Background:To study how dental status can become a predictor of overall mortality risk.Methods: Community residents (n = 5730) over 40 years old in the Miyako Islands, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan were followed up for 15 years, 1987-2002. Functional tooth numbers were examined by dentists and overall mortalities of subjects with functional tooth numbers of <10 and 310 were compared in the age groups 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79 and 80 years or more in both males and females.Results: Groups of 80 years or more showed a significantly higher rate of overall mortality in subjects with functional tooth numbers of less than 10 than 10 or more, and there was no significant difference in the other age groups. Conclusion:The present study suggests that systemic attention to dental status should be recommended in older males.

Objectives We aimed to examine the number of teeth and masticatory function as oral health indices and clarify their roles in the pathogenesis of sarcopenia and diabetes mellitus in community-dwelling older adults. Subjects and methods This cross-sectional study was conducted with 635 older adults in Ohnan, Shimane Prefecture, in rural Japan. The number of teeth and masticatory function (measured by the number of gummy jelly pieces collected after chewing) were evaluated by dental hygienists. Sarcopenia status was assessed using handgrip strength, skeletal muscle index, calf circumference, and a possible sarcopenia diagnosis based on the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019. Diabetes mellitus status was defined as a hemoglobin A1c level ≥6.5% or self-reported diabetes. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to analyze the association between oral health, sarcopenia, and diabetes mellitus after adjusting for confounders. Results After adjusting for all confounders, logistic regression analysis showed that the number of remaining teeth was negatively associated with a low level of handgrip strength (odds ratio [OR], 0.961; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.932–0.992) and possible sarcopenia (OR, 0.949; 95% CI, 0.907–0.992). Higher levels of masticatory function were also negatively associated with a low level of handgrip strength (OR, 0.965; 95% CI, 0.941–0.990) and possible sarcopenia (OR, 0.941; 95% CI, 0.904–0.979). Logistic regression analysis showed that the number of remaining teeth and a higher level of masticatory function were negatively associated with diabetes mellitus (OR, 0.978; 95% CI, 0.957–0.999; OR, 0.976; 95% CI, 0.960–0.992, respectively). Conclusion Our findings suggest that improvement in oral health, including the maintenance of masticatory function and remaining teeth, may contribute to the prevention of sarcopenia and diabetes mellitus in older adults.

SummaryThe effects of verapamil, a coronary vasodilator, on platelet functions were studied.Platelet aggregation induced by ADP, epinephrine or collagen was inhibited by verapamil in vitro. Calcium ionophore A23187-induced platelet aggregation was also inhibited by verapamil in a concentration dependent manner. In washed platelets, verapamil caused a dose-dependent inhibition of serotonin release induced either by thrombin or A23187 in the absence of extracellular calcium. Addition of 1 mM CaCl2 with A23187 or thrombin partially overcame this inhibition. Addition of 1 mM CaCl2 in the absence of verapamil had no effect on thrombin- or A23187-induced secretion. When verapamil was administered to the healthy volunteers at the dosage commonly used, inhibition of platelet aggregation was observed 2 hrs after the drug ingestion. It is of great interest that verapamil potentiated the anti-aggregating activity of prostacyclin in vitro.Our results may suggest a potential role for verapamil in the treatment of thrombotic disorders.

Although the number of missing teeth in Japanese adults is decreasing, persons aged ≥75 years tend to have at least 10 teeth missing, and approximately 30% have full dentures. 1 Tooth loss impacts mastication, speaking, swallowing, and esthetics. 2,3 Decreased masticatory ability due to tooth loss affects food intake, possibly leading to malnutrition. 4 Loss of multiple teeth is also associated with physical disability and cognitive decline, 5 and it can decrease the quality of life of elderly individuals.The average life span differs considerably from healthy life expectancy. Retention of as many teeth as possible can prevent or slow the decline in swallowing and masticatory function and extend healthy life expectancy. In a cohort study of Japanese people aged >75 years, individuals with few teeth at baseline subsequently had higher medical care costs related to stroke. 6 Therefore, the prevention of tooth loss could reduce medical care costs.The risk factors for tooth loss have been investigated extensively. 7-9 Lifestyle and social factors, such as household income, education level, and dental visits, are reportedly related to tooth loss among persons aged ≥65 years. 8 Molars and abutment teeth of prostheses are at greater risk of being lost by community-dwelling elderly people. 9 The risk factors for tooth loss in younger people should be determined to enable the retention of as many teeth as possible. The AbstractAim: The assessment of the risk of tooth loss in patients visiting a dental clinic is important for managing their oral health. In the present study, we examined the risk factors for tooth loss among dental patients. Methods: Data from the 8020 Promotion Foundation Study on the Health PromotionEffects of Dental Care were used in the present study. The study involved 2743 patients who visited a dental clinic in Japan and completed a questionnaire and oral health examination at baseline and at the 2-year follow up. Tooth-and person-level risk factors for tooth loss during 2 years were subjected to a multilevel multivariate logistic regression analysis.