Oral malodor was measured using a portable sulphide monitor in 2,672 individuals aged 18 to 64 years. In addition, dental (DMFT) and periodontal conditions (CPITN and attachment loss), dental plaque, and tongue coating status were assessed. Before clinical examination, subjects were interviewed about their oral health habits, smoking habits, and medical history. Data on volatile sulphur compounds (VSC) were analyzed by gender, age group, and time of measurement. There were no significant differences observed in the VSC between males and females in any age group. In each age group, the measured values of oral malodor were highest in the late morning group (58.6 ppb in average), followed by the late afternoon group (52.1 ppb), while lowest values were shown in the early afternoon group (39.4 ppb). Significant correlation was observed only between the VSC value and periodontal conditions and tongue coating status. The results also suggest that oral malodor might be caused mainly by tongue coating in the younger generation and by periodontal diseases together with tongue coating in older cohorts in the general population. Age was not a risk factor for increasing VSC.

The Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI) was used to evaluate malocclusion in Japanese high school students (n = 409, ages 15-18 yr). The purpose of this study was to obtain basic data concerning malocclusion in Japanese high school students. This study used a sample of students from randomly selected urban and rural high schools in Japan's Kyushu district. The DAI scores for urban and rural high school students, as well as the total DAI scores from these two areas were significantly higher than that of American high school students. These results showed that the number of students with an acceptable dental appearance among Japanese high school students is significantly lower than among American high school students. This indicates a higher need for orthodontic treatment among Japanese high school students.

The Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI) is an orthodontic index based on socially defined aesthetic standards. The primary aim of this study was to compare the prevalence of malocclusion using the DAI among three ethnic groups of Asian origin; Japanese, Chinese in Taiwan and Native Americans with white Americans. A secondary goal was to consider the possibility that genetic factors might be the cause of the characteristics of malocclusion in the ethnic groups of Asian origin. Malocclusion was evaluated in 1029 Japanese and 176 Chinese in Taiwan students utilising the DAI, and the findings were compared with those of Native Americans and white Americans. The DAI values of Japanese and Native Americans were significantly higher than those of Chinese in Taiwan and white Americans. The mean DAI values showed no common tendency among the three ethnic groups. The characteristics of malocclusion in each ethnic group were also evaluated by analysis of each of the 10 DAI component scores. The results revealed common characteristics of malocclusion in the three ethnic groups of Asian origin using white Americans as the standard. The findings in the present study suggest the possibility that genetic factors might have an influence on the characteristics of malocclusion.

Benzbromarone is a uricosuric drug and has been shown to be metabolized predominantly by cytochrome P450(CYP)2C9 in vitro findings. This study aims to investigate the influence of the CYP2C9 genotype on plasma levels of benzbromarone and 6-hydroxybenzbromarone, as well as uric acid lowering effects. A single oral dose pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic trial of benzbromarone (100 mg) was performed in 20 healthy volunteers, which included 15 with CYP2C9*1/*1, 4 with CYP2C9*1/*3, and 1 with CYP2C9*3/*3. The oral clearance of benzbromarone in the CYP2C9*1/*1 genotype and CYP2C9*1/*3 genotype was 58.8±25.2 L/hr/kg (mean±SD) and 51.3±7.9 L/hr/kg, respectively, whereas 8.58 L/hr/kg in the CYP2C9*3/*3 genotype. The metabolic ratio (6-hydroxybenzbromarone/benzbromarone) in urine was 38.6±10.7 in the CYP2C9*1/*1 genotype, 35.4±12.4 in the CYP2C9*1/*3 genotype and 12.9 in the CYP2C9*3/*3 genotype. Although benzbromarone significantly increased the urinary excretion and reduced the plasma concentration of uric acid, there were no significant differences in its effects for different CYP2C9 genotypes. These results suggest a critical role for CYP2C9 in the metabolism of benzbromarone in humans and a possible risk of toxicity in the CYP2C9*3 homozygote by lowering clearance of the drug. Further studies are required to assess the clinical impact of CYP2C9 on the metabolism of benzbromarone.

Summary. To establish a dental caries preventive programme in 4‐ and 5‐year‐old children, caries activity tests were used to assess salivary levels of mutans streptococci (using the Mucount® test, Showa Yakuhin, Japan) and the acidogenic ability of dental plaque bacteria (using the Cariostat® test, Sankin, Japan) in 260 kindergarten children. The relationships between the results of these two tests and the dental caries experience (dfs) of the children was evaluated. There was a significant positive correlation between the results of the Mucount and Cariostat tests in the total group of subjects. However, 91 subjects (35%) gave conflicting results with the two tests. These subjects were divided into two groups: one group (group B) included Mucount‐negative and Cariostat‐positive subjects, and the other group (group C) included Mucount‐positive and Cariostat‐negative subjects. Group B had a significantly higher mean dfs score than a group that was negative on both tests (group A). On the other hand, no significant difference in mean dfs score was observed between group C and group A. These findings suggested that mutans streptococci levels alone are an insufficient indicator for assessing dental caries activity of children at these ages and that the role of lactobacilli and other aciduric bacteria should be considered. It was concluded that assessment of caries activity using both Mucount and Cariostat tests is useful for a dental caries preventive programme for children of these ages. Resumé. Pour mettre en place un programme de prévention chez des enfants âgés de 4 et 5 ans, des tests d'activité carieuse ont été utilisés pour mesurer le taux de Streptocoques mutans (test Mucocount, Showa Yakuhin Japon) et le pouvoir acidogénique des bactéries de la plaque dentaire (test Cariostat, Sankin, Japon) chez 260 enfants d'écoles maternelles. La corrélation entre les réponses à ces deux tests et le nombre de caries a été étudiée. Cette corrélation était positive de façon significative entre les résultats aux tests Mucount et Cariostat pour les deux groupes. Mais 91 sujets (35%) ont donné des résultats discordants. Ces sujets ont été divisés en deux groupes; un groupe (groupe B) négatif au Mucount et positif au Cariostat et l'autre (groupe C) positif au Mucount et négatif au Cariostat Le groupe B avait obtenu une moyenne plus élevée de l'indice– dfs – de façon significative que le groupe A (négatif aux deux tests) mais aucune différence significative de la moyenne—dfs‐entre les groupes C et A. Ces résultats montreraient que le taux de Streptocoque mutans est un indicateur insuffisant de l'activité carieuse chez les enfants de cet âge et que le rôle des lactobacilles et d'autres bactéries acidogénes devrait être réévalué. En conclusion, les deux tests Cariostat et Mucount doivent être utilisês pour êtablir un programme de prévention chez les enfants de cet âge. Zusammenfassung. Kariesaktivitätproben an 260 Kindergarten Kinder, wurden benutzt, um den Speichelanteil an Mutans Streptokokken (durch Mucount test, Showa Yakuhin...

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Fluvoxamine is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor widely used in the treatment of depression and other psychiatric diseases.1) The drug is extensively metabolized in the liver and the major metabolite in human urine is fluvoxamine acid, produced by oxidative demethylation.2) Previous in vitro results indicated that only cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2D6 catalyses the major metabolic pathway of fluvoxamine.3) The existence of genetic polymorphisms in CYP2D6 has been recognized to influence enzymatic activity, which has effects on the plasma concentrations of substrate drugs of CYP2D6. 4,5) Several mutated allele of the CYP2D6 gene causing absent enzyme activity, e.g., CYP2D6*5 and CYP2D6*14, and decreased enzyme activity, e.g., CYP2D6*10, have been reported. [6][7][8] Furthermore, human studies have shown that polymorphisms of CYP2D6 are associated with the poor metabolism of fluvoxamine, 9,10) whereas other studies reported that the CYP2D6 genotype has no major impact on its steady-state plasma concentration. 11,12) CYP1A2 is inducible by polycyclic hydrocarbons present in cigarette smoke and it is well established that cigarette smoking induces the metabolism of drugs catalyzed by CYP1A2, such as theophylline, 13,14) caffeine, 15) and imipramine.16) Several studies have shown that the disposition of fluvoxamine is affected by cigarette smoking in human, suggesting a potential role of CYP1A2 in the metabolism of fluvoxamine in addition to CYP2D6.9,17) However, in an in vitro examination, CYP1A2 was found to be not involved in the metabolism of fluvoxamine to fluvoxamine acid.3) Together, the role of CYP1A2 on the metabolism of flivoxamine is still unclear in human. In addition, a single nucleotide polymorphism in the 5Ј-flanking region of the human CYP1A2 gene, CYP1A2*1C (Ϫ3860GϾA), was reported to be associated with decreased enzyme inducibility in Japanese smokers.18) Thus, the polymorphism of CYP1A2 in relation to cigarette smoking may have an effect on the metabolism of fluvoxamine.The aim of this study was to assess the clinical impact of cigarette smoking on plasma fluvoxamine concentration in Japanese patients, and evaluate whether the CYP1A2 and CYP2D6 genotypes have effects on that concentration. MATERIALS AND METHODS DrugsPatients were treated with fluvoxamine maleate (Depromel ® , Meiji Seika Kaisha Ltd., Tokyo, Japan). DNA Extractor WB Kit was purchased from Wako Pure Chemical Industries (Osaka, Japan). All other drugs and materials were obtained from commercial source.Subjects Thirty-two Japanese patients (15 males, 17 females) receiving fluvoxamine were enrolled in this study. They were being treated at the outpatient clinic of Hamamatsu University School of Medicine Hospital, and each had normal liver and renal functions. Their ages ranged from 20 to 67 years (meanϮS.D., 39.0Ϯ15.0 years) and body weights ranged from 32.5 to 87.2 kg (56.8Ϯ12.6 kg). Six were smokers (Ն10 cigarettes/d). Fluvoxamine is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor widely used in the treatment of depression and other psychiat...

Iodine deficiency is a major determinant of endemic goiter which affects bone growth. The purpose of this study was to clarify the relationship between iodine deficiency and oral health. A cross-sectional survey was carried out on 181 inhabitants aged 17 to 40 years in two villages in an iodine-deficient area in Bali, Indonesia. Thyroid swelling, serum level of thyroid-stimulating hormone, DMFT index, plaque index, gingival index, dietary habits and socioeconomic status were examined. Thirty two subjects (21%) had thyroid swelling considered to be endemic goiter, with the highest prevalence in females aged 21 to 30 years (40-41%). The DMFT, food habits, and socioeconomic status were different between both villages. Multiple regression analysis adjusted for age, sex, and location (village) did not detect any association between DMFT and serum thyroid-stimulating hormone level or thyroid swelling. Further studies will be required to confirm these findings.