• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.61-68
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• 2010

Purpose: The present study was performed to clarify the relationship between periodontal disease severity and selected immunological parameters consisting of serum IgG titer against periodontopathogenic bacteria, the expression of the helper T-cell cytokine by gingival mononuclear cells, and patients' immunoreactivity to cross-reactive heat shock protein (HSP) epitope peptide from P. gingivalis HSP60. Methods: Twenty-five patients with moderate periodontitis had their gingival connective tissue harvested of gingival mononuclear cells during an open flap debridement procedure and peripheral blood was drawn by venipuncture to collect serum. The mean level of interproximal alveolar bone was calculated to be used as an index for periodontal disease severity for a given patient. Each of selected immunologic parameters was subject to statistical management to seek their correlations with the severity of periodontal disease. Results: A significant correlation could not be identified between serum IgG titers against specific bacteria (Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, and Streptococcus mutans) and the severity of periodontal disease. Expression of interleukin (IL)-10 by gingival mononuclear cells was statistically significant in the group of patients who had higher levels of alveolar bone height. However, a similar correlation could not be demonstrated in cases for IL-4 or interferon-$\gamma$. Patients' serum reactivity to cross-reactive epitope peptide showed a significant correlation with the amount of alveolar bone. Conclusions: It was concluded that expression of IL-10 by gingival mononuclear cells and patients' sero-reactivity to the cross-reactive HSP peptide of P. gingivalis HSP60 were significantly correlated with alveolar bone height.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.316-328
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• 2021

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the prevalence and abundance of 9 representative periodontal pathogens in the saliva samples of periodontally healthy subjects (PH) and patients with periodontitis who underwent supportive periodontal therapy (SPT). The age-specific distribution of these pathogens in periodontally healthy individuals was also analyzed. Methods: One hundred subjects (aged >35 years) were recruited (50 each in the PH and SPT groups) between August 2016 and April 2019. The prevalence and abundance of periodontal pathogens in the PH group were compared with those in periodontally healthy young subjects (94 subjects; aged <35 years), who were included in our previous study. DNA copy numbers of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa), Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg), Tannerella forsythia (Tf), Treponema denticola (Td), Prevotella intermedia (Pi), Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn), Campylobacter rectus (Cr), Peptostreptococcus anaerobius (Pa), and Eikenella corrodens (Ec) were analyzed using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results: The detection frequencies of all pathogens, except Aa, were high in the PH and SPT groups. The ranking order of pathogen DNA copy numbers was similar in both groups. In both groups, Fn had the highest abundance, Aa had the lowest abundance. Additionally, Td was significantly more abundant in men than in women in both groups (P<0.05). Compared with the PH group, the SPT group exhibited significantly lower total bacteria and Fn abundance and higher Pg abundance (P<0.05). The age-specific pathogen distribution analysis revealed a significantly low Aa abundance and high Tf and Cr abundance in the PH group. Conclusions: The clinical parameters and microbial profiles were similar between the SPT and PH groups. However, patients with periodontitis require supportive care to prevent recurrence. As the abundance of some bacteria varied with age, future studies must elucidate the correlation between age-related physiological changes and periodontal bacterial composition.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Dental Administration
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.42-52
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• 2022

This study aimed to investigate the association of lifestyle with the copy number of periodontal pathogens. This retrospective study collected electronic health records of 102 subjects with periodontitis, including reports of bacterial genetic tests and lifestyle questionnaires. The five pathogens were analyzed as follows: Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia, Treponema denticola, Prevotella intermedia, and Fusobacterium nucleatum. The lifestyle questionnaire included age, sex, oral hygiene management, smoking, drinking, exercise, dietary, snacks, water intake, and sleeping time. An independent t-test or ANOVA was performed to compare the copy number of periodontal pathogens according to lifestyle (α=0.05). The copy numbers of P. gingivalis and F. nucleatum were significantly higher than those of other strains. The copy number of T. forsythia in patients who exercised was 54% lower than in those who did not (p=0.009). Other lifestyle factors did not affect the number of bacteria. Exercise habits among the lifestyles showed a association with the number of specific oral bacteria. This result suggests that a lifestyle questionnaire is essential in clinical situation and necessary to prevent and treat the periodontal disease effectively.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.55-66
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• 2024

This study conducted a survey to investigate the characteristics of fish communities and the inhabiting status of endangered species in the Byekgye Stream, Korea from April to September 2020. A total of 3,415 fish of 9 families and 31 species were collected from 7 survey stations during the survey period. The dominant species was Zacco koreanus (relative abundance of 31.2%), and the subdominant species was Z. platypus (15.0%), followed by Pungtungia herzi (11.7%), Acheilognathus yamatsutae (5.4%), A. lanceolata intermedia (4.8%), Rhinogobius brunneus (4.4%), and Pseudopungtungia tenuicorpa (4.3%). Among the fish species collected, 19 (61.3%) were identified as Korean endemic species, and two cold-water fish species sensitive to climate change (Rhynchocypris kumgangensis and Cottus koreanus) were collected. Four species were designated as class II endangered wildlife by the Ministry of Environment: A. signifer, P. tenuicorpa, Rhodeus pseudosericeus, and C. koreanus. A. signifer and P. tenuicorpa mainly inhabited the mid to lower streams, R. pseudosericeus in the midstream, and R. pseudosericeus in the upstream. P. tenuicorpa inhabited in large numbers, and estimating the age by total length-frequency distribution in July, the total length of the 26-35 mm group was estimated as 0 years old, the 54-75 mm group as 1 year old, 82-97 mm group as 2 years old, 104-109 mm group as 3 years or older. The cluster analysis showed that the dominance index decreased from upstream to downstream, but the diversity, evenness, and richness index increased. The water quality of Byekgye Stream was evaluated as good overall since the river health (fish assessment index, FAI) using fish was evaluated as excellent (5 stations) and good (2 stations). Byekgye Stream has relatively well-preserved habitats, but conservation measures are required as habitats are disturbed by river repair work in some parts of the midstream and downstream areas where many endangered species inhabit.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.109-116
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• 2011

Periodontitis results from the activation of host immune and inflammatory defense responses to subgingival plaque bacteria, most of which are gram-negative rods with lipopoly-saccharides (LPSs) in their cell walls. LPSs have been known to induce proinflammatory responses and recently it was reported also that they induce the expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) in host cells. In our current study therefore, we aimed to examine and compare the miRNA expression patterns induced by the LPSs of major periodontopathogens in the human gingival epithelial cell line, Ca9-22. The cells were treated with 1 ${\mu}g$/ml of E. coli (Ec) LPS or 5 ${\mu}g$/ml of an LPS preparations from four periodontopathogens Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg), Prevotella intermedia (Pi), Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa), and Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn) for 24 h. After small RNA extraction from the treated cells, miRNA microarray analysis was carried out and characteristic expression profiles were observed. Fn LPS most actively induced miRNAs related to inflammation, followed by Aa LPS, Pi LPS, and Ec LPS. In contrast, Pg LPS only weakly activated miRNAs related to inflammation. Among the miRNAs induced by each LPS, miR-875-3p, miR-449b, and miR-520d-3p were found to be commonly up-regulated by all five LPS preparations, although at different levels. When we further compared the miRNA expression patterns induced by each LPS, Ec LPS and Pi LPS were the most similar although Fn LPS and Aa LPS also induced a similar miRNA expression pattern. In contrast, the miRNA profile induced by Pg LPS was quite distinctive compared with the other bacteria. In conclusion, miR-875-3p, miR-449b, and miR-520d-3p miRNAs are potential targets for the diagnosis and treatment of periodontal inflammation induced by subgingival plaque biofilms. Furthermore, the observations in our current study provide new insights into the inflammatory miRNA response to periodontitis.

• ALGAE
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.217-226
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• 2004

The present study is to examine the water quality and to analyze the plank tonic and benthic phytoplankton communities at 6 stations in the Dong River and its tributary streams of Kangwon Province from November, 2001 to March, 2002. During the studies, water temperature ranged from 3.5 to 12.8℃; pH, 6.5-7.9; DO, 9.29-11.36 mg·l^(-1); BOD_5, 0.20-2.38 mg·l^(-1); TN, 1.2842-3.1871 mg·l^(-1); TP, 0.0052-0.0576 mg·l^(-1); and SS, 0.85-9.62 mg·l^(-1). The standard of water quality according to the Korean Environmental Preservation Law showed the first class except St. 6 through the survey. Six taxa of plank tonic phytoplankton identified were poor flora in November, 2001. The representative species frequently observed were the diatoms Achnanthes lanceolata, Achnanthes minutissima, Cymbella minuta, Cymbella parva, Diatoma vulgare, Fragilaria construens, Gomphonema pervulum, Navicula cryptocephala, Nitzschia palea., Scenedesmus sp. of green algae and Stephanodiscus hantzschii. Monthly dominant species of phytoplankton were Achnanthes lanceolata and A. minutissima in both February and March, 2002, but the blue-green algae, Oscillatoria sp. and the diatom, Stephan discus hantzschii were predominant at some stations in March. Phytoplankton standing crops ranged from 9.84 ${\times}$ 10$^3$ to 3.56 ${\times}$ 10$^4$ cell·l$^{-1}$ in November and 1.68-2.99 ${\times}$ 10$^5$ cell·l$^{-1}$ in February, while it changed 4.52-8.01 ${\times}$ 10$^5$ cell·l$^{-1}$ at St. 1, 2, 3 and 1.03-1.71 ${\times}$ 10$^6$ cell·l$^{-1}$ at St. 4, 5, 6 in March. Benthic phytoplankton communities was composed of 38 taxa in November, 31 taxa in February and 23 taxa in March. It showed a contrary tendency to planktonic phytoplankton diversity. Benthic diatoms which were more than 25% of the total populations were Cymbella turgida, Diatoma vulgare, Cocconeis placentula, Navicula cryptocephala var. intermedia in November; Achnanthe lanceolata, Cocconeis placentula, Achnanthes minutissima in February; and Achnanthes lanceolata and Cyclotella meneghiniana in March.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.260-265
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• 2005

The objective of this study was to detect and compare the presence of periodontopathogens in the subgingival plaques of gingivitis lesions in adults who wore fixed orthodontic appliances, as opposed to adults who did not wear any orthodontic appliances. Thirty-six individuals participated in this study. Ninteen of these subjects did not wear any orthodontic appliances, and these subjects comprised the control group. The other 17 individuals had been wearing fixed orthodontic appliances for at least 3 months each. After a periodontal examination, we collected subgingival plaque samples from the gingivitis lesions of each patient. Using PCR based on 168 rDNA, we detected the presence of 6 putative periodontopathogenic species, Treponema denticola, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia (formerly Bacteroides forsythus), Prevotella nigrescens, Prevotella intermedia, and Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans. With regard to the presence of individual periodontopathogens, we found that T. forsythia, T. denticola, and P. nigrescens were significantly more common in the samples obtained from the orthodontic patients than in the samples obtained from the non-orthodontic patient controls. Our results indicate that the local changes associated with the wearing of fixed orthodontic appliances may affect the prevalence of periodontopathogens in subgingival dental plaques.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.249-255
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• 2002

Zea Mays L. has been known to be effective for improving tissue health and Magnoliae cortex to have effective antibacterial and antimicrobial activity against pathogenic microbes. The purpose of this study was to examine the antimicrobial effects of Zea Mays L. and Magnoliae cortex extract mixtures on periodontal pathogens(Prevotella intermedia, Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Streptococcus mutans )and to examine the effects on human gingival fibroblast cellular activity. Zea Mays L. and Magnoliae cortex extracts and their mixtures were prepared with various mixing ratios (0.5:1, 1:1, 1.5:1, 2:1). These extracts were loaded to periodontal pathogen cultured petri dish for antimicrobial test and also loaded to cultured human gingival fibroblast for cellular activity test. Each test was repeated 3 times and data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA with 95% confidence level. Mixture of these two extracts showed greater amount of inhibition area on periodontal pathogen and more improved gingival fibroblast activity as Zea Mays L. ratio reduced. So, mixture ratio 0.5:1 (Zea Mays L. : Magnoliae cortex) group showed statistical significance in antimicrobial activity and cellular activity among various mixtures(p < 0.05). In conclusion, 0.5:1 (Zea Mays L. : Magnoliae cortex) mixture possessed best gingival fibroblast cellular activity and antimicrobial activity toward periodontal pathogens.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.191-197
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• 1979

${\beta}-Tyrosinase$ was purified and crystallized from cells of Escherichia intermedia A-21 grown in a medium supplemented with 0.2% L-tyrosine. Molecular weight of its subunit, Km value and absorption spectra were determined. Crystallization methods were also studied to eliminate any unnecessary procedures. The results obtained were as follows: 1. The purification procedure included ammonium sulfate fractionation, dialysis against potassium phosphate buffer, pH 6.0 and pH 7.0, and DEAE-Sephadex column chromatography. In the column chromatography, 11 mg of protein was applied per ml of DEAE-Sephadex for efficiency. 2. Steps of protamine sulfate treatment and Sephadex G-150 gel filtration could be eliminated for this enzyme from the known procedures. 3. The purified enzyme was dissolved in 0.01M potassium phosphate buffer containing 2-mercaptoethanol, with a concentration of 20mg/ml. Crystalline enzyme, which appears as hexagonal rods, was obtained by adding solid fine powdered ammonium sulfate to the enzyme solution. 4. Absorption maxima of the enzyme appeared at 340 and 430nm when associated with pyridoxal phosphate. 5. Km value of the enzyme for L-tyrosine was $2.31{\times}10^{-4}M$ and the molecular weight of its subunit was determined by SDS-polyacrylamide electrophoresis to be approximately 50,000.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.266-273
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• 2014

Purpose: We previously reported that human serum significantly reduces the invasion of various oral bacterial species into gingival epithelial cells in vitro. The aims of the present study were to characterize the serum component(s) responsible for the inhibition of bacterial invasion of epithelial cells and to examine their effect on periodontitis induced in mice. Methods: Immortalized human gingival epithelial (HOK-16B) cells were infected with various 5- (and 6-) carboxy-fluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester-labeled oral bacteria, including Fusobacterium nucleatum, Provetella intermedia, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Treponiema denticola, in the absence or presence of three major serum components (human serum albumin [HSA], pooled human IgG [phIgG] and ${\alpha}1$-antitrypsin). Bacterial adhesion and invasion were determined by flow cytometry. The levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and activation of small GTPases were examined. Experimental periodontitis was induced by oral inoculation of P. gingivalis and T. denticola in Balb/c mice. Results: HSA and phIgG, but not ${\alpha}1$-antitrypsin, efficiently inhibited the invasion of various oral bacterial species into HOK-16B cells. HSA but not phIgG decreased the adhesion of F. nucleatum onto host cells and the levels of intracellular ROS in HOK-16B cells. N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC), a ROS scavenger, decreased both the levels of intracellular ROS and invasion of F. nucleatum into HOK-16B cells, confirming the role of ROS in bacterial invasion. Infection with F. nucleatum activated Rac1, a regulator of actin cytoskeleton dynamics. Not only HSA and NAC but also phIgG decreased the F. nucleatum-induced activation of Rac1. Furthermore, both HSA plus phIgG and NAC significantly reduced the alveolar bone loss in the experimental periodontitis induced by P. gingivalis and T. denticola in mice. Conclusions: NAC and the serum components HSA and phIgG, which inhibit bacterial invasion of oral epithelial cells in vitro, can successfully prevent experimental periodontitis.