Acidogenic Potential of “Sugar-Free” Cough Drops

A patient presented with extensive marginal ditching around restorations recently placed during whole-mouth rehabilitation. The patient was not xerostomic and was otherwise normal except for the self-reported excessive use of “sugar-free” cough drops sweetened with sorbitol and Isomalt® (an equimolar mix of glucosyl-mannitol and glucosylsorbitol). This prompted an in vitro investigation to determine whether Streptococcus sobrinus 6715, a cariogenic streptococcus, could grow and produce acid in growth medium containing an aqueous extract of such “sugar-free” cough drops. The results indicate that S. sobrinus 6715 uses Isomalt® and sorbitol extensively, producing terminal culture pH as low as 4.2 when grown on medium with cough drop extract containing these sugars. This pH is sufficient to demineralize dental enamel. Patients should be cautioned against the chronic overuse of “sugar-free” cough drops and other “sugar-free” confections sweetened with a mixture of Isomalt® and sorbitol

Defining the Molecular Basis of Tumor Metabolism: a Continuing Challenge Since Warburg's Discovery

Cancer cells are the product of genetic disorders that alter crucial intracellular signaling pathways associated with the regulation of cell survival, proliferation, differentiation and death mechanisms. the role of oncogene activation and tumor suppressor inhibition in the onset of cancer is well established. Traditional antitumor therapies target specific molecules, the action/expression of which is altered in cancer cells. However, since the physiology of normal cells involves the same signaling pathways that are disturbed in cancer cells, targeted therapies have to deal with side effects and multidrug resistance, the main causes of therapy failure. Since the pioneering work of Otto Warburg, over 80 years ago, the subversion of normal metabolism displayed by cancer cells has been highlighted by many studies. Recently, the study of tumor metabolism has received much attention because metabolic transformation is a crucial cancer hallmark and a direct consequence of disturbances in the activities of oncogenes and tumor suppressors. in this review we discuss tumor metabolism from the molecular perspective of oncogenes, tumor suppressors and protein signaling pathways relevant to metabolic transformation and tumorigenesis. We also identify the principal unanswered questions surrounding this issue and the attempts to relate these to their potential for future cancer treatment. As will be made clear, tumor metabolism is still only partly understood and the metabolic aspects of transformation constitute a major challenge for science. Nevertheless, cancer metabolism can be exploited to devise novel avenues for the rational treatment of this disease. Copyright (C) 2011 S. Karger AG, BaselFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Univ Fed ABC UFABC, CCNH, Santo Andre, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo UNIFESP, Dept Ciencias Biol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo UNIFESP, Dept Bioquim, São Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Carlos UFSCar, DFQM, Sorocaba, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo UNIFESP, Dept Ciencias Biol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo UNIFESP, Dept Bioquim, São Paulo, BrazilFAPESP: 10/16050-9FAPESP: 10/11475-1FAPESP: 08/51116-0Web of Scienc

Relationship between body size and geographic range size of elasmobranchs from the Tropical Eastern Pacific: An initial approximation for their conservation

This study evaluated the relationship between body size and geographic range size, measured as extent and volume of occurrence of resident and endemic elasmobranchs of the Tropical Eastern Pacific. Data of body size, minimum and maximum depths, and latitudinal distribution of the species were obtained from the literature. Extent and volume of occurrence were measured from 3080.25-km2 quadrants, considering the northern and southern boundaries, the maximum depth, and the depth interval of the 82 species included. The relationships between body size and depth, extent of occurrence, and volume of occurrence, and between body size and bathymetric zones were evaluated using linear regression and a nonparametric analysis of variance, respectively. The relationship between body size and extent of occurrence was positive for all groups and significant only for the batoids. They occupy smaller depth intervals than sharks and are almost exclusively restricted to the euphotic zone; the resident sharks occur in the three bathymetric zones, but not the endemic sharks. The interspecific relationship of body size and volume of occurrence revealed a triangle with defined boundaries, with 22 species under the constraint line (13 sharks and 9 batoids), Pristis sp. and Manta birostris being the most prone to extinction. Although there were no factors or characteristics common to all 22 species, variables such as habits and reproductive traits influence their vulnerability, in addition to the human pressures to which they are subjected. In elasmobranchs, the triangular relationship between body size and range size is a good predictor of species susceptible to extinction, which is useful for assessing the threat status and taking action for management and prioritization of species at regional level.