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ABSTRACT: Cough test to screen for silent aspiration (SA) was reported, and the effectiveness was excellent. However, the device was rather large so that the portability was poor. So, the purpose of this study is to investigate the usefulness of a handheld nebulizer for the test and verify the reproducibility of the method. The subjects were 160 patients who were suspected of having dysphagia and underwent videofluorography (VF) or videoendoscopy (VE). They inhaled 1.0 % citric acid-physiologic saline orally for 1 min using a handheld nebulizer, and the examiner observed the number of coughs: more than five coughs was considered as negative (normal), while less than four coughs was regarded as positive. Among the subjects, 70 patients administered the cough test and VF or VE twice or more at some intervals. The k coefficient was calculated in reproducibility. Using the results of the VF or VE examination as the standards, for SA detection, the sensitivity was 0.86, specificity was 0.71, positive predictive value was 0.53, and negative predictive value was 0.93. The k coefficient was 0.79. In conclusion, the handheld nebulizer was useful in the cough test to screen for SA. Furthermore, satisfactory reproducibility was shown.
Odontology 10/2012; · 1.22 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Hemiplegic patients often exhibit a characteristic condition called Wernicke-Mann contracture. Therefore, the occlusal pattern in hemiplegic patients is considered to be adapted to stress because of this characteristic limb position. We created a sham Wernicke-Mann contracture in healthy individuals using hemiplegia simulator equipment and compared the functional occlusion in this position with that in the normal state to evaluate dynamic adaptive responses.
Wernicke-Mann contracture was simulated using a device to create sham hemiplegia (Manabi-tai, Hemiplegia Experiencing Set; Tokushu-iryo, Inc.). In addition to the measurement of the occlusal force using Dental Prescale(®) and Occluzer(®), the occlusion was evaluated using an electromyogram and stabilometer.
There was a significant difference in the occlusal force between the normal state and during simulated hemiplegia. The surface electromyo-potential of the masseter muscle showed significantly higher values during simulated hemiplegia. It is significantly higher during simulated hemiplegia than in the normal state on the paralysed side, but not for the normal state on the non-paralysed side. The position and velocity vectors changed in the antero-posterior direction in the normal state but in the lateral direction during simulated hemiplegia.
The hemiplegia simulator equipment is useful for research on hemiplegia, and that the occlusal balance is disturbed in the posture characteristic of hemiplegia.
Gerodontology 09/2011; 29(2):e780-6. · 1.03 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Aging is associated with a progressive decrease in appetite and food intake. We focused on the age-associated changes of the stimulatory effect of the appetite-regulating peptide, ghrelin. Food intake and the concentrations of acyl ghrelin and desacyl ghrelin in the plasma and in the stomach were measured with and without overnight fasting in young and old mice. Moreover, the food intake in response to the intraperitoneal administration of graded doses of acyl ghrelin was compared between young and old mice. Fasting drives food intake in young mice, but not in old mice. The concentrations of acyl ghrelin and desacyl ghrelin in the plasma and in the stomach were higher in the old mice than in the young mice. Food intake did not increase in old mice when stimulated by the administration of 1-3 nmol of acyl ghrelin, which could produce a significant increase in food intake in young mice. In conclusion, food intake did not increase in old mice after either overnight fasting or the administration of acyl ghrelin. The release and synthesis of ghrelin seem to be rather higher in old mice compared to young mice. These increases might be the results of compensation for the decline of receptor (and/or post-receptor) functions.
Archives of gerontology and geriatrics 09/2011; 55(2):238-43. · 1.36 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: While oral care is known to play an important role in the prevention of aspiration pneumonia, its influence on immune function is unclear. In this study, we performed oral care on ten dependent elderly individuals and examined its influence on NK cell activity. The study duration was 12 weeks. During the first six weeks, the subjects cleaned their mouths as usual (control period). In the last six weeks, a dental hygienist performed oral care and denture cleaning three times a week (intervention period). The outcome measure was the quantity of oral bacteria and the detection rate of the microbe in connection with an opportunistic infection and NK cell activity before and after the intervention. Samples were collected at three time points: the beginning of the study, after the control period and before the intervention period (i. e., after six weeks), and after the intervention period (i. e., after 12 weeks). There was no significant difference in the number of oral bacteria between the control period and the intervention period. In contrast, while NK cell activity did not change during the control period, activity increased during the intervention period (p = 0.03). This finding suggests that rather than decreasing the number of oral bacteria, oral care increases NK cell activity.
Kōkūbyō Gakkai zasshi. The Journal of the Stomatological Society, Japan 03/2011; 78(1):6-11.
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Ayako Ogawa,
Soichi Furukawa,
Shuhei Fujita,
Jiro Mitobe,
Taketo Kawarai,
Naoki Narisawa,
Tsuyoshi Sekizuka,
Makoto Kuroda,
Kuniyasu Ochiai,
Hirokazu Ogihara,
Saori Kosono,
Saori Yoneda,
Haruo Watanabe,
Yasushi Morinaga, Hiroshi Uematsu,
Hidenobu Senpuku
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ABSTRACT: The oral microbial flora consists of many beneficial species of bacteria that are associated with a healthy condition and control the progression of oral disease. Cooperative interactions between oral streptococci and the pathogens play important roles in the development of dental biofilms in the oral cavity. To determine the roles of oral streptococci in multispecies biofilm development and the effects of the streptococci in biofilm formation, the active substances inhibiting Streptococcus mutans biofilm formation were purified from Streptococcus salivarius ATCC 9759 and HT9R culture supernatants using ion exchange and gel filtration chromatography. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry analysis was performed, and the results were compared to databases. The S. salivarius HT9R genome sequence was determined and used to indentify candidate proteins for inhibition. The candidates inhibiting biofilms were identified as S. salivarius fructosyltransferase (FTF) and exo-beta-d-fructosidase (FruA). The activity of the inhibitors was elevated in the presence of sucrose, and the inhibitory effects were dependent on the sucrose concentration in the biofilm formation assay medium. Purified and commercial FruA from Aspergillus niger (31.6% identity and 59.6% similarity to the amino acid sequence of FruA from S. salivarius HT9R) completely inhibited S. mutans GS-5 biofilm formation on saliva-coated polystyrene and hydroxyapatite surfaces. Inhibition was induced by decreasing polysaccharide production, which is dependent on sucrose digestion rather than fructan digestion. The data indicate that S. salivarius produces large quantities of FruA and that FruA alone may play an important role in multispecies microbial interactions for sucrose-dependent biofilm formation in the oral cavity.
Applied and environmental microbiology 01/2011; 77(5):1572-80. · 3.69 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Caspase-8 is a key upstream mediator in death receptor-mediated apoptosis and also participates in mitochondria-mediated apoptosis via cleavage of proapoptotic Bid. However, the role of caspase-8 in p53- and p73-dependent apoptosis induced by genotoxic drugs remains unclear. We recently reported that the reconstitution of procaspase-8 is sufficient for sensitizing cisplatin- but not etoposide-induced apoptosis, in chemoresistant and caspase-8 deficient HOC313 head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cells.
We show that p53/p73-dependent caspase-8 activation is required for sensitizing etoposide-induced apoptosis by utilizing HOC313 cells carrying a temperature-sensitive p53G285K mutant. Restoration of wild-type p53 function under the permissive conditions, together with etoposide treatment, led to substantial transcriptional activation of proapoptotic Noxa and PUMA, but failed to induce apoptosis. In addition to p53 restoration, caspase-8 reconstitution was needed for sensitization to etoposide-induced apoptosis, mitochondria depolarization, and cleavage of the procaspases-3, and -9. In etoposide-sensitive Ca9-22 cells carrying a temperature-insensitive mutant p53, siRNA-based p73 knockdown blocked etoposide-induced apoptosis and procaspase-8 cleavage. However, induction of p73 protein and up-regulation of Noxa and PUMA, although observed in Ca9-22 cells, were hardly detected in etoposide-treated HOC313 cells under non-permissive conditions, suggesting a contribution of p73 reduction to etoposide resistance in HOC313 cells. Finally, the caspase-9 inhibitor Ac-LEHD-CHO or caspase-9 siRNA blocked etoposide-induced caspase-8 activation, Bid cleavage, and apoptosis in both cell lines, indicating that p53/p73-dependent caspase-8 activation lies downstream of mitochondria.
we conclude that p53 and p73 can act as upstream regulators of caspase-8, and that caspase-8 is an essential mediator of the p53/p73-dependent apoptosis induced by etoposide in HNSCC cells. Our data suggest the importance of caspase-8-mediated positive feedback amplification in the p53/p73-dependent apoptosis induced by etoposide in HNSCC cells.
Molecular Cancer 01/2011; 10:95. · 3.99 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Bone homeostasis is maintained by active remodeling through the balance between resorption (by osteoclasts) and synthesis (by osteoblasts). In this study, we examined the effects of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and their metabolites on sRANKL-induced differentiation of bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMs) into osteoclasts in vitro. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) strongly inhibited osteoclastogenesis; however, dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (DGLA), arachidonic acid (AA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) enhanced it. The enhancement effect of PUFAs on osteoclastogenesis was mediated predominantly by cyclooxygenase (COX) products, because the effect was inhibited by a COX inhibitor. It was also found that COX products of PUFAs, prostaglandin E(1), E(2), and E(3), clearly increased in osteoclastogenesis. The inhibitory effect of DHA on osteoclastogenesis was reversed by treatment with a lipoxygenase (LOX) inhibitor. Furthermore, resolvin D1, a LOX product of DHA, significantly inhibited osteoclastogenesis. Quantitative analysis of specific mRNA levels revealed that DHA-mediated attenuation of osteoclastogenesis might be due to a decrease in DC-STAMP expression. These results suggested that the effect of DHA on osteoclastogenesis is, at least in part, mediated by lipoxygenase products. This study showed a distinct mechanism of the effect of PUFAs on osteoclastogenesis and will provide evidence for therapeutic treatment with DHA in osteoporotic patients.
Prostaglandins & other lipid mediators 06/2010; 92(1-4):85-90. · 2.70 Impact Factor
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Hikaru Matsui-Inohara, Hiroshi Uematsu,
Takanori Narita,
Keitaro Satoh,
Hideo Yonezawa,
Koichiro Kuroda,
Tatsuro Ito,
Saori Yoneda,
Taketo Kawarai,
Hiroshi Sugiya,
Haruo Watanabe,
Hidenobu Senpuku
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ABSTRACT: The non-obese diabetic mouse (NOD) is the most characterized model used to study insulin-dependent type 1 diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and Sjoögren's syndrome (SS). In a previous report, we found NOD.E2f1(-/-) mice show a greater progressive development to IDDM and SS compared to NOD mice. Our previous data indicated a progressive decrease in regulatory T cells (CD4(+)CD25(+)) and a decrease in the systemic secretion systems for insulin, and saliva was associated with the progression of IDDM and SS. Therefore, to define the mechanism of early-onset IDDM SS in E2F-1 deficient NOD mice required further investigation by producing E2F-1 deficient NOD/SCID mice in which the T and B cells do not develop. The purpose here was to analyze the essential function of the E2F-1 molecule in the development of IDDM and SS; and the dysfunction of the pancreas islet and salivary gland in the NOD background using NOD/SCID mice. We produced NOD/SCID.E2f1(-/-) mice using homologous recombination; determined diabetes development; measured saliva and insulin production; and performed a histological analysis. The deficient mice showed a decreasing volume of saliva; no infiltration of lymphocytes into salivary glands; no development of diabetes; and no protein localization of FGFR-2b in the ducts of the salivary gland that regulates submandibular gland proliferation and morphogenesis. Therefore, we considered a deficiency in E2F-1 induces a decrease in regulatory T cells and an increase in auto-reactive T cells; however, the E2F-1 deficiency is not associated with T and B cells-independent dysfunction of pancreatic beta cell in insulin secretion. Further, the E2F-1 deficiency is associated with T and B cells-independent dysfunction of the salivary gland exhibits a decrease in saliva production volume. We suggest E2F-1 may be also associated with the differentiation of exocrine cells in the duct where FGFR-2b is expressed in the salivary gland. The E2F-1 deficient NOD/SCID mouse model is useful for showing the development of the salivary gland; and is also useful for various experiments in humanized mice.
Experimental Biology and Medicine 12/2009; 234(12):1525-36. · 2.64 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Caspase-8 is a critical upstream mediator of apoptosis in the death receptor pathway. However, the relationship between caspase-8 mutation and chemosensitivity remain unclear in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) carrying p53 mutation. In this study, we identified a caspase-8 nonsense mutation, accompanied by the loss of the second allele, in a drug-resistant HOC313 HNSCC cell line. The nonsense mutation (R68X) leads to truncation of all defined functional domains. Reconstitution of caspase-8 by stable transfection of wild-type caspase-8 sensitized the cells to cisplatin-, but not etoposide-induced apoptosis. Consistent with this, cisplatin, but not etoposide, induced TNF-alpha and TRAIL mRNA in caspase-8 reconstituted HOC313 cells, accompanied by activation of the reconstituted caspase-8 and its downstream caspase-3. These results indicate that the loss of caspase-8 plays an important role in acquisition of chemoresistance to cisplatin in HOC313 cells.
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 10/2009; 390(3):989-94. · 2.48 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: This study examined hyoid movement during sequential swallowing and evaluated the relationship among trajectory patterns, swallowing types based on laryngeal movement and laryngeal penetration. Twelve healthy adults underwent videofluorography during sequential swallowing. Each swallow was classified into two types: opened laryngeal vestibule after swallow (i-Segmental type) and closed laryngeal vestibule after swallow (i-Continuous type). Each participant's swallowing type was classified by the same method. We analyzed two-dimensional movements of the hyoid, and the trajectories were classified into three patterns: hyoid moved in the anterosuperior direction after the onset of swallow (pattern L); hyoid moved in the anterosuperior direction after the onset of swallow, beyond the mandibular plane (pattern X); and the hyoid was above the mandibular plane at the onset of swallow, and then it moved in the inferior direction (pattern U). Two-way ANOVA revealed that there was a significant interaction between the swallowing type and trajectory pattern, and laryngeal penetration was the highest for the combination of individual swallow of i-Continuous type and pattern L. In sequential swallowing, the existence of a penetration-prone swallowing pattern combination was an interesting phenomenon relevant to eating management for dysphagic patients; however further study in patient groups is required.
Journal of medical and dental sciences 09/2009; 56(3):113-21.
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ABSTRACT: Head rotation is widely used as one of the postural techniques for dysphagic patients. However, it cannot be used for patients with severe limitations to the range of motion of the neck. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of applying pressure to the cricoid while swallowing and to explore the possibility of this maneuver as an alternative to head rotation. The swallowing function of 12 volunteers was examined with videofluorography under nine conditions: neutral, head rotated to the right, head rotated to the left, applying pressure to the cricoid on the right side at 5, 10, and 15 N, and applying pressure to the cricoid on the left side at 5, 10, and 15 N. To examine the effect of this maneuver on pharyngeal swallowing, the laterality of bolus flow was evaluated using 3 ml barium thin liquid from the posterior-anterior (P-A) view. The "pressing-cricoid" maneuver significantly altered the laterality of the bolus flow; the bolus flow was shifted to the side opposite to which the pressure was applied. The results of these changes were similar to those achieved with head rotation. These results demonstrated that the "pressing-cricoid" maneuver changes the bolus flow. This maneuver may have therapeutic value for the treatment of dysphagic patients as an alternative to head rotation.
Dysphagia 09/2009; 24(4):369-77. · 1.39 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Measurement of salivary IgA antibody (PAc-peptide antibody, PPA) to amino acid residues 361-386 of Streptococcus mutans PAc, which possess a multiple binding motif to various HLA-DR molecules and a B-cell epitope that recognises the inhibiting antibody to S. mutans, is an indicator for the population numbers of mutans streptococci (MS) in human saliva. The purpose of this study was to clarify the role of PPA in infection control of MS after professional oral hygiene care.
Thirty-nine dependently living institutionalised elderly subjects (75.9 +/- 7.5 years; 10 males, 29 females) participated in the study. The measurements of PPA, MS, total streptococci (TS) and lactobacilli (LB) were performed by ELISA and culture techniques from saliva, plaque and tongue samples from the elderly.
After treatment using professional oral care, the numbers of MS decreased significantly at 6 months in saliva and tongue samples from the group not having PPA in comparison with the primary data; whereas in the PPA-detected group, a significant decrease in MS number was shown immediately following professional care at 1-12 months in all samples. There was little difference in the numbers of LB at any of the time points. The numbers of TS decreased rapidly in PPA-not detected group in comparison with the PPA-detected group.
PPA may be more effective for controlling MS number in the oral cavity after professional treatment. The measurement of PPA may be used for preventive instruction to dental caries at the chair side in the clinical setting.
Gerodontology 03/2009; 26(4):259-67. · 1.03 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Many of the protective immune responses of old people are impaired and this leads to an increased risk of oral bacterial infections. Little is known about the interaction between the systemic immune response on one hand and oral infections and oral diseases on the other. Here, we conducted an epidemiological study of the independent elderly to determine the relationships between activated natural killer (NK) cells and oral bacterial infections: oral diseases such as dental caries and periodontal disease. One hundred independent elderly people aged 77 years old (53 males, 47 females) were examined. Blood samples were drawn, and activated NK cells were evaluated using CD16, CD56, and CD69 monoclonal antibodies with flow cytometry. Bacterial counts for oral streptococci, lactobacillus, and opportunistic pathogens were performed using culture techniques. Oral disease examinations were performed by dentists. A larger percentage of CD69(+)NK cells (CD16(+)CD56(+)) showed significant correlations to the isolation numbers of total streptococci (r=0.409, P<0.01), the species numbers of opportunistic pathogens (r=-0.318, P<0.01), the numbers of decayed teeth (r=-0.223, P<0.05), and the amount of bridge work (r=0.219, P<0.05). A higher proportion of CD69(+)NK cells is associated with the incidence of dental caries and the number of opportunistic pathogens and total streptococci in the oral cavity of the elderly. This suggests that the proportionate number of CD69(+)NK cells may be a useful indicator for oral infection in elderly subjects.
Japanese journal of infectious diseases 12/2008; 61(6):469-74. · 1.49 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Many screening tests for dysphagia can be given at bedside. However, they cannot accurately screen for silent aspiration (SA). We studied the usefulness of a cough test to screen for SA and combined it with the modified water swallowing test (MWST) to make an accurate screening system. Patients suspected of dysphagia (N = 204) were administered a cough test and underwent videofluorography (VF) or videoendoscopy (VE). Sensitivity of the cough test for detection of SA was 0.87 with specificity of 0.89. Of these 204 patients, 107 were also administered the MWST. Fifty-five were evaluated as normal by the screening system, 49 of whom were evaluated as normal by VF or VE. Sixteen were evaluated as "SA suspected" by the screening system; seven of them were normal, and seven were evaluated as having SA by VF or VE. Nineteen were evaluated as aspirating with cough, 14 of whom had aspiration with cough as shown by VF or VE. Seventeen were evaluated as having SA, 15 of whom had SA shown by VF or VE. The cough test was useful in screening for SA. Moreover, a screening system that included MWST and a cough test could accurately distinguish between the healthy who were safe in swallowing and SA patients who were unsafe.
Dysphagia 08/2008; 23(4):364-70. · 1.39 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Routine oral hygiene is important for the control of opportunistic pathogens in the oral cavity of institutionalized elderly individuals. We evaluated the effects of routine oral care on opportunistic pathogens at various time points after admission to a nursing home. Twenty-five elderly subjects living in the nursing home (mean age: 86.0 +/- 10.4 years) participated in the study. Caregivers and dental hygienists cleaned the teeth, dentures, tongue, and mucosa after each meal using both routine and professional oral care techniques. Opportunistic pathogens were collected from the teeth, tongue, and mucosal surfaces using a cotton swab; and the species of microbes were determined and the numbers were counted following cultivation on selective agar. Regular oral care including professional oral care was found to be effective for reducing infections by many kinds of opportunistic pathogens on the teeth surfaces and the oral environment without food residue during a long-term study (6 months). Further, this care after 1 month significantly reduced infections by opportunistic pathogens on mucosal surfaces in subjects without dentures; however, this was not observed in those with dentures. Our data shows the importance of regular oral care in cleaning hard and soft surfaces of the oral cavity improves the oral health of the institutionalized elderly.
Journal of medical and dental sciences 03/2008; 55(1):7-13.
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ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of aging on the tactile and pain sensitivity, and the factors influencing threshold change in the oral mucosa using Semmes-Weinstein Pressure Aesthesiometer. The touch and pain thresholds of 81 healthy elderly (40 males and 41 females, 77 +/- 4.5 years) were compared with those of 58 young volunteers (27 males and 31 females, 27 +/- 2.5 years). We measured the pain thresholds, the touch thresholds, PCR score and amount of salivation. Semmes-Weinstein Pressure Aesthesiometer was applied to 9 points in the oral region and 4 points in the hands; the dorsum manus, the palma manus, the incisive papilla, the palatal mucosa, the buccal mucosa, the margin of the tongue, and the dorsum of the tongue. Elderly subjects showed significantly higher touch thresholds than those of young subjects in the dorsum manus, the palma manus, the buccal mucosa, the incisive papilla, the margin of the tongue, and the dorsum of the tongue (P < 0.05). The pain thresholds of elderly subjects were significantly lower than those of young subjects in the buccal mucosa and the palatal mucosa (P < 0.05). The touch threshold was not influenced by the smoking habit, denture and amount of salivation. The pain threshold was influenced by the denture on the palate.
Journal of medical and dental sciences 03/2008; 55(1):61-9.
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ABSTRACT: A micro optic pharyngeal manometric sensor for deglutition analysis was constructed. The optical manometric sensor was composed of a fluid-sensitive and air-sensitive fiber-optic pressure sensor (extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometric type) and a lateral pressure-sensitive attachment. The manometric sensor was circumferential type, and had a very small diameter (distal: 2.08 mm, mesial: 0.99 mm). The output current of the sensor was linearly related to the output of a conventional catheter-type solid-state pressure sensor over a range of -3.0 x 10(4) to 3.0 x 10(4) N/m(2). The time constants of responsiveness were 12.2 +/- 2.7 ms during rapid decompression and 32.1 +/- 1.6 ms after a rapid return to ambient pressure. The optical pharyngeal manometric sensor had similar response time characteristics as the naked optical sensor and the conventional solid-state sensor. During in vivo measurement, the waveform of the optical pharyngeal manometer output was almost similar to the waveform of the output of the conventional sensor. The optical manometer could sufficiently detect the lateral pressure and the suction pressure for bolus transit generated in the P-E segment.
Biomedical Microdevices 01/2008; 9(6):893-9. · 3.03 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Effective approaches should be established to prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes mellitus, which has been increasing in developed countries. The present study examined whether dietary supplementation with cacao liquor proanthocyanidins (CLPr) could prevent elevation of blood glucose levels in mice with diabetes mellitus and obesity.
C57BL/KsJ-db/db (db/db) diabetic obese mice and C57BL/KsJ-db/+m (db/+m) control mice were fed a diet containing 0% w/w CLPr (0% CLPr), 0.5% w/w CLPr (0.5% CLPr), or 1.0% w/w CLPr (1.0% CLPr) from age 3 wk to age 6 wk. Levels of blood glucose were measured at 4 and 5 wk of age. The animals were sacrificed and the levels of blood glucose and fructosamine were measured at 6 wk of age.
The levels of blood glucose and fructosamine were higher in the db/db mice than in the db/+m mice fed a diet containing 0%, 0.5%, or 1.0% CLPr. In the db/+m mice, the levels of blood glucose or fructosamine were not significantly different across animals fed 0% CLPr, 0.5% CLPr, and 1.0% CLPr. In the db/db mice, however, a diet containing 0.5% or 1.0% CLPr decreased the levels of blood glucose and fructosamine compared with that containing 0% CLPr without significant effects on body weights or food consumption.
Dietary supplementation with CLPr can dose-dependently prevent the development of hyperglycemia in diabetic obese mice. The dietary intake of food or drinks produced from cacao beans might be beneficial in preventing the onset of type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Nutrition 05/2007; 23(4):351-5. · 3.03 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: We evaluated the effects of special oral care using a toothbrush with combined irrigation and suctioning functions, along with povidone-iodine to treat oral bacteria and mucositis, in esophageal cancer patients undergoing chemoradiotherapy. In the special care group, oral hygiene was performed 3 days a week after dinner. Bacteria in saliva and plague samples were measured at various sampling points after chemoradiotherapy. The incidence of mucositis was significantly reduced in the special care group in comparison with the control group. Total streptococci were significantly decreased in the opportunistic pathogens-positive and lower-level mutans streptococci control group during chemoradiotherapy, but they were not reduced in the opportunistic pathogens-negative and higher-level mutans streptococci control groups or in the special care group. Our results showed that a special oral care regimen enabled the total population of streptococci microflora to remain stable, was negatively correlated with opportunistic pathogens and positively correlated with mutans streptococci infection, and prevented the development of mucositis.
Japanese journal of infectious diseases 03/2007; 60(1):23-8. · 1.49 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Specific areas of cortical activity during solid bolus swallowing in humans are unknown. We tested the hypothesis that cortical representations of swallowing in humans may vary by bolus type. Twenty-one normal subjects swallowed three kinds of food: agar (solid), a capsule and water. We followed the same countdown method for identification of the cortical representations during swallowing performances as a previous study (Tanaka et al., 2006). Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) showed that the precentral gyrus, postcentral gyrus, medial temporal gyrus, superior temporal gyrus and cingulate gyrus were activated when swallowing an agar bolus (p<0.001). The subcortex was not activated. The cerebellum was activated only during capsule swallowing (P<0.001). Water bolus swallowing activations were similar to agar bolus swallowing. The cluster size of water swallowing was larger than the agar swallowing. We conclude that the cortical representations for swallowing are variable by food type.
Journal of medical and dental sciences 03/2007; 54(1):25-30.
