Anti-VEGFR therapy is one of the healing inhibitors of antiresorptive-related osteonecrosis of the jaw.

INTRODUCTION: Antiresorptive-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (ARONJ) is a rare but serious adverse event associated with bone-modifying agents (BMAs) and affects patients in the terminal stages of cancer. Molecular targeting drugs (MTDs), anti-vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR), and anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) drugs are essential in various cancer treatments, although MTDs are risk factors for ARONJ. However, the mechanism through which MTDs affect treatment prognosis of ARONJ remains unclear. Therefore, we investigated the potential inhibitory factors for healing in the conservative therapy of ARONJ with a focus on MTDs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty patients who were administered BMAs for the treatment of malignancies and who underwent conservative treatment for ARONJ were assessed. The healing rate of ARONJ for each risk factor was retrospectively evaluated. RESULTS: Among the 60 patients, 27 were male and 33 were female. The median age was 67 years, and the median follow-up period was 292 (range 91-1758) days. The healing rate was lower in those treated with both zoledronic acid (Za) and denosumab (Dmab) than in those treated with Za or Dmab alone (0% vs. 28.8%, p = 0.03). Regarding the administration of MTDs, the treatment rate with anti-VEGFR drugs was 7.1% (p = 0.04), anti-EGFR drugs was 12.5% (p = 0.18), and without MTDs was 36.8%. CONCLUSION: In the conservative treatment of ARONJ, the administration of several BMAs and anti-VEGFR drugs was the factor contributing to the inhibition of healing.

A novel PLP1 mutation F240L identified in a patient with connatal type Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease.

Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease (PMD) is an X-linked recessive hypomyelination disorder caused by mutations in the proteolipid protein 1 gene (PLP1) located on chromosome Xq22. A male patient showed severe developmental delay, pendular nystagmus and laryngeal wheezing. The auditory brain stem response showed only the first wave and brain magnetic resonance imaging showed white matter hypomyelination, suggesting typical PMD. A novel PLP1 mutation, F240L, which was inherited from his mother, was identified.

New formulation of chemical peeling agent: 30% salicylic acid in polyethylene glycol. Absorption and distribution of 14C-salicylic acid in polyethylene glycol applied topically to skin of hairless mice.

Salicylic acid is used in chemical peeling procedures. However, they have caused many side effects, even salicylism. To achieve a salicylic acid peeling that would be safer for topical use, we recently developed a new formulation consisting of 30% salicylic acid in polyethylene glycol (PEG) vehicle. In an extension of our previous research, we studied the absorption of 30% salicylic acid labeled with 14C in PEG vehicle applied topically to the intact and damaged skin of male hairless mice. An ointment containing 3 mg salicylic acid in 10 mg vehicle was applied to both groups. In animals with intact skin, 1 h after application the plasma concentration of radioactivity was 1665.1 ng eq/ml, significantly lower than the 21437.6 ng eq/ml observed in mice with damaged skin. Microautoradiograms of intact skin showed that the level of radioactivity in the cornified cell layer was similar at 6 h after application. However, in damaged skin, the overall level of radioactivity showed a decrease by 3 h after application. In the carcasses remaining after the treated intact and damaged skin had been removed, 0.09 and 11.38% of the applied radioactivity remained, respectively. These findings confirm that 30% salicylic acid in PEG vehicle is little absorbed through the intact skin of hairless mice, and suggest that salicylism related to absorption through the skin of quantities of topically applied salicylic acid is not likely to occur in humans with intact skin during chemical peeling with this preparation. This new preparation of 30% salicylic acid in PEG vehicle is believed to be safe for application as a chemical peeling agent.