Trials of 3 organic phosphorus-containing compounds as protective agents against dental caries in rats

More than 300 caries-susceptible rats were fed high sucrose diets; possible cariostatic phosphate compounds were administered by incorporation in the diets, in solution in the drinking water, or by topical application. Calcium glycerophosphate was more effective than sodium phytate in reducing caries, but calcium sucrose phosphate had no significant effect.

Dental defects associated with neonatal symptomatic hypocalcaemia

12 children who had had hypocalcaemic convulsions between the 5th and 10th day of life were followed for 2 to 5 years. All 12 children had serious abnormalities of enamel of the canine and molar teeth resulting in progressive destruction of these teeth.

Dental caries and plaque formation from diets containing sucrose or glucose in gnotobiotic rats infected with Streptococcus strain IB-1600

1. Techniques were devised for the operation of a new small-scale gnotobiotic rat unit.

2. The unit was then used to compare the cariogenicity of sucrose and glucose under carefully controlled conditions in the presence of a single strain of a streptococcus, as gnotobiotic experiments by other workers had given conflicting results.

3. Streptococcus IB-1600 was implanted into thirty-four rats, which were then fed on high-sugar diets under gnotobiotic conditions for 5 or 8 weeks from weaning. The level of caries was significantly higher on the sucrose than on the glucose diet, but there was no significant difference in the extent of soft coronal dental plaque.

Hepatitis

Images

Interactions between sympathomimetic amines and antidepressant agents in man

Intravenous infusions of phenylephrine, noradrenaline, adrenaline, and isoprenaline were given to healthy human volunteers after five to seven days on phenelzine, tranylcypromine, or imipramine, and cardiovascular responses were compared with those observed under control conditions. With monoamine oxidase inhibitors there was a 2-2(1/2) fold potentiation of the pressor effect of phenylephrine, but no clinically significant potentiation of cardiovascular effects of noradrenaline, adrenaline, or isoprenaline. With imipramine there was potentiation of the pressor effects of phenylephrine (2-3 fold), noradrenaline (4-8 fold), and adrenaline (2-4 fold); there were dysrhythmias during adrenaline infusions, but no noticeable or consistent changes in response to isoprenaline.Noradrenaline and adrenaline in amounts contained in local anaesthetics used in dentistry are not likely to be significantly potentiated in otherwise healthy patients receiving monoamine oxidase inhibitors. Hazardous potentiation of their cardiovascular effects might occur in patients receiving tricyclic antidepressants.Our observations do not indicate that the hazards associated with isoprenaline inhalation by bronchial asthmatics would be increased by coincident therapy with a monoamine oxidase inhibitor or tricyclic antidepressant.

Fluoride uptake and acid solubility of enamel exposed to carboxylate cement containing MFP

Sound enamel had a significantly higher fluoride content when it was in contact for 7 or 30 days with a carboxylate cement to which 2% or 10% concentrations of sodium monofluorophosphate were added. The solubility of the intact enamel also was reduced by contact with the cement that contained MFP. No significant reduction in enamel solubility was observed when the non-fluoride-containing carboxylate cement was used.

Dental caries

Images

The dental status of cardiac patients

Images

Aphthous ulceration: the antinuclear factor

The incidence of the antinuclear factor in serum of patients with Mikulicz's recurrent oral aphthae (MROA) was compared with that in control serum. The absence of any difference between the two groups suggests that MROA is not an autoimmune disease arising from a central immunologic fault, but could be a local immune response against an antigenically altered mucosa.

Ecology of human oral lactobacilli

Lactobacilli were found in saliva, on teeth, and on the dorsum of the tongue, the vestibular mucosa, and the hard palate in humans. Their proportions in saliva, expressed as percentage of the anaerobically cultivable flora, were 10- to 100-fold higher than those on the tooth surface, but were comparable to those on the epithelial surfaces. The adherence of Lactobacillus casei and L. fermenti to oral surfaces was compared with that of streptomycin-labeled Streptococcus sanguis and S. salivarius by using in vitro-cultivated cells. The affinity of both Lactobacillus species for the tooth surface was very low compared with that of S. sanguis but was somewhat higher than that of S. salivarius. The lactobacilli and both Streptococcus species adhered to a similar extent to the dorsum of the tongue, whereas the affinity of the lactobacilli and S. salivarius for the vestibular mucosa was about one-half of that of S. sanguis. The results suggest that the affinity of lactobacilli for oral surfaces significantly influences their proportional distribution in the mouth. The relatively low affinity of lactobacilli for the tooth surface suggests that their recognized association with carious lesions and mechanical appliances under certain conditions may be due primarily to mechanical retention rather than unique growth conditions.