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Camera image-based deep learning (DL) techniques have achieved promising results in dental caries screening. To apply the intraoral camera image-based DL technique for dental caries detection and assess its diagnostic performance, we employed the ensemble technique in the image classification task. 2,682 intraoral camera images were used as the dataset for image classification according to dental caries presence and caries-lesion localization using DL models such as ResNet-50, Inception-v3, Inception-ResNet-v2, and Faster R-convolutional neural network according to diagnostic study design. 534 participants whose mean age [SD] was 47.67 [±13.94] years were enrolled. The dataset was divided into training (56.0%), validation (14.0%), and test subset (30.0%) annotated by one experienced dentist as a reference standard about dental caries detection and lesion location. The confusion matrix, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC), and average precision (AP) were evaluated for performance analysis. In the end-to-end dental caries image classification, the ensemble DL models had consistently improved performance, in which as the best results, the ensemble model of Inception-ResNet-v2 achieved 0.94 of AUROC and 0.97 of AP. On the other hand, the explainable model achieved 0.91 of AUROC and 0.96 of AP after the ensemble application. For dental caries classification using intraoral camera images, the application of ensemble techniques exhibited consistently improved performance regardless of the DL models. Furthermore, the trial to create an explainable DL model based on carious lesion detection yielded favorable results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the biological and clinical effect of professional toothbrushing on the periodontal health of patients with gingivitis. Methods: We enrolled 21 university students with gingivitis in Jinju City in this study between April 24 and October 28, 2014. A dental hygienist performed a professional toothbrushing routine on the participants twice, once at baseline and after 3 months. Oral examinations were performed at baseline, 3, and 6 months to assess the periodontal health. The patient hygiene performance index, gingival bleeding rate, periodontal pocket depth, amount of gingival sulcus fluid, and number of bacterial colonies in the gingival sulcus (CFU/mL) were evaluated during the oral examination. Results: The patient hygiene performance index, gingival bleeding rate, pocket depth, amount of gingival sulcus fluid, and CFU/mL within the gingival sulcus significantly decreased after professional toothbrushing (p < 0.05), indicating an improvement in the periodontal health. The patient hygiene performance index, gingival bleeding rate, pocket depth, amount of gingival sulcus fluid, and CFU/mL within the gingival sulcus decreased more among those whose pocket depth was 4–5 mm than among those whose PD was ≤3 mm (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Professional toothbrushing improved the periodontal health in patients with gingivitis in respect of both biological and clinical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Some kinds of electrolysed water have been reported to exhibit antioxidant and bactericidal activity. However, studies on the effect of electrolysed hydrogen-rich water (EHW) with a neutral pH on cariogenic bacteria are limited. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of using EHW as a mouthwash by examining its various effects on cariogenic bacteria. Materials and Methods: To test the bactericidal and anti-biofilm formation effects of EHW on Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus, bacterial growth curves, colony-forming unit (CFU) counts, and crystal violet staining of biofilms were examined after exposing the bacterial pellets to EHW or tap water as a control for one minute. In addition, the expressions of glucosyltransferase and glucan-binding proteins encoding genes were examined using real-time PCR. Results: Bacterial growth and biofilm formation were inhibited, and the number of CFUs was significantly reduced in the EHW group compared to the control group. The expression of genes encoding glucosyltransferases (gtfB, gtfC, and gtfI) and glucan-binding proteins (gbpC and dblB) were also decreased in the EHW group compared to the control. Conclusions: Exposing cariogenic bacteria to EHW at neutral pH for one minute can effectively inhibit bacterial growth and biofilm formation in vitro, suggesting that EHW is a promising mouthwash. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Chewing ability may reflect the overall oral health, which affects the general health of the elderly. Therefore, we assessed the association between subjective chewing ability and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among the elderly.Methods: We analysed the data of 3034 elderly people aged ≥65 years from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey that was conducted by the Korean government from 2013 to 2015 (KNHANES-VI). Subjective chewing ability was evaluated using a questionnaire, and HRQOL was assessed using EuroQol 5-dimension (EQ-5D) instrument by trained examiners. Covariates, such as socio-demographic, oral health-related and general health-related variables, were investigated.Results: Logistic regression analysis showed that chewing ability was significantly associated with HRQOL in both crude and adjusted model for covariates such as age, gender, economic activity, residence, education, smoking, alcohol, hypertension, diabetes, remaining teeth, denture, CPI, tooth brushing and oral hygiene (crude OR, 2.67; 95% CI, 2.23-3.20) (adjusted OR, 2.36; 95% CI, 1.95-2.86). Chewing ability was also significantly associated with most dimensions of EQ-5D, such as motor ability, self-care, daily activities, pain and discomfort, and anxiety and depression (P < 0.05).Conclusion: Chewing ability was significantly associated with HRQOL, suggesting that elderly people with low chewing ability are more likely to have poor health-related quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between the activities of daily living and the oral health‐related quality of life and dementia in older adults. Methods: Over a period of 18 months, we visited 12 elderly care facilities and recruited 375 participants, 345 of whom were selected to undergo oral health examinations and oral health‐related surveys. Each investigation was carried out face‐to‐face by a professional worker. Results: Cognitive ability was found to be good when the results of the activities of daily living and the oral health‐related quality of life examinations were good. If the results of the activities of daily living examination were bad, the odds ratio of dementia was 2.66, and adjusted odds ratio for age, sex, residence type, education level and denture was 2.99, representing a significant difference (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Most oral problems are not simply the outcome of aging, with oral hygiene management being the most important determining factor. Oral health problems can be prevented, and in order to improve the quality of life of older adults, attention must be paid to oral healthcare. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2018; 18: 943–949. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective The association between social capital and oral health had been reported in various ways, but still remains unclear. We investigated the association between the social capital of the elderly living in a rural region and their edentulism and chewing ability. Methods A total of 241 elderly aged ≥ 70 years living in a rural city of Korea participated in this cross-sectional study. Their social capital was surveyed by questionnaire assessing its network and trust dimensions. Their edentulism and chewing ability were assessed by oral examination and chewing gum whose color changes based on the mastication performance. Results The mean age of the participants was 82.7 (ranged 71 to 101) years and 68.8% of them were female. In the binomial regression analysis, the general network aspect of the network dimension was significantly associated with chewing ability, of which the prevalence ratio was 1.88 (95% CI: 1.16-3.06) in the age, sex, education and marital status-adjusted model. Conclusion Our findings suggest that social capital, such as a poor social network, is associated with poor chewing ability in the elderly living in rural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Because the oral hygiene is poorly prioritized in the immediate post-stroke period, we implemented an oral hygiene care program (OHCP) for stroke in-patients and evaluated its persistence after discharge. Method: In all, 62 patients with stroke who were admitted to the rehabilitation ward were randomly assigned to two groups: 33 patients to the intervention group and 29 to the control group. The OHCP, including tooth brushing education and professional tooth cleaning, was administered to the intervention group twice a week six times during in-hospital rehabilitation. Oral health status was examined both at baseline and three months after discharge from the hospital. Oral hygiene status was examined at threeto four-day intervals five times during the hospitalization period. Results: After OHCP, oral hygiene status including the plaque index, calculus index, and O'Leary plaque index improved significantly in the intervention group, compared to the control group (p<0.05). In the intervention group, after administration of the OHCP for the fourth time, the O'Leary index improved significantly, and remained high when checked three months after discharge (p<0.001). Conclusions: An OHCP conducted during in-hospital rehabilitation was effective in improving oral health and plaque control performance among patients with stroke, with effects still seen three months after discharge from the hospital. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prebiotic synthesis of canonical nucleobases from HCN is a cornerstone for the RNA world hypothesis. However, their role in the primordial pathways to RNA is still debated. The very same process starting from HCN also gives rise to orotic acid, which (via orotidine) plays a crucial role in extant biology in the de novo synthesis of uridine and cytidine, the informational base-pairs in RNA. However, orotidine itself is absent in RNA. Given the prebiotic and biological relevance of orotic acid vis-à-vis uracil, we investigated orotidine-containing RNA oligonucleotides and show that they have severely compromised base-pairing properties. While not unexpected, these results suggest that the emergence of extant RNA cannot just be a consequence of the plausible prebiotic formation of its chemical constituents/building blocks. In combination with other investigations on alternative prebiotic nucleobases, sugars, and linkers, these findings imply that the selection of the components of extant RNA occurred at a higher hierarchical level of an oligomer/polymer based on its functional properties-pointing to a systems chemistry emergence of RNA from a library of precursors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Relationship between masticatory function and cognitive impairment had been suggested but still understudied. We investigated the association between chewing ability and cognitive impairment among the elderly living in a rural region. Methods A total of 295 elderly individuals aged ≥70 years in a rural city of Korea participated in a cross-sectional study. Trained nurses conducted interviews and assessed chewing ability using gum that changed color based on chewing performance. Cognitive impairment was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination for Dementia Screening (MMSE-DS) of Korean vesrsion. Socio-demographic characteristics, activities of daily living (ADL), Mini-Nutritional Assessment (MNA) were also assessed using questionnaires as potential confounders. Results The mean age of the participants was 81.4 (ranged 70–102) years and 67.8% of them were female. Participants with low chewing ability were significantly older, dependent, and had lower MNA and MMSE-DS scores. The elderly with middle or low chewing ability had significantly higher risk for having cognitive impairment than those with higher chewing ability. Conclusion Our findings suggest that poor chewing ability is associated with cognitive impairment or dementia in the elderly living in rural area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Due to physical impairments of stroke patients oral health tends to deteriorate, which may have an impact on the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the OHRQoL and analyze its related factors among stroke patients cared for at home in Korea. Methods OHRQoL of 549 stroke patients aged over 50 who received care at home was assessed by Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) in a City, Korea, from May to June 2009. Trained researchers and five nurses conducted interviews with patients or caregivers in their homes using structured questionnaires. Demographic, general health, stroke, and oral health related variables were surveyed. Statistically, t -test, an analysis of variance (ANOVA), and multiple regression analyses were used to evaluate the relationship between OHRQoL and various covariates. Results Mean of total OHIP-14 score was 35.7 ± 10.0. Age, activity of daily living (ADL) ( p < 0.001), subjective general and oral health status ( p < 0.001), degree of disability ( p < 0.001), frequency of tooth brushing ( p < 0.001), use of dental floss ( p < 0.01), missing teeth, and use of denture ( p < 0.001) showed significant association with the OHIP-14 scores. In multiple regression analyses, ADL, frequency of tooth brushing per day, subjective general status, and oral health status were identified as significant factors with the OHIP-14 scores in stroke patients who received care at home. Conclusion Among strong patients who received care at home, participants who had more severe physical disability, poorer oral hygiene and more missing teeth showed poorer OHRQoL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A highly regioselective route was established to 2-aryl-, 2-cyclohexyl-, and 2-(2-arylethyl)4-alkylthiophenes, which are potential candidates as liquid crystalline compounds of low viscosity. The key synthetic intermediates, 2-substituted-4-(chloromethyl)thiophenes 6, 14, and 20 were prepared respectively from the reactions of β, γ-epoxycarbonyl compounds 5, 13, and 19 with Lawesson's reagent in the presence of a catalytic amount of p -toluenesulfonic acid. The epoxycarbonyl compounds were obtained from the TiCl[sub 4]-mediated reactions of 2-(chloromethyl)-3-(trimethylsliyl)propene (10) with acid chlorides followed by epoxidation with m-chloroperoxybenzoic acid, or from prior epoxidation followed by oxidation with pyridinium dichromate of homoallylic alcohols 3. The homoallylic alcohols 3 were synthesized from the reactions of 2-(chloromethyl)-3-(trichlorosilyl)propene (2) with aldehydes in N, N-dimethylformamide. Copper (I) catalysed cross-coupling reactions of 2-substituted-4-(bromomethyl)thiophenes (which were prepared by transhalogenation of 2-substituted-4- (chloromethyl)thiophenes with NaBr in acetone) with Grignard reagents afforded 2,4-disubstituted thiophenes. Using this method, eleven 2,4-disubstituted thiophenes were synthesized and their potentials as liquid crystalline compound of low viscosity were examined. The synthesized 2-(4-cyanophenyl)-4-pentylthiophene was observed to have a lower melting point than the corresponding 2,5-disubstituted thiophene. This observation is consistent with the expectation from the basis of molecular linearity which can affect the viscosity and/or melting point of crystalline compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oral cancer (OC) has been attracted research attention in recent years as result of its high morbidity and mortality. Costunolide (CTD) possesses potential anticancer and bioactive abilities that have been confirmed in several types of cancers. However, its effects on oral cancer remain unclear. This study investigated the potential anticancer ability and underlying mechanisms of CTD in OC in vivo and in vitro. Cell viability and anchorage-independent colony formation assays were performed to examine the antigrowth effects of CTD on OC cells; assessments for migration and invasion of OC cells were conducted by transwell; Cell cycle and apoptosis were investigated by flow cytometry and verified by immunoblotting. The results revealed that CTD suppressed the proliferation, migration and invasion of oral cancer cells effectively and induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis; regarding the mechanism, CTD bound to AKT directly by binding assay and repressed AKT activities through kinase assay, which thereby downregulating the downstream of AKT. Furthermore, CTD remarkably promotes the generation of reactive oxygen species by flow cytometry assay, leading to cell apoptosis. Notably, CTD strongly suppresses cell-derived xenograft OC tumor growth in an in vivo mouse model. In conclusion, our results suggested that costunolide might prevent progression of OC and promise to be a novel AKT inhibitor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A metal-mediatedself-pair is described that emulates Watson–Crick base pairproperties in a DNA double helix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence of periodontitis and dyslipidemia continues to increase, and several studies have reported an association between the 2. Therefore, we assessed the relationship between periodontitis and hypertriglyceridemia using propensity score matching to efficiently address confounding factors, as well as complex sample analysis with data from Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey VII (2016-2018). To match the 1:1 ratio between the groups with and without periodontitis, the propensity scores of covariates, such as age, sex, education, income, smoking, drinking, obesity, and diabetes mellitus, were calculated using logistic regression. Both results of logistic regression analysis using complex sample design for whole and matched sample after propensity score matching demonstrated a significant association between hypertriglyceridemia and periodontitis, of which the adjusted odds ratio was 1.28 (95% confidence interval = 1.10-1.50) and 1.29 (95% confidence interval = 1.09-1.52), respectively. Our findings suggest that dental healthcare workers can help raise awareness among patients with periodontitis regarding the association between periodontitis and hypertriglyceridemia, which may help them manage the condition and receive treatment., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2023 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Background: The association between dental amalgam fillings and urine mercury concentrations was investigated in this study to assess the health risks associated with dental amalgams., Methods: This cross-sectional study included 99 women in their 20s who visited the dental clinic in Daegu, Korea. The 99 participants were composed of 68 subjects who had dental amalgam fillings (exposure group) and 31 subjects who did not have dental amalgam fillings (nonexposure group). Oral examinations were conducted by a single dental hygienist, sociodemographic features were investigated as confounding variables, and urine mercury concentrations were measured using an automatic mercury analyzer., Results: The mean±standard deviation of the urine mercury concentrations of the exposure and nonexposure groups were 1.50±1.78 μg/g creatinine and 0.53±0.63 μg/g creatinine, respectively. The exposure group showed significantly higher levels than the nonexposure group (p<0.01). The urine mercury concentration significantly increased with an increase in the number of teeth filled with amalgam, cavity surfaces involved, and number of defective amalgam fillings, and according to the latest exposure time (p<0.001). In the multiple regression analysis of amalgam-related factors and urine mercury concentrations after correction for confounding factors, the urine mercury concentration in the group with six or more amalgam-filled teeth, 11 or more cavity surfaces, and two or more defective amalgams was significantly higher than that in the nonexposure group (p<0.001)., Conclusion: According to this study, exposure to dental amalgams was confirmed to significantly affect urine mercury concentrations.

Background: Oral cancer is one of the most prevalent malignant tumors worldwide. Silibinin has been reported to exert therapeutic effects in various cancer models. However, its mechanism of action in oral cancer remains unclear. We aimed to examine the molecular processes underlying the effects of silibinin in oral cancer in vitro and in vivo as well as its potential anticancer effects. Next, we investigated the molecular processes underlying both in vitro and in vivo outcomes of silibinin treatment on oral cancer. Methods: To investigate the effects of silibinin on the growth of oral cancer cells, cell proliferation and anchorage-independent colony formation tests were conducted on YD10B and Ca9-22 oral cancer cells. The effects of silibinin on the migration and invasion of oral cancer cells were evaluated using transwell assays. Flow cytometry was used to examine apoptosis, cell cycle distribution, and accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The molecular mechanism underlying the anticancer effects of silibinin was explored using immunoblotting. The in vivo effects of silibinin were evaluated using a Ca9-22 xenograft mouse model. Results: Silibinin effectively suppressed YD10B and Ca9-22 cell proliferation and colony formation in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, it induced cell cycle arrest in the G0/G1 phase, apoptosis, and ROS generation in these cells. Furthermore, silibinin inhibited the migration and invasion abilities of YD10B and Ca9-22 cells by regulating the expression of proteins involved in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Western blotting revealed that silibinin downregulated SOD1 and SOD2 and triggered the JNK/c-Jun pathway in oral cancer cells. Silibinin significantly inhibited xenograft tumor growth in nude mice, with no obvious toxicity. Conclusions: Silibinin considerably reduced the development of oral cancer cells by inducing apoptosis, G 0 /G 1 arrest, ROS generation, and activation of the JNK/c-Jun pathway. Importantly, silibinin effectively suppressed xenograft tumor growth in nude mice. Our findings indicate that silibinin may be a promising option for the prevention or treatment of oral cancer., Competing Interests: Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interest exists., (© The author(s).)

Objectives: Population aging is rapidly accelerating worldwide. Oral diseases related to aging are also on the rise. This study examined trends in the incidence of edentulism among the older Korean population using data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service (KNHIS)., Methods: Data on older adults, aged ≥75 years of age, were obtained from the KNHIS for the period 2013-2018. Edentulism was defined as a treatment history of complete dentures in the KNHIS database. The exclusion criteria consisted of both disease codes and treatment codes related to conservative dental treatment, including periodontal and extraction treatment afterward. Crude incidence rates (CIRs) and age-standardized incidence rates (AIRs) with 95% confidence intervals were calculated and reported per 100,000 person-years by the direct method. Trends were tested by Cochrane Armitage models., Results: Statistically significant increasing trends in both CIRs and AIRs were found among the older Korean population registered in the KNHIS (CIRs, 707.92 to 895.92; AIRs, 705.11 to 889.68; p<0.01). The incidence tended to increase in both genders (p<0.01). Both CIRs and AIRs in specific regions also showed slight but significant annual increases except for Jeju Island (p<0.01 or <0.05). The incidence showed increasing trends (p<0.01) in all income quintiles apart from the highest quintile. The edentulism incidence was highest in the lowest income group (the first quintile)., Conclusions: Our data showed that the incidence of edentulism among the elderly showed an increasing trend from 2013 to 2018. This result provides a basis for future epidemiological studies on the incidence of edentulism in the older Korean population.

Background/aim: [6]-Gingerol, a compound extracted from ginger, has been studied for its therapeutic potential in various types of cancers. However, its effects on oral cancer remain largely unknown. Here, we aimed to investigate the potential anticancer activity and underlying mechanisms of [6]-gingerol in oral cancer cells., Materials and Methods: We analyzed the antigrowth effects of [6]-gingerol in oral cancer cell lines by cell proliferation, colony formation, migration, and invasion assays. We detected cell cycle and apoptosis with flow cytometry and further explored the mechanisms of action by immunoblotting., Results: [6]-Gingerol significantly inhibited oral cancer cell growth by inducing apoptosis and cell cycle G2/M phase arrest. [6]-Gingerol also inhibited oral cancer cell migration and invasion by up-regulating E-cadherin and down-regulating N-cadherin and vimentin. Moreover, [6]-gingerol induced the activation of AMPK and suppressed the AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in YD10B and Ca9-22 cells., Conclusion: [6]-Gingerol exerts anticancer activity by activating AMPK and suppressing the AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in oral cancer cells. Our findings highlight the potential of [6]-gingerol as a therapeutic drug for oral cancer treatment., (Copyright © 2021 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.)

Background: 20(S)-Ginsenoside Rh2 (G-Rh2) has demonstrated therapeutic effects in many types of cancers. We aimed to investigate the potential anticancer activity and underlying mechanisms of G-Rh2 in oral cancer cells., Materials and Methods: The antigrowth effect of G-Rh2 in oral cancer cells was stimulated by cell proliferation, soft agar colony formation, and migration and invasion assay. The cell cycle and apoptosis were detected by flow cytometry. The underlying mechanism of G-Rh2 in oral cancer cells was explored by immunoblotting., Results: G-Rh2 significantly inhibited oral cancer cell growth by inducing apoptosis and cell cycle G 0 /G 1 -phase arrest. G-Rh2 inhibited oral cancer cell migration and invasion through regulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related proteins. G-Rh2 inhibited the Src/Raf/ERK signaling pathway in YD10B and Ca9-22 cells., Conclusion: G-Rh2 exerted anticancer activity in vitro by inhibiting the Src/Raf/ERK signaling pathway in oral cancer. G-Rh2 is a potential therapeutic drug for oral cancer treatment., (Copyright© 2021, International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.)

Background: Short stature is defined as a height below the 3rd percentile or more than two standard deviations below the mean for a given age, sex, and population. There have been inconsistent results regarding craniofacial morphology in short-statured children. This study aimed to analyze the differences between short-statured children with growth hormone deficiency, idiopathic short-statured children, and normal children., Methods: Thirty-one short-statured children with growth hormone deficiency, 32 idiopathic short-statured children, and 32 healthy children were enrolled in this study. The measurements of their craniofacial structures from lateral cephalograms were evaluated., Results: There were statistically significant differences among the three groups seven variables (anterior cranial base length, posterior cranial base length, total cranial base length, upper posterior facial height, posterior total facial height, mandibular ramus length, and overall mandibular length) in the linear measurement and five variables (saddle angle, gonial angle, mandibular plane angle, position of mandible, and maxilla versus mandible) in the angular measurement., Conclusion: Compared to the control group, many linear and angular measurements of the craniofacial structures were significantly different in the two short-statured groups (p<0.05). Treatment plans by orthodontists should include these craniofacial structure characteristics.

κ opioid receptor (KOR) antagonists are potential pharmacotherapies for the treatment of migraine and stress-related mood disorders including depression, anxiety, and drug abuse, thus the development of novel KOR antagonists with an improved potency/selectivity profile and medication-like duration of action has attracted the interest of the medicinal chemistry community. In this paper, we describe the discovery of 1-(6-ethyl-8-fluoro-4-methyl-3-(3-methyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-5-yl)quinolin-2-yl)- N-(tetrahydro-2 H-pyran-4-yl)piperidin-4 amine (CYM-53093, BTRX-335140) as a potent and selective KOR antagonist, endowed with favorable in vitro ADMET and in vivo pharmacokinetic profiles and medication-like duration of action in rat pharmacodynamic experiments. Orally administered CYM-53093 showed robust efficacy in antagonizing KOR agonist-induced prolactin secretion and in tail-flick analgesia in mice. CYM-53093 exhibited a broad selectivity over a panel of off-target proteins. This compound is in phase 1 clinical trials for the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders wherein dynorphin is thought to contribute to the underlying pathophysiology.

Background: In the osseointegration of dental implants, the implant surface properties have been reported to be some of the most important critical factors. The effect of implant's surfaces created by resorbable blast media (RBM) followed by laser ablation on bone tissue reactions was examined using the removal torque test and histomorphometric analysis., Methods: Two types of dental implants, RBM-laser implants (experimental group) and RBM implants (control group) (CSM implant system, Daegu, Korea; L=6 mm, diameter=3.75 mm) were placed into the right and left distal femoral metaphysis of 17 adult rabbits. Six weeks after placement, removal torque was measured and histomorphometric analysis was performed., Results: The mean removal torque was 24.0±10.2 Ncm and 46.6±16.4 Ncm for the control and test specimens, respectively. The experimental RBM-laser implants had significantly higher removal torque values than the control RBM implants ( p =0.013). The mean values of total and cortical bone to implant contact (BIC) were respectively 46.3±10.8% and 65.3±12.5% for the experimental group, and 41.9±18.5% and 57.6±10.6% for the control group. The experimental RBM-laser implants showed a higher degree of total and cortical BIC compared with RBM implants, but there was no statistical significance ( p =0.482, 0.225)., Conclusion: The removal torque and BIC of the test group were higher than those of the control group. In this study, the surface treatment created by RBM treatment followed by laser ablation appears to have a potential in improving bone tissue reactions of dental implants., Competing Interests: No potential conflicts of interest relevant to this article was reported., (Copyright © 2019 Yeungnam University College of Medicine.)

Aim: The aim of this study is to assess the effects of professional oral hygiene care in patients with head-and-neck cancer during radiotherapy, a clinical trial was done., Subjects and Methods: Forty patients were randomly assigned to either the experimental or the control group. For the experimental group, professional oral hygiene care, toothbrushing education, and fluoride varnish application were done once per a week, and for control group, only fluoride varnish application was done once per a week for 8 weeks during radiotherapy. Oral examination including plaque and gingival index was done at baseline and after 8 weeks., Results: The results demonstrated that plaque index was improved in the experimental group, but there was no significant difference between groups (P > 0.05). Plague and gingival status were significantly improved in both groups after 8 weeks compared to those of baseline (P < 0.05)., Conclusion: Regular dental visit and professional oral hygiene care during radiotherapy were effective in oral hygiene and health among patients with head-and-neck cancer., Competing Interests: None

Objectives: Word-of-mouth (WOM) refers to communication among consumers, which greatly influences the marketing strategies of dental clinics. This study aimed to explore factors that affect use of WOM by dental patients and to analyse their pathways., Methods: The participants were 520 outpatients from four private dental clinics. Data were obtained from a survey using self-reported questionnaires, which included questions regarding seven latent variables: five exogenous variables, including medical service quality (physical environment, customer service, patient relationship quality) and individual characteristic variables (opinion leader tendency, social hub tendency); and two endogenous variables (intention to recommend, WOM experience). Statistical analysis was performed using structural equation modelling., Results: Significant associations were found in the pathways between relationship quality and intention to recommend, intention to recommend and WOM, and opinion leader tendency and WOM (P < 0.001). Higher patient relationship quality and higher intention to recommend were related to positive WOM, as was higher opinion leader tendency., Conclusions: Improving patient relationship quality can promote positive WOM for dental clinics. Strategies are needed to promote a positive perception of dental clinics by effectively responding to the views of patients with strong opinion leader tendencies., (© 2018 FDI World Dental Federation.)

Background: Association between periodontitis and of head and neck carcinoma was suggested. In the present study, we evaluated the oral health status of patients with head and neck carcinoma and analyzed the relationship between cancer characteristics and oral health., Methods: Oral health of 40 patients with head and neck carcinoma was examined. Decayed teeth, missing teeth, plaque index, gingival index, and probing depth were measured. Cancer type and site were recorded based on the patients' medical records., Results: The average age of participants was 60.10 ± 8.99 years, and 35 of participants were male. The decay or missing teeth index was 5.43 ± 5.57, and the plaque index, gingival index, and probing depth were 1.37 ± 1.03, 1.57 ± 0.84, and 4.13 ± 1.45, respectively. These indexes showed no significant difference according to the type or site of cancer ( P > 0.05)., Conclusions: This study showed that there was no correlation between oral health parameters and characteristics of head and neck carcinoma., Competing Interests: CONFLICTS OF INTEREST No potential conflicts of interest were disclosed.

Prebiotic phosphorylation of (pre)biological substrates under aqueous conditions is a critical step in the origins of life. Previous investigations have had limited success and/or require unique environments that are incompatible with subsequent generation of the corresponding oligomers or higher-order structures. Here, we demonstrate that diamidophosphate (DAP)-a plausible prebiotic agent produced from trimetaphosphate-efficiently (amido)phosphorylates a wide variety of (pre)biological building blocks (nucleosides/tides, amino acids and lipid precursors) under aqueous (solution/paste) conditions, without the need for a condensing agent. Significantly, higher-order structures (oligonucleotides, peptides and liposomes) are formed under the same phosphorylation reaction conditions. This plausible prebiotic phosphorylation process under similar reaction conditions could enable the systems chemistry of the three classes of (pre)biologically relevant molecules and their oligomers, in a single-pot aqueous environment.

Objectives: Owing to its cost-effectiveness and operative convenience, dental amalgam remains in use as a restorative material for tooth caries in children in many countries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between dental amalgam exposure and urinary mercury (U-Hg) concentrations in children., Methods: In this longitudinal study, 463, 367 and 348 children, 8-11 years of age, were evaluated at baseline, and at the first and second follow-up visits, respectively. The interval between each survey was 6 months. For the oral examination and urine sample, the amalgam-filled tooth surface (TS), and U-Hg and creatinine concentrations of participants were determined, and the cumulative amalgam-filled TS and cumulative creatinine-adjusted U-Hg were calculated. To assess potential covariates, socio-demographic factors, oral health behaviour and dietary factors were surveyed by questionnaire. Data were analysed by the t-test, correlation analysis and mixed-model analysis. The statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 18.0., Results: Children with more than one amalgam-filled TS exhibited significantly higher creatinine-adjusted U-Hg concentrations than those without, in all three survey periods (P < 0.001). The results for the current and cumulative amalgam-filled TS significantly correlated with those for the current and cumulative creatinine-adjusted U-Hg concentration, respectively, in all surveys (P < 0.001). In the repeated-measures mixed model analysis, current and cumulative amalgam-filled TS was significantly related to current and cumulative creatinine-adjusted U-Hg concentration, respectively (P < 0.001)., Conclusions: Amalgam-filled TS was significantly correlated with U-Hg concentrations in children. Therefore, dental amalgam exposure can affect the systemic mercury concentration in children., (© 2016 FDI World Dental Federation.)

Background: Previous studies have proposed a relationship between bone mineral density (BMD) and oral health. However, the relationship between BMD and tooth loss in female individuals is not yet well understood. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the association between BMD, including its related physiological factors, and tooth loss among postmenopausal women in Korea., Methods: A total of 3,992 postmenopausal women aged 50 years or above were selected from the Fourth and Fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, which were cross-sectional in design and conducted from 2008 to 2011. The participants' BMD and number of teeth were assessed by radiologists and dentists. Socioeconomic characteristics and female-related physiological factors, including menarche age, duration of menopause, number of pregnancies, age at first child's birth, and duration of oral contraceptive or female hormone use, were surveyed., Results: Participants who had lower BMD had significantly fewer teeth (p < 0.001). Female-related physiological factors, including the duration of menopause, number of pregnancies, age at first child's birth, duration of oral contraceptive or female hormone use, and calcium intake level, showed a significant relationship with the number of teeth. Using multiple regression analysis, BMD, duration of menopause, age at first child's birth, and duration of female hormone use significantly influenced the number of teeth., Conclusions: BMD and its related physiological factors in female individuals showed a significant relationship with the number of teeth in postmenopausal Korean women, implicating osteoporosis as a risk factor for tooth loss in postmenopausal women.

Uracil derivatives form strong complexes with complementary 2,4-diaminotriazine and adenine compounds, whereas derivatives of 5-azauracil (2,4-dioxotriazine) are known to form weak complexes in aqueous medium. However, herein we report that in organic medium (CDCl3), the 5-azauracil moiety forms hydrogen-bond-mediated complexes with complementary 2,4-diaminotriazine and adenine compounds, with strengths comparable to those formed by uracil compounds. Such dichotomous base-pairing behavior of the 5-azauracil moiety, in organic versus aqueous media, is found to be consistent with the ionization of the 5-azauracil moiety in aqueous medium leading to competitive interference from water molecules (via solvation), which is absent (lack of such ionization and solvent interference) in organic medium. This discriminating role of solvent (e.g., water) could have been an important factor in the selection of molecules, based on their physicochemical properties, and subsequently in the emergence of potential primordial informational oligomers that would have played a role in the origins of life.

Objectives: Dentistry has been identified as one of the most stressful work environments. Knowledge of modifiable work-environment factors related to job stress could lead to a strategy and policy to provide a better work environment for dentists. The aims of this study were to examine the degree and distribution of burnout and to determine the factors associated with burnout subscale of Korean dentists., Methods: A cross-sectional survey of Korean dentists was conducted using a custom-designed and validated questionnaire that incorporated the Maslach Burnout Inventory Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS) as well as questions regarding sociodemographic and job-related characteristics. A random sample of 1,000 dentists was selected from 13,207 registered dentists in the Korean Dental Association. The MBI-HSS scores were summarised in the three dimensions of emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation, and personal sense of accomplishment. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to assess the prevalence of burnout and its related factors., Results: The adjusted response rate was 45.9% (444/967). In the subscales of burnout, 41.2%, 55.9%, and 41.4% of respondents scored highly in emotional exhaustion and depersonalisation and poorly for personal sense of accomplishment, respectively. High burnout seems to be more likely to occur in association with some of the sociodemographic and job-related characteristics, especially younger age, male gender, without occupational calling, and unwilling to reselect a dentistry as a job., Conclusions: This study suggests that burnout is a common problem in Korean dentists and that occupational calling and willing to reselect a dentistry as a job are important factors for managing burnout., (© 2014 FDI World Dental Federation.)

Purpose: The effects of an oral hygienic care program (OHCP) have been reported in several diseases. However, no study exists investigating the influence of an OHCP on stroke patients or patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) has been reported, thus we sought to investigate the potential effect of an OHCP., Materials and Methods: Fifty-six consecutive stroke patients who were admitted to the ICU were randomly assigned to two groups: the intervention (29 patients) and control groups (27 patients). The OHCP included tooth brushing with an inter-dental brush and tongue cleaner and cleaning with chlorhexidine was administered to patients by one dentist once per day during admission in the ICU (mean, 2.2 weeks). The plague index, gingival index, clinical attachment loss, and colonization degree of candida albicans were assessed., Results: After OHCP, the plaque index, gingival index, and colonization degree of candida albicans in saliva showed a significant decrease in the intervention group compared to those of the control group (p<0.05). However, no significant difference was observed in clinical attachment loss and the colonization degree of candida albicans on the tongue (p>0.05)., Conclusion: Our OHCP was effective in improving the oral hygienic status and periodontal health of stroke patients during their stay in the ICU. Therefore, we recommend administration of the OHCP for stroke patients during their stay in the ICU.

Background: Evidence consistently shows that diabetes is a risk factor for increased prevalence of gingivitis and periodontitis. But there is a controversy about the relationship between diabetes related factors and periodontal health. The aim of the present study is to explore the relationship between diabetes related factors such as glycosylated hemoglobin, fasting blood glucose, duration of diabetes and compliance to diabetes self management and periodontal health status., Methods: Periodontal health of 125 participants with type-2 diabetes mellitus was measured by the number of missing teeth, community periodontal index (CPI), Russell's periodontal index and papillary bleeding index. Information on sociodemographic factors, oral hygiene behavior, duration and compliance to self management of diabetes, levels of glycosylated hemoglobin(HbA1c) and fasting blood glucose(FBG) were collected by interview and hospital medical records. Statistically, independent t-test, an analysis of variance (ANOVA), chi-squared test and multiple regression analyses were used to assess the association between diabetes-related factors and periodontal health., Results: Periodontal parameters including the number of missing teeth and papillary bleeding index were significantly influenced by duration of diabetes, FBG and compliance to self management of diabetes. CPI was significantly influenced by duration of diabetes, FBG and HbA1C. And Russell's periodontal index was significantly influenced by duration of diabetes, FBG, HbA1C and compliance to self management of diabetes. Results of multiple linear regression analysis showed that the duration of diabetes showed significant positive correlation with all of the periodontal health parameters, except for missing teeth. HbA1c was correlated with Russell's periodontal and papillary bleeding index. FBG and compliance to self management of diabetes were correlated with missing teeth and papillary bleeding index respectively., Conclusions: Diabetes-related factors such as duration of diabetes, FBG, HbA1c and compliance to self management of diabetes were significantly correlated with periodontal health among individuals with type-2 diabetes.

This unit describes a protocol for nonenzymatic oligomerization of activated ribonucleotides on DNA hairpins appended by templates containing threofuranosyl nucleic acid (TNA). TNA-cytidylate templates effectively promote oligomerization of 2-MeImpG, and give 3',5'-linked oligomerization products predominantly, with good base-pairing fidelity. Although the rates of oligomerization depend on TNA content, after 3 days of incubation, oligomerization products are apparent, and full-length products are present after 10 days. Characterization of product phosphodiester bond regiochemistry is accomplished by digestion with RNase T1. Additionally, exposure of oligomerization products to calf intestinal alkaline phosphatase enables detection of any endcapping due to pyrophosphate formation. Base-pairing fidelity is assessed by challenging the template to oligomerize 2-MeImpA. The protocols described for nonenzymatic, template-directed synthesis in this unit are applicable to oligomerization of activated monomers on templates of different compositions, with respect to both base identity and polymer backbone.