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Chewing ability is also related to activities of daily living (ADLs) and nutritional status; however, these associations have not been firmly established. We examined chewing ability as a predictor variable and explored its relationship with cognitive functioning as mediated by ADLs and nutritional status data were collected by face-to-face interviews. Patients were receiving home healthcare service in Mun-gyeong city, Gyung-buk, Korea. Participants comprised 295 patients aged 81.35 ± 6.70 years. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was performed using AMOS 18.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). The model fit was based on absolute fit index and incremental fit index. Data were collected to assess cognitive functioning (using the Korean version of the Mini-Mental Status Examination for dementia screening (MMSE-DS)), ADL, a mini-nutritional assessment (MNA) questionnaire, and a chewing ability test. Participants with better chewing ability had significantly better cognitive functioning, ADLs, and nutritional status (p < 0.001). Chewing ability directly affected cognitive functioning and indirectly affected how ADLs and MNA affected MMSE-DS. Chewing ability is an important factor influencing the cognitive functioning of elderly adults in Korea, both directly and indirectly through mediating variables such as nutritional status and ADLs. Efforts to help older adults maintain their chewing ability are necessary for preventing cognitive impairment.

Age-related decline in cognitive function is a major challenge in geriatric healthcare. A possible explanation is that the tooth loss or low chewing ability is at cause of cognitive impairment or dementia. The study aimed to investigate the potential relationship between chewing ability and cognitive function in the elderly. A total of 563 participants aged 65 years or over residing in urban and rural areas of South Korea were surveyed. The chewing ability was measured by objectively measurable indications such as the number of remaining teeth, denture status, color-changeable gum, and occlusal balance using T-Scan III®. The cognitive function was measured by the Korean version of Mini-Mental State Examination-Dementia Screening (MMSE-DS) and a score of 24 or more (out of 30) indicates a normal cognition, below 23 indicates cognitive impairment. The association between socio-demographic factors, chewing ability factors, and cognitive function demonstrated statistically significant results. When comparing the denture status and chewing ability, the proportion of need denture group had fewer remaining teeth and anterior balanced occlusion. The average number of remaining teeth in anterior balanced occlusion with cognitive impairment was 11.2 compared to posterior balanced occlusion with the normal cognition 19.2. A multiple linear regression analysis declared a significant correlation between number of remaining teeth, denture status, occlusal balance, and cognitive function. Results of the present study revealed objectively measurable indications are suitable for chewing ability assessment and correlated with cognitive function.

Background/purpose Because oral health of patients with head & neck cancer is prone to disease after radiotherapy, effective and long-lasting oral care program is necessary. We aimed to evaluate the effects of the oral care management program, which lasted up to 12 months after radiotherapy for patients with head and neck cancer. Materials and methods Sixty-eight patients who visited a dental clinic prior to the initiation of radiotherapy were recruited and categorized into either a “healthy” or a “vulnerable” group. The vulnerable group was made of patients with dental caries or periodontal attachment loss. Professional oral hygiene care, including tooth brushing instructions, professional mechanical tooth cleaning, and fluoride varnish application, was conducted once every week for a month during radiotherapy and once every 3 months after radiotherapy. Oral health, including dental caries, plaques, gingival index, and periodontal attachment loss, was examined at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months after radiotherapy. Results ; Twenty-nine and 16 patients were followed up at 6 and 12 months after radiotherapy, respectively. Oral health indices, such as the number of decayed teeth, amount of plaque, and gingival index, did not significantly change in either group. However, the periodontal pocket depth significantly decreased in both groups at 6 months after baseline, and this decrease continued in the vulnerable group up to 12 months after baseline. Conclusion Periodic dental visits and professional oral hygiene care during and after radiotherapy were effective in maintaining oral health for over 12 months after radiotherapy in patients with head and neck cancer.

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

In recent years, there has been a global trend toward the importance of natural extracts for the prevention and treatment of human diseases. -glucan is known to have anti-inflammatory activity, anti-cancer, and improvement of immune system. Polycan is purified -glucan from Aureobasidum pullulans SM-2001. The anti-cancer effects of -gluconsan calcium, polycan and calcium gluconate complex, were evaluated in human oral cancer YD-10B cells. YD-10B cells were cultured in the presence of 0, 0.5, 0.75, 1 mg/ml -gluconsan calcium for 48 hours. MTT assay, cell counting, and observation of cell morphology were conducted. The number of cells decreased and cell morphology changed in the 0.5 mg/ml of -gluconsan calcium. Almost all cells were dead in the 0.75 and 1 mg/ml. MTT assay showed a dose-dependent reduction in cell proliferation (p-gluconsan calcium exhibiting anti-cancer effects in YD-10B cells through changes in cell morphology and cell death.

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.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between oral health status and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) by using the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) among adolescents in a metropolis of Korea. A total of 119 students in 1st grade in middle school and 1st grade in high school participated in this cross-sectional study. Oral examination was conducted by two trained dentists to collect in for mation about Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth (DMFT) and Community Periodontal Index (CPI). OHRQoL was evaluated by short-form of OHIP-14. Wilcoxon correlation, Kruskal-Wallis test and multiple regression analyses were performed to assess the association between oral health status and OHRQoL. All data was analyzed by SPSS 22.0 and the significance level was set at 0.05. The average of OHIP-14 score in adolescents having no dental caries () was higher than those having more than one DMFT index (). The average of OHIP-14 score in adolescents having bleeding observed () was higher than those having more than calculus detected (). The level of OHRQoL was higher in the participants perceiving better oral health condition compared to those perceiving poorer condition (p

Background Several studies have reported the harmful effects of lead poisoning. However, the relationship between lead exposure and oral health of children has not been well defined. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between blood lead level (BLL) and oral health status of children. Methods A total of 351 children (aged 7–15 years) were recruited from the pilot data of the Korean Environmental Health Survey in Children and Adolescents, which was designed to examine environmental exposure and children’s health status in South Korea. Blood samples were taken to determine BLLs and oral examinations were performed to assess oral health parameters, including community periodontal index (CPI), gingival index (GI), and plaque index (PI). Information regarding socioeconomic status, oral hygiene behavior, and dietary habits was collected from parents and guardians. Results The participants were divided equally into four quartiles, with quartile I comprised of children with the lowest BLLs. There were significant differences for PI (p

Objectives: With the growing elderly population, there is an increasing interest in the oral and general health of elderly individuals. Loss of teeth is representative of oral disease in elderly individuals and is associated with medical and dental problems. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the number of remaining functional teeth and cognitive function. Methods: A total of 456 (111 public health centers, 261 senior centers, 84 sanatoriums) older adults (aged ≥65 years) residing in Korea were included. A mental health nurse examined the cognitive function using the Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Examination. A dentist examined the number of functional teeth and denture status through an oral examination, while a dental hygienist surveyed the subjective masticatory level using a questionnaire. Results: The mean age of the participants was 79.5 years (range 65-97 years), and 76.1% of them were women. Participants with a small number of functional teeth had lower cognitive function. In these participants, the odds ratio with poor cognitive function was 2.30 times higher; it was 2.74 times higher after adjusting for age, sex, residence, education, and denture use, and was statistically significant. Conclusions: Our study suggested that the number of functional teeth was associated with cognitive function in the Korean elderly population.

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.

Objectives: Unmet needs for dental treatment are one of the potential contributing factors to poor oral health because oral health problems worsen if left untreated. This study aimed to demonstrate the prevalence of and the causes for unmet dental needs, and to evaluate the association between unmet needs for dental treatment and oral health status. Methods: Data on 3,883 subjects aged ≥18 years from the Korean National Oral Health Survey 2006 were analyzed. Information regarding unmet needs for dental treatment was obtained using standard ized questionnaires. Eight trained dentists examined decayed, missing, or filled teeth (DMFT). Multiple regression models were built to assess the association between unmet needs for dental treatment and the DMFT scores. Results: The prevalence of perceived unmet needs for dental treatment was 34.7% among the adult Korean population. Economic constraints were the main cause (38.6%) for unmet dental needs. The average DMFT scores were higher in the subjects with unmet needs for dental treatment than in those without. In individuals with unmet needs for dental treatment within the past 1 year, the number of de cayed teeth after adjusting for confounders was likely to be greater by 0.58 and that of missing teeth by 0.27 compared to that in their counterparts with no unmet dental needs in the past 1 year. Conclusions: Perceived unmet needs for dental treatment were significantly associated with poor oral health status among the adult Korean population. Further studies are needed to clarify the direct and indirect effects of unmet needs for dental treatment on an individual’s oral health status by investigating critical variables of the causal pathways among perceived dental needs, dental care utilization, and oral health status.

Objectives: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been associated with systemic diseases, such as periodontal diseases. Periodontal diseases and RA appear to share many pathologic features. The etiology of the two diseases may differ, but they share similar pathological characteristics. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between RA and periodontal diseases. Methods: Data from the Fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHNES) were used to analyze periodontal status according to the presence of RA. Demographics and oral behaviors were analyzed using the complex chi-square test to compare participants with RA with those without RA. Complex logistic regression was used to analyze relationships of periodontal diseases with RA and other covariates. Results: The odds ratio for periodontal diseases was 1.91 (95% confidence interval: 1.05-3.48) in participants with RA compared with participants without RA. Conclusions: The results of this study provide evidence of a significant association between periodontal diseases and RA.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of oral care interventions on stroke patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). Oral hygiene levels, periodontal health, and presence of Candida were evaluated in patients who received an oral care intervention and control patients who did not receive the intervention. Methods: In this study, 22 stroke patients who were admitted to the ICU between June 2011 and August 2012 underwent oral examinations and were provided with an oral care intervention that included tooth brushing with an interdental brush and the use of a chlorhexidine mouthwash (oral care group), while 21 patients who were admitted to the ICU during the same period did not receive the oral care intervention but underwent oral examination and served as controls (non-oral care group). In the oral care group, oral care was performed once a day for 1-5 weeks according to the general health of the patient. The patients in the oral care group underwent oral examination before and after the oral care intervention. Plaque index, gingival index, clinical attachment loss (CAL), and presence of Candida were evaluated in both the groups. Results: The plaque index and gingival index of the oral care group were significantly lower than those of the non-oral care group; however, no significant difference in CAL was observed. The levels of Candida in the pra; care group were ;ower than those om the non-oral care group. However, no significant intergroup difference was observed in the levels of Candida. Conclusions: Oral care interventions improved oral health, including oral hygiene and periodontal health, of stroke patients in the ICU. Therefore, this study showed that oral care interventions can be effectively used to improve the oral health of stroke patients in the ICU.

Copyright © 2013 by Journal of Korean Academy of Oral Health This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/), which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the characteristics of the high caries risk group among 12-year-old children in Korea. Methods: Information on oral health status and interview data were collected from 6,253 children (3,309 male and 2,944 female children) aged 12 years who participated in the Korea National Oral Health Survey in 2010. The subjects were sorted according to the decayed missing filled tooth (DMFT) data. The highest one-third was selected as the significant caries (SiC) group (N=2,184), and the others were classified as the middle group (N=4,466) and the caries-free group (N=7,067). This study also used demographic variables such as gender and area of residence. The variables for the oral health behavior were the number of dental sealants on the first molar, self-perceived oral health, average frequency of tooth brushing per day, and the mean frequency of daily snack consumption. The variables for the oral health status were the mean number of DMFTs and the SiC index. The associations between the high caries risk group and the demographic and social variables, oral health status, and oral health-related consciousness and behavior were evaluated by logistic regression analysis. Results: A significant proportion of the high caries risk group participants had no dental sealant on the first molar (46.4%) and lived in rural areas (38.1%, P

Sinus node dysfunction occurs occasionally after heart transplantation and may be caused by surgical trauma, ischemia to the sinus node, rejection, drug therapy, and increasing donor age. However, the timing and indication of permanent pacemaker insertion due to sinus node dysfunction following heart transplantation is contentious. Here, we report a case of a permanent pacemaker insertion for syncope due to sinus arrest after heart transplantation, even with a bicaval technique, which has been known to associate with few incidences of sinus node dysfunction.

Purpose:This study was performed to assess how a fetal diagnosis of congenital heart disease affects parents, as regards pregnancy management and care of infants after birth. Methods:Database search to find out abnormal fetal echocardiography performed at Seoul National University Children's Hospital from July 1988 to June 2003 revealed 370 examinations. After excluding both arrhythmias without structural cardiac disease and multiple pregnancies, 299 pregnancies remained and this data formed the basis of this analysis. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records with special attention to pregnancy outcomes and also tried to find out factors influencing parental decisions on whether to continue or terminate pregnancy. Results:In this study, the mean gestation age at diagnosis was 28±6.0 weeks. The mean age of mothers was 30±3.9 years old. Younger gestational ages at diagnosis(P=0.000), more severe grades of fetal heart disease(P=0.002) and younger mothers(P=0.014) correlated with terminations of pregnanies. But the grades of fetal status, the grades of associated anomaly, whether in-vitro-fertilization was carried out or not and numbers of previous children were not significant. Conclusion:This study found that the earlier gestational ages at diagnosis, younger maternal age and higher grades of fetal heart disease tended to lead parent to select abortions. Fetal echocardiographies were performed too late. Moreover Koreans have a biased view that malformation is a something incurable and a tragedy not only to oneself, but also to a family. So parents select terminations of pregnancy, even in curable cases. This is very unethical