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A kininase, capable of degrading bradykinin, was partially purified from the dental pulp of rats, and its properties were investigated. Chromatography on both Sephadex G-200 and DEAE Sephadex A-50 columns gave a single peak of kininase activity. The molecular weight of the enzyme, estimated by gel filtration, was about 67,000, and the optimum pH for the enzymatic reaction was about 7.5. The enzyme appears to contain a labile SH group(s) that is essential for its activity, because CdCl2, HgCl2 (0.1 mM each), and p-chloromercuric benzoate (0.05 mM) inhibited the enzyme completely, while dithiothreitol retarded the loss of activity during storage. Of various peptides tested, bradykinin was the substrate most sensitive for the enzyme. The enzyme released several amino acids located in the C-terminal regions of bradykinin — angiotensin I and neurotensin — but only one C-terminal amino acid from des-Arg9 — bradykinin and angiotensin II. In contrast, the enzyme did not release any amino acids from substance P, of which only the two amino acids in the N-terminal region are the same as those of bradykinin, but its C-terminal is blocked by an amino group. Although the enzyme was not so highly purified as to rule out the contribution of other peptidases, these results suggest that the dental pulp of rats may contain a single enzyme that degrades bradykinin, and the enzyme may be a type of carboxypeptidase, differing from known kininases from other animal sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uterine fibroids and ovarian cysts are common gynecological conditions that, while benign, when present simultaneously with bacterial vaginosis, can present a more complicated course of management. Symptoms of uterine fibroids include menorrhagia and dysmenorrhea, while ovarian cysts may present with pelvic pain and an adnexal mass. Each condition is typically managed separately; however, they can coexist in some patients, leading to a more complex presentation. This case report presents a 35-year-old African American female patient with the simultaneous occurrence of uterine fibroids and ovarian cysts, complicated by recurrent vaginitis, along with the treatment approach. The treatment choice, relugolix, estradiol, and norethisterone (norethindrone) acetate, is the first once-daily U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) combination hormonal medication approved for menorrhagia due to fibroids. This case is unique in that although the diagnoses are common, their coexistence makes for a more complex presentation, and the course of management presents a newly approved fixed-dose combination hormonal medication. This report discusses the incidence, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of uterine fibroids and ovarian cysts. Factors that may contribute to the concurrence of these conditions, such as genetic, hormonal, and environmental risks, are also explored. Diagnostic modalities and ultrasound techniques are reviewed, and treatment options, such as surgery and medical management, are discussed. The importance of a patient-centered approach in the treatment of multi-symptom gynecological disorders and the need to consider conservative management are emphasized., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2023, Acchiardo et al.)

The risk factors and related negative outcomes associated with falls in the elderly population have been widely researched. Falls in the elderly population can lead to decreased independence and an increased risk of morbidity and mortality. Concomitant factors that can increase the risks of falls in the elderly include polypharmacy, vision impairment, syncope, hyporeflexia, and drug use. Presented is the case of a 79-year-old African American female who arrived at the emergency department after experiencing a syncopal episode at her home. The episode resulted in a non-fatal injurious fall. This case report examines the relationship between chronic drug use in an elderly patient and its predilection for syncopal episodes, which led to a non-fatal injurious fall., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2023, Maita et al.)

The common bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is the most important grain legume in the human diet, mainly in Africa and Latin America. Argentina is one of the five major producers of the common bean in the world, and the main cultivation areas are concentrated in the northwestern provinces of this country. Crop production of the common bean is often affected by biotic factors like some endemic fungal diseases, which exert a major economic impact on the region. The most important fungal diseases affecting the common bean in Argentina are white mold caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum , angular leaf spot caused by Pseudocercospora griseola , web blight and root rot caused by Rhizoctonia solani , which can cause production losses of up to 100% in the region. At the present, the most effective strategy for controlling these diseases is the use of genetic resistance. In this sense, population study and characterization of fungal pathogens are essential for developing cultivars with durable resistance. In this review we report diversity studies carried out on these three fungal pathogens affecting the common bean in northwestern Argentina, analyzing more than 200 isolates by means of molecular, morphological and pathogenic approaches. Also, the screening of physiological resistance in several common bean commercial lines and wild native germplasm is reviewed. This review contributes to the development of sustainable management strategies and cultural practices in bean production aimed to minimize yield losses due to fungal diseases in the common bean., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Taboada, Abán, Mercado Cárdenas, Spedaletti, Aparicio González, Maita, Ortega-Baes and Galván.)

Background: Some drugs such as phenytoin, calcium blockers, or cyclosporins are known to cause gingival fibrous hyperplasia, an unwanted side effect. Decreased collagen catabolism in overgrown gingival tissue has been proposed as one of the reasons causing the disease. The effect of tranilast, which suppresses collagen synthesis and cell proliferation, on matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-1) secretion from human gingival fibroblast, was studied in vitro., Methods: Human gingival fibroblasts were cultured from specimens taken from healthy, periodontal, and overgrown gingival tissues. The effects of tranilast on cell proliferation and MMP-1 secretion from gingival fibroblast were assessed. Inhibitory effect of transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta secretion from gingival fibroblast by tranilast was also evaluated., Results: Tranilast did not interfere with cell proliferation at the low concentrations. MMP-1 concentration significantly increased at the lower doses of tranilast up to about 2-fold compared to controls (P < 0.05). In contrast, higher doses of tranilast significantly decreased activity to 30% and 20%, respectively. MMP-1 secretion was inhibited significantly by phenytoin, nifedipine, and cyclosporin A and the depressed MMP-1 recovered to the control level with tranilast. The amount of secretion from normal and periodontitis gingival fibroblast specimens did not differ, but that from the overgrown gingiva was significantly less than the other types. Moreover, TGF-beta secretion was significantly inhibited by 300 microM of tranilast., Conclusions: Tranilast upregulates the expression of type 1 collagenase suppressed by gingival overgrowth-inducing drugs, and inhibits TGF-beta secretion from gingival fibroblasts. Therefore, tranilast could be considered as an agent for controlling gingival over-growth.

To elucidate the involvement of bFGF (basic fibroblast growth factor) in the pathogenesis of phenytoin-induced gingival overgrowth, we measured the concentration of bFGF in the serum of 36 epileptic patients taking phenytoin and in 94 normal volunteers by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. The concentration of phenytoin in serum was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. In 34 of 36 patients taking phenytoin in this investigation, apparent gingival overgrowth was noticed. The mean concentration of bFGF was 33.9+/-18.5 pg/ml in the overgrowth group and 10.6+/-5.2 pg/ml in the volunteer group (p<0.01). The serum phenytoin level did not correlate (r=0.22, p=0.2) with the degree of gingival overgrowth but there was a significant correlation (r=0.38, p=0.023) between the degree of gingival overgrowth and the serum bFGF level. However, no correlation was observed among age, daily phenytoin dose, total phenytoin dose, duration of phenytoin therapy, serum phenytoin level, or serum bFGF level. The results suggested that enhanced serum bFGF level was implicated in the pathogenesis of phenytoin-induced gingival overgrowth.

The contents of infected root canals were collected by mechanical and chemical debridement. Intracanal polyamines were identified and quantified by HPLC in all canals examined, however, no histamine was detected in any canal. The relationship between the amount of each polyamine and clinical signs of the teeth was analyzed statistically. The teeth without clinical signs tended to have limited varieties and smaller amounts of polyamines. Using chi 2, the amounts were significantly greater in teeth with spontaneous pain, swelling and putrescent odor (p less than 0.01), with exudate (p less than 0.025) and with percussion pain (p less than 0.1) than in teeth without. Amounts of putrescine (p less than 0.05) and total polyamines (p less than 0.01) were greater in teeth with spontaneous pain and percussion pain than in teeth without clinical sign, and those with root canal exudate also had greater amounts of total polyamines than those without (p less than 0.01). The amounts of cadaverine, however, from the teeth with gingival fistulae, was greater than from those without (p less than 0.05). No significant relationship was established between the amount of each polyamine and the presence of putrescent odor or gingival swelling. Intracanal polyamines, especially putrescine may leak out through apical foramen and may be implicated in pain production by eliciting acute inflammatory response in the periapical tissues.

A simple method for the assay of bradykinin (BK)-degrading enzymes was investigated. The procedure of the method includes enzymatic degradation of BK, separation of the residual BK on a small P-cellulose column (0.6 X 3 cm), and its fluorometrical determination based on the reaction with fluorescamine. BK was separated completely from its fragments produced during enzymatic reaction by the column chromatography. The recovery rate of BK was 96 +/- 3%. Quantitative determinations could be carried out on 0.2 nmol of BK, at least in the fluorometry. This method was available for the assay of the enzymes in tissue homogenates as well as in purified preparations, and its usefulness for the study of the enzymes is presented.