Association between oral frailty and Prevotella percentage in the oral microbiota of community-dwelling older adults who participated in the CHEER Iwamizawa project, Japan.

BACKGROUND: Prevotella bacteria are associated with inherent diseases of the oral cavity, such as periodontal disease, and systemic diseases. Oral frailty (OF) has been associated with nursing necessity and death. However, the relationship between OF and oral microbiota has not been fully clarified. OBJECTIVE: This cross-sectional study investigated the association between OF and Prevotella percentage in the oral microbiota of community-dwelling older adults. METHODS: Oral bacteria species from saliva were identified in 208 community-dwelling older individuals aged ≥60 years in Japan. The proportion of Prevotella in the oral microbiota was classified into three tertile groups, and its relationship with each test item for OF (number of remaining teeth, masticatory performance, oral diadochokinesis, tongue pressure, difficulties eating tough foods, difficulties swallowing tea or soup, number of applicable OF judgement items, and existence of OF) was examined using ordinal logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The Prevotella proportions were classified into lower, middle and upper groups, comprising 70, 69 and 69 participants, respectively. The three groups showed a significant relationship between the number of remaining teeth (odds ratio [OR]: 0.946, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.915-0.977), masticatory performance (OR: 0.897, 95% CI: 0.844-0.953), number of applicable OF judgement items (OR: 1.477, 95% CI: 1.14-1.915), and existence of OF (OR: 4.194, 95% CI: 1.519-11.576). CONCLUSION: The proportion of Prevotella in oral microbiota was high in individuals with OF. Among the older adults, the type of oral microbiota and systemic diseases may be related to the examination and management of oral function decline.

Oral frailty and carriage of oral Candida in community-dwelling older adults (Check-up to discover Health with Energy for senior Residents in Iwamizawa; CHEER Iwamizawa).

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between oral frailty and oral Candida carriage as a general indicator of deteriorating oral function in older adults. BACKGROUND: Older adults exhibit an elevated risk of oral candidiasis caused by Candida. Although many studies have identified factors associated with oral Candida carriage, none have evaluated its relationship with oral function. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 210 community-dwelling older adults aged ≥60 years who participated in wellness checks. Fungal flora expression in saliva samples was evaluated to identify oral C. albicans and C. glabrata. Participants were categorised by detection of neither strain (group 1), either one of the strains (group 2), or both strains (group 3). The relationship between oral Candida carriage and oral frailty was evaluated by multinomial logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The participants included 58 men and 152 women with a mean age of 74.2 ± 6.1 years. A total of 88 (41.9%), 94 (44.8%) and 28 (13.3%) participants were assigned to groups 1, 2 and 3 respectively. In the multinomial logistic regression analysis, significant associations were observed between group 1 and group 2 for "Have you choked on your tea or soup recently?" and the number of applicable oral frailty items. Between group 1 and group 3, significant associations were observed for the number of remaining teeth, masticatory performance and the number of applicable oral frailty items. CONCLUSION: We obtained basic data useful for intervention studies aimed at verifying whether oral function management prevents deterioration of the oral bacterial flora.

Keratocystic odontogenic tumor arising at the mandibular ramus with an impacted tooth: a case report and mimic lesions.

OBJECTIVES: To consider the biologic behaviors of keratocystic odontogenic tumors (KCOTs) and ameloblastomas and dentigerous cysts. METHODS: A 63-year-old Japanese man presented with swelling and discomfort in the left cheek during jaw movement. Examination revealed a multilocular lesion within the mandible extending from the left second premolar to the left mandibular ramus and coronoid process; the lesion contained a deviated impacted tooth. The tumor had expanded beyond the bone and was invading the masseter and medial pterygoid muscles. Marginal mandibulectomy with a free iliac bone graft was performed. RESULTS: No recurrence was observed during a 7-year follow-up. DISCUSSION: The histopathological diagnosis of the lesion showed it was a KCOT. These tumors usually grow within the bone, causing bone expansion. However, this tumor had expanded beyond the bone and invaded surrounding muscles. Thus, KCOTs can, in rare cases, manifest themselves as described here. Evaluating preoperative images and histopathological findings is important to determine the optimal treatment strategy.

Risk factors for postoperative hemorrhage after minor oral surgery in patients treated with antithrombotic agents.

It has been proposed that minor oral surgery can be performed safely in patients taking antithrombotic therapy without interrupting treatment; however, there is little evidence-based guidance about how to manage postoperative hemorrhage in patients taking antithrombotics, and few randomized trials that help to inform the risk-benefit ratio of continuing or suspending antithrombotic therapy. The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for postoperative hemorrhage to create a protocol for patients undergoing minor oral surgery with antithrombotic therapy. One hundred and two patients were enrolled, who subsequently underwent 142 minor oral surgical procedures while taking antithrombotic therapy. Demographic details including age and sex, laboratory coagulation investigations, and episodes of postoperative hemorrhage were recorded. The prothrombin time-international normalized ratio (PT-INR) of participants taking warfarin was <3.0 in all cases (mean 1.89 ± standard deviation 0.52; range 1.11-2.82). The activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) was significantly associated with postoperative hemorrhage, which was significantly increased in patients taking warfarin alone or in combination with an antiplatelet agent compared with an antiplatelet agent alone. In 7 cases, postoperative hemorrhage continued for 4 days and more, requiring additional local hemostatic management. Our findings suggest that minor oral surgery can be performed under antithrombotic therapy without the need of discontinuing the antithrombotic agents. Local hemostatic materials did not suppress postoperative hemorrhage. APTT is a possible prediction factor for postoperative hemorrhage in such patients and, therefore, should be determined prior to minor oral surgery in addition to PT-INR value.

Synergistic Effect of Nano Strontium Titanate Coating and Ultraviolet C Photofunctionalization on Osteogenic Performance and Soft Tissue Sealing of poly(ether-ether-ketone).

This study aimed to evaluate the bioactivity of poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK) after surface modification by persistent photoconductive strontium titanate (SrTiO3) magnetron sputtering and ultraviolet (UV) C irradiation. According to the different modifications, the PEEK specimens were randomly divided into five groups (n = 38/group): PEEK, Sr100-PEEK, Sr200-PEEK, UV/PEEK, and UV/Sr200-PEEK. Then, the specimens of Sr100-PEEK and Sr200-PEEK groups were, respectively, coated with 100 and 200 nm thickness photocatalyst SrTiO3 on the PEEK surface by magnetron sputtering. Subsequently, UV-C light photofunctionalized the specimens of PEEK and Sr200-PEEK groups to form UV/PEEK and UV/Sr200-PEEK groups. The specimens were characterized by a step meter, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and a water contact angle meter. The release test of the Sr ion was performed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). In vitro study, osteogenic activity (MC3T3-E1 osteoblast-like cells) and epithelial and connective tissue attachment (gingival epithelial cells GE1 and fibroblasts NIH3T3) were analyzed in five groups. Surface morphology of the specimens was changed after coating, and the Sr content on the Sr-PEEK surface was increased with increasing coating thickness. In addition, the contact angle was increased significantly after magnetron sputtering. After UV-C photofunctionalization, the content of surface elements changed and the contact angle was decreased. The release of Sr ion was sustained, and the final cumulative release amount did not exceed the safety limit. In vitro experiments showed that SrTiO3 improved the cell activity of MC3T3-E1 and UV-C irradiation further enhanced the osteogenic performance of PEEK. Besides, UV-C irradiation also significantly promoted the cell viability, development, and expression of adhesion proteins of GE1 and NIH3T3 on PEEK. The present investigation demonstrated that nano SrTiO3 coating with UV-C photofunctionalization synergistically enhanced the osteogenic properties and soft tissue sealing function of PEEK in vitro.

COVID-19-related stress, exercise, and oral health-related quality of life among community-dwelling older adults who participated in the CHEER Iwamizawa project, Japan.

This study examined the association between coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related stress, exercise habits, and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in a sample of 215 community-dwelling older adults in Japan (57 men, 158 women; Mage = 74.2 years, SD = 6.0). Data were collected during wellness checkups in October 2020 and included participants' demographic characteristics, measures of instrumental activities of daily living and depressive tendencies, number of teeth, oral hypofunction, OHRQoL, COVID-19-related stress, and exercise habits. Four mutually exclusive groups were created, using the presence or absence of COVID-19-related stress and lack of exercise habits as risk factors for poor OHRQoL (no COVID-19-related stress and no lack of exercise, COVID-19-related stress only, lack of exercise habits only, and both COVID-19-related stress and lack of exercise habits). Poisson regression with robust standard errors provided the prevalence ratio for poor OHRQoL. The presence of both COVID-19-related stress and lack of exercise habits (adjusted prevalence ratio: 2.20, 95% CI: 1.31- 3.69) was associated with poor OHRQoL. The results indicate that COVID-19-related stress and exercise habits should be considered when designing oral health and public health initiatives.

Transcellular transport of West Nile virus-like particles across human endothelial cells depends on residues 156 and 159 of envelope protein.

BACKGROUND: West Nile virus (WNV) causes viremia after invasion to the hosts by mosquito bite. Endothelial cells could play an important role in WNV spread from the blood stream into the central nervous system and peripheral tissues. Here, we analyzed the capacity of virus-like particles (VLPs) of the highly virulent NY99 6-LP strain (6-LP VLPs) and the low virulence Eg101 strain (Eg VLPs) to cross cultured human endothelial cells. RESULTS: 6-LP VLPs were transported from the apical to basolateral side of endothelial cells, whereas Eg VLPs were hardly transported. The localization of tight junction marker ZO-1 and the integrity of tight junctions were not impaired during the transport of 6-LP VLPs. The transport of 6-LP VLPs was inhibited by treatment with filipin, which prevents the formation of cholesterol-dependent membrane rafts, suggesting the involvement of raft-associated membrane transport. To determine the amino acid residues responsible for the transport of VLPs, we produced mutant VLPs, in which residues of E protein were exchanged between the 6-LP and Eg strains. Double amino acid substitution of the residues 156 and 159 greatly impaired the transport of VLPs. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that a transcellular pathway is associated with 6-LP VLPs transport. We also showed that the combination of the residues 156 and 159 plays an important role in the transport of VLPs across endothelial cells.

Odontogenic cysts in three dogs: one odontogenic keratocyst and two dentigerous cysts.

Odontogenic cysts, which showed cystic radiolucency in the jaw bone by radiographic examination and computed tomography, were enucleated by operation in 3 dogs. One dog had a odontogenic keratocyst in the incisive bone of the right maxilla and another 2 cases revealed dentigerous cysts in the mandible. These cyst walls were enucleated or transpired by semiconductor laser. Afterwards, osteogenesis was confirmed at the defective part of jaw bone by extirpation of the cyst in all cases, and no recurrence has been noted in any cases. Odontogenic cyst is a disease which should be treated by surgical extirpation or transpiration.

Megavoltage photon beam attenuation by carbon fiber couch tops and its prediction using correction factors.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of megavoltage photon beam attenuation (PBA) by couch tops and to propose a method for correction of PBA. Four series of phantom measurements were carried out. First, PBA by the exact couch top (ECT, Varian) and Imaging Couch Top (ICT, BrainLAB) was evaluated using a water-equivalent phantom. Second, PBA by Type-S system (Med-Tec), ECT and ICT was compared with a spherical phantom. Third, percentage depth dose (PDD) after passing through ICT was measured to compare with control data of PDD. Forth, the gantry angle dependency of PBA by ICT was evaluated. Then, an equation for PBA correction was elaborated and correction factors for PBA at isocenter were obtained. Finally, this method was applied to a patient with hepatoma. PBA of perpendicular beams by ICT was 4.7% on average. With the increase in field size, the measured values became higher. PBA by ICT was greater than that by Type-S system and ECT. PBA increased significantly as the angle of incidence increased, ranging from 4.3% at 180 degrees to 11.2% at 120 degrees . Calculated doses obtained by the equation and correction factors agreed quite well with the measured doses between 120 degrees and 180 degrees of angles of incidence. Also in the patient, PBA by ICT was corrected quite well by the equation and correction factors. In conclusion, PBA and its gantry angle dependency by ICT were observed. This simple method using the equation and correction factors appeared useful to correct the isocenter dose when the PBA effect cannot be corrected by a treatment planning system.