Application of simulation-based CYP26 SNP-environment barcodes for evaluating the occurrence of oral malignant disorders by odds ratio-based binary particle swarm optimization: A case-control study in the Taiwanese population.

Introduction: Genetic polymorphisms and social factors (alcohol consumption, betel quid (BQ) usage, and cigarette consumption), both separately or jointly, play a crucial role in the occurrence of oral malignant disorders such as oral and pharyngeal cancers and oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD).

Material And Methods: Simultaneous analyses of multiple single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and environmental effects on oral malignant disorders are essential to examine, albeit challenging. Thus, we conducted a case-control study (N = 576) to analyze the risk of occurrence of oral malignant disorders by using binary particle swarm optimization (BPSO) with an odds ratio (OR)-based method.

Higher Levels of Early Childhood Caries (ECC) Is Associated with Developing Psychomotor Deficiency: The Cross- Sectional Bi-Township Analysis for The New Hypothesis.

The aim of this study was to reassess and confirm the relationship between early childhood caries (ECC) and manifestations of psychomotor deficiency in 4-6-yr-old kindergarteners, which has remained elusive to date. A cross-sectional study with bi-township analysis was designed whereby 353 kindergarteners, aged 4-6 whose caries were greater (dmft (decayed, missing and filled teeth, dmft index) = 5.25) than that of the national average, located in a rural township of central Taiwan were recruited using simple random-selection.

Patterns of Betel Quid, Cigarette, and Alcohol Use, and Their Correlates With Betel Quid Cessation in a Male Inmate Population.

Background: There are few published studies addressing multiple substance uses and their effects on subsequent cessation of betel quid (BQ) chewing in the Asia Pacific region.

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the usage patterns of BQ chewing, cigarette smoking, and alcohol drinking, and their correlates with subsequent BQ cessation among a male inmate population.

Methods: Data from 473 male inmates with a history of BQ use who were incarcerated in Taiwan Kaohsiung Prison was used for this analysis.

Association study between novel CYP26 polymorphisms and the risk of betel quid-related malignant oral disorders.

BQ chewing may produce significant amounts of reactive oxygen species (ROS), resulting in oral mucosa damage, and ROS may be metabolized by CYP26 families. Because the CYP26 polymorphisms associated with malignant oral disorders are not well known, we conducted an association study on the associations between the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of CYP26 families and the risks of malignant oral disorders. BQ chewers with the CYP26A1 rs4411227 C/C+C/G genotype and C allele showed an increased risk of oral and pharyngeal cancer (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 2.

TGF-β1 and IL-10 single nucleotide polymorphisms as risk factors for oral cancer in Taiwanese.

Cytokine production capacity varies among individuals and depends on cytokine gene polymorphisms. Transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1) plays a significant role in regulating the proliferation and apoptosis of epithelial cells. Interleukin 10 (IL-10) is an immunoregulatory cytokine with biological functions of anti-inflammation, immunosuppression, allergy, and anti-agenesis.

Role of cytokine gene (interferon-γ, transforming growth factor-β1, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, and interleukin-10) polymorphisms in the risk of oral precancerous lesions in Taiwanese.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma can be preceded by some benign oral lesions with malignant potential, including leukoplakia, erythroplakia, oral lichen planus, and oral submucous fibrosis. There are different degrees of inflammatory cells infiltration in histopathology. Inflammatory cytokines may play a pathogenic role in the development of oral precancerous lesions (OPCLs).

The influence of monoamine oxidase variants on the risk of betel quid-associated oral and pharyngeal cancer.

Betel quid (BQ) and areca nut (AN) (major BQ ingredient) are group I human carcinogens illustrated by International Agency for Research on Cancer and are closely associated with an elevated risk of oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) and cancers of the oral cavity and pharynx. The primary alkaloid of AN, arecoline, can be metabolized via the monoamine oxidase (MAO) gene by inducing reactive oxygen species (ROS). The aim of this study was to investigate whether the variants of the susceptible candidate MAO genes are associated with OPMDs and oral and pharyngeal cancer.

Experience of Early Childhood Caries May Positively Correlate with Psychomotor Development.

Purpose: To examine the as yet unknown relationship between dental caries and the child's psychomotor development.

Materials And Methods: A cross-sectional study was designed by screening the kindergartens from urban areas of two cities in southern Taiwan. Besides the personal, demographic and dietary information, the common measures for caries (dmft) and the amended comprehensive scales (CCDI) for psychomotor development were used to assess their relationship(s).

Relationship between betel quid chewing and radiographic alveolar bone loss among Taiwanese aboriginals: a retrospective study.

Background: Betel quid chewing is associated with the periodontal status; however, results of epidemiological studies are inconsistent. To the best of our knowledge, no study has reported radiographic alveolar bone loss (RABL) associated with betel quid chewing.

Methods: This survey was conducted in an aboriginal community in Taiwan because almost all betel quid chewers were city-dwelling cigarette smokers.

Polymorphism of angiotensin I-converting enzyme gene is related to oral cancer and lymph node metastasis in male betel quid chewers.

Objectives: Angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE), a type I cell surface zinc metallopeptidase, is differentially expressed in several malignancies and plays a role in tumor cell proliferation, tumor cell migration, angiogenesis, and metastatic behavior. We aimed to investigate the effects of ACE gene (rs1799752) variants on oral cancer risk.

Materials And Methods: Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) 32 was used to measure ACE gene polymorphisms in 88 patients with oral precancerous lesion (OPL), 186 33 patients with oral cancer, and 120 control subjects without any oral lesions.

Reasons for permanent tooth extractions in Taiwan.

There has been no study in Taiwan on reasons for extraction of permanent teeth. This study aimed to determine the reasons for permanent teeth extraction in Taiwan. This study performed a secondary data analysis based on the National Health Insurance Research Database.

Population burden of betel quid abuse and its relation to oral premalignant disorders in South, Southeast, and East Asia: an Asian Betel-quid Consortium Study.

Objectives: We investigated the population burden of betel quid abuse and its related impact on oral premalignant disorders (OPDs) in South, Southeast, and East Asia.

Methods: The Asian Betel-Quid Consortium conducted a multistage sampling of 8922 representative participants from Taiwan, Mainland China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. Participants received an interviewer-administered survey and were examined for oral mucosal disorders.

The neoplastic impact of tobacco-free betel-quid on the histological type and the anatomical site of aerodigestive tract cancers.

Little is known about any consequences of swallowing tobacco-free betel-quid (TF-BQ) juice/remnants following chewing and its carcinogenic impact on the upper aerodigestive tract (UADT) to gastrointestinal tract (GIT). We investigated the neoplastic impact of TF-BQ on different anatomical locations along UADT and GIT, and differences according to their histological categories. We conducted a multicenter case-control study examining patients with 2,163 pathology-proven UADT and GIT cancers, comparing them with 2,250 control subjects.

Development and validation of a self-rating scale for betel quid chewers based on a male-prisoner population in Taiwan: the Betel Quid Dependence Scale.

Background: Betel quid is a substance that commonly used among male labor in Taiwan, and the dependence potential has been reported in some studies, but no instrument has been developed specifically to assess areca/betel quid dependence.

Objective: To develop a reliable and valid research instrument/screening tool for the measurement of betel quid dependence.

Methods: There were 223 male prisoners with a history of betel quid chewing behavior before they were incarcerated in Kaohsiung Prison enrolled in this study.

CYP26B1 is a novel candidate gene for betel quid-related oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Substantial epidemiological data suggest a role for environmental factors (for example, the use of alcohol, betel quid (BQ), and cigarettes) in the occurrence of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), but the evidence for the genes involved has been inconsistent. This study was to investigate the role of CYP26B1, together with the use of alcohol, BQ, and cigarettes, on BQ-related OSCC. The association study (247 OSCC cases and 338 controls) was conducted to examine the possible interplay between CYP26B1 polymorphisms and alcohol, BQ, and cigarettes use.

Monoamine oxidase A variants are associated with heavy betel quid use.

Few studies have investigated whether genetic abnormalities predispose individuals to heavy betel quid (BQ) use. One of the major ingredients of BQ, arecoline, is known to affect the expression of monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A). We investigated the extent to which arecoline inhibits MAO-A expression and the role of MAO-A polymorphisms in BQ use in Taiwanese aborigines.

Human dental pulp stem cells derived from different cryopreservation methods of human dental pulp tissues of diseased teeth.

Background: Successful isolation of human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) has been documented at least 120h after tooth extraction. Viable hDPSCs have been isolated chiefly from cryopreserved healthy molar teeth and their undigested dental pulp tissue. Isolation of hDPSCs from diseased but vital teeth after cryopreservation has not been reported.

The use of tobacco-free betel-quid in conjunction with alcohol/tobacco impacts early-onset age and carcinoma distribution for upper aerodigestive tract cancer.

Background:  Recognition of how risk factors affect the age when cancers are first diagnosed may help to establish more appropriate cancer screening and preventive strategies.

Methods:  To investigate the independent and synergistic effects of alcohol, tobacco-free betel-quid (TF-BQ), and cigarette use on diagnosis age and dissemination of upper aerodigestive tract squamous cell carcinoma (UADT-SCC), we recruited pathology-proven 1522 patients with UADT-SCC for study.

Results:  A 49-, 53-, 57-, and 62-year-old stepwise older median age at carcinoma diagnosis was, respectively, found among patients with oral, pharyngeal, esophageal, and laryngeal cancer.

Intercountry prevalences and practices of betel-quid use in south, southeast and eastern Asia regions and associated oral preneoplastic disorders: an international collaborative study by Asian betel-quid consortium of south and east Asia.

Health risks stemming from betel-quid (BQ) chewing are frequently overlooked by people. Updated epidemiological data on the increased BQ use among Asian populations using comparable data collection methods have not been widely available. To investigate the prevalence, patterns of practice and associated types of oral preneoplastic disorders, an intercountry Asian Betel-quid Consortium study (the ABC study) was conducted for Taiwan, Mainland China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Nepal and Sri Lanka.

Influence of dentistry students' e-Learning satisfaction: a questionnaire survey.

Dental school graduates operating on patients without having had sufficient practice in school is potentially dangerous to the patients. In order to minimize this danger, it is necessary to establish a virtual learning environment for students. In this study, we incorporated DentSim, a clinical dentistry simulator, into an e-Learning platform.

The assessment for sensitivity of a NO2 gas sensor with ZnGa2O4/ZnO core-shell nanowires--a novel approach.

The application of novel core-shell nanowires composed of ZnGa2O4/ZnO to improve the sensitivity of NO2 gas sensors is demonstrated in this study. The growth of ZnGa2O4/ZnO core-shell nanowires is performed by reactive evaporation on patterned ZnO:Ga/SiO2/Si templates at 600 °C. This is to form the homogeneous structure of the sensors investigated in this report to assess their sensitivity in terms of NO2 detection.

Expression of BUBR1 in human oral potentially malignant disorders and squamous cell carcinoma.

Objective: BUBR1 is one of the key components of the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) machinery and is activated in response to kinetochore tension. Defects in the SAC contribute to an increased rate of aneuploidization during tumorigenesis. The aim of the present study was to examine the immunohistochemical expression of BUBR1 protein for human oral squamous cell carcinogenesis.