Relationship between oral hypofunction and salivary biomarkers in older adults: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Oral health problems have increased among older adults. Oral hypofunction is characterized by seven signs and symptoms: oral uncleanness, oral dryness, decline in occlusal force, decline in the movement function of the tongue and lips, decline in tongue pressure, decline in masticatory function, and decline in swallowing function, the latter being a significant risk factors for oral frailty. Recent research has suggested that salivary biomarkers can be used to assess not only oral diseases, including dental caries and periodontitis, but also systemic diseases, such as cancer and diabetes mellitus.

Synthesis of secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor using cell-free protein synthesis system.

Secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) functions as a protease inhibitor that modulates excessive proteolysis in the body, exhibits broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, regulates inflammatory responses, and plays an important role in the innate immunity. The purpose of the study was to artificially synthesize a SLPI, an antimicrobial peptide, and investigate its effect on antimicrobial activity against Porphyromonas gingivalis and interleukin-6 (IL-6) production. SLPI protein with a molecular weight of approximately 13 kDa was artificially synthesized using a cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) system and investigated by western blotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Umami taste sensitivity is associated with food intake and oral environment in subjects with diabetes.

Objective: Dysgeusia is a serious problem in patients with diabetes because it often leads to overeating, which is associated with disease progression. This study aimed to investigate the association between taste sensitivity, eating habits, and the oral environment.

Subjects And Methods: In this cross-sectional study of 75 subjects with diabetes, gustatory function was assessed using the whole-mouth method, and lingual taste receptor gene expression was measured by real-time PCR.

Prolyl oligopeptidase participates in the cytosine arabinoside-induced nuclear translocation of glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase in a human neuroblastoma cell line.

Previously, we reported that glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) is a binding partner of prolyl oligopeptidase (POP) in neuroblastoma NB-1 cells and that the POP inhibitor, SUAM-14746, inhibits cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C)-induced nuclear translocation of GAPDH and protects against Ara-C cytotoxicity. To carry out a more in-depth analysis of the interaction between POP and GAPDH, we generated POP-KO NB-1 cells and compared the nuclear translocation of GAPDH after Ara-C with or without SUAM-14746 treatment to wild-type NB-1 cells by western blotting and fluorescence immunostaining. Ara-C did not induce the nuclear translocation of GAPDH and SUAM-14746 did not protect against Ara-C cytotoxicity in POP-KO cells.

Gan-Lu-Yin (Kanroin), Traditional Chinese Herbal Extracts, Reduces Osteoclast Differentiation In Vitro and Prevents Alveolar Bone Resorption in Rat Experimental Periodontitis.

Gan-Lu-Yin (GLY), a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, shows therapeutic effects on periodontitis, but that mechanism is not well known. This study aims to clarify the precise mechanism by investigating the inhibitory effects of GLY extracts on osteoclastogenesis in vitro and on bone resorption in periodontitis in vivo. RAW264.

6-Shogaol Inhibits Advanced Glycation End-Products-Induced IL-6 and ICAM-1 Expression by Regulating Oxidative Responses in Human Gingival Fibroblasts.

Advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) cause diabetes mellitus (DM) complications and accumulate more highly in periodontal tissues of patients with periodontitis and DM. AGEs aggravate periodontitis with DM by increasing the expression of inflammation-related factors in periodontal tissues. 6-Shogaol, a major compound in ginger, has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative activities.

Nucleic acid purification from dried blood spot on FTA Elute Card provides template for polymerase chain reaction for highly sensitive Plasmodium detection.

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is an essential diagnostic method for highly sensitive detection of Plasmodium-infected erythrocytes in patients with malaria. This study compared the performance of filter papers used for the preparation of dried blood spots (DBS) in detecting Plasmodium by PCR. Whole blood spiked with P.

Lambda-like J wave due to acute myocardial infarction of the diagonal branch.

The culprit lesion of acute myocardial infarction could be predicted by electrocardiogram findings. However, we experienced some cases with coronary angiographic finding in the area of ST-T elevation that was different from that predicted. The lambda-like J wave could be caused by ischemia although the mechanism has not been fully elucidated.

A clinical application of preload stress echocardiography for predicting future hemodynamic worsening in patients with early-stage heart failure.

Aim: To improve the prognosis of patients with heart failure, risk stratification in their early stage is important. We assessed whether the change in transmitral flow (TMF) velocity pattern during preload augmentation can predict future hemodynamic worsening in early-stage heart failure patients with impaired relaxation TMF pattern.

Methods: We designed a prospective cohort study that included 155 consecutive patients with impaired relaxation (IR) pattern at rest.

Differential role of GPR142 in tryptophan-mediated enhancement of insulin secretion in obese and lean mice.

Tryptophan is reportedly the most potent agonist for GPR142. Glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) from pancreatic beta cells are enhanced by GPR142-mediated signal. It is not clear, however, if GPR142-mediated signals is solely attributable to GSIS enhancement after tryptophan load in various pathophysiological settings.

Hydrophilic-treated plastic plates for wide-range analysis of Giemsa-stained red blood cells and automated Plasmodium infection rate counting.

Background: Malaria is a red blood cell (RBC) infection caused by Plasmodium parasites. To determine RBC infection rate, which is essential for malaria study and diagnosis, microscopic evaluation of Giemsa-stained thin blood smears on glass slides ('Giemsa microscopy') has been performed as the accepted gold standard for over 100 years. However, only a small area of the blood smear provides a monolayer of RBCs suitable for determination of infection rate, which is one of the major reasons for the low parasite detection rate by Giemsa microscopy.

The effects of inflammatory cytokines on the expression of ghrelin.

In the current study, we examined the effects of LPS and inflammatory cytokines including IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6 on the expression of ghrelin in MGN3-1 cells. We found that IL-1β, and TNF-α with lesser extent, significantly suppressed ghrelin mRNA expression in the cells. MGN3-1 cells expressed IL-1β receptor and IL-1β significantly stimulated NF-κB, p38, JNK, and ERK pathways.

IL-1β directly suppress ghrelin mRNA expression in ghrelin-producing cells.

In animal models, ghrelin production is suppressed by LPS administration. To elucidate the detailed molecular mechanisms involved in the phenomenon, we investigated the effects of LPS and LPS-inducible cytokines, including TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, on the expression of ghrelin in the ghrelin-producing cell line MGN3-1. These cells expressed IL-1R, and IL-1β significantly suppressed ghrelin mRNA levels.

Association between periodontal condition and kidney dysfunction in Japanese adults: A cross-sectional study.

Recent studies have demonstrated that chronic kidney disease (CKD) may be associated with the progression of periodontal disease. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major risk factor for CKD. The objective of this study was to clarify the relationship between periodontal condition and kidney dysfunction in patients who had kidney failure with or without DM.

Response Prediction and Influence of Tolvaptan in Chronic Heart Failure Patients Considering the Interaction of the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System and Arginine Vasopressin.

The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) and arginine vasopressin (AVP) regulate body fluids. Although conventional diuretics have been used for treating heart failure, they activate RAAS and exacerbate renal function. Tolvaptan, a newly developed vasopressin-2 receptor antagonist, elicits aquaresis and improves volume overload in heart failure patients, however, the predictors of tolvaptan effectiveness and the influence on the RAAS and renal function according to tolvaptan therapy are not established.

High incorporation of long-chain fatty acids contributes to the efficient production of acylated ghrelin in ghrelin-producing cells.

The mechanisms for supplying octanoic acid for ghrelin acylation in X/A-like cells are incompletely understood. We found that long-chain fatty acids were incorporated at a higher rate in the ghrelin-producing cell line MGN3-1 than in MIN6 cells, in part due to higher expression level of long-chain fatty acyl-CoA synthetase family member 1 (Acsl1). Inhibition of ACSLs by triacsin C profoundly suppressed acylated ghrelin production.

Prognostic Implications of Non-Invasive Vascular Function Tests in High-Risk Atherosclerosis Patients.

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the role of clinically available vascular function tests as predictors of cardiovascular events and decline in kidney function.

Methods and results: One hundred and fourteen patients who had at least 2 cardiovascular risk factors were recruited for vascular function assessment including ankle-brachial blood pressure index (ABI), brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) and flow-mediated vasodilatation (%FMD). During a median period of 51 months, 35 patients reached the primary endpoint (29 cardiovascular events and 6 cardiac deaths), and 30 patients reached the secondary endpoint (decline in kidney function: defined as a 5% per year decline of estimated glomerular filtration rate).

Establishment of Leptin-Responsive Cell Lines from Adult Mouse Hypothalamus.

Leptin resistance is considered to be the primary cause of obesity. However, the cause of leptin resistance remains incompletely understood, and there is currently no cure for the leptin-resistant state. In order to identify novel drug-target molecules that could overcome leptin resistance, it would be useful to develop in vitro assay systems for evaluating leptin resistance.

Comprehensive Profiling of GPCR Expression in Ghrelin-Producing Cells.

To determine the comprehensive G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) expression profile in ghrelin-producing cells and to elucidate the role of GPCR-mediated signaling in the regulation of ghrelin secretion, we determined GPCR expression profiles by RNA sequencing in the ghrelin-producing cell line MGN3-1 and analyzed the effects of ligands for highly expressed receptors on intracellular signaling and ghrelin secretion. Expression of selected GPCRs was confirmed in fluorescence-activated cell-sorted fluorescently tagged ghrelin-producing cells from ghrelin-promoter CreERT2/Rosa-CAG-LSL-ZsGreen1 mice. Expression levels of GPCRs previously suggested to regulate ghrelin secretion including adrenergic-β1 receptor, GPR81, oxytocin receptor, GPR120, and somatostatin receptor 2 were high in MGN3-1 cells.

Comparison of Tricuspid Annular Plane Systolic Excursion in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation Versus Sinus Rhythm.

Echocardiography now plays a central guiding role in the management of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the current guidelines mention little about the presence AF during the assessment of echocardiographic variables in the clinical setting. AF itself may impact on tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) as a right ventricular systolic function compared with sinus rhythm (SR).

Reduced ratio of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid to arachidonic acid is associated with early onset of acute coronary syndrome.

Background: The hospitalization rate for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) for people aged ≤50 has remained stable over the past decade. Increased serum levels of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are associated with a decreased incidence of cardiovascular events and mortality in older patients; however, it is currently unknown whether reduced serum levels of n-3 PUFAs is also a risk factor for ACS in patients aged ≤50 years.

Methods And Results: We retrospectively reviewed 102 (male/ female 73/29) Japanese ACS patients whose serum levels of EPA/arachidonic acid (AA) and DHA/AA were evaluated on admission.

Pulmonary embolism due to right atrial free-floating thrombus during echocardiographic examination: a case of a pulmonary saddle thrombus.

A 69-year-old female with polymyositis was referred to our hospital with a chief complaint of dyspnea. Transthoracic echocardiography showed right ventricular overloading. In addition to two-dimensional echocardiography, observation of the abnormal free-floating string-like mass by three-dimensional echocardiography provided superior visualization of the features of the mass which protruded into the right ventricle across the tricuspid valve during diastole.