Mepivacaine: a closer look at its properties and current utility.

The use of mepivacaine in dentistry has remained strong since its introduction in the 1960s. It has retained its place as a valuable local anesthetic, either as a primary agent or as an alternative to lidocaine or articaine. Mepivacaine is commonly used in medically compromised patients--for whom elevations in blood pressure or heart rate are not advisable--in a formulation with a vasoconstrictor, or in pediatric populations in a formulation without a vasoconstrictor.

Chronic kidney disease: pharmacological considerations for the dentist.

Background: Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) represent a challenge for the dentist seeking to prescribe medications. Understanding the medical management of renal insufficiency and the pharmacokinetics of common dental drugs will aid clinicians in safely treating these patients.

Types Of Studies Reviewed: The authors reviewed the literature concerning the medical and pharmacological management of CKD.

Hepatocellular proliferation in response to agonists of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha: a role for Kupffer cells?

Background: It has been proposed that PPARalpha agonists stimulate Kupffer cells in rodents which in turn, release mitogenic factors leading to hepatic hyperplasia, and eventually cancer. However, Kupffer cells do not express PPARalpha receptors, and PPARalpha agonists stimulate hepatocellular proliferation in both TNFalpha- and TNFalpha receptor-null mice, casting doubt on the involvement of Kupffer cells in the mitogenic response to PPARalpha agonists. This study was therefore designed to investigate whether the PPARalpha agonist PFOA and the Kupffer cell inhibitor methylpalmitate produce opposing effects on hepatocellular proliferation and Kupffer cell activity in vivo, in a manner that would implicate these cells in the mitogenic effects of PPARalpha agonists.

Correlation of apoptotic potential of simple oxiranes with cytotoxicity.

The measurement of primary DNA damage caused by oxirane chemicals can be confounded by apoptotic-generated DNA autolysis. The apoptogenic potential of oxiranes requires knowledge of the relationship between the apoptotic threshold dose and cytotoxic dose for interpretation of DNA damage assays. This research determined the relationship between cytotoxic and apoptotic doses for seven simple oxiranes of varying structure.

Genotoxicity assessment of oxirane-based dental monomers in mammalian cells.

The potential use of oxirane (epoxy) monomers in dental composite development raises the concern to test their genetic safety. Oxiranes can interact with DNA resulting in DNA damage, mutations, and possibly carcinogenesis. Our objective was to evaluate DNA damage and cell-cycle disruption in mammalian cells after exposure to epoxy monomers.