Relationship between vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms (BsmI, TaqI, ApaI, and FokI) and calcium intake on bone mass in young Japanese women.

Background: The high prevalence of low bone mass in young women in Japan has emerged as a serious health issue in recent years. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to reevaluate the relationship between genetic and dietary factors, as well as its influence on bone mass in young Japanese women, with particular emphasis on vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms and calcium intake.

Methods: A total of 499 Japanese women aged 20-24 years were enrolled in the study.

Smoking and periodontal microorganisms.

Resolution of dysbiosis following treatment for periodontal disease and tobacco dependence has been reported in longitudinal intervention studies. In the present report, we evaluated the biological findings regarding the effect of smoking on the periodontal microbiome. A standardized electronic search was conducted using MEDLINE; overall, 1099 papers were extracted.

Gas gangrene in the deep spaces of the head and neck visualized on computed tomography images.

Cellulitis accompanied by gas gangrene is a rapidly-spreading and potentially fatal infection. Here, we present a case of gas gangrene in the deep spaces of the head and neck in an elderly woman, diagnosed by computed tomography (CT). An 86-year-old woman with Alzheimer's disease, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and osteoporosis was referred to our institute by her local dentist.

Introduction to Kampo medicine for dental treatment - Oral pharmacotherapy that utilizes the advantages of Western and Kampo medicines.

Kampo medicine is a medical system that has been systematically organized based on the reactions of the human body. At present, in Western, herbal medicines means the whole herbal product. It is being called Kampo medicine as a medicinal drug in Japan.

Proteases, actinidin, papain and trypsin reduce oral biofilm on the tongue in elderly subjects and in vitro.

Objective: Dental plaque is a causative factor for oral disease and a potential reservoir for respiratory infection in the elderly. Therefore, there is a critical need for the development of effective methods to remove oral biofilm. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of proteases on oral biofilm formation andremoval.

Complete Genome Sequence of Rothia aeria Type Strain JCM 11412, Isolated from Air in the Russian Space Laboratory Mir.

Here, we present the complete genome sequence of Rothia aeria type strain JCM 11412, isolated from air in the Russian space laboratory Mir. Recently, there has been an increasing number of reports on infections caused by R. aeria The genomic information will enable researchers to identify the pathogenicity of this organism.

Genome Sequence of Actinomyces naeslundii Strain ATCC 27039, Isolated from an Abdominal Wound Abscess.

Here, we present the complete genome sequence of Actinomyces naeslundii strain ATCC 27039, isolated from an abdominal wound abscess. This strain is genetically transformable and will thus provide valuable information related to its crucial role in oral multispecies biofilm development.

Salivary protein histatin 3 regulates cell proliferation by enhancing p27(Kip1) and heat shock cognate protein 70 ubiquitination.

Histatins are salivary proteins with antimicrobial activities. We previously reported that histatin 3 binds to heat shock cognate protein 70 (HSC70), which is constitutively expressed, and induces DNA synthesis stimulation and promotes human gingival fibroblast (HGF) survival. However, the underlying mechanisms of histatin 3 remain largely unknown.

Salivary histatin 3 inhibits heat shock cognate protein 70-mediated inflammatory cytokine production through toll-like receptors in human gingival fibroblasts.

Background: Salivary histatins are bioactive peptides related to the innate immune system associated with antimicrobial activities. However, very little is known about the physiological and biological functions of histatins against host cells or their role in oral cell inflammation. Histatin 3 binds to heat shock cognate protein 70 (HSC70, a constitutively expressed heat shock protein (HSP)).

Roles of oral bacteria in cardiovascular diseases--from molecular mechanisms to clinical cases: Treatment of periodontal disease regarded as biofilm infection: systemic administration of azithromycin.

Periodontal disease as a biofilm infectious disease is considered. Periodontal disease-associated bacteria formed biofilm in periodontal pockets or on the surface of cementum. Planktonic bacteria from biofilm invade into periodontal tissues and lead to inflammation and destruction of tissues directly and indirectly by eliciting the host defense mechanism.

Preventive effects of a kampo medicine, orento on inflammatory responses in lipopolysaccharide treated human gingival fibroblasts.

In the present study, we investigated the effects of a Kampo medicine Orento (TJ-120) on the production of prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)), interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 by human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) treated with lipopolysaccharide from Porphyromonas gingivalis (PgLPS). HGFs proliferation was dose-dependently decreased with Orento at days 3 and 7. However, treatment with PgLPS (10 ng/ml), Orento (up to 1 mg/ml) and their combinations for 24 h did not affect the viability of HGFs.

Polymorphism of salivary histatin gene and periodontal disease in the Japanese population.

Chronic periodontitis is a widespread and major dental disease. Recent studies have analyzed a possible relationship between polymorphism of several genes and periodontitis. Histatins are salivary polypeptides with fungicidal activities against Candida albicans and yeast and bactericidal activities against Porphyromonas gingivalis and Streptococcus mutans.

Macrolide antibiotics like azithromycin increase lipopolysaccharide-induced IL-8 production by human gingival fibroblasts.

Objective: Macrolide antibiotics are reported to modulate the production of cytokines in various type of cells. We examined the effect of macrolide antibiotics on inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and IL-8) and chemical mediator (PGE(2)) and also matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) productions by human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

Methods: The effect of macrolide antibiotics [erythromycin (EM), azithromycin (AZM) and josamycin (JOM)] on HGFs proliferation were examined by MTT assay.

Cooperation of salivary protein histatin 3 with heat shock cognate protein 70 relative to the G1/S transition in human gingival fibroblasts.

Histatins, a family of salivary proteins, have antimicrobial activity. Candida albicans, which is killed by histatins, induces oral candidiasis in individuals with compromised immune systems. Although the functional significance of histatins has been documented, their biological and physiological functions against host cells have not been clarified.

Transcriptional regulation of the salivary histatin gene: finding of a strong positive regulatory element and its binding protein.

Histatins are salivary proteins found and expressed in human salivary glands. They play a role in the non-immune system of antimicrobial defense, for instance, against Candida albicans. The transcriptional regulatory sequences of the histatin gene, HIS1, have remained obscure for a long time.

Polymorphism of genes encoding toll-like receptors and inflammatory cytokines in periodontal disease in the Japanese population.

Periodontitis, which is a widespread and major dental disease, is a multifactorial, lifestyle-related disease and has been analyzed for gene polymorphism. We examined the frequency of the polymorphisms of the pro-inflammatory cytokine genes IL-1 A (-889) and IL-1 B (+3953) in relation to periodontitis in the Japanese population. We also examined whether polymorphism of TLR2 (Arg677Trp) and TLR4 (Asp299Gly), which are receptors recognized by periodontopathic bacteria, may also be associated with periodontitis.

Preventive effects of a Kampo medicine, Shosaikoto, on inflammatory responses in LPS-treated human gingival fibroblasts.

In the present study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of a Kampo medicine Shosaikoto (TJ-9) using in vitro periodontal disease model, in which human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Porphyromonas gingivalis (PgLPS) produce IL-6, IL-8 and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Treatment with PgLPS (10 ng/ml), TJ-9 (up to 1 mg/ml) and their combinations for 24 h did not affect the viability of HGFs. Moreover, TJ-9 did not alter LPS-induced IL-6 and IL-8 productions.

Elevation of cytosolic calcium level triggers calcium antagonist-induced gingival overgrowth.

Calcium (Ca2+) antagonists induce gingival overgrowth as a side effect but the pathogenic mechanism is still unknown. The Ca2+-channel activator Bay K 8644 elevates intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) and enhances the cell proliferation of gingival fibroblasts in a dose-dependent manner. Verapamil, an L-type Ca2+-channel blocker, also elevates [Ca2+]i in gingival fibroblasts, but it has no effect on other fibroblasts such as those of the lung, skin, and muscle.

Recovery of genomic DNA from lingual mucosal cells in sufficient quantity and quality.

Purpose: To investigate whether genomic DNA can be purified in sufficient quantity and quality from the oral cavity.

Methods: One milliliter of peripheral blood and saliva were collected. The buccal and lingual mucosal cells were also obtained using 10 strokes with a swab or a toothbrush, respectively.

Calcium antagonists cause dry mouth by inhibiting resting saliva secretion.

Ca2+ antagonists cause dry mouth by inhibiting saliva secretion. The present study was undertaken to elucidate the mechanism by which Ca2+ antagonists cause dry mouth. Since the intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) is closely related to saliva secretion, [Ca2+]i was measured with a video-imaging analysis system by using human submandibular gland (HSG) cells as the material.

Involvement of Na(+)-K(+)-2Cl(-) cotransporters in hypertonicity-induced rise in intracellular calcium concentration.

A hypertonic saline containing propylene glycol facilitates calcium (Ca(2+)) influx through voltage-dependent Ca(2+) channels. The present study performed experiments to elucidate the mechanism by which Na(+)-K(+)-2Cl(-) cotransporters participate in the rise in the intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)]i) under the hypertonic condition. Both furosemide and ethacryonic acid significantly decreased the [Ca(2+)]i raised by hypertonicity.

Inhibition of nifedipine-induced proliferation of cultured human gingival fibroblasts by Saiko, a Chinese herbal medicine.

Saiko is predominantly contained in Saireito, a Chinese herbal medicine. The present study was conducted to determine whether or not Saiko is involved in the inhibition by Saireito of nifedipine-induced proliferation and collagen synthesis in gingival fibroblasts. Nifedipine (10 microM) significantly enhanced the proliferation starting on day 5 of the culture period.

Rise in intracellular calcium concentration elicited by isradipine in Gin-1 cells.

We performed experiments to examine whether isradipine (Isr), a calcium antagonist, would raise the intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) in Gin-1 cells and, if so, to elucidate the mechanism of the [Ca2+]i rise. Gin-1 cells, which are human normal gingival fibroblasts were used as the material. The [Ca2+]i was measured with the Ca2+-sensitive fluorescent dye fura-2/AM.

Inhibition by tranilast of nifedipine-induced proliferation of cultured human gingival fibroblasts.

The appropriate method of etiologic therapy for gingival overgrowth is yet unknown. In this study drug-induced proliferation of Gin-1 cells, a normal human gingival fibroblast cell line, was examined by using the reagent water-soluble tetrazolium-1. Tranilast (100 microM) inhibited the nifedipine (10 microM)-induced proliferation of gingival fibroblasts.