Ca-channel blocker-induced gingival overgrowth that improved with non-surgical therapy during visiting care: a case report.

OBJECTIVES: To present a case of gingival overgrowth during visiting care. BACKGROUND: Ca-channel blocker-induced gingival overgrowth is a well-known adverse event. However, only limited information on the treatment of calcium-channel blocker-induced gingival overgrowth during visiting care has been reported. CLINICAL REPORT: The patient was an 88-year-old female living in a nursing home since dementia. She had been taking a calcium-channel blocker and observed gingival overgrowth. Initial therapy was performed and changed the antihypertensive medication from a calcium-channel blocker to an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor. After initial therapy, the gingival overgrowth improved significantly. In addition, the defecation rate was improved. CONCLUSION: This case indicated that periodontal therapy is useful even for dementia patients during visiting dental care.

Preventive effect of lactoferrin intake on anemia in female long distance runners.

This study investigated whether intake of lactoferrin (LF) would improve or prevent anemia in female long distance runners who were training during the summer season and had a high risk of iron-deficiency anemia. Sixteen female long distance runners were divided into a group taking LF and iron (the LF group) and a group that only took iron (the control group) for 8 weeks. In the control group, the ferritin, serum iron, and red blood cell count were significantly lower than before treatment. In the LF group, the hematology data showed no significant change during the 8 weeks. The red blood cell count was significantly higher in the LF group than in the control group. The blood lactate level following a 3,000-m pace run of the control group was also significantly higher than that of the LF group. These observations suggest the possibility that intake of LF increases the absorption and utilization of iron and would be useful in the prevention of iron deficiency anemia among female long distance runners.

A novel combination antimetabolite, TAS-102, exhibits antitumor activity in FU-resistant human cancer cells through a mechanism involving FTD incorporation in DNA.

TAS-102 is a new antimetabolite agent composed of a alpha, alpha, alpha-trifluorothymidine (FTD; 1 M) and thymidine phosphorylase inhibitor (TPI; 0.5 M). Here, we investigated the antitumor effect and mechanism of TAS-102 against 5-FU, or FdUrd, resistant human cancer cell lines. The respective tumor growth inhibition rate of orally administered FTD against 5-FU-resistant NUGC-3 was about 70% at a dose level of 200 mg/kg/day; this value was comparable to that against the parental NUGC-3. On the other hand, the tumor inhibition rates of 5-FU, FdUrd, and TS-1 against 5-FU-resistant NUGC-3 were lower than those against parental NUGC-3. Similar observations were made in an FdUrd-resistant human colorectal cancer cell line (DLD-1). TAS-102 was also effective in 5-FU-less sensitive human pancreatic cancer cell lines (PAN-12 and BxPC-3) and human esophagus cancer (T.T.) when compared with 5-FU or UFT. Our hypothesis was that a relatively short and high dosage of TAS-102 results in an additional mechanism of FTD incorporation into DNA other than thymidylate synthase (TS) inhibition. We then examined the effects of FTD on DNA at the cellular level. After treatment with FTD or FdUrd, the DNA fragmentation pattern was examined using filter elution and in situ nick translation. Treatment with FTD for 2 h resulted in marked DNA fragmentation. When the tumor cells were treated with FTD for 72 h or with FdUrd for 2 or 72 h, only a small amount of DNA fragmentation was observed, and the appearance of the tumor cells did not differ markedly from that of untreated cells. Moreover, the DNA fragmentation rate in the TAS-102 treatment group was significantly higher than that in the control group in vivo. These results suggest that when tumor cells are exposed to high concentrations of FTD for short periods of time, FTD manifests its antitumor activity primarily through the induction of DNA fragmentation after FTD incorporation into the DNA. We conclude that TAS-102 is expected to manifest antitumor effects against 5-FU-resistant tumors that are similar to those exerted in 5-FU-sensitive tumors.

Subpopulation of nestin-expressing progenitor cells in the adult murine hippocampus shows electrophysiological and morphological characteristics of astrocytes.

Based on the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), a recent hypothesis considered stem or progenitor cells in the adult hippocampus to be a type of astrocyte. In a complementary approach, we used transgenic mice expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) under the promoter for nestin, an intermediate filament present in progenitor cells, to demonstrate astrocytic features in nestin-GFP-positive cells. Morphologically, two subpopulations of nestin-GFP-positive cells were distinguishable; one had an elaborate tree of processes in the granule cell layer and expression of GFAP (but not of S100beta, another astrocytic marker). Electron microscopy revealed vascular end feet of nestin-positive cells, further supporting astrocytic differentiation. Electrophysiological examination of nestin-GFP-positive cells on acutely isolated hippocampal slices showed passive current characteristics of astrocytes in one subset of cells. Among the nestin-GFP-expressing cells with lacking astrocytic features, two cell types could be identified electrophysiologically: cells with delayed-rectifying potassium currents and a very small number of cells with sodium currents, potentially representing signs of the earliest steps of neuronal differentiation.