The role of inflammation in age-related macular degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a complex, chronic, and progressive disease which affects the macular area, being one of the leading causes of irreversible vision loss worldwide. Specific alterations of retinal structure occur at the macular level, which regarding its severity can range from the presence of drusen to the development of geographic atrophy or choroidal neovascularization. AMD has long been considered a degenerative disease, but new studies highlight the role of inflammation present both in the atrophic form and in the exudative form. The present review is based on comprehensive research on PubMed and Web of Science databases, and it aims to describe the inflammatory pathways involved in AMD onset and progression. Understanding the molecules involved in AMD pathogenesis, and their mechanism of action, is crucial because they can be both biomarkers with a predictive role in disease management, as well as potential therapeutic targets

Exposure to fluoride through daily oral home-care and professionally procedures in the dental office for a group of Romanian children

Objectives. The aim of this study was the assessment of the exposure to fluoride through oral homecare products as well as professional applications for a group of children from Bucharest, Romania. Materials and methods. The cross-sectional study was conducted in 2021 on a sample of 207 subjects from Bucharest, Romania, including parents with children between 1 and 12 years distributed in three age groups: 1-2 years, 3-5 years and 6-12 years. The assessment used a 10 items questionnaire, on-line and self-administered and completed by the parents most involved in child’s oral health. Results. The correct concentration of fluoride in child’s toothpaste was used as it follows 3.7% of 1-2 year-olds, 4.24% of 3-5 year-olds, 8.06% 6-12 year-olds. The age-adapted recommended quantity of toothpaste was used for 37.4% of children of 1-2 years, 61.86% of children of 3-5 years and 24.19% of children of 6-12 years. Twice-daily tooth brushing was performed by 40.74% 1-2 year-olds, 44.92% 3-5 year-olds, 62.90% 6-12 year-olds. In-office professional fluoridation was low, 88.89% of 1-2 years old children, 92.37% of 3-5 years old children and 77.42% 6-12 years old children were never exposed to such preventive procedures. Conclusions. Children from the present study had a suboptimal exposure to fluoride through oral home care products as well as to topical in-office professionally application of high concentration fluoride product

The role of inflammation in diabetic retinopathy in patients with type II diabetes; potential therapeutic perspectives

Diabetic retinopathy is one of the major causes of visual impairment and blindness in adult population. The pathology is complex, the metabolic changes induced by the hyperglycemic environment leading to neurodegeneration, microvascular damage, with secondary ischemic and inflammatory changes in the retina. This review aims to update the literature data related to the role of inflammation in the onset and progression of diabetic retinopathy. Thus, the molecular and biochemical mechanisms triggered by excess glucose increase the expression of genes involved in inflammatory processes, which leads to the synthesis of inflammatory cytokines such as Il1, Il6, TNF alpha as well as complement activation. Furthermore, recent evidence has demonstrated that both systemic and ocular prolonged inflammation are correlated with the progression of diabetic retinopathy. In conclusion, preventing and/or reducing the progression of diabetic retinopathy requires both rigorous glycemic control in diabetic patients and targeted interference of the specific inflammatory pathways involved

Gender Differences in Oral Health: Self-Reported Attitudes, Values, Behaviours and Literacy among Romanian Adults

A topic that has been less researched on, especially in Romania, is the identification of gender differences in oral health. The present scientific research used an online survey to assess the attitudes (dental beliefs survey-R/R-DBS), the values (oral health values scale/OHVS), the behaviours (dental neglect scale/DNS), and the literacy (oral health literacy scale/OHLS) related to oral health and to dental professional services in the case of a sample of 600 Romanian adults (Meanage = 30.84). The relation between the level of knowledge as a predictor of attitudes and values related to oral health was analysed by the means of a structural equation based on the partial least square method (PLS-SEM). The results show that women have more positive attitudes towards dental medical services, higher oral health values, better self-care behaviours, and higher oral health literacy than men. In the case of men, attitudes and behaviours related to self-care are influenced by their oral health literacy and level of education; in the case of women, the latter are influenced only by their level of oral health literacy. The impact that knowledge in oral health has on attitudes, values, and behaviours was highlighted. The differences in attitudes and values related to oral health between the two genders can be accounted for by the differences in formal and informal education (studies and oral health literacy, respectively)