The term ‘probiotics’ is defined as ‘living microorganisms that exhibit beneficial effects for health based on improvement of balance of indigenous microbiota.’ Several strains of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, and a certain yogurt are included in this definition. Probiotics have been developed for use in the prevention of intestinal infections, and the treatment of antibiotic-associated diarrhea and intestinal malfunction. Recently, the use of probiotics has come to exert a wide range of different effects such as the suppression of Helicobacter pylori, and the prevention of allergic disease. Moreover, evidence for the clinical effectiveness of probiotics has been reported in their use for the prevention and treatment of dental caries and periodontal diseases. For example, the administration of a dairy product containing L. rhamnosus appeared to reduce the risk of dental caries in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. This trial demonstrated reduced levels of dental caries and lower mutans streptococcal counts in probiotics patients after seven months of administration. From the viewpoint of periodontal diseases, it has been suggested that L. salivarius decrease the risk of periodontal disease by eliminating black-pigmented anaerobic rods (BPARs) which have been suspected of playing a role in periodontal disease. Yogurt may suppress the number of mutans streptococci in saliva and improve halitosis. However, there is little available information about the use of probiotics in dentistry. In addition, the role of indigenous Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium on oral health, the adhesion of probiotics in the human oral cavity, and the mechanisms of probiotics against cariogenic and periodontopathogenic bacteria have not been clarified. In this review, the authors would like to address the possible use and problem of probiotics in dentistry.

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A case of oral cancer at the mouth floor with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura is reported. A 75-year-old male visited our department complaining of a tumor of the right mouth floor. Biopsy revealed squamous cell carcinoma. The preoperative laboratory data showed a platelet count of 5.1×10⁴/μL. He was diagnosed as ITP at the Blood Medicine Department in our hospital.
We planned tumor resection and right upper neck dissection. Before surgery, high-dose γ-globulin therapy (400mg/kg/day) was performed for five days. The platelet count increased to 14.9×10⁴/μL after 7 days from initial γ-globulin administration.
Surgery was performed successfully, and perioperative blood loss was 90 gr. After surgery, there was no abnormal bleeding, and the postoperative course was uneventful. Tumor recurrence was not observed for 1.5 years.
High-dose γ-globulin therapy appears to be a safe and useful method for the surgical treatment of ITP.

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In order to clarify the correlation between the analgesic and antipyretic effects of aspirin and salicylic acid concentration, a jaw-opening reflex test and pyrogenic test were performed under the presence of aspirin, and the corresponding plasma concentration of salicylic acid was measured using rabbits. The analgesic effect of aspirin determined by jaw-opening reflex was significantly dependent on plasma level. The antipyretic effect of aspirin obtained by the pyrogenic test was also significantly dependent on plasma level. A closer correlation was demonstrated between the integral antipyretic effect and integral plasma level of salicylic acid.

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Rashes due to drugs may be relatively mild such as erosions like canker sores, erythema papula, urticarial rashes, and fixed drug eruption, or they may be quite severe as with Stevens-Johnson syndrome or toxic epidermal necrolysis (Lyell syndrome) .
Since severe drug eruptions and rashes can affect internal organs in addition to skin and mucosa and can result in permanent disabilities, they must be diagnosed and treated as soon as possible. The vital elements of effective diagnosis are to clearly grasp which types of reactions are the most severe and to quickly identify the reactions which may become serious or threatening. We have found in our own practice that the most serious types of drug erosions and rashes are those that affect the whole body. There is a possibility that a very serious case may develop if an erosion of the oral mucosa spreads out beyond the region of the lip where the mucosa changes to skin or if erythema of the epidermis quickly spreads and red spots grow together over a relatively large area. The treatment is to immediately stop taking all suspect drugs and begin a rigorous course of steroids.

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