Oral health among institutionalised elderly in Zagreb, Croatia

Objective: A survey of dental health status was conducted in the institutionalised elderly in Zagreb, Croatia in order to assess the dental and oral health of the elderly population. Participants: In 139 institutionalised elderly from a single nursing home in Zagreb, dental and oral status was registered according to World Health Organization criteria. There were 108 (77.7%) female and 31 (22.3%) male subjects aged 58–99 years. Results: The results showed that 45.3% of the interviewed persons were totally edentulous in both jaws. A significant increase in prevalence of edentulousness with the increasing age was recorded. The mean decayed, missing and filled teeth number was 27. The average number of teeth with caries was 1.03 per person, the number of the teeth extracted was 6.9 per person and teeth with fillings 0.74 per person. The average number of teeth with root caries was 0.17. Approximately 9 teeth per person were in need of treatment. Filled teeth were found 25.9% of subjects and decayed teeth in 30.9%. The mean number of remaining sound teeth, decayed teeth and residual roots in the elderly decreased with increasing age. Complete periodontal treatment was required in 5.8% of the participants and no significant differences between genders in periodontal status could be noticed. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest poor dental health in this group of the institutionalised elderly and the necessity of improving and implementing some special features in the dental health services programs for the institutionalised elderly.     

Multidrug resistance-associated protein-1 (MRP1) genetic variants,MRP1 protein levels and severity of COPD

Background

Multidrug resistance-associated protein-1 (MRP1) protects against oxidative stress and toxic compounds generated by cigarette smoking, which is the main risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We have previously shown that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in MRP1 significantly associate with level of FEV₁ in two independent population based cohorts. The aim of our study was to assess the associations of MRP1 SNPs with FEV₁ level, MRP1 protein levels and inflammatory markers in bronchial biopsies and sputum of COPD patients.

Methods

Five SNPs (rs212093, rs4148382, rs504348, rs4781699, rs35621) in MRP1 were genotyped in 110 COPD patients. The effects of MRP1 SNPs were analyzed using linear regression models.

Results

One SNP, rs212093 was significantly associated with a higher FEV₁ level and less airway wall inflammation. Another SNP, rs4148382 was significantly associated with a lower FEV₁ level, higher number of inflammatory cells in induced sputum and with a higher MRP1 protein level in bronchial biopsies.

Conclusions

This is the first study linking MRP1 SNPs with lung function and inflammatory markers in COPD patients, suggesting a role of MRP1 SNPs in the severity of COPD in addition to their association with MRP1 protein level in bronchial biopsies.     

Development and validation of a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for the quantification of opiorphin in human saliva

Opiorphin, QRFSR-peptide, is a mature product of the PROL1 (proline rich, lacrimal 1) protein that showed beneficial effects in pain management, antidepressant-like actions as well as involvement in colonic motility and erectile physiology. Using opiorphin as a potential biomarker of different pathological states requires the development of robust and sensitive methods. We report a highly sensitive and specific liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometric detection (LC-MS/MS) analytical method for the analysis of opiorphin in human saliva. Quantification was based on multiple reaction monitoring using characteristic transitions (m/z 347/120 - as quantifying ion; 347/175 and 347/268 as qualifying ions). The assay was linear in the range of 0-110 ng/ml and the lower limit of quantification reached was 1.0 ng/ml. The intra-day precision and accuracy were between 2.7-5.6% and -2.3 to 3.2%, respectively. The inter-day precision and accuracy were between 10.8-13.7% and -11.0 to 52%, respectively. Mean recovery was 106% and mean matrix effect was 0.97. Opiorphin in TFA treated saliva samples was stable for at least 12h at room temperature and up to 30 days at -20°C. Opiorphin levels in human saliva samples collected from young healthy individuals ranged from 2.8 to 25.9 ng/ml.     

Influence of occlusal stabilization splint on the asymmetric activity of masticatory muscles in patients with temporomandibular dysfunction

The aim of present study was to evaluate the symmetry of masticatory muscles' activity at various clenching levels in the intercuspal position in patients with functional disorders and in healthy subjects. The purpose was also to determine the effect of full-arch maxillary stabilization splint on the asymmetry of masticatory muscle activity in patients with temporomandibular dysfunction. In this study 6 TMD patients and 12 healthy subjects were investigated. Surface EMG recordings were obtained from left and right anterior temporal, left and right masseter and from the sub-mandibular group in the region of the anterior belly of the digastric muscle on the left and right side during clenching with the maximum 100% voluntary contraction (MVC) as well as during clenching at 50% and 25% of the maximum activity in the position of maximal intercuspation of teeth. In order to quantify asymmetrical masticatory muscle activity, the asymmetry index (AI) was calculated for each subject and for each muscle from the average anterior temporal, masseter and digastric potentials recorded during each test (100% MVC, 50% MVC and 25% MVC). In the group of patients EMG recordings were repeated during and after the splint therapy. The asymmetries of masticatory muscle activity was present in both groups, but in the group of TMD patients the asymmetry indices for anterior temporal muscle at 100% MVC (p = 0.049) and 50% MVC (p = 0.031) were significantly higher. Results have shown that the use of splint suppressed the asymmetry of all muscles, as during the splint therapy the asymmetry indices were lowered. After the therapy, the level of temporal muscle symmetry during submaximal clenching in the intercuspal position increased significantly (p = 0.046). This investigation points out that electromyography may be a valuable method of documenting that asymmetric activity of masticatory muscles improves after occlusal splint therapy in patients with TMD.     

Prevalence of torus palatinus and torus mandibularis in the Split-Dalmatian County, Croatia

Torus palatinus (TP) and torus mandibularis (TM) are non-pathological outgrowths of unclear etiology that develop from the jaw bone. The purpose of the present study was to report on the prevalence, shape and location of TP and TM in the population of the Central Dalmatian region, Croatia. The study comprised of 1679 subjects, 985 females and 694 males, age range from 9 to 99 years who were examined by clinical examination and analysis of the plaster casts. Torus palatinus was found in 42.9% subjects and torus mandibularis in 12.6% of the subjects. Spindle-shaped torus palatinus was the most frequent type (45.6%). The most frequent type of torus mandibularis was bilateral solitary torus mandibularis (35.4%). Furthermore, torus palatinus was found in 40.1% of the total number of females and in 46.8% of the total number of males, indicating a significantly higher prevalence in the male population (p = 0.006). Torus mandibularis was found in 11.3% of the female population and in 14.6% of the male population, again indicating significantly higher prevalence in the male population (p = 0.046). The results of this study show significantly higher prevalence of torus palatinus and torus mandibularis in the male subjects. Furthermore, no differences in the prevalence of either TM or TP regarding age were found.     

Smoking status and anti-inflammatory macrophages in bronchoalveolar lavage and induced sputum in COPD

Background

Macrophages have been implicated in the pathogenesis of COPD. M1 and M2 macrophages constitute subpopulations displaying pro- and anti-inflammatory properties. We hypothesized that smoking cessation affects macrophage heterogeneity in the lung of patients with COPD. Our aim was to study macrophage heterogeneity using the M2-marker CD163 and selected pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and induced sputum from current smokers and ex-smokers with COPD.

Methods

114 COPD patients (72 current smokers; 42 ex-smokers, median smoking cessation 3.5 years) were studied cross-sectionally and underwent sputum induction (M/F 99/15, age 62 ± 8 [mean ± SD] years, 42 (31-55) [median (range)] packyears, post-bronchodilator FEV₁ 63 ± 9% predicted, no steroids past 6 months). BAL was collected from 71 patients. CD163⁺ macrophages were quantified in BAL and sputum cytospins. Pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators were measured in BAL and sputum supernatants.

Results

Ex-smokers with COPD had a higher percentage, but lower number of CD163⁺ macrophages in BAL than current smokers (83.5% and 68.0%, p = 0.04; 5.6 and 20.1 ×10⁴/ml, p = 0.001 respectively). The percentage CD163⁺ M2 macrophages was higher in BAL compared to sputum (74.0% and 30.3%, p < 0.001). BAL M-CSF levels were higher in smokers than ex-smokers (571 pg/ml and 150 pg/ml, p = 0.001) and correlated with the number of CD163⁺ BAL macrophages (Rs = 0.38, p = 0.003). No significant differences were found between smokers and ex-smokers in the levels of pro-inflammatory (IL-6 and IL-8), and anti-inflammatory (elafin, and Secretory Leukocyte Protease Inhibitor [SLPI]) mediators in BAL and sputum.

Conclusions

Our data suggest that smoking cessation partially changes the macrophage polarization in vivo in the periphery of the lung towards an anti-inflammatory phenotype, which is not accompanied by a decrease in inflammatory parameters.     

Sexual differences in caudal morphology and its relation to tail autotomy in lacertid lizards

We hypothesized that the presence of the forked hemipenes, and associated musculature, at the base of the tail in male lizards should constrain the capacity to autotomize the tail. Thus, this hypothesis predicts that the non-autotomous base of the tail should be longer in male than in female lizards. We tested this hypothesis in four species oflacertid lizards. Males have on average one to two non-autotomous vertebrae more than females, and the sexual difference in length of the non-autotomous tail base remains constant over the entire body size range. In addition, the first functional autotomy plane in males is usually located on, or is distal to, the vertebrae from which two hemipenial muscles take origin. These observations support the view that functional demands of the male intromittent organs impose constraints on the abilities of tail autotomy. In a natural population of Lacerta vivipara , the proportion of tail breaks that occurred at very short distances from the base was highest in females, indicating that the small sexual difference in length of the non-autotomous tail part is of functional significance. Total length of the tail was largest in males. This can be interpreted as a compensation for the decline in autotomy capacities at the tail base, such that the length of the autotomous part remains similar in both sexes.     

Differential diagnostic performance of Rose Bengal Score Test in Sjøgren's syndrome patients

Aim of the study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of the Rose Bengal score test for Sj?gren's syndrome (SS), and to explore differences between other tests and examinations. All participants were examined, including (but not limited to) unstimulated (UWS) and stimulated (SWS) whole saliva, labial gland biopsy (LGB or focus score), ophthalmologic questionnaire (ocular surface disease index OSDI) and objective tests: Schirmer test 1 (Sch. 1), Schirmer test 2 (Sch.2), Tear Break-up Time (TBUT) test and Rose Bengal score (RBS). Data were analyzed using Mann Whitney U-test, Receiver Operating Characteristic analysis, with specificity and sensitivity calculations and Spearman's correlation test. ROC curves showed a poor diagnostic performance of TBUT and OSDI. Sch. 1, Sch.2 and LGB all exhibited a high diagnostic performance. RBS exhibited the best performance (sensitivity 100,00; specificity 100,00; AUC 1,000). Study reveals the scarce reliability of TBUT, OSDI and Sch.1, and emphasizes RBS as the test of choice in the SS diagnosis.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis> phylogenetic group determination and its application in the identification of the major animal source of fecal contamination

Background  

Escherichia coli strains are commonly found in the gut microflora of warm-blooded animals. These strains can be assigned to one of the four main phylogenetic groups, A, B1, B2 and D, which can be divided into seven subgroups (A₀, A₁, B1, B2₂, B2₃, D₁ and D₂), according to the combination of the three genetic markers chuA, yjaA and DNA fragment TspE4.C2. Distinct studies have demonstrated that these phylo-groups differ in the presence of virulence factors, ecological niches and life-history. Therefore, the aim of this work was to analyze the distribution of these E. coli phylo-groups in 94 human strains, 13 chicken strains, 50 cow strains, 16 goat strains, 39 pig strains and 29 sheep strains and to verify the potential of this analysis to investigate the source of fecal contamination.