Oral health and cancer, cardiovascular, and respiratory mortality of Japanese

Cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and respiratory disease are major causes of death in developed countries. No study has simultaneously compared the contribution of oral health with these major causes of death. This study examined the association between oral health and cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and respiratory mortality among older Japanese. Self-administered questionnaires were mailed to participants in the Aichi Gerontological Evaluation Study (AGES) Project in 2003. Mortality data were analyzed for 4425 respondents. Three categories of oral health were used: 20 or more teeth, 19 or fewer teeth and eat everything, 19 or fewer teeth and eating difficulty. Sex, age, body mass index (BMI), self-rated health, present illness, exercise, smoking, alcohol, education, and income were used as covariates. During 4.28 years' follow-up, 410 people died, 159 from cancer, 108 of cardiovascular diseases, and 58 of respiratory disease. Multivariate adjusted Cox proportional hazard models showed that, compared with the respondents with 20 or more teeth, respondents with 19 or fewer teeth and with eating difficulty had a 1.83 and 1.85 times higher hazard ratio for cardiovascular disease mortality and respiratory disease mortality, respectively. There was no significant association with cancer mortality. Oral health predicted cardiovascular and respiratory disease mortality but not cancer mortality in older Japanese.

Biotransformation of acetamiprid by the white-rot fungus Phanerochaete sordida YK-624

Acetamiprid (ACE) belongs to the neonicotinoid class of systemic broad-spectrum insecticides, which are the most highly effective and largest-selling insecticides worldwide for crop protection. As neonicotinoid insecticides persist in crops, biotransformation of these insecticides represents a promising approach for improving the safety of foods. Here, the elimination of ACE from a liquid medium by the white-rot fungus Phanerochaete sordida YK-624 was examined. Under ligninolytic and non-ligninolytic conditions, 45% and 30% of ACE were eliminated, respectively, after 15 days of incubation. High-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectra and nuclear magnetic resonance analyses of a metabolite identified in the culture supernatant suggested that ACE was N-demethylated to (E)-N (1)-[(6-chloro-3-pyridyl)-methyl]-N (2)-cyano-acetamidine, which has a much lower toxicity than ACE. In addition, we investigated the effect of the cytochrome P450 inhibitor piperonyl butoxide (PB) on the elimination of ACE. The elimination rate of ACE by P. sordida YK-624 was markedly reduced by the addition of either 0.01 or 0.1 mM PB to the culture medium. These results suggest that cytochrome P450 plays an important role in the N-demethylation of ACE by P. sordida YK-624.

Geographical accessibility to dental care in the Japanese elderly

OBJECTIVE

The current research aims to clarify the factors relevant to elderly people's access to dental care in Japan, particularly focusing on geographical accessibility.

METHODS

The sample was taken from among the Japanese elderly, aged 65 and over, who responded to a postal survey conducted in 2003 (n = 2,192). Six types of geographical accessibility to the dental clinics were calculated using Geographic Information Systems. Logistic regression analysis was conducted using 'having a regular dentist' as a dependent variable and geographical accessibility as an explanatory variable.

RESULTS

The results showed an association between having a regular dentist and geographical accessibility only for females. In the univariate model, distance to the closest dental clinics (OR = 0.62 (95% CI: 0.43-0.90)), number of dental clinics at the school district level (OR = 1.14 (95% CI: 1.03-1.26)), number of dental clinics at the municipality level (OR = 1.02 (95% CI: 1.00-1.05)), and density distribution of dental clinics (OR = 1.56 (95% CI: 1.11-2.19)) showed significant relations with having a regular dentist. After controlling for demographic, socioeconomic, and health related variables, only the density distribution of dental clinics showed significant relations at the 5% level, although distance and number of dental clinics kept a marginal significance.

CONCLUSION

The current study verifies that geographical accessibility correlates with access to dental care among women, and that there were large gender differences concerning the issue of geographical access.

[Intermittent opening of a mechanical mitral valve prosthesis due to pannus formation; report of a case]

A 76-year-old woman with a history of severe mitral valve stenosis had undergone mitral valve replacement with a 27 mm St. Jude Medical (SJM) valve in 1991. Follow-up transthoracic echocardiography revealed an increase in the pressure gradient across the mitral prosthesis 16 years after the surgery. Prosthetic valve dysfunction was suspected, but transesophageal echocardiography and cineradiography failed to show mechanical valve dysfunction. Two years later, she presented with dyspnea on exertion and leg edema. Cineradiography revealed intermittent restriction of the opening of the mechanical valve leaflet approximately every 10 beats. Thus, we diagnosed intermittent prosthetic valve dysfunction and performed a reoperation. On inspection of the prosthesis, we observed semicircular pannus formation around the posterior leaflet in the ventricular side. It was considered that the pannus tissue had interfered with 1 leaflet opening of the mitral valve prosthesis, resulting in intermittent valve dysfunction. We replaced the prosthesis with a new 25 mm SJM valve. The patient was discharged after confirmation of normal prosthetic function.

Termitomycamides A to E, fatty acid amides isolated from the mushroom Termitomyces titanicus, suppress endoplasmic reticulum stress

Five fatty acid amides, termitomycamides A to E (1 to 5), were isolated from the giant edible mushroom Termitomyces titanicus. The structures of 1-5 were determined by the interpretation of spectral data and/or synthesis. Compounds 2 and 5 showed protective activity against endoplasmic reticulum stress-dependent cell death.

Lipopolysaccharide induces proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines in experimental otitis media through the prostaglandin D2 receptor (DP)-dependent pathway

Otitis media is one of the most common and intractable ear diseases, and is the major cause of hearing loss, especially in children. Multiple factors affect the onset or development of otitis media. Prostaglandin D₂ is the major prostanoid involved in infection and allergy. However, the role of prostaglandin D₂ and prostaglandin D2 receptors on the pathogenesis of otitis media remains to be determined. Recent studies show that D prostanoid receptor (DP) and chemoattractant receptor-homologous molecule expressed on T helper type 2 (Th2) cells (CRTH2) are major prostaglandin D₂ receptors. In this study, homozygous DP single gene-deficient (DP⁻(/)⁻) mice, CRTH2 single gene-deficient (CRTH2⁻(/)⁻) mice and DP/CRTH2 double gene-deficient (DP⁻(/)⁻ CRTH2⁻(/)⁻) mice were used to investigate the role of prostaglandin D₂ and its receptors in otitis media. We demonstrate that prostaglandin D₂ is induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a major component of Gram-negative bacteria, and that transtympanic injection of prostaglandin D₂ up-regulates macrophage inflammatory protein 2 (MIP-2), interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6 in the middle ear. We also show that middle ear inflammatory reactions, including infiltration of inflammatory cells and expression of MIP-2, IL-1β and IL-6 induced by LPS, are reduced significantly in DP⁻(/)⁻ mice and DP⁻(/)⁻ CRTH2⁻(/)⁻ mice. CRTH2⁻(/)⁻ mice display inflammatory reactions similar to wild-type mice. These findings indicate that prostaglandin D₂ may play significant roles in LPS-induced experimental otitis media via DP.

[Long-term evaluation of aortic root replacement using Svensson technique with multislice computed tomography]

The Svensson technique of aortic root composite valve graft replacement, which involves reimplantation of the left coronary ostium with a long interposed graft wrapping behind the composite graft, is technically simple and advantageous. However, surgeons must be concerned about complications regarding the long interposed graft in the long-term follow-up. In 32 cases with the Svensson technique, we evaluated their replaced aortic roots by multislice computed tomography (MDCT) at 4.5 +/- 3.6 years (maximum, 14.9 years) postoperatively. The mean age was 54.5 +/- 14.1 years and 22 patients were male. No patients have experienced any complications regarding the technique at the follow-up of 6.9 +/- 4.9 years (maximum, 16.4 years). No structural complications were detected by MDCT of all patients. In conclusions, the Svensson technique was demonstrated to be favorable with no technical problems in the long-term evaluations with MDCT. The Svensson technique can be considered as a justifiable technique in any aortic root replacements including complicated or redo aortic roots.

Relative deprivation and incident functional disability among older Japanese women and men: prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

A prospective observational study was conducted to test the hypothesis that relative deprivation was associated with incident physical or cognitive disability, independent of absolute income.

METHODS

Study subjects consist of 9463 non-disabled people aged 65+ years in the Aichi Gerontological Evaluation Study (AGES), Aichi prefecture, Japan. Baseline mail-in survey in 2003 gathered information on income, educational attainment, lifestyle factors (smoking, alcohol consumption and health check-up) and healthcare utilisation. Three-year incidence of disability was assessed through public long-term care insurance databases and resident registry.

RESULTS

A total of 7673 subjects (81%) with complete information were analysed. Our measure of relative deprivation was the Yitzhaki index across eight reference groups, which calculates the deprivation suffered by each individual as a function of the aggregate income shortfall for each person relative to everyone else with higher incomes in that person's reference group. Cox regression demonstrated that, after controlling for sociodemographic factors (including absolute income), the hazard ratio (and 95% confidence intervals) of incident physical/cognitive disability per one standard deviation increase in relative deprivation ranged from 1.13 (0.99 to 1.29) to 1.15 (1.01 to 1.31) in men and from 1.11 (0.94 to 1.31) to 1.18 (1.00 to 1.39) in women, depending on the definition of the reference group. Additional adjustment for lifestyle factors attenuated the hazard ratios to statistical non-significance.

CONCLUSION

Relative deprivation may be a mechanism underlying the link between income inequality and disability in older age, at least among men. Lifestyle factors in part explain the association between relative deprivation and incident disability.

Efficient expression of laccase gene from white-rot fungus Schizophyllum commune in a transgenic tobacco plant

Ligninolytic enzymes produced by white-rot fungi are effective degraders of recalcitrant aromatic environmental pollutants. However, gene sequences of these enzymes are rich in CpG dinucleotides, which are particularly unfavorable to efficient expression in plants. In order to develop a phytoremediation technique with a ligninolytic enzyme-producing transgenic plant, laccase cDNA (scL) from white-rot fungus Schizophyllum commune was used as a model ligninolytic enzyme, and we attempted to obtain the efficient expression of scL in a transgenic tobacco plant by decreasing the CpG-dinucleotide motif content. We constructed a mutagenized scL sequence, scL12, decreasing the CpG-dinucleotide motif content by 12%, and scL12 was introduced into the tobacco plant. Much higher laccase activity was detected in transgenic scL12 plants than in transgenic scL plants and wild-type plants. Using reverse transcriptase-PCR analysis, scL12 was translated in transgenic scL12 plants whereas mRNA of scL was not detected in the transgenic scL plants, and scL, which is the product of the scL12 gene, was produced in the transgenic scL12 plants using native-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis. Moreover, transgenic scL12 plants were able to remove trichlorophenol more effectively than transgenic scL plants and wild-type plants. These results suggest that decreasing CpG-dinucleotide motif content in fungal target genes is a useful method for efficient expression of these genes in transgenic plants.

CRTH2-dependent, STAT6-independent induction of cedar pollen dermatitis

BACKGROUND

Airborne contact dermatitis to cedar pollen is a recently identified disease that generally affects individuals with cedar pollinosis of the nasal and/or ocular symptoms, as well as some patients with atopic dermatitis.

OBJECTIVE

To elucidate the pathological mechanisms of cedar pollen dermatitis.

METHODS

We established a mouse model of cedar pollen dermatitis by epicutaneous sensitization with Japanese cedar pollen antigen (Ag).

RESULTS

Histologically, there was marked dermal cellular infiltrate, including eosinophils and mast cells, with epidermal thickening. The induction of dermatitis was accompanied by production of cedar pollen-specific IgE. In the lesional skin, IL-13, IL-18, eotaxin/chemokine (C-C motif) ligand (CCL) 11, regulated upon activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted/CCL5, macrophage-derived chemokine/CCL22 and thymus and activation-regulated chemokine/CCL17, but not IL-4 and IFN-gamma, were produced. Mast cell-deficient WBB6F1-W/W(v) mice failed to develop cedar pollen dermatitis, although regional lymph node cells proliferated in response to Cryptomeria japonica (Cry j) 1 and Cry j2 Ags in vitro. Surprisingly, the induction of dermatitis was independent of STAT6/IgE. In contrast, mice deficient in CRTH2, a receptor for prostaglandin D2 (PGD2), showed diminished inflammation. Consistent with this, ramatroban, a CRTH2 antagonist, significantly inhibited inflammatory cell infiltration.

CONCLUSION

These data suggest that PGD2-CRTH2 signalling contributes to inflammation in cedar pollen dermatitis, and unlike cedar pollinosis of the nasal mucosa, STAT6 is not a therapeutic target for treatment.

Metabolism of CJ-036878, N-(3-phenethoxybenzyl)-4-hydroxybenzamide, in liver microsomes and recombinant cytochrome P450 enzymes: metabolite identification by LC-UV/MS(n) and (1)H-NMR

The identification of metabolites in the early stages of drug discovery is important not only for guiding structure-activity relationships (SAR) and structure-metabolism relationships (SMR) strategies, but also for predicting the potential for adverse events. The present study investigated the phase I metabolism of CJ-036878 (N-(3-phenethoxybenzyl)-4-hydroxybenzamide), a potent antagonist of the N-methyl-D-asparatate (NMDA) receptor, using liver microsomes and representative recombinant cytochrome P450 enzymes. The structures of the oxidative metabolites M1-M11 were confirmed by LC-UV/MS(n) and/or (1)H-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). It was found that CJ-036878 is metabolized through three routes: (1) aliphatic hydroxylation that generates M1 and M2; (2) aromatic hydroxylation that produces M3-M5, M7 and M8; and (3) dimerization through an oxidative phenol coupling reaction that yields M10 and M11. The use of recombinant human cytochrome P450 enzymes suggested that CYP3A4 is the major enzyme involved in the oxidative metabolism of CJ-036878, with minor contributions from CYP1A2, CYP2C19, and CYP2D6.

CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 catalyse the conversion of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonist CJ-036878 to two novel dimers

CJ-036878, N-(3-phenethoxybenzyl)-4-hydroxybenzamide, was developed as an antagonist of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor NR2B subunit. Two dimeric metabolites, CJ-047710 and CJ-047713, were identified from the incubation mixture with CJ-036878 in human liver microsomes (HLM). The identification of the enzymes involved in the formation of these dimeric metabolites was investigated in the current study. Inhibition of the formation of CJ-047710 and CJ-047713 in pooled HLM by 1-aminobenztriazole, SKF-525A, and ketoconazole were observed. Ketoconazole played a significant role in inhibiting formation of these two metabolites in a concentration-dependent manner. Recombinant CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 exhibited a markedly high activity toward the formation of CJ-047710 and CJ-047713 from CJ-036878, but the contribution of other CYP enzymes to these formations was at a very low level or negligible. The formation of CJ-047710 and CJ-047713 in pooled HLM, CYP3A4, and CYP3A5 showed sigmoid characteristics. S50 values for CJ-047710 and CJ-047713 formation in HLM were almost equivalent with those for CYP3A4 and CYP3A5. For the CYP3A enzymes, maximal clearance due to auto-activation values for CJ-047710 and CJ-047713 formation catalysed by CYP3A5 were 3.6- and 3.1-fold higher than those catalysed by CYP3A4. This is the first report that shows both CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 simultaneously contribute to dimerization through oxidative C-C and C-O coupling reactions.

Transformation by complementation of a uracil auxotroph of the hyper lignin-degrading basidiomycete Phanerochaete sordida YK-624

Phanerochaete sordida YK-624 is a hyper lignin-degrading basidiomycete possessing greater ligninolytic selectivity than either P. chrysosporium or Trametes versicolor. To construct a gene transformation system for P. sordida YK-624, uracil auxotrophic mutants were generated using a combination of ultraviolet (UV) radiation and 5-fluoroorotate resistance as a selection scheme. An uracil auxotrophic strain (UV-64) was transformed into a uracil prototroph using the marker plasmid pPsURA5 containing the orotate phosphoribosyltransferase gene from P. sordida YK-624. This system generated approximately 50 stable transformants using 2 x 10(7) protoplasts. Southern blot analysis demonstrated that the transformed pPsURA5 was ectopically integrated into the chromosomal DNA of all transformants. The enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) gene was also introduced into UV-64. The transformed EGFP was expressed in the co-transformants driven by P. sordida glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase gene promoter and terminator regions.

DNA probes for identifying chromosomes 5, 6, and 7 of Schistosoma mansoni

Schistosoma mansoni has a genome of 270 Mb contained on 8 pairs of chromosomes. C-banding has been a useful technique in identifying the 7 autosomal and sex chromosomes. However, even with C-banding, S. mansoni chromosomes 5, 6, and 7 are difficult to discriminate from each other, because of their small sizes, morphological similarity, and poor banding patterns. We have identified probes that specifically paint chromosomes 5, 6, and 7 of S. mansoni with the use of chromosome microdissection and the degenerate oligonucleotide-primed polymerase chain reaction (DOP-PCR). Exact chromosome identification is required for accurate chromosome mapping of genomic clones and genetic elements, which is an essential component of the schistosome genome project.