Yoshiaki Nomura

Bio: Yoshiaki Nomura is an academic researcher from Tsurumi University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Microbiome & Premolar. The author has an hindex of 5, co-authored 16 publications receiving 52 citations.

Nutritional Status and Oral Frailty: A Community Based Study.

Abstract: Compromised oral health can alter food choices. Poor masticatory function leads to imbalanced food intake and undesirable nutritional status. The associations among nutritional status, oral health behavior, and self-assessed oral functions status were investigated using a community-based survey. In total, 701 subjects more than 50 years old living Ebina city located southwest of the capital Tokyo were investigated. The number of remaining teeth was counted by dental hygienists. Oral health behavior and self-assessed oral functions were evaluated by oral frailty checklist. Nutritional status was evaluated by the brief-type self-administered diet history questionnaire using Dietary Reference Intakes for Japanese as reference. More than 80% of subjects’ intakes of vitamin B12, pantothenic acid, copper, and proteins were sufficient. In contrast, only 19% of subjects’ intake of vitamin A was sufficient and 35.5% for vitamin B1. More than 90% of subjects’ intakes of vitamin D and vitamin K were sufficient. Only 35.5% of subjects’ intakes of dietary fiber were sufficient. Overall, 88.9% of subjects had excess salt. The number of remaining teeth was not correlated with nutritional intakes. Oral health behavior significantly correlated with nutritional intakes. Oral functions are important for food choice; however, oral functions were not directly correlated with nutritional intakes. Comprehensive health instructions including nutrition and oral health education is necessary for health promotion.

Antibacterial, Hydrophilic Effect and Mechanical Properties of Orthodontic Resin Coated with UV-Responsive Photocatalyst

Abstract: Photocatalysts have multiple applications in air purifiers, paints, and self-cleaning coatings for medical devices such as catheters, as well as in the elimination of xenobiotics. In this study, a coating of a UV-responsive photocatalyst, titanium dioxide (TiO₂), was applied to an orthodontic resin. The antibacterial activity on oral bacteria as well as hydrophilic properties and mechanical properties of the TiO₂-coated resin were investigated. ultraviolet A (UVA) (352 nm) light was used as the light source. Antibacterial activity was examined with or without irradiation. Measurements of early colonizers and cariogenic bacterial count, i.e., colony forming units (CFU), were performed after irradiation for different time durations. Hydrophilic properties were evaluated by water contact angle measurements. While, for the assessment of mechanical properties, flexural strength was measured by the three-point bending test. In the coat(+)light(+) samples the CFU were markedly decreased compared to the control samples. Water contact angle of the coat(+)light(+) samples was decreased after irradiation. The flexural strength of the specimen irradiated for long time showed a higher value than the required standard value, indicating that the effect of irradiation was weak. We suggest that coating with the ultraviolet responsive photocatalyst TiO₂ is useful for the development of orthodontic resin with antimicrobial properties.

Tooth-Level Analysis of Dental Caries in Primary Dentition in Myanmar Children

Abstract: In developing countries, the prevalence of dental caries in children remains high, which means that implementing a simple and convenient classification is critical. The classification needs to be evidence-based and needs to reflect tooth-level information. In this study, the prevalence of dental caries in the primary dentition of 352 Myanmar school children at the ages of 5, 6, and 7 was analyzed at the tooth level to clarify the underlying data structure of the patterns of dental caries in the population. Ninety-three percent of subjects had caries in primary dentition and the mean number of decayed teeth in primary dentition was 7.54 ± 4.82. Based on the item response theory analysis, mixed-effect modeling, and Bayesian network analysis, we proposed the following classification: Group 1: No dental caries; Group 2: Dental caries in molar teeth or dental caries in maxillary anterior teeth; Group 3: Dental caries in both molar and maxillary anterior teeth; Group 4: Dental carries in mandibular anterior teeth. Dental caries (dmft) in the groups was different between groups. The results of characteristics of tooth-level information and classification presented in this study may be a useful instrument for the analysis of the data of dental caries prevalence in primary dentition.

Oral Microbiome in Four Female Centenarians

Abstract: The oral microbiome of healthy older adults has valuable information about a healthy microbiome. In this study, we collected and analyzed the oral microbiome of denture plaque and tongue coating samples from four female centenarians. After DNA extraction and purification, pyrosequencing of the V3–V4 hypervariable regions of the 16S rRNA was carried out. The bacterial taxonomy for each lead was assigned based on a search of the EzBioCloud 16S database. We obtained a total of 199,723 valid, quality-controlled reads for denture plaque and 210,750 reads for tongue coating. The reads were assigned 407 operational taxonomic units with a 97% identity cutoff. Twenty-nine species were detected in both denture plaque and tongue coatings from all subjects. Firmicutes was the most abundant phylum; the Streptococcus salivarius group was the most abundant species in both the denture plaque and tongue coatings; and the Fusobacterium nucleatum group was detected in all subjects. In the bacterial profile, species formed clusters composed of bacteria with a wide range of prevalence and abundance, not dependent on phyla; each cluster may have specific species that could be candidates for a core microbiome. Firmicutes and Veillonella were abundant phyla on both plaque and tongue coatings of centenarians.

Periodontal Disease and Vitamin D Deficiency in Pregnant Women: Which Correlation with Preterm and Low-Weight Birth?

Abstract: Periodontal disease seems to be correlated with low vitamin D serum levels, preterm birth (PTB) and low birth weight (LBW), although the literature still lacks a consensus. This study aimed to investigate this correlation in a cohort of pregnant women over 20 weeks of gestation from the University Hospital “Maggiore della Carita”, Novara, Italy. We assessed serum levels of vitamin D and oral health status through the following indexes: Oral Hygiene Index (OHI), Plaque Control Record (PCR), Gingival Bleeding Index (GBI), and Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs (CPTIN). Moreover, we assessed the number of PTB and LBW among the newborns. Out of 121 pregnant women recruited, 72 (mean age 29.91 ± 3.64 years) were included. There was a statistically significant correlation between preterm and OHI > 3 (p = 0.033), and between LBW and OHI > 3 (p = 0.005) and CPITN = 3 (p = 0.027). Both pregnant women with vitamin D deficiency ((25-hydroxy-vitamin D) < 30 ng/mL) and PTB plus LBW newborns were significantly correlated (p < 0.05) with poor levels of all oral health status indexes during pregnancy. Furthermore, these conditions (women with hypovitaminosis D and combination of PTB and LBW) were shown to be significantly correlated (p < 0.001). Taken together, our findings reported a high prevalence of PTB and LBW with poor oral health and vitamin D deficiency in pregnant women.

Interaction between the Oral Microbiome and Dental Composite Biomaterials: Where We Are and Where We Should Go.

Abstract: Dental composites are routinely placed as part of tooth restoration procedures. The integrity of the restoration is constantly challenged by the metabolic activities of the oral microbiome. This activity directly contributes to a less-than-desirable half-life for the dental composite formulations currently in use. Therefore, many new antimicrobial dental composites are being developed to counteract the microbial challenge. To ensure that these materials will resist microbiome-derived degradation, the model systems used for testing antimicrobial activities should be relevant to the in vivo environment. Here, we summarize the key steps in oral microbial colonization that should be considered in clinically relevant model systems. Oral microbial colonization is a clearly defined developmental process that starts with the formation of the acquired salivary pellicle on the tooth surface, a conditioned film that provides the critical attachment sites for the initial colonizers. Further development includes the integration of additional species and the formation of a diverse, polymicrobial mature biofilm. Biofilm development is discussed in the context of dental composites, and recent research is highlighted regarding the effect of antimicrobial composites on the composition of the oral microbiome. Future challenges are addressed, including the potential of antimicrobial resistance development and how this could be counteracted by detailed studies of microbiome composition and gene expression on dental composites. Ultimately, progress in this area will require interdisciplinary approaches to effectively mitigate the inevitable challenges that arise as new experimental bioactive composites are evaluated for potential clinical efficacy. Success in this area could have the added benefit of inspiring other fields in medically relevant materials research, since microbial colonization of medical implants and devices is a ubiquitous problem in the field.

Abstract P070: A Low Carbohydrate Diet from Plant or Animal Sources and Mortality Among Myocardial Infarction Survivors

Abstract: Background: The healthiest dietary pattern for myocardial infarction (MI) survivors is not known. Specific long-term benefits of a low carbohydrate diet (LCD) is unknown, whether it mainly be from animal or vegetable sources. Objective: To examine the associations between post-MI adherence to a low carbohydrate diet (LCD), measured by a total, plant- and animal-based low carbohydrate diet score (LCDS), in relation to all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. Design: We included 2,258 women from the Nurses’ Health Study and 1,840 men from the Health Professional Follow-Up Study, who had survived a first MI during follow-up, provided pre-MI and at least one post-MI food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Results: Adherence to a LCD high in animal sources of protein and fat was associated with higher all-cause and cardiovascular mortality (HR=1.31, 95% CI: 1.05-1.63 for all-cause mortality; HR= 1.49, 95% CI: 1.08-2.06 for cardiovascular mortality comparing extreme quintiles). An increase in adherence to an animal-...

CONVALESCENT plasma for COVID-19: A meta-analysis of clinical trials and real-world evidence.

Abstract: BACKGROUND: There is still a lack of consensus on the efficacy of convalescent plasma (CP) treatment in COVID-19 patients. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the efficacy of CP vs standard treatment/non-CP on clinical outcomes in COVID-19 patients. METHODS: Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMBASE and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched from December 2019 to 16 July 2021, for data from clinical trials and observational studies. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality. Risk estimates were pooled using a random-effect model. Risk of bias was assessed by Cochrane Risk of Bias tool for clinical trials and Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for observational studies. RESULTS: In total, 18 peer-reviewed clinical trials, 3 preprints and 26 observational studies met the inclusion criteria. In the meta-analysis of 18 peer-reviewed trials, CP use had a 31% reduced risk of all-cause mortality compared with standard treatment use (pooled risk ratio [RR] = 0.69, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.56-0.86, P = .001, I2 = 50.1%). Based on severity and region, CP treatment significantly reduced risk of all-cause mortality in patients with severe and critical disease and studies conducted in Asia, pooled RR = 0.61, 95% CI: 0.47-0.81, P = .001, I2 = 0.0%; pooled RR = 0.67, 95% CI: 0.49-0.92, P = .013, I2 = 0.0%; and pooled RR = 0.62, 95% CI: 0.48-0.80, P < .001, I2 = 20.3%, respectively. The meta-analysis of observational studies showed the similar results to the clinical trials. CONCLUSIONS: Convalescent plasma use was associated with reduced risk of all-cause mortality in severe or critical COVID-19 patients. However, the findings were limited with a moderate degree of heterogeneity. Further studies with well-designed and larger sample size are needed.