MDPIActa Medica Okayama1660-460118152021Detection of Salivary miRNAs That Predict Chronic Periodontitis Progression: A Cohort Study8010ENKoheiFujimoriDepartment of Preventive Dentistry, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama UniversityToshikiYonedaDepartment of Preventive Dentistry, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama UniversityTakaakiTomofujiDepartment of Community Oral Health, School of Dentistry, Asahi UniversityDaisukeEkuniDepartment of Preventive Dentistry, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama UniversityTetsujiAzumaDepartment of Community Oral Health, School of Dentistry, Asahi UniversityTakayukiMaruyamaDepartment of Preventive Dentistry, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama UniversityYoshioSugiuraDepartment of Preventive Dentistry, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama UniversityManabuMoritaDepartment of Preventive Dentistry, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama UniversityThe aim of this two-year cohort study was to investigate salivary microRNAs (miRNAs) that predict periodontitis progression. A total of 120 patients who underwent supportive periodontal therapy were recruited. Unstimulated whole saliva was collected at baseline. Two years later, 44 patients were followed up (median age, 67.1 years) and divided into two groups: progression group (n = 22), with one or more sites with clinical attachment level (CAL) progression (>3 mm compared with baseline) or tooth extraction due to periodontitis progression; and the control group (n = 22), which did not exhibit CAL progression. In the microarray analysis of salivary miRNAs, hsa-miR-5571-5p, hsa-miR-17-3p, hsa-let-7f-5p, hsa-miR-4724-3p, hsa-miR-99a-5p, hsa-miR-200a-3p, hsa-miR-28-5p, hsa-miR-320d, and hsa-miR-31-5p showed fold change values <0.5 or >= 2.0 in the progression group compared with the control group (p < 0.05). On receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, areas under the curves of hsa-miR-5571-5p, hsa-let-7f-5p, hsa-miR-99a-5p, hsa-miR-28-5p, and hsa-miR-320d were >0.7, indicating fair discrimination power. The expressions of salivary hsa-miR-5571-5p, hsa-let-7f-5p, hsa-miR-99a-5p, hsa-miR-28-5p, and hsa-miR-320d were associated with periodontitis progression in patients with chronic periodontitis. These salivary miRNAs may be new biomarkers for progression of periodontitis, and monitoring them may contribute to new diagnostics and precision medicine for periodontitis.No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.Wiley-BlackwellActa Medica Okayama0303-69793992012Effects of self-efficacy on oral health behaviours and gingival health in university students aged 18- or 19-years-old844849ENShinsukeMizutaniDaisukeEkuniMichikoFurutaTakaakiTomofujiKoichiroIrieTetsujiAzumaAzusaKojimaJunNagaseYoshiakiIwasakiManabuMoritaAim Although self-efficacy is known to affect various health-related practises, few studies have clearly examined how self-efficacy correlates with oral health behaviors or the oral health condition. We examined the relationship between gingivitis, oral health behaviors and self-efficacy in university students. Material & Methods A total of 2,111 students (1,197 males, 914 females) aged 18 and 19 years were examined. The degree of gingivitis was expressed as the percentage of bleeding on probing (%BOP). Additional information was collected via a questionnaire regarding oral health behaviors (daily frequency of tooth-brushing, use of dental floss and regular check-up). Self-efficacy was assessed using the Self-Efficacy Scale for Self-care (SESS). Path analysis was used to test pathways from self-efficacy to oral health behaviors and %BOP. Results In the final structural model, self-efficacies were related to each other, and they affected oral health behaviors. Good oral health behaviors reduced dental plaque and calculus, and lower levels of dental plaque and calculus resulted in lower %BOP. Conclusion Higher self-efficacy correlated with better oral health behaviours and gingival health in university students. Improving self-efficacy may be beneficial for maintaining good gingival health in university students. To prevent gingivitis, the approach of enhancing self-efficacy in university students would be useful.No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.Acta Medica Okayama2045-232242014Effects of hydrogen-rich water on aging periodontal tissues in ratsENTakaakiTomofujiYuyaKawabataKentaKasuyamaYasumasaEndoToshikiYonedaMayuYamaneTetsujiAzumaDaisukeEkuniManabuMoritaOxidative damage is involved in age-related inflammatory reactions. The anti-oxidative effects of hydrogen-rich water suppress oxidative damage, which may aid in inhibiting age-related inflammatory reactions. We investigated the effects of drinking hydrogen-rich water on aging periodontal tissues in healthy rats. Four-month-old male Fischer 344 rats (n = 12) were divided into two groups: the experimental group (hydrogen-rich water treatment) and the control group (distilled water treatment). The rats consumed hydrogen-rich water or distilled water until 16 months of age. The experimental group exhibited lower periodontal oxidative damage at 16 months of age than the control group. Although protein expression of interleukin-1 beta did not differ, gene expression of Nod-like receptor protein 3 inflammasomes was activated in periodontal tissues from the experimental group as compared with the control group. Drinking hydrogen-rich water is proposed to have anti-aging effects on periodontal oxidative damage, but not on inflammatory reactions in healthy rats.No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.Pergamon-Elsevier Science Ltd.Acta Medica Okayama0003-99695612011Occlusal disharmony induces BDNF level in rat submandibular gland3540ENKoichiroIrieDaisukeEkuniTakaakiTomofujiTetsujiAzumaYasumasaEndoKentaKasuyamaManabuMoritaObjectives: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which is produced in rat submandibular gland, is one of the most abundant neurotrophins in the central nervous system. It is generally accepted that occlusal disharmony causes stress. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether occlusal disharmony-induced chronic stress affects BDNF levels and morphology in rat submandibular gland. Design: Eight wks old male Wistar rats (n = 21) were randomly divided into three groups of 7 rats. In a control (C) group, the rats received no treatment for 8 wks. In a molar cusp-less (OD) group, maxillary molar cusps were cut off with a dental turbine at baseline and kept for 8 wks. In a molar cusp-less + recovered cusp (OR) group, maxillary molar cusps were cut off and then were recovered after 4 wks using resin material. After the experimental period, expression of BDNF mRNA and protein as well as histological findings were evaluated in the submandibular glands. The comparisons between the groups were made using the Mann-Whitney U test with Bonferroni correction. Results: The OD group showed a significant increase in submandibular gland BDNF mRNA and protein expression after 8 wks, and plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone and corticosterone levels increased in a time-dependent manner. There were no significant differences in BDNF expression in the submandibular glands and in levels of plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone and corticosterone between the OR and C groups. Conclusions: These results indicate that psychological stress induced by occlusal disharmony reversibly induces BDNF expression in the rat submandibular gland.No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.Pergamon-Elsevier Science Ltd.Acta Medica Okayama0003-99695682011Effects of exercise training on gingival oxidative stress in obese rats768774ENTetsujiAzumaTakaakiTomofujiYasumasaEndoNaofumiTamakiDaisukeEkuniKoichiroIrieKentaKasuyamaTomoKatoManabuMoritaObjective: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of exercise training on serum reactive oxygen species (ROS) level and gingival oxidative stress in obese rats fed a high-fat diet. Design: Rats were divided into three groups (n = 14/group): one control group (fed a regular diet) and two experimental groups (fed a high-fat diet with and without exercise training [treadmill: 5 days/week]). The rats were sacrificed at 4 or 8 weeks. The level of serum reactive oxidative metabolites (ROM) was measured as an indicator of circulating ROS. The level of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and reduced-form glutathione (GSH)/oxidised-form glutathione (GSSG) ratio were determined to evaluate gingival oxidative stress. Results: The obese rats fed a high-fat diet without exercise training showed higher serum ROM levels [Carratelli Units (CARR U)] (mean +/- SD; 413 +/- 64) than the control (333 +/- 12) at 4 weeks (p = 0.023). Such a condition resulted in higher 8-OHdG levels (ng/mg mtDNA) (0.97 +/- 0.18) (p < 0.05) and a lower GSH/GSSG ratio (17.0 +/- 3.1) (p < 0.05) in gingival tissues, compared to the control (0.55 +/- 0.13 for 8-OHdG and 23.6 +/- 5.8 for GSH/GSSG ratio) at 8 weeks. In addition, the obese rats fed a high-fat diet with exercise training showed lower serum ROM (623 +/- 103) (p<0.001) and gingival 8-OHdG levels (0.69 +/- 0.17) (p = 0.012) than those without exercise training (1105 95 for ROM and 0.55 +/- 0.13 for 8-OHdG) at 8 weeks. Conclusions: Obesity prevention by exercise training may effectively suppress gingival oxidative stress by decreasing serum ROS in rats.No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.岡山医学会Acta Medica Okayama0030-155812132009地域の歯科医療関係者に対する支援―口腔インプラント講習会と摂食・ 嚥下リハビリテーション教育―183187ENTetsujiAzumaKyokoAriokaHikaruArakawaMasahikoEgusaTakuoKubokiManabuMoritaNo potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.Acta Medica Okayama2006ラット歯周炎におけるIL-1β，TNF-αの発現に及ぼす高コレステロール食の影響ENTetsujiAzumaNo potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.