In this study, we investigated effects of 18α- and 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid (18α- and 18β-GA), that induce apoptosis and inhibit proliferation in multiple types of cells, on apoptosis and proliferation of human gingival fibroblasts to establish the medication of phenytoin (PHT)- and cyclosporin A (CsA)-induced gingival overgrowth. It has been reported that the cause of this disease was related to depressed apoptosis and enhanced proliferation in gingival fibroblasts exposed to drugs. Cells were stimulated in serum-free DMEM for 1 week without stimulant, with only PHT (20 μg/mL) or CsA (10 μg/mL), and with PHT or CsA + 18α- or 18β-GA (both 10 μM), and then cell apoptosis, viability, and proliferation were measured. 18α-GA induced apoptosis and cell-growth inhibition in gingival fibroblasts cultured with PHT and 18β-GA also induced those in gingival fibroblasts cultured with CsA. Therefore, 18α-GA and 18β-GA may apply for the medication of PHT- and CsA-induced gingival overgrowth respectively.

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Purpose; The purpose of this study is to clarify the relationship between the wearing of dentures and oral Candida species.
Subjects; The subjects comprised 417 patients who visited the Kawasaki Dental and Oral Surgery Clinic during the 18 months from February 2007 to August 2008, exhibited no findings of oral candidiasis, and provided informed consent for the purpose of this study.
Methods; All of the subjects were surveyed regarding their age, sex, and status of denture use, and as samples, we collected swabs from the dorsum of the tongue from all of the subjects, swabs from the mucosa below the denture base from 76 denture wearers (143 bases), and the ultrasonic cleaning fluid of the dentures of 25 patients (42 bases) who had worn dentures. The collected samples were seeded and cultured on CHROMAGAR CANDIDA^® medium to detect and identify C. albicans, C. glabrata, C. tropicalis, C. parapsilosis, and C. krusei.
Results; The detection rate of Candida species was significantly high among females, elderly patients, and denture wearers in the swabs from the dorsum of the tongue and among patients wearing maxillary dentures compared to those wearing mandibular dentures in the swabs from the mucosa below the denture base. When measured by the site of sample collection, the detection rate of Candida species from the ultrasonic cleaning fluid of the dentures exhibited significantly higher values compared to the swabs from the dorsum of the tongue and the mucosa below the denture base, and regarding the bacterial species, it was found that non-albicans Candida species such as C. glabrata were dominant.
Conclusion; The results of this study indicated a relationship between the wearing of dentures and oral Candida species and indicated that non-albicans Candida species were dominant in the samples of denture cleaning fluid.

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After implementation of the new GCP, our hospital was staffed by clinical research coordinators (CRC) to smoothly conduct clinical trials of higher quality. At present, two pharmacists, two dental hygienists, and one nurse are working concurrently as CRCs in our hospital. An unique feature of CRC work at our hospital include 1) dental hygienists working as CRCs, and 2) CRCs of different specialities are coordinated on the same trial and contributing according to their specialties, participation of each clinical trial, one by one. Previously, in our hospital, clinical trials for medications had been allocated to nurse CRCs, while dental hygienist CRCs support for clinical trial of medical devices. However, a dental hygienist have participated as a CRC for the first time in a clinical trial for a medication in 2009, a pharmacist CRC cooperated the clinical trial with the dental hygienist CRC, and this trial was successfully completed. We anticipate that dental hygienist CRCs supporting clinical trials in dental practice will play an indispensable role in smoothly conducting clinical trials with high quality. In this report, we will present the current status of CRC work, which has been accomplished by cooperation with pharmacists and dental hygienists.

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We present a case of hand-foot syndrome (HFS) induced by uracil/tegafur (UFT). A 54-year-old woman received surgical treatment for carcinoma of the mouth floor. Pathological tests performed after the operation revealed tumor cell invasion into the surrounding vein. She was administered UFT at 600 mg/day. The symptoms of HFS first appeared after she had received 64,200 mg of UFT. Subsequently, she developed erythema and bulla of the palms and soles of the feet. Her symptoms gradually exacerbated until she could no longer walk. Therefore, treatment with UFT was terminated, after she had received 106,200 mg of UFT. She was initially treated with a steroid ointment, but her symptoms did not improve; the symptoms improved only after she was treated with Hochuekkito.
UFT is one of the most effective oral chemotherapy regimens for head and neck cancer. However, in a few cases, HFS may result as a rare side effect of UFT therapy and may hinder the patient's quality of life (QOL). Therefore, early treatment of HFS is required, and the findings of this study show that Hochuekkito may prove efficacious for its treatment.

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Drug-induced thrombocytopenia is an uncommon but serious side effect. In some cases, it can prove fatal if not taken care of urgently. We report the case of a 70-year-old Japanese female with malignant melanoma at clinical stage of II, T2N0M0, according to the criteria for oral cancer treated with surgery followed by concomitant dacarbazine, nimustine, vincristine, and interferon beta (DAVFeron) therapy. When she was being evaluated for adjuvant DAVFeron therapy after 3 courses, she developed acute severe progressive thrombocytopenia requiring platelet transfusion. Thrombocytopenia was reversible in few days without further therapeutic intervention. Bone marrow involvement was excluded. The mechanism of this side effect remains unclear. The patient's platelet count remained normal for more than 12 months thereafter. Clinicians must be aware of this rare, but serious side effect. Herein, we report a case of acute thrombocytopenia after DAVFeron therapy that occurred in an oral malignant melanoma patient.

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Purpose: The purpose of the study was to establish the response evaluation criteria of antifungal agents for oral candidiasis.
Methods: A multicenter open-label trial was conducted. The patients with oral candidiasis were treated by an antifungal agent, itraconazole, and the response to the agent was evaluated according to the protocol. A multiple regression analysis was employed to examine the relative contribution of clinical signs and symptoms, including redness, white papules, atrophy of the papilla of the tongue, pain and soreness to the global evaluation of the responses judged by the attending physician. The global evaluation of the responses was rated as markedly improved, moderately improved or unchanged.
Results: The multiple regression analysis showed that redness of the tongue and palate, white papules on the tongue, atrophy of the papillae of the tongue, and pain were associated with the global evaluation of the responses judged by the attending physician.
Conclusion: Evaluation of these signs and symptoms could provide useful response information about antifungal therapy for oral candidiasis patients. Further studies will therefore be needed to verify the results of the present study.

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