Current Pharmaceutical Design - Volume 18, Issue 34, 2012

The aim of this study was to investigate the potential for systemic administration of Methimazole (MMI) through the buccal mucosa as an alternative route for drug delivery. Considering that the most important restriction in buccal drug delivery could be the low permeability of the mucosa, the ability of MMI to cross the mucosal barrier was assessed. Permeation of MMI through porcine buccal mucosa was investigat Read More

Since the activity of several conventional anticancer drugs is restricted by resistance mechanisms and dose-limiting sideeffects, the design of formulations for local application on malignant lesions seems to be an efficient and promising drug delivery approach. In this study, the effect of locally applied 5-FU on cell death was evaluated both in a SCC4/HEK001 model and in a newly proposed 3D outgrowth model of oral squ Read More

Tissue-engineered oral mucosal equivalents have been developed for in vitro studies for a few years now. However, the usefulness of currently available models is still limited by many factors, mainly the lack of a physiological extracellular matrix (ECM) and the use of cell populations that do not reflect the properly differentiated cytotypes of the mucosa of the oral cavity. For this reason, we have developed a novel three-dime Read More

Head and neck cancer refers to a group of malignancies that affects the epithelium of the upper aereodigestive tract, primarily the lip and mouth, pharynx and larynx. Head and neck cancer is strongly associated with tobacco smoking, alcohol consumption and betel nut chewing, and indeed a reduction in the exposure to these risk factors has determined a recent decrease in incidence rates in many countries. There remains, h Read More

Oral cancer is a potentially fatal disease with an increasing incidence and an unchanged 5-year mortality rate. Unfortunately, oral cancer is often still late diagnosed, which leads to an increase in the likelihood of functional impairment due to treatment and mortality rate. Definitive diagnosis of oral cancer must be confirmed by scalpel biopsy and histological assessment. However despite its benefits, scalpel biopsy is invasive an Read More

Infection with High Risk (HR) Human Papillomaviruses (HPVs) is the main aetiological agent of Cervical Squamous Cell Carcinoma (CSCC) and also associated in a subgroup of other neoplasms, including Oropharyngeal Squamous cell Carcinoma (OPSCC). HPV infection, in genital as in oral mucosa, can also be subclinical or associated with benign proliferative lesions (common warts, condylomas, papillomas) caused mostly Read More

Oral Lichen Planus (OLP) is a chronic inflammatory condition implicating T cell-mediated cytotoxicity, and involving oral mucosal surfaces. Several therapeutic regimens have been evaluated to treat OLP and pain related, but often without high level of evidence. Topical formulations are the favourite for the majority of cases; bioadhesive formulations have been considered very useful and practical for local drug delivery in or Read More

Several drugs may have a number of adverse reactions (ADRs) involving the oro-facial region. The dose of the drug and the time required for the reaction to take place are relevant parameters; nonetheless, ADRs mechanisms are not always known and ADRs are not always predictable since aspects other than drug pharmacodynamics and/or pharmacokinetics, as well as various interacting variables contribute to the final out Read More

The oral mucosa offers an interesting site for the application of dosage forms that release drugs within/throughout the oral mucosa, by assuring a high drug bioavailability for topic and systemic effects. However, the relative permeability of the oral mucosa and the washing effect related to the oral fluids and mechanical stresses must be considered in the formulation of oral dosage forms. Since a sustained drug release can be g Read More

Hyposalivation, often symptomatically manifested as xerostomia (dry mouth sensation) may indicate the presence of altered salivary gland function and places patients at a higher risk for oral complications. Diverse symptoms and consequences have been associated with hyposalivation, such as difficulties with speaking, swallowing and tasting and a significant increase in dental caries and other oral infections. Although hyposaliva Read More

Probiotics are living microorganisms (e.g., bacteria) that are either the same as or similar to organisms found naturally in the human body and may be beneficial to health. Current researches have shown that the balance between beneficial and pathogenic bacteria is essential in order to maintain the oral health. Therefore, oral cavity has recently been suggested as a relevant target for probiotic applications. Dental caries Read More

The use of topically applied fluoride has been widely researched as a means to reduce the risk of dental caries in conjunction with other treatment modalities (mechanical oral hygiene, dietary control, antimicrobial intervention, pit and fissure sealants). There is overwhelming evidence that reports not only the significance and importance of the use of fluoride as a caries-preventive agent, but also how safe fluoride applicatio Read More

Adhesive dentistry is based on the development of materials which establish an effective bond with the tooth tissues. In this context, adhesive systems have attracted considerable research interest in recent years. Successful adhesive bonding depends on the chemistry of the adhesive, on appropriate clinical handling of the material as well as on the knowledge of the morphological changes caused on dental tissue by differ Read More

One of the goals of endodontic treatment is to achieve a complete, tridimensional, hermetic sealing of the root canal system to prevent the entry of microorganisms or their products through both the coronal and apical pathways. Gutta-percha is the most widely used material for root canal filling and despite its numerous properties, such as biocompatibility and thermoplasticity, it has however an important limit: the lack of a Read More

The use of graft materials is developed from the strong demand to support the complete bone regeneration of the empty socket and to increase the bone volume in treating the atrophies of sites already consolidated and with adverse alveolar bone conditions. A number of graft materials with different origin and mechanism of bone regeneration are available. Autologous graft materials, coming from the same patient, are defin Read More

The heterogeneity of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) emphasizes the need for a consensual review of the data concerning its diagnosis and treatment and for determination of the relationship between the development of PCOS and the ethnic origin, the social status and the lifespan. Insulin resistance is an important characteristic in women with PCOS that aggravates features of PCOS. This review is focused in the dia Read More

Fruits and vegetables (typically associated with the Mediterranean diet) are very rich in carotenoids, i.e. fat-soluble pigments really important in human life. Structurally, carotenoids consists of eleven (beta-carotene, zeaxanthin, lycopene) or ten (alpha-carotene, lutein) conjugated double bonds, responsible for their antioxidant capability in agreement with their substituents. Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) particles oxidation Read More

Phosphodiesterase (PDE) enzymes are widely distributed throughout the body, having numerous effects and functions. The use of on demand PDE5 inhibitors (-Is) for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) has recently obtained approval for chronic daily dosing for the same indication. There are published data supporting the use of PDE5-Is for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) caused by benign prostatic h Read More