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Objective: Next generation sequencing is commonly used to characterize the microbiome structure. MiSeq is most commonly used to analyze the microbiome due to its relatively long read length. Illumina also introduced the 250 × 2 chip for NovaSeq. The purpose of this study was to compare the performance of MiSeq and NovaSeq in the context of oral microbiome study. Methods: Total read count, read quality score, relative bacterial abundance, community diversity, and correlation between two platforms were analyzed. Phylogenetic trees were analyzed for Streptococcus and periodontopathogens. Results: NovaSeq produced significantly more read counts and assigned more operational taxonomic units (OTUs) compared to MiSeq. Community diversity was similar between MiSeq and NovaSeq. NovaSeq were able to detect more unique OTUs compared to MiSeq. When phylogenetic trees were constructed for Streptococcus and periodontopathogens, both platforms detected OTUs for most of the clades. Conclusion: Taken together, while both MiSeq and NovaSeq platforms effectively characterize the oral microbiome, NovaSeq outperformed MiSeq in terms of read counts and detection of unique OTUs, highlighting its potential as a valuable tool for large scale oral microbiome studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We investigated whether periodontal diseases contribute to the development of medication‐related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) in addition to tooth extraction, which is a major risk factor for MRONJ occurrence. Methods: This retrospective, nationwide cohort study was performed using South Korea's National Health Insurance Service database on women aged > 50 years who took bisphosphonates for at least 1 year between 2010 and 2015. MRONJ, periodontal disease, and tooth extraction were defined using the claims data. Results: Among the 27,168 patients analyzed, the incidence of confirmed MRONJ was significantly higher in the periodontal disease group (0.58%) than in the nonperiodontal disease group (0.31%). While extraction alone showed an increased risk of MRONJ development (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.61, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.74–3.52), periodontal disease without tooth extraction also indicated a similar risk (HR = 1.68, 95% CI: 0.86–3.28); when a history of both periodontal disease and tooth extraction was present, the HR significantly increased to 2.55 (95% CI: 1.41–4.64). Conclusions: The risk of MRONJ increased significantly when tooth extraction was performed in patients diagnosed with periodontal disease; therefore, periodontal diseases should be proactively managed in patients taking bisphosphonates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein 2 (rhBMP‐2) has been widely used in bone tissue engineering to enhance bone regeneration because of its osteogenic inductivity. However, clinical outcomes can vary depending on the scaffold materials used to deliver rhBMP‐2. In this study, 3D‐printed scaffolds with a ratio of 1:1 polycaprolactone and beta‐tricalcium phosphate (PCL/T50) were applied as carriers for rhBMP‐2 in mandibular bone defect models in dog models. Before in vivo application, in vitro experiments were conducted. Preosteoblast proliferation was not significantly different between scaffolds made of PCL/T50 and polycaprolactone alone (PCL/T0) regardless of rhBMP‐2 delivery. However, PCL/T50 showed an increased level of the alkaline phosphatase activity and mineralization assay when rhBMP‐2 was delivered. In in vivo, the newly formed bone volume of the PCL/T50 group was significantly increased compared with that of the PCL/T0 scaffolds regardless of rhBMP‐2 delivery. Histological examination showed that PCL/T50 with rhBMP‐2 produced significantly greater amounts of newly bone formation than PCL/T0 with rhBMP‐2. The quantities of scaffold remaining were lower in the PCL/T50 group than in the PCL/T0 group, although it was not significantly different. In conclusion, PCL/T50 scaffolds were advantageous for rhBMP‐2 delivery as well as for maintaining space for bone formation in mandibular bone defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insufficient bone volume is one of the major challenges encountered by dentists after dental implant placement. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a customized three-dimensional polycaprolactone (3D PCL) scaffold implant fabricated with a 3D bio-printing system to facilitate rapid alveolar bone regeneration. Saddle-type bone defects were surgically created on the healed site after extracting premolars from the mandibles of four beagle dogs. The defects were radiologically examined using computed tomography for designing a customized 3D PCL scaffold block to fit the defect site. After fabricating 3D PCL scaffolds using rapid prototyping, the scaffolds were implanted into the alveolar bone defects along with -tricalcium phosphate powder. In vivo analysis showed that the PCL blocks maintained the physical space and bone conductivity around the defects. In addition, no inflammatory infiltrates were observed around the scaffolds. However, new bone formation occurred adjacent to the scaffolds, rather than directly in contact with them. More new bone was observed around PCL blocks with 400/1200 lattices than around blocks with 400/400 lattices, but the difference was not significant. These results indicated the potential of 3D-printed porous PCL scaffolds to promote alveolar bone regeneration for defect healing in dentistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: We investigated the prevalence of anti-thyroid autoantibodies and thyroid dysfunction, and their association with clinical and laboratory features in Korean patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) without overt thyroid illnesses., Methods: We consequently included 196 pSS patients (190 women) and cross-sectionally collected clinical and laboratory data including the EULAR Sjögren's Syndrome Disease Activity Index (ESSDAI) and Patient Reported Index (ESSPRI). The fatigue-dominant group was defined as those in the highest quartile of the fraction of fatigue, calculated as the ESSPRI fatigue score divided by the total ESSPRI score. Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free T4 (fT4), anti-thyroglobulin (TG), anti-thyroid peroxidase (TPO), and anti-TSH receptor antibody (TRAb) were measured., Results: Of 196 patients, 31 (15.8%) were positive for anti-TG, 28 (14.3%) for anti-TPO, and 28 (14.3%) for TRAb. Subclinical hypothyroidism (S-Hypo) was identified in 23 (11.7%) patients. Anti-TG had no correlations with thyroidal function or pSS-related features. Meanwhile, anti-TPO was significantly associated with TSH levels or anti-centromere antibody. TRAb-positive patients exhibited significantly higher ESSDAI and clinical ESSDAI scores. Moreover, the most influential independent predictor for TRAb was lymphopenia (odds ratio [OR] = 5.541), which has been known as a prognostic factor. Additionally, significant bidirectional associations were found between the fatigue-dominant group (OR = 3.482) and anti-TPO-positive S-Hypo (OR = 7.586) in multivariate regression analyses., Conclusions: Latent thyroid autoimmunity, particularly TRAb and anti-TPO, may be associated with clinical and laboratory manifestations of pSS, such as disease activity or fatigue, even without overt thyroid dysfunction.

The oral cavity provides an ideal environment for microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi, to flourish. Increasing attention has been focused on the connection between the oral microbiome and both oral and systemic diseases, spurring active research into the collection and analysis of specimens for healthcare purposes. Among the various methods for analyzing the oral microbiome, saliva analysis is especially prominent. Saliva samples, which can be collected non-invasively, provide information on the systemic health and oral microbiome composition of an individual. This review was performed to evaluate the current state of the relevant research through an examination of the literature and to suggest an appropriate assay method for investigating the oral microbiome. We analyzed articles published in English in SCI(E) journals after January 1, 2000, ultimately selecting 53 articles for review. Articles were identified through keyword searches in the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, Web of Science, and CINAHL databases. Three experienced researchers conducted full-text assessments following title and abstract screening to select appropriate papers. Subsequently, they organized and analyzed the desired data. Our review revealed that most studies utilized unstimulated saliva samples for oral microbiome analysis. Of the 53 studies examined, 29 identified relationships between the oral microbiome and various diseases, such as oral disease, Behçet disease, cancer, and oral lichen planus. However, the studies employed diverse methods of collection and analysis, which compromised the reliability and accuracy of the findings. To address the limitations caused by methodological inconsistencies, a standardized saliva assay should be established., Competing Interests: No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported., (Copyright © 2024. Korean Academy of Periodontology.)

Individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have difficulty accessing dental care. We aim to verify whether individuals with ASD are properly managed by checking the frequency of dental visits, cost and severity of dental treatment compared with those without ASD. This cross-sectional study used the Korean Health Insurance Database to analyze the frequency, cost and severity of dental treatment in 209,780 people under the age of 19 with or without ASD in 2020. The average frequency of dental visits for individuals without ASD was 2.98 times, which was significantly higher ( p < 0.001) than the 2.89 times for those with ASD. However, the average dental cost for individuals with ASD was USD 132.63, which was significantly higher ( p < 0.001) than USD 116.57 for those without ASD. Additionally, the average number of times that individuals without ASD received severe dental treatment was 1.23 times, significantly higher than the 1.15 times for those with ASD. Further, per 10,000 people, we found that trauma treatment was recorded for an average of 21.90 individuals with ASD, significantly higher than the 7.75 recorded for those without ASD ( p < 0.001). Individuals with ASD encounter significant disparities in accessing dental care, as evidenced by their relatively infrequent dental visits. This discrepancy can be attributed to various barriers including the financial burden compared with those without ASD., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (©2024 The Author(s). Published by MRE Press.)

Objective: To describe the epidemiology of sports injury at the Pyeongchang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games., Methods: 567 athletes from 49 countries were monitored daily for 12 days over the Pyeongchang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games (6804 athlete days). Injury data were obtained daily from teams with their own medical support (41 teams and 557 athletes) and teams without their own medical support (8 teams and 10 athletes) through two electronic data capturing systems., Results: 112 of 567 athletes (19.8%) reported a total of 142 injuries, with an injury incidence rate (IR) of 20.9 per 1000 athlete days (95% CI 17.4 to 25.0). The highest IR was reported for para snowboard (IR of 40.5 per 1000 athlete days [95% CI 28.5 to 57.5]; p<0.02), particularly in the lower limb and head/face/neck anatomical areas. Across all sports at the Games, acute traumatic injuries (IR of 16.2 per 1000 athlete days [95% CI 13.2 to 19.8]) and injuries to the shoulder/arm/elbow complex (IR of 5.7 per 1000 athlete days [95% CI 4.2 to 7.8]) were most common. However, most injuries (78.9%) did not require time loss., Conclusion: The new Paralympic Winter Games sport of Para snowboard requires attention to implement actions that will reduce injury risk. The shoulder was the most injured single joint-a consistent finding in elite para sport., Competing Interests: Competing interests: All authors have declared competing interests., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2020. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)