• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.263-270
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• 1998

Considering various factors contributing oral malodor, the accurate prediction of prognosis is very important to both clinician and patients. The present study has been performed to invetigate the relationship between treatment effeicacy and pre-treatment volatile sulfur compounds (VSC) level. Ninety patients were divided into three groups, A(<150ppb), B(150< <200ppb), and C(>200ppb) groups, according to pre-treatment VSC level detected by Halimeter, and each group included 30 patients. Routine therapeutic measures for oral were provided to each patient which consisted of oral prophylaxis, tooth brushing and flossing instruction, tongue scraping by proper device, and gargling of 0.25% ZnCl2 Solution. The group with high pre-treatment VSC level (>150ppb) showed significant reduction of VSC level at 1 and 3 weeks after. However, the group with low pre-treatment VSC level (<150ppb) did not show any significant reduction during the experimental periods. Collectively, the results suggested that patients with high pre-treatment VSC level show better prognosis.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.258-264
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• 2008

Objectives : The aim of this study was to confirm the characteristics of oral malodor patients by evaluating the differences of salivary flow rate, secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) level in saliva between the patient and control groups, and the correlation with the tongue coating, volatile sulfur compound (VSC), salivary flow rate and sIgA level in saliva in the patients group. Methods : Forty-seven patients with oral malodor and twenty healthy volunteers were included in this study. Their tongue coating was assessed with the Winkel tongue coating index, and salivary flow rate, sIgA concentrations in saliva and the level of VSC in oral cavity were measured. Results : There were no significant differences of the salivary flow rate and the sIgA level in saliva between the patient and control groups, but there was a significant relationship between the accumulation of tongue coating and the level of VSC in oral cavity. Conclusions : Our results suggest that tongue coating is closely related to oral malodor, but further studies are needed to confirm the relationship between tongue coating and sIgA level in saliva.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.449-459
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• 2004

Bacterial byproducts and volatile sulfur compounds(VSC) have been found to be the leading intra-oral agents, specifically, the byproducts of gram negative anaerobic bacteria have been implicated as primary factors of halitosis in patients presenting with periodontal disease. The objective of this study was to determine the correlation between periodontal treatment and the subsequent reduction in the level of halitosis. Forty-three subjects presenting with periodontal disease were examined before periodontal treatment, one week after treatment, one month after treatment, and finally, two months after treatment, using a portable sulfide monitoring $Halimeter^{(R)}$ to measure the VSC concentrations at the prescribed intervals. The results of the study were as follows: 1. Significant decreases in the mean VSC concentration were observed at the one week, one month, and two month post-op intervals relative to the pre-op measurement. (p<0.05) 2. Significant decreases in the mean VSC concentration were observed in subjects after completion of flap operations. Significant decreases in the mean VSC concentration were observed at the one and two month post-flap operation measurement relative to the VSC concentration at one week (p<0.05), but no significant differences between the one month and two month VSC concentrations were found. (p<0.05) 3. Significant decreases in the mean VSC concentration were observed in subjects after completion of subgingival curettage (p<0,05). Significant decreases were found between the one week and one month measurements and between the one month and two month measurements, but significant differences were not observed between the one week and two month measurements. (p<0.05) The results of this study show significant decreases in VSC concentration in test subjects after periodontal treatment. It can be inferred from the results above, that periodontal disease is a significant contributing factor of halitosis, and that treatment of periodontal disease can been an effective means of reducing VSC concentration in patients presenting with halitosis concurrent with periodontal disease.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.273-281
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• 2007

Zinc compounds have been used in various fields - cosmetics, medicine, and dentistry -because of its effective functions to human tissues or organs. Especially, it is well known that zinc has many biologic effects in oral cavity. Zinc ion can affect various oral microorganisms, resulting in reduction of oral bacteria, dental plaque, and dental caries. Also, zinc ion has an ability to reduce amounts of oral anaerobic bacteria and oral VSC and can reduce oral malodor. The author summarized the characteristics and toxicity of zinc, several forms of zinc compounds applied in human tissues, and reviewed biologic effects of Zinc in oral cavity (anti-bacterial effects, anti-plaque effects, anti-caries effects, and anti-VSC effects of zinc). Because of many advantages of zinc in oral cavity, it can be concluded that application of zinc compound to various oral diseases will be extended and activated, and promising.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.11-21
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• 2009

This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between systemic diseases and oral malodor. The author measured the volatile sulfur compound(VSC) of the patients who visited Pusan National University Health Promote Center for a comprehensive medical testing. The patients were examined gingival bleeding on probing, CPI index, tongue coating. Their systemic diseases were diagnosed by the specialist. 182 patients consisted of 112 males and 70 females. In this study, Oral $Chroma^{(R)}$ was used to measure oral malodor. This equipment could measure the concentration of intraoral VSC (hydrogen sulfide, methyl mercaptan, dimethyl disulfide). All data were analylized using Statistical Package for the Social Science $12.0^{(R)}$. The result of this study was the followings. 1. There was significant difference of numbers of patient who visited health care center according to the VSC concentration level and the Community Periodontal Index, bleeding on probing, tongue coating. 2. The subjects with hyperlipidemia showed the high level of $CH_3SH$ concentration (p=0.036). The concentration of $H_2S$ tends to be high in the group with abnormal findings on pulmonary fuction test(p=0.086). The concentration of $CH_3SH$ in the groups with abnormal findings on lipid profile test(p=0.130) and bone mineral density test(p=0.099) and abdominal ultrasonograpy(p=0.088) tends to be higher than the other group. 3. The concentration of $(CH_3)_2S$ in the group with abnormal findings on blood pressure test(p=0.113), hepatitis B virus serology(p=0.069), Abdominal ultrasonograpy(p=0.091) tend to be higher than the other group.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.122-131
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• 2010

This clinical study was performed to evaluate whether supplementation of proton pump inhibitor (PPI)-based triple therapy with Korean red ginseng can enhance Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication and reduce levels of halitosis-associated volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) in the stomach. Seventy-six patients were randomized into an eradication regimen-only group (n=45) or an eradication regimen plus 10 weeks of Korean red ginseng supplementation group (n=31). The eradication regimen consisted of PPI b.i.d., clarithromycin 500 mg b.i.d., and amoxicillin 1 g b.i.d.. for seven days. Korean red ginseng supplementation commenced on the last day of the eradication regimen. $^{13}C$-urea breath test and halimeter measurements were performed prior to protocol repetition. By intention-to-treat analysis, the H. pylori eradication rate in the Korean red ginseng group (77.4%, 24 of 31) was higher than that in the control group (45.0%, 26 of 45). However, by per protocol analysis, the eradication rate in the Korean red ginseng group was significantly higher than that in the control group (92.3%, 24/26 vs. 69.4%, 26/38; p<0.05). H. pylori infection was significantly associated with increased VSC levels. However, VSC levels decreased significantly in the Korean red ginseng group (p<0.05). In conclusion, supplementation of triple therapy with Korean red ginseng increased the H. pylori eradication rate and led to significant reductions in VSC levels, suggesting the usefulness of this substance in combating H. pylori infection.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.367-377
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• 2009

Halitosis is a generally accepted marker of diseases in the oral cavity and of systemic and gastrointestinal disorders. Based on these authors' previous findings (that (1) there is a close association between H. pylori infection and halitosis; (2) Korea red ginseng may suppress the colonization of H. pylori, fight H. pylori-induced cytotoxicity, and impose significant anti-inflammatory actions in patients with chronic gastritis; and (3) H. pylori infection is linked with the generation of significant levels of volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs), and the levels of VSCs correlate significantly with H. pylori-associated mucosal damages), in the current study, the authors documented the molecular mechanisms of Korea red ginseng's efficacy in ameliorating halitosis. When the RAW 264.7 cells were treated with the $H_2S$ releasing compound NaHS, the mRNA expression of cystathionine ${\gamma}$-lyase (CSE), IL-6, COX-2, and iNOS were more significantly induced compared with the vehicle-treated group. The cytoskeletal components of ezrin's and moesin's mRNA expressions were elevated by NaHS treatment accompanied by the activation of MAPK, p38, and ERK. Korea red ginseng pretreatment reduced both the NaHS-induced CSE expression and the proinflammatory genes (e.g., IL-6, COX-2, and iNOS) in a concentration-dependent manner. The ERM expression and the phosphorylation of p38 were also significantly reduced by Korea-red-ginseng pretreatment. Overall, Korea red ginseng pretreatment imposed significant anti-inflammatory effects through the downregulation of the NaHS-triggered proinflammatory gene expression, CSE, and ERM mRNA expression. Korea red ginseng could thus be said to be a key remedy of halitosis and to be effective in relieving gastric inflammation.