Health benefits of xylitol.

Many diseases, including caries, chronic inflammatory diseases, diabetes, and obesity, are associated with uncontrolled sugar consumption. Artificial sweeteners are commonly used in food and pharmaceutical industries as sugar substitutes for the prevention of several dental and body diseases; they also have a favorable impact on body weight as they may help to restrict simple sugar consumption. Xylitol is a sugar alcohol that is commonly used as a sweetener. It can be found naturally or artificially prepared mainly from plant materials chemically or by fermentation of hemicelluloses from agricultural biomass by yeast or bacteria strains. This polyol has a significant antiplaque effect on teeth surface and can reduce the gingival inflammation; it is being used as a preventive agent for dental caries due to decreasing the growth levels of pathogenic Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sangui at the very early stages. Xylitol can bind with calcium ion leading to consequent remineralization of teeth enamel; it is also able to prevent osteoporosis. This polyol can treat respiratory tract and middle ear diseases due to its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory potential and prevent some diseases which cannot be cured through antibiotics or surgery. Xylitol can reduce constipation, diabetes, obesity, and other body syndromes or illnesses; it has also revealed its stimulating effect on digestion and immune system. However, it can produce some side effects such as irritable bowel syndrome, diarrhea, nephrolithiasis, etc., when consumed in excessive amounts. Different vehicles are used for delivering the xylitol into the human body, but chewing gums occupy a leading position. The present review is devoted to comprehensive analyses of the positive and negative effects of this polyol on human health.Key Points• The health benefits of xylitol are not limited to oral hygiene.• Xylitol efficiently stimulates the immune system, digestion, lipid and bone metabolism.• Xylitol helps in glycemic and obesity control; reduces ear and respiratory infections.• Xylitol treats diseases that cannot be cured through antibiotics or by surgery.

Effect of CCl4 and blocking H2S biosynthesis on oesophageal mucosa rats: model of nonerosive oesophagitis.

Nonerosive esophagitis (NEO) - a chronic inflammatory condition with diagnostic and therapy unclear approaches. The aim of study was to develop the new models of NEO using the chemical ulcerogens: carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)), hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S). We modified the method of NEO with cytoprotective prostaglandins (COX) and H(2)S biosynthesis carried out on rats, divided into groups: 1st - vehicle (1 ml 0.9% NaCl), CCl(4) (twice 0.3 ml/200g/body weight); the next day 2(nd) - vehicle; 3(rd) - nonselective blocker of COX (naproxen; 30 mg/kg); 4(th) - ATB-346 (H(2)S-releasing naproxen; 43.5 mg/kg, «Antibe Therapeutics¼, Canada) with per os administration. After H(2)S-biosythesis modification by intraperitoneal administration of cystathionine g-lyase (CSE) inhibitor, DL-propargylglycine (PAG, 25 mg/kg), cystathionine-b-synthetase (CBS) inhibitor, O-carboxymethyl-hydroxylamine hemihydrochloride (CHH, 50 mg/kg) or H(2)S donor NaHS (100 mlmol/kg), stress was inducted by Takagi, 1964. The lower third of EM and esophagogastric junction were estimated via histological score index, IL-17, IL-10 by ELISA. The obtained data indicated the strong cytotoxic influence of CCl(4) on EM, corneal and epithelial layers thickness increasing, muscle plate and submucosal edema disorganization vs control and ATB-346 treatment. Over-expression of IL-17 was achieved using PAG and BCA vs control. WIRS-associated EM injury with blocking CSE, CBS characterized by submucosal oedema, neutophilic infiltration, destructive lesions, HSI rising up to 6 vs control. Increased IL-17 to 65% and decreased IL-10 in 30% vs control. H(2)S plays key role in the integrity of oesophageal mucosa and modification of H(2)S synthesis and CCl(4)-related injury can be novel approach of animal model production NEO, similar to human NERD and will help in its pathogenesis identification and preventive drugs creation.