Oral Function and the Oral Microbiome in the Elderly in the Kyotango Area.

Introduction: Prevention of tooth loss contributes to an extended life expectancy, namely longevity. Aging-related oral hypofunction, including tooth loss, markedly increases the risks of functional disorder and mortality. Dysbiosis of the oral microbiome has recently been associated with various diseases, such as liver cirrhosis, pancreatic cancer, colorectal cancer, and inflammatory bowel disease.

Raman Analyses of Laser Irradiation-Induced Microstructural Variations in Synthetic Hydroxyapatite and Human Teeth.

The microstructural and molecular-scale variations induced by laser irradiation treatment on human teeth enamel in comparison with synthetic hydroxyapatite (HAp) were examined through Raman microprobe spectroscopy as a function of irradiation power. The results demonstrated that laser irradiation could modify stoichiometry, microstructure, and the population of crystallographic defects, as well as the hardness of the materials. These modifications showed strong dependences on both laser power and initial nonstoichiometric structure (defective content of HPO), because of the occurrence of distinct reactions and structural reconstruction.

Raman Metabolomics of Clades: Profiling and Barcode Identification.

This study targets on-site/real-time taxonomic identification and metabolic profiling of seven different clades/subclades by means of Raman spectroscopy and imaging. Representative Raman spectra from different samples were systematically deconvoluted by means of a customized machine-learning algorithm linked to a Raman database in order to decode structural differences at the molecular scale. Raman analyses of metabolites revealed clear differences in cell walls and membrane structure among clades/subclades.

Three-Dimensional Culture of Cartilage Tissue on Nanogel-Cross-Linked Porous Freeze-Dried Gel Scaffold for Regenerative Cartilage Therapy: A Vibrational Spectroscopy Evaluation.

This study presents a set of vibrational characterizations on a nanogel-cross-linked porous freeze-dried gel (NanoCliP-FD gel) scaffold for tissue engineering and regenerative therapy. This scaffold is designed for the in vitro culture of high-quality cartilage tissue to be then transplanted in vivo to enable recovery from congenital malformations in the maxillofacial area or crippling jaw disease. The three-dimensional scaffold for in-plate culture is designed with interface chemistry capable of stimulating cartilage formation and maintaining its structure through counteracting the dedifferentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) during the formation of cartilage tissue.

Cytotoxicity and osteogenic effects of aluminum ions.

In this study, we monitored the effect of Al ions on mesenchymal cells (KUSA-A1) and human fibroblasts (NHDF) by means of in vitro experiments by culturing the cells with addition of small concentrations of aluminum ions (i.e., 0.

Raman Study of Pathogenic : Imaging Metabolic Machineries in Reaction to Antifungal Drugs.

The multidrug-resistant often defies treatments and presently represents a worldwide public health threat. Currently, the ergosterol-targeting Amphotericin B (AmB) and the DNA/RNA-synthesis inhibitor 5-flucytosine (5-FC) are the two main drugs available for first-line defense against life-threatening infections. However, important aspects of their mechanisms of action require further clarification, especially regarding metabolic reactions of yeast cells.

Raman Spectroscopy of Oral Species: Molecular-Scale Analyses, Chemometrics, and Barcode Identification.

Oral candidiasis, a common opportunistic infection of the oral cavity, is mainly caused by the following four species (in decreasing incidence rate): , , , and . This study offers in-depth Raman spectroscopy analyses of these species and proposes procedures for an accurate and rapid identification of oral yeast species. We first obtained average spectra for different species and systematically analyzed them in order to decode structural differences among species at the molecular scale.

Raman Imaging of Pathogenic : Visualization of Structural Characteristics and Machine-Learning Identification.

Invasive fungal infections caused by yeasts of the genus carry high morbidity and cause systemic infections with high mortality rate in both immunocompetent and immunosuppressed patients. Resistance rates against antifungal drugs vary among species, the most concerning specie being , which exhibits resistance to all major classes of available antifungal drugs. The presently available identification methods for species face a severe trade-off between testing speed and accuracy.

-Knockout Suppresses Cholangiocarcinoma Cell Migration and Invasion with Declining PODXL2 Expression.

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) is a heterogeneous bile duct cancer with a poor prognosis. Integrin αvβ6 (β6) has been shown to be upregulated in iCCA and is associated with its subclassification and clinicopathological features. In the present study, two -knockout HuCCT1 CCA cell lines (-ko cells) were established using the clustered regulatory interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR), an associated nuclease 9 (Cas9) system, and single-cell cloning.

Molecular Fingerprint Imaging to Identify Dental Caries Using Raman Spectroscopy.

Tooth loss impairs mastication, deglutition and esthetics and affects systemic health through nutritional deficiency, weight loss, muscle weakness, delayed wound healing, and bone fragility. Approximately 90% of tooth loss is due to dental caries and periodontal disease. Accordingly, early treatment of dental caries is essential to maintaining quality of life.

In Vivo Regeneration of Large Bone Defects by Cross-Linked Porous Hydrogel: A Pilot Study in Mice Combining Micro Tomography, Histological Analyses, Raman Spectroscopy and Synchrotron Infrared Imaging.

The transplantation of engineered three-dimensional (3D) bone graft substitutes is a viable approach to the regeneration of severe bone defects. For large bone defects, an appropriate 3D scaffold may be necessary to support and stimulate bone regeneration, even when a sufficient number of cells and cell cytokines are available. In this study, we evaluated the in vivo performance of a nanogel tectonic 3D scaffold specifically developed for bone tissue engineering, referred to as nanogel cross-linked porous-freeze-dry (NanoCliP-FD) gel.

Raman Probes for Molecular Analyses of Peripheral Nerve Myelination.

The myelinating activity of living Schwann cells in coculture with neuronal cells was examined in a Raman microprobe spectroscope. The Raman label-free approach revealed vibrational fingerprints directly related to the activity of Schwann cells' metabolites and identified molecular species peculiar to myelinating cells. The identified chemical species included antioxidants, such as hypotaurine and glutathione, and compartmentalized water, in addition to sphingolipids, phospholipids, and nucleoside triphosphates also present in neuronal and nonmyelinating Schwann cells.

Effect of inoculum size on single-cell oil production from glucose and xylose using oleaginous yeast Lipomyces starkeyi.

Oleaginous microbes can convert substrates such as carbon dioxide, sugars, and organic acids to single-cell oils (SCOs). Among the oleaginous microorganisms, Lipomyces starkeyi is a particularly well-suited host given its impressive native abilities, including the capability to utilize a wide variety of carbon sources. In this work, the potential of L.

Real world data of a veterinary teaching hospital in Japan: a pilot survey of prescribed medicines.

The prescription data from a digital accounting system of a veterinary teaching hospital collected between 2008 and 2011 in Japan were downloaded, stored in a database and analysed using a statistical analysis software, SAS. Seventy-six per cent of all prescriptions were drugs approved for human beings. The most frequently prescribed category was 'Agents against pathogenic organisms', such as antibiotics and chemotherapeutic agents, followed by 'Cardiovascular agents'.

Ulnar Neuropathy due to Volar/Ulnar Displacement of the Flexor Tendons after Open Carpal Tunnel Release: Case Report.

Ulnar nerve neuropathy is a rare complication following the carpal tunnel release. Above all, compression neuropathy is much rare. We report an acute ulnar nerve neuropathy following open carpal tunnel release due to the volar and ulnar displacement of the flexor tendons from the carpal tunnel and review the literature.

Fracture of an unossified humeral medial epicondyle: use of magnetic resonance imaging for diagnosis.

Fracture of the humeral medial epicondyle is a relatively common injury in children. Surgery is a good option for treatment, but correct diagnosis is important. Most fractures occur after the ossification of the medial epicondylar apophysis.

Method to increase the systemically delivered amount of drug from dissolving microneedles.

To increase the absorbed amount of a drug from dissolving microneedles (DMs), three DM array chips were prepared in which (1) the drug was localized at the acral portion of DMs, (2) the drug was loaded in each whole DM, and (3) the drug was loaded in DMs and the chip. Fluorescein free form (FL) and its sodium salt (FLNa) were used as model drugs. The DM array chip had 15-mm diameter with 225 DMs, each 500-µm long with a 300-µm diameter base.