Rice vinegar removes Candida albicans from denture acrylic resins

Denture stomatitis, mainly caused by Candida albicans, often affect denture wearers. To manage these patients, denture hygiene is of utmost importance. There is a need for low cost, easily accessible denture disinfectants. To investigate the efficacy of rice vinegar and other disinfecting solutions in removing C. albicans from acrylic resins. Hundred and eighty acrylic resin plates were contaminated with C. albicans strains and divided into five groups. These were immersed in apple cider vinegar (ACV), white wine vinegar (WWV), rice vinegar (RV), chlorhexidine (CHX), and sterile distilled H2O (control). The plates were incubated at room temperature for 30 minutes, 1 hour and 8 hours. Candida removing ability of the disinfecting solutions was evaluated, and data was analyzed using two-way ANOVAwith Tukey post-test. Significance level of p< 0.05 was used. RV, ACV, WWV and CHX showed the highest efficacy (100%) in removing both C. albicans strains at 8 hours (p>0.05). CHX was the most effective disinfectant in removing both C. albicans strains at 30 minutes, 1 hour, and 8 hours (99%-100%). RV was as effective as ACV, WWV and CHX in removing C. albicans from acrylic plates at 8 hours

Clinicopathological evaluation of focal reactive lesions of the Gingiva

Focal reactive gingival lesions are elicited by chronic irritation primarily due to dental plaque, calculus, overhanging dental restorations and ill-fitting dental prosthesis. Persistent irritation of the gingiva can lead to tissue injury and trigger inflammation leading to proliferation of endothelial cells, multi-nucleated giant cells, fibroblasts and tissue mineralisation. The aim and objectives of the study were to determine the relative frequency and distribution of focal reactive gingival lesions according to sex, age, and anatomical site in patients who presented at the Witwatersrand Oral Health Centre. Retrospective cross-sectional study Methods Convenience sampling of patient records from the years 2011 to 2017 were analysed from the Department of Oral Pathology and the Department of Oral Medicine and Periodontology at the Witwatersrand Oral Health Centre. Sociodemographic variables and clinical features were evaluated. Female patients accounted for 70.8% (n = 172) of all focal reactive gingival lesions, with the majority of the lesions having occurred in the maxilla (56.4%; n = 137). The age of patients ranged from 3 months to 88 years. Contrary to findings in other studies, the peripheral ossifying fibroma was the most common focal reactive gingival lesion, after analysing 243 case

Contamination of used toothbrushes and their decontamination with disinfecting agents

AIM: To evaluate microbial contamination of toothbrushes and the efficacy of different oral disinfectant agents in their decontamination METHODS: The heads of 98 used toothbrushes derived from patients who needed oral hygiene treatment were included in the study. In the laboratory, microorganisms on toothbrush heads were identified using standard microbiological methods. Toothbrush heads with microorganisms were then randomly divided into four groups of 19 and disinfected with Brushtox, Andolex C, Listerine® and water (control), followed by microbiological analysis RESULTS: Seventy eight percent of toothbrushes were contaminated with different microorganisms. Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) were found in a high number of toothbrushes (49%), followed by Pseudomonas spp (37%), Staphylococcus aureus (32%), Streptococcus mutans (14%), coliforms (9%) and Candida albicans (3%). Decontamination of toothbrushes with Andolex C and Listerine® reduced the number of contaminated toothbrushes by 74% each, Brushtox by 90% and water by 0.0% CONCLUSION: Toothbrushes were contaminated with various types of microorganisms, but predominantly with CoNS. Although Brushtox is a toothbrush spray, soaking toothbrushes in this solution was the most effective method, reducing the number of disinfected toothbrushes by 90%. Oral health practitioners should raise awareness to their patients regarding the need to disinfect toothbrushes

Exploring the association between erythema multiforme and HIV infection : some mechanisms and implications

Erythema multiforme (EM) is an immune-mediated mucocutaneous condition characterized by hypersensitivity reactions to antigenic stimuli from infectious agents and certain drugs. The most commonly implicated infectious agents associated with EM include herpes simplex virus (HSV) and Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Other infectious diseases reported to trigger EM include human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and several opportunistic infections. However, studies focusing on EM and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection are scarce. even though the incidence of EM among HIV-infected individuals have increased, the direct and indirect mechanisms that predispose HIV-infected individuals to EM are not well understood. In turn, this makes diagnosing and managing EM in HIV-infected individuals an overwhelming task. Individuals with HIV infection are prone to acquiring microorganisms known to trigger EM, such as HSV, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Treponema pallidum, histoplasmosis, and many other infectious organisms. Although HIV is known to infect CD4+T cells, it can also directly bind to the epithelial cells of the oral and genital mucosa, leading to a dysregulated response by CD8+T cells against epithelial cells. HIV infection may also trigger EM directly when CD8+T cells recognize viral particles on epithelial cells due to the hyperactivation of CD8+T-cells. The hyperactivation of CD8+T cells was similar to that observed in drug hypersensitivity reactions. Hence, the relationship between antiretroviral drugs and EM has been well established. This includes the administration of other drugs to HIV-infected individuals to manage opportunistic infections. Thus, multiple triggers may be present simultaneously in HIV-infected individuals. This article highlights the potential direct and indirect role that HIV infection may play in the development of EM and the clinical dilemma that arises in the management of HIV-infected patients with this condition. These patients may require additional medications to manage opportunistic infections, many of which can also trigger hypersensitivity reactions leading to EM.https://aidsrestherapy.biomedcentral.com/Periodontics and Oral MedicineSDG-03:Good heatlh and well-bein

The impact of Filifactor alocis on the severity of periodontitis among diabetic and non-diabetic patients: a narrative review

The extensive studies on Filifactor alocis (Fa) show a positive association with periodontitis, demonstrating elevated Fa levels compared to traditional periodontal pathogens in severe disease. Periodontitis is a chronic multifactorial disease induced by a dysbiotic microbiota in a susceptible host whilst diabetes is an established risk factor for periodontitis. Diabetes has been shown to alter the subgingival microbiota into distinct microbial communities which favours the shift towards disease. It is these very distinct subgingival microbiota that are believed to contribute to the high prevalence and severity of periodontitis in diabetic patients. This dysbiotic microbiota constitute traditional periodontal pathogens which include among others the red complex triad (Porphyromonas gingivalis, Treponema denticola, Tannerella forsythia), Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, the orange complex (Fusobacterium nucleatum, Prevotella intermedia etc.) and other emerging pathogens such as Fa that were previously unrecognised as role players in the pathogenesis of periodontitis. Fa is an asaccharolytic anaerobic gram-positive rod (AAGPR) currently considered to be one of the potential drivers of periodontitis progression and worsening through its unique virulence characteristics. Various mechanisms through which Fa contributes to the pathogenesis and severity of periodontitis have been reported. The mechanisms involved in the bidirectional relationship between periodontitis and diabetes are continuously being explored in order to enhance individualised preventative and management approaches in affected patients. This review aims to report on this emerging periodontal pathogen and its capacity to influence dysbiosis within a complex subgingival microbial community; including its potential role in the bidirectional relationship between diabetes and periodontitis. This review will highlight Fa as a potential prognostic indicator for disease worsening, which will help improve management protocols for periodontitis and diabetes

The burnout construct with reference to healthcare providers : a narrative review

Burnout syndrome is a psychological response to long-term exposure to occupational stressors. It is characterized by emotional exhaustion, cognitive weariness and physical fatigue, and it may occur in association with any occupation, but is most frequently observed among professionals who work directly with people, particularly in institutional settings. Healthcare professionals who work directly with patients and are frequently exposed to work overload and excessive clinical demands, to ethical dilemmas, to pressing occupational schedules and to managerial challenges; who have to make complex judgements and difficult decisions; and who have relatively little autonomy over their job-related tasks are at risk of developing clinical burnout. In turn, clinical burnout among clinicians has a negative impact on the quality and safety of treatment, and on the overall professional performance of healthcare systems. Healthcare workers with burnout are more likely to make mistakes and to be subjected to medical malpractice claims, than do those who are burnout-naïve. Experiencing the emotional values of autonomy, competence and relatedness are essential work-related psychological needs, which have to be satisfied to promote feelings of self-realization and meaningfulness in relation to work activities, thus reducing burnout risk. Importantly, an autonomy-supportive rather than a controlling style of management decreases burnout risk and promotes self-actualization, self-esteem and a general feeling of well-being in both those in charge and in their subordinates. The purpose of this article is to discuss some of the elements constituting the burnout construct with the view of gaining a better understanding of the complex multifactorial nature of burnout. This may facilitate the development and implementation of both personal, behavioural and organizational interventions to deal with the burnout syndrome and its ramifications.http://www.sagepub.com/journals/Journal202144dm2022Dental Management Science

First social impact bond for the SAMRC: A novel financing strategy to address the health and social challenges facing adolescent girls and young women in South Africa

A social impact bond (SIB) is an innovative financing mechanism to attract investors to social programmes traditionally funded by governments. In this article, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), the authors describe the SAMRC’s first foray into this new world of financing through a SIB to improve the health and quality of life of adolescent girls and young women (AGYW). The AGYW SIB is in its preparatory phase and is scheduled for implementation in 2020. The authors describe the mechanism, including financial flows and the process of customising the SIB to meet the needs of AGYW, focusing on HIV prevention and treatment and the prevention and management of unintended pregnancies in schoolgoing AGYW. The authors outline an approach to designing the package of interventions, the metrics associated with such a programme and the business model. It is hypothesised that the proposed approach will lead to an improvement in programmatic outcomes, monitoring and evaluation tools and cost-effectiveness, and will develop key learning data for the future use of SIBs in health service delivery

Exploring the association between erythema multiforme and HIV infection: some mechanisms and implications

Abstract Erythema multiforme (EM) is an immune-mediated mucocutaneous condition characterized by hypersensitivity reactions to antigenic stimuli from infectious agents and certain drugs. The most commonly implicated infectious agents associated with EM include herpes simplex virus (HSV) and Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Other infectious diseases reported to trigger EM include human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and several opportunistic infections. However, studies focusing on EM and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection are scarce. even though the incidence of EM among HIV-infected individuals have increased, the direct and indirect mechanisms that predispose HIV-infected individuals to EM are not well understood. In turn, this makes diagnosing and managing EM in HIV-infected individuals an overwhelming task. Individuals with HIV infection are prone to acquiring microorganisms known to trigger EM, such as HSV, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Treponema pallidum, histoplasmosis, and many other infectious organisms. Although HIV is known to infect CD4 + T cells, it can also directly bind to the epithelial cells of the oral and genital mucosa, leading to a dysregulated response by CD8 + T cells against epithelial cells. HIV infection may also trigger EM directly when CD8 + T cells recognize viral particles on epithelial cells due to the hyperactivation of CD8 + T-cells. The hyperactivation of CD8 + T cells was similar to that observed in drug hypersensitivity reactions. Hence, the relationship between antiretroviral drugs and EM has been well established. This includes the administration of other drugs to HIV-infected individuals to manage opportunistic infections. Thus, multiple triggers may be present simultaneously in HIV-infected individuals. This article highlights the potential direct and indirect role that HIV infection may play in the development of EM and the clinical dilemma that arises in the management of HIV-infected patients with this condition. These patients may require additional medications to manage opportunistic infections, many of which can also trigger hypersensitivity reactions leading to EM