General health literacy, COVID-19-related health literacy, and protective behaviors: evidence from a population-based study in Japan

IntroductionHealth literacy (HL) can be regarded as a key element of non-pharmaceutical interventions used in emergency responses. The present study aimed to determine the associations of combinations of general HL and COVID-19-related HL with COVID-19 protective behaviors and healthy lifestyle behaviors.MethodsA questionnaire survey was conducted from December 2020 to January 2021 among residents in Japanese metropolitan areas. Valid responses were received from 1,443 residents. The levels of HL were categorized into four groups: low level in both HLs (reference), high level in general HL only, high level in COVID-19-related HL only, and high level in both HLs. The total scores of eight COVID-19 protective behaviors were dichotomized into low and high adherence. Healthy lifestyle behaviors included healthy and balanced diet, adequate sleep, and regular exercise. Poisson regression analyses were conducted to examine the associations between the HL groups and high adherence to COVID-19 protective behaviors.ResultsHigh level in COVID-19-related HL only was associated with high adherence to COVID-19 protective behaviors [prevalence ratio (PR), 1.25; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.09–1.45], while high level in general HL only was associated with healthy and balanced diet (PR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.04–2.13), adequate sleep (PR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.02–2.10), and regular exercise (PR, 2.00; 95% CI, 1.29–3.13). High level in both HLs showed the highest prevalence of high adherence to COVID-19 protective behaviors and healthy lifestyle behaviors.ConclusionThese findings indicate that COVID-19-related HL and general HL can both be considered to enhance protective behaviors

The virulence of mixed infection with Streptococcus constellatus and Fusobacterium nucleatum in a murine orofacial infection model

金沢大学大学院医学系研究科Orofacial infections are usually polymicrobial, and it is the microbial interactions of pathogenic species that cause tissue destruction. In this study, the microbial interaction between Streptococcus constellatus and Fusobacterium nucleatum was characterized using a murine orofacial infection model. A mixture of viable S. constellatus and F. nucleatum cells (both 2 × 108 CFU/mouse) was injected into the submandible; as a result, all of the test mice died. In contrast, none of the experimental animals monoinjected with either S. constellatus or F. nucleatum died (P < 0.001), indicating that the synergism between the two resulted in the virulence. When a mixture of viable S. constellatus cells and a culture filtrate of F. nucleatum was tested, lethality and the bacterial cell count per lesion were significantly enhanced as compared with monoinjections (P < 0.02). However, the virulence of F. nucleatum was not enhanced by infection of a culture filtrate of S. constellatus. The enhancement of virulence was observed even when viable S. constellatus cells and the culture filtrate of F. nucleatum were injected at separate sites. Heat treatment of the culture filtrate of F. nucleatum did not affect the enhancement. These results indicate that a heat-stable substance(s) produced by F. nucleatum contributes to the microbial synergy of S. constellatus and F. nucleatum in orofacial infections

Bacteriologic features and antimicrobial susceptibility in isolates from orofacial odontogenic infections

金沢大学大学院医学系研究科Objective. The aim of this study was to obtain information for an effective antimicrobial therapy against orofacial odontogenic infections; such information was obtained from recent bacteriologic features and antimicrobial susceptibility data. Study design. The bacteriology and antimicrobial susceptibility of major pathogens in 163 patients with orofacial odontogenic infections to 7 antibiotics was examined. Results. Mixed infection of strict anaerobes with facultative anaerobes (especially viridans streptococci) was observed most often in dentoalveolar infections, periodontitis, and pericoronitis. Penicillin (penicillin G) was effective against almost all pathogens, although it did not work well against β-lactamase-positive Prevotella. Cefmetazole was effective against all test pathogens. Erythromycin was ineffective against viridans streptococci and most Fusobacterium. Clindamycin exerted a strong antimicrobial activity on anaerobes. Minocycline was effective against almost all the test pathogens. The antimicrobial activity of levofloxacin against viridans streptococci was not strong. Conclusions. An antibiotic that carries out antimicrobial activity against both viridans streptococci and oral anaerobes should be suitable for treatment of dentoalveolar infection, periodontitis, and pericoronitis. Penicillin remains effective as an antimicrobial against most major pathogens in orofacial odontogenic infections. Cefmetazole, clindamycin, and minocycline may be effective against most pathogens, including penicillin-unsusceptible bacteria

Past administration of β-lactam antibiotics and increase in the emergence of β-lactamase-producing bacteria in patients with orofacial odontogenic infections.

金沢大学大学院医学系研究科Objective. The purpose of this study was to determine the current status of β-lactamase–producing bacteria in orofacial odontogenic infections. Study design. Microbiologic data regarding purulent exudate from 111 cases with orofacial odontogenic infections were analyzed in relation to the past administration of β-lactams. Results. β-lactamase–producing bacteria were isolated more frequently from the β-lactam-administered group (38.5%) than from the β-lactam-nonadministered group (10.9%; P < .005), and they were isolated more frequently as the duration of administration increased. The predominant bacteria isolated included Prevotella (the most frequent isolate), viridans streptococci, Peptostreptococcus , and Fusobacterium , and 7.1% of total isolates produced β-lactamase. Penicillin and cefazolin worked well with β-lactamase–nonproducing Prevotella but were remarkably affected by β-lactamase–producing Prevotella . Cefmetazole, sulbactam/cefoperazone, and imipenem worked well against both types of Prevotella . Conclusions. β-lactams are still suitable for the first antimicrobial therapy in the treatment of these infections. However, because past β-lactam administration increases the emergence of β-lactamase–producing bacteria, β-lactamase-stable antibiotics should be prescribed to patients with unresolved infections who have received β-lactams.(Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2000;89:186-92

Characterisation of bacterial orofacial infections using a new murine model

金沢大学大学院医学系研究科We devised a new murine orofacial infection model using bacteria from odontogenic infection origins and characterized the experimental infections. In this model, bacteria were injected into the submandible of mice. Streptococcus constellatus and Peptostreptococcus micros produced a single abscess at the injection site and their abscess-forming and lethal abilities were low: the median abscess-forming dose (AF50) of S. constellatus and P. micros were 108.5–10.7and 1010.2–10.6cfu/mouse, and their median lethal dose (LD50) were >11 and 1010.6–11cfu/mouse, respectively. Prevotella oralis and Fusobacterium nucleatum produced multiple abscesses and their abscess-forming and lethal abilities were strong: AF50of P. oralis andF. nucleatum were 106.0–6.4and 107.0–8.7cfu/mouse, and their LD50were 107.0–7.7and 108.3–9.9cfu/mouse, respectively. LD50of P. intermedia andP. gingivalis were 109.4–>11and 108.9–9.1cfu/mouse, respectively. Prevotella intermedia and Porphyromonas gingivalis generated a necrotizing lesion, which progressed rapidly. We conclude that this murine model could reflect human orofacial odontogenic infections and is useful to investigate the pathogenicity of causative bacteria of such infections

Randomized controlled trial for an effect of catechin-enriched green tea consumption on adiponectin and cardiovascular disease risk factors

Previous observational studies have indicated that green tea (GT) consumption is associated with reduced mortality from cerebral infarction but not with mortality from cerebral hemorrhage. Therefore, we hypothesized that GT exerts a direct antiatherosclerotic effect without any effect on hypertension. To investigate this hypothesis, we focused on adiponectin that seems to be among the several key players in atherosclerosis.The objective of this randomized controlled trial (RCT) was to assess whether the consumption of catechin-enriched GT affects serum adiponectin levels and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors among apparently healthy subjects.A total of 51 individuals participated in the study. Eligible participants were randomly assigned into GT consumption groups with either high catechin (400 mg/day) or low catechin (100 mg/day). The study participants were asked to stop GT consumption for 2 weeks (washout period), following which they were to start drinking the provided GT beverages everyday for 9 weeks. The outcome measures were changes in the adiponectin levels and CVD risk factors (body weight, body mass index, waist circumference, blood pressure, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride, fasting plasma glucose, as well as aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, uric acid, and high-sensitive C-reactive protein).After intervention for 9 weeks, we found no significant difference between the high- and low catechin group with respect to changes in the serum adiponectin level: 0.35 &#x00B5;g/ml (95% confidence interval (CI): &#x2212;1.03, 1.74). Also, no significant difference was observed between the high- and low catechin groups with respect to changes in any of the measured CVD risk factors.This RCT showed no significant difference between the high- and low catechin groups with respect to changes in the serum adiponectin level and any CVD risk factors