• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.590-598
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• 2007

Syrup form medicines which children commonly take contains sugar as sweeteners. Sugar, low endogenous pH, high acidity, mucosity and low concentrations of ions including those of calcium, fluoride, and phosphate in their composition, they can be cause of caries and erosion. Not only the properties found in such medicines, but also other factors such as high frequency of ingestion, bedtime consumption, and the collateral effect of a reduction in salivary flow, poor oral hygiene of sick children may also contribute to the risk. The other side, parents rarely recognize these risk, and medical experts also easily overlook. The purpose of this study was to investigate the pH level of some syrup form medicines which are frequently administered by infants and young children, and their effects on the changes of plaque pH when rinsing with them. And we compared the salivary pH change induced by rinsing with Cough-syrup only and rinsing with Cough-syrup followed by water. The results were as follows : 1. The average pH of syrup form medicines which were prescribed in Pusan National University Hospital and several OTC syrup form medicines was pH $4.7{\pm}0.94$, within the range of pH 3.0 to 6.8. 2. The plaque pH decreased rapidly below pH 5.5 after rinsing with the syrup form medicines which were selected for the test and there was no statistically significant difference in the of plaque pH change between syrup form medicines except COLDI(p>0.05). 3. There was statistically significant difference in salivary pH change between rinsing with Coughsyrup only and rinsing with water after Cough-syrup(p<0.05).

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.284-291
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• 2007

Purpose : Theophylline has recently been reported to have concurrent anti-inflammatory effects at low therapeutic plasma concentrations which are below the doses at which significants, clinically useful bronchodilatation is evident. Sustained-release formulation in capsule and dry syrup forms were developed to reduce its adverse effects and improve its clinical effects. We compared the therapeutic effects of theophylline dry syrup and capsules in children with mild asthma. Methods : Ninety children with mild asthma were randomized to receive either theophylline dry syrup (n=44) or theophylline capsules (n=46); 4 mg per kilogram of body weight, twice a day, for 12 weeks. Baseline and serial measurements of daytime and nighttime asthma symptom score were performed. Compliance scores, drug swallowing scores, and drug usability scores were measured every 4 weeks. Each scoring was rated on a scale of 0-4. Serum theophylline concentration were measured at 4 and at 12 weeks. To examine the anti-inflammatory effect of theophylline on asthma, Serum eosinophilic cationic protein as a marker of airway inflammation caused by eosinophil was measured 12 weeks pre- and post-administration. Results : The daytime and nighttime asthma symptom scores of the two groups after 4 weeks significantly improved over the baseline score. Daytime and nighttime asthma symptom scores in the dry syrup group were statistically lower at all time points except for the nighttime symptom scores at 4 weeks. Compliance scores, drug swallowing scores, and drug usability scores in the dry syrup group were significantly higher at the end time point. Only in the dry syrup group was the serum ECP at the end time point statistically lower than baseline. Conclusion : Low-dose sustained-release theophylline may be safe and effective in bronchial asthma and this effect may be mediated by its anti-inflammatory action mechanisms. Especially, when used in children with asthma, dry syrup formulation is recommended because of its higher compliance than capsule formulation.