Delayed contact sensitivity on the lips and oral mucosa due to propolis-case report

We report a rare case of a patient who was referred to the Department of Oral medicine in Zagreb, Croatia. The patient was 20 years old, otherwise healthy and not taking any medication. She presented with irregular erosions partially covered with pseudomembranes that involved both lips and retrocomissural mucosa. Discrete erosion was also noticed on her lower lingual gingiva in the area 42. She reported a propolis solution self-medication for treatment of recurrent aphthous ulcers. After ten days of propolis application, lip and oral lesions developed. Patch test to propolis was proven. We highlight the fact that some folk medicine medications, such as propolis, although being known for many decades to be helpful in various conditions, in some individuals might lead to unwanted side-effects due to its antigenic potential. Additionally, every colleague, during the differential diagnosis of the oral lesions must bear in mind unwanted reactions to folk medicine products

Oral burning symptoms and burning mouth syndrome-significance of different variables in 150 patients

Objectives: Despite the extensive amount of published literature upon burning symptoms in patients with clinically healthy appearance of the oral mucosa, as well as burning mouth syndrome (BMS) itself, they both remain still challenging topics. The aim of this study was to determine the real prevalence of ?true? BMS in comparison to other patients with burning symptoms with clinically healthy appearance of the oral mucosa and then to compare ?true? BMS patients with healthy controls regarding gastritis and intake of anxiolytics and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors. Study design: In 150 patients with burning symptoms of clinically healthy oral mucosa, local and systemic investigations were performed and they included detection of candidal infection, salivary flow rate, presence of oral galvanism and parafunctional habits as well as complete blood count, serum ferritin, serum glucose levels, serum antibodies to Helicobacter pylori together with detailed medical history with special regard to medication intake. After ?true? BMS patients were identified they have been compared to the controls with regard to the presence of gastritis and the intake of anxiolytics and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors. Results: Our results show that gastritis were significantly more present among ?true? BMS patients and that they also significantly more intake anxiolitics, when compared to the control group. Conclusions: Our findings might lead to the conclusion that every ?true? BMS patient should be referred to the gastroenterologist and psychiatrist

Energy expenditure in female workers in a textile factory

Autori su ispitivali energetske rashode radnica na tri radna mjesta, i to: šivanje električnim strojem, krojenje električnom pilom i rad na tkalačkom stroju za izradu vrpce. Ispitivanja su vršena standardnim metodama, određivanjem energetskih ekvivalenata za pojedine specifične radnje, izradom vremenskih tablica i preračunavanjem utrošenih kalorija po pojedinim radnim satima. Utrošeno radno vrijeme podijeljeno je na djelatnosti A, B i C. A = rad, osnovni za radno mjesto, B = priprema za izvršavanje osnovnog rada i C = odmor spontani i službeni. Energetska rashodi radnica u tekstilnoj industriji pokazuju velike razlike (do 500 kal.) po pojedinim radnim mjestima. Taj podatak omogućava da se i u ovakvim pogonima lake industrije izvrši diferencijacija radnih mjesta po njihovoj energetskoj opterećenosti. Osim toga ističu potrebu da se ispita mogućnost poboljšanja samog rada, kako bi se uz manji energetski utrošak mogao postići isti radni efekt.The authors have studied the problem of energy expenditure in female workers in a textile factory, by using standard methods. Data evaluated so far show that there is a great difference in energy expenditure for different works in this factory. lt is possible to differentiate the heaviness of work done in this industry, and it is necessary to investigate what should be done to reduce the energy expenditure to a lower level

Energy expenditure in textile workers

Određivani su energetski ekvivalenti za pojedine aktivnosti u tekstilnoj industriji. Ispitivanje je izvršeno kod 17 radnika i radnika poduzeća »Nada Dimić« u Zagrebu. Ukupno je ispitano 80 uzoraka izdahnutog zraka za devet aktivnosti specifičnih za takvo poduzeće. Analiza izdahnutog zraka vršena je metodom po Scholanderu. Dobiveni energetski ekvivalenti pokazuju da je raspon kalorija koje se troše za pojedine radnje dosta velik, pa da u prosjeku varira od 1,56 do 5,63 kal/min, ali se većina radova nalazi na donjoj granici rashoda.The examination of energy expenditure requirement was carried out in a textile factory in Zagreb. 17 workers, women and men, were examined by a Franz-Müller respirometer. Expired air samples were taken and analysed after Scholander. The results shown in calories per minute include values for basal metabolism. The energy expenditure was high only in few cases; in all others the values were very low, corresponding to the values obtained by other authors

Prevalence of Torus Palatinus and Torus Mandibularis in the Split-Dalmatian County, Croatia

Torus palatinus (TP) and torus mandibularis (TM) are non-pathological outgrowths of unclear etiology that develop from the jaw bone. The purpose of the present study was to report on the prevalence, shape and location of TP and TM in the population of the Central Dalmatian region, Croatia. The study comprised of 1679 subjects, 985 females and 694 males, age range from 9 to 99 years who were examined by clinical examination and analysis of the plaster casts. Torus palatinus was found in 42.9% subjects and torus mandibularis in 12.6% of the subjects. Spindle-shaped torus palatinus was the most frequent type (45.6%). The most frequent type of torus mandibularis was bilateral solitary torus mandibularis (35.4%). Furthermore, torus palatinus was found in 40.1% of the total number of females and in 46.8% of the total number of males, indicating a significantly higher prevalence in the male population (p=0.006). Torus mandibularis was found in 11.3% of the female population and in 14.6% of the male population, again indicating significantly higher prevalence in the male population (p=0.046). The results of this study show significantly higher prevalence of torus palatinus and torusmandibularis in themale subjects. Furthermore, no differences in the prevalence of either TM or TP regarding age were found

Use of a T cell interferon gamma release assay in the investigation for suspected active tuberculosis in a low prevalence area

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In settings with low background prevalence of tuberculosis (TB) infection, interferon-γ release assays (IGRA) could be useful for diagnosing active TB. This study aims to evaluate the performance of QuantiFERON^®-TB Gold (QFT-G) in the investigation for suspected active TB, with particular attention to patients originating in high-incidence countries. Furthermore, factors associated with QFT-G results in patients with active TB were assessed.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>From patients investigated for clinically suspected active TB, blood was obtained for QFT-G testing, in addition to routine investigations. Positive (PPV) and negative (NPV) predictive values for QFT-G were calculated, comparing patients with confirmed TB and those with other final diagnoses. QFT-G results in TB patients originating from countries with intermediate or high TB incidence were compared with QFT-G results from a control group of recently arrived asymptomatic immigrants from high-incidence countries. Factors associated with QFT-G outcome in patients with confirmed TB were assessed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Among 141 patients, 41/70 (58.6%) with confirmed TB had a positive QFT-G test, compared to 16/71 (22.6%) patients with other final diagnoses, resulting in overall PPV of 71.9% and NPV of 67.6%. For patients with pulmonary disease, PPV and NPV were 61.1% and 67.7%, respectively, and 90.5% and 66.7% for subjects with extrapulmonary manifestations. Comparing patients from high-incidence countries with controls yielded a PPV for active TB of 76.7%, and a NPV of 82.7%. Patients with confirmed TB and positive QFT-G results were characterized by a lower median peripheral white blood cell count (5.9 × 10⁹/L vs. 8.8 × 10⁹/L; <it>P </it>< 0.001) and a higher median body mass index (22.7 vs. 20.7; <it>P </it>= 0.043) as compared to QFT-G-negative TB patients.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The overall PPV and NPV of QFT-G for identifying active TB were unsatisfactory, especially for pulmonary disease. Thus, the usefulness of QFT-G for this purpose is questionable. However, a high PPV was observed for extrapulmonary TB and QFT-G might be considered in the diagnostic process in this situation. The PPV and NPV for identifying active TB among persons originating from regions with high-and intermediate TB incidence was similar to that observed in subjects originating in the low-incidence region.</p

30-day morbidity and mortality of sleeve gastrectomy, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and one anastomosis gastric bypass: a propensity score-matched analysis of the GENEVA data

Background: There is a paucity of data comparing 30-day morbidity and mortality of sleeve gastrectomy (SG), Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), and one anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB). This study aimed to compare the 30-day safety of SG, RYGB, and OAGB in propensity score-matched cohorts. Materials and methods: This analysis utilised data collected from the GENEVA study which was a multicentre observational cohort study of bariatric and metabolic surgery (BMS) in 185 centres across 42 countries between 01/05/2022 and 31/10/2020 during the Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. 30-day complications were categorised according to the Clavien–Dindo classification. Patients receiving SG, RYGB, or OAGB were propensity-matched according to baseline characteristics and 30-day complications were compared between groups. Results: In total, 6770 patients (SG 3983; OAGB 702; RYGB 2085) were included in this analysis. Prior to matching, RYGB was associated with highest 30-day complication rate (SG 5.8%; OAGB 7.5%; RYGB 8.0% (p = 0.006)). On multivariate regression modelling, Insulin-dependent type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypercholesterolaemia were associated with increased 30-day complications. Being a non-smoker was associated with reduced complication rates. When compared to SG as a reference category, RYGB, but not OAGB, was associated with an increased rate of 30-day complications. A total of 702 pairs of SG and OAGB were propensity score-matched. The complication rate in the SG group was 7.3% (n = 51) as compared to 7.5% (n = 53) in the OAGB group (p = 0.68). Similarly, 2085 pairs of SG and RYGB were propensity score-matched. The complication rate in the SG group was 6.1% (n = 127) as compared to 7.9% (n = 166) in the RYGB group (p = 0.09). And, 702 pairs of OAGB and RYGB were matched. The complication rate in both groups was the same at 7.5 % (n = 53; p = 0.07). Conclusions: This global study found no significant difference in the 30-day morbidity and mortality of SG, RYGB, and OAGB in propensity score-matched cohorts

30-Day morbidity and mortality of bariatric metabolic surgery in adolescence during the COVID-19 pandemic – The GENEVA study

Background: Metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) is an effective treatment for adolescents with severe obesity. Objectives: This study examined the safety of MBS in adolescents during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods: This was a global, multicentre and observational cohort study of MBS performed between May 01, 2020, and October 10,2020, in 68 centres from 24 countries. Data collection included in-hospital and 30-day COVID-19 and surgery-specific morbidity/mortality. Results: One hundred and seventy adolescent patients (mean age: 17.75 ± 1.30 years), mostly females (n = 122, 71.8%), underwent MBS during the study period. The mean pre-operative weight and body mass index were 122.16 ± 15.92 kg and 43.7 ± 7.11 kg/m2, respectively. Although majority of patients had pre-operative testing for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (n = 146; 85.9%), only 42.4% (n = 72) of the patients were asked to self-isolate pre-operatively. Two patients developed symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection post-operatively (1.2%). The overall complication rate was 5.3% (n = 9). There was no mortality in this cohort. Conclusions: MBS in adolescents with obesity is safe during the COVID-19 pandemic when performed within the context of local precautionary procedures (such as pre-operative testing). The 30-day morbidity rates were similar to those reported pre-pandemic. These data will help facilitate the safe re-introduction of MBS services for this group of patients

Key signaling nodes in mammary gland development and cancer: β-catenin

β-Catenin plays important roles in mammary development and tumorigenesis through its functions in cell adhesion, signal transduction and regulation of cell-context-specific gene expression. Studies in mice have highlighted the critical role of β-catenin signaling for stem cell biology at multiple stages of mammary development. Deregulated β-catenin signaling disturbs stem and progenitor cell dynamics and induces mammary tumors in mice. Recent data showing deregulated β-catenin signaling in metaplastic and basal-type tumors suggest a similar link to reactivated developmental pathways and human breast cancer. The present review will discuss β-catenin as a central transducer of numerous signaling pathways and its role in mammary development and breast cancer