Fluoride concentrations in saliva in relation to chewing of various supplementary fluoride preparations

Abstract – Fluoride concentrations were measured in whole saliva samples collected from 16 subjects at different intervals up to 60 min after chewing of various supplementary F preparations: chewable E tablets (0.21 mg F), plain F tablets (0.25 mg F) or F-containing chewing gum (0.25 mg F). Each of the F preparations was administered in a low dose (0.21–0.23 mg F) or in a high dose (0.42–0.50 mg F). Mean resting levels of fluoride in saliva ranged from 0.03 to 0.05 parts/10⁶. Peak values averaging 15–25 parts F/10⁶ in the low-dose group and 25–40 parts F/10⁶ in the high-dose group were recorded within 5 min after intake. After 30 min, the salivary fluoride concentrations in both groups had decreased to levels below 1 part/10⁶ and approached resting levels 60 min after intake. The availability of fluoride in saliva, as estimated from AUC values (areas under curves, relating fluoride concentrations to the time from 0 to 60 min), was similar with each of the preparations applied in the low dose. When used in the high dose, the chewing gum and also the plain tablets provided significantly more fluoride in saliva than the chewable tablets. The data may suggest that unflavored plain F tablets are equally suitable as a vehicle for fluoride aiming at a topical cariostatic effect as specially designed chawable tablets or chewing gum.     

PLASMA ANGIOTENSIN II AND THE CONTROL OF DIABETES MELLITUS

Plasma angiotensin II was measured in twenty patients with poorly controlled non-ketotic diabetes mellitus, and again when blood glucose control improved. Plasma angiotensin II fell significantly with improved control, both when patients were supine and fasting overnight, and when studied after 4 h ambulation. The change occurred with improved short-term and longer-term control. It is concluded that the degree of blood glucose control is important when assessing the renin-angiotensin system in diabetic patients.     

Treatment of polymorphous light eruption with nicotinamide: a pilot study

In a pilot study, 42 patients suffering from polymorphous light eruption (PLE) were treated with oral nicotinamide, 3 g daily, for 2 weeks. Twenty-five patients remained free from lesions despite extensive sun exposure. We suggest that an abnormality in tryptophan metabolism is important in the aetiology of PLE, and that nicotinamide administration partially corrects this.     

Intraoral hydrolysis of monofluorophosphate

Abstract – The intraoral hydrolysis of monofluorophosphate (MFP) was compared in nine subjects with natural teeth and in nine edentulous subjects after a 1-min mouthrinse with a 100 ppm MFP solution. Analyses of total F and F- in whole saliva samples collected up to 15 min after the rinse suggested that apatite catalyzed breakdown of MFP mediated by dental enamel contributes significantly to the intraoral hydrolysis of MFP.     

Synthesis of N-(2-chloroethyl)-N-nitrosocarbamoyl derivatives of biologically active polypeptide hormone fragments

N-(2-chloroethyl)-N-nitrosocarbamoyl derivatives of α-melanotropin and gastrin fragments were synthesized by the acylation of the peptides with active esters of N-(2-chloroethyl)-N-nitrosocarbamic acid. These compounds are supposed to be antitumor agents of low toxicity and increased selectivity.     

Neutral steroid metabolites in patients with uraemia and after renal transplantation: a quantitative and qualitative study in body fluids

Steroid metabolites enriched from urine, haemofiltrate, and CAPD-dialysate (Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis) were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and quantified by capillary gas chromatography. The study included twenty healthy controls, twenty-six non-dialysed uraemics, thirty-nine patients on regular dialysis treatment, and twenty-two allograft recipients. Compared to the 24 h urinary excretion rates of controls the excretion rates of androsterone and etiocholanolone were in the lower normal range up to significantly decreased in the body fluids of all patients, and those of the corticoid metabolites were also significantly decreased. 11-Oxygenated androstanolones in urine from non-dialysed uraemics correlated significantly decreased. 11-oxygenated androstano-levels and were significantly increased, but normal in haemofiltrate and CAPD-dialysate, while in urine of allograft recipients the values were significantly lower.     

ALTERATIONS IN GAP JUNCTION PROTEIN EXPRESSION IN HUMAN BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA AND PROSTATE CANCER

PURPOSE: Gap junctions composed of connexin proteins have an essential role in intercellular communication and differentiation. Dysregulation of connexin expression is believed to have a role in carcinogenesis. The human prostate has been reported to express connexin 32 and 43. However, the expression pattern in prostate cancer is controversial, while to our knowledge connexin expression has not been reported in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). To understand the potential involvement in prostate disease connexin 32 and 43 expression was evaluated in a series of normal prostate, BPH and prostate cancer specimens that were surgically removed due to bladder outlet obstruction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Frozen sections of 23 normal, 43 BPH and 40 cancer involved prostates were evaluated for the presence, staining intensity and pattern of connexin 32 and 43 by immunocytochemical testing. RESULTS: In all specimens examined connexin 43 stain was punctate along the borders of the basal epithelial cells, whereas connexin 32 immunolocalized to luminal epithelial cells. In normal prostate connexin 43 and 32 were present in 87% and 65% of specimens, respectively, at low to moderate stain intensity. Importantly none of the normal samples were negative foreach connexin. In BPH specimens there was a marked increase in the incidence and intensity of connexin 43 and 32 immunostaining within epithelial cells. In addition, 23% of BPH samples showed strong connexin 43 expression in stromal cells. In contrast, connexin was decreased in prostate cancer specimens, of which 65% and 38% were negative for connexin 43 and 32, respectively, and 28% were negative for each type. In poorly differentiated tumors connexin 43 and 32 were present in only 10% and 40% of tumors, respectively, at low immunostaining intensity. CONCLUSIONS: In normal human prostate basal cells communicate via connexin 43 gap junctions, whereas luminal cells communicate via connexin 32 gap junctions. In BPH gap junctional intercellular communication is increased in epithelial and stromal cells, which may have a role in BPH pathogenesis. In prostate cancer gap junctional intercellular communication is decreased, is as indicated by decreased expression of connexin 43 and 32 with severe loss in poorly differentiated prostate cancer. These alterations in connexin expression may have a role in dedifferentiation and tumor progression.     

The identification of urinary bile alcohols by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry in patients with liver disease and in healthy individuals

Abstract. The neutral steroid fractions in the urine of eleven patients suffering from various forms of liver disease with cholestasis and of ten healthy individuals were studied by glass capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The steroid conjugates in urine were enzymatically solvolysed, the liberated steroids extracted and transformed into the trimethylsilylether for measurements.
The excretion rates of androstane and pregnane metabolites of patients with liver disease were far lower than those of healthy persons. The main compounds in the urine of the former were the bile alcohols 27 - nor -3α, 7α, 12α, 24, 25 - pentahydroxy - 5β - cholestane and 3α, 7α, 12α, 25, 26 - pentahydroxy - 5β - cholestane. Our data suggest a correlation between the excretion rates of these bile alcohols and the serum levels of bilirubin. While the excretion rate of the two bile alcohols in the urine of healthy individuals was approximately 0.24 mg/24 h (0.6 μmol/24 h) a patient with a serum bilirubin of 841 μmol/1 excreted 4 mg/24 h (9 μmol/24 h). The accumulation of bile alcohols described in this study possibly indicates alternative pathways of cholic acid formation in liver disease.