title: [Human papillomavirus infection in the oral cavity of denture wearers].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of human papillomavirus(HPV)infections in the oral cavity of middle-aged and elderly dental patients with dentures.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, 47 patients (20 men and 27 women), aged from 50 to 78 years, were randomly selected from the patients in the Department of Prosthodontics, Aichi-Gakuin University Affiliated Dental Hospital. Oral squamous cells were collected from swabs of the buccal mucosa. For this procedure, informed consent was obtained. Extracted DNA was evaluated for HPV infections by PCR methods, using consensus and specific primers, and direct DNA sequencing analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-four of 47 specimens (51.1%) were positive for HPV DNA. A statistically significant association was not found in the HPV positivity between men and women. The high rate of infection was recognized from 60 or more years old. A statistically significant association was found in the HPV positivity between non-denture wearers and denture wearers. Frequent HPV types in the specimens of all were HPV11, 4 and 16. Frequent HPV types in the specimens of non-denture wearers and denture wearers were HPV4, 11 and HPV11, 16 and 4, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the present investigation indicate that HPV is present in the oral cavity, especially those of denture wearers, of middle-aged and elderly patients. It is suggested, therefore, that the oral cavity of middle-aged and elderly patients with dentures is a reservoir of HPVs where later HPV-associated diseases, such as oral cancer and other oral lesions, may develop.
authors.affiliation: The Second Department of Prosthodontics, School of Dentistry, Aichi-Gakuin University, Nagoya, 464-8651 Aichi. nyanpoy@dpc.aichi-gakuin.ac.jp
authors.forename: Yoshie
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nishimura
authors.forename: Hatsuhiko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Maeda
authors.forename: Masami
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hattori
authors.forename: Fumihiro
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Azumaya
authors.forename: Ikuro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Muramatsu
authors.forename: Yoichiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kameyama
authors.forename: Yoshinobu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Toyozo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kawaguchi