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This retrospective study investigated the effect of perioperative oral care intervention on postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing lung cancer resection, in terms of the length of postoperative hospital stay and the incidence of postoperative respiratory infections. In total, 585 patients underwent lung resection for lung cancer, 397 received perioperative oral care intervention, whereas the remaining 188 did not. This study retrospectively investigated the demographic and clinical characteristics (including postoperative complications and postoperative hospital stay) of each group. To determine whether perioperative oral care intervention was independently associated with either postoperative hospital stay or postoperative respiratory infections, multivariate analysis, multiple regression analysis, and multivariate logistic regression analysis were conducted. Parameters significantly associated with a prolonged postoperative hospital stay in lung cancer surgery patients were older age, postoperative complications, increased intraoperative bleeding, more invasive operative approach (e.g., open surgery), and lack of perioperative oral care intervention (standard partial regression coefficient (s) = 0.083, p = 0.027). Furthermore, older age and longer operative time were significant independent risk factors for the occurrence of postoperative respiratory infections. Lack of perioperative oral care intervention was a potential risk factor for the occurrence of postoperative respiratory infections, although not statistically significant (odds ratio = 2.448, 95% confidence interval = 0.966–6.204, p = 0.059). These results highlight the importance of perioperative oral care intervention prior to lung cancer surgery, in order to shorten postoperative hospital stay and reduce the risk of postoperative respiratory infections.

This study aimed to evaluate the risk factors for surgical site infection (SSI) after orthognathic surgery, focusing on the duration of prophylactic antibiotic administration in Japan.The study included 181 patients who underwent orthognathic surgery at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of Yamagata University Hospital between 2012 and 2021. The clinical parameters of SSI were retrospectively investigated using patient charts. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for risk factors for SSI after orthognathic surgery.Nineteen patients (10.5%) were complicated with SSI. Male sex (OR, 3.638; 95% CI, 1.316-10.058) and an antibiotic prophylaxis duration ≤3 days (OR, 12.718; 95% CI, 1.639-98.673) were independent risk factors for SSI after orthognathic surgery.Extended-term antibiotic prophylaxis was more effective for prevention of SSI after orthognathic surgery than short-term in this study.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether the bone marrow space volume of the mandible affects blood loss during bilateral sagittal split osteotomy (BSSO). Sixteen patients who underwent BSSO in our hospital were included in this study. Bone marrow space volume of the mandible was measured by analyzing images from computed tomography. Blood loss during BSSO was measured by weighing gauze, measuring suctioned blood, and adjusting for the volume of irrigation solution used during BSSO. Mean blood loss during BSSO for the 16 patients was 200.5 ml, and patients were divided into: Group I, with less than mean blood loss; and Group II, with greater than mean blood loss. Total bone marrow space volume was significantly greater in Group II (12,450.7 ± 2644.3 mm3) than in Group I (9130.3 ± 3005.8 mm3; P A correlation between bone marrow space volume and blood loss during BSSO was suggested, and these results are beneficial for surgeons planning and preparing the orthognathic surgery.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes of implant-retained obturator rehabilitation after maxillectomy, based on quality of life (QOL) and masticatory function.The present study included 12 patients who underwent dental implant surgery after maxillectomy. Oral health-related QOL and masticatory function before and after completion of implant-retained obturator rehabilitation were evaluated.Oral Health Impact Profile-Short Form (OHIP-14) scores showed significant differences in the domain for functional limitation (before, 4.08 ± 2.47; after, 1.33 ± 0.98; P.01); physical pain (before, 2.75 ± 2.05; after, 0.42 ± 0.51; P.01); physical disability (before, 3.24 ± 2.11; after, 1.33 ± 1.30; P.01), psychological disability (before, 3.83 ± 2.48; after, 1.67 ± 2.50; P.01); social disability (before, 2.17 ± 1.75; after, 1.08 ± 1.38; P.05); handicap (before, 3.17 ± 1.90; after, 1.08 ± 1.00; P.01); and total score (before, 22.41 ± 10.17; after, 8.83 ± 6.82; P.01) Furthermore, masticatory function score was significantly higher after completing implant-retained obturator rehabilitation (before, 38.75 ± 22.97; after, 69.17 ± 21.41; P.01).Implant-retained obturator rehabilitation contributed to improved masticatory function and oral health-related QOL after maxillectomy.

Objective Recent studies have suggested that preoperative interventions such as tooth extraction, incision and curettage may be associated with poor prognosis in patients with oral malignancies. Although biopsy is another preoperative intervention, its influence on the prognosis of patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) has remained unclear. We investigated the prognosis of stage I and II OSCC patients, with special reference to the influence of the interval between biopsy and surgery. Materials and methods The cases of 47 patients diagnosed with primary early-stage (T1 or T2N0M0) OSCC were reviewed retrospectively. Results Primary surgery was performed ≤21 days after biopsy for 17 patients, and >21 days after biopsy for 30 patients. Incidence of local recurrence or delayed cervical lymph node metastasis was significantly higher among the long-interval group (p = 0.03). Patients with local or neck failure displayed a significantly longer interval (33.6 days) than patients who were stable (21.9 days; p Conclusion Treatment delay can worsen the prognosis of patients with early-stage OSCC by increasing the incidence of local and neck failure. Prompt treatment after biopsy is thus recommended to optimize the outcomes.

Atmospheric radiocarbon (14C) levels increased from 1955 to 1963 due to atmospheric nuclear weapon tests, and then decreased. As 14C accumulates in human tooth enamel while the enamel is being formed, 14C can be used to estimate the birth year of unidentified bodies. Measurement results of 14C content in tooth enamel using accelerator mass spectrometry vary depending on the enamel's sample site. To address this problem, a method for equalizing samples using a pulverizer was considered in this study. Regarding the tube and cone used as the pulverizer, (1) a polycarbonate tube and stainless steel cone, (2) a stainless steel tube and cone, and (3) a tungsten carbide tube and cone, were compared. In (1), the modern carbon ratio was approximately half that of the normal ratio of 100 pMC, with which accurate dating was impossible, and in (2), a high background value was obtained for IAEA-C1, which was pulverized using a reusable tube and cone. In (3), the 14C content for IAEA-C1 pulverized using reusable tube and cone, which was washed with quartz sand, was 0.31 ± 0.01 pMC. This result did not show any problems regarding background value. Therefore, the use of tungsten carbide products and washing with quartz sand is recommended for 14C measurement of pulverized teeth.

This study examined the association between dental health conditions and scores on the University Personality Inventory (UPI) among university students in Japan. Participants were freshmen at Yamagata University between 2010 and 2019. Dental check-ups, including dental caries, periodontal disease, malocclusion, and temporomandibular disorders (TMD), and mental health screening using the UPI were performed; 12,433 students were included in the final analysis. A logistic regression analysis was performed to confirm the association between dental health conditions and >30 UPI scores, which indicate the need to consult mental health professionals. Overall, students who required treatment for TMD had a 3.165-fold higher risk of >30 UPI scores (OR = 3.165, 95% CI = 1.710–5.857). Periodontal disease and TMD in male participants (periodontal disease: OR = 1.329, 95% CI = 1.108–1.595; TMD: OR = 3.014, 95% CI = 1.107–8.204) and TMD in female participants (OR = 2.938, 95% CI = 1.340–6.445) were significant risk factors for >30 UPI scores. Students requiring treatment for TMD were at risk of obtaining >30 UPI scores. Although our study has several limitations, students with subjective symptoms (e.g., disturbance in opening the mouth) should take the UPI test or in some cases consult mental health professionals.

Objective Tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) has the tendency of rapid locoregional invasion and high cervical lymph node metastasis compared with other squamous cell carcinomas. Tumor budding has been reported as a useful prognostic factor for various cancers. In this study, we reported the usefulness of tumor budding evaluation as a prognostic factor for Stage I–II TSCC, in comparison with the Yamamoto-Kohama mode of invasion (YK classification). Materials and methods A total of 23 patients with Stage I–II TSCC were evaluated for tumor budding and YK classification. Tumor budding was classified as low or high-grade based on presence of Results Low-grade BD and YK classifications were confirmed in 15 and 11 patients (65.2% and 47.8%), respectively, while high-grade BD and YK classifications were confirmed in 8 and 12 patients (34.8% and 52.2%), respectively. DFS of patients with low-grade BD and YK classifications were significantly longer than those with high-grades ( p = 0.047 and p = 0.017, respectively). Conclusion High-grade BD and YK classifications were associated with poor prognosis in patients with Stage I–II TSCC. Strict follow-up observation or postoperative adjuvant therapy should be considered when high-grade BD and YK classifications are confirmed.

Objective The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes of prosthetic rehabilitation using dental implants in patients with mandibular reconstruction after mandible tumor ablation based on QOL and masticatory function. Materials and methods This study included 12 patients who had undergone mandibular reconstruction and occlusal rehabilitation with dental implants. Five cases had hemi mandibular defects, 7 cases had segmental mandibular defects, and 1 case had marginal resection. A total of 45 implants were placed in the mandible (27 implants placed in reconstructed bone and 18 implants placed in residual bone). Results The implant survival rates of implants placed in reconstructed bone and residual bone were 92.6% and 100%, respectively with an average follow-up of 46.08 ± 15.03 months. Four patients received an implant-retained bridge, and 8 patients received removable implant-supported dentures. Postoperative quality of life (QOL) was evaluated by the OHIP-14 and masticatory function questionnaires. In nonmalignant cases, there were significant improvement in the domain of functional limitation. And functional limitation, psychological discomfort, physical disability and psychological disability were significantly improved in malignant cases. Masticatory function scores were significantly higher after dental implant prosthetic rehabilitation in malignant cases (before 17.50 ± 16.05, after 60.83 ± 19.08, p Conclusion Mandibular reconstruction and dental implant prosthetic rehabilitation have contributed to improving patients’ oral function and postoperative QOL.

The aim of this study was to investigate the bone resorption effect of the mediators delivered in joint cavity of patients with mandibular condyle fractures by detecting osteoclast markers using cellular biochemistry methods, and by analysing bone resorption activities via inducing osteoclast differentiation of the infiltrated cells from arthrocentesis. Sixteen joints in 10 patients with mandibular condyle fractures were evaluated. The control group consisted of synovial fluid (SF) samples from seven joints of four volunteers who had no clinical signs or symptoms involving the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) or disc displacement. We collected SF cells from all patients during therapeutic arthrocentesis. The infiltrating cells from TMJ SF were cultured, differentiated into tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)-positive osteoclast-like cells and examined bone resorption activities. We also investigated factors related to osteoclast induction of SF, using ELISA procedures. Osteoclast-like cells were induced from the SF cells obtained from all patients with condylar fractures. These multinucleated giant cells were positive for TRAP and actin, and had the ability to absorb dentin slices. The levels of macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), soluble form of receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (sRANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG), in SF samples from the patients, were significantly higher than in the controls. These findings indicate that bone resorption activities in SF from patients with mandibular condyle fractures were upregulated and may participate in the pathogenesis and wound healing.

Purpose The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate a semi-solidifying liquid formula for nasogastric tube (NGT) feeding after oral and maxillofacial surgery. Materials and Methods In total, 42 patients who underwent oral and maxillofacial surgery for malignant tumors, benign tumors, jaw reconstruction, or jaw fractures received postoperative NGT feeding for nutritional control between 2013 and 2019. Of these patients, 21 received a liquid diet (liquid group; administration rate, 100 mL/hour) and 21 received a semi-solidifying liquid formula (semisolid group [SSG]; administration rate, 400 mL/hour; Mermed Plus; Terumo, Tokyo, Japan). We retrospectively evaluated the complications of NGT feeding in both groups. Results During the course of NGT feeding, the incidence of abdominal pain (P = .022), rate of probiotic prescription for diarrhea (P = .012), and Bristol stool form scale score (P = .014) were significantly lower in the SSG than in the liquid group. The maximum defecation frequency per day was also lower in the SSG, although the difference was not significant (P = .069). Conclusions Overall, the semi-solidifying formula was associated with a higher administration rate and a lower incidence of gastrointestinal complications. These findings will help oral and maxillofacial surgeons in the selection of appropriate diets for postoperative NGT feeding.

Osseous choristoma is a rare entity in the oral and maxillofacial region. The most common site is the tongue, followed by the buccal mucosa. Osseous choristoma of the muscle is unusual and few cases have been described in the literature. No reports have described osseous choristoma arising on the medial side of the lateral pterygoid muscle. Herein, we report the first such case. A 61-year-old woman was referred to our facility for treatment of temporomandibular joint disorder. Computed tomography (CT) revealed two osseous lesions on the medial side of the lateral pterygoid muscle. Preoperatively, a three-dimensional (3D) life-sized model of the skull was fabricated from the CT imaging data. The 3D skull model was used to clarify the 3D positional relationships of the osseous lesions relative to the surrounding anatomical structures. Surgery to remove the osseous lesions was performed under general anesthesia. Unfortunately, only the larger of the two masses was able to be resected because of the risk of nerve and vascular injury. Histological examination revealed that the resected lesion comprised mature lamellar bone with regular osteocytes and no atypia. The diagnosis was multiple osseous choristomas based on the histological and clinical findings.

Purpose The aim of this retrospective study was to compare the effectiveness of nasogastric tube (NGT) feeding of a semisolid diet versus a liquid diet after orthognathic surgery. Patients and Methods The orthognathic surgery patients were relatively young and generally healthy, without severe medical disease. Of the patients, 26 received liquid feeding (liquid diet group [LG], with an administration rate of 100 mL/hour), 30 received semisolid feeding at a high administration rate (semisolid diet–rapid administration group [SSRAG], 200 to 500 mL/hour), and 33 received semisolid feeding at a slower rate (semisolid diet–slow administration group [SSSAG], 100 mL/hour). We retrospectively investigated the complications of NGT feeding in each group. Results The incidence of diarrhea was clearly lower in the SSRAG than in the LG. Among patients with lower–gastrointestinal tract symptoms, stool form scale scores and maximum defecation frequency per day were significantly lower in the SSRAG than in the LG (P = .001 for both). Rapid administration of a semisolid diet via an NGT resulted in fewer complications and shorter feeding times for orthognathic surgery patients. Conclusions The rapid administration of a semisolid diet via an NGT should decrease the complications of NGT feeding and improve the quality of the perioperative period for patients. The findings of this study will help clinicians select NGT diets for relatively young, healthy patients, such as orthognathic surgery patients.

Lateral ribosomal stalk is responsible for binding and recruiting translation factors during protein synthesis. The eukaryotic stalk consists of one P0 protein with two copies of P1•P2 heterodimers to form a P0(P1•P2)₂ pentameric P-complex. Here, we have solved the structure of full-length P1•P2 by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. P1 and P2 dimerize via their helical N-terminal domains, whereas the C-terminal tails of P1•P2 are unstructured and can extend up to ∼125 A away from the dimerization domains. (15)N relaxation study reveals that the C-terminal tails are flexible, having a much faster internal mobility than the N-terminal domains. Replacement of prokaryotic L10(L7/L12)₄/L11 by eukaryotic P0(P1•P2)₂/eL12 rendered Escherichia coli ribosome, which is insensitive to trichosanthin (TCS), susceptible to depurination by TCS and the C-terminal tail was found to be responsible for this depurination. Truncation and insertion studies showed that depurination of hybrid ribosome is dependent on the length of the proline-alanine rich hinge region within the C-terminal tail. All together, we propose a model that recruitment of TCS to the sarcin-ricin loop required the flexible C-terminal tail, and the proline-alanine rich hinge region lengthens this C-terminal tail, allowing the tail to sweep around the ribosome to recruit TCS.

This case report describes an 86-year-old woman with dormant right buccal squamous cell carcinoma who was able to maintain a reasonable quality of life after being treated with oral low-dose S-1 (80 mg/day). The treatment regimen started in April 2014 and consisted of two weeks of S-1 followed by a one-week interval. The patient remains on this regimen while maintaining her quality of life and she has been under follow-up as an outpatient for 36 months. The outcomes for this patient indicated that low-dose S-1 is a valid anticancer therapy that may help maintain quality of life for some patients with incurable or dormant cancers.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of duration after meals for saliva collections for oral cancer detection using metabolomics. Saliva samples were collected from oral cancer patients (n = 22) and controls (n = 44). Saliva from cancer patients was collected 12 h after dinner, and 1.5 and 3.5 h after breakfast. Control subjects fasted >1.5 h prior to saliva collection. Hydrophilic metabolites were analyzed using capillary electrophoresis mass spectrometry. Levels of 51 metabolites differed significantly in controls vs. oral cancer patients at the 12-h fasting time point (P < 0.05). Fifteen and ten metabolites differed significantly at the 1.5- and 3.5-h time points, respectively. The area of under receiver operating characteristic curve for discriminating oral cancer patients from controls was greatest at the 12-h fasting time point. The collection time after meals affects levels of salivary metabolites for oral cancer screening. The 12-h fasting after dinner time point is optimal. This study contributes to design of saliva collection protocols for metabolomics-based biomarker discovery.

Zinc is an essential trace element that plays an important role in differentiation of osteoblasts and bone modeling. This in vitro study aimed to evaluate the osteoblast differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) on zinc-modified titanium (Zn-Ti) that releases zinc ions from its surface. Based on real-time PCR, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and Western blot analysis data, we investigated osteoblast differentiation of DPSCs cultured on Zn-Ti and controls. DPSCs cultured on Zn-Ti exhibited significantly up-regulated gene expression levels of osteoblast-related genes of type I collagen (Col I), bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2), ALP, runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), osteopontin (OPN) and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF A), as compared with controls. We also investigated extracellular matrix (ECM) mineralization by Alizarin Red S (ARS) staining and found that Zn-Ti significantly promoted ECM mineralization when compared with controls. These findings suggest that the combination of Zn-Ti and DPSCs provides a novel approach for bone regeneration therapy.

A case of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) presenting after surgery for facial trauma associated with multiple facial bone fractures is described. With regard to the oral and maxillofacial region, DIC has been described in the literature following head trauma, infection, and metastatic disease. Until now, only 5 reports have described DIC after surgery for facial injury. DIC secondary to facial injury is thus rare. The patient in this case was young and had no medical history. Preoperative hemorrhage or postoperative septicemia may thus induce DIC.

Objective Zinc is an essential element for proliferation, differentiation and survival in various cell types. In a previous study, we found that zinc ions released from zinc-modified titanium surfaces (eluted zinc ions; EZ) stimulate cell viability, osteoblast marker gene expression and calcium deposition in human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal cells (hBMCs). The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of EZ on osteoblast differentiation among dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) in vitro. Method In this study, we evaluated the effects of EZ on osteogenesis in DPSCs. Osteoblast and osteoclast marker gene expression was evaluated by real-time PCR. We also evaluated alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining and calcium deposition. Results We found that EZ stimulated osteoblast marker gene (type I collagen, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), osteocalcin (OCN) and Runx2) expression, vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A), and TGF-beta signaling pathway-related gene expression after 7 days of incubation. Osteoclastogenesis occurs in a receptor for activated nuclear-factor kappa B ligand (RANKL)/osteoprotegerin (OPG)-independent manner. Real-time PCR analysis revealed that EZ did not affect RANKL or OPG mRNA expression. It was also revealed that EZ induced alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining and calcium deposition in DPSCs. Collectively, these results demonstrate the potential for clinical application to prospective treatment of bone diseases.

We report herein a case of functional and aesthetic rehabilitation with maxillary prosthesis supported by only two zygomatic implants for a patient with severe maxillary defect resulting from subtotal maxillectomy for malignant melanoma of the upper gingiva. A 76-year-old woman was referred to our facility with non-painful discoloration of the upper gingiva. After several examinations, a clinical diagnosis of malignant melanoma of the upper gingiva (cT3N1M0 stage IVA, American Joint Committee on Cancer) was made. Subtotal maxillectomy utilizing Le Fort I osteotomy and functional neck dissection were performed. A conventional resection denture was made and employed postoperatively, but was unable to be suitably retained due to insufficient residual maxillary structures. Six months after tumor resection, two zygomatic implants were inserted into bilateral zygomatic bones. Magnetic attachments were applied as a mechanism for attaching the implants and resection denture. After application of these implants, retention and stability of the prosthesis was considerably improved. The patient became able to eat a normal diet. From an aesthetic perspective, the depressed upper lip was also properly restored, leading to an acceptable facial appearance.

Glechoma hederacea L. (Labiatae) has been used in folk medicine to treat various ailments for centuries. We investigated the effects of G. hederacea extract on melanogenesis in B16 melanoma cells. It significantly reduced both the cellular melanin content and tyrosinase activity in a concentration-dependent manner. An MTT assay did not reveal any obvious cytotoxicity. Furthermore, we found that G. hederacea extract decreased tyrosinase and microphthalmia-associated transcription factor protein expression, but did not inhibit tyrosinase-related protein-1 and tyrosinase-related protein-2 expression. RT-PCR analysis indicated that the antimelanogenic effect of G. hederacea extract might be due to inhibition of tyrosinase gene transcription. Moreover, this effect is regulated via suppression of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor protein expression. Our data indicate that G. hederacea extract inhibits melanin synthesis in B16 melanoma cells but is not cytotoxic. Hence it might prove a useful therapeutic agent for treating hyperpigmentation and an effective component of whitening cosmetics.

Zinc is one of the trace elements which induce the proliferation and the differentiation of the osteoblast. In the previous study, we found that zinc ions (Zn(2+) ion)-releasing titanium implants had excellent bone fixation using a rabbit femurs model. In this study, we isolated the Zn(2+) ions (eluted Zn(2+) ion; EZ) released from the implant surface, and evaluated the effect of EZ on the osteogenesis of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal cells (hBMCs). In the result, it was found that the EZ stimulated cell viability, osteoblast marker gene (type I collagen, osteocalcin (OC), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and bone sialoprotein (BSP)) expressions and calcium deposition in hBMCs.