A comparison of genome cohort participants' genetic knowledge and preferences to receive genetic results before and after a genetics workshop.

Several biobanks have begun returning genetic results to individuals, making the development of public genetic literacy an urgent task for their effective use. No research exists regarding the effects of genetic education on biobank participants, so we conducted genetics workshops with specialists, and surveyed differences in the participants' (n = 112) preferences to receive their own genetic information by disease categories and their genetic knowledge using questionnaires before and after the workshops. Almost 90% of our participants were over 60 years old, which was similar to our previous preference research.

Population-based biobank participants' preferences for receiving genetic test results.

There are ongoing debates on issues relating to returning individual research results (IRRs) and incidental findings (IFs) generated by genetic research in population-based biobanks. To understand how to appropriately return genetic results from biobank studies, we surveyed preferences for returning IRRs and IFs among participants of the Tohoku Medical Megabank Project (TMM). We mailed a questionnaire to individuals enrolled in the TMM cohort study (Group 1; n=1031) and a group of Tohoku region residents (Group 2; n=2314).

Oral health-related quality of life and related factors among residents in a disaster area of the Great East Japan Earthquake and giant tsunami.

Background: Oral health is one of the most important issues for disaster survivors. The aim of this study was to determine post-disaster distribution of oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) and related factors in survivors of the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami.

Methods: Questionnaires to assess OHRQoL, psychological distress, disaster-related experiences, and current systemic-health and economic conditions were sent to survivors over 18 years of age living in Otsuchi, one of the most severely damaged municipalities.

The effect of eating sea cucumber jelly on Candida load in the oral cavity of elderly individuals in a nursing home.

We conducted a double-blind randomized controlled study of elderly individuals in a nursing home to investigate the effect of the consumption of jelly containing sea cucumber on their oral Candida load. The jelly contained a hydrolysate of the sea cucumber Stichopus japonicus, which contained triterpene glycosides called holotoxins. The holotoxins worked as a fungicide, and their minimum inhibitory concentrations for Candida albicans were 7 µg/mL.

Prediction of periodontopathic bacteria in dental plaque of periodontal healthy subjects by measurement of volatile sulfur compounds in mouth air.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine whether measurements of volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) are useful to predict colonization of periodontopathic bacteria. For this purpose, we assessed the relationships among distributions of 4 species of periodontopathic bacteria in tongue coating and dental plaque, oral conditions including VSC concentration in mouth air, and smoking habit of periodontal healthy young subjects.

Methods: The subjects were 108 young adults (mean age, 23.

Targeting individual empowerment to raise leaders for local oral health promotion in Japan.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of human resources for health promotion advocacy in a rural community. A 16-item questionnaire was sent to 1000 residents of a rural Japanese town. Items concerned demographics, participation in organizational activities, awareness of volunteer activities, and willingness to participate in community-based oral health activities.