OSAP is issuing a call to members who work with the elderly. If you are interested in volunteering to work on a project that focuses upon infection prevention and safety issues specific to the delivery of oral healthcare in nursing homes and other alternative sites where the elderly may access dental care, please contact tlong@osap.org by November 22, 2013.

SAN ANTONIO/PRNewswire/ -- Relief from dry mouth is now just a spray away. Mission Pharmacal Company this week announced the launch of Aquoral®, a safe and effective protective oral spray that moistens and lubricates the mouth for up to four hours.

Dry mouth, or xerostomia, affects about 25 million Americans. It refers to a decreased production of saliva, a condition common in older adults as well as those taking certain prescription medications. Studies show that dry mouth affects up to 60 percent of patients taking an anticholinergic medication to treat a urologic condition such as overactive bladder (OAB). Other causes include radiotherapy and systemic diseases such as Sjögren's Syndrome.

Symptoms of dry mouth include an uncomfortable dry (like cotton), sticky or burning sensation in the mouth. Dry mouth can also cause cracked lips, dry tongue, mouth sores and ulcers, mouth infections, and dental decay.

"Dry mouth is more than an annoying problem," says Dan Crawford, Marketing Director of the Urology Division at Mission Pharmacal. "It can significantly decrease patients' quality of life by making it difficult to chew, swallow, taste, and even speak. Most home remedies, such as chewing sugar-free gum or sucking on ice chips, provide only temporary relief from these symptoms. Over-the-counter remedies, which are water-based, don't last much longer."

What differentiates Aquoral most from other dry mouth solutions? Aquoral utilizes patented Oxidized Glycerol Triesters (OGT) Technology, a unique plant-derived, lipid-based technology designed to function like human saliva, forming a protective barrier on the oral mucosa that lasts up to four hours.

"Even though patients need a prescription for Aquoral, it is a non-drug, FDA-cleared medical device that was shown to be more effective and longer lasting than an artificial saliva substitute. This is a breakthrough product for patients who are experiencing dry mouth due to medications or other causes," Crawford adds.

Medication-induced dry mouth can interfere with treatment goals of OAB and other urologic problems. In a study of patients with medication-induced dry mouth, 75 percent of participants reported an improvement in chewing, 65 percent in swallowing, and 60 percent in speech.

What's more, in clinical studies conducted with older patients, Aquoral improved chewing, swallowing, taste, and speech, with no adverse events and no known interactions with other medications.

Patient Savings Card Offered

Aquoral, which is available by prescription only, will be launched with a special Patient Savings Card to make it more affordable to patients by offering up to $75 savings on their first prescription and $40 on future refills. This means that most patients will pay no more than $25 for a six- to eight-week supply of Aquoral.

Prescription drugs may carry risks and are not suitable for every patient. More information about Aquoral, as well as the causes and treatment of dry mouth, can be found at aquoral.com.

For full prescribing information on all of Mission's urology drugs, please visit missionpharmacal.com/products/urology.

Aquoral® artificial saliva is a medical device registered with the United States Food and Drug Administration.

About Mission Pharmacal Company

Mission Pharmacal Company is a privately held pharmaceutical company based in San Antonio, Texas. For more than 65 years, the company has been committed to meeting the unique healthcare needs of women throughout all stages of life, pediatric patients, and those persons dealing with urologic and dermatologic conditions. The company has a proven track record of identifying unmet healthcare needs and developing both innovative prescription and over-the-counter products to meet these needs. Using only the purest ingredients and FDA-approved methods of manufacturing, Mission Pharmacal provides physicians and consumers with the highest quality pharmaceutical and dietary supplement products on the market today. Mission Pharmacal is a proud national supporter of the March of Dimes Foundation®, whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality. For more information about the company, visit missionpharmacal.com.

A year ago this month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention activated its Emergency Operations Center as part of the response to the tragic outbreak of fungal meningitis linked to three contaminated lots of preservative-free methylprednisolone acetate (MPA) produced by the New England Compounding Center (NECC). As of October 23, 2013, there have been 751 cases of fungal meningitis and other infections associated with this outbreak; 64 of these patients have died. Since July 2013, one new case has been diagnosed.  

This week, CDC has two papers in the New England Journal of Medicine, one describing the clinical aspects of the infections associated with this outbreak and the other summarizing the epidemiologic investigation. The clinical paper, focusing on the early stages of the outbreak, describes patients who experienced a wide variety of illnesses, including meningitis, stroke, arachnoiditis (inflammation of one of the membranes around the brain and spinal cord), and epidural or paraspinal infections which ranged in severity from very mild to life-threatening. The epidemiology paper finalizes the original preliminary report published by the New England Journal of Medicine and details the efforts undertaken by public health agencies to identify and stop the outbreak.

This outbreak affected hundreds of people and their loved ones across the nation. Many patients continue to struggle with complications from fungal infections, including side effects of the antifungal drugs used to fight the infections, and continuing problems related to their infections. Many other people who received MPA or other NECC products, but who may not meet the CDC case definition, have faced anxiety surrounding their risk of infection.

To learn more about the long-term impacts of this outbreak, CDC awarded a contract to the University of Alabama at Birmingham to follow as many as 500 people with infections identified as a part of this outbreak. The study, which will run through at least August  2015, is designed to help answer questions about the longer-term health impacts on patients, which treatments were most effective and what their side effects are, how long treatment is needed, and whether and how often patients relapse after stopping therapy. Patients are being enrolled in the study by their infectious disease physicians. This information will be used to improve the care of current patients and any future patients linked to this outbreak, and potentially can inform treatment decisions in future cases of meningitis caused by similar types of fungal organisms.

This has been the largest outbreak of healthcare-associated infections ever reported in the United States. Since the outbreak began, additional outbreaks have been identified and linked to contaminated products from other compounding pharmacies. These outbreaks show the urgent need to address shortfalls in the oversight and safety of compounded drugs to reduce the inherent risks associated with these products, which have not undergone review and approval by the Food and Drug Administration. CDC supports efforts by FDA and state Boards of Pharmacy to provide appropriate and effective oversight of compounding pharmacies.

For more information about this investigation: https://www.cdc.gov/hai/outbreaks/meningitis.html

The day after Halloween is a perfect time for parents to remind their kids to brush for two minutes, twice a day. November 1 is the first ever National Brush Day, and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) needs your help to spread the word. What better time than the day after Halloween to promote the importance of good habits for healthy teeth?

Here’s how you can help:

• Follow the brand new Kids’ Healthy Mouths social media accounts on Facebook and Twitter.

• Promote the National Brush Day Thunderclap to your networks by encouraging people to sign up their accounts to send out a synchronized message to their Facebook or Twitter followers along with more than 100 other supporters on National Brush Day.

• Participate in the social media day of action by sharing the National Brush Day messages from our online toolkit.

• Post AAPD's National Brush Day graphics on your website, blog, or other promotional channels in advance of November 1.

• Encourage parents to sign up for our free, new text message program to receive practical brushing tips directly to their mobile phones. Simply text “BRUSH” to 30364 or sign up at the homepage of 2min2x.org.

• Promote the campaign website 2min2x.org.

Since the Kids’ Healthy Mouths campaign was launched last year, the Partnership for Healthy Mouths, Healthy Lives and the Ad Council have achieved tremendous results. According to research published by the Ad Council in August, significantly more parents report that their kids are brushing their teeth for two minutes, twice a day.

CHICAGO — The American Dental Association (ADA) has just revised its best-selling “Chairside Instructor” to include 49 new photos and illustrations. An effective tool for dental teams to educate their patients or for auxiliaries-in-training, this publication covers a wide range of prevention and treatment topics including oral hygiene, anatomy, x-rays; gum disease, tooth  decay; dental crowns and bridges, dentures, root canals,  orthodontics and cosmetic dental procedures. The “Chairside Instructor” is now laminated to help dental staff keep it clean,  the new horizontal format makes it easy to share with patients, and the easy-to-use tabs help to quickly locate topics.

The “Chairside Instructor” is available as a 44-page laminated book (W013 English, W014 Spanish) or the digital edition (W013D English, W014D Spanish), $59.95 for ADA members and $89.95 retail price.

The “Chairside Instructor” is now also available as an App for iOS. Dental professionals can even draw a picture, add a comment, email it to a patient and save it for future use. The App can be used on up to six Apple devices; in English only. Order the App at adacatalog.org and then complete the download on iTunes. The App is $99.00 for ADA members and $149.00 retail price.

To order any “Chairside Instructor” products, call (800) 947-4746 or visit adacatalog.org.

PHILADELPHIA — Older men and women who used the internet were more likely to participate in screening for colorectal cancer, participate in physical activities, eat healthily, and smoke less, compared with those who did not use the internet, according to a study published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.

A large, population-based, cohort study of older adults in England, called the English Longitudinal Study of Aging, collected data from men and women aged 50 or older, and found that men and women who were consistent internet users were twice as likely to participate in colorectal screening than nonusers. Both men and women who used the internet consistently were also 50 percent more likely to take part in regular physical activity, 24 percent more likely to eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables daily, and 44 percent less likely to be current smokers. There was, however, no association between internet use and participation in breast cancer screening among women.

"We accounted for sociodemographic factors that influence internet use and various measures of physical capabilities and cognitive function that decline with age, and still found an association between internet use and cancer-preventive behaviors," said Christian von Wagner, Ph.D., senior lecturer in behavioral research in early diagnosis of cancer at the University College London, United Kingdom. "The interesting aspect here is a dose-response relationship between internet use and cancer preventive-behaviors: Intermittent users were more likely to have cancer-preventive behaviors than never-users, and consistent users were more likely to have cancer-preventive behaviors than intermittent users."

Von Wagner and colleagues, however, identified a "digital divide." Internet use was higher in younger, male, white, wealthier, and more educated participants and lower in older, less wealthy, and nonwhite individuals with physical disabilities. "It is important that policymakers recognize the role internet use plays in influencing inequalities in cancer outcomes, and help increase access to the internet among this demographic," he said.

The researchers used data from 5,943 respondents who answered questions collected in wave one in 2002, and were followed up with questions every two years in waves two to five, until 2011. Questions included internet/email use, self-reported colorectal and breast cancer screening, physical activity, eating habits, physical and cognitive abilities, and demographics.

Among the study participants, 41.4 percent reported not using the internet, 38.3 percent reported using the internet in waves one to three (intermittent users), and 20.3 percent reported using the internet in all five waves (consistent users).

TORONTO, ON — The flu vaccine may not only ward off serious complications from influenza, it may also reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke by more than 50 per cent among those who have had a heart attack, according to new research led by Dr. Jacob Udell, a cardiologist at Women's College Hospital and clinician-scientist at the University of Toronto. What's more, the vaccine's heart protective effects may be even greater among those who receive a more potent vaccine.

"Our study provides solid evidence that the flu shot helps prevent heart disease in vulnerable patients —with the best protection in the highest risk patients," Dr. Udell said. "These findings are extraordinary given the potential for this vaccine to serve as yearly preventative therapy for patients with heart disease, the leading cause of death among men and women in North America."

Published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the study reviewed six clinical trials on heart health in people who received the flu vaccine. The studies included more than 6,700 patients with a history of heart disease. The researchers found people who received the flu shot:

-Had a 36 percent lower risk of a major cardiac event (heart attack, stroke, heart failure, or death from cardiac–related causes) one year later

-Had a 55 percent lower risk of a major cardiac event if they had a recent heart attack

-Were less likely to die from cardiac-related and other causes, and

-Were less likely to have a major cardiac event with a more potent vaccine compared with the standard seasonal vaccine

Dr. Udell carried out this research in collaboration with Dr. Michael Farkouh, senior co-author of the study and Chair of the Peter Munk Centre of Excellence in Multinational Clinical Trials, which is within the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre at the University Health Network.

"If the flu vaccine can reduce the risk of cardiac events, these shots could have considerable impact on cardiac health," said Dr. Udell. However, Drs. Udell and Farkouh caution that a large prospective clinical trial is necessary to confirm the effectiveness and safety of the influenza vaccine as a therapy that will reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke in people with heart disease. The researchers are now organizing this type of clinical trial to follow heart disease patients for up to 12 months after receiving the flu shot.

"These findings are all the ammunition we need to move forward," said Dr. Farkouh, who is also director of the Heart and Stroke Richard Lewar Centre at the University of Toronto. "We'll build on this research with a definitive, international trial to conclusively determine whether the flu shot prevents heart attack."

If proven to be a safe and simple prevention method, the impact could be significant for people with or at risk of heart disease and stroke.

"Hundreds of thousands of people die each year from cardiac causes in North America," Dr. Udell said. "While preventative care involves lifestyle changes and taking your pills, now, we may also be able to tell patients by getting your flu shot, it might save your life – what a simple and significant way to reduce deaths and the burden on our healthcare system."

More than two out of every five middle and high school students who smoke report using either flavored little cigars or flavored cigarettes, according to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published in the Journal of Adolescent Health. This article, using data from the 2011 National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS), is the first to measure how many American youth are using flavored little cigars and flavored cigarettes.

The study also shows that among youth cigar smokers, almost 60 percent of those who smoke flavored little cigars are not thinking about quitting tobacco use, compared with just over 49 percent among all other cigar smokers.

“Flavored or not, cigars cause cancer, heart disease, lung disease, and many other health problems.  Flavored little cigars appeal to youth and the use of these tobacco products may lead to disfigurement, disability, and premature death,” said CDC Director Tom Frieden, MD, MPH. ”We need to take comprehensive steps to reduce all tobacco use for all of our youth.”

The study found that 35.4 percent of current youth cigarette smokers reported using flavored cigarettes, which could include menthol cigarettes or flavored little cigars that students mistook for flavored cigarettes. In 2009, the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act was enacted and prohibited the use of flavors, except menthol, in cigarettes. However, flavored little cigars are still manufactured and sold with candy and fruit flavorings.

“Little cigars contain the same toxic and cancer-causing ingredients found in cigarettes and are not a safe alternative to cigarettes,” said Tim McAfee, MD, MPH, director of the CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health. “Many flavored little cigars appear virtually indistinguishable from cigarettes with similar sizes, shapes, filters, and packaging.”

In addition to offering a wide variety of flavors that appeal to young people, little cigars are taxed at a lower rate than cigarettes at the state level. Little cigars have become more popular in recent years; sales increased 240 percent from 1997 to 2007, with flavored brands making up almost 80 percent of the market share. 

Smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death and disease in the United States. The health consequences of tobacco use include heart disease, multiple types of cancer, pulmonary disease, adverse reproductive effects, and the exacerbation of chronic health conditions. Smoking and exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke kill an estimated 443,000 Americans each year. And for every one death, there are 20 people suffering from a smoking-related disease. In addition to the cost in human life, smoking has been estimated to cost $193 billion annually in direct health care expenses and lost productivity. And 99 percent of all smokers start before they’re 26 years old.

Through the Affordable Care Act, more Americans will qualify to get health care coverage that fits their needs and budget, including important preventive services such as certain services to quit smoking that are covered with no additional costs. Visit Healthcare.gov or call 1-800-318-2596 (TTY/TDD 1-855-889-4325) to learn more. Open enrollment in the Marketplace began October 1 and ends March 31, 2014. For those enrolled by December 15, 2013, coverage starts as early as January 1, 2014.

ST. LOUIS, MO – Dr. Jill Wade and Donna Starford, RDH, of Stonebriar Smile Design in Frisco, Texas received the Orkos Award for professional excellence treating a patient at high risk for periodontal disease. The patient was referred to Dr. Wade by his endocrinologist who noted continually high inflammatory markers in his blood work. The endocrinologist and Dr. Wade had both studied the Bale/Doneen Method™, a science based approach to proactively identify and manage risk factors for heart attack, stroke and type 2 diabetes prevention. One of those important risk factors is gum disease. Dr. Wade was a natural referral because she understood the risk factors as outlined in the Bale/Doneen Method™ and is also committed to achieving wellness through preventative care, including the use of bacterial DNA tests and prescription Perio Trays®.

The Orkos Award was founded by Perio Protect LLC to recognize excellence in case study presentations for periodontal treatment. “This case study caught our attention because it didn’t fit the usual submission patterns for the award,” explains Perio Protect Program Development Director Dr. Tanya Dunlap. “Not only is there unusually good interdisciplinary collaboration between a physician and dentist, thanks to the Bale/Doneen Method™, but patients typically present with bleeding gums or other signs of disease. This patient did not have those symptoms.” Dr. Wade agrees that the case is noteworthy: “The patient understood the importance of preventing oral disease and insisted on proactive treatment. Because his physician reported better results in his blood work after dental treatment, this case indicates the positive influence a dental Wellness Program can make in a patient’s overall health.”

Dr. Wade’s Wellness Program includes a proactive, systemic method of collecting clinical and scientific data to help eliminate educated guess work often needed for treatment and to reach optimal patient health. OralDNA® analysis is one of the technologies utilized in the Program to determine the risks for developing gum disease or to determine the microbiological extent of the disease. The test identifies bacterial species that are known to be associated with periodontal disease and present in the patient’s mouth. Because of other health concerns, the patient wanted a risk assessment like this DNA test that would give him opportunities to be proactive in treating disease causes, not just treating the symptoms.

The first DNA test was performed in June 2012 and results showed 5 bacteria with a known association to periodontal disease to be above the test threshold, indicating a rationale for adjunctive periodontal therapy. Systemic antibiotics are frequently recommended in these cases, but the patient and his physician had reservations because past experience with antibiotics had left the patient with painful digestive side effects. Their concerns are not uncommon. Many patients, doctors, and even the Center for Disease Control and Prevention have concerns about prevalent oral antibiotic usage. In this case study, the patient and Dr. Wade agreed to start adjunctive treatment with prescription Perio Tray^® delivery of Perio Gel^® containing 1.7% hydrogen peroxide.

The Perio Tray^® is a non-invasive prescription device used to place medication into the sulcus or periodontal pockets, the spaces between teeth and gum tissue where bacterial communities grow. Dentists prescribe the custom fabricated Perio Tray^® to fit precisely over the individual patient’s teeth and gums.  The Trays have a special sealing system that comfortably holds medication deep under the gums. Dentists also prescribe the best medication for Tray usage. For this patient, Dr. Wade prescribed two daily treatments of Perio Tray^® delivery of Perio Gel^®, lasting ten minutes each, for the first month. Thereafter, she recommended one ten-minute treatment a day.

In addition to Perio Tray^® delivery, the patient also requested professional hygiene care and frequent bacterial testing, which Dr. Wade included in the treatment plan. At the outset of treatment, hygienist Donna Starford completed professional debridement therapy to physically remove the bacterial populations. The patient was then instructed to use a chlorhexidine rinse twice a day for two weeks along with a Sonicare toothbrush and air floss. After this initial phase, on August 30, 2012 the patient returned for a professional hygiene cleaning and daily Perio Tray^® delivery began. The patient returned on September 20 for another professional hygiene cleaning and a second periopathogen DNA test, which resulted in a reduction of bacterial loads and fewer species above the test threshold. On October 4, the patient returned for a third recall visit including hygiene prophylaxis and a third DNA test which revealed only one bacterial species above the threshold. When the fourth, fifth, and sixth tests were completed respectively on October 17, December 3, and January 3, 2013, no bacteria were above the test threshold.

These results in decreased bacterial loads are consistent with research findings. According to Dr. Duane Keller, the inventor of the Perio Tray^®, usage of this 1.7% hydrogen peroxide gel has been shown to breakdown the cell walls of oral bacteria when the hydrogen peroxide gel is held in place 10 minutes. Hydrogen peroxide delivered into the pockets by the Perio Tray^® also adds oxygen under the gums. “This is important,” he says, “because many of the dangerous bacteria in the mouth are anaerobic and oxygen prevents their proliferation. The trick of course is getting the oxygenating medication under the gums for a long enough time for it to work, and this is the benefit of the Perio Tray®.”

The goal of all perio treatment is to stop the progression of the disease.  In this preventative case, the goal to decrease the potential systemic inflammatory burden caused by oral bacteria was also realized.  “This pro-active approach,” Dr. Wade argues, “confirms the importance of dental care to general wellness.”  When the referring physician completed additional blood tests, the markers looked better than ever. “The exact words spoken over the phone,” she recalls, “were ‘Whatever you are doing – keep it up.’” She intends to do just that and to continue to collaborate with physicians for optimal patient care.

Dr. Jill Wade graduated from Baylor College of Dentistry in 1995, where she maintains ties as a resident and teaching fellow in the Advanced Education of General Dentistry program. Dedication to continuing education was reflected in 2000, when Dr. Wade was granted fellowship in the Academy of General Dentistry and in 2010 when the Academy granted her mastership. Her hard work and commitment to dentistry were also honored by the Dallas County Dental Society in 2001 when she was named “New Dentist of the Year.” Dr. Wade’s full-service practice includes cosmetic dentistry, restorative care, and a complete Wellness Program. To contact Dr. Wade’s office, call 972-377-7800 or visit her website www.stonebriarsmiledesign.com.    

            For additional information about the Orkos Award, go to www.theorkosaward.com. To learn more about the Perio Protect Method^®, visit www.perioprotect.com or call 877-434-4867 (GUMS). The innovative Bale/Doneen Method^™ can be explored at www.baledoneen.com.