On September 20, 2022, the Japanese Society of Oral Therapeutics and Pharmacology published the fifth edition of the revised Dental Drugs in Japan. This was the first revision in seven years since the publication of the fourth edition, and it had been 32 years since the first edition was published in 1990.

The first through the fourth editions of the book have served as a bible for basic and clinical dental pharmacotherapy, and have provided safe and appropriate dental pharmacotherapy while updating information on drugs.

The revised 5th edition, on the other hand, has been substantially revised with the aim of becoming a practical book for the clinician's chairside. The full-color pages are more accessible to dental students and dental hygienists, and the necessary drug information can be obtained at a glance. In addition, the book has been edited to focus on topics such as antimicrobial resistance, herbal medicines, polypharmacy, and medication adherence in today's hyper-aged society.

This paper looks back on the past four editions and traces the 35-year history of Dental Drugs in Japan.

Inchinkoto, a medical kampo formulation, is widely used in Japan for the treatment of chronic liver disease and stomatitis. In this study, we investigated the effects of Inchinkoto on the inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8, and the secretion of type I collagen and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), markers of bone formation, using the human osteosarcoma cell line (Saos-2). The proliferative ability of Saos-2 cells was analyzed using MTT assay and BrdU Cell Proliferation Assay Kit, while collagen production was analyzed using ELISA. ALP production was assessed using the LabAssay ALP kit. We used a system in which Saos-2 produces IL-6 and IL-8 in response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation from the periodontal pathogen Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans. IL-6, IL-8, type I collagen production, and ALP secretion levels were evaluated using ELISA and ALP assay. Saos-2 cells were cultured for 24 hours in the presence or absence of Inchinkoto at concentrations of 0.1, 1, 10, 100, and 1000 μg/mL. Inchinkoto significantly induced the proliferation of Saos-2 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. In this study, Inchinkoto at 1000 μg/mL suppressed IL-6 and IL-8, promoting type I collagen production and ALP secretion. These results suggest that Inchinkoto has potential anti-inflammatory and bone-forming effects.

  Objective：This study aimed to facilitate the diagnosis of drug-induced taste disturbances by compiling a comprehensive list of medications that are associated with adverse effects. Drugs that warranted special consideration based on the incidence rates of taste-related adverse reactions were investigated.

  Methods：We investigated the incidence of taste abnormalities associated with drugs listed as having potential adverse effects using data from the Manuals for Management of Individual Serious Adverse Drug Reactions：Drug-Induced Taste Disturbance. This analysis was based on a review of package inserts and interview forms. Medications with a reported incidence rate of ≧10 ％ for taste disturbances were identified and classified according to therapeutic categories following the Japan Standard Commodity Classification system.

  Results：Twenty-four drugs were identified with an incidence rate of ≧10％ for taste abnormalities. Of these, 20 were antineoplastic agents, whereas the remaining were categorized as sedatives, detoxifying agents, radiopharmaceuticals, and antiviral drugs. Notably, of the 20 antineoplastic agents tested, 12 were molecularly targeted.

  Discussion and Conclusion：Although drug-induced taste disturbances are associated with sedatives, psychotropic medications, and cardiovascular agents, our findings indicate that antineoplastic agents, particularly molecularly targeted drugs, are associated with significantly higher incidences of taste-related side effects. This finding suggests the need for increased clinical awareness when prescribing these therapies.