Associations among Obesity, Eating Speed, and Oral Health

Objective: This study was conducted to understand how eating speed and oral health condition are associated with obesity in Japanese working men. Methods: We studied a total of 863 men attending an annual medical checkup of the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force in Sasebo City, Japan. Participants answered a questionnaire about their eating speed, and we examined their anthropometric status in terms of BMI, waist circumference, and oral health condition, especially periodontal disease and number of functional teeth. Multivariate logistic regression analyses adjusting for potential confounding variables were performed. Results: The multivariate-adjusted odds ratio for waist circumference greater than 90 cm of the ‘very fast' group compared to the ‘slow, very slow' group was 5.22 (95% confidence interval 1.81-15.06) after adjusting for potential confounding factors. Individuals were more likely to have waist circumference greater than 90 cm if they had a larger ‘number of missing functional teeth' (odds ratio 1.14; 95% confidence interval 1.01-1.28) and severe periodontal disease (odds ratio 2.74; 95% confidence interval, 1.46-5.13). Conclusion: Eating speed, the number of missing functional teeth, and severe periodontal disease are associated independently with larger waist circumference

Social networks, leisure activities and maximum tongue pressure: cross-sectional associations in the Nagasaki Islands Study

OUTCOME MEASURES: Tongue pressure was measured three times, and the maximum tongue pressure was used for analysis. A multivariable adjusted regression model was used to calculate parameter estimates (B) for tongue pressure.RESULTS: Having a social network involving neighbours (B=2.43, P=0.0001) and taking part in leisure activities (B=1.58, P=0.005) were independently associated with higher tongue pressure, but there was no link with social networks beyond neighbours (B=0.23, P=0.77). Sex-specific analyses showed that for men, having a partner was associated with higher tongue pressure, independent of the number of people in the household (B=2.26, P=0.01), but there was no association among women (B=-0.24, P=0.72; P-interaction=0.059).CONCLUSIONS: Having a social network involving neighbours and taking part in leisure activities were independently associated with higher tongue pressure. Marital status may be an important factor in higher tongue pressure in men.OBJECTIVES: Social environment is often associated with health outcomes, but epidemiological evidence for its effect on oral frailty, a potential risk factor for aspiration, is sparse. This study aimed to assess the association between social environment and tongue pressure, as an important measure of oral function. The study focused on family structure, social networks both with and beyond neighbours, and participation in leisure activities.DESIGN: A population-based cross-sectional study.SETTING: Annual health check-ups in a rural community in Japan.PARTICIPANTS: A total of 1982 participants, all over 40 years old. Anyone with missing data for the main outcome (n=14) was excluded

Tongue pressure is associated with aging, sex, handgrip strength, and lean body mass in community-dwelling middle- and old-aged people: a cross sectional study

The relationship between tongue pressure and relevant factors including cardiovascular disease (CVD)-related factors in community-dwelling middle- and old-aged people is still controversial. To clarify the relationship between tongue pressure and relevant factors including CVD-related factors in community-dwelling middle- and old-aged people. We included 638 Japanese community-dwelling adults (241 men and 397 women) who participated in the screening program and agreed to participate in this study. We measured the tongue pressure using a JMS tongue pressure measuring instrument® with a disposal oral balloon probe, and we conducted multivariate linear regression analysis to evaluate the relationship between tongue pressure and other existing parameters adjusted for CVD-related confounding factors. We showed that tongue pressure was significantly correlated with age (β = −0.114), sex (β = 6.374, Men=2, Women=1), lean body mass (β = 0.278), and log grip strength (β = 22.438). Our study showed that these parameters were all independent explanatory valuables for tongue pressure in community-dwelling middle- and old-aged people. Age, sex, grip strength, and lean body mass were all independent explanatory valuables for tongue pressure in community-dwelling middle- and old-aged people

Tongue pressure is associated with aging, sex, handgrip strength, and lean body mass in community-dwelling middle- and old-aged people: a cross sectional study

The relationship between tongue pressure and relevant factors including cardiovascular disease (CVD)-related factors in community-dwelling middle- and old-aged people is still controversial. To clarify the relationship between tongue pressure and relevant factors including CVD-related factors in community-dwelling middle- and old-aged people. We included 638 Japanese community-dwelling adults (241 men and 397 women) who participated in the screening program and agreed to participate in this study. We measured the tongue pressure using a JMS tongue pressure measuring instrumentR with a disposal oral balloon probe, and we conducted multivariate linear regression analysis to evaluate the relationship between tongue pressure and other existing parameters adjusted for CVD-related confounding factors. We showed that tongue pressure was significantly correlated with age (β = ?0.114), sex (β = 6.374, Men=2, Women=1), lean body mass (β = 0.278), and log grip strength (β = 22.438). Our study showed that these parameters were all independent explanatory valuables for tongue pressure in community-dwelling middle- and old-aged people. Age, sex, grip strength, and lean body mass were all independent explanatory valuables for tongue pressure in community-dwelling middle- and old-aged people

Enhanced Expression of Keratinocyte Growth Factor and Its Receptor Correlates with Venous Invasion in Pancreatic Cancer

Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) and KGF receptor (KGFR) have been implicated in cancer growth as well as tissue development and repair. In this study, we examined whether KGF and KGFR have a role in human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). KGFR mRNA was expressed in eight pancreatic cancer cell lines, whereas the KGF mRNA was detected in seven of the cell lines and was absent in MIA PaCa-2 cells. KGFR and KGF immunoreactivity were localized in the cancer cells in 41.5 and 34.0% of patients, respectively. There was a significant correlation between KGFR or KGF immunoreactivity and venous invasion and a significant correlation between the presence of both markers and venous invasion, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A expression, and poor prognosis. Exogenous KGF increased VEGF-A expression and release in MIA PaCa-2 cells, and PANC-1 cells stably transfected to overexpress KGF-exhibited increased VEGF-A expression. Moreover, short hairpin-KGFR transfection in MIA PaCa-2 cells reduced the stimulatory effect of exogenous KGF on VEGF-A expression. Short hairpin-KGF transfection in KLM-1 cells reduced VEGF-A expression in the cells. KGFR and KGF may act to promote venous invasion and tumor angiogenesis in PDAC, raising the possibility that they may serve as novel therapeutic targets in anti-angiogenic strategies in PDAC