Effect of denture adhesives on masticatory performance: Multicenter randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of denture adhesives on masticatory performance via a 10-center, parallel, randomized, controlled trial of complete denture wearers in Japan. METHODS: The trial was conducted between September 2013 and October 2016. The inclusion criteria were complete edentulism, willingness to undergo new complete denture treatment, and willingness to return for recall treatment. The exclusion criteria were age 90 years or older, presence of severe systemic illness, inability to understand the questionnaires, wearing metal base complete dentures, denture adhesive user, wearing prosthetics for maxillofacial defects, wearing complete dentures with tissue conditioners, and severe xerostomia. Randomization of the powder-type denture adhesive (powder), cream-type denture adhesive (cream), and control (saline) groups was performed using a sealed envelope system. Masticatory performance was measured using color-changeable chewing gum. Intervention blinding was not feasible. RESULTS: Sixty-seven control, 69 powder, and 64 cream participants are analyzed using the intention-to-treat principle. The participants in all groups show significantly improved masticatory performance at post-intervention (paired t-test with Bonferroni correction P < 0.0001). However, no significant difference in masticatory performance is detected among the three groups (one-way analysis of variance). A significant negative correlation between pre- and post-changes in masticatory performance and intraoral condition scores is observed (Pearson's correlation coefficient, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Although denture adhesives improved the masticatory performance of complete denture wearers, their clinical effects are comparable to those of saline solution. The use of denture adhesives is more effective in complete denture wearers with unsatisfactory intraoral conditions.

Effective use of an extraoral vacuum in preventing the dispersal of particulate matter from metal dental materials.

OBJECTIVES: When dentists adjust prostheses at the dental chairside, particulate matter (PM) from the dental material is dispersed. Little is known about the effective use of an extraoral vacuum (EOV) in preventing PM dispersal. This study aimed to evaluate the effective use of an EOV in preventing the dispersal of metal PM in dental offices. METHODS: The following experimental conditions were planned: the distance from the EOV to the metallic materials (50, 100, 150, and 200 mm), the horizontal angle between the long axis of the micromotor handpiece and EOV (0°, 45°, and 90°), and the operating time of the EOV (during grinding, during grinding and 1 min thereafter, during grinding and the preceding 1 min, 1 min before and after grinding, and during grinding). Carborundum and silicone points were used for grinding and PM dispersal. Diameters (0.3, 0.5, 1.0, and 3.0 µm) were measured using a laser particle counter. RESULTS: Depending on the instrument used to grind, there were undetectable PMs of different diameters (Carborundum point: 0.3 and 0.5 µm, Silicone point: 0.3 µm). PMNs were reduced as the distance from the EOV to metal materials decreased. Operating the EOV before grinding along the long axis of the micromotor handpiece was effective in reducing the PMNs. CONCLUSION: PMNs dispersed when grinding metals were effectively reduced by positioning the EOV closer to the grinding surface (within 150 mm) along the long axis of the micromotor handpiece and operating the EOV before grinding.

Randomized clinical trial quantifying the effectiveness of a self-monitoring intervention in cancer patients with peripheral neuropathy: A quantitative study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to quantitatively evaluate the efficacy of a self-monitoring intervention for the management of persistent chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). Methods: A randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted on 65 outpatients receiving taxane or platinum-based anticancer drugs. Participants were assigned to the control group (CG; n â€‹= â€‹32) or the self-monitoring group (SMG; n â€‹= â€‹33) and followed for 6 weeks. Non-interveners were blinded. Participants in the intervention group self-monitored and recorded. The researchers provided feedback on the recorded symptoms and coping strategies once every 3 weeks. The efficacy of the 6-week self-monitoring intervention was assessed, using various measures, at baseline (T0), 3 weeks (T1), and 6 weeks (T2). Scores of CIPN, Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy/Gynecologic Oncology Group-Neurotoxicity, Distress and Impact Thermometer, Self-Efficacy Scale for Advanced Cancer, and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General of both groups were compared. Safety behavior in daily life was also compared. The study was conducted from August 9, 2017 to March 30, 2020 in outpatient clinics at three hospitals. Analysis was conducted using the t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, χ2 test, and two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance (two-way RMANOVA). Results: No significant differences were noted between the two groups in the CIPN score, the Distress and Impact Thermometer score, and in safety behavior in daily life. The mean Self-Efficacy Scale for Advanced Cancer score at T1 differed between the two groups (CG mean â€‹± â€‹SD: 358.44 â€‹± â€‹109.90; SMG mean â€‹± â€‹SD: 421.21 â€‹± â€‹85.54), which was significantly higher in the SMG (P â€‹= â€‹0.012). Two-way RMANOVA revealed an interaction between the CG and SMG (F â€‹= â€‹5.689, P â€‹= â€‹0.004). Quality of life scores were higher in the SMG than in the CG at T0, T1, and T2. Two-way RMANOVA analysis showed an effect of the intervention (F â€‹= â€‹7.914, P â€‹= â€‹0.007). Conclusions: The self-monitoring intervention maintained the participants' quality of life. This finding suggests its effectiveness in patients with peripheral neuropathy.

Effects of denture adhesives on denture retention and occlusal forces in complete denture wearers: A multicenter, randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine the effects of denture adhesives on denture retention and occlusal force in complete denture wearers in a multicenter, randomized, parallel-group controlled trial. METHODS: Two hundred edentulous patients wearing complete dentures were allocated to three groups: powder-type denture adhesive, cream-type denture adhesive, and control (saline solution). Denture adhesives and saline solution were applied to the dentures for 4 days. The retentive force of the dentures and occlusal force were measured using a force transducer occlusal force meter at baseline and after 4 days of intervention. In addition to between-group comparisons, subgroup analyses of denture retention and occlusal force were performed based on the level of difficulty of the edentulism treatment. The levels were ranked as I (easy), II, III, and IV (difficult). RESULTS: Cream-type denture adhesives significantly improved the retentive force of the dentures (P<0.01) and occlusal force (P<0.05), with no significant differences between baseline and post-intervention forces in the powder-type denture adhesive and control groups. In within-group comparisons, cream-type denture adhesives improved both the retentive and occlusal forces at Level II (P<0.05), and powder-type denture adhesives improved the occlusal force at Level II (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Application of cream-type denture adhesives effectively improves the denture retention and occlusal force in complete denture wearers with a moderate degree of difficulty during edentulism treatment.

Can Measurement of Ultrasonic Echo Intensity Predict Physical Frailty in Older Adults?

Echo intensity (EI) of the tongue in ultrasonography is an easy and quantitative assessment of tongue function. Elucidating the relationship between EI and frailty, is expected to aid in the early detection of frailty and oral hypofunction in older adults. We assessed tongue function and frailty in older outpatients visiting a hospital. The subjects were 101 individuals aged 65 or older (35 men and 66 women, mean age 76.4 ± 7.0 years). Tongue pressure and EI were measured as assessments of tongue function and grip strength, and Kihon Checklist (KCL) scores were measured as assessments of frailty. In women, a significant correlation was not found between the mean EI and grip strength, whereas a significant correlation was noted between each score of the KCL and the mean EI; the scores increased as the mean EI increased. A significant positive correlation was found between tongue pressure and grip strength, but no significant correlation was observed between tongue pressure and the KCL scores. In men, no significant correlation was found between tongue assessments and frailty, except for a significant positive correlation between tongue pressure and grip strength. The results of this study suggest that EI of the tongue is positively associated with physical frailty in women and may be useful for early detection of physical frailty status.

Experiences of Adolescent Daughters in Beginning to Live With Their Mothers' Cancer: A Qualitative Study.

This study reveals the experiences of adolescent daughters who are beginning to live with their mothers' cancer diagnosis. Participants were 14 adolescent daughters who were either junior or senior high school students when their mothers were diagnosed with breast cancer. We analyzed semi-structured interviews using content analysis. Using interview data, four categories were created from 23 subcategories and 183 codes: (1) using trial and error to attempt to steady their minds against upset and anxiety; (2) minimizing the effect on their own school life and future; (3) moving forward with the help and support of those around them; and (4) advancing together with their family to protect and take care of their mother. As supporters, we must understand adolescent daughters' experiences in living with their mothers' cancer. Open communication with an important outside individual is essential in promoting adolescent daughters' ability to obtain support and live with their mothers' cancer.

Efficacy of an Algorithm-Based Nursing Intervention to Promote a Balance Between Cancer Patients' Social Roles and Outpatient Treatment: A Quasi-Experimental Study.

BACKGROUND: Cancer patients undergoing treatment are often unable to balance treatment and work because of the time required for care at the hospital and a desire to avoid problems at work. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to elucidate the efficacy of an algorithm-based nursing intervention (ANI) to promote balance between social roles and outpatient treatment in cancer patients. METHODS: Participants were outpatients receiving cancer therapy and randomly assigned to a control or an intervention group, the latter to receive ANI for 2 months. The outcomes were assessed using the Distress and Impact Thermometer and changes in employment status. Data from 54 evaluable participants in each group were analyzed. RESULTS: Distress and Impact Thermometer scores in the intervention group were significantly lower than those in the control group ( P < .001). In addition, 2 months later, 20 participants had resigned from their employment or were on leave in the control group (37.0%); this was twice the number in the intervention group, a significant difference ( χ2 = 4.573, P < .05). Logistic regression analysis showed that the odds ratio in the control group was 3.6 times that of the intervention group of having resigned. CONCLUSION: The ANI appears to have reduced distress and impact scores associated with the course of treatment and to have reduced the likelihood of resignations at 2 months after implementation. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: The intervention appears to be effective and may be a new tool for use by outpatient oncology nurses.

Use of a Baculovirus-Mammalian Cell Expression-System for Expression of Drug-Metabolizing Enzymes: Optimization of Infection With a Focus on Cytochrome P450 3A4.

Heterologous expression systems are important for analyzing the effects of genetic factors including single nucleotide polymorphisms on the functions of drug-metabolizing enzymes. In this study, we focused on a baculovirus-mammalian cell (Bac-Mam) expression system as a safer and more efficient approach for this purpose. The baculovirus-insect cell expression system is widely utilized in large-scale protein expression. Baculovirus has been shown to also infect certain mammalian cells, although the virus only replicates in insect cells. With this knowledge, baculovirus is now being applied in a mammalian expression system called the Bac-Mam system wherein a gene-modified baculovirus is used whose promotor is replaced with one that can function in mammalian cells. We subcloned open-reading frames of cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4), UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) 1A1, and UGT2B7 into a transfer plasmid for the Bac-Mam system, and prepared recombinant Bac-Mam virus. The obtained virus was amplified in insect Sf9 cells and used to infect mammalian COS-1 cells. Expression of CYP3A4, UGT1A1, and UGT2B7 in COS-1 cell homogenates were confirmed by immunoblotting. Optimum infection conditions including the amount of Bac-Mam virus, culture days before collection, and concentration of sodium butyrate, an enhancer of viral-transduction were determined by monitoring CYP3A4 expression. Expressed CYP3A4 showed appropriate activity without supplying hemin/5-aminolevulinic acid or co-expressing with NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase. Further, we compared gene transfer efficiency between the Bac-Mam system and an established method using recombinant plasmid and transfection reagent. Our results indicate that the Bac-Mam system can be applied to introduce drug-metabolizing enzyme genes into mammalian cells that are widely used in drug metabolism research. The expressed enzymes are expected to undergo appropriate post-translational modification as they are in mammalian bodies. The Bac-Mam system may thus accelerate pharmacogenetics and pharmacogenomics research.

Measurement of ultrasonic echo intensity predicts the mass and strength of the tongue muscles in the elderly.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the echo intensity (EI) on ultrasound images of the tongue, tongue thickness, and tongue pressure to examine the effectiveness of EI measurement for assessing the tongue function. METHODS: A total of 100 elderly outpatients were enrolled. Tongue thickness and EI were measured using ultrasonography. The distance from mylohyoid muscle surface to dorsal surface of the tongue was measured for tongue thickness. Subsequently, this area was vertically divided into four areas: top of tongue dorsal side (DT), bottom of tongue dorsal side (DB), top of basal tongue side (BT), and bottom of basal tongue side (BB), and the EI was measured in each area. RESULTS: The mean EIs of DT and DB were lower than those of BT and BB. In the three areas apart from BB, the EI decreased with an increase in tongue thickness. In particular, a significant correlation between the EI in DB and tongue thickness was found. In all areas, the EI decreased with an increase in tongue pressure. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggested that the measurement of EI could be an important indicator for assessing the tongue function in the elderly.

Inhibitory effect of traditional herbal (kampo) medicines on the replication of human parainfluenza virus type 2 in vitro.

Thirteen herbal medicines, Kakkonto (TJ-001), Kakkontokasenkyushin'i (TJ-002), Hangekobokuto (TJ-016), Shoseiryuto (TJ-019), Maoto (TJ-027), Bakumondoto (TJ-029), Hochuekkito (TJ-041), Goshakusan (TJ-063), Kososan (TJ-070), Chikujountanto (TJ-091), Gokoto (TJ-095), Saibokuto (TJ-096), and Ryokankyomishingeninto (TJ-119) were tested for human parainfluenza virus type 2 (hPIV-2) replication. Eight (TJ-001, TJ-002, TJ-019, TJ-029, TJ-041, TJ-063, TJ-095 and TJ-119) out of the thirteen medicines had virus growth inhibitory activity. TJ-001 and TJ-002 inhibited virus release, and largely inhibited genome, mRNA and protein syntheses. TJ-019 slightly inhibited virus release, inhibited gene and mRNA syntheses, and largely inhibited protein synthesis. TJ-029 slightly inhibited virus release, largely inhibited protein synthesis, but gene and mRNA syntheses were unaffected. TJ-041 only slightly inhibited virus release, the gene and mRNA syntheses, but largely inhibited protein synthesis. TJ-091 largely inhibited gene, mRNA and protein syntheses. TJ-095 largely inhibited gene synthesis, but NP and HN mRNAs were slightly detected, and protein syntheses were observed. TJ-119 inhibited gene, mRNA and protein syntheses. TJ-001, TJ-002, TJ-091, TJ-095 and TJ-119 inhibited multinucleated giant cell formation derived from cell-to-cell spreading of virus. However, in TJ-019, TJ-029 and TJ-041 treated infected cells, only small sized fused cells with some nuclei were found. TJ-019 and TJ-041 slightly disrupted actin microfilaments, and TJ-001 and TJ-002 destroyed them. TJ-041 slightly disrupted microtubules, and TJ-001 and TJ-002 disrupted them. In general, the medicines effective on common cold and bronchitis inhibited hPIV-2 replication.

Effects of a self-monitoring intervention in breast cancer patients suffering from taste alterations induced by chemotherapy: A randomized, parallel-group controlled trial.

PURPOSE: This study evaluates the effect of a self-monitoring intervention on taste alterations in breast cancer patients undergoing outpatient chemotherapy. METHODS: The study was a randomized controlled trial. Thirty-four participants were divided into two groups: a self-monitoring (SMG) group (n = 17) and a control group (CG) (n = 17). A conceptual framework was developed with reference to the components of self-management, cognitive behavioral therapy, and the concepts of self-monitoring. Interventions were based on this framework. SMGs recorded their taste symptoms as homework and worked with the researcher to set goals and provide feedback four times every three weeks. In the feedback, the researcher actively listened to the SMG about their feelings and coping strategies during the taste changes, and gave approval and praise for these. The implementation period was 9 weeks for each participant; the CG was provided with conventional nursing support. The intervention was evaluated by comparing the items of symptom improvement, quality of life (QOL), and self-efficacy between the groups before and after the start of the intervention using a scale score. Scale scores were also compared for recognition of taste changes, concerns during treatment, distress, and impacts on each treatment day. RESULTS: SMG had significantly lower scores than CG for perceived change in taste (p = 0.009), and there was an interaction with CG (p = 0.008). SMG had also significantly lower scores than CG in concern during treatment (p = 0.015). CONCLUSION: This study showed that a self-monitoring intervention reduced negative cognition of taste alterations and reduced discomfort. The results suggest that the self-monitoring intervention is effective nursing support for chemotherapy-induced taste alterations.

LAPTM4α is targeted from the Golgi to late endosomes/lysosomes in a manner dependent on the E3 ubiquitin ligase Nedd4-1 and ESCRT proteins.

Lysosome-associated protein transmembrane 4α (LAPTM4α) is a four transmembrane-spanning protein primarily localized in endosomes and lysosomes and has several putative lysosomal targeting signals at its C-terminal cytoplasmic domain, including tyrosine-based motifs (YxxΦ) and PY motifs (L/PxxY). LAPTM4α has been previously shown to be ubiquitinated by the E3 ubiquitin ligase Nedd4-1 through binding to its PY motifs and sorted to lysosomes, however, the molecular mechanisms underlying the localization of LAPTM4α to endosomes/lysosomes have not yet been fully elucidated. In the present study, we show that LAPTM4α binds Nedd4-1 in a manner dependent on PY motifs, while the PY motifs and Nedd4-1 are not necessarily required for LAPTM4α ubiquitination. The binding of LAPTM4α with Nedd4-1, however, is necessary for an effective sorting of LAPTM4α from the Golgi to late endosomes/lysosomes. An unexpected finding is that LAPTM4α is localized in the lumen, but not in the limiting membrane, of late endosomes, and degraded in lysosomes over time. Interestingly, we further found that siRNA knockdown of endosomal sorting complexes required for transport (ESCRT) components that mediate sorting of ubiquitinated membrane proteins into intralumenal vesicles (ILVs) of endosomes selectively blocks the transport of LAPTM4α to endosomes. Collectively, these results suggest that trafficking of LAPTM4α from the Golgi to endosomes is promoted by the interaction with Nedd4-1, which further requires ESCRT components. Furthermore, our findings highlight a novel function for ESCRT proteins in mediating protein and/or vesicle trafficking from the Golgi to endosomes/lysosomes.

Multivariate analysis reveals oral health-related quality of life of complete denture wearers with denture adhesives: a multicenter randomized controlled trial.

Purpose To investigate the difference in improvement of oral health-related quality of life (OHR-QoL) depending on the oral and denture conditions of a complete denture wearer when using a cream or powder type denture adhesive in a 10-center parallel randomized clinical trial.Methods Two hundred edentulous subjects who wore complete dentures were allocated to each of the three groups according to denture adhesive type: cream, powder, and control (saline solution). The materials were applied to the mucosal surface of the dentures for 4 days, and baseline data and data after the intervention were collected. OHR-QoL was assessed using the Japanese version of the modified Oral Health Impact Profile for Edentulous Patients (OHIP-EDENT-J) scale for outcome. Multivariate analysis was used to investigate improvements in OHR-QoL according to participant characteristics among complete denture wearers using these materials.Results OHIP-EDENT-J scores were significantly decreased in all groups after the intervention (p < 0.05); however, there were no statistically significant differences among the groups. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed a significant association between the vertical height of the maxillary and mandibular alveolar ridge and OHIP-EDENT-J scores in the cream-type denture adhesive group. In contrast, there were no significant association between participant characteristics and OHIP-EDENT-J scores in the powder-type adhesive and control groups.Conclusions The use of denture adhesives could improve OHR-QoL for complete denture wearers. The cream-type denture adhesives may be expected to improve OHR-QoL in patients with poor residual ridge conditions compared with patients with good residual ridge conditions.

Does Masticatory Ability Contribute to Nutritional Status in Older Individuals?

Mastication plays a primary role in the process of eating. Hence, compromised masticatory ability may affect the nutrition and quality of life, which are particularly important concerns among older individuals. It remains unclear how is the masticatory ability assessed regarding the nutritional status. We examined the effect of various oral factors on three masticatory ability tests conducted among older individuals. A total of 100 older individuals were enrolled in this study. Body mass index (BMI) as an indicator of nutritional status; and age, sex, and the number of occlusal and molar occlusal supports as clinical attributes were recorded. Three masticatory ability tests (masticatory efficiency, masticatory score, and satisfaction with mastication) were conducted, and tongue pressure, cheek pressure, and occlusal force were assessed as oral functions. A significant but weak correlation was found between masticatory efficiency and the masticatory score, but not between masticatory efficiency and satisfaction score. Objective masticatory efficiency was strongly associated with objective oral factors, whereas subjective assessments of masticatory ability (masticatory score and satisfaction score) were not. Furthermore, BMI was significantly associated with subjective assessments of masticatory ability but not with objective masticatory efficiency. Both subjective and objective assessments of masticatory ability, along with considerations of nutritional formulations, are required for the maintenance and improvement of nutritional status in older individuals.

The carboxyl-terminal di-lysine motif is essential for catalytic activity of UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1A9.

UDP-Glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) is a type I membrane protein localized to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). UGT has a di-lysine motif (KKXX/KXKXX) in its cytoplasmic domain, which is defined as an ER retention signal. However, our previous study has revealed that UGT2B7, one of the major UGT isoform in human, localizes to the ER in a manner that is independent of this motif. In this study, we focused on another UGT isoform, UGT1A9, and investigated the role of the di-lysine motif in its ER localization, glucuronidation activity, and homo-oligomer formation. Immunofluorescence microscopy indicated that the cytoplasmic domain of UGT1A9 functioned as an ER retention signal in a chimeric protein with CD4, but UGT1A9 itself could localize to the ER in a di-lysine motif-independent manner. In addition, UGT1A9 formed homo-oligomers in the absence of the motif. However, deletion of the di-lysine motif or substitution of lysines in the motif for alanines, severely impaired glucuronidation activity of UGT1A9. This is the first study that re-defines the cytoplasmic di-lysine motif of UGT as an essential peptide for retaining glucuronidation capacity.

Reliability of Screening Methods to Diagnose Oral Dryness and Evaluate Saliva Secretion.

In this study, we evaluated the reliability and reproducibility of widely implemented salivary flow rate and oral dryness tests. In experiment 1, twenty young and healthy Japanese participants volunteered to participate. For each participant, the oral moisture (OM) level, unstimulated whole saliva volume (U-WSV), and stimulated whole saliva volume (S-WSV) were measured at the same time on two separate days. In experiment 2, twenty-seven patients who were over 65 years of age volunteered to participate. The OM level and U-WSV were measured at the same time on two separate days. In Experiment 1, the intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) corresponding to the S-WSV, U-WSV, and OM level were 0.23, 0.28, and 0.16, respectively, for the young participants. In Experiment 2, the ICCs corresponding to the U-WSV/spitting and OM level were 0.83 and 0.12, respectively, for the older participants. The results of Bland-Altman analysis confirmed the absence of systematic error, with the exception of the OM level results in Experiment 2, which indicated systematic bias. In conclusion, we believe that there is currently no consistent and reliable screening test for assessing salivary flow rate and oral dryness, although the spitting test was determined to be highly reliable.

HM1.24/BST-2 is constitutively poly-ubiquitinated at the N-terminal amino acid in the cytoplasmic domain.

HM1.24 (also known as BST-2, CD317, and Tetherin) is a type II single-pass transmembrane glycoprotein, which traverses membranes using an N-terminal transmembrane helix and is anchored in membrane lipid rafts via a C-terminal glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI). HM1.24 plays a role in diverse cellular functions, including cell signaling, immune modulation, and malignancy. In addition, it also functions as an interferon-induced cellular antiviral restriction factor that inhibits the replication and release of diverse enveloped viruses, and which is counteracted by Vpu, an HIV-1 accessory protein. Vpu induces down-regulation and ubiquitin conjugation to the cytoplasmic domain of HM1.24. However, evidence for ubiquitination site(s) of HM1.24 remains controversial. We demonstrated that HM1.24 is constitutively poly-ubiquitinated at the N-terminal cytoplasmic domain, and that the mutation of all potential ubiquitination sites, including serine, threonine, cysteine, and lysine in the cytoplasmic domain of HM1.24, does not affect the ubiquitination of HM1.24. We further demonstrated that although a GPI anchor is necessary and sufficient for HM1.24 antiviral activities and virion-trapping, the deleted mutant of GPI does not influence the ubiquitination of HM1.24. These results suggest that the lipid raft localization of HM1.24 is not a prerequisite for the ubiquitination. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that the ubiquitination of HM1.24 occurs at the N-terminal amino acid in the cytoplasmic domain and indicate that the constitutive ubiquitination machinery of HM1.24 may differ from the Vpu-induced machinery.

Lysosomal integral membrane protein LGP85 (LIMP-2) is ubiquitinated at the N-terminal cytoplasmic domain.

LGP85/LIMP-2 is a type III transmembrane glycoprotein of lysosomes, which traverses the membrane twice with an N-terminal uncleaved signal sequence and C-terminal hydrophobic domain. In addition to functioning as a receptor for a lysosomal enzyme ß-glucocerebrosidase and for several enteroviruses, LGP85 plays a key role in the biogenesis and maintenance of endosomal/lysosomal compartments (ELCs). Our previous studies have demonstrated that overexpression of rat LGP85 into COS cells results in the enlarged ELCs, from where membrane trafficking is impaired. We show here that rat LGP85 is polyubiquitinated at the N-terminal short cytoplasmic domain that comprises of only three amino acid residues, alanine, arginine, and cysteine. Replacement of either arginine or cysteine with alanine within the N-terminal cytoplasmic domain did not influence the ubiquitination of LGP85, thereby indicating that ubiquitin (Ub) is conjugated to the α-NH2 group of the N-terminal alanine residue. Furthermore, we were able to define a domain necessary for ubiquitination in a region ranging from the amino acids 156 to 255 within the lumenal domain of LGP85. This is the first report showing that the integral lysosomal membrane protein LGP85 is ubiquitinated.

Effect of denture adhesives on oral moisture: A multicenter randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of denture adhesives on oral moisture in a 10-center parallel randomized clinical trial. METHODS: Two hundred edentulous subjects wearing complete dentures were allocated into three groups: cream-type adhesive, powder-type adhesive and control groups. The adhesives (and saline solution in the control group) were applied to the mucosal surface of the dentures for 4 days, and baseline data and data after the intervention for eight meals over 4 days were obtained. For the main outcome, oral moisture was measured with a moisture checking device. Secondary outcomes were denture satisfaction, masticatory performance, denture retention, and occlusal force. In addition to between-group and within-group comparisons of oral moisture, investigations for secondary outcomes were undertaken in subgroups classified according to the degree of oral moisture at baseline (normal subgroup and dry mouth subgroup). Intention-to-treat analysis was also performed. RESULTS: Between-group and within-group comparisons of oral moisture showed no significant differences. The cream-type and powder-type denture adhesives were significantly effective in the dry mouth group for denture satisfaction ratings of ability to masticate, stability, retention, and comfort of mandibular dentures (p<0.05). The masticatory performance and retentive force of the dry mouth denture adhesive using groups were significantly improved after intervention (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The oral moisture of complete denture wearers was not influenced by the use of denture adhesives. Our findings showed that denture adhesives improved subjective denture satisfaction, masticatory performance, and retention for complete denture patients with oral dryness.

Investigation of the Endoplasmic Reticulum Localization of UDP-Glucuronosyltransferase 2B7 with Systematic Deletion Mutants.

UDP-Glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) plays an important role in the metabolism of endogenous and exogenous compounds. UGT is a type I membrane protein, and has a dilysine motif (KKXX/KXKXX) in its C-terminal cytoplasmic domain. Although a dilysine motif is defined as an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) retrieval signal, it remains a matter of debate whether this motif functions in the ER localization of UGT. To address this issue, we generated systematic deletion mutants of UGT2B7, a major human isoform, and compared their subcellular localizations with that of an ER marker protein calnexin (CNX), using subcellular fractionation and immunofluorescent microscopy. We found that although the dilysine motif functioned as the ER retention signal in a chimera that replaced the cytoplasmic domain of CD4 with that of UGT2B7, UGT2B7 truncated mutants lacking this motif extensively colocalized with CNX, indicating dilysine motif-independent ER retention of UGT2B7. Moreover, deletion of the C-terminal transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains did not affect ER localization of UGT2B7, suggesting that the signal necessary for ER retention of UGT2B7 is present in its luminal domain. Serial deletions of the luminal domain, however, did not affect the ER retention of the mutants. Further, a cytoplasmic and transmembrane domain-deleted mutant of UGT2B7 was localized to the ER without being secreted. These results suggest that UGT2B7 could localize to the ER without any retention signal, and lead to the conclusion that the static localization of UGT results from lack of a signal for export from the ER.