Mimics and Pitfalls of Imaging Assessment

Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is a chronic inflammatory disorder that predominantly involves the axial skeleton. Imaging findings of axSpA can be divided into active changes, which include bone marrow edema, synovitis, enthesitis, capsulitis, and intra-articular effusion, and structural changes, which include erosions, sclerosis, bone fatty infiltration, fat deposition in an erosion cavity, and bone bridging or ankylosis. The ability to distinguish between imaging lesions suggestive of axSpA and artifacts or lesions suggestive of other disorders is critical for the accurate diagnosis of axSpA. Diagnosis may be challenging, particularly in early-stage disease and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) plays a key role in the detection of subtle or inflammatory changes. MRI also allows the detection of structural changes in the subchondral bone marrow that are not visible on conventional radiography and is of prognostic and monitoring value. However, bone structural changes are more accurately depicted using computed tomography. Conventional radiography, on the other hand, has limitations, but it is easily accessible and may provide insight on gross changes as well as rule out other pathological features of the axial skeleton. This review outlines the imaging evaluation of axSpA with a focus on imaging mimics and potential pitfalls when assessing the axial skeleton.publishersversionpublishe

Periodontal inflamed surface area mediates the link between homocysteine and blood pressure

Here, we assess the association between homocysteine (Hcy) serum levels and periodontal status in a large representative sample of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Using the 2001–2002 and 2003–2004 NHANES databases, participants with a periodontal examination, medical self-reported data, blood pressure (BP) and blood samples to determine complete blood count, C-reactive protein (CRP) and Hcy levels. We then calculated the periodontal inflamed surface area (PISA) and the periodontal epithelial surface area (PESA). Multivariable regression analysis explored the association between Hcy, periodontal measures and BP. Mediation analysis was performed to understand the effect of PISA and PESA in the link between Hcy and BP. 4021 participants fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Hcy levels showed significant correlations with systolic BP, diastolic BP, PISA, PESA and age. PESA showed to be significantly associated with Hcy both for the crude and adjusted models (p 0.05). In the association of Hcy with systolic BP, PISA significantly mediated 17.4% and PESA 0.9%. In the association of Hcy with diastolic BP, PISA significantly mediated 16.3% and PESA 47.2%. In conclusion, Hcy and periodontitis are associated. Further, both PISA and PESA significantly mediated the association of Hcy with systolic BP and diastolic BP. Future studies shall deepen the mechanisms by which Hcy levels increase in a clinical situation of periodontitis

Association between mouth-breathing and atypical swallowing in young orthodontic patients at Egas Moniz Dental Clinic

Abstract in proceedings of the Fourth International Congress of CiiEM: Health, Well-Being and Ageing in the 21st Century, held at Egas Moniz’ University Campus in Monte de Caparica, Almada, from 3–5 June 2019.This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Economic burden of periodontitis in the United States and Europe: An updated estimation

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to estimate the direct and indirect economic burdens of periodontal disease in the USA and in Europe. METHODS: We used the most recent data available for the USA and for Europe (32 European countries) to estimate the cost of periodontal disease. Global health, dental and periodontal expenditures were estimated. We tried to estimate the direct and the indirect costs of periodontitis. Indirect costs, those related to productivity losses, are a consequence of periodontal disease proper, plus edentulism and caries due to periodontal disease. RESULTS: In 2018, the aggregate cost in the USA was estimated at $3.49B and €2.52B in Europe. Indirect costs due to periodontal disease amounted to$150.57B (95% confidence interval [CI]: 103.32-189.87) in the USA countries and €156.12B (95% CI: 123.72-221.86) in Europe. The majority of the projected indirect costs were due to edentulism related to periodontal disease and periodontal disease. Indirect costs were the majority of the estimated economic impact with an average of 0.73% (95% CI: 0.50-0.93%) of annual gross domestic product in the USA and 0.99% (95% CI: 0.78-1.40%) in Europe. CONCLUSIONS: Periodontal disease caused an estimated loss of $154.06B in the USA and €158.64B in Europe, in 2018. These results show that the economic burden of periodontal disease is significant and its indirect costs are impactful. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

Aplicação de Membranas Amnióticas na Reconstrução da Superfície Ocular Externa em Idade Pediátrica

Introdução: Vários estudos comprovam os benefícios da aplicação de membranas amnióticas na reconstrução da superfície ocular em idade adulta, pelos seus efeitos anti-inflamatorios, anti-adesivos e anti-apoptóticos. Em idade pediátrica, a reconstrução da superfície ocular carece de especial atenção e este procedimento encontra-se ainda pouco estudado. Não foi encontrado nenhum estudo especificamente dirigido à aplicação de membranas amnióticas na reconstrução da superfície ocular externa desta faixa etária, pelo que procurámos elucidá-lo. Material e métodos: Estudo retrospetivo englobando todos os doentes em idade pediátrica (7,1 anos +/- 4,17) submetidos a transplante de membrana amniótica no Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Central entre 2008 e 2015, para reconstrução da superfície ocular externa. Entre os doentes (n=6 olhos de 6 crianças), quatro apresentavam patologia do foro neoformativo ou inflamatório e dois apresentavam queimaduras extensas da superfície ocular. Foi realizada divisão em dois grupos, com base na presença ou não de insuficiência de células limbares. Foram avaliadas características clínicas e demográficas, MAVC antes e após a cirurgia, tempo de reepitelização, amplitude de movimentos oculares antes e após a cirurgia, presença de recidiva ou complicações e resultado estético. O tempo de seguimento foi de 4 a 83 meses. Resultados: Verificaram-se sucessos completos em todos os doentes sem insuficiência limbar (50% do total de doentes), sucessos parciais em dois dos doentes com insuficiência limbar (33,3%) e um caso de falência terapêutica (16.7%). Nos doentes em que se observou recidiva, o tempo médio para esta ocorrência foi de 8,3 +/- 6,8 meses. Não se verificaram complicações em nenhum dos casos. Observou-se melhoria pós-operatória em um dos dois casos que tinham diminuição da acuidade visual pré-operatória (aumento da MAVC em 6 linhas). Verificou-se ainda uma melhoria da motilidade ocular e aspeto estético em todos os doentes com alterações prévias destes parâmetros. Conclusão: O transplante de membrana amniótica mostrou ser muito benéfico também em idade pediátrica. Pode ser realizado como tratamento isolado ou coadjuvante, sendo os resultados superiores nos casos de células limbares funcionantes. Não foi detetada maior incidência de complicações ou rejeições comparativamente ao descrito na literatura para a idade adulta.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Menu labelling and healthy food choices: a randomised controlled trial

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of different menu labelling formats on healthy food choices in a real restaurant setting. This cross-sectional, randomised and controlled parallel-group trial was conducted in Brazil in 2013. 313 university students were randomly assigned to one of three parallel groups with different menu labelling formats. Of these, data from 233 students were analysed. The others did not attend and were excluded. Intervention group 1 (n=88) received information in the form of a traffic light system plus guideline daily amounts, while intervention group 2 (n=74) was presented with an ingredients list plus highlighted symbols. The control group (n=71) received a menu with no menu labelling. Data were collected on one weekday in a restaurant setting. Trial outcomes were assessed by healthy food choices. Healthy food choices were significantly higher among students who received the menu showing an ingredients list plus highlighted symbols. The same menu labelling format positively affected healthy food choices in women, not overweight participants and who often ate out more than twice a week. A menu labelling format that presented an ingredients list and highlighted symbols was positively associated with healthy food choices among university students in Brazil. This type of labelling could be adopted in future legislation on menu labelling in Brazil and around the world

Periodontitis and circulating blood cell profiles: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease with local and systemic implications. Evidence suggests consistent hematologic changes associated with periodontitis. Our aim was to critically appraise the available evidence on hemogram, leukogram, and thrombogram alterations in otherwise healthy patients suffering from periodontitis when compared with controls. For this systematic review (SR), we searched MEDLINE, Web of Science, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library (CENTRAL) for studies published up to June 2020. Both observational and interventional studies with baseline standard hematologic levels were included. Outcomes of interest were baseline hemogram, leukogram, and thrombogram values and the impact of periodontitis treatment on these outcomes. Upon risk of bias assessment, data extraction and both qualitative and quantitative (standardized mean differences) analyses were performed. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed to provide pooled estimates. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed (PROSPERO Reg. No. CRD42020164531). A total of 45 studies, eight intervention and 37 case–control studies, were identified after the final search of 3,012 titles. Following quality assessment, 43 articles were deemed to have low risk of bias, and two articles moderate risk. Meta-analyses confirmed that periodontitis was associated with both white and red cell lineages. Severe chronic periodontitis was associated with greater white blood cell counts (mean difference [MD] = 0.53, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.26–0.79) when compared with controls. Periodontitis was associated with a larger number of neutrophils (MD = 7.16%, 95% CI: 5.96–8.37) and lower mean platelet volume (MD = 0.30 fL, 95% CI: 0.49 to −0.10) compared with healthy participants. Nonsurgical periodontal treatment was associated with a decrease in white blood cell (WBC) levels (MD = 0.28 10 9/L, 95% CI: −0.47 to −0.08) in patients with chronic periodontitis. Periodontitis is associated with hematologic changes (Strength of Recommendation Taxonomy [SORT] A recommendation). Higher WBC levels, higher neutrophil levels, higher erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and lower mean platelet volumes are the most common blood count findings. The association between periodontitis and WBC could be causal in nature. Further assessment to determine whether periodontitis causes changes in circulating blood cells and to identify the molecular mechanisms underlying these associations is warranted

Impact of malocclusion, tooth loss and oral hygiene habits on quality of life in orthodontic patients: A cross-sectional study

We aimed to assess the impact of malocclusion on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in a sample composed of adolescents, younger adults and adults seeking orthodontic treatment. Participants were consecutively enrolled from January 2019 to March 2020. The oral health impact profile (OHIP-14) was used to measure the OHRQoL. The index of complexity, outcome and need (ICON) was used to assess malocclusion. Sociodemographic, medical, and clinical questionnaires were recorded. Statistical analyses were performed according as a function of sex and age range (15–30 or >30 years old). Linear and logistic regression models were applied to assess the association between OHIP-14 total score, malocclusion, and other relevant confounding variables. In a final sample of 93 participants (60 females and 33 males, aged 15 to 60 years), men reported significantly better OHRQoL (p = 0.005). Participants aged 30 years or older reported significantly worse OHRQoL (p = 0.042). OHIP-14 was significantly correlated with age (¿ = 0.259, p < 0.05) and the number of missing teeth (¿ = 0.369, p < 0.001). Multivariable regression showed OHIP-14 being associated with the number of missing teeth (B = 1.48, SE = 0.57, p < 0.05) and the presence of missing teeth (B = 1.38, SE = 0.65, p < 0.05). Malocclusion showed no association with OHRQoL. Age and the number of missing teeth may be key factors on self-perceived OHRQoL in adult patients seeking orthodontic treatment