Vestibular effects of diving – а review

Scuba diving is a popular recreational and professional activity with inherent risks. Complications related to barotrauma and decompression illness can pose significant morbidity to a diver’s hearing and balance systems. The common symptoms of otologic dysfunction are ear fullness or pain, hearing loss, tinnitus, and vertigo. Vertigo is one of the most hazardous symptoms to occur during diving. It is frequently accompanied by hearing loss and tinnitus. Vertigo is described in multiple phases of diving. However, many of these reports are not well documented, do not differentiate vertigo from nonvertiginous disequilibrium, or discuss vertigo only as an incidental observation.The purpose of this publication is to review the vestibular effects of diving

Recent advances in the diagnosis of some common vestibular disorders

The interest in the diagnosis of common vestibular disorders in children and adults is permanently increasing. In this survey, the applications of the main diagnostic methods in this interdisciplinary field are briefly discussed. The diagnostic capacities of the caloric test, video head impulse test, cervical and ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potentials, videonystagmography, electrococheography, magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, etc. are summarized. Special attention is paid to some common vestibular disorders such as Menière’s disease, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, vestibular migraine, vestibular neuritis, and acute vestibular syndrome. United international efforts will contribute to further improvement of the diagnosis of the vestibular disorders, which warrants their adequate treatment

Improvement of titanium implant characteristics by hydroxyapatite coating

The mechanical properties of titanium and its alpha-beta alloys make them ideal implant materials. Hydroxyapatite coating substantially contributes to the improvement of these implants. This survey presents certain patterns of the combined use of hydroxyapatite with titanium and titanium alloys in dental and orthopaedic implantology. It demonstrates the advances of research on hydroxyapatite and its crystal line nanoparticles and reveals the advantages of and benefits from these coatings for further quality improvement of titanium implants

New interdisciplinary challenges of otorhinolaryngology, head, neck surgery and maxilo-facial surgery

Modern otorhinolaryngology, head, neck and maxillo-facial surgery and their branches face the challenges of interdisciplinary clinical medicine of the new millennium. The united efforts of a plenty of eminent scientists from Europe are directed to uninterrupted improvement of diagnosis, management and prevention of the socially sig- nificant diseases of the head, ear, nose and throat. Since several decades onwards, a series of national, internation- al and European societies and associations have undoubtedly contributed to the advances of theory and practice in this area by promoting the rapid and wide implementation of the new achievements and the fruitful internation- al collaboration. Let us mention some of these organizations only: Politzer Society Inc., an International Society of Otologic Surgery and Science; the European Academy of Otology and Neuro-Otology (EAONO); the Mediterra- nean Society of Otology and Audiology (MSOA); the European Academy of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (EAORL-HNS); the European Rhinological Society (ERS); the European Laryngological Society (ELS); the European Head and Neck Society (EHNS), the International Black Sea Otologic and Neuro-Otologic Association (newly-registered in Varna, Bulgaria), etc

Importance of otorhinolaryngology and vestibulogy for posture and balance of the human body

The vestibular system provides the human brain with information about the angular and linear deviation of the head and body in space, as well as the sense of gravity. It is essential for maintaining adequate body position, orientation and performance of motor acts. Synchronous work with other systems – visual and proprioceptive - is observed. Disorientation, staggering and dizziness are provoked by a conflict of the information received by the different sensors. The vestibular system is a constantly engaged system.Scientific databases - PubMed, SCOPUS and MEDLINE - were used to find appropriate studies in English and other languages on the topic of this review, with the following keywords: vestibular disorder, balance, posture, adenoid hypertrophy, hearing loss. A time period of 2010-2021 was set to trace the latest discoveries in the scientific field. Fundamental pieces of scientific research from the second half of the 20th century were also included. In addition to information from the mentioned scientific databases and articles such as clinical trials and review articles, we included information and paid attention to the work of Bulgarian authors on the problems of the topic, including information from articles, abstracts of dissertations.It can be clearly concluded, based on the analyzed literature, that the ability to maintain balance is due to specific information acquired through several sensory processing systems. While vision is important for posture and balance, the ability to hear, the absence of vestibular deficits, the lack of hypertrophic processes in the adenoids contribute to the fine control and regulation of balance. Disorders in one system - visual, audio-vestibular, stomatognathic - affect others, including the whole body, because they are all connected.Patients should be offered a comprehensive diagnosis because, as has been shown many times, the pathology is interrelated and requires appropriate diagnostic methods and treatment plan. This is done in order to improve the quality of life of the patients and reduce the consequences of the disease

Biocompatibility of glass-ionomer cements in dentistry

Biocompatibility takes into account the ability of a material to elicit a specific biological response after administration to a living organism. The concept does not define only one quality of the material, but reflects a complex of interactions with the biological environment in which it is placed. Over time, the definition of biocompatibility has gradually changed. Dental cements are the main clinical obturating materials. First created by Wilson and Kent in 1969, glass ionomer (polyalkenoate) cements have become widely used in medicine and dentistry.The purpose of this review is to discuss the biocompatibility of glass ionomer cements.Scientific databases - PubMed and SCOPUS were used to find appropriate studies in English on the topic of this article, with the following keywords - biocompatibility, glass ionomer cements, dentistry. A time period of 2000-2021 was set to screen articles and track the progress of the biocompatibility of dental cements in the new millennium. In addition to the cited scientific databases and articles such as clinical trials, review articles, meta-analyzes, writing of the report included information from Bulgarian and foreign textbooks in English on the subject. After applying the screening criteria, 61 results were displayed in SCOPUS and 215 in PubMed. From them, selected articles that describe experimental productions with testing the properties of cements, incl. to living cells, were reviewed.Science has found that by modifying the composition of the powder and the liquid of the cement, properties and biocompatibility can be affected. Modifications with the addition of nanoparticles hydroxylapatite and silica, carbon nanocompounds, zinc ions, cellulose microfiber and nanocrystals, amorphous calcium phosphate, chlorhexidine, collagen type 1 and peptides have been reported. Cement liquid has also been improved, which changes its properties.In the given time period between 2000-2021 there is a rapid rise of development and improvement of the properties of already synthesized cements. Efforts are being made to study the biocompatibility of materials and their properties to help tissue regeneration. There is also a wider use of materials and their implementation into various fields of medicine and dentistry

Dynamic analysis of the body's balance with the aid of PODATA platform in patients with vestibular disorders and malocclusions

Introduction: Human posture is linked to a certain stable anatomic position between head, body, and upper and lower limbs. Posturology is the science for the human posture. The connections between the vestibular, ocular, stomatognathic, postural, and proprioceptive systems are studied due to their muscular chains interconnections.Aim: The present research aims to study the characteristics of the body’s balance in patients with vestibular disorders and orthodontic malocclusions, utilizing the PODATA platform.Materials and Methods: A total of 83 patients in the time period November–July 2022 were included. All patients filled out written informed consent forms in order to participate. The study received approval by the Medical University of Varna’s Ethics Committee. Patients were also provided with questionnaires in order to assess their symptoms. An ENT specialist and a dentist examined all patients. Patients were divided into several diagnostic groups.Results: When examined on the platform, patients shifted the center of gravity (CoG) of the body more often backwards and to the right side. Most patients with a shift of CoG backwards and to the right had a temporomandibular disorder (TMD) on the left side. Female patients were more affected than male ones. In patients who also had a vestibular disorder, CoG of the body was more often shifted backwards and to the right. Thirty-one had a malocclusion. Patients with a change of the middle line and deep bite were the most prevalent and they shifted CoG backward and to the right or only backwards.Conclusion: The presented study confirmed that there is a connection between the postural, stomatognathic and vestibular systems. Disorders in either of the systems results in consecutive changes in the others

The effect of nutrients on oral dental health

Introduction: The oral health of each individual is related to and dependent on the nutrients they take. They determine the duration and quality of life of each person. Nutritional prevention of oral diseases is the proper balancing of nutrition during different periods of development of oral structures.Aim: The aim of the present study is to investigate the relationship between nutrition and dental disease and to present nutritional recommendations for their prevention.Materials and Methods: For the period January 2022–February 2022, in the available database (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus), a systematic analysis of scientific publications examining the impact of nutrients on oral health was conducted.Discussion: Nowadays, principles for rational nutrition are constantly being created and updated. A food pyramid has been set up at the US Department of Agriculture. It presents the intake of various foods and seeks to reduce oral diseases. The essential nutrients that are protein, carbohydrates, fats, minerals, and vitamins are extremely important for oral health. Proper nutrition in the period of growth and development determines the construction and maintenance of oral structures. The links between oral health, diet and nutrition status, and general health are complex with many interrelated factors. Inaccurate nutrition can affect oral health, including dental caries, periodontal disease, oral disease, and anemia. Impaired oral health can change food choices and negatively affect food intake, leading to suboptimal nutritional status, which in turn can lead to chronic systemic diseases. One of the causes of dental diseases is the intake of unhealthy and incomplete food.Conclusion: Achieving and maintaining oral health is done through nutritional prophylaxis. Recognizing and treating oral health and nutrition problems are important for improving health and quality of life

Changes in voice characteristics in dental prosthetics

Introduction: Speech impediment from tooth loss and denture treatment is one of the major problems for patients, especially those whose work involves talking or singing. Studies of this problem are scarce and far removed in the literature.Aim: The purpose of this study is to investigate how the voice characteristics of prosthetics are modified to improve clinical practice outcomes using scientific evidence on the subject.Materials and Methods: The following research databases were used for the study: MEDLINE, Scopus, EMBASE, and PubMed from January 2001 to August 2019 focused on studies specifically evaluating changes in the voice characteristics and speech function of patients undergoing prosthetic treatment.Results: Although the studies offer an assessment of speech function before and after prosthetics based on phonetics and corrections through speech production, no article describes speech adequacy with phonetic training in speech therapy.Conclusion: The speech function of patients undergoing prosthetic treatment is examined only by phonetic tests and prosthesis modifications performed by dental practitioners, which proves the need for clinical studies involving other specialists

Diagnosis of nasal breathing using a rhinomanometer in patients with OSA prescribed conservative treatment with intraoral devices

In recent years, diagnostics in the field of medicine has developed at an extremely rapid pace, thanks to the use and improvement of new medical devices and devices. The problem of timely and adequate diagnosis and treatment of the syndrome of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and snoring is particularly relevant worldwide. The disease has been proven to worsen the patients’ quality of life, and may even threaten it. Obstructive sleep apnea and snoring syndrome (OSAS) is a widespread disease of social importance in which there is a reduction or cessation of airflow through the nose/mouth during sleep due to upper airway collapse. Obstructive sleep apnea affects the cardiovascular, endocrine, neurocognitive and other systems of the body. There are symptoms of loud snoring, choking, hypoxemia, and micro-awakenings, leading to sleep fragmentation, daytime fatigue, and sleepiness. The latter greatly worsens the quality of life of patients. There are real risks to the life and health of the patient and others, given the possibility of falling asleep at the wheel in drivers with sleep apnea and participation in traffic accidents. To diagnose the syndrome, a polysomnographic study is performed, which is still the gold standard. For a better diagnosis, it is recommended to combine it with rhinomanometry. Treatment of OSA includes control of risk factors and removal of obstructive factors that make breathing difficult. Severe OSA syndrome is treated with continuous positive pressure ventilation (CPAP) during sleep, possibly in combination with intraoral devices. Rhinomanometry can also be used to monitor the effectiveness of CPAP therapy in severe forms of the syndrome by determining tissue resistance. The impact on patients with a milder form of OSA treated with intraoral devices is also monitored. The method can also be used in patients with allergic rhinitis, sinusitis of rhinogenic and other origin, and patients with orthodontic deformities. The correct choice of intraoral appliances for conservative treatment of OSA and timely diagnosis are key to successful treatment