Effect of bauhinia bauhinioides kallikrein inhibitor on endothelial proliferation and intracellular calcium concentration.

OBJECTIVES: Proteinase inhibitors act as a defensive system against predators e.g. insects, in plants. Bauhinia bauhinioides kallikrein inhibitor (BbKI) is a serine proteinase inhibitor, isolated from seeds of Bauhinia bauhinioides and is structurally similar to plant Kunitz-type inhibitors but lacks disulfide bridges. In this study we evaluated the antiproliferative effect of BbKI on endothelial cells and its impact on changes in membrane potential and intracellular calcium. MATERIALS AND METHODS: HUVEC proliferation was significantly reduced by incubation with BbKI 50 and 100 µM 12% and 13%. Furthermore, BbKI (100 µM) exposure caused a significant increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration by 35% as compared to untreated control. RESULTS: The intracellular rise in calcium was not affected by the absence of extracellular calcium. BBKI also caused a significant change in the cell membrane potential but the antiproliferative effect was independent of changes in membrane potential. CONCLUSIONS: BBKI has an antiproliferative effect on HUVEC, which is independent of the changes in membrane potential, and it causes an increase in intracellular Ca2+.

Profile of gastrointestinal involvement in patients with systemic sclerosis.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a chronic autoimmune connective tissue disease. Of the numerous organ manifestations, involvement of the upper and lower gastrointestinal tract (GIT) appears to be the most frequent with regard to the clinical symptoms. However, as the frequency and clinical relevance of GI involvement in patients with SSc are not known in detail, the German network of the systemic sclerosis (DNSS) has developed a detailed questionnaire to evaluate the extent and profile of gastrointestinal involvement in SSc patients. The multi-symptom questionnaire was used at baseline and after 1 year in registered patients of the DNSS. In addition, the results were compared with gastrointestinal disorders in patients with SSc and other rheumatic diseases, as well as with the medical history of the patients. In total, 90 patients were included in the study. The results of the study show that in reality, a much higher (nearly all) percentage of (98,9%) patients than expected suffer from GI-symptoms, regardless of the stage of their disease. Of these, meteorism (87,8%) was the most common followed by coughing/sore voice (77,8%), heartburn (daytime 68,9%, nighttime 53,3%), diarrhea (67,8%), stomach ache (68,9%) and nausea (61,1%). Although SSc patients were treated according to the respective recommendations, only limited improvements with regard to GI-symptoms could be achieved after 1 year of follow-up. In addition, the study revealed that the multi-symptom questionnaire is a useful tool to contribute to identify the gastrointestinal sequelae in systemic sclerosis.

Pulp reaction to a tri-cure resin-modified glass ionomer.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the pulp response to a tri-cure resin-modified glass ionomer cement and compared this response to those elicited by a zinc oxide-eugenol cement and a silicate cement. Materials were placed in nonexposed class V cavity preparations on human teeth. STUDY DESIGN: Sixty premolars were selected in orthodontic patients in a voluntary group of teenagers. All cavities were prepared according to International Dental Federation specifications. Resin-modified glass ionomer and silicate applications were carried out according to the manufacturers' instructions. RESULT: All teeth were asymptomatic. Pulp responses to the resin-modified glass ionomer cement were slightly greater than to the zinc-oxide-eugenol cement. Bacterial staining attempts were inconclusive with regard to time intervals and pulp responses. No necrotic pulps were seen in any teeth. CONCLUSION: The tri-cure resin-modified glass ionomer cement elicited a slightly greater adverse pulp response than did the zinc-oxide-eugenol cement with respect to the healing process of the pulp.