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The immune-stromal cell interactions play a key role in health and diseases. In periodontitis, the most prevalent infectious disease in humans, immune cells accumulate in the oral mucosa and promote bone destruction by inducing receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) expression in osteogenic cells such as osteoblasts and periodontal ligament cells. However, the detailed mechanism underlying immune–bone cell interactions in periodontitis is not fully understood. Here, we performed single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis on mouse periodontal lesions and showed that neutrophil–osteogenic cell crosstalk is involved in periodontitis-induced bone loss. The periodontal lesions displayed marked infiltration of neutrophils, and in silico analyses suggested that the neutrophils interacted with osteogenic cells through cytokine production. Among the cytokines expressed in the periodontal neutrophils, oncostatin M (OSM) potently induced RANKL expression in the primary osteoblasts, and deletion of the OSM receptor in osteogenic cells significantly ameliorated periodontitis-induced bone loss. Epigenomic data analyses identified the OSM-regulated RANKL enhancer region in osteogenic cells, and mice lacking this enhancer showed decreased periodontal bone loss while maintaining physiological bone metabolism. These findings shed light on the role of neutrophils in bone regulation during bacterial infection, highlighting the novel mechanism underlying osteoimmune crosstalk.

Early detection of malignant melanoma, a cancer with a poor prognosis characterized by pigmented moles or tumors, is essential in combatting the disease. The most common site for malignant melanoma to arise in nonwhites is the palm of the hand and the region under the nails (subungual region). Melanoma on the plantar surface (sole) of the foot tends to be diagnosed only when advanced. To aid in early detection of such malignancies, a study of 144 pigmented lesions removed from the soles of the feet of 137 Japanese subjects was performed. Histologic diagnoses were divided into six categories. These were: congenital melanocytic nevus (mole composed of melanocytes, the cells that form pigment, present since birth); ordinary acquired melanocytic nevus; dysplastic nevus, a type of benign acquired melanocytic nevus; possible lesion of malignant melanoma in situ (signs of malignant melanoma, but no definite diagnosis possible); malignant melanoma in situ; and malignant melanoma. Ninety-three melanocytic nevi and 51 malignant melanomas were identified. The 48 invasive melanomas were further categorized. No melanoma, including the seven that were in situ, was less than nine millimeters in maximum diameter, and the smallest invasive specimen was 11 millimeters in diameter. Patients with benign melanocytic lesions tended to be younger than age 50, and most patients older than 50 had a malignant melanoma. The implications of these findings for public health screening are that any pigmented lesion on the sole of the foot that is larger than seven millimeters in diameter should be examined histologically. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

The purpose of this study was to isolate the active antibacterial compounds from Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillusL.) against periodontopathic bacteria.

We investigated the effect of bovine milk osteopontin (OPN) on the initial adhesion of Streptococcus mutansto hydroxyapatite. Hydroxyapatite pellets were immersed in 5.4 µM OPN solution at 37°C for 30 min. As a control, Milli-Q water was used. S. mutanswere incubated at 37°C for 2 h on the pellets. Crystal violet staining and the quantitation of DNA were evaluated. Violet staining was observed on the hydroxyapatite pellets in the control group, but faint staining was seen in the OPN group. Amount of DNA attached to the hydroxyapatite pellet was significantly lower in the OPN group (P< 0.05). These results suggest that initial adhesion of S. mutansto the hydroxyapatite is inhibited with OPN.

This study aimed to isolate antibacterial compounds active against periodontopathic bacteria from mulberry (Morus alba) leaves.

ABSTRACTThe protective effect of DNA vaccines expressing the Arg-gingipain A domain against bone loss induced by Porphyromonas gingivalisinfection was investigated in a murine model. phgp44, which expresses the 44-kDa adhesion/hemagglutinin domain of Arg-gingipain A, prevented P. gingivalis-induced alveolar bone loss. The results indicate that phgp44 could be a candidate antigen for a vaccine against P. gingivalisinfection.

The aim of this study was to evaluate inhibition of adherence of oral streptococci by addition of funoran to xylitol-containing chewing gum or tablets. The inhibitory effect by addition of funoran on adherence was evaluated by scintillation counting using 3H-labeled oral streptococci and saliva-coated hydroxyapatite beads. In samples containing more than 0.1% funoran, the number of attached bacteria was significantly reduced in all tested microorganisms compared with funoran-free samples. This reduction in adherence was also observed by scanning electron microscopy. The results indicate that addition of funoran to xylitol chewing gum or tablets inhibits colonization by oral streptococci, including Streptococcus mutans.

The purpose of this study was to determine the time-window of infection for Streptococcus mutansbetween mother and child in Japan and which factors affected colonization by this microorganism. After obtaining informed consent, saliva was collected from the mothers and their children. These samples were serially diluted and inoculated onto Mitis-Salivarius agar and Mitis-Salivarius bacitracin plates, and then cultured under anaerobic conditions at 37°C for 5 days. Isolated mutans streptococci were identified by conventional biochemical characteristics and species-specific polymerase chain reaction based on the dextranase gene. No mutans streptococci groups were isolated from 0–5-month-old children with no erupted teeth. No statistically significant difference was found in detection rates in S. mutansamong mother's milk, bottled milk or mixture. Cross-sectional study revealed that detection rates of S. mutansin the saliva samples increased with number of erupted teeth. Pulse-field gel-electrophoresis patterns obtained from isolated S. mutansusing SmaI from the mothers and their children indicated that colonization by S. mutansin some Japanese children resulted from vertical transmission. In strains in which vertical transmission was observed, the mutacin IV and Smb A and B genes were detected from 8 out of 12 isolates. These results suggest that the window of infection for S. mutansis at around 6–23 months, and that colonization by this microorganism is mainly affected by number of erupted teeth.

Dentilisin is a major surface protease and virulence factor of the bacterium Treponema denticola. In this study, we found that T. denticola reduced inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-1{szligbeta} (IL-1{szligbeta}), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor alpha, in peripheral blood mononuclear cells through degradation by dentilisin.

ABSTRACTDentilisin is a major surface protease and virulence factor of the bacterium Treponema denticola. In this study, we found that T. denticolareduced inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor alpha, in peripheral blood mononuclear cells through degradation by dentilisin.

Increasing evidence has linked the anaerobic bacteria forming periodontopathic biofilms with aspiration pneumonia in elderly persons. In experiments designed to eliminate the potent respiratory pathogens forming biofilms in the oral cavity, we have shown that the mechanical and chemical oral cleansing using povidone‐iodine effectively reduced the detection rates and numbers of methicillin‐sensitive Staphylococcusspecies, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Haemophilus influenzaein patients scheduled to undergo oral surgery requiring endotracheal intubation. We confirmed the pathogenicity of periodontopathic anaerobic bacteria for aspiration pneumonia in an experimental mouse model. Based upon the finding of the coexistence of Porphyromonas gingivaliswith Treponema denticolain chronic periodontitis lesions, we innoculated a mixed culture of P. gingivalisand T. denticolainto the mouse trachea; the resulting infection induced inflammatory cytokine production and caused pneumonia. In another series of investigations, professional oral health care (POHC), mainly cleansing administered by dental hygienists once a week for 24 months to elderly persons requiring daily care, resulted in the reduction of the number of total anaerobes, Candida albicans, and Staphylococcusspecies and in the number of cases of fatal aspiration pneumonia. We also found that the POHC treatment of elderly persons for 6 months in the winter season reduced the salivary levels of protease, trypsin‐like activity, and neuraminidase and also decreased the frequency of influenza cases.

Background: Arginine‐ and lysine‐specific cysteine proteinases (arg‐gingipain: Rgp, lys‐gingipain: Kgp) are major virulence factors of Porphyromonas gingivalis. Recent reports have suggested that antibodies against gingipains can play a protective role against infection by P. gingivalis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the IgG responses of patients with periodontitis to functional domains of gingipains. Methods:A group of 29 periodontitis patients and 10 periodontally healthy subjects (control group) were recruited into this study. We prepared three recombinant fragments of rgp A(catalytic domain; r‐Rgp CAT) and two hemagglutinin domains (r‐Rgp 44, and r‐Rgps 15‐27) corresponding to amino acid residues 228 to 719, 720 to 1136, and 1137 to 1704, respectively. One fragment of the Kgp catalytic domain (r‐Kgp CAT) corresponding to amino acid residues 229 to 737 and expressed in Escherichia coliwas also used. IgG antibody levels to these recombinant proteins in sera from the subjects were determined by an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: We found that IgG levels against r‐Rgp 44 and r‐Rgps 15‐27 in sera obtained from the patients were significantly higher than those in the healthy group (P<0.01). In contrast, no significant differences in IgG levels against r‐Rgp CAT and r‐Kgp CAT were found between the control and patient groups. The IgG responses to P. gingivalissonic extracts, r‐Rgp 44 and r‐Rgps 15‐27, were related to probing depth in sera from patients, but those to r‐Rgp CAT and r‐Kgp CAT were not. Conclusion:The present findings suggest that the low responsiveness of IgG antibody against the catalytic domains of gingipain, r‐Rgp CAT, and r‐Kgp CAT is a key factor in infection by P. gingivalis. J Periodontol 2003;74:1432‐1439.

Background:Porphyromonas gingivalisis one of the major microbial pathogens associated with chronic periodontitis. To eradicate such pathogens by periodontal therapy, it is essential to clarify the source of infection. Recent findings suggest that the genotype of the fimbriae is one of the important factors in infection by P. gingivalis. The objectives of the present study were to investigate the transmission of P. gingivalisbetween spouses and to determine the relationship between P. gingivalisfimAtype and colonization. Methods:A total of 14 couples were selected to investigate the transmission of P. gingivalisand its association with the fimAtypes. To examine the distribution of fimAtype in the general population, 32 subgingival plaque samples from 47 patients with periodontitis were also tested. The transmission of P. gingivalisstrains was determined by using pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). P. gingivalisstrains isolated from the couples and subgingival dental plaque samples were studied for fimAclassification. Methods:A total of 14 couples were selected to investigate the transmission of P. gingivalisand its association with the fimAtypes. To examine the distribution of fimAtype in the general population, 32 subgingival plaque samples from 47 patients with periodontitis were also tested. The transmission of P. gingivalisstrains was determined by using pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). P. gingivalisstrains isolated from the couples and subgingival dental plaque samples were studied for fimAclassification. Conclusion:This study suggests that fimAtype II, even though widely distributed in patients with periodontitis, may be an important factor in the transmission of P. gingivalisbetween spouses. J Periodontol 2003;74:1355‐1360.

Increasing evidence has linked colonization by Helicobacter pyloriwith the development of gastritis and peptic ulcer disease. H.Pyloriresides primarily in the gastric mucosa without invading the gastric epithelium, causing persistent mild gastric inflammation. There are many reports examining the relationship between colonization by microorganisms in the stomach and oral cavity. We found that some oral bacteria are able to trap H.Pyloricells, but oral bacteria inhibit H.Pylorigrowth in vitro. In cases where H.Pyloriwas detected in oral cavity samples, including oral cancer surface samples, we suggested that this species had colonized the stomach and were present in the oral cavity only as a transient organism. We demonstrated that periodontopathic Campylobacter rectusstrains posses proteinaceous antigens, including heat shock proteins that share antigenicity with antigens of H.Pyloristrains. These cross‐reactive antigens between H.Pyloriand C. rectusmay be related to the induction of immunopathological responses in periodontal tissues and the stomach. We concluded that H.Pyloricould not survive in the human oral cavity; however, there would be an interrelationship between periodontal disease due to C. rectusand stomach diseases due to H.Pylori. J Periodontol 2003;74:123‐128.

Objective.We evaluated the effectiveness of professional oral health care (POHC) given by dental hygienists once a week for 24 months to 141 elderly persons needing daily care and living in 2 nursing homes. Study Design.Elderly subjects with POHC and without POHC living in 2 nursing homes were examined for 24 months to detect any fevers of 37.8°C or more and the prevalence of fatal aspiration pneumonia. The numbers of Staphylococcusspecies and Candida albicansin swab samples from oral cavities were compared between the POHC group and the non-POHC group. The amounts of methylmercaptan exhaled in the POHC group were determined and compared with those in the non-POHC group. Results.The prevalence of fevers of 37.8°C or more in the subjects receiving POHC was significantly lower than in the non-POHC group (P<.05). We found that the ratio of fatal aspiration pneumonia in the POHC group during the 24 months was significantly lower than in the non-POHC group (P<.05). Numbers of C albicansspecies in samples obtained from the oral cavity after 6 months of POHC were significantly lower than those in the non-POHC group (P<.01). POHC resulted in the reduction of the presence of Staphylococcusbut not to a statistically significant extent. The amounts of methylmercaptan exhaled by the POHC group were significantly less than those of the non-POHC group (P<.05). Conclusion.This study showed that POHC administered by dental hygienists to a group of elderly patients needing daily nursing care was associated with a reduction in prevalence of fever and fatal pneumonia. (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2002;94:191-5)

Background:Periodontopathic bacteria induce inflammation of periodontal tissues. The cytokines and nitric oxide released in periodontal lesions have been reported to play a protective role in bacterial infection and to relate to the process of inflammation. To clarify the relationship between colonization of periodontopathic bacteria and cytokines, we evaluated profiles of inflammatory cytokines, chemokine, anti‐inflammatory cytokines, and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and colonization by Porphyromonas gingivalisand Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, which are major pathogens of periodontitis. Methods:mRNA expression of cytokines and iNOS in inflamed and healthy gingival tissue was determined using reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR), and the relationship between their profiles and the detection of specific bacteria was analyzed. Results:The relative expression of interleukin (IL)‐6 and iNOS mRNAs in periodontal lesions was significantly higher than those in healthy individuals. IL‐6 mRNA expression was also significantly higher at bleeding on probing (BOP)‐positive sites than at BOP‐negative sites. The expressions of IL‐1α and IL‐8 increased, but IL‐10 expression decreased at sites where A. actinomycetemcomitanswas detected. We found no correlation between the expression of cytokine and iNOS mRNA and infection by P. gingivalis. Conclusions:The expression of IL‐6 may reflect inflammation in gingival tissue, and iNOS may be involved in the inflammatory process in periodontitis. The presence of A. actinomycetemcomitansor P. gingivalismight relate to the different cytokine profiles of IL‐1α, IL‐8, and IL‐10. J Periodontol 2001;72:590‐597

ABSTRACTArginine-specific cysteine proteinases (RgpA and RgpB) produced by the periodontal pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalisare suspected virulence factors and are involved in interrupting host defense mechanisms as well as in penetrating and destroying periodontal connective tissues. To induce a protective immune response againstP. gingivalis, we constructed an rgpADNA vaccine. BALB/c mice were immunized intradermally by Gene Gun with plasmid DNA carrying rgpA. Antibody responses againstP. gingivaliswere determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The rgpADNA vaccine induced high levels of serum antibodies against P. gingivalis. Sera from the rgpADNA vaccine-immunized mice diminished the proteolytic activity of RgpA and RgpB and inhibited the binding ofP. gingivalisto a type I collagen sponge. Moreover, the sera effectively reduced the hemagglutination of P. gingivalis, indicating that the hemagglutinin activity of the organism is associated with RgpA. We found with a murine abscess model that mice immunized with the rgpADNA vaccine were resistant to an invasive P. gingivalisW50 challenge. These results suggest that the rgpADNA vaccine induced specific antibodies against the enzyme and that this vaccine could confer protective immunity against P. gingivalisinfection.

Periodontopathic Campylobacter rectusstrains possess 41‐ and 68‐kDa proteinaceous antigens which share antigenicity with antigens of Helicobacter pyloristrains. H. pyloristrains have a 54‐kDa antigen which reacts with C. rectusstrains. We found that the salivary IgA levels against H. pyloriwere correlated with those against C. rectus. These cross‐reactive antigens of C. rectusmay affect the serological diagnosis of H. pyloriinfections, especially when saliva is used. It is possible that these cross‐reacting antigens may relate to the induction of immunopathological responses against both microorganisms.

ABSTRACTWe examined 26 atherosclerotic lesions and 14 nondiseased aorta specimens to detect the periodontopathogenic part of the bacterial 16S rRNA locus by PCR. Treponema denticolasequence of the 16S rRNA locus was found in 6 out of 26 DNA samples (23.1%) from the formalin-fixed, paraffin-embeded atherosclerotic lesions obtained during surgery but not in any of the 14 nondiseased aorta samples from deceased persons. Utilizing immunofluorescence microscopy, we observed aggregated antigenic particles reacting with rabbit antiserum againstT. denticolain thin sections of the PCR-positive samples, but we could not detect any reacting particles in the PCR-negative thin sections.

We used the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) and culture methods to study the presence of Helicobacter pyloriin the gastric and oral samples from a total of 116 gastritis and peptic ulcer patients, including 58 with oral cancer. Detection rates of H. pyloriwere 46.6% in stomach samples and 12.1 % in oral swab samples. All of the oral cancer surface swab samples were positive for H. pylori, as were their gastric samples suggesting that oral H. pyloriderived from the stomach. The culture supernatants of Streptococcus mutansand Prevotella intermediainhibited the growth of the H. pyloristrain and caused the formation of the coccal form. In cases where H. pyloriwas detected in the oral cavity samples, including the oral cancer surface samples, it was believed that this species had colonized the stomach and were present in the oral cavity only as a transient organism.

Treponema denticola, frequently isolated from the human oral cavity, is thought to be a major pathogen of human periodontal disease. Recent developments in molecular analysis have clarified the surface structure of this microorganism and the characteristics of its pathogenic factors. Structural analysis of the outer sheath showed T. denticolato have a new type of outer membrane lipid. Limited exposure of the major outer sheath protein is suggested by electron‐microscopic analysis. A protease‐deficient mutant has revealed the roles of the protease in the organization of the outer sheath material and in T. denticolapathogenicity. The surface features that contribute to the pathogenicity of T. denticolain periodontal disease are gradually being elucidated, and are reviewed.

The purpose of this study was to examine colonization by specific organisms at periodontal sites in HIV‐seropositive [HIV(+)] subjects. A total of 67 HIV(+) and 32 HIV(‐) subjects were investigated. The specific pathogens included black‐pigmented anaerobic rods (BPAR), Porphyromonas gingivalis, Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Candida albicansand mycoplasma species. P. gingivaliswas present in the HIV(+) subjects more frequently than in the HIV(‐) periodontitis patients (P< 0.01). The cell numbers of BPAR and P. gingivalisand percentages as the total of CFUs on blood agar cultured in an anaerobic chamber were statistically higher in periodontal pocket samples from HIV(+) than from HIV(‐). A. actinomycetemcomitanswas also detected at a high rate (41.8%) in HIV(+) patients. The average cell numbers of C. albicanswere higher in samples from the HIV(+) group (P< 0.05). The detection rate of mycoplasma species in the HIV(+) patients was significantly lower than that in HIV(‐) subjects (P< 0.05), and most isolated mycoplasma strains were Mycoplasma salivarium.

The purpose of this study was to examineavidity of Immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody for surface antigens of Porphyromonas gingivalisin sera from patients with adult periodontitis. The antigens used were whole cell antigens, lipopolysaccharides (LPS), and fimbriae of non‐invasive P. gingivalisATCC 33277 and invasive 16–1. Serum IgG titers for the P. gingivalisantigens were measured by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) before and after periodontal initial preparation. IgG avidity was measured by diethylamine dissociation ELISA. IgG titers for the whole cell antigens of 16–1, LPS, and the fimbria antigens from both P. gingivalisstrains were significantly higher in the patient group than those in the control group, whereas values for avidities were significantly lower in patient sera. Although we found a statistically significant decrease in the IgG titers of patients following initial preparation, avidities against the fimbria antigen of invasive 16–1 strain increased. The present study showed that IgG antibodies elicited in patients were different in their ability to respond to invasive P. gingivalis16–1 and to non‐invasive 33277. The patient sera with high IgG titers demonstrated low values for avidity, suggesting that IgG responses in patients play a limited role in colonization inhibition or elimination of P. gingivalis. The data indicate that periodontally healthy individuals may have highly functional antibodies which may protect against P. gingivaliscolonization. Our findings suggest that the ability to produce functional antibodies in the patient group is lower than that in the periodontally healthy group, but the functional antibodies can be induced by the initial preparation. J Periodontol 1998;69:367–373.

The production of HSP by periodontopathic Gram‐negative bacteria was examined by SDS‐PAGE, two dimensional gel electrophoresis, and Western blotting using monoclonal antibodies against HSPs. Strains of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Eikenella corrodens, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Prevotella intermedia, Prevotella nigrescens, Prevotella melaninogenica, and Treponema socranskiispecies produced HSP which reacted with anti‐Yersinia enterocoliticaHSP 60 and/or mycobacterial 65‐kDa HSP monoclonal antibodies. It was found that gingival homogenate samples from patients with adult periodontitis reacted with anti‐human HSP 60 and bovine brain HSP 70 monoclonal antibodies. Antibodies which reacted with bacterial HSP were also found in a serum sample from a periodontitis patient. The present study suggests that HSPs are implicated in the human periodontal disease process.

The incidence of infection by Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, one of the important pathogens in human periodontal diseases, has been reported to be associated with racial background and genetic factors. We attempted to determine the genetic regulation of immune responses to A. actinomycetemcomitansfimbriae, an attachment factor, using various inbred strains of mice. For this purpose, we synthesized an oligopeptide antigen using the amino acid sequence of the fimbriae and conjugated this antigen to branched lysine polymer resin beads. After immunization with the synthetic A. actinomycetemcomitansfimbrial antigen, serum antibody levels and the delayed‐type hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction to the antigen were measured by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and footpad swelling responses, respectively. The strains of mice found to be high‐IgG responders to the antigen were B10.HTT, B10.RIII, B10A (5R) and B10.S (9R). These results indicate that mice with Eβs: Eαk, Eβr: Eαrand Eβb: Eαkrespond strongly to the synthetic peptide. All of the high‐IgG responders showed a high DTH response. A cell transfer experiment confirmed that CD4 T cells mediated with a DTH response to the synthetic peptide. Thus, the results of this study demonstrate that the immune responses to A. actinomycetemcomitansfimbriae are genetically controlled.

Chloramphenicol-resistant (CAPr) reconstituted cells and cybrids were isolated by fusion of karyoplasts (or intact cells) of mouse amelanotic melanoma B16 cells with cytoplasts of hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HGPRT)-deficient, CAPr rat myoblastic cells, L6TG.CAPr, and double selection in HAT medium containing CAP. Reconstituted cells or cybrids exhibited unique cellular arrangement, and about one third of the isolated clones expressed high tyrosinase activity and marked melanin synthesis, although the parental mouse cells expressed low tyrosinase activity and the parental rat cells did not express tyrosinase activity. These phenotypic changes have been stable for more than a year. The phenotypic reversions of these clonal cells were induced by treatment with a tumor promoter. There were changes in the morphology of the treated cells to that of the mouse B16 cells and extinction of tyrosinase activity and melanin synthesis in pigmented clonal cells. These phenotypic changes and reversions induced by a promoter were repeatedly reversible.

Fimbrial-associated protein, an attachment factor ofActinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, was genetically analysed by cloning. The plasmid obtained was found to harbor a 1.7kb fragment which contained a 228bp open reading frame encoding 76 amino acids (7.970kDa). The fimbriae associated protein gene (fap) was strongly expressed in fimbriatedA. actinomycetemcomitans310a but not in non-fimbriated strains.

A review of mainly histopathologic factors associated with the survival of patients with malignant melanoma was carried out in a retrospective study of 124 Japanese patients treated at the National Cancer Center Hospital between July 1962 and December 1992. There were 60 females and 64 males, and the median follow-up period was 52.7 months (range, 1.1 to 235.3 months). The histologic features included tumor thickness, level of invasion, histologic subtype, ulceration, pigmentation, and cell type. Melanomas thicker than 1.5 mm (P> 0.01) and with ulceration (P> 0.01) had a significantly worse prognosis. With regard to histologic type, ten-year survival was 65.1% for acral lentiginous melanoma, 50.7% for nodular melanoma, and 47.0% for superficial spreading melanoma (SSM), there being no significant differences among them. We suggest that the prognosis was affected not by histologic type but by the large radial or vertical growth component. With regard to clinical features, the clinicopathological stage, patient age, and year when the disease was diagnosed were reflected in the prognosis (P> 0.01). Multifactorial analysis showed that the most significant prognostic variables were histopathologic type (SSM or other), stage (I and II or III and IV), and patient age (< 70 or ≧ 70yr).

Various oral bacterial species were found to inhibit the growth of Helicobacter pyloristrains. The growth inhibitory activities of most of these oral bacteria were adversely affected by heating at 80°C for 60 min or by protease treatment, indicating that these bacteria produce bacteriocin‐like inhibitory proteins against H. pyloristrains. The antagonistic effects of oral bacteria against H. pylorimay restrain colonization by this organism in the oral cavity.

Seven patients with skin cancers, six with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and one with adenoid cystic carcinoma, were treated with cisplatin in combination with vindesine or adriamycin. Partial response was observed in three patients with squamous cell carcinomas: two cases with metastatic lung lesions and one with a primary skin lesion and lymph node metastasis. Two of the responding SCC had been resistant to previous chemotherapy, including peplomycin and mitomycin C. Multiple metastatic lesions of adenoid cystic carcinoma of the skin completely regressed after two courses of the combination chemotherapy with cisplatin and adriamycin. This report showed that cisplatin combination chemotherapy may be useful for the treatment of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, which is resistant to peplomycin, and adenoid cystic carcinoma of the skin.

Summary Cytogenetic studies were performed in a 72-year-old male patient with triple primary cancers including breast, skin and lung. Left breast cancer was diagnosed at the age of 46 and he received mastectomy and thoracic irradiation. Squamous cell carcinoma and Bowen's disease were diagnosed from two separated parts of a skin lesion at the age of 70. Small-cell lung cancer was diagnosed 1 year later, and he received chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Chromosome analysis was carried out on both peripheral lymphocyte and skin fibroblast cultures at the age of 72. Out of 30 fibroblast cells karyotyped at the second passage, 7 cells (23%) consistently showed a reciprocal translocation t(Y;6)(q12;p21). The same translocation was found in one of 200 cells from lymphocyte cultures. The findings suggest that the translocation t(Y;6) might be inherent in nature, and that the patient was a mosaic of 46,XY/ 46,X,t(Y;6)(q12;p21). These results highlight the constitutional chromosomal abnormality as one of the possible high-risk factors for multiple primary cancers.

ABSTRACTUtilizing PCR, the 16S rRNA detection rates for Porphyromonas gingivalis, Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Bacteroides forsythus, Treponema denticola, and Campylobacter rectusin samples of stenotic coronary artery plaques were determined to be 21.6, 23.3, 5.9, 23.5, and 15.7%, respectively. The detection rates for P. gingivalisand C. rectuscorrelated with their presence in subgingival plaque.

In order to find biomarkers to measure the effects of UV irradiation, we examined the accumulation of p53 protein and pyrimidine dimers in 18 solar keratosis specimens. Frozen or AMeX-fixed solar keratosis specimens were immunohistochemically stained by anti-p53 mouse monoclonal antibody, pAb1801 and polyclonal anti-(pyrimidine dimer) antibody. Nuclear accumulation of p53 protein was found in 5/18 (28%) solar keratosis lesions. The percentage of cases showing nuclear p53 protein varied according to the histological type; in the bowenoid type it was 4/7 (57%); in the atrophic type it was 1/7 (14%). Nuclear pyrimidine dimers were not stained in solar keratosis, although the skin of UV-irradiated nude mice was positive. Accumulation of p53 protein is a good marker for early precancerous change caused by UV exposure.

Periodontopathic Campylobacter rectus strains possess 41- and 68-kDa proteinaceous antigens which share antigenicity with antigens of Helicobacter pylori strains. H. pylori strains have a 54-kDa antigen which reacts with C. rectus strains. We found that the salivary IgA levels against H. pylori were correlated with those against C. rectus. These cross-reactive antigens of C. rectus may affect the serological diagnosis of H. pylori infections, especially when saliva is used. It is possible that these cross-reacting antigens may relate to the induction of immunopathological responses against both microorganisms.