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Oral mucositis significantly affects the quality of life in hematologic cancer patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Despite global evidence supporting the efficacy of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) for mucositis prevention, its clinical adoption in Japan is limited. This study aimed to fill this gap by evaluating the safety and efficacy of LLLT in a Japanese patient population. In a single-group, non-blinded, exploratory trial, we compared 21 LLLT-treated patients against a historical control of 96 patients. The primary endpoint was the incidence of Grade ≥ 2 mucositis, based on NCI-CTCAE ver. 4.0. The LLLT group showed a significantly lower incidence of Grade ≥ 2 mucositis (23.8%) compared to the control group (64.6%) (p = 0.0006). Furthermore, Grade ≥ 2 mucositis correlated with increased oral dryness and longer hospital stays. Our study confirms the efficacy of LLLT in reducing the onset of severe oral mucositis among Japanese hematologic cancer patients, advocating for its clinical introduction as a preventive measure in Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apatite cement (AC), which has excellent osteoconductive ability, and alpha-tricalcium phosphate (α-TCP), which can be used for bone replacement, are useful bone substitute materials. The objective of this study was to clarify the physical properties and antimicrobial release ability of antibiotic-loaded AC/α-TCP composites in vitro. Gentamicin-loaded, rapid setting AC/α-TCP composites were prepared in 2 mixing ratios (10:3 and 10:6). The cement paste of AC/α-TCP composites was prepared in a plastic mold and dried in a thermostatic chamber at 37 °C and 100% relative humidity for 24 h. A diametral tensile strength test, powder X-ray diffraction analysis, and gentamicin release test were performed. The diametral tensile strengths of the AC/α-TCP composites were significantly less than that of AC alone. Powder X-ray diffraction patterns exhibited the characteristic peaks of hydroxyapatite in the AC/α-TCP composites and gentamicin-loaded AC/α-TCP composites. The concentration of the released gentamicin was maintained above the minimum inhibitory concentration of Staphylococcus aureus until Day 30 in both the gentamicin-loaded AC/α-TCP composites (10:3 and 10:6). Our results suggest that a gentamicin-loaded AC/α-TCP composite has potential as a drug delivery system. Further study is essential to investigate the antimicrobial activity and safety of the gentamicin-loaded AC/α-TCP composites in animal models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The objective of this study was to uncover the association between oral human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) and HHV-7 infection and periodontitis. Oral HHV-6 and HHV-7 DNA were analyzed by a real-time polymerase chain reaction using tongue swab samples from 74 older adults. Of the 74 participants, one participant (1.4%) was HHV-6 DNA-positive and 36 participants (48.6%) were HHV-7 DNA-positive. HHV-7 DNA-positive participants had a higher prevalence of diabetes (16.7%) than HHV-7 DNA-negative participants (7.9%). However, there was no significant association between HHV-7 DNA positivity and diabetes. Oral HHV-7 infection was significantly associated with a deep periodontal pocket (p = 0.04). HHV-7 DNA-positive participants had a higher positive rate of a periodontal pocket with BOP (25.0%) than the HHV-7 DNA-negative participants (7.9%). Additionally, the HHV-7 DNA-positive participants had higher PISA values (52.7 mm2) than the HHV-7 DNA-negative participants (47.2 mm2). These results indicate that oral HHV-7 infection is associated with active periodontitis. However, there was no statistically significant association between HHV-7 and a ≥6-mm periodontal pocket with BOP positivity or the PISA value. Oral herpesviruses other than HHV-7 may be more closely associated with periodontitis. It is necessary to clarify the association between HHV-7 and periodontitis with the detection of HHV-7 in the periodontal pocket. Background: The associations between oral human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) and HHV-7, periodontal conditions, and lifestyle-related diseases, such as hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia, have not been fully investigated in older adults. Methods: Seventy-four older patients who visited Hiroshima University Hospital were enrolled. Tongue swab samples were employed, and a real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed to detect HHV-6 and HHV-7 DNA. Dental plaque accumulation, probing pocket depth, and bleeding on probing (BOP) (i.e., a sign of periodontal inflammation) were examined. The periodontal inflamed surface area (PISA) value (i.e., an indicator of the severity of periodontitis) was also examined. Results: Of the 74 participants, one participant (1.4%) was HHV-6 DNA-positive and 36 participants (48.6%) were HHV-7 DNA-positive. A significant association between HHV-7 DNA and probing depth was found (p = 0.04). The HHV-7 DNA-positive participants had a higher positive rate of a ≥6-mm periodontal pocket with BOP (25.0%) than the HHV-7 DNA-negative participants (7.9%). Additionally, the HHV-7 DNA-positive participants had a higher PISA value than the HHV-7 DNA-negative participants. However, there was no significant association between HHV-7 and the PISA value (p = 0.82). No significant association was found between HHV-7 and lifestyle-related diseases (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Oral HHV-7 infection is associated with a deep periodontal pocket. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to clarify the deflection, splaying, and abrasion of single tufts of polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) toothbrushes after use. A single-center randomized controlled trial is performed. The changes in deflection, bristle splaying, and abrasion are investigated for the middle single tuft of the top line (top–middle tuft) and the middle single tuft of the bottom line (bottom–middle tuft) of PBT toothbrushes with medium stiffness after 1 month, 2 months, and 3 months of use by 34 participants. A soft-material bending-resistance tester is used to assess the deflection of the single tufts. The deflection value of the top–middle tuft significantly increased after 1 month of use compared with the baseline. In contrast, the deflection of the bottom–middle tuft significantly increased after 3 months of use compared with the baseline and after 1 month and 2 months of use. Importantly, the change in deflection was distinctly different between the top– and bottom–middle tufts. The bristle splaying of both tufts significantly increased after use, but a significant change in bristle abrasion was not found. The bending stiffness of the top tuft of a PBT toothbrush may decrease more rapidly than that of the bottom tuft with use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Candida albicans can be detected in subgingival sites of patients with periodontitis. However, the association between oral Candida albicans and periodontitis has not been fully elucidated in Japanese adults. The aim of this study is to clarify the relationship between oral Candida albicans infection/co-infection of oral C. albicans and Porphyromonas gingivalis and periodontitis among middle-aged and older Japanese people. Materials and Methods: Eighty-six patients (mean age 70.4 years) who visited the Hiroshima University Hospital from April to September 2021 were investigated in this study. Oral swab samples were collected from the tongue surface. C. albicans and P. gingivalis DNA was detected by real-time PCR using specific DNA primer sets. C. albicans-positive participants were classified into two groups according to the presence or absence of intron insertion of C. albicans DNA by PCR analysis. Results: C. albicans was detected in 22 (25.6%) of the 86 patients. Patients in their 80s recorded a higher C. albicans-positive rate (35.3%) compared with other participants. However, there was no significant association between the C. albicans positivity rate and clinical parameters such as sex, age, systemic disease, denture use, or oral health status. Of the 22 C. albicans-positive participants, 10 participants (45.5%) had C. albicans with intron insertion; 70% of participants who had C. albicans with intron insertion exhibited ≥6 mm probing depth. C. albicans/P. gingivalis co-infection was found in 12 patients (14%). Importantly, binomial logistic regression analysis revealed that C. albicans/P. gingivalis co-infection was significantly associated with ≥6 mm periodontal pockets with bleeding on probing (p = 0.02). Conclusions: Co-infection of C. albicans and P. gingivalis is involved in active periodontitis in middle-aged and older people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The periodontal inflamed surface area (PISA) has been proposed for assessment of the total periodontal inflammatory status in people with periodontitis. This study was performed to investigate the associations of periodontopathic bacteria and candida with PISA in older people. We enrolled 100 patients aged ≥ 60 years who visited Hiroshima University Hospital. PISA and periodontal epithelial surface area (PESA) were calculated in each patient. Oral rinse samples were collected for DNA extraction. Periodontopathic bacteria and candida were detected by polymerase chain reaction. The mean values of PISA and PESA were significantly greater in T.forsythia-positive patients than in T.forsythia-negative patients. T.forsythia/C. albicans double-positive patients exhibited significantly greater PISA values than did non-double-positive patients. Additionally, PISA values were significantly greater in T. forsythia//T. denticola/C. albicans triple-positive patients than in T. forsythia//T. denticola/C. albicans non-triple-positive patients (p = 0.02). Propensity score-matching was performed between periodontopathic bacteria-positive and -negative patients using propensity scores generated from clinical factors. Importantly, T.forsythia/T. denticola double-positive patients exhibited significantly greater PISA values than non-double-positive patients among 72 propensity score-matched patients. Our preliminary results highlight the importance of the presence of T.forsythia and T. denticola for periodontal inflammation severity in older Japanese people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of this prospective cohort study was to clarify changes in physical and oral function in older adults after completing a 3-month health program combining physical and oral exercise, oral health instruction, and nutritional guidance. Methods: Subjects were 34 women aged at least 70 years (mean age 79.2 years) in Bungotakada City, Oita Prefecture, Japan. Physical and oral function was investigated on the first day (baseline), at the end of the program, and 6 and 12 months after completing the health program. Physical function was measured using handgrip strength test, timed up and go (TUG) test and one-leg standing time test. Oral diadochokinesis test and repetitive saliva swallowing test (RSST) were employed to assess oral function. Results: TUG scores were significantly lower at 6 and 12 months than at baseline in participants aged ≥70 and <80 years. The repetition rate of the monosyllables /pa/, /ta/, and /ka/ was improved at the end of program in participants aged ≥70 and <80 years and increased to more than 6 times/second at 12 months. Conclusions: Our 3-month health program maintained improvements in oral and physical function in older women 1 year after completing the program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We previously reported that polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) toothbrushes become less effective for plaque removal after two months of use. However, it remains unknown how the bristle stiffness of PBT toothbrushes changes after several months of use. We performed a single-center randomized controlled trial to evaluate the bristle stiffness and bristle splaying of soft and medium manual toothbrushes among dental and medical students of Hiroshima University. Subjects were 80 participants who met the criteria. Participants were randomly assigned to the soft toothbrush group (n = 40) or the medium toothbrush group (n = 40). We collected toothbrushes immediately after first use (T0), after one month of use (T1), after two months of use (T2), and after three months of use (T3). Bristle stiffness was measured according to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 22254. The mean bristle stiffness (N/cm2) of soft and medium toothbrushes was significantly lower at T2 and T3 than at T0 (T2 vs. T0, soft; 3.63 vs. 3.89, P < 0.01 and medium; 4.33 vs. 4.52, P < 0.05, respectively, and T3 vs. T0, 3.62 vs. 3.89, p < 0.01 and 4.18 vs. 4.52, p < 0.001, respectively). Bristle stiffness was significantly reduced in soft and medium PBT toothbrushes after two months of use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Primary stability is an important prognostic factor for dental implant therapy. In the present study, we evaluate the relationship between implant stability evaluation findings by the use of an implant stability quotient (ISQ), an index for primary stability, and a morphological evaluation of bone by preoperative computed tomography (CT). Subjects and methods: We analyzed 98 patients who underwent implant placement surgery in this retrospective study. For all 247 implants, the correlations of the ISQ value with cortical bone thickness, cortical bone CT value, cancellous bone CT value, insertion torque value, implant diameter, and implant length were examined. Results: 1. Factors affecting ISQ values in all cases: It was revealed that there were significant associations between the cortical bone thickness and cancellous bone CT values with ISQ by multiple regression analysis. 2. It was revealed that there was a significant correlation between cortical bone thickness and cancellous bone CT values with ISQ by multiple regression analysis in the upper jaw. 3. It was indicated that there was a significant association between cortical bone thickness and implant diameter with ISQ by multiple regression analysis in the lower jaw. Conclusion: We concluded that analysis of the correlation of the ISQ value with cortical bone thickness and values obtained in preoperative CT imaging were useful preoperative evaluations for obtaining implant stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve the osteoconductivity of apatite cement (AC) for reconstruction of bone defects after oral maxillofacial surgery, we previously fabricated AC containing atelocollagen (AC(ate)). In the present study, we examined the initial attachment, proliferation and differentiation of mouse osteoblastic cells (MC3T3-E1 cells) on the surface of conventional AC (c-AC), AC(ate) and a plastic cell dish. The number of osteoblastic cells showing initial attachment to AC(ate) was greater than those attached to c-AC and similar to the number attached to the plastic cell wells. We also found that osteoblastic cells were well spread and increased their number on AC(ate) in comparison with c-AC and the wells without specimens, while the amount of procollagen type I carboxy-terminal peptide (PIPC) produced in osteoblastic cells after three days on AC(ate) was greater as compared to the others. There was no significant difference in regard to alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and osteocalcin production by osteoblastic cells among the three surface types after three and six days. However, after 12 days, ALP activity and the produced osteocalcin were greater with AC(ate). In conclusion, AC(ate) may be a useful material with high osteoconductivity for reconstruction of bone defects after oral maxillofacial surgery.