Prevalence of drug-resistant opportunistic microorganisms in oral cavity after treatment for oral cancer.

Drug-resistant opportunistic infections may cause health problems in immunocompromised hosts. Representative microorganisms in opportunistic infections of the oral cavity are Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans. We investigated the prevalence of drug-resistant opportunistic microorganisms in elderly adults receiving follow-up examinations after primary treatment of oral cancer. Oral microorganisms were collected from patients satisfactorily treated for oral cancer (defined as good outcomes to date) and a group of healthy adults (controls). After identification of microorganisms, the prevalence of drug-resistant microorganisms was studied. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) typing were also performed for methicillin-resistant S aureus (MRSA). Statistical analysis revealed no significant differences in the prevalences of the three microorganisms between the groups. Surprisingly, 69.2% of S aureus isolates showed oxacillin resistance, suggesting that MRSA colonization is increasing among older Japanese. These MRSA isolates possessed SCCmec types II and IV but no representative toxin genes. Our results indicate that a basic infection control strategy, including standard precautions against MRSA, is important for elderly adults, particularly after treatment for oral cancer.

The green tea polyphenol (-)-epigallocatechin gallate precipitates salivary proteins including alpha-amylase: biochemical implications for oral health.

Green tea is a popular drink throughout the world, and it contains various components, including the green tea polyphenol (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). Tea interacts with saliva upon entering the mouth, so the interaction between saliva and EGCG interested us, especially with respect to EGCG-protein binding. SDS-PAGE revealed that several salivary proteins were precipitated after adding EGCG to saliva. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) peptide mass fingerprinting indicated that the major proteins precipitated by EGCG were alpha-amylase, S100, and cystatins. Surface plasmon resonance revealed that EGCG bound to alpha-amylase at dissociation constant (K(d)) = 2.74 × 10(-6) M, suggesting that EGCG interacts with salivary proteins with a relatively strong affinity. In addition, EGCG inhibited the activity of alpha-amylase by non-competitive inhibition, indicating that EGCG is effective at inhibiting the formation of fermentable carbohydrates involved in caries formation. Interestingly, alpha-amylase reduced the antimicrobial activity of EGCG against the periodontal bacterium Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans. Therefore, we considered that EGCG-salivary protein interactions might have both protective and detrimental effects with respect to oral health.

Neodymium-doped yttrium-aluminium-garnet laser irradiation abolishes the increase in interleukin-6 levels caused by peptidoglycan through the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway in human pulp cells.

The anti-inflammatory effects of low-power laser irradiation have previously been reported. However, how the laser irradiation regulates the expression of inflammatory cytokines remains unknown. In the present study, to elucidate the mechanism behind the anti-inflammatory effect, we examined the effects of low-power neodymium-doped yttrium-aluminium-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser irradiation on interleukin (IL)-6 expression in human pulp (HP) cells stimulated by peptidoglycan (PGN) and focused on intracellular signaling pathways. Low-power Nd:YAG laser irradiation obviated the PGN-induced increase in IL-6 levels in HP cells. A p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitor, SB203580, also inhibited the increase in IL-6 messenger RNA levels. PGN stimulated the activity of phosphorylated p38 in HP cells. Low-power laser irradiation inhibited the activity. Thus, suppression of the phosphorylated p38 activity by low-power laser irradiation in HP cells culminates in inhibition of the increase in IL-6 induced by PGN, suggesting that low-power laser irradiation regulates intracellular signaling molecule activities to exert its anti-inflammatory effect.

[Cell transplantation for periodontal diseases. A novel periodontal tissue regenerative therapy using bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells].

A major goal of periodontal therapy is to reconstruct healthy periodontium destroyed by periodontal diseases. Basic studies have revealed that transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) into periodontal defects promotes regeneration of periodontal tissue. We have developed a novel method for periodontal therapy using MSC. Human bone marrow cells are obtained from the iliac crest and expanded in vitro at Cell and Tissue Engineering Center in Hiroshima University Hospital. MSC are, then, isolated and mixed with Atelocollagen at final concentrations of 2 x 10(7) cells/mL. These MSC in Atelocollagen are transplanted into periodontal osseous defects at the periodontal surgery. The results in all seven patients who received the own MSC transplantation have shown good clinical course. Further basic studies and the continuous clinical trial are needed to prove the effectiveness of the clinical application.

Proliferative ability and alkaline phosphatase activity with in vivo cellular aging in human pulp cells.

Little is known about the effect of aging on characteristic functions of pulp cells. When damaged pulp is recovered and mineralized tissue is formed to protect remaining pulp tissue, the general responses of pulp tissue after adequate stimuli (pulp cell proliferation and activation of alkaline phosphatase [ALPase]) are thought to be essential. In this study, we compared proliferative ability and ALPase activity between cultures of human pulp (HP) cells obtained from young and aged donors. The in vitro proliferative lifespan of HP cells from young donors was longer than HP cells from aged donors. Growth rates and ALPase activity of HP cells decreased with increasing donor age. These findings suggest that impaired repair of pulp and dentin in aged patients is partly due to a decrease in the proliferative ability and ALPase activity in aged pulp cells.

Microbiological, immunological and genetic factors in family members with periodontitis as a manifestation of systemic disease, associated with hematological disorders.

The microflora, immunological profiles of host defence functions, and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) findings are reported for a mother, son and daughter who were diagnosed as having 'periodontitis as a manifestation of systemic diseases, associated with hematological disorders'. Examinations were made of the bacterial flora from the periodontal pocket, neutrophil chemotaxis, neutrophil phagocytosis, and the genotypes (DQB1) and serotypes (DR locus) of HLA class II antigens. Phenotypic analyses of the peripheral lymphocytes were also conducted. The subgingival microflora from the mother was dominated by Gram-negative rods, especially Porphyromonas endodontalis, Prevotella intermedia/Prevotella nigrescens and Fusobacterium nucleatum. Subgingival microflora samples from the son and daughter were dominated by Gram-positive cocci and Gram-positive rods. Through the use of polymerase chain reaction, Campylobacter rectus and Capnocytophaga gingivalis were detected in all subjects, whereas Porphyromonas gingivalis, P. intermedia, and Treponema denticola were not detected in any subjects. All three subjects showed a remarkable level of depressed neutrophil chemotaxis to N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine, although their phagocyte function levels were normal, in comparison to healthy control subjects. Each subject had the same genotype, HLA-DQB1*0601, while the mother had HLA-DR2 and HLA-DR8, and the son and daughter had HLA-DR2 only. In summary, the members of this family showed a similar predisposition to periodontitis with regard to certain host defence functions. It is suggested that the depressed neutrophil chemotaxis that was identified here could be a significant risk factor for periodontitis in this family.