Changes in insulin like growth factors, myostatin and vascular endothelial growth factor in rat musculus latissimus dorsi by poly 3-hydroxybutyrate implants

The present study aimed at researching the synergistic effect between an ectopic bone substitute and surrounding muscle tissue. To describe this effect, changes of insulin like growth factors (IGF1, IGF2), myostatin (GDF8) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA content of 12 Wistar-King rats musculus latissimus dorsi with implanted poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) scaffold were examined after 6 and 12 weeks. At each time interval six rats were killed and implants and surrounding tissues prepared for genetic evaluation. Eight rats without any implants served as controls. RNAwas extracted from homogenized muscle tissue and reverse transcribed. Changes in mRNA content were measured by Real-Time PCR using specific primers for IGF1, IGF2, GDF8 and VEGF. Comparing the level of VEGF mRNA in muscle after 6 and 12 weeks to the controls, we could assess a significant increase of VEGF gene expression (

Frequency of temporomandibular disorders diagnoses based on RDC/TMD in a Polish patient population

Objective: To assess the frequency and age distribution of Axis I and Axis II diagnoses among Polish patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD). Method: One hundred sixty-three (n = 163) consecutive adult patients seeking TMD treatment were assessed based on the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD) guidelines. Descriptive statistics on the frequency of diagnoses and mean age of the diagnostic groups was performed. Result: Frequency of muscle disorders, disc displacements, and other joint disorders was 56.9, 48.9, and 31%, respectively. Disc displacement was the most common diagnosis in younger patients. Severe somatization and depression were shown in 11.9 and 15.8% of patients, respectively. Only 10.5% of the patients showed severe pain-related impairment. Females tended to have higher psychosocial scores than males. Discussion: The frequency of Axis I TMD diagnoses in Polish patients is similar to other populations, whereas Axis II findings slightly differ from previous reports from other countries

Prevalence and characterization of helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and colonization in dentists

H. pylori is an important factor in the pathogenesis of numerous diseases including gastro-intestinal, metabolic and vascular disorders. Therefore, identification of individuals at risk of this infection remains of critical importance. Dentists and dental professionals may be at increased risk due to the contact with oral cavity of patients with the presence of H. pylori in the oral cavity where it may serve as reservoir for gastric infections and participate in the pathogenesis oral mucosal lesions and ulceration. However, evidence regarding the occurrence of H. pylori infections and colonization in dentists is conflicting, but has been based mainly on serological studies, which carry significant limitations. Therefore, we attempted to characterize H. pylori infection in practising dentists in relation to the duration of their work as dental professionals. Moreover, apart from seropositivity, which was used by majority of previous studies, we have performed urea-breath test (UBT), which has been shown to represent active H. pylori infection in stomach as well as the H. pylori culture from the oral cavity. We found that while the occurrence of either gastric or oral H. pylori in dentists is not greater than in general population, it seems that in male dentists there is a greater risk of gastric H. pylori infection. Moreover, we found a relationship between the length of dentist occupation with the presence of H. pylori in gingival sulcus. In conclusion, while overall occurrence of H. pylori in dentists did not differ from that reported for stomach or oral cavity in general population, there was an increased occurrence of H. pylori in male dentists and the presence of this germ in the oral cavity appears to be related to the length of professional exposure

Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD): The Polish version of a dual-axis system for the diagnosis of TMD.* RDC/TMD form

Aim of the study. To describe steps taken to conduct a formal forward translation/back-translation from English to Polish, and to establish the cultural equivalence of the Polish version of the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD). This will be preceded by a brief historic overview of the insights into TMD, so as to provide a rationale for using this dual-axis diagnostic system. Methods. The Clinical Examination Form, the Specifications section, and the algorithms for axis I and II scoring of the RDC/TMD document were forward translated from English to Polish. In order to cross-culturally adapt the instrument, the History Questionnaire and the verbal directions for the patient (part of the Specifications section) were both forward translated and back-translated. Special attention was given to the questions from the History Questionnaire focusing on demographic characteristics. To that end, the official Translation Guidelines of the International RDC/TMD Consortium were followed. Results. No substantial difficulties in translating were encountered during either the forward translation process of the Clinical Examination Form, the Specifications section, and the algorithms, or during the forward and back- translation of the History Questionnaire and the verbal directives for the patient. Thus, a linguistically valid and culturally equivalent Polish translation resulted. Conclusions. Since the internationally established and accepted translation/adaptation Guidelines were used to establish the Polish version of RDC/TMD, this instrument is now available for the assessment of TMD in Poland

The relationship between the presence of Helicobacter pylori in the oral cavity and in the stomach

There are numerous studies suggesting that inflammation of the oral cavity caused by bacteria or fungi is accompanied by gastric inflammation. This is particularly relevant in patients using complete dentures. Since the presence of H. pylori in the oral cavity can be easily discovered by bacteria culture and that in the stomach by 13C urea breath test (UBT) and histology of gastric endoscopic biopsy samples it is reasonably to state that the majority of the patients show the presence of bacterium in oral cavity and active gastric H. pylori infection. When comparing, however, the bacteria culture originating from the oral mucosa to those from the gastric mucosa, employing molecular biology examination, such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR), we found that the oral bacteria and those originating from stomach are completely different, suggesting that H. pylori may be present only transiently in oral cavity and does not play major role in gastric H. pylori infection. Thus, oral cavity does not serve as bacterial reservoir to infect gastric mucosa. Most important finding of our study is that patients with recognized inflammation in the oral cavity in the form of stomatitis prothetica hyperplasica both fibrosa as well as papillaris showed in nearly 100% gastric H. pylori infection, usually without the presence of the same bacterium in the oral cavity, suggesting that gastric H. pylori infection affects oral mucosa at distance by some, as yet, unknown mechanism