Microcirculation changes in gingival tissue after ultrasonic tooth preparation in beagle dog

Abstract: Ultrasonic wave technology is widely used during dental treatments. We previously demonstrated that this method protects the gingival tissue. However, the physiological change on the gingival microvasculature caused by this method remains unclear. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the morphological and physiological effects on gingival microcirculation when preparing teeth, using the conventional dental turbine or ultrasonic method. Methodology: The lower premolar teeth of beagle dogs were prepared along the gingival margin by using a dental turbine or ultrasonic wave instrument. Gingival vasculature changes were investigated using scanning electron microscopy for corrosion resin casts. Gingival blood flow at the preparation site was determined simultaneously by laser Doppler flowmetry. These assessments were performed immediately (Day 0), at 7 days and 30 days after tooth preparation. Results: At day 0, in the turbine group, blood vessels were destroyed and some resin leaked. Furthermore, gingival blood flow at the site was significantly increased. In contrast, the ultrasonic group demonstrated nearly normal vasculature and gingival blood flow similar to the non-prepared group for 30 days after preparation. No significant alterations occurred in gingival circulation 30 days after either preparation; however, the turbine group revealed obvious morphological changes. Conclusions: Based on multiple approach analyses, this study demonstrated that ultrasonic waves are useful for microvascular protection in tooth preparation. Compared with a dental turbine, ultrasonic wave instruments caused minimal damage to gingival microcirculation. Tooth preparation using ultrasonic wave instruments could be valuable for protecting periodontal tissue

A Proposal for Practical Diagnosis of Renal Hypouricemia : Evidenced from Genetic Studies of Nonfunctional Variants of URAT1/SLC22A12 among 30,685 Japanese Individuals

Background: Renal hypouricemia (RHUC) is characterized by a low serum uric acid (SUA) level and high fractional excretion of uric acid (FEUA). Further studies on FEUA in hypouricemic individuals are needed for a more accurate diagnosis of RHUC. Methods: In 30,685 Japanese health-examination participants, we genotyped the two most common nonfunctional variants of URAT1 (NFV-URAT1), W258X (rs121907892) and R90H (rs121907896), in 1040 hypouricemic individuals (SUA ≤ 3.0 mg/dL) and 2240 individuals with FEUA data. The effects of NFV-URAT1 on FEUA and SUA were also investigated using linear and multiple regression analyses. Results: Frequency of hypouricemic individuals (SUA ≤ 3.0 mg/dL) was 0.97% (male) and 6.94% (female) among 30,685 participants. High frequencies of those having at least one allele of NFV-URAT1 were observed in 1040 hypouricemic individuals. Furthermore, NFV-URAT1 significantly increased FEUA and decreased SUA, enabling FEUA and SUA levels to be estimated. Conversely, FEUA and SUA data of hypouricemic individuals are revealed to be useful to predict the number of NFV-URAT1. Conclusions: Our findings reveal that specific patterns of FEUA and SUA data assist with predicting the number of nonfunctional variants of causative genes for RHUC, and can also be useful for practical diagnosis of RHUC even before genetic tests

Diagnostic specificity of the child psychosis-risk screening system with a focus on the differentiation of schizophrenia spectrum disorders and neurodevelopmental disorders

BackgroundResearch on early psychosis has begun to identify psychiatric characteristics of the prodromal period of schizophrenia; however, subclinical characteristics of children in non-psychiatric fields have not been fully investigated. In our previous study, we developed the Child Psychosis-risk Screening System (CPSS).ObjectiveIn the present cross-sectional study, we attempted to identify the risk of developing psychosis in pediatric (n = 216) and psychiatric outpatients (n = 120), aged 6– 18 years, with the CPSS.MethodsAn analysis of variance of CPSS risk was performed in six diagnostic categories to examine specificity for each diagnosis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was conducted using the onset of schizophrenia spectrum as the outcome, and the discriminatory power and cut off values of the CPSS were determined. Logistic regression analysis was performed using clinical data to identify factors associated with the risk group (those at high risk of developing psychosis in the future) identified using the CPSS.ResultsThere were significant differences in risk variance among diagnostic categories (p < 0.001), especially between schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) and neurodevelopmental disorders (p = 0.001). CPSS had sufficient discriminatory power for SSD diagnosis [area under the ROC curve = 0.853 (95% confidence interval: 0.774–0.931)]. The cut off value for the risk of SSD was determined to be 98.1%, achieving the best mean of the sum of sensitivity (90.9%) and specificity (84.0%). Cross-sectional logistic regression analysis showed that along with “SSD diagnosis,” “winter birth,” and “maltreatment” were factors associated with the risk group (odds ratio = 38.05 [p = 0.001], 2.30 [p = 0.016], and 0.12 [p = 0.024], respectively).ConclusionCPSS may have potential use in the early detection of psychosis and differentiation from neurodevelopmental disorders, but this study was small and further studies with larger sample sizes and longitudinal study designs are required prior to its use in routine clinical practice

B ビョウイン ノ サンゴ ケアニュウイン ノ カダイ ニ ツイテ ノ イチコウサツ : -サンゴ 4カゲツ マデノ ハハオヤ ノ イクジ サポート ジョウキョウ ノ チョウサケッカ カラ -

背景 近年, 乳幼児虐待予防の観点から産後ケア事業が注目されている. A県のB病院は, 産後ケア入院事業を開設したが, 利用者が少なく事業目的が果たせていない現状である.目的 産後4ヶ月までの育児サポート状況を明確化し, A県B病院の産後ケア入院の課題について考察することを目的とする.方法 産後4ヶ月から1年未満の母親37名を対象に, 産後4ヶ月までのサポート状況と満足度, 専門家に望むサポート, 産後ケア入院に関する質問紙調査を行った.結果および考察 産後1ヶ月までの主な育児サポート者は実母82.9%, 夫68.6%で, 満足群は95.1%であった. 産後1ヶ月以降は, 夫85.7%, 実母94.3%で, サポート者なしが2.9%で, 満足群は82.9%であったが, 不満足群が2.9%から17.1%に増加したことから, この時期の育児サポートは必要性が高いと考える. 産後ケア入院について 「知らない」 者は62.9%であった. 「知らない」 者のうち50%は 「事前に知っていたら利用した」 と回答しており, 効果的な広報活動が必要である.Background The postpartum care enterprise attracts attention. Although B hospital of A prefecture established the postpartum care hospitalization enterprise, a user is the present condition that the business purpose cannot be achieved few.Objective The childcare support situation by four months of postpartum is clarified, and it aims at considering the subject of postpartum care hospitalization of an A prefectural B hospital.Methods Candidates are 37 mothers for less than one year from four months of postpartum.Results/Discussion The main support persons by one month of postpartum were 82.9% of a biological mother, and 68.6% of a husband, and the satisfactory group was 95.1%. The support persons after one month of postpartum were 85.7% of a husband, and 94.3% of a biological mother, those without a support person were 2.9%, and the satisfactory group was 82.9%. However, the dissatisfied group to child-rearing increased to 17.1% from 2.9%.Therefore, I think that the childcare support after one month of postpartum has high necessity. Next, those who "do not know" postpartum care hospitalization were 62.9%.Since 50% of those who "do not know" postpartum care hospitalization answered, "It used when knowing in advance", it thinks that effective publicity work is required

Mineral oil certified reference materials for the determination of polychlorinated biphenyls from the National Metrology Institute of Japan (NMIJ)

Four mineral oil certified reference materials (CRMs), NMIJ CRM 7902-a, CRM 7903-a, CRM 7904-a, and CRM 7905-a, have been issued by the National Metrology Institute of Japan, which is part of the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (NMIJ/AIST), for the determination of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). The raw materials for the CRMs were an insulation oil (CRM 7902-a and CRM 7903-a) and a fuel oil (CRM7904-a and CRM 7905-a). A solution of PCB3, PCB8, and technical PCB products, comprising four types of Kaneclor, was added to the oil matrices. The total PCB concentrations in the PCB-fortified oils (CRM 7902-a and CRM 7904-a) are approximately 6 mg kg−1. In addition, the mineral oils which were not fortified with PCBs were also distributed as CRMs (CRM 7903-a and CRM 7905-a). Characterization of these CRMs was conducted by the NMIJ/AIST, where the mineral oils and the PCB solution were analyzed using multiple analytical methods such as dimethylsulfoxide extraction, normal-phase liquid chromatography, gel permeation chromatography, reversed-phase liquid chromatography, and chromatography using sulfoxide-bonded silica; and/or various capillary columns for gas chromatography, and two ionization modes for mass spectrometry. The target compounds in the mineral oils and those in the PCB solution were determined by one of the primary methods of measurement, isotope dilution–mass spectrometry (ID-MS). Certified values have been provided for 11 PCB congeners (PCB3, 8, 28, 52, 101, 118, 138, 153, 180, 194, and 206) in the CRMs. These CRMs have information values for PCB homologue concentrations determined by using a Japanese official method for determination of PCBs in wastes and densities determined with an oscillational density meter. Because oil samples having arbitrary PCB concentrations between respective property values of the PCB-fortified and nonfortified CRMs can be prepared by gravimetric mixing of the CRM pairs, these CRMs can be used for validation of PCB analyses using various instruments which have different sensitivities

Association between serum calcium levels and prognosis, hematoma volume, and onset of cerebral hemorrhage in patients undergoing hemodialysis

Background: High serum calcium levels should be avoided in patients on hemodialysis (HD) because they can induce cardiovascular diseases and worsen the patient\u27s prognosis. In contrast, low serum calcium levels worsen the prognosis of patients with cerebral hemorrhage in the general population. So far, whether serum calcium levels in patients on HD are associated with cerebral hemorrhage remains unknown. This study aimed to reveal the association between serum calcium and cerebral hemorrhage in patients on HD, including in-hospital death, volume of hematoma, and onset of cerebral hemorrhage. Methods: This cross-sectional case-control study included 99 patients on HD with cerebral hemorrhage at a single center between July 1, 2007 and December 31, 2017. Controls included 339 patients on HD at a single HD center between July 1, 2011 and June 30, 2012. Data on serum calcium level, patient demographics, and comorbid conditions were collected, and associations between cerebral hemorrhage and subsequent death were evaluated by multivariate logistic regression analysis. Further, the association of these backgrounds and hematoma volume was evaluated by multiple regression analysis. Results: Of the 99 patients, 32 (32%) died from cerebral hemorrhage. The corrected serum calcium level (odds ratio [OR], 2.49; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.43-4.35; P < 0.001) and antiplatelet drug use (OR, 3.95; 95% CI, 1.50-10.4; P = 0.005)had significant effects on the prognosis. Moreover, the corrected serum calcium (P = 0.003) and antiplatelet drug use (P = 0.01) were significantly correlated with hematoma volume. In the patients, the corrected serum calcium level (OR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.07-2.22; P = 0.02) was associated with the onset of cerebral hemorrhage, as was pre-hemodialysis systolic blood pressure (per 10 mmHg) (OR, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.23-1.59; P < 0.001). Conclusions: Although the precise mechanisms remain unknown, a high serum calcium level is associated with cerebral hemorrhage in patients on HD. Thus, we should pay attentions to a patient\u27s calcium level

Genome-wide association study revealed novel loci which aggravate asymptomatic hyperuricaemia into gout

Objective The first ever genome-wide association study (GWAS) of clinically defined gout cases and asymptomatic hyperuricaemia (AHUA) controls was performed to identify novel gout loci that aggravate AHUA into gout. Methods We carried out a GWAS of 945 clinically defined gout cases and 1003 AHUA controls followed by 2 replication studies. In total, 2860 gout cases and 3149 AHUA controls (all Japanese men) were analysed. We also compared the ORs for each locus in the present GWAS (gout vs AHUA) with those in the previous GWAS (gout vs normouricaemia). Results This new approach enabled us to identify two novel gout loci (rs7927466 of CNTN5 and rs9952962 of MIR302F) and one suggestive locus (rs12980365 of ZNF724) at the genome-wide significance level (p<5.0×10– 8). The present study also identified the loci of ABCG2, ALDH2 and SLC2A9. One of them, rs671 of ALDH2, was identified as a gout locus by GWAS for the first time. Comparing ORs for each locus in the present versus the previous GWAS revealed three ‘gout vs AHUA GWAS’-specific loci (CNTN5, MIR302F and ZNF724) to be clearly associated with mechanisms of gout development which distinctly differ from the known gout risk loci that basically elevate serum uric acid level. Conclusions This meta-analysis is the first to reveal the loci associated with crystal-induced inflammation, the last step in gout development that aggravates AHUA into gout. Our findings should help to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of gout development and assist the prevention of gout attacks in high-risk AHUA individuals

DOCK2 is involved in the host genetics and biology of severe COVID-19

「コロナ制圧タスクフォース」COVID-19疾患感受性遺伝子DOCK2の重症化機序を解明 --アジア最大のバイオレポジトリーでCOVID-19の治療標的を発見--. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2022-08-10.Identifying the host genetic factors underlying severe COVID-19 is an emerging challenge. Here we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) involving 2, 393 cases of COVID-19 in a cohort of Japanese individuals collected during the initial waves of the pandemic, with 3, 289 unaffected controls. We identified a variant on chromosome 5 at 5q35 (rs60200309-A), close to the dedicator of cytokinesis 2 gene (DOCK2), which was associated with severe COVID-19 in patients less than 65 years of age. This risk allele was prevalent in East Asian individuals but rare in Europeans, highlighting the value of genome-wide association studies in non-European populations. RNA-sequencing analysis of 473 bulk peripheral blood samples identified decreased expression of DOCK2 associated with the risk allele in these younger patients. DOCK2 expression was suppressed in patients with severe cases of COVID-19. Single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis (n = 61 individuals) identified cell-type-specific downregulation of DOCK2 and a COVID-19-specific decreasing effect of the risk allele on DOCK2 expression in non-classical monocytes. Immunohistochemistry of lung specimens from patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia showed suppressed DOCK2 expression. Moreover, inhibition of DOCK2 function with CPYPP increased the severity of pneumonia in a Syrian hamster model of SARS-CoV-2 infection, characterized by weight loss, lung oedema, enhanced viral loads, impaired macrophage recruitment and dysregulated type I interferon responses. We conclude that DOCK2 has an important role in the host immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection and the development of severe COVID-19, and could be further explored as a potential biomarker and/or therapeutic target

COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy and Its Associated Factors in Japan

The vaccine confidence index in Japan is one of the lowest worldwide. This study aimed to examine the proportion of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in the Japanese population using a larger sample and more robust statistical methods than previously, and to identify factors associated with vaccine hesitancy. We conducted a nationwide, cross-sectional Internet survey on 8–26 February 2021, and calculated the proportion and odds ratios for vaccine hesitancy. Among 23,142 responses analyzed, the proportion of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy was 11.3% (10.9–11.7%). The proportion was higher among younger respondents and female respondents, and especially among younger female respondents (15.6%) compared with the lowest proportion among older male respondents (4.8%). The most cited reason for not getting vaccinated was concerns about adverse reactions in more than 70% of the respondents. The proportion of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Japan was comparable to that in previous studies overseas, and the proportion among younger respondents was more than double that among older respondents. Factors associated with the hesitancy were female sex, living alone, low socioeconomic status, and presence of severe psychological distress, especially among older respondents. Thus, adequate measures should be taken to ensure that vaccines are delivered to people with these factors

生活習慣病にみられる微小血管変化に関するSEM研究

自然発症2型糖尿病モデルラットを用いて、生活習慣病において全身や口腔の器官にみられる微小循環について形態学的な検討を行った。本糖尿病ラットと対照とした通常ラットの上行大動脈に樹脂を注入し、腎、網膜、舌、口蓋、歯肉、骨髄の腐食血管鋳型を作製した。これらを走査型電子顕微鏡にて観察し、糖尿病モデルと対照とで比較検討した。その結果、歯肉組織中の微小循環系の形態については糖尿病モデルと対照とで明瞭な差異はほとんど認められなかったものの、その他の器官では微小循環系の形態に明らかな違いが観察された。糖尿病によって、全身の器官のみならず口腔の器官にも微小循環系に大きな損傷が生じることが明らかになった。自然発症2型糖尿病モデルラットを用いて、生活習慣病において全身や口腔の器官にみられる微小循環について形態学的な検討を行った。本糖尿病ラットと対照とした通常ラットの上行大動脈に樹脂を注入し、腎、網膜、舌、口蓋、歯肉、骨髄の腐食血管鋳型を作製した。これらを走査型電子顕微鏡にて観察し、糖尿病モデルと対照とで比較検討した。その結果、歯肉組織中の微小循環系の形態については糖尿病モデルと対照とで明瞭な差異はほとんど認められなかったものの、その他の器官では微小循環系の形態に明らかな違いが観察された。糖尿病によって、全身の器官のみならず口腔の器官にも微小循環系に大きな損傷が生じることが明らかになった