Hyo-Jung Lee

This cross-sectional study aimed to identify differences in oral, faecal, blood microbial profiles in oesophageal cancer, and their association with periodontal diseases. Microbiome profiling was performed using 16S rRNA sequencing of saliva, faecal and blood samples obtained from 44 esophageal cancer patients and 126 healthy controls. The oral microbiome of oesophageal cancer patients demonstrated a distinct composition with increased phylogenetic diversity. Specifically, patients exhibited higher abundances of Tannerella , Streptococcus , and Filifactor , and lower abundances of Oribacterium , Granulicatella , and Subdoligranulum . Following adjustment for periodontal disease, age, sex, smoking status, and alcohol consumption, the relative abundances of Filifactor and Tannerella remained increased in the saliva of oesophageal cancer patients. In the faecal microbiome, patients exhibited increased abundances of Lactobacillus , Veillonella , and Dialister and decreased abundances of Neisseria , Weissella , and Akkermansia . Conversely, the blood microbiome exhibited increased phylogenetic diversity with higher abundances of Helicobacter , Acetobacter , and Lactobacillus and decreased abundances of Tannerella , Parvimonas , and Akkermansia . A significant negative correlation was observed between oral and blood microbiomes for several taxa, including Streptococcus and Veillonella . In conclusion, oesophageal cancer is associated with distinct oral, faecal, and blood microbiome signatures. Oral bacteria such as Filifactor and Tannerella are associated with oesophageal cancer, independent of periodontal disease.

1. Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) is a condition characterized by jaw osteonecrosis associated with the use of antiresorptive agents, such as bisphosphonates and denosumab, as ...

Background: Insomnia is associated with various systemic conditions; however, its relationship with structural dental outcomes—particularly tooth wear and tooth fracture—has not been well defined. Objectives: To investigate the association between clinically diagnosed insomnia and the incidence of tooth wear and fracture in a nationwide population‐based cohort. Methods: Data were obtained from the Korean National Health Insurance Service—National Sample Cohort. Adults aged ≥ 20 years who underwent health screening between 2011 and 2014 were included. Insomnia was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision codes, and prescription records of hypnotics. Two separate cohorts were constructed for tooth wear and fracture outcomes. Individuals with prior diagnoses of bruxism, temporomandibular disorders, malignant neoplasms, certain psychiatric or neurological disorders, or insomnia during the washout period were excluded. Propensity score matching (1:3) was applied, and hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using the Cox proportional hazards models. Results: After matching, 81 096 participants were included in the tooth wear cohort and 82 256 in the tooth fracture cohort. Individuals with insomnia exhibited significantly higher incidence rates of tooth wear (29.02 vs. 26.27 per 1000 person‐years; adjusted HR: 1.10, 95% CI: 1.06–1.15) and tooth fracture (16.70 vs. 13.63 per 1000 person‐years; adjusted HR: 1.20, 95% CI: 1.13–1.26) than controls. Conclusions: Clinically diagnosed insomnia was modestly but significantly associated with increased risks of tooth wear and fracture, underscoring the need for early oral health evaluation and coordinated care between dental and sleep medicine professionals.

Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease driven by a dysbiotic subgingival microbiome. While 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing is widely used, whole-genome shotgun (WGS) metagenomics is increasingly applied for higher taxonomic and functional resolution. The aim of this study was to directly compare 16S rRNA gene amplicon (V1–V2) sequencing and WGS metagenomic sequencing using matched subgingival plaque samples from patients with periodontitis. Subgingival plaque samples from 28 patients with periodontitis were analyzed using both 16S rRNA gene amplicon (V1–V2) sequencing and WGS metagenomics. Taxonomic composition, microbial diversity, differential abundance and functional analysis were compared across platforms. WGS generated markedly higher read counts than 16S rRNA gene amplicon but showed wide variability in non-human reads, whereas 16S rRNA gene amplicon yielded a consistent proportion of non-chimeric reads. High taxonomic overlap was observed at the phylum level but declined at higher taxonomic ranks. WGS preferentially detected taxa such as Actinomyces, Corynebacterium and Olsenella, while the 16S rRNA gene amplicon more frequently captured Saccharibacteria (TM7) and low-abundance taxa. Core genera, including Rothia, Neisseria and Cardiobacterium showed comparable abundance patterns across platforms. When patients were grouped depending on probing pocket depth (PPD), LEfSe analysis resulted in platform-specific enrichment patterns. Functional analyses revealed shared central pathways, such as pyruvate metabolism, while 16S-based PICRUSt2 emphasized reductive and degradative pathways and WGS-based HUMAnN highlighted oxidative and biosynthetic pathways. Notably, WGS-based functional profiles were strongly influenced by microbial read depth. This comparative analysis demonstrates that 16S rRNA gene amplicon (V1–V2) sequencing and WGS both robustly capture core subgingival microbial signatures. While WGS provides higher species-level and functional resolution, the resolution was strongly constrained by microbial read depth in host-rich subgingival samples. These findings provide practical guidance for selecting appropriate sequencing strategies and optimizing sample preparation when designing WGS-based periodontal microbiome studies.

The oral microbiome plays an important role in maintaining peri-implant health, and microbial imbalance is a key factor in the development of peri-implant mucositis (PIM). Probiotics have been proposed as a strategy to modulate the oral microbiome, but clinical evidence in peri-implant conditions remains limited. In this randomized exploratory trial, patients with PIM received the probiotic Weissella cibaria CMU (OraCMU) or placebo for four weeks following standard supragingival scaling and oral hygiene instruction. Subgingival microbiome profiles and clinical parameters were evaluated at baseline and follow-up. While overall microbial diversity showed no marked differences between groups, OraCMU administration was associated with favorable compositional changes within the subgingival microbiome. This included enrichment of bacterial taxa commonly associated with peri-implant health and suppression of taxa linked to inflammatory peri-implant conditions. Consistent trends toward reduced abundance of key periopathogenic species were observed in the probiotic group compared with placebo. A modest improvement in probing depth was also noted in patients with moderate PIM receiving OraCMU. Together, these findings indicate that short-term probiotic supplementation may support ecological stabilization of the peri-implant microbiome. Further longitudinal studies are needed to determine whether such microbiome modulation translates into sustained clinical benefit.

Lee JH, et al. J Periodontal Implant Sci. 2026 Aug;56(4):269-283. https://doi.org/10.5051/jpis.2602140107

Kim KS, et al. J Periodontal Implant Sci. 2026 ;56:e21. https://doi.org/10.5051/jpis.2504860243

Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw is a rare but serious condition in which the jawbone fails to heal and becomes necrotic, typically after dental surgery in patients treated with bisphosphonates. However, clear evidence guiding how long bisphosphonate treatment should be paused before dental surgery remains limited. Here we show that a longer time since the last dose of intravenous bisphosphonate is associated with a reduced risk of jawbone necrosis. Using a nationwide retrospective cohort of 152,299 older adults diagnosed with osteoporosis, we analyze the relationship between the duration of bisphosphonate discontinuation prior to dental extraction and the occurrence of osteonecrosis of the jaw. We find that the risk is substantially lower when treatment is paused for more than 90 days, and lowest when the pause exceeds one year. The risk reduction appears more consistent with ibandronate, whereas with zoledronate, only pauses longer than one year show a meaningful association. These findings underscore the potential value of personalized prevention strategies based on bisphosphonate type.

Song YW, et al. J Periodontal Implant Sci. 2025 Aug;55:e33. https://doi.org/10.5051/jpis.2501920096