Comparison of the Clinical Efficacy of Herbal, Chlorhexidine, and Normal Saline Mouthwash in the Management of Chronic Gingivitis.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of chronic gingivitis, a widespread inflammatory condition of the gums, is considerable across the demographic spectrum, with potential progression to advanced periodontal pathology in the absence of intervention. The objective of this investigation was to conduct a comparative analysis of the clinical effectiveness of various oral rinses in mitigating the symptoms of chronic gingivitis. METHODS: This empirical study was conducted within the confines of the Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology. A cohort of 60 individuals diagnosed with chronic gingivitis, ranging from 18 to 45 years of age and inclusive of all sexes, was systematically selected for participation. RESULTS: Quantitative analysis yielded data indicating that the mean score on the gingival index was minimally recorded for participants utilizing herbal mouthwash (HO), in contrast to those administered with normal saline (NS), which displayed the highest mean score. A corresponding trend was observed with the plaque index, where the HO users exhibited the lowest mean values, as opposed to the NS cohort, which demonstrated the highest. CONCLUSION: Employing post-hoc statistical evaluations, a pronounced disparity in the mean gingival index was discerned favoring the chlorhexidine (CHX) and HO groups over the NS group. No statistical significance was detected in the comparative mean gingival index between the CHX and HO cohorts. This pattern of findings was paralleled in the plaque index assessments, where the NS group's values were significantly elevated relative to those of both the CHX and HO groups.

Modulation of resistance artery tone by the trace amine ß-phenylethylamine: dual indirect sympathomimetic and α1-adrenoceptor blocking actions.

The trace amine ß-phenylethylamine (PEA) is normally present in the body at low nanomolar concentrations but can reach micromolar levels after ingestion of drugs that inhibit monoamine oxidase and primary amine oxidase. In vivo, PEA elicits a robust pressor response, but there is no consensus regarding the underlying mechanism, with both vasodilation and constriction reported in isolated blood vessels. Using functional and biochemical approaches, we found that at low micromolar concentrations PEA (1-30 µM) enhanced nerve-evoked vasoconstriction in the perfused rat mesenteric bed but at a higher concentration (100 µM) significantly inhibited these responses. The α2-adrenoceptor antagonist rauwolscine (1 µM) also enhanced nerve-mediated vasoconstriction, but in the presence of both rauwolscine (1 µM) and PEA (30 µM) together, nerve-evoked responses were initially potentiated and then showed time-dependent rundown. PEA (10 and 100 µM) significantly increased noradrenaline outflow from the mesenteric bed as determined by high-pressure liquid chromatography coupled with electrochemical detection. In isolated endothelium-denuded arterial segments, PEA (1 µM to 1 mM) caused concentration-dependent reversal of tone elicited by the α1-adrenoceptor agonists noradrenaline (EC50 51.69 ± 10.8 µM; n = 5), methoxamine (EC50 68.21 ± 1.70 µM; n = 5), and phenylephrine (EC50 67.74 ± 16.72 µM; n = 5) but was ineffective against tone induced by prostaglandin F2 α or U46619 (9,11-dideoxy-9α,11α-methanoepoxyprostaglandin F2 α). In rat brain homogenates, PEA displaced binding of both [(3)H]prazosin (Ki ≈ 25 µM) and [(3)H]rauwolscine (Ki ≈ 1.2 µM), ligands for α1- and α2-adrenoceptors, respectively. These data provide the first demonstration that dual indirect sympathomimetic and α1-adrenoceptor blocking actions underlie the vascular effects of PEA in resistance arteries.

Triton X-100 inhibits L-type voltage-operated calcium channels.

Triton X-100 (TX-100) is a nonionic detergent frequently used at millimolar concentrations to disrupt cell membranes and solubilize proteins. At low micromolar concentrations, TX-100 has been reported to inhibit the function of potassium channels. Here, we have used electrophysiological and functional techniques to examine the effects of TX-100 on another class of ion channels, L-type voltage-operated calcium channels (VOCCs). TX-100 (30 nmol·L(-1) to 3 µmol·L(-1)) caused reversible concentration-dependent inhibition of recombinant L-type VOCC (CaV 1.2) currents and of native L-type VOCC currents recorded from rat vascular smooth muscle cells and cardiac myocytes, and murine and human pancreatic ß-cells. In functional studies, TX-100 (165 nmol·L(-1) to 3.4 µmol·L(-1)) caused concentration-dependent relaxation of rat isolated mesenteric resistance arteries prestimulated with phenylephrine or KCl. This effect was independent of the endothelium. TX-100 (1.6 µmol·L(-1)) inhibited depolarization-induced exocytosis in both murine and human isolated pancreatic ß-cells. These data indicate that at concentrations within the nanomolar to low micromolar range, TX-100 significantly inhibits L-type VOCC activity in a number of cell types, an effect paralleled by inhibition of cell functions dependent upon activation of these channels. This inhibition occurs at concentrations below those used to solubilize proteins and may compromise the use of solutions containing TX-100 in bioassays.

Synthesis and biological investigations of nitric oxide releasing nateglinide and meglitinide type II antidiabetic prodrugs: in-vivo antihyperglycemic activities and blood pressure lowering studies.

A new group of hybrid nitric oxide-releasing type II antidiabetic drugs possessing a 1-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)diazen-1-ium-1,2-diolate (13 and 18), 1-(N,N-diethylamino)diazen-1-ium-1,2-diolate (14 and 19), or nitrooxyethyl (15 and 20) moiety attached to the carboxylic acid group of the type II antidiabetic drugs nateglinide and meglitinide were synthesized. These prodrugs, based on the beneficial properties of nitric oxide (NO), were designed to reduce the risk of adverse cardiovascular events in diabetic patients. Ester prodrugs (13-15 and 18-20) exhibited appreciable oral antihyperglycemic activity comparable to the parent drugs in nonfasted diabetic rats. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure profiles validated the beneficial hypotensive properties of these prodrugs. These prodrugs released NO (1.3-72.2% range) upon incubation with either phosphate buffer solution at pH 7.4 or in the presence of serum. This new type of hybrid NO donor prodrug represents an attractive approach for the rational design of type II antidiabetic drugs with a reduced risk of contraindicated cardiovascular events.

Endothelial calcium-activated potassium channels as therapeutic targets to enhance availability of nitric oxide.

The vascular endothelium plays a critical role in vascular health by controlling arterial diameter, regulating local cell growth, and protecting blood vessels from the deleterious consequences of platelet aggregation and activation of inflammatory responses. Circulating chemical mediators and physical forces act directly on the endothelium to release diffusible relaxing factors, such as nitric oxide (NO), and to elicit hyperpolarization of the endothelial cell membrane potential, which can spread to the surrounding smooth muscle cells via gap junctions. Endothelial hyperpolarization, mediated by activation of calcium-activated potassium (K(Ca)) channels, has generally been regarded as a distinct pathway for smooth muscle relaxation. However, recent evidence supports a role for endothelial K(Ca) channels in production of endothelium-derived NO, and indicates that pharmacological activation of these channels can enhance NO-mediated responses. In this review we summarize the current data on the functional role of endothelial K(Ca) channels in regulating NO-mediated changes in arterial diameter and NO production, and explore the tempting possibility that these channels may represent a novel avenue for therapeutic intervention in conditions associated with reduced NO availability such as hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, smoking, and diabetes mellitus.

On the disruption of biochemical and biological assays by chemicals leaching from disposable laboratory plasticware.

Plastic consumables, used universally in bioscience laboratories, are presumed inert with respect to bioassay outcomes. However, it is clear that many pipette tips, microfuge tubes, and other plastic disposables leach bioactive compounds into assay solutions, profoundly affecting data and experimental interpretation. In this paper we discuss the nature and sources of leachates and review several examples of compromised bioassay data that speak to the probable widespread nature of this largely unrecognised source of error. Strategies for minimizing leachate interferences are discussed.

Endothelial feedback and the myoendothelial projection.

The endothelium plays a critical role in controlling resistance artery diameter, and thus blood flow and blood pressure. Circulating chemical mediators and physical forces act directly on the endothelium to release diffusible relaxing factors, such as NO, and elicit hyperpolarization of the endothelial cell membrane potential, which spreads to the underlying smooth muscle cells via gap junctions (EDH). It has long been known that arterial vasoconstriction in response to agonists is limited by the endothelium, but the question of how contraction of smooth muscle cells leads to activation of the endothelium (myoendothelial feedback) has, until recently, received little attention. Initial studies proposed the permissive movement of Ca(2+) ions from smooth muscle to endothelial cells to elicit release of NO. However, more recent evidence supports the notion that flux of IP(3) leading to localized Ca(2+) events within spatially restricted myoendothelial projections and activation of EDH may underlie myoendothelial feedback. In this perspective, we review recent data which supports the functional role of myoendothelial projections in smooth muscle to endothelial communication. We also discuss the functional evidence supporting the notion that EDH, as opposed to NO, is the primary mediator of myoendothelial feedback in resistance arteries.

Effect of dietary palm olein oil on oxidative stress associated with ischemic-reperfusion injury in isolated rat heart.

BACKGROUND: Palm olein oil (PO), obtained from refining of palm oil is rich in monounsaturated fatty acid and antioxidant vitamins and is widely used as oil in diet in many parts of the world including India. Palm oil has been reported to have beneficial effects in oxidative stress associated with hypertension and arterial thrombosis. Oxidative stress plays a major role in the etiopathology of myocardial ischemic-reperfusion injury (IRI) which is a common sequel of ischemic heart disease. Antioxidants have potent therapeutic effects on both ischemic heart disease and ischemic-reperfusion injury. Information on the effect of PO on ischemic-reperfusion injury is, however, lacking. In the present study, the effect of dietary palm olein oil on oxidative stress associated with IRI was investigated in an isolated rat heart model. Wistar rats (150-200 gm) of either sex were divided into three different groups (n = 16). Rats were fed with palm olein oil supplemented commercial rat diet, in two different doses [5% v / w (PO 5) and 10% v / w (PO 10) of diet] for 30 days. Control rats (C) were fed with normal diet. After 30 days, half the rats from each group were subjected to in vitro myocardial IRI (20 min of global ischemia, followed by 40 min of reperfusion). Hearts from all the groups were then processed for biochemical and histopathological studies. One way ANOVA followed by Bonferroni test was applied to test for significance and values are expressed as mean +/- SE (p < 0.05). RESULTS: There was a significant increase in myocardial catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities with no significant change in myocardial thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) only in group PO 5 as compared to group C. There was no light microscopic evidence of tissue injury. A significant rise in myocardial TBARS and depletion of myocardial endogenous antioxidants (SOD, CAT and GPx) along with significant myocyte injury was observed in control rats subjected to ischemia-reperfusion (C IR). Hearts from palm olein oil fed rats subjected to ischemia-reperfusion (PO 5 IR and PO 10 IR) were protected from increase in TBARS and depletion of endogenous antioxidants as compared to C IR group. No significant myocyte injury was present in the treated groups. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrated for the first time that dietary palm olein oil protected rat heart from oxidative stress associated with ischemic-reperfusion injury.