Underlying mechanisms for these disruptive procedures are unclear. Here, we explored the role of the conserved Hippo signaling pathway that serves to maintain optimal size across organs and species. We found that fragmentation of murine ovaries promoted actin polymerization and disrupted ovarian Hippo signaling, leading to increased expression of downstream growth factors, promotion of follicle growth, and the generation of mature oocytes. In addition to elucidating mechanisms underlying follicle growth elicited by ovarian damage, we further demonstrated additive follicle growth when ovarian fragmentation was combined with Akt stimulator treatments. We then extended results to treatment of infertility in POI patients via disruption of Hippo signaling by fragmenting ovaries followed by Akt stimulator treatment and autografting. We successfully promoted follicle growth, retrieved mature oocytes, and performed in vitro fertilization. Following embryo transfer, a healthy baby was delivered. The ovarian fragmentation-in vitro activation approach is not only valuable for treating infertility of POI patients but could also be useful for middle-aged infertile women, cancer patients undergoing sterilizing treatments, and other conditions of diminished ovarian reserve.

Effect of mouth cleaning with hinokitiol-containing gel on oral malodor: a randomized, open-label pilot study.

AIM: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of mouth cleaning with hinokitiol-containing gel on oral malodor. METHODS: An open-label, randomized, controlled trial was conducted to assess oral malodor and clinical parameters related to oral malodor before and after mouth cleaning with hinokitiol-containing gel (n = 9) or with gel not including hinokitiol (n = 9). Mouth cleaning included the teeth, gingiva, and tongue and was carried out 3 times per day for 4 weeks. RESULTS: Organoleptic test (OLT) scores (P = .021), levels of hydrogen sulfide (P = .008) and methyl mercaptan (P = .020), frequency of bleeding on probing, average probing pocket depth, and plaque index significantly improved in the group using hinokitiol. In contrast, only the OLT score (P = .031) significantly improved in the control group after the treatment regimen. CONCLUSION: Mouth cleaning with hinokitiol-containing gel may be effective for reduction of oral malodor.

Suppression of murine preadipocyte differentiation and reduction of visceral fat accumulation by a Petasites japonicus ethanol extract in mice fed a high-fat diet.

We investigated in this study the anti-obesity effect of an extract of Petasites japonicus (a culinary vegetable from Eastern Asia) on a murine adipocyte cell line (3T3-L1) and on diet-induced obesity-prone mice. An ethanol extract of P. japonicus. (PJET) suppressed 3T3-L1 preadipocyte differentiation; however, a hot water extract of P. japonicus (PJHW) exhibited no effect on cell differentiation. PJET significantly attenuated three adipogenetic transcription factors, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma2, CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein and sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1C, at the mRNA level and suppressed the gene expression of fatty acid synthetase. An experiment with diet-induced obesity-prone C57BL/6J mice showed that PJET lowered the body weight gain and visceral fat tissue accumulation, and ameliorated the plasma cholesterol concentration. These findings suggest that P. japonicus might be an effective food against obesity.