Oral microbiota dysbiosis alters chronic restraint stress-induced depression-like behaviors by modulating host metabolism.

Studies have shown that the microbiota-gut-brain axis is highly correlated with the pathogenesis of depression in humans. However, whether independent oral microbiome that do not depend on gut microbes could affect the progression of depression in human beings remains unclear, neither does the presence and underlying mechanisms of the microbiota-oral-brain axis in the development of the condition. Hence this study that encompasses clinical and animal experiments aims at investigating the correlation between oral microbiota and the onset of depression via mediating the microbiota-oral-brain axis. We compared the oral microbial compositions and metabolomes of 87 patients with depressive symptoms versus 70 healthy controls. We found that the oral microbial and metabolic signatures were significantly different between the two groups. Significantly, germ-free (GF) mice transplanted with saliva from mice exposing to chronic restraint stress (CRS) displayed depression-like behavior and oral microbial dysbiosis. This was characterized by a significant differential abundance of bacterial species, including the enrichment of Pseudomonas, Pasteurellaceae, and Muribacter, as well as the depletion of Streptococcus. Metabolomic analysis showed the alternation of metabolites in the plasma of CRS-exposed GF mice, especially Eicosapentaenoic Acid. Furthermore, oral and gut barrier dysfunction caused by CRS-induced oral microbiota dysbiosis may be associated with increased blood-brain barrier permeability. Pseudomonas aeruginosa supplementation exacerbated depression-like behavior, while Eicosapentaenoic Acid treatment conferred protection against depression-like states in mice. These results suggest that oral microbiome and metabolic function dysbiosis may be relevant to the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of depression. The proposed microbiota-oral-brain axis provides a new way and targets for us to study the pathogenesis of depression.

Measuring job stress of dental workers in China during the COVID-19 pandemic: reliability and validity of the hospital consultants' job stress questionnaire.

BACKGROUND: The Hospital Consultants' Job Stress Questionnaire (HCJSQ) has been widely used to assess sources and levels of job stress. However, its reliability and validity among Chinese dental workers have not been extensively studied. The objective of this study was to assess the reliability and validity of the HCJSQ specifically in Chinese dental workers. METHODS: The HCJSQ was used to explore the sources and the global ratings of job stress among Chinese dental workers. To assess the reliability and validity of the HCJSQ, various statistical measures were employed, including Cronbach's alpha coefficient, Spearman-Brown coefficient, Spearman correlation coefficient, exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, convergent validity, and discriminant validity. RESULTS: Of the participants, 526 (17.4%) reported high levels of stress, while 1,246 (41.3%) and 1,248 (41.3%) reported moderate and low levels of stress, respectively. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the modified HCJSQ was 0.903, and the Spearman-Brown coefficient was 0.904. Spearman correlation coefficient between individuals' items and the total score ranged from 0.438 to 0.785 (p < 0.05). Exploratory factor analysis revealed that three factors accounted for 60.243% of the total variance. Confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated factor loadings between 0.624 and 0.834 on the specified items. The fit indices of the confirmatory factor analysis indicated good model fit, with a Root Mean Square Error of Approximation of 0.064, Normative Fit Index of 0.937, Comparative Fit Index of 0.952, Incremental Fit Index of 0.952, Tucker-Lewis index of 0.941, and Goodness of Fit Index of 0.944. Additionally, the convergent validity and discriminant validity showed a good fit for the three-factor model. CONCLUSION: The results of this study confirm that Chinese dental workers experience high levels of stress, and the three-factor model of the HCJSQ proves to be a suitable instrument for evaluating the sources and levels of job stress among Chinese dental workers. Therefore, it is imperative that relevant entities such as hospitals, medical associations, and government take appropriate measures to address the existing situation.

Comprehensive analysis of the oral microbiota and metabolome change in patients of burning mouth syndrome with psychiatric symptoms.

Background: Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is a chronic idiopathic facial pain with intraoral burning or dysesthesia. BMS patients regularly suffer from anxiety/depression, and the association of psychiatric symptoms with BMS has received considerable attention in recent years. The aims of this study were to investigate the potential interplay between psychiatric symptoms and BMS. Methods: Using 16S rRNA sequencing and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC/MS) to evaluate the oral microbiota and saliva metabolism of 40 BMS patients [including 29 BMS patients with depression or anxiety symptoms (DBMS)] and 40 age matched healthy control (HC). Results: The oral microbiota composition in BMS exhibited no significant differences from HC, although DBMS manifested decreased α-diversity relative to HC. Noteworthy was the discernible elevation in the abundance of proinflammatory microorganisms within the oral microbiome of individuals with DBMS. Parallel findings in LC/MS analyses revealed discernible disparities in metabolites between DBMS and HC groups. Principal differential metabolites were notably enriched in amino acid metabolism and lipid metabolism, exhibiting associations with infectious and immunological diseases. Furthermore, the integrated analysis underscores a definitive association between the oral microbiome and metabolism in DBMS. Conclusions: This study suggests possible future modalities for better understanding the pathogenesis and personalized treatment plans of BMS.

Accuracy evaluation of partially guided and fully guided templates applied to implant surgery of anterior teeth: A randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: To study the accuracy of partially guided and fully guided templates applied to implant surgery of anterior teeth. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty patients who were scheduled to receive dental implant treatment in the anterior region were enrolled and randomly assigned to one of the following study groups (n = 20 each): routine implant-supported restoration treatment (control group, 30 implants), implant-supported restoration treatment using a partially guided template (test group 1, 36 implants), and implant-supported restoration treatment using a fully guided template (test group 2, 33 implants). The depth of implant was controlled for fully guided template. After implantation, planned implants and placed implants were superimposed using digital software, and the deviations (angular, coronal, apical, depth) were analyzed. Esthetic parameters were assessed at baseline, 6 months, and 1 year after the final restoration. Pink esthetic score (PES) and white esthetic score (WES) were respectively used to evaluate the soft tissue and restoration esthetic outcome. Each parameter of PES and WES is assessed with a 0-1-2 score with 2 being the best and 0 being the worst score. RESULTS: There were significant differences in all of the deviation parameters between the control group, test group 1, and test group 2 (p < 0.001). Mean angular, coronal, apical and depth deviations were all the highest in the control group (6.61 ± 1.09°, 1.05 ± 0.17 mm, 1.36 ± 0.13 mm, and 1.02 ± 0.13 mm, respectively), and lowest in test group 2 (2.05 ± 0.45°, 0.39 ± 0.12 mm, 0.28 ± 0.09 mm, and 0.24 ± 0.06 mm, respectively). At 1 year after the final restoration, the analysis revealed mean PES values of 7.09 ± 0.56 (control group), 8.39 ± 0.54 (test group 1), and 9.04 ± 0.35 (test group 2). The WES values were 7.24 ± 0.54 (control group), 8.47 ± 0.44 (test group 1), and 8.97 ± 0.38 (test group 2). At all examinations, the mean PES and WES values were both the highest in test group 2 and lowest in the control group. The PES and WES values recorded in the control group at baseline, 6 months, and 1 year after final restoration were significantly lower than those in test groups (p < 0.001). Moreover, the PES and WES values recorded in the test group 1 at baseline, 6 months, and 1 year after final restoration were significantly lower than those in test group 2 (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Digital surgical guides can improve the accuracy of the three-dimensional position of implants in the maxillary esthetic zone, the fully guided template has higher precision than that of the partially guided template, and plays an important role in obtaining the ideal esthetic outcome for maxillary anterior teeth.

[Precise investigation of digital guide plates applied to implant surgery of anterior teeth].

OBJECTIVE: To study the precision of digital guide plates applied to the implant surgery of anterior teeth. METHODS: Fifty patients scheduled to receive implant restoration treatment in anterior teeth were enrolled in this study and divided into two groups (n=25, each group): those who were given routine implant restoration treatment (control group, 45 implants) and those who received implant restoration treatment using a digital guide plate (test group, 51 implants). After implantation, planned and placed implants were superimposed using digital software, and deviations (corona, apex, depth, degree) were analyzed. Esthetic parameters were assessed at 1 week (baseline), 6 month, and 1 year post final restoration. Pink esthetic (PES) and white esthetic (WES) scores were respectively used to evaluate the soft tissue and restoration esthetic outcome. RESULTS: The deviation parameters in the test group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). PES and WES values recorded for the control group at 1 week, 6 month, and 1 year post final restoration were significantly lower than those in the test group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The digital guide plate can improve the accuracy of the three-dimensional position of implants in the maxillary esthetic zone. As such, this device may play an important role in obtaining the ideal aesthetic effects of maxillary anterior teeth.