The Relationship between Dental Findings and Tongue Pressure: A Survey of 745 Community-Dwelling Adults and Elderly Persons in Japan.

Introduction: Reduced tongue pressure is one of the causes of dysphagia. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between dental findings and tongue pressure, and whether prosthetic treatment prevents reduced tongue pressure.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study.

Association between high psychological distress and poor oral health-related quality of life (OHQoL) in Japanese community-dwelling people: the Nagasaki Islands Study.

Background: We investigated the association between psychological distress and oral health status/oral health-related quality of life (OHQoL) in Japanese community-dwelling people.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study using data from the Nagasaki Islands Study. A total of 1183 (455 men and 728 women) has been analyzed in this study.

Association of low fetuin-A levels with periodontitis in community-dwelling adults.

Fetuin-A is a liver-secreted glycoprotein isolated from fetal bovine serum. Recent reports of its several pathological functions suggest an association between fetuin-A and systemic diseases. This study therefore examined the correlation between serum fetuin-A level and periodontal status.

Association between human T cell leukemia virus type-1 (HTLV-1) infection and advanced periodontitis in relation to atherosclerosis among elderly Japanese: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Human T cell leukemia virus type-1 (HTLV-1) stimulates inflammation activity. Our previous study revealed a positive association between asymptomatic HTLV-1 infection and advanced periodontitis among elderly Japanese individuals with low levels of hematopoietic activity (reflected by reticulocyte levels). Since low hematopoietic activity has been correlated with low-grade inflammation and low-grade inflammation is associated with atherosclerosis, the status of atherosclerosis could, in turn, determine the nature of this association.

Association between human T cell leukemia virus 1 (HTLV-1) infection and advanced periodontitis in relation to hematopoietic activity among elderly participants: a cross-sectional study.

Background: We reported that human T cell leukemia virus 1 (HTLV-1) infection is positively associated with atherosclerosis. Recent evidence has revealed a close association of periodontitis with atherosclerosis, endothelial dysfunction, and disruption of the microcirculation. However, the association between HTLV-1 and advanced periodontitis has not been investigated to date.

Association between number of pairs of opposing posterior teeth, metabolic syndrome, and obesity.

We investigated the relationship between the number of pairs of posterior teeth and metabolic syndrome (MetS), abdominal obesity (AO), and obesity, among Japanese adults. In 2005, 2,807 Japanese adults aged 25-74 years participated in the Survey of Dental Diseases and the National Health and Nutrition Survey. Based on the survey data, BMI, AO (JAS) determined by the Japan Atherosclerosis Society, AO (IDF) by the International Diabetes Federation, and MetS were assessed.

Associations among Obesity, Eating Speed, and Oral Health.

Objective: This study was conducted to understand how eating speed and oral health condition are associated with obesity in Japanese working men.

Methods: We studied a total of 863 men attending an annual medical checkup of the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force in Sasebo City, Japan. Participants answered a questionnaire about their eating speed, and we examined their anthropometric status in terms of BMI, waist circumference, and oral health condition, especially periodontal disease and number of functional teeth.

Relationship among salivary antioxidant activity, cytokines, and periodontitis: the Nagasaki Island study.

Aim: Antioxidant activities and cytokine levels in human body fluids are considered to be strongly associated with periodontitis. The aim of this study was to elucidate the relationship between salivary antioxidant activities against superoxide or hydroxyl radical, cytokines, and periodontal conditions through a community-based cross-sectional study conducted in Goto city, Japan.

Materials And Methods: Saliva samples were analysed for superoxide or hydroxyl radical scavenging activities and cytokine levels from 160 participants.

Cessation age of breast-feeding and pacifier use is associated with persistent finger-sucking.

Purpose: Although some studies have reported that breast-feeding and pacifier use influence finger-sucking, few have demonstrated whether the age at cessation of breast-feeding or pacifier use and persistent finger-sucking are related. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine whether the age at cessation of breast-feeding and pacifier use influenced persistent finger-sucking.

Methods: A cross-sectional study of 555 36- to 47-month-olds was conducted in Nagasaki, Japan, using a questionnaire.

Association of periodontitis with carotid artery intima-media thickness and arterial stiffness in community-dwelling people in Japan: the Nagasaki Islands study.

Objective: Recent studies have suggested an association between periodontitis and atherosclerosis; however, the relationship between periodontal status and arterial alterations should be clarified. The purpose of this study was to examine associations between periodontal status and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and arterial stiffness using the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) in community dwellers.

Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study of 1053 subjects ≥40 years with 10 teeth or more was conducted in Goto, Japan from 2008 to 2010.

Quantitative discrimination of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans highly leukotoxic JP2 clone from non-JP2 clones in diagnosis of aggressive periodontitis.

Background: Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans is the etiological agent of periodontitis, and there is a strong association between clone JP2 and aggressive periodontitis in adolescents of African descent. The JP2 clone has an approximately 530-bp deletion (∆530) in the promoter region of the lkt/ltx gene, which encodes leukotoxin, and this clone has high leukotoxic activity. Therefore, this clone is very important in aggressive periodontitis.

Neutrophil-derived resistin release induced by Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans.

Resistin is an adipokine that induces insulin resistance in mice. In humans, resistin is not produced in adipocytes, but in various leukocytes instead, and it acts as a proinflammatory molecule. The present investigation demonstrated high levels of resistin in culture supernatants of neutrophils that are stimulated by a highly leukotoxic strain of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans.

Relationship between periodontal status and HbA1c in nondiabetics.

Objectives: Many studies have reported an association between diabetes and periodontitis. We analyzed the periodontal status and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level in nondiabetic subjects to investigate the relationship between periodontitis and glucose control in nondiabetics.

Methods: Periodontal status, HbA1c, serum cholesterol, triglyceride, body mass index (BMI), and demographic variables were assessed in 141 Japanese adults.

Dental caries in 3-year-old children is associated more with child-rearing behaviors than mother-related health behaviors.

Objective: We assessed whether child- or mother-related health behaviors were associated more strongly with dental caries in 3-year-old children.

Methods: Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed on dental caries' presence as the dependent variable with independent variables from the results of examination and a self-administered questionnaire of 396 mother-child pairs.

Result: Dental caries of 3-year-old children was more strongly associated with child-related health behavior than mother-related health behavior.

Differences in iron acquisition from human haemoglobin among strains of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans.

To get a better insight into the physiology of the high-toxic JP2 clone of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans serotype b, which is strongly associated with juvenile periodontitis in adolescents of African descent, the modes of iron acquisition in this clone were examined and compared to those of other strains of the species. None of the strains examined could utilize human transferrin as a source of iron. This was in accordance with the presence of a non-functional tbpA gene, which normally encodes the A subunit of the transferrin-binding-protein complex.

Enamel fluoride uptake from mouthrinse solutions with different NaF concentrations.

Objectives: The influence on enamel fluoride uptake of reducing the NaF concentration of a mouthrinse solution by half, from 0.05-0.025%, was examined in elementary school children.

Phylogenetic associations of ISAa1 and IS150-like insertion sequences in Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans.

The distribution and number of two insertion sequences (ISs), ISAa1 and an IS150-like element, in the genomes of a collection of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans strains previously subjected to population genetic analysis were determined to obtain information about their stability and biological significance. The hybridization patterns revealed that these IS elements are widespread in the genome of A. actinomycetemcomitans strains and that their occurrence agrees with the overall population structure of the species.