Retraction Note: Temporal activation of anti- and pro-apoptotic factors in human gingival fibroblasts infected with the periodontal pathogen, Porphyromonas gingivalis: potential role of bacterial proteases in host signalling.

The Editor has retracted this article [1] following an investigation by the University of South Alabama which found.

Cost of establishing a general dentistry department in a small or medium-sized hospital.

To contribute to future dental healthcare policies, this study compiled data on hospital expenses and follow-ups conducted after a hospital dentistry department was established. In addition, the management status and reports on the utility and challenges of establishing a dentistry department were analyzed. The dentistry department was established through fund raising and inaugurated in May 2009.

C-reactive protein and incident hypertension in a worksite population of Japanese men.

Inflammation plays a key role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases via the development of atherosclerosis. Here, we evaluated the impact of serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and the white blood cell (WBC) count on the risk of hypertension in middle-aged Japanese men at a work site. We evaluated a total of 2991 Japanese male workers without hypertension who ranged in age from 18 to 64 years (mean age 40.

Anticancer effect of novel platinum nanocomposite beads on oral squamous cell carcinoma cells.

Nanoparticles are used in industry and medicine, because of their physiochemical properties, such as size, charge, large surface area and surface reactivity. Recently, metal nanoparticles were reported to show cell toxicity on cancer cells. In this study, we focused novel platinum nanoparticles-conjugated latex beads (P2VPs), platinum nanocomposite (PtNCP) beads, and investigated the possibility to incorporate novel anti-cancer effect of these combined nanoparticles.

Impact of serum uric acid on incident hypertension in a worksite population of Japanese men.

Objective: Higher levels of serum uric acid are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, which may be confounded by comorbidities. We investigated the effects of serum uric acid on the risk of hypertension in Japanese men at a worksite.

Methods: We evaluated a total of 2335 Japanese male workers without hypertension who ranged in age from 18 to 64 years at a worksite in 2009.

Tooth loss, swallowing dysfunction and mortality in Japanese older adults receiving home care services.

Aim: Severe tooth loss and swallowing dysfunction occur more frequently in dependent older adult populations. Poor oral health and functional status are expected to have a negative impact on general health. We examined whether mortality is related to the number of teeth and swallowing function in dependent older Japanese individuals receiving home care services.

Swallowing disorders and 1-year functional decline in community-dwelling older adults receiving home care.

The purpose of this study was to clarify the effect of swallowing disorders on functional decline in community-dwelling older adults receiving home care. This was a 1-year follow-up survey of 176 individuals ≥60 years living at home and receiving homecare services, without total dependence in basic daily living activities, in two mid-sized municipalities in Fukuoka, Japan. Functional decline was measured using the Barthel index (BI), and the primary outcome was total dependence in basic daily living activities (BI ≤ 20 points).

Sprouty2 is involved in the control of osteoblast proliferation and differentiation through the FGF and BMP signaling pathways.

Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) play essential roles in bone formation and osteoblast activity through the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and Smad pathways. Sprouty family members are intracellular inhibitors of the FGF signaling pathway, and four orthologs of Sprouty have been identified in mammals. In vivo analyses have revealed that Sprouty2 is associated with bone formation.

Intensity of singular stress fields of wedge-shaped defect in human tooth due to occlusal force before and after restoration with composite resins.

Wedge-shaped defects are frequently observed on the cervical region of the human tooth. Previously, most studies explained that improper tooth-brushing causes such defects. However, recent clinical observation suggested that the repeated stress due to occlusal force may induce the formation of these wedge-shaped defects.

Data in support of the bone analysis of NOD-SCID mice treated with zoledronic acid and prednisolone.

This paper reports data on the bone, specifically the tibia and mandible, of nonobese diabetic mice with severe combined immunodeficiency disease (NOD-SCID mice) treated with zoledronic acid (ZA) and prednisolone (PSL). The data described here are related to the research article titled "Zoledronic acid basically increases circulating soluble RANKL level in mice, and in glucocorticoid-administrated mice, more increases lymphocytes derived sRANKL by bacterial endotoxic stimuli" [1]. The present data and the NOD-SCID mice experiments described contain insights into the role of bone-remodeling factors induced by ZA treatment.

Zoledronic acid increases the circulating soluble RANKL level in mice, with a further increase in lymphocyte-derived soluble RANKL in zoledronic acid- and glucocorticoid-treated mice stimulated with bacterial lipopolysaccharide.

The nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate (BP) zoledronic acid (ZA) is a potent antiresorptive drug used in conjunction with standard cancer therapy to treat osteolysis or hypercalcemia due to malignancy. However, it is unclear how ZA influences the circulating levels of bone remodeling factors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of ZA on the serum levels of soluble receptor activator of NF-kB ligand (sRANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG).

Serum antibody to Porphyromonas gingivalis and periodontitis progression: the Hisayama Study.

Aim: To assess the effectiveness of serum titres of antibody to Porphyromonas gingivalis in the prediction of periodontitis progression in a community-dwelling adult population.

Materials And Methods: This 4-year follow-up cohort study included 183 Japanese individuals (75 men and 108 women) aged 40-49 years. The clinical attachment level was measured at two sites on all teeth present at baseline and follow-up, and periodontitis progression was defined as progression in attachment loss of ≥3 mm at ≥2 measurement sites.

Risk factors for reduced salivary flow rate in a Japanese population: the Hisayama Study.

The purpose of this study was to determine distinct risk factors causing reduced salivary flow rate in a community-dwelling population using a prospective cohort study design. This was a 5-year follow-up survey of 1,377 community-dwelling Japanese individuals aged ≥40 years. The salivary flow rate was evaluated at baseline and follow-up by collecting stimulated saliva.

Fabrication of hydroxyapatite thin films on zirconia using a sputtering technique.

Hydroxyapatite (HA) thin films were prepared on a zirconia (ZrO2) substrate using a sputtering technique, and the film was also coated on a titanium (Ti) substrate for comparison. The coated films were recrystallised using a hydrothermal treatment to reduce film dissolution. The films were then characterised by X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

Characterization of Sr-substituted hydroxyapatite thin film by sputtering technique from mixture targets of hydroxyapatite and strontium apatite.

Sr-substituted hydroxyapatite thin films were prepared by sputtering technique from mixture targets of hydroxyapatite (HA) and strontium apatite (SrAp). The HA and SrAp powders were mixed at 0-100% Sr/(Sr+Ca) target ratios. The coated films were recrystallized by a hydrothermal treatment to reduce film dissolution.

Serum total cholesterol concentration and 10-year mortality in an 85-year-old population.

Little is known about the association between total cholesterol (TC) and all-cause mortality in the elderly (especially the very elderly). Here we examined the association between TC and all-cause mortality in 207 very elderly (85-year-old) participants. In 2003, we performed a baseline laboratory blood examination, and blood pressure (BP) and body mass index (BMI) measurements, and lifestyle questionnaires were completed by the participants.

Nasopalatine duct cyst developed in association with dental implant treatment: A case report and histopathological observation.

Placement of an anterior maxillary implant has a risk of interfering with the nasopalatine canal in the maxilla. This case report presents one of our experiences of a nasopalatine duct cyst that developed in association with a dental implant treatment. A 45-year-old man received an implant in the maxillary left central incisor due to root fracture.

Dental application of novel finite element analysis software for three-dimensional finite element modeling of a dentulous mandible from its computed tomography images.

This study focused on the application of novel finite-element analysis software for constructing a finite-element model from the computed tomography data of a human dentulous mandible. The finite-element model is necessary for evaluating the mechanical response of the alveolar part of the mandible, resulting from occlusal force applied to the teeth during biting. Commercially available patient-specific general computed tomography-based finite-element analysis software was solely applied to the finite-element analysis for the extraction of computed tomography data.

Jaw-opening force test to screen for Dysphagia: preliminary results.

Objective: To assess the jaw-opening force test (JOFT) for dysphagia screening.

Design: Criterion standard.

Setting: University dental hospital.

Bacterial promotion of bisphosphonate-induced osteonecrosis in Wistar rats.

Clinically, bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis (BRON) only occurs in the jaw (BRONJ). We aimed to determine differences between the jaw and other bones, as well as the relationship between periodontal pathogens and BRON. Twelve male Wistar rats were divided into two groups: group Z (n=6) were subcutaneously injected with zoledronic acid weekly for 4 weeks; group C (n=6) were injected with saline.

Proteomics-based identification of novel proteins in temporal tendons of patients with masticatory muscle tendon--aponeurosis hyperplasia.

Masticatory muscle tendon-aponeurosis hyperplasia (MMTAH) is a new disease associated with limited mouth opening that is often misdiagnosed as a temporomandibular disorder; subsequently, patients are mistakenly treated with irreversible operations. Due to the poor presentation and characterization of symptoms, the underlying pathological conditions remain unclear. We have previously conducted a proteomic analysis of tendons derived from one MMTAH subject and one facial deformity subject using two-dimensional fluorescence difference gel electrophoresis and liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry.

Activities of daily living dependency and disease-specific mortality during 12-year follow-up in an 80-year-old population.

Background And Aims: Although total mortality is likely to be higher in elderly individuals with frailty or impaired activities of daily living (ADL), little is known about the relationships between disease-specific mortality and ADL dependency in the elderly. Therefore, we examined whether 12-year disease-specific mortality may be associated with ADL dependency in an 80-year-old population.

Methods: In 1998, of 1,282 community-dwelling residents of Japan's Fukuoka Prefecture, 824 (64.

Increased levels of interleukin-6 in synovial lavage fluid from patients with mandibular condyle fractures: correlation with magnetic resonance evidence of joint effusion.

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to investigate the relation between magnetic resonance (MR) evidence of joint effusion and concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6, in washed-out synovial fluid samples obtained from patients with mandibular condyle fractures.

Patients And Methods: Twenty-five joints in 23 patients with mandibular condyle fractures were examined. Computed tomography was used to determine the position of the fracture and MR examination was performed in all cases.

Significant expression of thyroid transcription factor-1 in pulmonary squamous cell carcinoma detected by SPT24 monoclonal antibody and CSA-II system.

In contrast to the usefulness of thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF-1) in distinguishing primary adenocarcinoma of the lung from metastatic lesions, TTF-1 expression in pulmonary squamous cell carcinoma is reported to be at low level and not a suitable immunohistochemical marker. We hypothesized that the highly sensitive detection system, CSA-II, can visualize even faint expression of TTF-1 in pulmonary squamous cell carcinoma. In this study, 2 commercially available clones of TTF-1 monoclonal antibody, 8G7G3/1 and SPT24, were used for staining 38 cases of pulmonary squamous cell carcinoma, in combination with the CSA-II and the conventional detection system, EnVision.

Surgical approach to the pterygopalatine fossa-comparison between anterior approach and lateral approach.

The anterior and the lateral approach for resecting an invading tumor in the pterygopalatine fossa region were compared. An anterior approach was applied for resecting a malignancy that originated from the maxillary tuberosity, upper hard plate, and maxillary sinus, and a lateral approach was applied for resecting a malignancy that originated from the upper gingiva and buccal mucosa. The anterior approach was capable of exposing the whole maxilla, although it was difficult to achieve such exposure by the lateral approach.