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Biomedical subjects

J A Kanapka

Publications and source records attributed to J A Kanapka.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

Over-the-counter dentifrices in the treatment of tooth hypersensitivity. Review of clinical studies.

Dentinal hypersensitivity is a common condition. Most cases, after professional diagnosis, can be treated simply and inexpensively by home use of a desensitizing dentifrice. Because the habit of toothbrushing with a dentifrice for cosmetic reasons is well established in the population, compliance with this regimen is not a problem. Dentifrices incorporating potassium nitrate, strontium chloride, and dibasic sodium citrate have all been clinically determined to be effective desensitizers, and several brands have been critically evaluated and accepted by the Council on Dental Therapeutics of the ADA. During the years, clinical methodology has evolved from monadically designed, subjective investigator reports to present-day, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials employing stimuli that are quantifiable in physical units. Future development of more effective desensitizing dentifrices will depend on standardization in clinical design, especially regarding stimulus choice and mode of application.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗

Catabolism of arginine by the mixed bacteria in human salivary sediment under conditions of low and high glucose concentration.

The catabolism of glucose by the oral mixed bacteria results in a lowering of the pH whereas arginine degradation favours a rise. In the mouth, low and high levels of glucose cause different plaque pH conditions which, in turn, might affect the rate and mode of degradation of arginine. This possibility was examined in the suspended salivary-sediment system where these pH conditions can be simulated. With the pH, the metabolic parameters examined were arginine utilization, ammonia, carbon dioxide and putrescine formation, utilization of glucose and changes in levels of L(+)- and D(-)-lactic acid. At the lower glucose concentration, the pH rapidly fell and then slowly rose whereas, with the higher glucose level, the pH showed a greater fall and no subsequent rise. The more acidic pH conditions favoured by the higher glucose level inhibited arginine degradation and the appearance of its various end-products and intermediates. Arginine degradation with arginine-[U-14C] and paper chromatography-autoradiography showed successive appearance of citrulline, ornithine and putrescine and, depending upon the pH, some succinate. When the pH was held constant at several different values, arginine degradation was optimal when the pH was near neutrality. In supplementary experiments, arginine had little effect on the ability of the oral mixed bacteria to utilize glucose and produce and utilize lactic acid, whereas the arginine peptide, arginylisoleucine and saliva supernatant stimulated these processes. Thus glycolysis enhancement and a more rapid clearance of fermentable carbohydrate by the oral bacteria would accompany pH-rise activity with arginine peptide and saliva but would not accompany pH-rise activity with arginine.

Ammonia↗