adam

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the relationship of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) to temporomandibular disorder with clinical symptoms such as pain, joint sounds, and mouth opening limitation by analysis of the level of these molecules in the synovial fluid.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

Twenty-four patients with chief complaints of pain, mouth opening limitation, and clicking sounds were selected as the experimental group and compared with 5 healthy subjects. After joint lavage with arthrocentesis, diluted synovial fluid was collected and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was done for analysis of TNF-alpha and IL-6 in 24 experimental patients and 5 healthy subjects.

RESULTS:

The synovial levels of TNF-alpha and IL-6 were elevated in the experimental group compared with the healthy control group, but no significant correlation was established. The synovial levels of TNF-alpha and IL-6 were elevated in the acute pain group compared with the chronic pain group, but no significant correlation was established.

CONCLUSION:

In our analysis of 2 proinflammatory cytokines, TNF-alpha and IL-6, in the synovial fluid of temporomandibular disorder patients with symptoms of pain, mouth opening limitation, and clicking, both were elevated without statistical significance.

INTRODUCTION:

Oral health is an important component of general health. The World Health Organization has highly recommended the integration of oral health promotion into general health care. In majority of the cases, patients visit their physicians with simultaneous oral and systemic complaints, and primary oral complaints are more frequently encountered. Therefore, primary care physicians can play an expanded role within oral health care to raise the overall health of the patients.

AIM:

This study aimed to assess the knowledge and awareness of family physicians regarding oral health.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

An observational (cross-sectional) study was conducted among 250 family physicians who are practicing in Tricity. A self-structured questionnaire (close-ended) prepared by a panel of oral health experts in English language (close-ended) was administered to the study participants. The questionnaire which was divided into two parts, A and B, contained 15 questions on knowledge and awareness regarding oral health. Categorization of knowledge scores was done at three levels: low, medium, and high. Statistical analysis was performed using analysis of variance and Student’s t-test.

RESULTS:

Males comprised 72.8% (182) of the study population and 55.2% (138) of the participants were doing combined practice (academic and private both). Low knowledge scores were reported in 47.2% (118) of the participants whereas only 22.4% (56) of participants had a high score. The mean knowledge score according to educational level and working profile was statistically significant (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION:

The results of our study showed a considerable lack of knowledge among family physicians regarding connection of oral health with general health. Therefore, there is an urgent need to increase their knowledge by various continued medical education and training programs.

BACKGROUND:

The link between restless legs syndrome (RLS) and the number of amalgam fillings in older people was investigated. Restless legs syndrome decreases the quality of life and impairs normal functioning. Mercury (in amalgam) may be toxic to nerve cells and may account for the incidence of RLS.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

The relationship between RLS and the presence of amalgam in the teeth of 104 people aged 60-97 years old was determined. By using 4 questions, together with the diagnostic criteria from the internationally used questionnaire produced by the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group (IRLSSG), authors assessed the extent of the symptoms and occurrence of RLS. Careful medical history and medical examination were used for ascertaining each subject’s type of restorative materials (i.e., amalgam or other metal) and the number of such fillings.

RESULTS:

Subjects who answered “yes” (indicating presence of RLS) to the 4 subsequent questions had a significantly higher number of amalgam dental fillings as compared to the subjects without RLS symptoms. Presence of other metal dental restorative materials and the number of amalgam dental fillings reported in the past had no significant influence on RLS symptomatology.

CONCLUSIONS:

Authors conclude that while examining the correlates of the appearance of restless legs syndrome the use of amalgam in the dentition should be taken into account. Med Pr. 2019;70(1):9-16.

Oral lichenoid reactions (OLR) can be caused by systemic drug exposure. To the best of our knowledge, this is the second report describing a case of OLR induced by rituximab administration in a patient with a diagnosis of non-Hodgkin B-cell lymphoma. After 5 doses of rituximab, a typical pattern of OLP was identified with bilateral and symmetrical lesions on the buccal mucosa and on the right lingual margin. This temporal relationship suggested a probable association between oral lesions and drug therapy. The clinical diagnosis of a rituximab-induced OLR was confirmed by an incisional biopsy reporting a histopathological result of lichenoid mucositis consistent with oral lichen planus. Because of the increasing use of rituximab, it is necessary to know and recognize this uncommon side effect.

In our article, we described a clinical case of a patient with an acute periostitis of the maxilla with a comorbidity (primary immune thrombocytopenia, resistant form) who was treated using laser technology allowing us to provide good results: an intensive regeneration process and a decreased risk of developing infection complications and unpleasant signs for the patient, such as postoperative edema and intraoperative and postoperative pain syndrome.

Porphyromonas gingivalis, the keystone pathogen in chronic periodontitis, was identified in the brain of Alzheimer’s disease patients. Toxic proteases from the bacterium called gingipains were also identified in the brain of Alzheimer’s patients, and levels correlated with tau and ubiquitin pathology. Oral P. gingivalis infection in mice resulted in brain colonization and increased production of Aβ1-42, a component of amyloid plaques. Further, gingipains were neurotoxic in vivo and in vitro, exerting detrimental effects on tau, a protein needed for normal neuronal function. To block this neurotoxicity, we designed and synthesized small-molecule inhibitors targeting gingipains. Gingipain inhibition reduced the bacterial load of an established P. gingivalis brain infection, blocked Aβ1-42 production, reduced neuroinflammation, and rescued neurons in the hippocampus. These data suggest that gingipain inhibitors could be valuable for treating P. gingivalis brain colonization and neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s disease.