Properties of fucoidans beneficial to oral healthcare.

Fucoidans are sulfated polysaccharides that are found in marine algae and have many useful activities, including antitumor effects, promotion of apoptosis of cancer cells, and antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antiallergic actions. In oral medicine, several case reports have shown that fucoidan-containing creams and tablets markedly improved recurrent aphthous stomatitis, symptomatic inflamed tongue, and recurrent oral herpes labialis. The aim of this study was to examine the properties of fucoidans for use in oral healthcare. The antimicrobial, anti-adhesion, endotoxin-neutralizing, and cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and COX-2 inhibitory activities of fucoidans were examined. Four key results were obtained: fucoidans showed strong antimicrobial activity against Candida albicans, Streptococcus mutans, and Porphyromonas gingivalis; significantly inhibited the adhesion of S. mutans to bovine teeth and porcelain; were suggested to bind to and neutralize endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide) in an LAL assay; and showed COX-1 and/or COX-2 inhibitory activity. These results suggested that fucoidans may be useful in the field of oral healthcare.

An Exploratory Study on the Anti-inflammatory Effects of Fucoidan in Relation to Quality of Life in Advanced Cancer Patients.

BACKGROUND: Conventional anticancer therapies still cause difficulties with selective eradication and accompanying side effects that reduce patients' quality of life (QOL). Fucoidan is extracted from seaweeds and has already exhibited broad bioactivities, including anticancer and anti-inflammatory properties, in basic studies. It is expected to enhance therapeutic efficacy and minimize side effects in cancer patients; however, despite its potential benefits, there are very few clinical trials using fucoidans. Therefore, we performed an exploratory clinical study for advanced cancer patients to examine the efficacy of fucoidans, especially focusing on inflammation in relation to QOL scores. METHODS: We conducted a prospective, open-label clinical study for advanced cancer patients using fucoidans via oral administration; 20 advanced cancer patients with metastases were recruited and were given 400 mL/d fucoidan (10 mg/mL) for at least 4 weeks. Inflammatory biomarkers, including high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and various cytokines, and QOL scores were monitored before treatment, after 2 weeks, and after 4 weeks of fucoidan ingestion. RESULTS: The main proinflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were significantly reduced after 2 weeks of fucoidan ingestion. QOL scores, including fatigue, stayed almost stable without significant changes during the study period. The univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that the responsiveness of IL-1ß was a significant independent prognostic factor. CONCLUSION: This is the first study providing evidence of the anti-inflammatory effects of fucoidans for advanced cancer patients. In future studies, larger blinded, controlled trials are required to establish the efficacy of fucoidan as supportive care for cancer patients, especially those undergoing chemotherapy.

Clinical evaluation of three months' nightguard vital bleaching on tetracycline-stained teeth using Polanight 10% carbamide gel: 2-year follow-up study.

Nightguard vital bleaching (NGVB) has been applied as a safe and effective bleaching procedure with a wide variety of commercial products consisting of carbamide peroxide-based gels, but there have been few reports on tooth bleaching for tetracycline-stained teeth. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the bleaching effects on teeth discolored by tetracycline with 3 months' active treatment, and to investigate the participant satisfaction, the shade stability, and the post-treatment side effects 2 years after the treatment. A custom-made tray with Polanight 10% carbamide peroxide gel was applied to both the incisal and premolar teeth (10 teeth of each participant), and the participants were directed to wear the tray every night over the course of the 3 months. The whiteness-blackness difference (L*) became lighter within 3 months and the lightness remained until 2 years later. Tooth color changes were remarkable in both redness-greenness difference (a*) and yellowness-blueness difference (b*). No obvious shade change or slight darkening was recognized 2 years post-treatment. The means of the color difference (DeltaE*) at 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years were 13.74, 14.02, 12.17, and 11.81, respectively. All participants were satisfied with the shade change of their teeth, but three participants complained of slight hypersensitivity. One participant complained of cold or hot pain in daily life until 6 months after the treatment. These side effects were alleviated within 1 year. The results suggested that the standard treatment period of NGVB with Polanight for tetracycline-discolored teeth may be determined to be 3 months.

Clinical evaluation of a new bleaching product "Polanight" in a Japanese population.

Home bleaching techniques have been applied as a safe and effective bleaching procedure. Many manufacturers are now marketing home tooth-bleaching products. The purpose of this study was to compare a new bleaching product, Polanight (PN) with a widely used home bleaching product, Opalescence (OP). Fifty-eight healthy Japanese volunteers of both sexes (18 to 47 years of age) were selected. Using a simultaneous split-mouth protocol, custom-made trays with PN and OP were applied to the maxillary right anterior teeth and left anterior teeth, respectively. The shades of the maxillary canine teeth were measured with a portable chromameter (Shade Eye Ex) at the first examination and at 4 weeks (after 2-week bleaching and 2-week rest). Tooth shade changes were analyzed using the Commission Internationale d'Eclairage (CIE) Lab units. Means of whiteness-blackness difference (DeltaL*), redness-greenness difference (Deltaa*), and yellowness-blueness difference (Deltab*) were 4.00, -1.28 and -7.53 for PN, and 2.54, -0.99, and -5.56 for OP, respectively. Means of color difference (DeltaE*) were 9.23 and 7.78 for PN and OP, respectively. Treatment with either agent demonstrated significant bleaching effects produced by the treatment. The new product, PN, showed significant differences in DeltaL* (P < 0.05) and Deltab* (P < 0.005), but not in the redness-greenness (a*) value when compared with OP. Bleaching with PN was considered more effective than that with OP in the young patient group and in the women.

The effect of a tooth gingival transplantation on periodontal healing.

We investigated the effects of a tooth gingival transplantation (TGT) on autologous tooth transplantation using tooth with both periodontal ligament and gingiva. Stabilization period, degree of tooth mobility, and periodontal pocket depth (PPD) were compared with those of transplanted teeth using the conventional method (tooth with periodontal ligament). The subjects were 76 healthy adults (56 cases for the conventional method and 20 cases for TGT). Stabilization period of the tooth was shorter in the cases of TGT than that of the conventional method. Degree of tooth mobility was almost the same for TGT and the conventional technique. The value of PPD at 12 weeks after operation was better in the TGT group than in the conventional method group. The results for both stabilization period and PPD were better in TGT than in the conventional method, indicating low risk for periodontal disease in TGT.