Biomedical subjects

M Ojima

Publications and source records attributed to M Ojima.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Relationship between smoking status and periodontal conditions: findings from national databases in Japan.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The association between cigarette smoking and periodontitis was examined employing two nationally representative samples of adults in Japan. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data were derived from the Survey of Dental Diseases (SDD) and the National Nutrition Survey (NNS) in 1999. In the SDD, periodontal conditions were evaluated by calibrated dentists utilizing the Community Periodontal Index (CPI), whereas in the NNS, participants were interviewed on the basis of smoking status by enumerators. Among 6805 records electronically linked via a household identification code, 4828 records of individuals aged 20 yr or older were analyzed. RESULTS: The prevalence of periodontal disease varied significantly by smoking status (p < 0.0001): 39.3%, 49.5% and 47.3% (CPI > or = 3), and 7.9%, 11.7% and 12.4% (a more severe form of periodontitis, CPI = 4), for nonsmokers, former smokers and current smokers, respectively. In adults aged > or = 40 yr (n = 3493), logistic regression models revealed greater probabilities (approximately 1.4 times higher) of periodontitis [CPI > or = 3, odds ratio = 1.38 (1.12-1.71), p = 0.0024] and a more severe form of periodontitis [odds ratio = 1.40 (1.04-1.89), p = 0.0288] in current smokers compared with nonsmokers, following adjustment for possible confounding factors. CONCLUSION: Based on the findings of this study and other numerous reports, cigarette smoking leads to deterioration of periodontal conditions in Japanese adults.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Relationship between attitudes toward oral health at initial office visit and compliance with supportive periodontal treatment.

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of the present study include investigation of the relationship between attitudes and desires with respect to oral health at initial office visit and compliance with supportive periodontal treatment (SPT) and identification of prognostic factors with respect to low-compliance with SPT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four hundred thirty-one patients were evaluated. Subjects completed a questionnaire concerning attitude and desire with respect to oral health and subjective symptoms prior to periodontal treatment. Survival probabilities of SPT were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method and compared between answers for each item of the questionnaire via the Cox-Mantel test. Finally, a multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression model was constructed, which included age and gender. RESULTS: Greater than 95% of participants desired toothbrushing proficiency and lifelong retention of teeth at the initial office visit; however, the overall survival probabilities of SPT were only 52.7% after about 5 years. Patients exhibiting unfavourable attitudes toward oral health at the initial office visit, in comparison with those displaying favourable attitudes, exhibited greater tendency to abandon SPT. A Cox regression model revealed that lack of brushing on the gingival margin, non-use of an inter-dental brush or dental floss, non-use of fluoride toothpaste and frequent consumption of sugar-containing drinks were significant independent prognostic factors for low-compliance with SPT (p<0.05; Hazard ratios=2.27, 2.00, 2.56 and 2.06, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Desire for satisfactory oral health is not related consistently to continuation of SPT. Unfavourable attitudes toward oral health were correlated to low-compliance with SPT. Clinicians may wish to establish methods for improvement of patient compliance employing behavioural approaches applicable to the attitudes of potential low-compliance individuals.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Reliability of clinical parameters for predicting the outcome of oral malodor treatment.

We conducted the present study to determine which clinical parameters for diagnosing halitosis are most reliable in the development of an accurate prognosis for oral malodor treatment. Clinical evaluation included a questionnaire, oral examination and volatile sulfur compounds (VSC) measurement, and organoleptic test (OLT) at baseline. Ninety-two patients classified with oral pathologic halitosis were treated in a similar manner. Improved treatment outcome was defined as < 0.25 ppm of total VSC, < or = 2 OLT score, and < 30 on the "sad feeling" scale as subjective stress level by oral malodor 6 months after baseline. Thirty-four patients demonstrated improvement due to the treatment. In a multiple logistic model, pocket depth, OLT score, intra-oral discomfort, and self-perception of oral malodor at baseline displayed significant association with "not improved outcome". These results suggest that malodor- and periodontal-disease-related parameters and self-estimation of malodor at baseline are effective for prediction of outcome.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

Hygiene measures considering actual distributions of microorganisms in Japanese households.

AIMS: Effective household hygiene measures require that sources of bacterial contamination and the places to which contamination spreads be carefully identified. Therefore, a study was performed to examine the distribution of microorganisms throughout ordinary households in Japan, which has its own unique customs of daily life and food preparation. METHODS AND RESULTS: Using the stamping method, samples were taken from 100 different places and items in each of 86 households. This study found kitchens/dining rooms to have the greatest level of microbial contamination and bathrooms, the next highest level. Toilets (water closets) were found to have an unexpectedly low level of bacterial contamination. The largest bacterial counts were found on items such as drain traps, dish-washing sponges, counter towels, sinks, dish-washing tubs, and bathroom sponges. CONCLUSIONS: It is necessary to carefully identify both the items that can become instruments for spreading bacterial contamination and the places that easily become subject to secondary contamination, and then to take timely and effective disinfection/sanitizing measures. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The data gathered in this study will be very valuable for anticipating the pathways over which bacteria are transported and prioritizing disinfection targets, to make effective disinfection possible.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed2002

Bacterial contamination of Japanese households and related concern about sanitation.

The bacterial contamination of Japanese homes and the attitudes of Japanese people toward sanitation were studied. By taking bacterial counts of approximately 90 places each in five homes, this study found kitchens to have the greatest degree of bacterial contamination, followed by bathing rooms. Toilets had less bacterial contamination than was expected. While concern about bacteria on highly contaminated items such as sponges, towels for wiping counters, and other reservoirs/disseminators was common, there was a relative lack of concern regarding contact surfaces such as dining tables. It is believed that an in-depth study of bacterial contamination in the home and concern about it would lead to the promotion of greater public understanding of home sanitation and help to facilitate the provision of useful information and products to the public.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed2001

Observation of everyday hand-washing behavior of Japanese, and effects of antibacterial soap.

People wash their hands only for a short time outside the home and when preparing meals at home. This may not be sufficient for those who prepare meals because of possible secondary contamination from food. Although washing with a placebo soap for a short period (lathering 3 s and rinsing 8 s) cleansed from hands about 95% of the total coliforms transferred from ground meat, an antibacterial soap further reduced the coliform count significantly (p < 0.01). To effectively avoid secondary contamination, it is recommended that people should more frequently wash their hands, using an antibacterial soap on the areas that have been in contact with raw meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, vegetables and other foods.

Anti-Infective Agents, Local↗

PubMed2001

Survival analysis for degree of compliance with supportive periodontal therapy.

BACKGROUND, AIMS: The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the degree of compliance for supportive periodontal therapy (SPT) and to determine factors in relation to patients who failed to continue SPT programs. METHOD: A sample of 1896 patients who were treated between 1988 and 1999 was studied. The patients were classified by gender, age group and the distance between their house and the hospital. The number of visits was counted based on an electronic patient record for SPT. Data were analyzed by survival analysis. Survival probabilities in SPT were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method and compared by the generalized Wilcoxon test. RESULTS: 28% of patients did not comply with the first visit for SPT. The older patients had higher tendencies to continue the SPT program than the younger patients. No significant differences in compliance were found between males and females or between short-distance and long-distance groups. However, when these factors were adjusted by age, significantly different patterns were shown on the curves of survival probability: in males, significant differences were found between the 20 s and 30 s (p<0.00001) and between the 50 s and 60 s (p<0.01). In females, significant differences were found between the 40 s and 50 s (p<0.001) and between the 60 s and 70 s (p<0.001). The differences of the survival probability by age group were greater in the short-distance group than in the long-distance group. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that age is the most important factor for compliance of the patients with SPT, not only alone but also in relation to the other factors.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Anxiety and depressive states in multiple chemical sensitivity.

Cases with multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) frequently present mental symptoms. This study discusses the characteristics of the anxiety and depressive state of MCS by comparing patients of MCS with a gender and age-matched control group. In this investigation, MCS cases were selected among those satisfying the diagnostic criteria of Cullen after ruling out other physical diseases. Patients visiting ophthalmologists with other diseases were designated as the control. Evaluation of the anxiety and depressive state was performed in 48 cases of MCS and 48 controls using the Japanese version of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS), and the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression. Significantly higher mean values of subjective anxiety and a depressive state were obtained in 18 MCS cases than in 18 controls for the follow-up patients, while no significant difference was observed between MCS and controls of 30 new patients for each group. Therefore, anxiety in MCS is characterized by the continuous high anxiety level. MCS is also characterized by a continuance of depressive state at a "neurotic level" category by SDS. The anxiety scores and depressive levels were highly correlated in MCS and controls at the first and subsequent appearances, except those in the follow-up control cases. In conclusion, both anxiety and a depressive state in MCS remained at high level until the subsequent examination, when those in controls decreased to a normal level.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Induction of radio-adaptive response in colony formation by low dose X-ray irradiation.

In this study, we examined the induction of a radio-adaptive response to cell death using a colony formation test in m5S, G401.2/6TG.1 and HeLa cells. When m5S cells were subjected to priming irradiation of 0.05 to approximately 0.15 Gy 4 hr before being irradiated with 4.5 Gy, the survival ratios increased significantly to 39 to approximately 42%. The priming irradiation effect was also observed when G401.2/6TG.1 cells were subjected to priming irradiation of 0.025 to approximately 0.1 Gy 4 hr before being irradiated with 0.8 Gy. This effect showed a two-phasic characteristic, where the first peak was reached at 0.025 Gy, and the second peak was reached at 0.075 Gy. The first peak showed a survival ratio of 56%, while the second peak was at 55%. However, in HeLa cells, this priming irradiation effect was not observed. These results indicated that induction of the radio-adaptive response did not depend on whether cells are normal or cancerous. One of the differences in these cells is that m5S and G401.2/6TG.1 cells have gap-junctional intercellular communication, but HeLa cells do not. Induction of the radio-adaptive response may be related to gap-junctional intercellular communication.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

PubMed2000

Relation of motility of subgingival microflora as a clinical parameter to periodontal disease status in human subjects.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the possible relationship between the motility of subgingival microflora and 5 clinical parameters commonly used in dental clinics. METHOD: The clinical parameters were pocket depth, gingival inflammation, plaque accumulation, bleeding on probing and pus discharge. The motility of human subgingival microflora was estimated as the number of pixels remaining after subtraction of serial video frames using a high speed shutter camera and image analysis system, and was defined as the sum of pixels of 10 successive subtractions per sample over a 10-s time period. RESULTS: The bacterial motility showed significant positive, moderate or low associations with the five clinical parameters. The highest correlation was observed between the bacterial motility and pocket depth (r=0.36, p=0.0001). Furthermore, clinically defined periodontal healthy and diseased sites were significantly different with respect to the bacterial motility (p<0.0001). To determine whether the bacterial motility was dependent or independent of the other clinical variables, the data were analyzed based on common factor analysis. Three factors were extracted and explained about 75% of the variance of the original 6 clinical parameters. Only the bacterial motility had a positive coefficient for all these three factors. The plot of bacterial motility was placed separately from those of other variables in the scatterplot of the loadings of factor 2 versus factor 1 and factor 2 versus factor 3. CONCLUSIONS: This suggests that bacterial motility may be an independent variable among the clinical parameters. Taken together, these data indicate that bacterial motility provides unique information about the clinical periodontal condition and may be a useful tool for the monitoring of subgingival plaque in relation to periodontal disease.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2000

Oxygen sufficiency in the gingiva of smokers and non-smokers with periodontal disease.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiological studies have demonstrated deteriorating effects of smoking on periodontal tissue. The aims of this study were to compare oxygen saturation of hemoglobin in the gingiva (GSo2) of smokers and non-smokers and to evaluate the chronic effect of smoking on gingival oxygen sufficiency. METHODS: GSo2 was determined using tissue reflectance spectrophotometry in 110 papillary gingival sites of 62 smokers and 100 sites of 60 non-smokers. RESULTS: No significant difference was found in GSo2 between smokers and non-smokers. In the model of ANOVA with covariates, age (P= 0.0048) and probing depth (P= 0.0012) had significant effects on GSo2. No significant effect was found in either smoking status (P= 0.3557) or the modified gingival index (MGI) (P= 0.3824). The interaction effect between smoking status and the MGI was highly significant (P = 0.0003) indicating that the effect of smoking status on the GSo2 should be compared at each level of the MGI score. GSo2 in healthy gingiva was significantly lower in smokers than non-smokers (P = 0.0014), while smokers showed higher GSo2 than non-smokers in moderately inflamed gingiva (P = 0.0356). The GSo2 in inflamed gingiva was significantly decreased compared with healthy gingiva in non-smokers (P = 0.0044), while smokers showed no significant difference between healthy and inflamed gingiva (P= 0.2772 to 0.8665). GSo2 in smokers was consistently and significantly lower than that of healthy gingiva of non-smokers (P = 0.0391 to 0.0004). CONCLUSIONS: Smokers exhibit possibly lower function of oxygen sufficiency in healthy gingiva and reduced ability to adapt the function in inflamed gingiva than non-smokers. This suggests that smokers have functional impairments in the gingival microcirculation.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Pharmacologic properties of candesartan cilexetil--possible mechanisms of long-acting antihypertensive action.

Candesartan cilexetil has shown potent and long-lasting antihypertensive effects in clinical trials and in several animal models of hypertension. In spontaneously hypertensive rats, the duration of the antihypertensive effect of candesartan cilexetil was compared to those of losartan, valsartan, eprosartan, and irbesartan at the same degree of maximal blood pressure reduction. A single oral dose of candesartan cilexetil at 0.3 mg/kg reduced maximal blood pressure by about 25 mm Hg, and the antihypertensive effect of candesartan cilexetil lasted the longest, continuing for more than 1 week, without an effect on circadian rhythm. In a rabbit aortic preparation, candesartan, active form of candesartan cilexetil, decreased the maximal contractile response of angiotensin II. This inhibitory mode was different from that of other angiotensin II-receptor antagonists, and showed a shift to the right in the angiotensin II-induced contraction curve and/or a small depression of the maximal response. In kinetic studies using bovine adrenal cortical membrane and tritiated candesartan, both receptor association and dissociation were found to be slow. The dissociation rate of tritiated candesartan binding (t1/2 = 66 min) was five times slower than that of radiolabelled angiotensin II binding (t1/2 = 12 min). The insurmountable inhibition of candesartan in vascular contraction is the result of its tight binding and slow dissociation from angiotensin II AT1 receptors. These characteristics are related to the potency and long duration of action in candesartan cilexetil.

Angiotensin II↗

PubMed1999

Plaque removal efficacy of the V-shaped toothbrush with new designs in bristle arrangement.

Experimental bristle arrangements were applied to a conventional V-shaped bristle-design toothbrush in an effort to improve plaque removal efficacy in interproximal areas. A single-blind cross-over study was performed to evaluate the plaque removal efficacy of this new bristle arrangement by comparing it to either a more conventional V-shaped toothbrush or a flat-headed toothbrush. Plaque removal efficacy was determined by assessing the percentage of plaque score reduction following a single controlled brushing. The new toothbrush bristle arrangement had a significantly higher plaque removal percentage efficacy than both the V-shaped toothbrush (59.1% vs. 48.5%; p = 0.0092) and the flat-headed toothbrush (65.3% vs. 55.3%; p = 0.0260) in interproximal areas. These differences were also consistent with whole mouth comparisons. When the subjects were asked about their preferences for the three different bristle formats used in this study, there was no significant difference of opinion found. These findings indicated a superiority of the new toothbrush to the other two, more conventional toothbrush bristle styles on plaque removal efficacy with these study subjects, but no particular preference for bristle design.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Family environment, hobbies and habits as psychosocial predictors of survival for surgically treated patients with breast cancer.

Many psychosocial factors have been reported to influence the duration of survival of breast cancer patients. We have studied how family members, hobbies and habits of the patients may alter their psychosocial status. Female patients with surgically treated breast cancer diagnosed between 1986 and 1995 at the Tochigi Cancer Center Hospital, who provided information on the above-mentioned factors, were used. Their subsequent physical status was followed up in the outpatients clinic. The Cox regression model was used to evaluate the relationship between the results of the factors examined and the duration of the patients' survival, adjusting for the patients' age, stage of disease at diagnosis and curability, as judged by the physician in charge after the treatment. The following factors were revealed to be significant with regard to the survival of surgically treated breast cancer patients: being a widow (hazard ratio 3.29; 95% confidence interval 1.32-8.20), having a hobby (hazard ratio 0.43; 95% confidence interval 0.23-0.82), number of hobbies (hazard ratio 0.64; 95% confidence interval 0.41-1.00), number of female children (hazard ratio 0.64; 95% confidence interval 0.42-0.98), smoker (hazard ratio 2.08; 95% confidence interval 1.02-4.26) and alcohol consumption (hazard ratio 0.10; 95% confidence interval 0.01-0.72). These results suggest that psychosocial factors, including the family environment, where patients receive emotional support from their spouse and children, hobbies and the patients' habits, may influence the duration of survival in surgically treated breast cancer patients.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Semi-automated measurement of motility of human subgingival microflora by image analysis.

The purpose of this investigation was to quantitatively estimate bacterial motility by image analysis, and to apply this method for the measurement of motility of human subgingival microflora. We developed a semi-automated method for the quantification of bacterial motility using video microscopy, digitization and image processing. Moving images of both authentic bacterial samples and clinical samples were recorded using a phase contrast microscope with a high speed (1/100 s) shutter camera. The motility was evaluated by measuring the total number of pixels remaining after the subtraction of 2 serial video images. The total number of pixels was significantly correlated with both the sum of the velocity of each bacterial cell and the number of motile bacteria on the same original images. Motility of subgingival microflora from 140 clinical samples tested was measured at 0 pixels to 3600 pixels, whereas the effect of Brownian movement was less than 150 pixels. The motility of subgingival microflora estimated with this image analysis system did not differ much from objective judgments by the naked eyes of experts. These results suggest that a semi-automated image analysis system may be useful in the evaluation of the motility of human subgingival microflora.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1998

Dental interview system with a native-language interpreting engine.

We developed a Dental Interview System with a Native-language Interpreting Engine (DISNIE) on the Internet. DISNIE uses simple natural sentences without dental terminology and interprets these sentences in five languages such as Japanese, English, Korean, Chinese and French, respectively. DISNIE is a good tool not only for patients who are able to read, write and speak only their mother languages but also for the staff at a dental hospital because of its accessibility via the Internet.

Dentistry↗

PubMed1997

Candesartan (CV-11974) dissociates slowly from the angiotensin AT1 receptor.

The mechanisms of the insurmountable antagonism of 2-ethoxy-1-[[2'-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl-4-yl]methyl]1H-benzimid azole -7-carboxylic acid, candesartan (CV-11974), an angiotensin AT1 receptor antagonist, on angiotensin II-induced rabbit aortic contraction were examined in contraction and binding studies. Preincubation of the rabbit aorta with CV-11974 (0.1 nM) for 30 min reduced the maximal contractile response to angiostensin II by approximately 50%. This insurmountable antagonism of CV-11974 was reversed in the presence of losartan (1 microM), a surmountable angiotensin AT1 receptor antagonist. The inhibitory effect of CV-11974 on angiotensin II-induced contraction persisted longer after washing than did that of losartan but was irreversible. Scatchard analysis of [3H]CV-11974 binding in bovine adrenal cortical membranes indicated the existence of a single class of binding sites (Kd = 7.4 nM). Competition binding studies using angiotensin II receptor agonists and antagonists have demonstrated that [3H[CV-11974 binding sites may be identical to angiotensin AT1 receptors. The dissociation rate of [3H]CV-11974 binding (t1/2 = 66 min) was 5 times slower than that of [125I]angiotensin II binding (t1/2 = 12 min). These results suggest that the insurmountable antagonism by CV-11974 is due to its slow dissociation from angiotensin AT1 receptors.

Adrenal Cortex↗

PubMed1997

Regional hemodynamic effects of candesartan cilexetil (TCV-116), an angiotensin II AT1-receptor antagonist, in conscious spontaneously hypertensive rats.

The regional hemodynamic effects of candesartan cilexetil (TCV-116), a selective angiotensin II AT1-receptor antagonist, and enalapril, an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, were compared in conscious spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). A 7-day repeated administration study was carried out. TCV-116 (1 mg/kg, p.o.) and enalapril (10 mg/kg, p.o.) reduced blood pressure to the same extent 5 hr after administration on the 1st and the 7th day. At these points, the cardiac index and organ or tissue blood flow were measured by the non-radioactive colored dye-extraction microsphere technique. Repeated administration of TCV-116, and single and repeated administration of enalapril significantly increased renal blood flow without any changes in the cardiac index. TCV-116 and enalapril also tended to increase splanchnic blood flow following the 1st dose but not the 7th dose. No significant changes in blood flow were observed in the brain, heart, adrenal, skin and skeletal muscle. These results suggest that the antihypertensive effects of TCV-116 and enalapril are attributable to the systemic reduction of vascular resistance caused by the dilatation of blood vessels. These hemodynamic effects of TCV-116, like those of enalapril, may be beneficial in the treatment of hypertension.

Administration, Oral↗