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Objective: Various factors may be associated with edentulism in elderly people. Association of total tooth loss with smoking, alcohol intake and nutrition in non-institutionalised elderly Japanese was assessed utilising national database. Materials and methods: Records of independent surveys, the Survey of Dental Diseases (SDD) and the National Nutrition Survey (NNS) in 1999 were electronically linked using the household identification number. Results: Among the records of 6903 subjects in the SDD and 12 763 subjects in the NNS, 6805 records were successfully linked. Overall, prevalence of total tooth loss in adults was very similar in males and females at approximately 7.0%, and the smoking rate was 47.6% and 9.9% respectively. Total tooth loss was a rare phenomenon (

Background: A causal association between cigarette smoking and periodontal disease has been established. The present study examined the association between smoking and tooth loss using national databases in Japan.Methods: Records of the Survey of Dental Diseases and the National Nutrition Survey in 1999 were linked electronically using common identification. Records of 3,999 subjects aged older than 40 years were analyzed using logistic regression models, controlling for confounding factors, such as age, frequency of tooth brushing, body mass index, alcohol consumption, and intakes of vitamin C and E.Results: Prevalence of tooth loss in terms of having less than 19 existing teeth was 37.3% overall. Smoking rates differed in males (45.6%) and females (7.8%). The prevalence of tooth loss in nonsmokers, former, and current smokers was 28.5%, 38.6%, and 36.9% in males, and 38.6%, 34.3% and 38.9% in females, respectively. Adjusted means of existing teeth controlling for confounders by smoking status were 21.5, 19.7 and 18.2 in males and 19.0, 19.2 and 16.4 in females, respectively. The association of tooth loss was non-significant in former smokers but significant in current smokers: adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) relative to nonsmokers in males and females were 1.29 (0.92-1.80) and 0.86 (0.46, 1.60) for former smokers and 2.22 (1.61-3.06) and 2.14 (1.45-3.15) for current smokers, respectively. A dose-response relationship between lifetime exposure and tooth loss was seen (P for trend

Background and Objective: The association between cigarette smoking and periodontitis was examined employing two nationally representative samples of adults in Japan. Material and Methods: Data were derived from the Survey of Dental Diseases (SDD) and the National Nutrition Survey (NNS) in 1999. In the SDD, periodontal conditions were evaluated by calibrated dentists utilizing the Community Periodontal Index (CPI), whereas in the NNS, participants were interviewed on the basis of smoking status by enumerators. Among 6805 records electronically linked via a household identification code, 4828 records of individuals aged 20 yr or older were analyzed. Results: The prevalence of periodontal disease varied significantly by smoking status (p

BACKGROUND: There has been no nationwide study in Japan on reasons for extraction of permanent teeth. This survey was aimed to determine the reasons for extraction of permanent teeth in Japan.METHODS: Five thousand, one hudred and thirty-one dentists were selected by systematic selection from the 2004 membership directory of the Japan Dental Association. The dentists selected were asked to record the reason for each extraction of permanent teeth during a period of one week from February 1 through 7, 2005. Reasons for tooth extraction were assigned to five groups: caries, fracture of teeth weakened by caries or endodontics, periodontal diseases, orthodontics, and other reasons.RESULTS: A total of 2,001 dentists (response rate of 39.1%) returned the questionnaires, and information on 9,115 extracted teeth from 7,499 patients was obtained. The results showed that caries and its sequela (totally 43.3%, 32.7% and 10.6%, respectively) and periodontal disease (41.8%) were the main reasons for teeth extraction. Extraction due to caries or fracture was commonly observed in all age groups over 15 years of age, whereas periodontal disease was predominant in the groups over 45 years of age.CONCLUSIONS: Most of the permanent teeth were extracted due to caries and its sequela and periodontal disease. Prevention and care for dental caries for all age groups and periodontal disease for over middle age groups are required.J Epidemiol 2006; 16: 214-219.

To assess the critical tooth number (CTN) required for prevention of subjective dysphagia caused by oral impairments and to evaluate the relationship between this CTN and mortality.The baseline study was performed with residents aged 40-89years (n=5,643; 2224 men and 3419 women) in Miyako Islands, Okinawa, in 1987. Dental examinations were performed by dentists, and subjective dysphagia was asked. We recorded the cause and year of death of participants who died during the next 15years.The average functional tooth number of participants with and without subjective dysphagia declined with age in both sexes. The CTN for each respective age group (40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s) not including the denture group were 20.0, 17.5, 14.0, 11.8 and 10.1 in men and 19.0, 14.7, 12.7, 9.5 and 4.0 in women. These CTN were significant factors of 15-year mortality in both sexes (P0.05). The hazard ratios were 0.72 (95% confidence interval=0.55-0.93) in men and 0.71 (0.51-0.99) in women. In aged people, the minimum number of functional teeth needed to avoid subjective dysphagia might not be as high as in young people.

The effects of sex hormones on the in vitro chemotaxis of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) and monocytes were investigated using fMLP as the chemoattractant. PMNs, monocytes, and plasma were obtained from heparinized peripheral blood of healthy adults. Chemotaxis of PMNs or monocytes treated with sex hormones were tested using 48-well chemotaxis microchambers. The correlation between sex hormone levels in plasma and the chemotactic ability of PMNs from the same donor was also investigated. The chemotaxis of PMNs was enhanced by progesterone, while it was reduced by estradiol. Random migration of PMNs was also enhanced by progesterone and reduced by estradiol. The effect of estradiol on PMN chemotaxis was inhibited by addition of antiestrogens or progesterone. Testosterone did not have a measurable effect on PMN chemotaxis. A significant positive correlation was found between the concentration of progesterone in plasma of females and PMN chemotactic ability in vitro. For males, there was no significant relationship between plasma levels of sex hormones and PMN chemotactic ability. Estradiol and testosterone levels in plasma did not correlate with PMN chemotactic ability. Sex hormones had no effect on the chemotaxis of monocytes. These results suggest that the altered PMN chemotaxis associated with gingival inflammation may be due to the effects of sex hormones.

Background: Oral function influences various general health and organ diseases. We wondered if physical complaints of unknown origin were related to oral function. Methods: Five thousand five hundred and eighty-four community residents (2206 men and 3378 women, aged 40–89 years) on the Miyako Islands, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, were recruited for the baseline study in 1987 and followed up for 15 years. Physical complaints and functional tooth numbers were assessed for the baseline study in 1987 by dentists and followed up for 15 years. Physical complaints of unknown origin included shoulder stiffness, lower back pain, pain of upper extremity, pain of lower extremity, neuralgia, ear ringing, difficult of hearing, dizziness and sleeping difficulties. Results: Physical complaints were significantly associated with functional tooth number in the baseline study. There were no systematic differences between physical complaints and functional tooth number among different age groups. Physical complaints did not influence the survival rates in either men or women. Conclusion: Oral function may be related to physical complaints. Dental care may be one of the targets to treat these physical complaints of unknown origin.

Aim: To prospectively study how dental status with and without dentures could become a predictor of overall mortality risk. Methods: Five thousand six hundred eighty-eight community residents over 40 years old in the Miyako Islands, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, were followed up for 15 years from 1987–2002. Results: We found that female subjects with less than 10 functional teeth and without dentures showed a significantly higher mortality rate than those with dentures. There was no significant difference of mortality rates in male subjects. There were no significant differences of mortality rates between subjects with 10 or more functional teeth with and without dentures. Conclusion: The present study suggests that dentures are one of the factors associated with mortality rates especially in female subjects with less than 10 functional teeth.

Background Various factors affect tooth loss in older age including cigarette smoking; however, evidence regarding the association between smoking and tooth loss during young adulthood is limited. The present study examined the association between cigarette smoking and tooth loss experience among adults aged 20–39 years using linked data from two national databases in Japan. Methods Two databases of the National Nutrition Survey (NNS) and the Survey of Dental Diseases (SDD), which were conducted in 1999, were obtained from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare with permission for analytical use. In the NNS, participants received physical examinations and were interviewed regarding dietary intake and health practices including cigarette smoking, whereas in the SDD, participants were asked about their frequency of daily brushing, and received oral examinations by certified dentists. Among 6,805 records electronically linked via household identification code, 1314 records of individuals aged 20 to 39 years were analyzed. The prevalence of 1+ tooth loss was compared among non-, former, and current smokers. Multiple logistic regression models were constructed including confounders: frequency of tooth brushing, body mass index, alcohol consumption, and intake of vitamins C and E. Results Smoking rates differed greatly in men (53.3%) and women (15.5%). The overall prevalence of tooth loss was 31.4% (31.8% men and 31.1% women). Tooth loss occurred more frequently among current smokers (40.6%) than former (23.1%) and non-smokers (27.9%). Current smoking showed a significant association with 1+ tooth loss in men (adjusted OR = 2.21 [1.40–3.50], P = 0.0007) and women (1.70 [1.13–2.55], P = 0.0111). A significant positive exposure-related relationship between cigarette smoking status and tooth loss was observed (P for trend < 0.0001 and 0.0004 in men and women, respectively). Current smoking was also associated with the prevalence of decayed teeth (1.67 [1.28–2.20], P = 0.0002). Conclusion An association between cigarette smoking and tooth loss was evident among young adults throughout Japan. Due to limitations of the available variables in the present databases, further studies including caries experience and its confounders should be conducted to examine whether smoking is a true risk of premature tooth loss in young adults.

A criterion was established in a previous study to detect the relapse of adult acute leukemia in its early stage, i.e., when lymphocytes in peripheral blood increased over 45% of the leukocytes during the maintenance therapy, bone marrow puncture was immediately performed to examine the leukemic cells. By this criterion the relapse was detected earlier than by other criteria. To study the effect of early detection of the relapse in adult acute leukemia on the results, the second remission rate and the survival time were compared between the following groups. Group I consisted of 11 patients, whose relapse was determined by our criterion. Group II consisted of 8 patients whose relapse was determined by the appearance of leukemic cells in peripheral blood. The second remission was accomplished in 7 of 11 patients in Group I (64%) and in 1 of 8 in Group II (13%) (p less than 0.05). The mean (+/- S.D.) duration of complete remission in Group I was 9.7 +/- 7.8 months and not significantly longer than the value in Group II (5.3 +/- 3.9 months). The interval from relapse to death was 10.3 +/- 5.9 and 6.1 +/- 3.8 months in Groups I and II, respectively. The interval from relapse to death of 7 patients who accomplished the second remission in Group I was 12.5 +/- 5.5 months. This interval was significantly longer than in Group II (p less than 0.02). The mean survival time was 22.2 +/- 9.6 months in Group I and 13 +/- 2.5 months in Group II. The mean survival time of 7 patients accomplished the second remission in Group I was 26. 7 +/- 9.4 months which was significantly longer than in Group II (p less than 0.01). The results showed that our criterion to detect relapse in the early stage was effective for prolongation of the survival time in adult acute leukemia.