Exploring elements of an effective practitioner-patient relationship in dentistry

Purpose: The present study, having human-centered orientation (empathy) as an index of the doctor-patient relationship, aims to record the degree of user/patient satisfaction with the health services provided by the Department of Oral Medicine/ Pathology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.Materials and Methods: Quantitative analysis of the research was conducted using a four-item anonymous questionnaire on satisfaction: (a) communication (b) information/ awareness (c) respect/ acceptance and (d) interest/ understanding. The participants were 600 patients with oral diseases of various severity. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM Statistics SPSS 20 and 25.Results: The participants were 61.7% females (median age 58.5 years) and 38.3% males (median age 60 years). According to the scores the patients’ satisfaction was: a) communication (97.8%), (b) information/ awareness (85.8%), (c) respect/ acceptance (78.8%), and (d) interest/ understanding (67.7%).Conclusion: Quantitative analysis of the empirical study established that the patients of Department of Oral Medicine revealed a fairly high rate of satisfaction. However some service parameters (interest/ understanding) need further attention and for this reason improvement proposals have been tabled

The Impact of Religious Beliefs and Practices on Coping with Health Challenges Posed by Covid-19

In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, the aim of the present study was to investigate to what extent the undergraduate students of the Department of Dentistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, felt the need to come closer to their own religiosity, spirituality, or faith. Materials and methods: Empirical research was conducted by means of an anonymous questionnaire, comprising demographics and items focusing on religiosity, spirituality, and faith. The survey results were processed using “MICROSOFT EXCEL IBM SPSS STATISTICS 24” statistical processing software. Results:  To overcome health dilemmas, the wide majority of students did not focus on religious & spiritual practices (70% & 66.7%) while at the same time, their religiosity & spirituality was not enhanced (74% & 78%). However, for the same period, 53% of the students stated that their faith was enhanced. Conclusions: While overall students’ religiosity & spirituality indicators were low, for the same period they stated that their faith in overcoming health distress was strengthened, which triggers new questions and prompts further research in the field of humanities.&nbsp

The Role of the Religion Vis-à-vis the 'Health Challenges' of Covid-19

Αim: In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, the aim of the present study was to investigate to what extent the undergraduate students of the Department of Dentistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki felt the need to come closer to their own religiosity, spirituality or faith. Materials and methods: Empirical research was conducted by means of an anonymous questionnaire, comprising demographics and items focusing on religiosity, spirituality and faith. The results of the survey were processed using MICROSOFT EXCEL IBM SPSS STATISTICS 24 statistical processing software. Results:  To overcome health dilemmas, the wide majority of  students did not focus on religious & spiritual practices (70% & 66.7%) while at the same time their religiosity & spirituality was not enhanced (74% & 78%). However, for the same period 53% of the students stated that their faith was enhanced. Conclusions-Discussion: While overall students’ religiosity & spirituality indicators were low, for the same period they stated that their faith in overcoming health distress was strengthened, which triggers new questions and prompts further research in the field of humanities.&nbsp

Delayed malignant melanoma recurrence simulating primary ovarian cancer: Case report

BACKGROUND: Metastatic involvement of the ovary from malignant melanoma is uncommon and presents a diagnostic challenge. Most cases are associated with disseminated disease and carry a dismal prognosis. Delayed ovarian recurrences from melanoma may mimic primary ovarian cancer and lead to aggressive cytoreductive procedures. CASE PRESENTATION: A case of malignant melanoma in a premenopausal patient is presented with late abdominal and ovarian metastatic spread, where ascitic fluid cytology led to an accurate preoperative diagnosis and the avoidance of unnecessary surgical procedures. CONCLUSION: Secondary ovarian involvement is associated with a poor prognosis and efforts should be made for adequate palliation. Pathologic diagnosis with non-invasive procedures is crucial in order to avoid unnecessary surgery. Surgical interventions may be undertaken only in selected cases of limited metastatic disease, where complete resection is expecte

Idiopathic Sweet’s Syndrome with Oral Manifestations: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Sweetov sindrom ili akutna febrilna neutrofilna dermatoza, rijetka je kožna bolest nepoznate etiologije i patogeneze, povremeno udružena s malignitetom, a najčešće se javlja kod sredovječnih žena. Klinički su to bolne papule koje oblikuju plakove na koži te ustrajna vrućica i bolni zglobovi, a najdosljedniji je laboratorijski nalaz leukocitoza s neutrofilijom. Predstavljamo dobro dokumentiran slučaj pacijentice u dobi od 62 godine s idiopatskim Sweetovim sindromom, prvim prijavljenim slučajem s oralnim lezijama u Grčkoj te opisom kliničkih i histoloških nalaza i terapije. Također dajemo uvid u literaturu o slučajevima koji uključuju i oralne lezije.Sweet’s syndrome or acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis is an uncommon skin disease of unknown cause and pathogenesis, occasionally associated with malignancy, which is mostly occurring in middle aged women. Clinically, painful plaqueforming inflammatory papules on the skin are accompanied by high persistent fever and arthralgia and the most consistent laboratory findings are peripheral leukocytosis with neutrophilia. We present a well-documented case of a 62 year-old female patient, with idiopathic Sweet’s syndrome, the first reported in Greece with oral lesions, describing its clinical and histological findings and the treatment, and we also review the relative literature focusing on cases with oral involvement

Idiopathic Sweet’s Syndrome with Oral Manifestations: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Sweetov sindrom ili akutna febrilna neutrofilna dermatoza, rijetka je kožna bolest nepoznate etiologije i patogeneze, povremeno udružena s malignitetom, a najčešće se javlja kod sredovječnih žena. Klinički su to bolne papule koje oblikuju plakove na koži te ustrajna vrućica i bolni zglobovi, a najdosljedniji je laboratorijski nalaz leukocitoza s neutrofilijom. Predstavljamo dobro dokumentiran slučaj pacijentice u dobi od 62 godine s idiopatskim Sweetovim sindromom, prvim prijavljenim slučajem s oralnim lezijama u Grčkoj te opisom kliničkih i histoloških nalaza i terapije. Također dajemo uvid u literaturu o slučajevima koji uključuju i oralne lezije.Sweet’s syndrome or acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis is an uncommon skin disease of unknown cause and pathogenesis, occasionally associated with malignancy, which is mostly occurring in middle aged women. Clinically, painful plaqueforming inflammatory papules on the skin are accompanied by high persistent fever and arthralgia and the most consistent laboratory findings are peripheral leukocytosis with neutrophilia. We present a well-documented case of a 62 year-old female patient, with idiopathic Sweet’s syndrome, the first reported in Greece with oral lesions, describing its clinical and histological findings and the treatment, and we also review the relative literature focusing on cases with oral involvement

In Vitro and Ex Vivo Evaluation of Tablets Containing Piroxicam-Cyclodextrin Complexes for Buccal Delivery

In the current study, the development of mucoadhesive tablets for buccal delivery of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug was investigated. Binary complexes with piroxicam and cyclodextrins (beta-cyclodextrin (b-CD), methylated-beta-cyclodextrin (Me-b-CD), and hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HP-b-CD)) were prepared by the co-evaporation method. All formulations were characterized by means of diferential scanning calorimetry, infrared spectroscopy and powder X-ray diffractometry. Mucoadhesive tablets of binary systems were formulated by direct compression using chitosan as mucoadhesive polymer. The in vitro release profiles of tablets were conducted in simulated saliva and, the drug permeation studies, across porcine buccal mucosa. The results suggest that the rank order effect of cyclodextrins for the drug release was Me-b-CD >HP-b-CD > b-CD, whereas the ex vivo studies showed that the tablets containing chitosan significantly increased the transport of the drug compared to their free complexes. Finally, histological assessment revealed loss of the superficial cell layers, which might be attributed to the presence of cyclodextrins

Fibrous polymeric buccal film formulation, engineering and bio-interface assessment

The file attached to this record is the author's final peer reviewed version. The Publisher's final version can be found by following the DOI link.Polymer based dosages form the mainstay of drug delivery systems either as simple matrix carrier materials or active release behavior modulating agents. In addition, several techniques have been developed further to deliver novel polymeric structures. One such method is electrospinning (ES); a maturing process which is operational at the ambient environment and enables drug loading (in molecularly dispersed form) directly into a fibrous polymer matrix system. Since there is an impending need to address healthcare challenges arising from an increase in the aging population (requiring enhanced treatments), the ES method was used to develop fibrous polymer composite-indomethacin (INDO) films for potential use in the buccal region. Films were assessed for their inter-facial behavior at bio-interfaces (in-vitro and ex-vivo). Polymeric excipients possessing an established profile for commercial dosage form development were selected. Fibrous films (all fibre components <400 nm) were characterised using DSC, TGA, FTIR, Raman and XRD. DSC and XRD demonstrated INDO change from crystalline to amorphous state. FTIR and Raman data suggest INDO, PVP and co-polymers (Methocel™ E5, Methocel™ E15 and Tween® 80) were integrated in stable fashion into filamentous structures via ES. Variable INDO release behavior from several matrices was observed suggesting a potential route to tailor drug release based on polymeric excipient use and ratio. Furthermore, permeation studies using a porcine buccal model demonstrated sustained permeation once dosages are attached to the buccal mucosa. The insoluble nature of cellulose excipients were used to promote sustained release while the use of Tween® 80 surfactant was used to enhance permeation of INDO through polymer interaction with excised tissue. Finally, histology studies indicate polymer excipient selection impacts the bio-interface. In summary, a facile approach to formulate, encapsulate and engineer fibrous polymeric buccal films (on demand) is shown. The method enables drug dispersion directly within the composite polymeric system, which has a clear impact on drug release, in-vitro and ex-vivo bio-interaction