The influence of gender on the relationship between dental anxiety and oral health‐related emotional well‐being

International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry 2013; 23: 180–187 Background and aim. Children’s dental fear and/or anxiety (DFA) has been associated with declines in oral health and quality of life. The influence of gender on the relationship between DFA and oral health‐related well‐being in children is analysed. Design. The decayed, missing and filled permanent teeth (DMFT) index was obtained from 161 school‐aged children (7–14 years old). Data from children’s self‐assessed oral health, oral health‐related emotional well‐being and dental anxiety were collected using questionnaires. Results. Low scores of emotional well‐being were associated with negative self‐assessment of oral health and high levels of dental anxiety. Females reported decreased oral health‐related emotional well‐being compared with males. The analysis of possible moderating effects confirmed that gender influenced the relationship between oral health and DFA. The DMFT index was not associated with self‐assessed oral health status, emotional well‐being or DFA. Conclusion. For girls, high levels of DFA were associated with low levels of oral health‐related emotional well‐being. In contrast, dental fear and/or anxiety did not influence oral health‐related emotional well‐being in boys.     

Barriers to Disclosure Among Sexually Abused Male Children

This article identifies, through a critical review of current research, several factors that may account for the reluctance of male children to disclose details of sexual abuse. The factors then are related to implications for practice and research that are relevant for child and adolescent mental health nurses.     

Stereochemical Aspects of the Molecular Pharmaceutics of Ibuprofen

Abstract— Thermal analysis, thermodynamics of solution and molecular modelling of (+)-ibuprofen and (+)-ibuprofen gave information on how heterochiral or homochiral interactions would affect the processing of ibuprofen. The study confirmed that (±)-ibuprofen exists as a true racemate with a 10% eutectic pure enantiomer composition. Both the racemate and the (+)-isomer crystal unit cells include four molecules and crystallize in the P2_1/c and P2₁ space groups, respectively. Thus the intermolecular forces were different in each crystal. As a consequence the (+)-enantiomer lattice was more fragile but only slightly more soluble than the racemate in aqueous media. The solid-state structure contributions to solubility were different for the two crystals (ΔH(+) = 51·1 and ΔH(±) = 32–2 kJ mol^?1) but the standard free energies of the solutions were comparable for both compounds.     

VB20B7, a Novel 5-HT-ergic Agent with Gastrokinetic Activity. I. Interaction with 5-HT3 and 5-HT4 Receptors

This study describes the in-vitro interaction of the gastrokinetic agent 2[1-(4-piperonyl)piperazinyl]benzothiazole (VB20B7) with the 5-hydroxytryptamine 5-HT₃ and 5-HT₄ receptor subtypes, using functional as well as radioligand binding studies. The benzamide derivative cisapride was used as a comparison. In radioligand binding assays VB20B7 showed, like cisapride, a weak affinity at 5-HT₃ receptors from rat cerebral cortex. The new compound lacked any affinity at other 5-HT receptors or at dopaminergic D₂ receptors, whereas cisapride showed high affinity for the 5-HT₄ receptors from guinea-pig hippocampus and moderate affinity at dopaminergic D₂ receptors. In the non-stimulated guinea-pig ileum, the concentration-response curves to the specific 5-HT₃ agonist 2-Me-5-HT and to 5-HT were shifted to the right by VB20B7. In the rat oesophagus tunica muscularis mucosae preparation (TMM), VB20B7 was evaluated for its activity at 5-HT₄ receptors. VB20B7 behaved as a 5-HT₄ receptor agonist, inducing a concentration-dependent relaxation of the preparation precontracted with carbachol. In this preparation, VB20B7 and cisapride were able to stimulate adenylate cyclase activity, an effect probably mediated through activation of 5-HT₄ receptors, as can be inferred from the blockade by the 5-HT₄ antagonist, tropisetron, of the enhanced cAMP formation. However, consistent with the lack of affinity at central 5-HT₄ receptors, VB20B7 did not stimulate cAMP formation in guinea-pig hippocampal slices. VB20B7 also caused an increase in the twitch response of the transmurally stimulated guinea-pig ileum, although at a concentration higher than cisapride. This effect was blocked by desensitization of the 5-HT₄ receptor with 5-MeOT and also by the 5-HT₄ receptor antagonist tropisetron. Both VB20B7 and cisapride increased the K+-evoked acetylcholine release in this preparation. The results show that VB20B7 possesses affinity for 5-HT₄ receptors located in the rat TMM and guinea-pig ileum preparations, but is devoid of affinity at central 5-HT₄ receptors. In addition, VB20B7 shows low to moderate affinity at both central and peripheral (enteric) 5-HT₃ receptors The interaction of VB20B7 with the peripheral 5-HT₄ and 5-HT₃ receptors may be relevant for the gastrokinetic effects of the new compound.     

Selective ligands for opioid receptors: β-Cyclopropylalanyl containing analogs of enkephalin

The synthesis and resolution of the amino acid β-cyclopropylalanine (Cpr) and its incorporation into four enkephalin analogs is reported. The analogs prepared were: Tyr - l - Cpr - Gly - Phe - Pen (des - COOH - Nle = n - pentylamide = Pen) (l -Cpr²-Pen⁵-ENK), Tyr-d -Cpr-Gly-Phe-Pen (d -Cpr²-Pen⁵-ENK), l -Cpr-Tyr-d -Ala-Gly-Phe-Pen (l -Cpr⁰-d -Ala²-Pen⁵-ENK) and d -Cpr-Tyr-d -Ala-Gly-Phe-Pen (d -Cpr⁰-d -Ala²-Pen⁵-ENK). Each was tested for its ability to inhibit the field stimulated guinea pig ileum (GPI) and rat vas deferens (RVD) and the results compared to the effect d -Ala²-d -Leu⁵-enkephalin (DADLE) has on the same preparations. The results show that at concentrations up to 10^-5 m all four analogs, as well as DADLE, are full agonists on the GPI preparation. The concentrations necessary to produce a 50% inhibition of the twitch response were, DADLE, 3.5 °× 10^-8 m ; l - Cpr⁰-d -Ala²-Pen⁵-ENK, 6.0 × 10^-8 m ; d -Cpr²-Pen⁵-ENK, 1.1 × 10^-7 m ; l -Cpr²-Pen⁵-ENK, 1.2 × 10^-6 m and d -Cpr⁰-d -Ala²-Pen⁵-ENK, > 10^-5 m . On RVD a different result was observed with only DADLE (1.3 × 10^-6 m ) and l -Cpr⁰-Pen⁵-enkephalin (1.8 × 10^-6 m ) showing full agonist activity. d -Cpr²-Pen⁵-ENK was a partial agonist (29 · 5% inhibition of the twitch at 10^-5 m ) while d -Cpr⁰-d -Ala²-Pen⁵-ENK and l -Cpr²-Pen⁵-ENK did not inhibit the twitch at concentrations up to 10^-5 m . These compounds which were inactive or of low potency on each preparation were also tested as antagonists. Only d -Cpr²-Pen⁵-ENK was an antagonist (pA₂ = 6.09) versus DADLE on RVD while d -Cpr⁰-d -Ala²-Pen⁵-ENK was inactive as an antagonist on both GPI and RVD. d -Cpr²-Pen⁵-ENK, therefore, represents the first enkephalin analog to be categorized as a mixed agonist-antagonist.