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This is the first report of conducting proof-of-concept study for amperometric acetyltransferase-based L-carnitine sensor by employing the thiol/disulfide exchange reaction. The carnitine acetyltransferase (CrAT) catalyzes the reaction between acetyl-CoA and L-carnitine to produce CoA which is difficult to detect directly by electrochemical methods owing to steric hindrance and electrostatic effect of CoA. The thiol/disulfide exchange reaction between CoA and cystamine was mediated in the enzymatic reaction to produce electrochemically detectable low molecular weight of cationic cysteamine. The sensor exhibited high sensitivity and selectivity for L-carnitine in the concentration range 0.28-50 µM with a limit of detection of 0.28 µM. This is a promising strategy for L-carnitine sensing in point-of-care testing applications.

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.

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.

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.

A particulate cancellous bone and marrow (PCBM) graft combined with titanium (Ti-) mesh tray has become one of the most popular mandibular reconstruction methods. The technique has been applied to the mandibular discontinuity defects after segmental mandibulectomy. To the best of our knowledge, there are no reports on using the technique after hemimandibulectomy, during which a wide mandibular resection, including the condyle, is performed. Here we report firstly a case of mandibular reconstruction after hemimandibulectomy, using a plate and soft-tissue free flap, followed by a Ti-mesh and PCBM harvested from the bilateral posterior ilia, which was successful. This case report first revealed how bone resorption occurred clinically in mandibular reconstruction using PCBM and Ti-mesh tray after hemimandibulectomy. We also revealed the high predictability of the mandibular reconstruction using PCBM and Ti-mesh tray after hemimandibulectomy. Our report also provides a guiding principle to overcome the limitation of mandibular reconstruction using PCBM and Ti-mesh tray after hemimandibulectomy. However, our manuscript has limited evidence being a case report.

This study investigates the effects of zoledronic acid (ZA) and compressive force on osteoblast functions, to elucidate the pathogenesis of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ). MC3T3-E1 cells were exposed to ZA (1, 10 and 100 µM) to evaluate the effects of ZA on cell proliferation. Furthermore, to investigate the influence of ZA with or without compressive force on osteoblast differentiation, real-time polymerase chain reaction and Alizarin Red S staining were performed. ZA concentrations > 10 μM were highly cytotoxic to MC3T3-E1 cells. Combining 1-μM ZA with compressive force influenced expression levels of osteoblast-related genes and matrix mineralization. The inhibitory effects of ZA on cell proliferation and the combination of ZA and compressive force on osteoblast differentiation may contribute to the pathogenesis of MRONJ.

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.

Myeloid sarcoma (MS) is defined as a tumorous mass of myeloblasts or immature myeloid cells involving an extramedullary anatomic site. MS occurs in 3 to 8% of patients with acute myeloid leukemia. The overwhelming majority of MS occurs in the skin, bones, and gastrointestinal tract; intraoral MS (IMS) is extremely rare. We describe a case of MS of the mandibular gingiva in a patient with acute myeloid leukemia that was in remission. We also present a review of the English and Japanese literature with a special focus on the management and prognosis of intraoral MS. The patient was discharged while in remission 8 months after the initial examination. The prognosis of IMS is extremely poor in general, and a diagnostic delay can prevent adequate therapy by hematologists and oncologists. All dental clinicians must keep the possibility of IMS in mind and carefully examine all patients with AML.

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.

Risk factors for tooth loss have been widely examined previously. However, no previous study has comprehensively investigated the risk factors, including lifestyle-related specific factors (parity, oral health habits, and socioeconomic status), for fewer than 20 teeth among women in the general population in Japan. This cross-sectional study explored the association of these risk factors, especially parity, with having fewer than 20 teeth among Japanese women. A self-reported questionnaire including items on lifestyle-related risk factors (parity, oral health, diet [e.g., alcohol and sucrose consumption]) and socioeconomic status was sent by post to female residents (age ≥ 40 years) of Takahata town, Yamagata Prefecture, in 2005. Multivariate logistic regression analysis including 3,854 eligible participants was performed to investigate the association between various factors (including parity) and having fewer than 20 teeth. The results indicated that, compared with nulliparous women, women with two, three, and four completed pregnancies had 2.485-, 2.844-, and 4.305-fold increased risk of having fewer than 20 teeth, respectively. Our study is the largest-scale study of the general female population in Japan and the first study to comprehensively investigate risk factors (parity, oral health status, and socioeconomic status) for fewer than 20 teeth. We thus found that higher parity, especially, two or more, was independent risk factors for having less than 20 teeth among Japanese women. In conclusion, the present study emphasizes the importance of good oral health habits in women, especially, during pregnancy and in the postpartum period, to maintain 20 or more 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.

Background Several studies have surveyed the relationship between the presence of ≥ 20 natural teeth and mortality. However, very few have evaluated this association over a long-term follow-up of more than ten years within a large population in Japan. This study aimed to prospectively confirm the associations between mortality and the presence of ≥ 20 natural teeth within a community-based population in Japan. Methods A prospective observational study including 2208 participants aged ≥ 40 years was conducted in Takahata Town, Japan, between May 2005 and December 2016. All participants answered a self-administered questionnaire to provide their background characteristics, including their number of teeth. The participants were classified into two categories based on their self-reported number of teeth ( Results The total follow-up period was 131.4 ± 24.1 months (mean ± SD). After adjusting for covariates, the risk of all-cause mortality was significantly higher in the group with p = 0.047). However, the risk of cancer- and cardiovascular disease-related mortalities was not statistically significant between the two groups. Conclusion In this study, participants with

Background/aim: The current study aimed to identify biomarkers for differentiating between patients with oral cancer (OC) and healthy controls (HCs) on the basis of the comprehensive proteomic analyses of saliva samples by using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Patients and Methods: Unstimulated saliva samples were collected from 39 patients with OC and from 31 HCs. Proteins in the saliva were comprehensively analyzed using LC-MS/MS. To differentiate between patients with OC and HCs, a multiple logistic regression model was developed for evaluating the discriminatory ability of a combination of multiple markers. Results: A total of 23 proteins were significantly differentially expressed between the patients with OC and the HCs. Six out of the 23 proteins, namely α-2-macroglobulin-like protein 1, cornulin, hemoglobin subunit β, Ig ĸ chain V-II region Vĸ167, kininogen-1 and transmembrane protease serine 11D, were selected using the forward-selection method and applied to the multiple logistic regression model. The area under the curve for discriminating between patients with OC and HCs was 0.957 when the combination of the six metabolites was used (95% confidence interval=0.915-0.998; p

To identify salivary metabolite biomarkers to differentiate patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma and oral epithelial dysplasia (OSCC/OED) from those with persistent suspicious oral mucosal lesions (PSOML). Whole unstimulated saliva samples were collected from age-, sex-, and race-matched patients who had a lesion in the oral cavity and for whom open biopsies were performed. The patients included OSCC (n = 6), OED (n = 10), and PSOML (n = 32). Hydrophilic metabolites in saliva samples were comprehensively analyzed using capillary electrophoresis mass spectrometry. To evaluate the discrimination ability of a combination of multiple markers, a multiple logistic regression (MLR) model was developed to differentiate OSCC/OED from PSOML. Six metabolites were significantly different in OSCC/OED compared with PSOML. From these six metabolites, ornithine, o-hydroxybenzoate, and ribose 5-phosphate (R5P) were used to develop the MLR model, which resulted in a high value for the area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC 0.871, 95% confidential interval (CI) 0.760–0.982; p

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.

Octacalcium phosphate and its collagen composite have been recognized as bone substitute materials possessing osteoconductivity and biodegradation properties. We evaluated the effectiveness of octacalcium phosphate and its collagen composite used for bone augmentation in major oral and maxillofacial surgeries in a clinical trial. Octacalcium phosphate and its collagen composite were used in cases of sinus floor elevation in 1- and 2-stage, socket preservation, cyst, and alveolar cleft procedures. A total of 60 patients were evaluated for effectiveness after the implantation of octacalcium phosphate and its collagen composite. Although sinus floor elevation in 1-stage, cyst, and alveolar cleft cases met the criteria for the judgment of success, sinus floor elevation in 2-stage and socket preservation groups did not meet the criteria in the initial evaluation. However, an additional evaluation for reconfirmation revealed the effectiveness of octacalcium phosphate and its collagen composite in those groups, and all evaluation results ultimately indicated the success of this clinical trial. Therefore, this clinical trial suggested that application of octacalcium phosphate and its collagen composite for oral and maxillofacial surgery was safe and effective and that octacalcium phosphate and its collagen composite could be a bone substitute candidate instead of autologous bone.

OBJECTIVE This study was conducted to distinguish salivary metabolites in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) from those in oral lichen planus (OLP) to identify practical biomarkers for the discrimination of OSCC from OLP. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Whole unstimulated saliva samples were collected from patients with OSCC (n = 34) and OLP (n = 26). Hydrophilic metabolites in the saliva samples were comprehensively analysed by capillary electrophoresis mass spectrometry. To evaluate the discrimination ability of a combination of multiple markers, a multiple logistic regression (MLR) model was developed to differentiate OSCC from OLP. RESULTS Fourteen metabolites were found to be significantly different between the OSCC and OLP groups. Among them, indole-3-acetate and ethanolamine phosphate were used to develop the MLR model. The combination of these two metabolites showed a high area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (0.856, 95% confidential interval: 0.762-0.950; p

The recently introduced Pig-a in vivo gene mutation assay measures endogeneous mutations of Pig-a (human, PIG-A), an X-linked gene that is conserved across species from rodents to humans. Flow cytometric analysis enables the enumeration of glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor-deficient erythrocytes, resulting from a mutation in Pig-a/PIG-A, in only a few microliters of peripheral blood. Pig-a/PIG-A mutations appear to function in a neutral manner, allowing evaluation of the accumulated genotoxic effects of repeated exposures. To date, most Pig-a studies have been conducted in rodents; only a few reports regarding human applications of the PIG-A assay have been published. We have conducted a PIG-A assay in the context of human genotoxicity monitoring. Peripheral blood was collected from healthy human donors and chemotherapy-treated cancer patients at Yamagata University Hospital. To investigate the PIG-A mutant frequency (MF) induced by chemotherapy, red blood cells were analyzed via flow cytometry following staining with allophycocyanin-conjugated anti-CD235ab (erythrocyte specific) and fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated anti-CD59 antibodies (GPI-anchored protein specific). Reticulocyte frequencies (%RET) were also analyzed using a phycoerythrin-conjugated anti-CD71 antibody to monitor bone marrow suppression and reticulocytosis. Two of 27 patients exhibited a significantly elevated frequency of PIG-A mutants. Although we observed either a reduced or an increased %RET in all patients, no association was observed between this factor and the PIG-A MF. Unfortunately, we could not analyze blood samples collected before treatment during therapeutic processes. Additionally, the sampling time point for some patients was too short to express the PIG-A mutant phenotypes. Therefore, the possibility of natively high PIG-A MFs prior to treatment must be considered. The human PIG-A assay shows promise as a human genotoxicity monitoring method.

18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) is usually used for staging or evaluation of treatment response rather than for cancer screening. However, 18F-FDG PET/CT has also been used in Japan for cancer screening in people with no cancer symptoms, and accumulating evidence supports this application of 18F-FDG PET/CT. Previously, we have observed a correlation between the saliva and tumor metabolomic profiles in patients with oral cancer. Hence, if salivary metabolites demonstrate a significant correlation with PET parameters such as the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), they may have the potential to be used as a screening tool before PET/CT to identify patients with high SUVmax. Hence, in this study, we aimed to explore the relationship between salivary metabolites and SUVmax of 18F-FDG PET/CT using previously collected data. 18F-FDG PET/CT was performed for staging 26 patients with oral cancer. The collected data were integrated and analyzed along with quantified salivary hydrophilic metabolites obtained from the same patients with oral cancer and controls (n = 44). In total, 11 metabolites showed significant correlations with SUVmax in the delayed phases. A multiple logistic regression model of the two metabolites showed the ability to discriminate between patients with oral cancer and controls, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.738 (p = 0.001). This study uniquely confirmed a relationship between salivary metabolites and SUVmax of PET/CT in patients with oral cancer; salivary metabolites were significantly correlated with SUVmax. These salivary metabolites can be used as a screening tool before PET/CT to identify patients with high SUVmax, i.e., to detect the presence of oral cancer.

Recently, the amount of carnitine in saliva has been considered a biomarker for pancreatic cancer. Traditional analytical instrument such as liquid chromatography and mass-spectroscopy (MS) has been employed for carnitine detection. Only FET based biosensor was reported for carnitine, but the limit of detection was far above the required concentration. Here, we describe a highly sensitive and selective enzyme biosensor that we have developed for carnitine by using an enzyme-modified electrode combined with cathodic stripping voltammetry. The biosensor exhibits high sensitivity because of the preconcentration on the gold electrode of CoA, which was generated by the enzymatic reaction between carnitine and acetyl coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA) with carnitine acetyltransferase. Although both acetyl-CoA and CoA can adsorb on the gold electrode, the potential difference of reductive desorption detects CoA selectively. Under optimized conditions, the biosensor exhibited a linear range from 0.025 to 25 μM with a detection limit (S/N = 3) of 0.025 μM for carnitine determination. Moreover, the recovery experiments determination results show a stable range from 96.6 to 97.2 %. This developed carnitine biosensor has a potential in clinical detection due to the excellent performance.

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.

Objective The aim of the present study was to investigate comprehensively, the risk factors for underweight in cross-sectional study in the general population of Japan. Methods The survey population was the general population of individuals aged >40 years in Takahata town, Japan in 2005. A postal survey in the form of a self-administered questionnaire was distributed, and 6084 individuals were entered into the final statistical analysis. The self-administered questionnaire contained items regarding lifestyle, oral health status, socio-economic status and dietary intake. To examine the independent relationships between an underweight status and several parameters, a multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (ORs). Results The number of teeth, age, alcohol consumption, hypertension, spousal status, smoking habit, appetite, body weight at 20 years of age, habit of going out and physical activity were independently associated with an underweight status compared with the normal weight group. Individuals with fewer than 10 teeth were especially more likely to be underweight than individuals with more than 20 teeth (OR = 1.956, 95% CI = 1.261-3.035). Conclusion This study showed an independent association between the number of teeth and an underweight status, indicating that fewer teeth can increase the risk of being underweight.

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.

BACKGROUND Biomarkers are needed for noninvasive early detection of gastric cancer (GC). We investigated salivary extracellular RNA (exRNA) biomarkers as potential clinical evaluation tools for GC. METHODS Unstimulated whole saliva samples were prospectively collected from 294 individuals (163 GC and 131 non-GC patients) who underwent endoscopic evaluation at the Samsung Medical Center in Korea. Salivary transcriptomes of 63 GC and 31 non-GC patients were profiled, and mRNA biomarker candidates were verified with reverse transcription quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR). In parallel, microRNA (miRNA) biomarkers were profiled and verified with saliva samples from 10 GC and 10 non-GC patients. Candidate biomarkers were validated with RT-qPCR in an independent cohort of 100/100 saliva samples from GC and non-GC patients. Validated individual markers were configured into a best performance panel. RESULTS We identified 30 mRNA and 15 miRNA candidates whose expression pattern associated with the presence of GC. Among them, 12 mRNA and 6 miRNA candidates were verified with the discovery cohort by RT-qPCR and further validated with the independent cohort (n = 200). The configured biomarker panel consisted of 3 mRNAs (SPINK7, PPL, and SEMA4B) and 2 miRNAs (MIR140-5p and MIR301a), which were all significantly down-regulated in the GC group, and yielded an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.81 (95% CI, 0.72–0.89). When combined with demographic factors, the AUC of the biomarker panel reached 0.87 (95% CI, 0.80–0.93). CONCLUSIONS We have discovered and validated a panel of salivary exRNA biomarkers with credible clinical performance for the detection of GC. Our study demonstrates the potential utility of salivary exRNA biomarkers in screening and risk assessment for GC.

The aim of the present study was to investigate comprehensively the risk factors, including some lifestyle-associated factors, oral health habits, and socioeconomic status, for having less than 20 teeth in cross-sectional study in the general population of Japan. The survey population was the general population of individuals aged greater than or equal to 40 years in Takahata town, Japan in 2005. A postal survey with a self-administered questionnaire was distributed, and 7542 participants were entered into the final statistical analysis. The self-administered questionnaire contained items regarding some lifestyle-associated factors, oral health, and dietary intake, including alcohol and sucrose consumption. To confirm the independent association between the number of teeth and several parameters, a multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). A low educational status, no dental check-ups, low frequency of brushing, older age, and smoking habit were independent risk factors for less than 20 teeth. A low educational status was a particularly significant risk factor for less than 20 teeth (OR = 1.352, 95% CI = 1.125–1.624). These results emphasize the importance of good oral health habits, such as frequent tooth brushing, routine dental check-ups, and no smoking, and indicate that more appropriate and compulsory education regarding oral health is needed to lessen the education level-derived differences in oral health. Poor oral health habits and low educational status are the independent risk factors for having less than 20 teeth.

Stafne bone defects (SBDs) are asymptomatic mandibular lingual bone depressions mainly caused by soft tissue inclusions. The most common form of SBDs is posterior; the anterior variant of SBD is relatively uncommon. Although posterior SBD is easily diagnosed by the unique location on radiography, anterior SBD is sometimes misdiagnosed and confused with other pathological entities owing to the location. We report herein a case of simultaneous unilateral anterior and posterior SBDs. In the present case, definitive diagnosis for the anterior mandibular cavity was unclear, as in reported cases. Surgical exploration was thus performed for the lesion in the anterior mandibular cavity. Pathologic examination of the removed tissue showed salivary gland with chronic inflammation. Postoperatively, no functional disturbance has been observed. Management of the posterior SBD was conservative, with radiographic follow-up. To the best of our knowledge, this represents the first report of simultaneous unilateral anterior and posterior SBDs.

Septic arthritis of the temporomandibular joint (SATMJ) is an extremely rare disease with characteristic features of preauricular pain, swelling, redness, and malocclusion. The present report describes a case of SATMJ derived from otitis media, which resulted in a good outcome. We also reviewed the English and Japanese literature with special interest in etiology. It is generally agreed that contiguous or distant infection and trauma are common etiological factors of SATMJ. So far, these etiological factors are mainly discussed based on hypotheses rather than sufficient evidence. Therefore, in many past cases, accurate causes were not identified. To our knowledge, our case is the third report of SATMJ following otitis media. In addition, this is the first case in which the pathogenic bacterium responsible for the otitis media was the definite cause of the SATMJ. Cases of SATMJ are sometimes misdiagnosed with otitis media, and SATMJ derived from otitis media is extremely rare. Dentists and otolaryngologists should collaborate for the management of this disease as needed.

Acantholytic squamous cell carcinoma (ASCC) is an uncommon, histologically distinctive variant of squamous cell carcinoma. It occurs rarely in the oral cavity, and is especially rare at the maxillary gingiva. We report here the case of a 64-year-old female who requested examination of a diffuse swelling of the anterior maxilla. The histological diagnosis was ASCC. Maxillectomy involving the full-thickness of the upper lip, bilateral selective neck dissection, and immediate reconstruction with a double-folded, free radial forearm flap was conducted. The postoperative course was quite good. Neither recurrence nor metastases was found 30 months postoperatively. Only 15 cases of ASCC in the oral cavity have previously been reported, and our present case was the sixteenth. To improve understanding of the treatment and prognosis of ASCC, all published intraoral cases were reviewed.

Angioleiomyoma (AL) is a benign tumor derived from smooth muscle. The overwhelming majority of ALs occur in the uterus, gastrointestinal tract, or skin; AL of the oral cavity is infrequent, and AL of the tongue is particularly rare. The present report describes a case of AL of the tongue that resulted in a good outcome. We also review the literature with a special emphasis on the etiology of ALs. It is generally agreed that minor trauma, venous stasis, and hormonal changes are etiological factors for AL. The roles of estrogen and progesterone have been particularly emphasized, and the expression of progesterone receptors (PRs) and estrogen receptors (ERs) has been recently evaluated in some cases of AL. To our knowledge, the presence of PRs and ERs has only been evaluated in seven cases of AL arising in different regions of the body including the oral cavity. This is the first report to demonstrate negative expression of both receptors in an AL of the oral cavity. Further study and additional cases are needed to elucidate the influence of PRs and ERs in AL of the oral cavity.