Factors determining maximum torque and achievement of the recommended torque for manual implant drivers: A pilot study

When fixing an oral implant superstructure with a screw, operators must be aware of the torque being applied by their fingers to prevent the transmission of excessive or insufficient torque to the implant. In this study, we identified the factors that determine individual maximum attainable torque and those that determine the achievement of the prescribed torque. We evaluated 16 dentists on their use of two types of manual implant drivers（UniGrip by Nobel Biocare and Carrier Hex by Zimmer Biomet）and measured the maximum torque（MT）generated by their fingers. The target torque was set at 15N. Measurements were taken while the participants were turning the implant screw with or without gloves in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions. The grip and finger strength of each participant were measured, and the data showed that torque values were higher among the male participants during clockwise rotation and when they were wearing gloves（p＜0.05）. Positive correlations were found between the MT and grip strength and between the MT and finger strength. These results suggest that dentists should monitor their ability to consistently achieve the recommended torque for implant drivers

Comparison of three representative subjective evaluations of chewing function

In 2018, oral hypofunction was registered officially as a disease in Japan. It is important to detect oral hypofunction symptoms early in patients, before frank oral dysfunction symptoms occur. Subjective evaluations of chewing function, which help to identify foods that cannot be chewed, might be useful in diagnosing oral hypofunction. Previous evaluations used to identify patients with oral hypofunction used varying standards, making it impossible to compare and integrate them without first developing a unified screening method. This study aimed to compare and integrate known evaluation methods that are useful for diagnosing oral hypofunction. A total of 76 elderly participants （aged ＞65 years） were enrolled after providing consent to participate in this study. The established subjective evaluation methods of chewing function investigated for this study included the Yamamoto denture performance judgment table, the Sato table for evaluation of chewing function in complete denture wearers, and the Hirai evaluation method for the masticatory function in complete denture wearers. As the Yamamoto method lacks scoring, the total number of circles was used as the score. A time study was performed on the time taken for the description, entry, and analysis of these tables. There was a strong correlation between the Sato and Hirai methods （r＝0.71） and between the Sato and Yamamoto （r＝0.68） and Hirai and Yamamoto （r＝0.60） methods. During the time study, the description time was the shortest with the Yamamoto method, and the entry and analysis times were the shortest with the Sato method. The total time was significantly shorter with the Sato method than with the Yamamoto method. Three evaluation methods showed correlation, but the examination times varied. In future studies, we plan to clarify the selection criteria, including the relevance of objective evaluation and usability

Associations between Oral Hypofunction Tests, Age, and Sex

Oral function declines in older individuals due to disease and age-related changes, making them vulnerable to oral and physical frailty. Therefore, it is important to manage the decline in oral function in older outpatients. Oral hypofunction is diagnosed by seven tests related to oral function, oral hygiene, oral moisture, occlusal force, oral diadochokinesis, tongue pressure, masticatory function, and swallowing function. However, sex or age were not factored into the current reference values of these tests. We included subjects attending the dental hospital clinic for maintenance, and recorded and analyzed oral hypofunction and the factors associated with its diagnosis. Of the 134 outpatients (53 males and 81 females, mean age 75.2 ± 11.2 years), 63% were diagnosed with oral hypofunction. Oral hypofunction prevalence increased significantly with age, and significant variations were observed in all tests. Furthermore, oral hygiene and swallowing function were not associated with oral hypofunction diagnosis. All examined factors decreased with increasing age, even after adjusting sex, except for oral hygiene and moisture. Occlusal force and masticatory function were higher in men after adjusting age. This study suggested that older outpatients were likely to be diagnosed with oral hypofunction, and that the test reference value and their selection for oral hypofunction should be reconsidered

Effect of Resistant Starch on the Gut Microbiota and Its Metabolites in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease

Aim: Bacteroides vulgates and B. dorei have a protective effect against atherosclerosis, suggesting that expansion of these species in the gut microbiota could help patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). This study aimed to investigate the effect of resistant starch (RS) on the gut microbiota and its metabolites in fecal sample cultures from patients with CAD and individuals without CAD, using a single-batch fermentation system. Methods: Fecal samples from 11 patients with CAD and 10 individuals without CAD were fermented for 30 h with or without RS in the Kobe University Human Intestinal Microbiota Model (KUHIMM). Gut microbiota and the abundance of B. vulgatus and B. dorei were analyzed using 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) gene sequencing and the quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Short-chain fatty acids were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography. Results: Gut microbial analysis showed significantly lower levels of B. vulgatus and B. dorei in the original fecal samples from patients with CAD, which was simulated after 30 h of fermentation in the KUHIMM. Although RS significantly increased the absolute numbers of B. vulgatus and B. dorei, and butyrate levels in CAD fecal sample cultures, the numbers varied among each patient. Conclusions: The effect of RS on gut microbiota and its metabolites in the KUHIMM varied between CAD and non-CAD fecal sample cultures. The KUHIMM may be useful for preclinical evaluations of the effects of RS on the gut microbiota and its metabolites