A Systematic Review of the Potential Effects of Lippia sidoides on Dental Plaque and Periodontal Diseases.

Lippia sidoides is a typical shrub from Brazil that has been used in traditional medicine. This is a systematic review on the effect of L. sidoides for controlling dental plaque, gingivitis, and periodontitis. A database search through May 2021 in Medline/PubMed, SCOPUS, BVS, and Web of Science identified 711 reports of which 17 met our inclusion criteria. Five randomized controlled trials and three animal studies were included that compared L. sidoides-based products (toothpaste, mouthrinse, and gel) to cetylpyridinium chloride, chlorhexidine, and placebo products. Among the human studies, a significant antiplaque effect after treatment with L. sidoides-based products was observed in three studies and an antigingivitis effect in two studies, similar to chlorhexidine-based products. One study found superior dental plaque reduction compared to cetylpyridinium chloride mouthrinse. Only one study testing a L. sidoides gel found no antiplaque effect. Among the animal studies, an L. sidoides mouthrinse significantly reduced calculus in two studies, inflammatory infiltrate in one study, and plaque bacteria and gingivitis in one study. An L. sidoides gel significantly reduced alveolar bone loss and inflammatory response in one study in which mice were submitted to ligature-induced periodontal disease. In general, L. sidoides-based products were effective in reducing dental plaque and calculus formation, as well as clinical signs of gingivitis. As most studies present methodological limitations, these results should be interpreted carefully. Further clinical trials with greater methodological accuracy and control of biases are necessary for the use of L. sidoides-based products in humans to be viable in clinical practice.

Visualizing a Calculus of Recovery: Calibrating Relations in an Opioid Epicenter.

This article uses participatory photography to explore the relationships animating efforts towards recovery from opioid use disorder (OUD) in the Dayton, Ohio area, an epicenter of illicit opioid use and overdose death. A photo-elicitation project was conducted with thirteen people who met the DSM-5 criteria for OUD. Photographs were used as prompts during qualitative interviews, which were thematically analyzed. Analysis of both visual and textual data demonstrated the ways in which recovery became an unfolding process of calculation as participants made strategic choices to navigate relations and encounters with things, people, and places. Relationships across each of these domains could, under some circumstances, serve as supports or motivators in the recovery process, but, in alternate settings, be experienced as "triggers" prompting a resumption of problematic drug use or, at the very least, a reckoning with the feelings and emotions associated with painful or problematic aspects of personal histories and drug use experiences. Findings highlight the importance of understanding recovery as a calibration of the ambiguous relations animating experiences of everyday life. We argue for continued emphasis on recovery as an active performance and ongoing practice of calculation-of risks and benefits, of supports and triggers, of gratification and heartbreak-rather than a goal or static state.

Cola Dissolution Therapy via Ileus Tube Was Effective for Ileus Secondary to Small Bowel Obstruction Induced by an Enterolith.

An 87-year-old bedridden woman developed intestinal obstruction caused by an enterolith or bezoar. Since the patient refused surgery, we administered 1,000 mL/day of cola via an ileus tube to dissolve the stone. Occlusion of the small intestine disappeared on day 6. The excreted stones contained calcium phosphate, which is typical of enteroliths. We later confirmed that the retrieved stones could be dissolved in cola (Coca-Cola®, pH 1.9) as well as 0.10 and 0.010 mol/L hydrochloric acid (pH 1.0 and 2.0, respectively) and food-grade vinegar (pH 2.6). These findings suggest that the enteroliths were dissolved by an acid-base reaction.

Effectiveness of oral litholysis therapy for improving glucose intolerance and malnutrition in patients with poor results following endoscopic therapy and extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy for calcified pancreatic stones.

We report a case of pancreatolithiasis in which glucose intolerance and malnutrition were significantly improved after starting oral litholysis therapy (OLT) with use of trimethadione. A 43-year-old female with multiple calcified stones in the main and peripheral pancreatic ducts had experienced recurrent and severe attacks of pain for 7 years (from 21 to28 years of age). Impaired glucose tolerance was first noted at the age of 32 years. We started OLT after interventional endoscopic therapy combined with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy failed because of kink and stenosis of the main pancreatic duct (MPD). Over the next 9 years, a significant decrease in total pancreatic calcified stone volume was shown by computer analysis of follow-up computed tomography images. Larger stones completely disappeared without attacks of pain. In addition, both glucose intolerance and insulin secretion were significantly ameliorated, followed by improvement of malnutrition. OLT may induce intraductal decompression by dissolving stones in the peripheral ducts as well as the MPD, with resulting preservation of endocrine function and improvement of malnutrition. Since the present results were obtained in a single case, further clinical trials are necessary to evaluate the value of performing OLT under various conditions to eliminate stones.

Acute sialadenitis secondary to submandibular calculi after botulinum neurotoxin injection for sialorrhea in a child with cerebral palsy.

Children with cerebral palsy and other neurologic diseases often present with sialorrhea. Intraglandular botulinum neurotoxin is being increasingly reported to be clinically effective for the treatment of sialorrhea. This treatment is becoming more popular in recent years because of being less invasive than surgical procedures. In addition, fewer adverse effects have been documented compared with oral or topical anticholinergic medication. We report the first case in a child with cerebral palsy who developed serious acute sialadenitis with submandibular sialolithiasis after intraglandular botulinum neurotoxin injection for sialorrhea.

Spontaneous cerebral calcific embolus from the aortic arch.

Spontaneous calcific embolism is an uncommon cause of stroke. In most cases calcified cardiac valves are the sources of the emboli although embolization of calcific material from the brachiocephalic trunk has also been described. We report a case of stroke attributable to spontaneous calcific emboli from the aortic arch in which migration of the emboli was observed along the middle cerebral artery following iv tPA.

Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis.

This is a case report of 32 years old male, who presented in outdoor clinic of Pulmonology Department, Jinnah Hospital, Lahore, with progressively increasing shortness of breath over 2 years, multiple episodes of dry cough over 9 months, history of low-grade fever for 15 days and haemoptysis for the last one day. He was diagnosed as a case of miliary tuberculosis on the basis of his chest X-ray findings and was on anti-tuberculosis treatment by the GP of the locality. Diagnosis of pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis was made on the basis of clinical features and laboratory findings.

Anti-nanobacterial therapy for men with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome and prostatic stones: preliminary experience.

PURPOSE: Category III chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) is a common debilitating condition of unclear etiology. Patients often have prostatic calcifications but a link to symptoms is controversial. Nanobacteria are implicated in stone formation in the urinary tract and, therefore, therapy to eliminate nanobacteria and the stones that they produce might have an impact on CPPS symptoms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 16 men with recalcitrant CPPS refractory to multiple prior therapies were treated with comET (Nanobac Life Sciences, Tampa, Florida), which consists of 500 mg tetracycline, a proprietary nutraceutical and an ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid suppository daily. The National Institute of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI), transrectal ultrasound, and blood and urine tests for nanobacterial antigen were performed at the start and conclusion of 3 months of therapy. One patient was lost to followup. RESULTS: Mean NIH-CPSI total score +/- SD decreased from 25.7 +/- 1.6 to 13.7 +/- 2.0 (p <0.0001). Significant improvement was seen in each subscore domain. A total of 12 patients (80%) had at least 25% improvement on NIH-CPSI and 8 (53%) had at least 50% improvement. Nanobacterial antigen or antibody was found in 60% of serum and 40% of urine samples. In 10 patients who underwent transrectal ultrasound after therapy prostatic stones were decreased in size or resolved in 50%. CONCLUSIONS: Therapy designed to eliminate nanobacteria resulted in significant improvement in the symptoms of recalcitrant CPPS in the majority of men, whether due to the treatment of stone producing nanobacteria or through some other mechanism. Prospective placebo controlled trials are warranted.

Dissolution of artificial (natural) stones in a standard model: first results.

In studying the dissolution of stones in vitro, the advantage of artificial stones in comparison to natural stones is that one can get substance-specific standardized and reproducible results. Our investigations were performed with artificial stones composed of natural material (calcium apatite). These stones were of spherical form and consisted of layers built up around a core. They were comparable to natural stones in their physical properties. Litholysis was performed in a special apparatus with continuous exposure to Suby G solution under standard conditions. Natural stones of the same chemical composition served as a reference. Statistical measurements were performed. By hardening of the artificial stones, it was possible to reach a dissolution comparable to natural stones composed of calcium apatite depending on the Suby G concentration (artificial 2.5 resp. 4.75 mg/h; natural 2.18 resp. 4.2 mg/h). For the first time, an artificial stone model has been created with reproducible behaviour in response to chemolitholysis and with properties of dissolution comparable to those of natural stones of identical chemical composition.

Dissolution of pancreatic stones by oral trimethadione in patients with chronic calcific pancreatitis.

The effect of oral dissolution therapy for pancreatic stones was evaluated in patients with chronic calcific pancreatitis. The anti-epileptic agent trimethadione was given orally to 30 outpatients at a dose of 0.9-1.5 g daily. On plain X-ray films and CT scans of the abdomen, pancreatic stones began to be dissolved around 8 months of treatment, and diminished in size and number or disappeared in 21 patients (70%) during the mean follow-up period of 32 months. The effect of trimethadione treatment on dissolution of stones was not closely related to the aetiology of the disease, distribution and size of stones, previous history of surgical interventions, or the degree of pancreatic dysfunctions. In three patients who stopped this medication of their own accord, pancreatic stones re-increased or reappeared about 6 months later. During trimethadione treatment, impaired exocrine pancreatic function returned to normal in four of nine patients examined, and diabetes mellitus was well controlled by either diet therapy alone or oral hypoglycaemic agents in eight of 10 patients who did not need insulin before trimethadione treatment. Complete relief of pain was noted in 73% of patients during the treatment. Overall gains and no change in bodyweight were observed in 83% of patients. Mild photophobia was the most common side effect, but could be easily overcome by wearing sunglasses. No severe side effects were observed in the liver, kidney, blood or the eyeground. Pancreatic stones in 30 patients not treated with trimethadione neither disappeared nor diminished spontaneously. Trimethadione treatment may be a useful tool for chemical dissolution of pancreatic stones.

Treatment of pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis with a diphosphonate--preliminary results of a case.

A diphosphonate, disodium etidronate, a compound known to inhibit microcrystal growth of hydroxyapatite was given to a 3.5-year-old girl with pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis (PAM) that was symptomatic. The drug was used for approximately 36 months in a single daily dose of 15 mg/kg. No significant side effects were encountered with somewhat clearing of lung bases in chest radiograms and subjective improvement in general condition. These findings suggest a role of diphosphonates in the treatment of PAM.

Dissolution of pancreatic stones.

Chronic calcific pancreatitis (CCP) is the most clear-cut form of chronic pancreatitis. Till date, the common treatment of CCP has been directed toward discontinuation of alcohol consumption if the disease is associated closely with alcohol abuse, relief of pain, enzyme replacement, and the management of some complications like diabetes mellitus, cyst or abscess of the pancreas, malnutrition etc. In 1979, the research group for chronic pancreatitis in Japan proposed the therapeutic policy for this disease as illustrated in Fig. 1. A plausible new treatment is the dissolution of protein precipitates or calcified stones in pancreatic ducts by oral or intravenous administration of drugs.

Therapy in gout.

The effective management of patients with gout is outlined. The treatment of the acute attack, the prevention of recurrent episodes, and the dissolution of tophi, when present, are generally straightforward and associated with relatively few complications. Patients with a resistant acute attack, with extensive tophaceous deposition, or with allergy or toxicity to any of the standard drugs, present more complex treatment decisions. All agents must be used in an individualized manner for each patient with appropriate concern for risks as well as for benefit.

Studies on pancreatic stones. I. In vitro dissolution.

To determine the solubility of pancreatic stones, in vitro experiments were performed by using the anaerobic percolation method. During steady-state conditions an inverse relationship between size and solubility in 150 mM NaCl was observed. The effects of several solvents on pancreatic stones solubility were studied: albumin induced a concentration-dependent increase, while bicarbonate induced a concentration-dependent decrease. Citrate dramatically increased the solubility of pancreatic stones, an increase was not antagonized by adding bicarbonate. Total in vitro dissolution of 50 mg pancreatic stones was attempted by percolating 150 mM NaCl or 3.9 mM citrate, a concentration which can be reached in pancreatic juice during intraduodenal infusion of citrate. Extrapolated time of total dissolution was 60 days with NaCl percolation, while actual time with citrate percolation was 25 days. The potential usefulness of citrate treatment of chronic calcified pancreatitis is discussed.