Wet wipes are being increasingly used because of their convenience. Particularly, oral wet wipes are useful for regular cleaning of a baby's mouth after birth. Therefore, the consumption of oral wet wipes has increased over the past few years and a variety of products are commercially available. However, product information on safety is not sufficiently provided and still raises doubts regarding adverse effects. To confirm the safety of wet wipes as an oral hygiene item and provide information for their use, we investigated the cytotoxicity of oral wet wipes and verified the underlying mechanism. The anti-bacterial effect of oral wet wipes was analyzed using the disk diffusion method. The cytotoxic effects of oral wet wipes were observed based on morphological changes using microscopy and determined using a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay in gingival epithelial cells and gingival fibroblasts. Evaluation of apoptosis by oral wet wipes was explored using propidium iodide flow cytometric analysis and a terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate (dUTP) nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay. Apoptosis-related molecules were also analyzed using western blotting. Five types of oral wet wipes were tested, and two products from Fisher-Price and Dr. Kennedy revealed strong cytotoxic effects on gingiva epithelial cells and gingiva fibroblasts, although they also showed intense anti-bacterial effects on oral bacteria. Cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase and apoptosis were observed based on treatment of extracts from Fisher-Price and Dr. KENNEDY. Relatively high TUNEL levels, reduction of proliferating cell nuclear antigen and cyclin-dependent kinase 4 expression, and fragmentation of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase were also elucidated. These results suggest that commercial oral wet wipes could exert cytotoxic influences on oral tissue, although there are anti-bacterial effects, and careful attention is required, especially for infants and toddlers.
Apoptosis ; Bacteria ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Cycle Checkpoints ; Cell Survival ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4 ; Deoxyuridine ; Diffusion ; DNA Nucleotidylexotransferase ; Epithelial Cells ; Fibroblasts ; Gingiva ; Humans ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Infant ; Methods ; Microscopy ; Mouth ; Oral Hygiene ; Parturition ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; Propidium

BACKGROUND: Good oral health is important for systemic body health and quality of life. Spray oral cleansers are increasingly preferred because of their convenience of carrying and the ease of oral hygiene management. In addition, many kinds of oral cleanser products containing various ingredients with antibacterial, washing, and moisturizing effects are being manufactured. However, concerns about the safety and side effects of oral sprays are increasing, and there is very little information regarding the use and care of oral sprays is available to consumers. This study aimed to investigate the effects of oral spray on oral bacteria and tissue to elucidate the factors that need to be considered when using oral sprays. METHODS: The effects of oral spray on the growth of dental plaque bacteria was assessed using disk diffusion assays. Cytotoxicity and morphological changes in oral epithelial cells were observed by microscopy. The effects of oral spray on dental plaque growth were also confirmed on specimens from permanent incisors of bovines by Coomassie staining. RESULTS: The pH of spray products, such as Perioe Dental Cooling, Cool Sense, and Dentrix, were 3.65, 3.61, and 6.15, respectively. All tested spray products showed strong toxicity to dental plaque bacteria and oral epithelial cells. Compared with those on the control, dental plaque bacteria deposits on the enamel surface increased following the use of oral spray. CONCLUSION: Three types of oral spray, namely Perioe Dental Cooling, Cool Sense, and Dentrix, strongly inhibited the growth of dental plaque bacteria and oral epithelial cells. The oral spray ingredient enhanced dental plaque growth on the enamel surface. Users should be informed of precautions when using oral sprays and the need for oral hygiene after its use.
Bacteria ; Dental Enamel ; Dental Plaque ; Diffusion ; Epithelial Cells ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Incisor ; Microscopy ; Oral Health ; Oral Hygiene ; Oral Sprays ; Plague ; Quality of Life

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to improve the Korean influenza management system and to determine the status of influenza vaccination in some community health centers through a survey of the officers in charge of influenza vaccination. METHODS: The authors conducted a questionnaire survey by e-mail for the officers in charge of influenza vaccination of 8 community health centers in Daegu-si, 5 community health centers in Ulsan-si and 25 community health centers in Gyeongsangbuk-do. The authors developed a questionnaire including selection methods of the influenza vaccination objects, results of influenza vaccination in 2002, problems of influenza vaccination, the population within the respondents`jurisdiction and so on. RESULTS: The proportion of influenza vaccination at community health centers among all residents in the 2002-2003 influenza season was 3.8% in Daegu-si, 14.8% in Ulsan-si, 15.1% in urban Gyeongsangbuk-do and 24.9% in rural Gyeongsangbuk-do. The proportion of influenza vaccination at community health centers among priority cases for vaccination was 12.9% in Daegu-si, 43.1% in Ulsan-si, 39.3% in urban Gyeongsangbuk and 41.6% in rural Gyeongsangbuk-do. The officers in charge of influenza vaccination stated that the problems of influenza vaccination were deficiencies in preparatory examination such as manpower shortage. Twenty-five persons stated as a problem that influenza vaccinations conducted in the hospitals were hardly reported, and fifteen of these clarified that this was due to hospital indifference. CONCLUSIONS: The authors examined all community health centers of Daegu-si, Ulsan-si, and Gyeongsangbuk-do, and investigated the vaccination states and problems that health officers were dealing with. Therefore, this study is meaningful with its basic data for the management of domestic influenza vaccination.
Community Health Centers* ; Electronic Mail ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Humans ; Influenza, Human* ; Seasons ; Vaccination* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Acute fatty metamorphosis is a rare but potentially fatal complication of the third trimester of pregnancy. In 20~40% of cases, acute fatty metamorphosis is associated with preeclampsia and may be difficult to distinguish from preeclamptic liver involvement. Recent reports suggest that the mortality has decreased to 25% fo both mother and fetus, due to largely to early delivery and to the recognition of a higher proportion of mild and nonfatal cases. We experienced one case of acute fatty liver metamorphosis that caused fulminant hepatitis and complete resolution, so we report the case and review of literature briefly.
Fatty Liver ; Female ; Fetus ; Hepatitis ; Humans ; Liver ; Mortality ; Mothers ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third

Streptococcus bovis, a group D non-enterococcal organism has recently received increased attention, especially for its role as a cause of infective endocarditis and associated colorectal neoplasm. Infectious endocarditis due to group D streptococci include two non-enterococcal species, S. bovis and S. equinas, which may be mistaken for enterococci in clinical laboratory. However, S. bovis is readily distinguished from the enterococci by screen with bile-esculin hydrolysis and growth in 6.5% NaCl broth. Although endocarditis caused by S. bovis or enterococci share common clinical findings, therapeutically and prognostically, S. bovis endocarditis more resembles infection with viridans group organism. Also the infection of S. bovis significantly increased the prevalence of colorectal cancer in previous report. As discussed above, the patients with S. bovis endocarditis are carried out study of colorectal cancer. We report a case of endocarditis with colon cancer caused by S. bovis in 54 year old female.
Colon* ; Colonic Neoplasms* ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Endocarditis* ; Female ; Humans ; Hydrolysis ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Streptococcus bovis* ; Streptococcus*