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Objectives: Limited studies are available testing through multiple regression models the association between the two main oral diseases: dental caries and periodontitis. The aim of this cross-sectional population-based study was to verify whether dental caries and periodontitis co-occur in a representative sample of the South Korea population. Materials and methods: A total of 23,405 subjects representative of 36.2 million of adults (KNHANES) were examined. Univariate and multiple regression analyses using 7 different models were applied, controlling for age, gender, smoking status, frequency of toothbrushing, use of interproximal toothbrushes and flossing, educational level, income, gum diseases treatment and tooth filling in the previous year, BMI, Vitamin D serum levels, alcoholism, diabetes status, stress and carbohydrates dietary intake. Results: In the fully adjusted model, participants with periodontitis had, respectively, a mean of 0.82 (95% CI: 0.41–1.23) and of 0.36 (95% CI: 0.22–0.50) more untreated decayed surfaces and teeth than participants without periodontitis, with an OR to have at least one untreated decayed surface of 1.96 (95% CI: 1.66–2.32). However, cumulative caries experience (DF scores) and periodontitis were not associated. Conclusions: In this large nationally representative population, periodontitis and untreated dental caries co-occur. However, when considering cumulative caries experience (DF scores), the two diseases do not appear related. Clinical relevance: In light of their possible co-occurrence, clinicians should implement integrative diagnostic, preventive and treatment strategies for both diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the association of periodontal disease with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Materials and methods: A retrospective follow-up study using the National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort was performed from 2002 to 2015 in the Korean population. A total of 165,032 subjects were followed up for incident NAFLD during 11 years. Periodontal disease and NAFLD were defined by a diagnosis using the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th revision (ICD-10) codes. Periodontal status was used as the severity of periodontal status and the number of dental visit due to PD. Results: Periodontitis was associated with a 4% increase in risk for NAFLD after adjusting for socio-demographic factor, health behaviors, and systemic diseases (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] = 1.04, 95% CI = 1.01 to 1.07). Between the number of dental visit due to PD and the risk for NAFLD was observed a dose–effect association (aHR = 1.02, 95% CI = 0.99 to 1.05 for once; aHR = 1.10, 95% CI = 1.06 to 1.15 for two times; aHR = 1.14, 95% CI = 1.06 to 1.24 for three times). Conclusions: Our data confirmed that periodontitis showed an association with a higher incidence of NAFLD. Clinical relevance: Prevention and management of periodontal disease could be beneficial for reducing the risk of NAFLD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Platinum is a much used catalyst that, in petrochemical processes, is often alloyed with other metals to improve catalytic activity, selectivity and longevity1–5. Such catalysts are usually prepared in the form of metallic nanoparticles supported on porous solids, and their production involves reducing metal precursor compounds under a H2 flow at high temperatures6. The method works well when using easily reducible late transition metals, but Pt alloy formation with rare-earth elements through the H2 reduction route is almost impossible owing to the low chemical potential of rare-earth element oxides6. Here we use as support a mesoporous zeolite that has pore walls with surface framework defects (called 'silanol nests') and show that the zeolite enables alloy formation between Pt and rare-earth elements. We find that the silanol nests enable the rare-earth elements to exist as single atomic species with a substantially higher chemical potential compared with that of the bulk oxide, making it possible for them to diffuse onto Pt. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy and hydrogen chemisorption measurements indicate that the resultant bimetallic nanoparticles supported on the mesoporous zeolite are intermetallic compounds, which we find to be stable, highly active and selective catalysts for the propane dehydrogenation reaction. When used with late transition metals, the same preparation strategy produces Pt alloy catalysts that incorporate an unusually large amount of the second metal and, in the case of the PtCo alloy, show high catalytic activity and selectivity in the preferential oxidation of carbon monoxide in H2. Alloy nanoparticles of platinum and rare-earth elements are formed using zeolites with pore-wall defects, producing stable, highly active and selective catalysts for the propane dehydrogenation reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity is associated with inflammatory status and linked with metabolic syndrome. Interaction between adipocytes and macrophages aggravates inflammation and leads to insulin resistance in adipocytes. Resveratrol improved reportedly obesity-related inflammatory responses, but the effects of resveratrol on the production of inflammatory mediators and glucose metabolism in inflamed adipose tissue is not completely known. In this study, we investigated the effects of resveratrol on inflammatory change and insulin resistance in the coculture of hypertrophied 3T3-L1 adipocytes and RAW 264.7 macrophages. Resveratrol decreased nitric oxide production and the expression of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α, inducible nitric oxide synthesis, and cyclooxygenase-2 in the coculture. Resveratrol increased glucose uptake by stimulating the phosphorylation of IRS-1 and AKT in the coculture. These results support that resveratrol have beneficial effect on inflammation and insulin resistance in inflamed adipose tissue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The anti-diabetic potential of a Sasa quelpaertensis Nakai extract (SQE) in L6 muscle cells was evaluated. The SQE stimulated glucose uptake via the AMP-activated protein kinase-activating pathway, but not via the insulinstimulating pathway. The SQE increased the expression of fatty acid translocase and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ, and induced phosphorylation of acetyl-CoA carboxylase. The SQE attenuated oleic acid-induced intracellular triglyceride contents by decreasing the expression of sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c and fatty acid synthase. These results indicate that the SQE probably has an anti-diabetic potential by enhancing glucose uptake and reducing triglyceride content in L6 skeletal muscle cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ingestion of edible seaweed has long been believed to be beneficial to human health due to its numerous biological actions. In the present study, the ethyl acetate fraction of a komulkosiraegi [ Gracilaria vermiculophylla (Ohmi) Papenfuss] ethanol extract (GEFr) was found to potently inhibit adipogenesis of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, decreasing triglycerol accumulation and the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), members of the CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP) family, and fatty acid binding protein 2 (aP2). In mature adipocytes, GEFr was found to significantly activate AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) by activating liver kinase B1 (LKB1) and stimulating intracellular reactive oxygen species generation. The mRNA levels of genes involved in lipid catabolism were up-regulated. Also, GEFr increased lipolysis in a dose-dependent manner. Taken together, these results suggest that GEFr has potential for use in therapies designed to improve obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The peel of jinkyool ( Citrus sunki Hort. ex Tanaka) has been widely used in traditional Asian medicine for treatment of a number of diseases, including indigestion and bronchial asthma. In the present study, we compared the flavonoids content and anti-inflammatory activities of ethanolic peel extracts from both immature and mature fruits. Comparing to the mature peel extract (MPE), the immature peel extract (IPE) contained more abundant flavonoids. IPE more effectively suppressed intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation (IPE, 67.6±1.2%; MPE, 78.9±2.4% at 300 μg/mL of control), nitric oxide (NO) production, and inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein expression, as well as interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) mRNA expression in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Additionally, IPE reduced c-Jun NH-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 mitogen-activated kinase (p38) activation, suggesting that IPE may exert an anti-inflammatory effect by suppressing pro-inflammatory cytokines that suppress activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs). Taken together, these results indicate that IPE has potential for use as an anti-inflammatory agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]