Various mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have been applied to regenerative medicine. MSCs derived from periodontal tissue could also be a useful cell source for alveolar bone regeneration. However, only a few attempts of direct comparisons have been made between MSCs from periodontal tissues and those from other somatic tissues. The purpose of this study was to clarify the osteogenic characteristics of mesenchymal stromal cells derived from bone marrow (BMSCs), adipose tissue (ASCs) and periodontal ligament (PDLSCs). BMSCs, ASCs and PDLSCs were isolated from Fisher 344 rats. After 1 week of primary culture, stromal cells were subjected to cell surface analysis and osteogenic differentiation. The cells were subcultured for 2 weeks with and without osteogenic supplements (OS), followed by biochemical and histological analyses. With regard to cell surface antigens, all MSCs were positive for CD29 and CD90 and negative for CD45. With regard to osteogenic differentiation, BMSCs with OS had the highest ALP activity, calcium uptake and osteocalcin content. Without OS, PDLSCs had the highest levels of these bone differentiation markers. RT-PCR analysis and histological analysis showed similar trends. These results indicate that PDLSCs are an ideal candidate for alveolar bone regeneration.

Fatigue worsened systemic health in rats and increased gingival inflammation and alveolar bone loss in experimental periodontitis. In conclusion, our results suggest that fatigue is a modifying factor for periodontal disease in rats.

Background The relationship between oral and cognitive functions among older people is highly debated. Objective To examine whether oral functions are related to changes in the levels of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) biomarkers in older Japanese outpatients. Methods This observational study included 52 outpatients aged ≥65 years who underwent dental examinations at the Fukuoka Dental College Hospital. The Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE) was performed, and MCI blood biomarker levels were assessed at baseline and after 2 years. The present dental and periodontal conditions and the oral functions (tongue pressure and masticatory performance) were evaluated. Changes in parameters from baseline to follow‐up were compared using the Wilcoxon signed‐rank test, McNemar test or chi‐squared test. Associations among changes in the parameters were analysed using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. Results The follow‐up rate in this study was 67%. The masticatory performance was improved (p < 0.001), whereas gingival inflammation was decreased (p < 0.001) over the 2‐year period. A significant increase in the MMSE score (p < 0.001) and a decrease in MCI risk (p < 0.001) were noted. The decrease in MCI risk was correlated with the increase in both masticatory performance (ρ = −0.34; p < 0.05) and MMSE score (ρ = −0.56; p < 0.01). Conclusion A decrease in MCI risk, as demonstrated by the levels of the blood biomarkers, was correlated with an increase in the masticatory performance in Japanese outpatients.

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Context The World Health Organization set the recommended daily vitamin C intake, henceforth referred to as ascorbic acid (AA), on the basis of scurvy prevention. Double-blind AA depletion-repletion studies suggest that this recommended AA dose may be too low to prevent microvascular fragility. Objectives (1) To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled clinical trials on whether AA supplementation leads to a reduced gingival bleeding tendency, a manifestation of microvascular fragility; and (2) to relate AA plasma levels to retinal hemorrhaging, another manifestation of microvascular fragility. Data sources Data were reviewed from 15 trials conducted in 6 countries with 1140 predominantly healthy participants with measures of gingival bleeding tendency, and from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) III of 8210 US residents with measures of retinal hemorrhaging. Results In clinical trials, AA supplementation reduced gingival bleeding tendency when estimated baseline AA plasma levels were &lt; 28 μmol/L (standardized mean difference [SMD], −0.83; 95%CI, −1.16 to −0.49; P &lt; 0.002). Supplementation with AA did not unequivocally reduce gingival bleeding tendency when baseline estimated AA plasma levels were &gt;48  μmol/L or unknown (respective standardized mean differences: −0.23, 95%CI, −0.45 to −0.01, P &lt; 0.05; and −0.56; 95%CI: −1.19 to 0.06, P &lt; 0.08). In NHANES III, prevalence of both retinal hemorrhaging and gingival bleeding tendency increased when AA plasma levels were within the range that protects against scurvy (11–28 μmol/L; respective prevalence ratios adjusted for age and sex: 1.47; 95%CI: 1.22–1.77; and 1.64; 95%CI: 1.32–2.03; P &lt; 0.001 for both). Conclusion Consistent evidence from controlled clinical trials indicates that setting human AA requirements based on scurvy prevention leads to AA plasma levels that may be too low to prevent an increased gingival bleeding tendency. Gingival bleeding tendency and retinal hemorrhaging coincide with low AA plasma levels and thus may be reflective of a systemic microvascular pathology that is reversible with an increased daily AA intake.

To mitigate the impact of dementia, initiating early intervention is important. This study aims to investigate the associations between deterioration in oral function and cognitive decline in older outpatients whose oral health was maintained in the dental clinic. This study included 50 outpatients aged ≥65 years. We used the Japanese version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA-J) to assess cognitive decline. Oral function was evaluated by tongue pressure, masticatory performance, and swallowing ability. A full-mouth periodontal examination was conducted, and the occlusal support and number of teeth were recorded. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for cognitive decline (MoCA-J score ≤25 points) were calculated using logistic regression models. The age, number of teeth, tongue pressure, and masticatory performance were significantly correlated with cognitive decline (p < 0.05). Logistic regression analyses revealed that cognitive decline was independently associated with age (OR: 1.25; 95% CI: 1.03–1.52; p = 0.024), number of teeth (OR = 0.83; 95% CI: 0.76–1.00; p = 0.047), and lower tongue pressure (OR: 0.87; 95% CI: 0.77–0.98; p = 0.022). Lower tongue pressure and a small number of remaining teeth may be associated with cognitive decline in Japanese outpatients.

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