A new model for demonstrating enamel protection benefits relative to acid challenge.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the applicability of a modified US FDA Caries Monograph test method for measuring the protective benefits of fluoride (F) against erosive, dietary acids. METHODS: Acid-challenged teeth were treated in two studies with a dentifrice, rinsed, and then re-challenged in a series of tests using three dietary acids. Study 1 included dentifrices containing 1450 ppm F as sodium fluoride (NaF) + triclosan [A], 1450 ppm F (NaF) + potassium nitrate (KNO3) [B], 1000 ppm F as sodium monofluorophosphate (SMFP) [C], and 0 ppm F (placebo) [D]. Study 2 included dentifrices containing 1450 ppm F (NaF) [A]; and 0 ppm F (placebo) [B]. Acids were analyzed for phosphate removed during tooth challenges, with post-treatment results compared to baseline. Results were averaged and reported as a % protection value for each product, with higher values indicating greater protection. RESULTS: Study 1: % protection for A = 16.4; B = 13.0; C = 7.1; and D = -5.2. Study 2: A = 15.2; B = -10.5, with A = B > C > D: Study 1; and A > B: Study 2. In each study, p < 0.05, ANOVA. CONCLUSIONS: The model provides a viable tool for initially assessing the potential for fluoride-containing oral care products to protect teeth against erosive, dietary acids. This can then lead to further and more elaborate testing with reasonable expectations for outcomes.

The tobacco industry's past role in weight control related to smoking.

BACKGROUND: Smoking is thought to produce an appetite-suppressing effect by many smokers. Thus, the fear of body weight gain often outweighs the perception of health benefits associated with smoking cessation, particularly in adolescents. We examined whether the tobacco industry played a role in appetite and body weight control related to smoking and smoking cessation. METHODS: We performed a systematic search within the archives of six major US and UK tobacco companies (American Tobacco, Philip Morris, RJ Reynolds, Lorillard, Brown & Williamson and British American Tobacco) that were Defendants in tobacco litigation settled in 1998. Findings are dated from 1949 to 1999. RESULTS: The documents revealed the strategies planned and used by the industry to enhance effects of smoking on weight and appetite, mostly by chemical modifications of cigarettes contents. Appetite-suppressant molecules, such as tartaric acid and 2-acetylpyridine were added to some cigarettes. CONCLUSION: These tobacco companies played an active and not disclaimed role in the anti-appetite effects of smoking, at least in the past, by adding appetite-suppressant molecules into their cigarettes.

[Analysis of adverse reaction induced by articaine hydrochloride and epinephrine tartrate injection in 75 cases].

Objective: To investigate the causes and clinical manifestation of adverse reaction of articaine hydrochloride and epinephrine tartrate injection. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the adverse drug reactions (ADR) of local anesthetic articaine hydrochloride and epinephrine tartrate injection. Results: In 75 cases of adverse reactions, there were 40 cases of female and 35 cases of male. Adverse reactions occured more frequently at the age of 3-10 [33% (25/75)] and 1-10 min and one day after injection, respectively accounting for 20% (15/75), and two days, accounting for 15% (15/75), 10-21 days accounting for 8% (6/75). The main manifestations were injection site ulcers, followed by skin reactions such as pain, swelling, necrosis and pruritus at the injection site. Conclusions: The main adverse reactions of articaine hydrochloride and epinephrine tartrate injection are the injection site ulceration, followed by injection site pain, rash, pruritus and drowsiness, nausea and dizziness, palpitations, sweat and hypotension. Doctors should ask the medical history in detail and pay close attention to the patient's medication safety.

Erosive potential of vitamin and vitamin+mineral effervescent tablets.

The extrinsic sources for erosion-causing acids are primarily acidic beverages and foodstuffs. Effervescent tablets also contain organic acids (e.g. citric, tartaric, malic) in order to form carbon dioxide by contact with water – with the help of the carbonate salts of the tablets. To adequately inform patients about the possible erosive potential of effervescent tablets, this study was undertaken in order to investigate the erosive potential of effervescent tablets (ET), containing either a combination of vitamins and minerals or vitamins only, commercially available in Switzerland. One hundred and ninety-two bovine enamel samples were prepared and allocated to 16 groups (A–H and 1–8; n = 12/group). Samples were eroded (120 s/erosive cycle) in freshly prepared solutions (200 ml/12 samples) comprised of tap water and a supplement as follows: none (control groups, A and 1); vitamin+mineral ET: Qualite and Prix (B), Optisana (C), Well and Active (D), Actilife All in One (E), Berocca (F), Isostar (G) and Qualite and Prix Mg + Vit C (H); vitamin ET: Actilife-Multivitamin (2), Sunlife Vitamin C (3), Optisana Vitamin C (4), Optisana Multivitamin (5), Well and Active Multivitamin (6), Kneipp Vitamin C+Zink (7) and Sunlife Multivitamin (8). Enamel loss was measured using profilometry after 10 and 20 erosive cycles. For the vitamin+mineral ET, no loss was observed in groups B–E. Significantly highest enamel loss (mean ± SD) after 20 cycles was observed for Isostar (5.26 ± 0.76 µm) and Qualite and Prix Mg + Vit C (5.12 ± 0.67 µm). All vitamine ET showed erosive enamel loss. Significantly highest loss was observed for Sunlife Multivitamin (8.45 ± 1.08 µm), while the lowest loss was observed for Actilife-Multivitamin (5.61 ± 1.08 µm) after 20 cycles. Some of the tested effervescent tablets showed a considerable erosive potential and patients should be informed accordingly.

Prospective, randomized, double-blind study of the efficacy and tolerability of the extended-release formulations of oxybutynin and tolterodine for overactive bladder: results of the OPERA trial.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and tolerability of extended-release formulations of oxybutynin chloride and tolterodine tartrate in women with overactive bladder. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The OPERA (Overactive bladder: Performance of Extended Release Agents) trial was a randomized, double-blind, active-control study performed at 71 US study centers from November 21, 2000, to October 18,2001. Extended-release formulations of oxybutynin at 10 mg/d or tolterodine at 4 mg/d were given for 12 weeks to women with 21 to 60 urge urinary incontinence (UUI) episodes per week and an average of 10 or more voids per 24 hours. Episodes of UUI (primary end point), total (urge and nonurge) incontinence, and micturition were recorded in 24-hour urinary diaries at baseline and at weeks 2, 4, 8, and 12 and compared. Adverse events were also evaluated. RESULTS: Improvements in weekly UUI episodes were similar for the 790 women who received extended-release formulations of oxybutynin (n = 391) or tolterodine (n = 399). Oxybutynin was significantly more effective than tolterodine in reducing micturition frequency (P = .003), and 23.0% of women taking oxybutynin reported no episodes of urinary incontinence compared with 16.8% of women taking tolterodine (P = .03). Dry mouth, usually mild, was more common with oxybutynin (P = .02). Adverse events were generally mild and occurred at low rates, with both groups having similar discontinuation of treatment due to adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Reductions in weekly UUI and total incontinence episodes were similar with extended-release formulations of oxybutynin and tolterodine. In the oxybutynin group, micturition frequency was significantly lower, and the percentage of women reporting no urinary incontinence episodes was significantly higher compared with the tolterodine group. Dry mouth was more common with oxybutynin, but tolerability was otherwise comparable, including adverse events involving the central nervous system.

Prospective randomized controlled trial of extended-release oxybutynin chloride and tolterodine tartrate in the treatment of overactive bladder: results of the OBJECT Study.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and tolerability of extended-release oxybutynin chloride and tolterodine tartrate at 12 weeks in participants with overactive bladder. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The OBJECT (Overactive Bladder: Judging Effective Control and Treatment) study was a prospective, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group study conducted between March and October 2000 at 37 US study sites. Participants who had between 7 and 50 episodes of urge incontinence per week and 10 or more voids in 24 hours received extended-release oxybutynin, 10 mg/d, or tolterodine, 2 mg twice daily. The outcome measures were the number of episodes of urge incontinence, total incontinence, and micturition frequency at 12 weeks adjusted for baseline. RESULTS: A total of 315 women and 63 men were randomized and treated, and 332 participants (276 women, 56 men) completed the study. At the end of the study, extended-release oxybutynin was significantly more effective than tolterodine in each of the main outcome measures: weekly urge incontinence (P=.03), total incontinence (P=.02), and micturition frequency episodes (P=.02) adjusted for baseline. Both drugs improved symptoms of overactive bladder significantly from baseline to the end of the study as assessed by the 3 main outcome measures (P<.001). Dry mouth, the most common adverse event, was reported by 28.1% and 33.2% of participants taking extended-release oxybutynin and tolterodine, respectively (P=.32). Rates of central nervous system and other adverse events were low and similar in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Extended-release oxybutynin was more effective than tolterodine as measured by end-of-study urge incontinence, total incontinence, and micturition frequency episodes. Both groups had similar rates of dry mouth and other adverse events.

A comparison of the effects on saliva output of oxybutynin chloride and tolterodine tartrate.

BACKGROUND: Oxybutynin chloride and tolterodine tartrate are anticholinergic agents used to suppress involuntary bladder contractions in urinary incontinence. They act by inhibiting binding of acetylcholine to the muscarinic receptors in the detrusor muscle of the bladder. The same types of muscarinic receptors are found in the salivary glands; thus anticholinergic agents may decrease saliva production and cause dry mouth, a commonly cited reason for discontinuation of therapy. OBJECTIVE: The primary objective of this study was to compare saliva output, which is an objective measure of dry mouth, in subjects taking immediate- or extended-release oxybutynin, tolterodine, or placebo. METHODS: This was a single-site, single-dose, randomized, double-blind, 4-treatment, 4-period crossover study. Subjects were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatment sequences that included extended-release oxybutynin 10 mg, tolterodine 2 mg, immediate-release oxybutynin 5 mg, and placebo. Saliva output was measured objectively before dosing with each treatment and at 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 hours after dosing. RESULTS: Thirty-six healthy adult volunteers (22 women and 14 men) participated in the study. They ranged in age from 19 to 42 years (mean, 27 years). Thirty-one were white, 3 Asian, and 2 black. There were no significant differences in predose saliva output between the 4 study groups. With placebo, saliva output increased throughout the day. Saliva output was maintained at predose levels throughout the day with extended-release oxybutynin. Two hours after dosing with tolterodine and immediate-release oxybutynin, saliva output decreased nearly 0.5 g in specimens collected over 2 minutes. All 3 active treatments were associated with lower saliva output compared with placebo. Extended-release oxybutynin and tolterodine were similar with respect to area under the saliva concentration-time curve but were associated with significantly greater saliva output than was immediate-release oxybutynin (P < 0.01). There were no serious adverse events (AEs) in this study. AEs were similar between treatments, although the incidence of headache was higher in the active-treatment groups than with placebo. CONCLUSIONS: Objective assessment of saliva output in healthy adult volunteers indicated that extended-release oxybutynin and tolterodine had less impact on saliva output than did conventional immediate-release oxybutynin, suggesting that they may yield lower levels of dry mouth.

Acids with an equivalent taste lead to different erosion of human dental enamel.

OBJECTIVES: The consumption of acidic soft drinks may lead to demineralization and softening of human dental enamel, known as dental erosion. The aims of this in vitro study were to determine: (i) if different acids with a similar sensorial acidic taste lead to different hardness loss of enamel and (ii) if the fruit acids tartaric, malic, lactic or ascorbic acid lead to less hardness loss of enamel than citric or phosphoric acid when their concentration in solution is based on an equivalent sensorial acidic taste. METHODS: Enamel samples of non-erupted human third molars were treated with acidic solutions of tartaric (TA), malic (MA), lactic (LA), ascorbic (AA), phosphoric (PA) and citric (CA) acids with a concentration that gave an equivalent sensorial acidic taste. The acidic solutions were characterized by pH value and titratable acidity. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) based nanoindentation was used to study the nano mechanical properties and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to study the morphology of the treated enamel samples and the untreated control areas, respectively. RESULTS: The investigated acids fell into two groups. The nano hardnesses of MA, TA and CA treated enamel samples (group I) were statistically significantly greater (p<0.05) than the nano hardnesses of PA, AA and LA treated enamel samples (group II). Within each group the nano hardness was not statistically significantly different (p>0.05). The SEM micrographs showed different etch prism morphologies depending on the acid used. SIGNIFICANCE: In vitro, the acids investigated led to different erosion effects on human dental enamel, despite their equivalent sensorial acidic taste. This has not been reported previously.

The kappa opioid receptor agonist SA14867 has antinociceptive and weak sedative effects in models of acute and chronic pain.

We examined the analgesic effect of the selective kappa opioid receptor agonist SA14867 and the balance of its antinociceptive and sedative effects. The ED(50) values of SA14867 after oral administration for acetic acid-induced writhing, first and second phases of the formalin test, and rotarod test in mice were 6.1, 9.3, 2.7, and 19.5mg/kg, respectively. These values were smaller than those of the conventional kappa receptor agonists asimadoline and U-50488H. However, the balance of the antinociceptive and sedative effects of SA14867 was better than those of the other two drugs. Orally administered SA14867 (0.1-1mg/kg) significantly improved the decreased pain threshold in a specific alternation of rhythm in an environmental temperature (SART)-stressed model by prophylactic and therapeutic treatment. Improvement in the decreased pain threshold of SA14867-treated animals was attenuated by the opioid receptor antagonist naloxone. Furthermore, orally administered asimadoline (10-100mg/kg) improved the decreased pain threshold in a SART-stressed model, but the doses were close to those known to induce sedative effects. In addition, SA14867 (0.1-1mg/kg) significantly inhibited the arthritis-induced decrease in the pain threshold. Subcutaneously administered morphine (0.1-1mg/kg) improved the decreased pain threshold in a SART-stressed model; on the contrary, morphine did not inhibit the arthritis-induced decrease in the pain threshold. Moreover, orally administered SA14867 (0.1-1mg/kg) strongly attenuated mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia in a sciatic nerve ligation model. These results suggest that SA14867 has analgesic effects on chronic pain and may serve as a new therapeutic agent for pain treatment.

Antilisterial activity and consumer acceptance of irradiated chicken breast meat vacuum-infused with grape seed and green tea extracts and tartaric acid.

Contamination of poultry with pathogenic bacteria contributes to human foodborne disease, causes damage to industry brand names, and has a significant economic impact on the food industry in the form of both damage to industry brand names and losses associated with recalls. Irradiation is a safe and effective means of decontaminating poultry products, but the maximum dose strengths allowed negatively impact poultry sensory quality characteristics. The 1st objective of this study was to investigate the potential interactive inhibitory effects of natural antimicrobials as components of a vacuum-marination in addition to various dose levels of irradiation. Tartaric acid (TA) at 2 levels and grape seed (GS) and green tea (GT) extracts were combined, vacuum-infused into chicken breast fillets, and irradiated at 1, 2, and 3 kGy by electron beam irradiation. The 2nd objective was to use a consumer test group to evaluate TA and plant extract infusion into chicken breast fillets with and without irradiation at 2 kGy on overall impression, flavor, texture, appearance, and tenderness. The results showed that samples vacuum-infused with TA at 37.5 and 75.0 mM and irradiated at 1 kGy significantly reduced Listeria monocytogenes (L.m.) levels by 2 and 3 log CFU/g compared to the control after 12 d of refrigerated storage. Vacuum-infusion of TA at 37.5 and 75.0 mM at 2 and 3 kGy irradiation, reduced L.m. to near nondetectable levels. The addition of TA and GS and GT to chicken breast fillets with and without irradiation did not significantly impact consumer preference, tenderness, appearance, or flavor. The addition of tartaric acid and natural plant extracts to chicken marinades could contribute to the prevention of L.m. contamination.

[Study of a group of subjects occupationally exposed to tartaric acid]. / Indagine su un gruppo di soggetti con esposizione professionale ad acido tartarico.

The Authors report the results of an investigation carried out in a factory producing tartaric acid in order to evaluate the effects of occupational exposure to this substance. A group of 44 subjects exposed to the acid and a group of 30 subjects not exposed, as a means of control, were submitted to anamnestic questionnaire, othorinolaringoyatric examination, spirometry, bronchodilatation test with salbutamol. Our data show a higher prevalence of oropharyngeal and cutaneous lesions in the exposed subjects, while no difference between the two groups was found for dental, bronchial and gastric lesions.

The acidity (pH) and buffering capacity of Canadian fruit juice and dental implications.

Excessive consumption of acidic fruit juices is associated with dental morbidity. The pH and buffering capacities of fruit juices packaged and consumed in Canada were measured, and the implications on dental pathology of consuming juices of these qualities are discussed. Canadian fruit juices have a pH below the critical dissolving pH of enamel, and have buffering capacities similar to juices produced and consumed elsewhere in the world. Citrus, apple, and grape juice, or blends of these juices, are all potentially hazardous to teeth. Erosion, attrition, decay and dentinal hypersensitivity may all result from abusive juice drinking.

Therapeutic efficacy of extended release oxybutynin chloride, and immediate release and long acting tolterodine tartrate in children with diurnal urinary incontinence.

PURPOSE: We compare the tolerability and efficacy of extended release oxybutynin chloride, and immediate release and long acting tolterodine tartrate in children with nonneurogenic diurnal urinary incontinence and symptoms of overactive bladder. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Children with a history of diurnal urinary incontinence were arbitrarily assigned to extended release oxybutynin, immediate release tolterodine or long acting tolterodine. The dose was titrated until effective (onset of complete diurnal urinary continence), maximal recommended dosage was achieved or bothersome anticholinergic side effects developed. An independent observer recorded the dose used, anticholinergic side effects and efficacy of therapy (incidence of urinary frequency, urgency, posturing and urinary incontinence). RESULTS: The study included 86 girls and 46 boys. There were no statistically significant differences among the 3 treatment groups regarding the presence of peripheral or central nervous system anticholinergic side effects. Extended release oxybutynin and long acting tolterodine were significantly more effective at reducing daytime urinary incontinence than immediate release tolterodine (p <0.01 and 0 <0.05, respectively). Extended release oxybutynin was significantly more effective then long acting tolterodine for complete resolution of diurnal incontinence (p <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Extended release oxybutynin and long acting tolterodine are more effective than immediate release tolterodine in decreasing diurnal urinary incontinence. Extended release oxybutynin chloride is more effective than either immediate or long acting tolterodine for control of daytime urinary incontinence and urinary frequency.