Self-reported oral health is associated with systemic health outcomes and all-cause mortality.

Background: Self-reported oral health questions (OHQs) are used commonly for epidemiologic surveillance of periodontal disease (PD). The authors' objective was to investigate how OHQs are associated with well-established systemic comorbidities of PD and their impact on all-cause mortality. The authors hypothesized that OHQs exhibit associations with systemic comorbidities similar to PD.

Tooth Retention and Clinical and Radiographic Long-Term Results Among Patients Treated with the Full-Mouth Laser-Assisted New Attachment Procedure (LANAP): A Case Series.

There are limited long-term treatment results for patients who receive full-mouth laser-assisted new attachment procedure (LANAP). The present study examined cases of full-mouth LANAP therapy for tooth retention, including clinical and radiographic changes. Sixty-six generalized stage III/IV periodontitis patients aged 30 to 76 years were identified via consecutive retrospective chart reviews in a private practice limited to periodontics.

Candidate loci shared among periodontal disease, diabetes and bone density.

Introduction: While periodontal disease (PD) has been associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and osteoporosis, the underlying genetic mechanisms for these associations remain largely unknown. The aim of this study is to apply cross-trait genetic analyses to investigate the potentially shared biology among PD, T2D, and bone mineral density (BMD) by assessing pairwise genetic correlations and searching for shared polymorphisms.

Methods: We applied cross-trait genetic analyses leveraging genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary statistics for: Periodontitis/loose teeth from the UKBB/GLIDE consortium (PerioLT, N=506594), T2D from the DIAGRAM consortium (N=228825), and BMD from the GEFOS consortium (N=426824).

Number of teeth is associated with all-cause and disease-specific mortality.

Background: Tooth loss has been shown to correlate with multiple systemic comorbidities. However, the associations between the number of remaining natural teeth (NoT) and all-cause mortality have not been explored extensively. We aimed to investigate whether having fewer NoT imposes a higher risk in mortality.

Two-Sample Mendelian Randomization Analysis of Associations Between Periodontal Disease and Risk of Cancer.

Background: Observational studies indicate that periodontal disease may increase the risk of colorectal, lung, and pancreatic cancers. Using a 2-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis, we assessed whether a genetic predisposition index for periodontal disease was associated with colorectal, lung, or pancreatic cancer risks.

Methods: Our primary instrument included single nucleotide polymorphisms with strong genome-wide association study evidence for associations with chronic, aggressive, and/or severe periodontal disease (rs729876, rs1537415, rs2738058, rs12461706, rs16870060, rs2521634, rs3826782, and rs7762544).

Number of teeth is associated with hip fracture and femoral neck bone mineral density in the NHANES.

Purpose/introduction: Tooth loss has been found to be associated with fractures and osteoporosis. However, the associations between number of teeth with bone mineral density as well as with hip fractures have not been explored in the same study setting.

Methods: Data from the cross-sectional National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2005-2010, 2013-2014, and 2017-2018) with completed femoral neck bone mineral density (BMD) measurements, osteoporosis questionnaires, and dentition examinations were analyzed.

Genome-wide analysis of dental caries and periodontitis combining clinical and self-reported data.

Dental caries and periodontitis account for a vast burden of morbidity and healthcare spending, yet their genetic basis remains largely uncharacterized. Here, we identify self-reported dental disease proxies which have similar underlying genetic contributions to clinical disease measures and then combine these in a genome-wide association study meta-analysis, identifying 47 novel and conditionally-independent risk loci for dental caries. We show that the heritability of dental caries is enriched for conserved genomic regions and partially overlapping with a range of complex traits including smoking, education, personality traits and metabolic measures.

In vivo identification of Bmp2-correlation networks during fracture healing by means of a limb-specific conditional inactivation of Bmp2.

Bmp2 is known to play an essential role in the initiation of fracture healing via periosteal activation. Specifically, activation and subsequent differentiation of periosteal progenitor cells requires Bmp2 signaling for activation of the osteo-chondrogenic pathway. Here, we explored the interactive transcriptional gene-gene interplays between Bmp2 and 150 known candidate genes during fracture repair.

Periodontal disease, tooth loss and colorectal cancer risk: Results from the Nurses' Health Study.

Periodontal diseases including tooth loss might increase systemic inflammation, lead to immune dysregulation and alter gut microbiota, thereby possibly influencing colorectal carcinogenesis. Few epidemiological studies have examined the association between periodontal diseases and colorectal cancer (CRC) risk. We collected information on the periodontal disease (defined as history of periodontal bone loss) and number of natural teeth in the Nurses' Health Study.

Treatment of Moderate to Severe Buccal Gingival Recession Defects with Placental Allografts.

A multicenter prospective consecutive case series study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of placental allografts to correct moderate to severe buccogingival recession defects. Nineteen healthy patients, 13 women and 6 men, ranging in age from 29 to 63 years, with 43 maxillary and mandibular gingival recession defects of > 4 mm deep were included. Clinical examination at multiple postsurgery time points revealed healthy maturation of gingival tissues with normal color and texture matched to adjacent soft tissue areas.

Using genetics to test the causal relationship of total adiposity and periodontitis: Mendelian randomization analyses in the Gene-Lifestyle Interactions and Dental Endpoints (GLIDE) Consortium.

Background: The observational relationship between obesity and periodontitis is widely known, yet causal evidence is lacking. Our objective was to investigate causal associations between periodontitis and body mass index (BMI).

Methods: We performed Mendelian randomization analyses with BMI-associated loci combined in a genetic risk score (GRS) as the instrument for BMI.

CD147 and Ki-67 overexpression confers poor prognosis in squamous cell carcinoma of oral tongue: a tissue microarray study.

Objective: Squamous cell carcinoma of the oral tongue (SCCOT) exhibits high risk for recurrence and regional metastasis even after surgical resection. We assessed the clinicopathologic and prognostic significance of a group of functionally related biomarkers.

Study Design: We used a tissue microarray consisting of SCCOT from 32 patients for this study.

Cardiovascular risks associated with incident and prevalent periodontal disease.

Aim: While prevalent periodontal disease associates with cardiovascular risk, little is known about how incident periodontal disease influences future vascular risk. We compared effects of incident versus prevalent periodontal disease in developing major cardiovascular diseases (CVD), myocardial infarction (MI), ischaemic stroke and total CVD.

Material And Methods: In a prospective cohort of 39,863 predominantly white women, age ≥45 years and free of cardiovascular disease at baseline were followed for an average of 15.

Network biology of tumor stem-like cells identified a regulatory role of CBX5 in lung cancer.

Mounting evidence links cancers possessing stem-like properties with worse prognosis. Network biology with signal processing mechanics was explored here using expression profiles of a panel of tumor stem-like cells (TSLCs). The profiles were compared to their parental tumor cells (PTCs) and the human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), for the identification of gene chromobox homolog 5, CBX5, as a potential target for lung cancer.

White blood cell count and psychomotor cognitive performance in the elderly.

Background: White blood cell (WBC) count is associated with many inflammatory diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and hypertension. Research on the relationship of WBC count and cognition in the elderly is relatively sparse. This study examined the association between WBC count and cognitive performance in older adults.

Oral health status and self-reported functional dependence in community-dwelling older adults.

Objectives: To assess the strength of association between graded groups of oral health status and self-reported functional dependence in community-dwelling older adults.

Design: Population-based cross-sectional study.

Setting: National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999 to 2004.

The epithelial-mesenchymal transition mediator S100A4 maintains cancer-initiating cells in head and neck cancers.

Cancer-initiating cells (CIC) comprise a rare subpopulation of cells in tumors that are proposed to be responsible for tumor growth. Starting from CICs identified in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC), termed head and neck cancer-initiating cells (HN-CIC), we determined as a candidate stemness-maintaining molecule for HN-CICs the proinflammatory mediator S100A4, which is also known to be an inducer of epithelial-mesenchymal transition. S100A4 knockdown in HN-CICs reduced their self-renewal capability and their stemness and tumorigenic properties, both in vitro and in vivo.

Elimination of head and neck cancer initiating cells through targeting glucose regulated protein78 signaling.

Background: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a highly lethal cancer that contains cellular and functional heterogeneity. Previously, we enriched a subpopulation of highly tumorigenic head and neck cancer initiating cells (HN-CICs) from HNSCC. However, the molecular mechanisms by which to govern the characteristics of HN-CICs remain unclear.

A family history of diabetes mellitus is associated with poor glycemic control and increased metabolic risks among people with diabetes: data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2004.

Background: Several lines of evidence from studies involving both general and non-diabetic populations have shown that a family history of diabetes was associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular diseases and metabolic alterations. However, little is known about the relationship of a family history of diabetes to glycemic control and metabolic risks among people with diabetes.

Methods: We conducted a cross-section study of 946 diabetic adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 1999 and 2004.

Inverse association between insulin resistance and gait speed in nondiabetic older men: results from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2002.

Background: Recent studies have revealed the associations between insulin resistance (IR) and geriatric conditions such as frailty and cognitive impairment. However, little is known about the relation of IR to physical impairment and limitation in the aging process, eg. slow gait speed and poor muscle strength.

Gender-specific association between self-reported sleep duration and falls in high-functioning older adults.

Background: Prior studies have shown that sleep disturbances are related to falling and its risk factors, such as poorer cognition, depression, and physical function. However, little is know about the gender-specific associations between falling and sleep duration.

Methods: Study participants were from the annual Health Examination for the Elderly Program in the National Taiwan University Hospital (135 women and 121 men, mean age 72.

Previous hepatitis a virus infection is related to slower psychomotor speed in elderly adults.

Background: Patients with chronic viral hepatitis are at a higher risk for cognitive dysfunction. Little is known about the association between hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection and cognitive function.

Methods: From the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999-2002, we selected study participants (> or =60 years, n = 1,529) without hepatitis B, C, or D virus infection; without previous hepatitis A vaccination; and without abnormal liver function.

Metabolic risks, white matter hyperintensities, and arterial stiffness in high-functioning healthy adults.

Background: Arterial stiffness, an age-related feature and measured noninvasively by pulse wave velocity (PWV), is associated with a variety of cardiovascular diseases. Although white matter lesion (WML), representing cerebrovascular micro-angiopathy, is typically considered as a preclinical cardiovascular disease, little is know about the association between PWV and WML. The aim of this study is to examine the association between PWV and WML.