Effect of human chorionic gonadotrophin coadministration on the activities of ovarian Delta5-3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, and 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, and ovarian and uterine histology in lithium chloride-treated albino rats

Lithium chloride, a compound with clinical use in bipolar disorder, produces adverse effects on ovarian function in amphibian and rodent models. This study examined the effect of human chorionic gonadotrophin coadministration on ovarian steroidogenic and gametogenic activities in lithium chloride-treated rats. Relative ovarian and uterine weights, ovarian Delta(5)-3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activities, folliculogenesis, uterine diameter, endometrial and myometrial thickness, and uterine luminal epithelial height were decreased significantly after lithium chloride treatment for 28 days at 1.6 mg/kg/day, the human therapeutic dose. These parameters were unchanged from the control level when subcutaneous (s.c.) human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) at 25 microg/kg/day was coadministered with the lithium chloride. The duration of the oestrous cycle was increased in lithium chloride-treated rat with longer metestrous and diestrous phases. Administration of hCG with lithium chloride prevented these estrous cycle alterations. We conclude that hCG can protect ovarian steroidogenic and gametogenic function after lithium chloride treatment.     

Novel treatment of atrophic rhinitis: early results

The aim of this randomized control trial, performed at a tertiary referral hospital, was to compare the therapeutic effectiveness of two novel treatment modalities, oral rifampicin and submucosal placentrex injection, in randomly selected patients of primary atrophic rhinitis regarding objective, subjective and histopathological improvement. Patients treated with oral rifampicin showed most promising results regarding objective, subjective and histopathological improvement with maximum disease-free interval on regular follow-up as compared to submucosal placentrex injections.     

World Workshop on Oral Medicine VI: a systematic review of medication‐induced salivary gland dysfunction

The aim of this paper was to perform a systematic review of the pathogenesis of medication‐induced salivary gland dysfunction (MISGD). Review of the identified papers was based on the standards regarding the methodology for systematic reviews set forth by the World Workshop on Oral Medicine IV and the PRISMA statement. Eligible papers were assessed for both the degree and strength of relevance to the pathogenesis of MISGD as well as on the appropriateness of the study design and sample size. A total of 99 papers were retained for the final analysis. MISGD in human studies was generally reported as xerostomia (the sensation of oral dryness) without measurements of salivary secretion rate. Medications may act on the central nervous system (CNS) and/or at the neuroglandular junction on muscarinic, α‐and β‐adrenergic receptors and certain peptidergic receptors. The types of medications that were most commonly implicated for inducing salivary gland dysfunction were those acting on the nervous, cardiovascular, genitourinary, musculoskeletal, respiratory, and alimentary systems. Although many medications may affect the salivary flow rate and composition, most of the studies considered only xerostomia. Thus, further human studies are necessary to improve our understanding of the association between MISGD and the underlying pathophysiology.