Association between oral health and cognitive impairment in older adults: Insights from a Six-year prospective cohort study.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the relationships between four baseline oral conditions (periodontal status, dental caries, tooth wear, and dentition) and repeated global cognition or domain-specific cognition (memory, executive function, attention, and verbal fluency) in non-demented older adults over time.

Methods: This prospective cohort study (2011-2019) enrolled 516 non-demented community-dwelling older adults (age ≥ 65) to explore the association between oral health and cognitive function. Global and domain-specific cognition were assessed biennially (four repeats) using a battery of neuropsychological tests.

Craniofacial and olfactory sensory changes after long-term unilateral nasal obstruction-an animal study using MMP-3-LUC transgenic rats.

Nasal obstruction exerts considerable physiological effects on the respiratory system and craniofacial morphology during the developmental stage. This study used MMP-3-LUC transgenic rats for in vivo tracking of long-term expression in the rat nasal region after unilateral nasal obstruction. Skeletal changes of the craniofacial, nasal, and sinus regions were measured through micro-computed tomography examination and analysis with 3D image processing and calculation.

PAX9 mutations and genetic synergism in familial tooth agenesis.

Familial tooth agenesis (FTA) is one of the most common craniofacial anomalies in humans. Loss-of-function mutations in PAX9 and WNT10A have been known to cause FTA with various expressivity. In this study, we identified five FTA kindreds with novel PAX9 disease-causing mutations: p.

Synergistic Mutations of and in Familial Tooth Agenesis.

Familial tooth agenesis (FTA), distinguished by developmental failure of selected teeth, is one of the most prevalent craniofacial anomalies in humans. Mutations in genes involved in WNT/β-catenin signaling, including  , , , and are known to cause FTA. However, mutational interactions among these genes have not been fully explored.

Recommendations for treating stage I-III periodontitis in the Taiwanese population: A consensus report from the Taiwan Academy of Periodontology.

Background/purpose: Based on the fundamental of the S3-level clinical practice guideline (CPG) for treating stage I-III periodontitis developed by the European Federation of Periodontology (EFP), this consensus report aimed to develop treatment recommendations for treating periodontitis in the Taiwanese population.

Methods: The report was constructed by experts from the Taiwan Academy of Periodontology. The following topics were reviewed: (a) the prevalence of periodontitis in Asia and current status of treatment in Taiwan; (b) specific anatomical considerations for treating periodontitis in Asians; (d) educational and preventive interventions and supragingival plaque control; (d) subgingival instrumentation and adjunctive treatment; (e) surgical periodontal therapy; and (f) maintenance and supportive periodontal care.

Curcumin inhibits TGF-β1-induced connective tissue growth factor expression through the interruption of Smad2 signaling in human gingival fibroblasts.

Background/purpose: Many fibrotic processes are associated with an increased level of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1). TGF-β1 can increase synthesis of matrix proteins and enhance secretion of protease inhibitors, resulting in matrix accumulation. Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is a downstream profibrotic effector of TGF-β1 and is associated with the fibrosis in several human organs.

MEK inhibitors induce Akt activation and drug resistance by suppressing negative feedback ERK-mediated HER2 phosphorylation at Thr701.

Targeting the MEK/ERK pathway has been viewed as a promising strategy for cancer therapy. However, MEK inhibition leads to the compensatory PI3K/AKT activation and thus contributes to the desensitization of cancer cells to MEK inhibitors. The underlying molecular mechanism of this event is not yet understood.

Glycoprotein B7-H3 overexpression and aberrant glycosylation in oral cancer and immune response.

The incidence and mortality rate of oral cancer continue to rise, partly due to the lack of effective early diagnosis and increasing environmental exposure to cancer-causing agents. To identify new markers for oral cancer, we used a sialylation probe to investigate the glycoproteins differentially expressed on oral cancer cells. Of the glycoproteins identified, B7 Homolog 3 (B7-H3) was significantly overexpressed in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), and its overexpression correlated with larger tumor size, advanced clinical stage, and low survival rate in OSCC patients.