Serum and salivary levels of albumin as diagnostic tools for oral pre-malignancy and oral malignancy

The role of oxygen free radicals in the initiation, promotion and progression of carcinogenesis and the protective role of antioxidants has been a subject of much speculation. There are few studies that report evaluation of serum albumin and only one study in which salivary albumin was found and only one study that reports of salivary albumin in oral Leukoplakia and Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC). We evaluated serum and salivary albumin levels in normal individuals, patients with oral pre-malignancy and patients with oral malignancy, and we compared serum and salivary albumin levels in patients with oral pre-malignancy and oral malignancy. Our study comprised 45 subjects separated into three groups of 15: normal healthy, oral pre-malignancy and oral malignancy patients. Venous blood was drawn and unstimulated saliva was collected early in the morning. Albumin levels were estimated using the bromocresol green method. Serum albumin levels decreased in oral pre-malignancy and oral malignancy cases compared to healthy individuals. Salivary albumin levels increased in oral pre-malignancy and oral malignancy cases compared to healthy individuals. Our results suggest that albumin may play a role in early diagnosis and prognosis of oral pre-malignant and oral malignant tissues.     

Persistence of Oral Structures in the Sexual Process of Amicronucleate Paramecium tetraurelia

ABSTRACT In the sexual process, amicronucleate Paramecium tetraurelia , unlike micronucleates, fail to produce an oral apparatus, but resorb the pre-existing one. Exceptions were found in some amicronucleate cell lines in which about 1% of the cells possessed oral structures, including pieces of oral membranelles, sometimes complete with buccal cavity, after autogamy or conjugation. By following oral development in the sexual process in some detail, the present study supports the view that these oral structures are derived from the pre-existing oral apparatus and not newly developed from the oral primordium. The possible involvement of the micronucleus and the pre-existing oral apparatus in oral resorption is discussed. The possession of a functional oral apparatus after the sexual process may open up a new evolutionary avenue to the amicronucleates.     

Oral Behaviors of Beef Steers in Pen and Pasture Environments

This study observed the behavioral characteristics of 122 steers in eight pens and 1,136 steers at six pastures. Nonhuman animals kept in pens performed less nutritive oral behaviors and more nonnutritive oral behaviors than animals kept at pasture. Although these could not be described as stereotypies, they did represent a replacement of nutritive oral behaviors by nonnutritive oral behaviors, rather than simply an increase in resting time. This could be indicative of a level of oral frustration. At pasture, there was a greater proportion of oral behaviors in animals with low pasture availability as compared to high availability, but this was an increase in nutritive oral behaviors rather than nonnutritive oral behaviors. Factors other than oral frustration—for example, rumen fill—probably drove this increase.     

Analysis of silver binding nucleolar organizer regions in exfoliative cytology smears of potentially malignant and malignant oral lesions

Nucleolar organizer regions are nucleolar components that contain proteins that are stained selectively by silver methods; they can be identified as black dots throughout the nucleolus and are known as silver binding nucleolar organizer regions (AgNOR). The number of AgNOR is related to the cell cycle and the proliferative activity of the cells. We investigated AgNOR using exfoliative cytology smears of potentially malignant oral lesions. Eighty individuals were divided into four equal groups: healthy controls, oral leukoplakia, oral submucous fibrosis and oral squamous cell carcinoma. The mean number of AgNOR in each study group gradually increased from control to oral leukoplakia to oral submucous fibrosis to oral squamous cell carcinoma. The proliferative index was increased in the oral premalignant and malignant patients compared to normal subjects. The mean AgNOR size gradually increased from control to oral leukoplakia to oral submucous fibrosis to oral squamous cell carcinoma. Spherical shaped AgNOR were most common in controls, whereas large, clustered and kidney shapes were most common in oral squamous cell carcinoma. Multiparameter analysis of AgNOR in oral exfoliative smears is a simple, sensitive and cost-effective method for differentiating premalignant from malignant lesions and can be used in conjunction with routine cytomorphological evaluation.     

口腔微生态失衡导致口腔异味的研究

目的介绍口腔微生态失调与口腔疾病的关系,口腔疾病出现口腔气味异常的机制。综合分析口腔微生态与口腔健康的研究动态及意义。展望口腔微生态调整在口腔疾病治疗中的作用研究,尤其在消除口腔异昧的积极作用。方法由第一、二作者应用计算机通过pubmed检索NCBI数据库1992年至2007年相关文献,检索词为“Micro ecology”,限定语言种类为“English”;同时检索CNKI全文数据库、维普全文数据库1995年至2007年相关文献,检索词为“微生态”,限定语言种类为中文。纳入标准：文章内容与口腔微生态相关的研究、以及在口腔疾病研究领域有关。排除标准：较陈旧的文献和重复研究。结果共收集到106篇相关文献,21篇文献纳入本文,其中,19篇为综述和述评类文献,19篇为中文杂志,2篇为外文杂志。结论致病菌大量生长繁殖,口腔微生态失调,菌斑内微生物之间以及机体与菌斑之间相互作用分解蛋白产生硫化物,这些代谢产物包括H2S、CH3SH、CH3SCH3、吲哚、甲基吲哚、挥发脂肪酸和聚胺等发出刺激性气味,产生口腔异味。治疗口腔异味应该考虑平衡口腔微生态,调整口腔菌群。口腔异味的治疗又有利于口腔菌群平衡。提示我们治疗口腔疾病应该考虑口腔微生态平衡。     

Oral behaviors of beef steers in pen and pasture environments

This study observed the behavioral characteristics of 122 steers in eight pens and 1,136 steers at six pastures. Nonhuman animals kept in pens performed less nutritive oral behaviors and more nonnutritive oral behaviors than animals kept at pasture. Although these could not be described as stereotypies, they did represent a replacement of nutritive oral behaviors by nonnutritive oral behaviors, rather than simply an increase in resting time. This could be indicative of a level of oral frustration. At pasture, there was a greater proportion of oral behaviors in animals with low pasture availability as compared to high availability, but this was an increase in nutritive oral behaviors rather than nonnutritive oral behaviors. Factors other than oral frustration—for example, rumen fill—probably drove this increase.     

Enhancing the quality of life in elderly women through a programme to improve the condition of salivary hypofunction

doi: 10.1111/j.1741‐2358.2011.00594.x Enhancing the quality of life in elderly women through a programme to improve the condition of salivary hypofunction Objective: The purposes of this study were to examine the effects of oral exercise intended to improve the function of the oral cavity in the elderly and their quality of life to pave the way for the development of oral‐health promotion programmes geared towards the elderly. Methods: The subjects were 78 female Koreans who resided in Seoul and were aged 65 years and older. During a 3‐month period, an oral function promotion programme was conducted twice a week, between 10.00 am and 12.00 pm , applying oral exercise suggested by a Japanese public health centre. A survey was conducted by interviewing the selected women to determine the state of their subjective dry mouth, quality of life related to oral health and jaw functional limitation. Their opening, unstimulated whole saliva and pronunciation speed were measured before and after the oral function exercise programme. Results: The subjects showed a significant improvement in subjective dry mouth symptoms, relevant behaviour, the level of discomfort caused by dry mouth and subjective jaw functional limitation during mastication and swallowing and emotional expression after receiving the oral exercise. After the oral exercise, there was a significant increase in mouth opening, unstimulated whole saliva and speaking speed (‘patakala’ pronunciation) after oral exercise. There was also significant progress in their quality of life related to oral health. Overall improvement in subjective dry mouth symptoms and relevant behaviour over time after oral exercise had a positive correlation with the level of improvement in discomfort triggered by dry mouth and mastication. The level of improvement in OHIP‐14 had a positive correlation with the level of overall improvement in dry mouth symptoms and behaviour, the level of improvement in discomfort by dry mouth and that in mastication and swallowing. Conclusion: This study showed the effects of the oral function promotion programme and correlation of oral condition and oral health‐related quality of life. It is suggested that this oral function promotion programme has positive effects on both objective and subjective oral conditions. It is strongly recommended that this programme, along with other oral health promotion programmes, be implemented to improve oral function and oral health‐related quality of life for the elderly.     

Attitudes to oral care among caregivers in Japanese nursing homes

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to investigate oral care practice and awareness of it among caregivers in Japanese nursing homes. Methods: Caregivers were surveyed by means of a self‐administered questionnaire designed to elicit the following information: awareness of oral care, its importance, the burden involved in oral care, and systemization of oral care. Results: The results showed that most caregivers are adequately informed of the importance of oral care, but are inadequately educated in oral care and have little training in systematic oral care. Conclusion: The importance of providing appropriate and systematic oral care training must be stressed among caregivers along with the need to develop equipment to simplify and support oral care.     

原发性口腔鳞癌组织及血清中内皮抑素表达的意义

目的：探讨原发性口腔鳞癌患者组织和血清中内皮抑素表达及与肿瘤分期、分级的关系。方法：采用免疫组化方法检测36例口腔鳞癌和12例正常口腔粘膜组织中内皮抑素表达情况。ELISA法检测36例口腔鳞癌患者术前血清内皮抑素水平,14例健康者血清做对照。结果：内皮抑素主要见于肿瘤组织细胞质。正常口腔粘膜中内皮抑素表达率为7.15%,口腔鳞癌组织中内皮抑素阳性率为76.44%,其中G1、G2、G3级阳性率分别为47.21%、79.17%、90.90%,病理分级间比较差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。口腔鳞癌患者血清中内皮抑素水平（49.62±1.72）ng/mL显著高于健康对照者（5.60±0.37）ng/mL（P〈0.05）,TNM分期III、IV期肿瘤患者血清内皮抑素水平显著高于I和II期（P〈0.05）。结论：口腔鳞癌患者组织和血清中内皮抑素表达显著升高,并与肿瘤分期、分级相关,检测内皮抑素表达有助于判断口腔鳞癌恶性程度。     

NUMB在口腔白斑和鳞癌中的表达变化及意义

目的:研究NUMB在口腔白斑和鳞癌中的表达及意义。方法:采用免疫组织化学法检测88例口腔正常黏膜、口腔白斑及口腔鳞癌石蜡包埋组织中NUMB蛋白的表达。结果:NUMB在口腔正常黏膜(95.7%)、口腔白斑(75%)及口腔鳞癌(4.7%)中均有阳性表达但是表达频率依次降低。NUMB在各个组中的阳性表达率具有统计学差异(P0.05)。结论NUMB阳性表达率随口腔组织恶性程度增高而减少的趋势提示该基因可能在口腔正常黏膜到口腔白斑再到口腔鳞癌的转化中起作用,NUMB有可能成为早期发现癌变的分子生物学标志之一。     

益生元对口腔健康促进作用和机制研究进展

口腔微生物群落的动态平衡是维持口腔健康的关键因素。益生元是一类具有选择性、能够促进体内有益菌代谢增殖从而改善宿主健康的有机物质,主要通过调节口腔微生物生长代谢、抑制口腔菌斑生物膜形成、调节宿主免疫反应、参与硝酸盐-亚硝酸盐-一氧化氮代谢循环通路、调节氧化应激反应等途径调控口腔微生态,从而对口腔常见疾病,如龋齿、牙周病、口腔黏膜病的防治起到积极作用。本文主要就近年来益生元在口腔健康中的作用及相关机制的研究情况进行综述。     

Human oral cavity as a model for the study of genome-genome interactions

The enormous diversity of culturable bacteria within the oral microbial community coupled with experimental accessibility renders the human oral cavity a valuable model to investigate genome-genome interactions. The complex interactions of oral bacteria result in the formation of biofilms on the surfaces of the oral cavity. One mechanism thought to be important in biofilm formation is the coaggregation of bacterial partners. In this paper, we examine the role of coaggregation in oral biofilms and develop protocols to elucidate the spatial organization of bacterial species retained within oral biofilms. To explore these issues, we have employed two experimental systems: the saliva-coated flowcell and the retrievable enamel chip. From flowcell studies, we have determined that coaggregation can greatly influence the ability of an oral bacterial species to grow and be retained within the developing biofilm. To examine the spatial architecture of oral biofilms, fluorescent in situ hybridization protocols were developed that successfully target specific members of the oral microbial community. Together, these approaches provide insight into the development of oral biofilms and expand our understanding of genome-genome interactions.     

Oral health practices and beliefs among caregivers of the dependent elderly

doi: 10.1111/j.1741‐2358.2011.00553.x Oral health practices and beliefs among caregivers of the dependent elderly Background: Caregivers deal with oral health care of the dependent elderly; however, this has a low priority among them, and their education in daily oral care is deficient. Therefore, studying the oral care practices as well as their oral health beliefs is important as these affect the quality of the oral care they perform. Objective: To compare formal and informal caregivers’ oral care practices and oral health beliefs when taking care of severely dependent elderly. Material and methods: A cross‐sectional study was conducted on a convenience sample of 21 formal caregivers from a long‐term residence and 18 informal caregivers from a local primary health care domiciliary programme. Caregivers were surveyed using a questionnaire designed to elicit oral care practices and oral health beliefs. The nursing Dental Coping Beliefs Scale questionnaire was translated and validated in Chile. Results: Significant differences were observed between formal and informal caregivers’ performance of some oral health care practices. There were no significant differences between formal and informal caregivers’ oral health beliefs. Conclusions: Although there are some differences in formal and informal caregivers’ oral health care practices, we cannot state that one caregiver’s performance is better than the other, in fact, negative oral health beliefs were found in both groups.     

Quantitative cytomorphologic analyses of Papanicolaou-stained smears from oral lichen planus

OBJECTIVE: To apply quantitative techniques to cytologic smears in order to improve the diagnostic sensitivity of cytology in the detection of malignant change in the oral cavity. STUDY DESIGN: Eighty-two patients with lesions of oral lichen planus were investigated. A total of 247 Papanicolaou-stained buccal smears underwent nuclear and cytoplasmic area measurements using a TV image analyzer. RESULTS: The cytomorphologic results of this study suggest that lesions of oral lichen planus contain smaller cells and nuclei than those observed in clinically normal oral mucosal smears. There was a statistically significant reduction in nuclear area (P < .001) and cytoplasmic area (P < .05) for the oral lichen planus smears. CONCLUSION: The TV image analysis system could provide a valuable method of quantifying cell changes in oral smears collected from oral mucosa as a method of monitoring lesions of oral lichen planus.     

P53 Immunostaining As A Marker For Oral Cancer In Diagnostic Cytopathology-Preliminary Report

The expression of p53 in oral mucosal disorders is strongly associated with malignant disease. Smears from normal and malignant oral mucosa were investigated for the presence of p53 using CM1 polyclonal antibody against p53 protein. the expression of p53 in smears was compared with the expression of the marker in biopsies from these oral carcinomas. p53 was identified in eight smears from 12 biopsy positive oral cancers. It was not seen in smears from eight p53-negative oral cancers and 40 smears from normal oral mucosa. It is suggested that expression of p53 in smears from a clinically suspicious lesion may be of value in the diagnosis of oral carcinoma.     

MACC1和C-Met在口腔白斑和口腔鳞状细胞癌中的表达及意义

目的:探讨分析MACC1和C-Met在正常口腔黏膜、口腔白斑及口腔鳞状细胞癌中的表达及其临床意义。方法:采用免疫组化SP法检测20例口腔黏膜、20例上皮异常增生白斑、50例口腔鳞癌组织中的MACC1、C-Met蛋白的表达情况,采用X2和spearman等级相关分析对结果进行判定。结果:MACC1、C-Met蛋白在异常增生型白斑和口腔鳞癌中的阳性表达率分别为50%、76%,35%、66%,均明显高于正常口腔黏膜(17.6%,5.0%),差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。MACC1和C-Met蛋白表达与口腔鳞癌的分期、淋巴结转移及分化程度密切相关(P0.05)。Spearman等级相关分析显示口腔白斑及口腔鳞癌中MACC1和C-Met的表达呈现正相关(P0.05)。结论:MACC1和C-Met在上皮不典型增生性白斑和口腔鳞癌中高表达,二者在口腔黏膜白斑的癌变和口腔鳞癌的发生发展中可能起重要作用。     

口腔未培养微生物分离培养策略的研究进展

口腔微生物是人体微生物组的重要组成部分,其群落组成丰富且独特。现有研究显示,口腔微生物与龋病、牙周炎等口腔健康问题有直接的联系,因而具有重要的研究价值。随着高通量测序技术的发展,人们对口腔中未培养微生物多样性的认识不断加深,这进一步催生对微生物分离培养技术需求的增加。为此,本文将围绕口腔未培养微生物及其分离培养策略的研究进展,首先介绍口腔中未培养微生物的研究现状;其次分析口腔微生物分离培养中可能的限制因素;最后综述微生物分离培养技术发展及其在口腔未培养微生物研究中的应用。全文旨在为口腔未培养微生物的分离培养提供思路和技术参考。     

Oral Microbial Ecology and the Role of Salivary Immunoglobulin A

In the oral cavity, indigenous bacteria are often associated with two major oral diseases, caries and periodontal diseases. These diseases seem to appear following an inbalance in the oral resident microbiota, leading to the emergence of potentially pathogenic bacteria. To define the process involved in caries and periodontal diseases, it is necessary to understand the ecology of the oral cavity and to identify the factors responsible for the transition of the oral microbiota from a commensal to a pathogenic relationship with the host. The regulatory forces influencing the oral ecosystem can be divided into three major categories: host related, microbe related, and external factors. Among host factors, secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) constitutes the main specific immune defense mechanism in saliva and may play an important role in the homeostasis of the oral microbiota. Naturally occurring SIgA antibodies that are reactive against a variety of indigenous bacteria are detectable in saliva. These antibodies may control the oral microbiota by reducing the adherence of bacteria to the oral mucosa and teeth. It is thought that protection against bacterial etiologic agents of caries and periodontal diseases could be conferred by the induction of SIgA antibodies via the stimulation of the mucosal immune system. However, elucidation of the role of the SIgA immune system in controlling the oral indigenous microbiota is a prerequisite for the development of effective vaccines against these diseases. The role of SIgA antibodies in the acquisition and the regulation of the indigenous microbiota is still controversial. Our review discusses the importance of SIgA among the multiple factors that control the oral microbiota. It describes the oral ecosystems, the principal factors that may control the oral microbiota, a basic knowledge of the secretory immune system, the biological functions of SIgA, and, finally, experiments related to the role of SIgA in oral microbial ecology.