The incidence of caries and molar incisor hypomineralization in children in SOS Children's Villages in Croatia

Cilj istraživanja: Cilj ovoga istraživanja bio je ispitati imaju li djeca SOS Dječjeg sela veći/manji DMFT indeks od djece koja žive u biološkim obiteljima te imaju li SOS majke bolju/lošiju procjenu oralnog zdravlja djece od procjene bioloških majki ruralnog i urbanog područja. Kod sve tri ispitivane skupine djece istražena je i učestalost molarnoincizivne hipomineralizacij e. Ispitanici i metode: Istraživanje je obuhvatilo djecu SOS Dječjeg sela u Hrvatskoj, te djecu iz bioloških obitelji ruralnog i urbanog područja. Djeca su pregledana vizualno-taktilnom metodom prema standardiziranim uvjetima Svjetske zdravstvene organizacije. DIAGNOdent pen uređajem očitane su vrijednosti demineralizacije na pretkutnjacima i kutnjacima trajnih zubi. Prije stomatološkog pregleda djeci je izmjerena tjelesna masa i visina radi izračuna indeksa tjelesne mase. Izračunati su dmft/DMFT, dmfs/DMFS i SiC indeksi. Napravljena je analiza ispunjenih upitnika. Rezultati: Djeca SOS Dječjeg sela pokazala su najniže srednje vrijednosti dft/dfs (2.42/3.31) i DMFT (1.61) indeksa u odnosu na djecu iz ruralnog i urbanog područja. Kruskal-Wallis test pokazao je značajnu razliku (p=0.02) u vrijednostima SiC indeksa između ispitivane djece. Od ukupno pregledanih zubi DIAGNOdent uređajem vrijednosti koje određuju 1 i 2 stadij demineralizacije očitane su na značajno većem broju kutnjaka. Učestalost MIH-a kod djece iz SOS Dječjeg sela je značajno viša (7.34%) u odnosu na ostalu djecu. ITM svih ispitivanih skupina ukazuje na normalnu tjelesnu težinu. U skupinama djece iz SOS Dječjeg sela i iz ruralnog područja u odnosu na djecu iz urbanog područja kao najbitniji čimbenik analizom glavnih komponenata izdvojila se oralna higijena. Kao podjednako važan čimbenik za sve ispitanike je procjena oralnog zdravlja i prehrambene navike. Za skupinu djece iz SOS Dječjeg sela najmanje značajan čimbenik je socioekonomski status koji je najznačajniji za djecu iz urbanog područja. Zaključak: Djece iz SOS Dječjeg sela imaju najniže dft/DMFT, dfs/DMFS i SiC indekse. Učestalost MIH-a kod djece iz SOS Dječjeg sela je najviša. Najbitniji čimbenik koji utječe na oralno zdravlje u skupini djece iz SOS Dječjeg sela izdvaja se oralna higijena, a kao najmanje značajan je socioekonomski status. Procjena oralnog zdravlja od strane SOS majki ne razlikuje se u odnosu na procjenu bioloških majki djece iz ruralnog i urbanog područja.Objective: The aim of this study was to examine whether the children of SOS Children's Village have a higher DMFT index than children living in biological families and whether SOS mothers have a better/poorer assessment of oral health from the assessment of biological mothers in rural and urban areas. All three investigated groups of children also studied the molar-invasive hypomineralization rate. Subjects and Methods: The research covered the children of the SOS Children's Village in Croatia and children from the biological families of the rural and urban areas. The children were examined by a visual-tactical method under standardized conditions of the World Health Organization. The DIAGNOdent pen unit reads the values of demineralization on the premolares and molars of permanent teeth. Before the dental examination, the children were measured body mass and height to calculate the body mass index. Calculated are dmft/DMFT, dmfs/DMFS and SiC indices. An analysis of completed questionnaires was made. Results: The children of the SOS Children's Village showed the lowest mean values of dft/dfs (2.42/3.31) and DMFT (1.61) of the index compared to children from rural and urban areas. The Kruskal-Wallis test showed a significant difference (p=0.02) in the SiC index values among the examined children. Of the total examined teeth, the DIAGNOdent device values that determine the 1 and 2 stages of demineralization are read on a significantly larger number of molars. The frequency of MIH in children in SOS Children's Village is significantly higher (7.34%) than in other children. The ITM of all the examined groups indicates normal body weight. In the groups of children from the SOS Children's Village and rural areas compared to the children from the urban area as the most important factor by analyzing the main components was the oral hygiene. An equally important factor for all respondents is the assessment of oral health and nutrition habits. For a group of children from the SOS Children's Village, the least important factor is the socioeconomic status that is most significant for children from the urban area. Conclusion: Children from SOS Children's Village have the lowest dft/DMFT, dfs/DMFS and SiC indices. The MIH frequency in children in SOS Children's Village is highest. The most important factor influencing oral health in the SOS Children's Village group is oral hygiene, 60 and as a least significant socioeconomic status. The assessment of oral health by SOS mothers is not different from the assessment of biological mothers of rural and urban children

Postoji li audiovestibularni post-COVID sindrom?

The purpose of this study was to present and analyze patients with audiovestibular post COVID-19 syndrome, and highlight the most characteristic and most common findings. We analyzed 87 patients aged between 20 and 86 years who presented to the Audiology Division between February 1, 2021 and July 1, 2021 after having been isolated due to the SARS-CoV-2 infection. Study patients presented with complaints of persistent hearing loss, tinnitus, and vertigo, lasting for more than 3 months. Study results showed that there was acute sensorineural hearing loss in 4 patients during the SARS-CoV-2 infection. None of the patients experienced complete hearing recovery after 3 months. High frequency hearing loss (at 4 kHz and 6 kHz) occurred bilaterally, and was found in 52 patients. This finding of gradual hearing loss was both the most characteristic and most common in COVID patients. Extensive damage can directly occur to inner ear structures, including hair cells, the Corti organ, and the cochlear nerve because of this viral infection. A total of 73 patients had tinnitus. 68 patients had unilateral tinnitus, and only 5 patients had bilateral tinnitus. Exacerbation of tinnitus was recorded in 12 patients and new-onset tinnitus in 61 patients. Vertigo occurred in 9 patients, all of which were new-onset. A conclusion of our research is that audiovestibular post-COVID syndrome does exist. Further research with more patients and over a longer period is needed to obtain a better and longer effect on the audiovestibular system and audiovestibular complications, as well as an insight into possible recovery.Svrha ovog istraživanja bio je prikazati i analizirati bolesnike s audiovestibularnim post-COVID-19 sindromom te istaknuti karakteristične i najčešće nalaze. Analizirali smo 87 bolesnika u dobi od 20 do 86 godina koji su se od 1. veljače 2021. do 1. srpnja 2021. godine javili u Audiološki odjel nakon što su prvi put izolirani zbog infekcije SARS-CoV-2, s pritužbama na trajni gubitak sluha, tinitus i vrtoglavicu koji su trajali dulje od 3 mjeseca. Rezultati studije pokazuju da je došlo do akutnog gubitka sluha kod 4 bolesnika tijekom infekcije SARS-CoV-2. Niti jedan od bolesnika nije doživio potpun oporavak sluha nakon 3 mjeseca. Visokofrekventni gubitak sluha (na 4 kHz i 6 kHz) dogodio se obostrano, a pronađen je u 52 bolesnika. Ovaj nalaz gubitka sluha bio je i najkarakterističniji i najčešći u bolesnika s infekcijom COVID. Tinitus je imalo 73 bolesnika. Jednostrani tinitus imalo je 68 bolesnika, a bilateralni tinitus samo 5 bolesnika. Pogoršanje tinitusa zabilježeno je u 12 bolesnika, a novonastali tinitus u 61 bolesnika. Vrtoglavica se pojavila u 9 bolesnika, od kojih su svi bili novonastali. Zaključak našega istraživanja je da audiovestibularni post-COVID sindrom postoji. Potrebna su daljnja istraživanja s više bolesnikai kroz dulje vrijeme kako bi se dobio bolji i dugotrajniji učinak na audiovestibularni sustav i audiovestibularne komplikacije, kao i uvid u mogući oporavak

Učinak dnevne tjelesne aktivnosti na aktivnost upalnih bolesti crijeva kod bolesnika koji ne uzimaju terapiju

It has been suggested that various environmental factors play a very important role in the etiology of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) and that they have a significant effect on the course of these diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of daily physical activity on the activity of IBDs in therapy-free patients. This cross-sectional population based study was conducted in eastern Croatia from January to June 2016. e study included 312 patients, mean age 49.9±15.0 years, 53.2% of males and 46.8% of females; there were 63.4% of ulcerative colitis (UC) and 36.6% of Crohn’s disease (CD) patients. Sociodemographic characteristics of patients, data on their daily physical activity and type of therapy taken were collected through a specifically designed and validated questionnaire, while the activity of UC and CD was evaluated using the Mayo index and Harvey-Bradshaw index. The study showed that 24.0% of patients were not taking therapy. Daily physical activity was connected to IBD in study patients when taking both diseases collectively (Fisher exact test; p<0.001), as well as to the inactivity of CD (Fisher exact test; p=0.001) and UC (Fisher exact test; p=0.006), when observing each disease separately. Daily physical activity was connected to the inactivity of IBDs in patients not taking therapy. It is necessary to educate all IBD patients about the importance of physical activity in order to control their disease.Smatra se kako različiti okolišni čimbenici igraju vrlo važnu ulogu u etiologiji upalnih bolesti crijeva (UBC) te kako imaju značajan učinak na tijek ovih bolesti. Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je ispitati učinak dnevne tjelesne aktivnosti na aktivnost UBC kod bolesnika koji ne uzimaju terapiju. Ovo presječno populacijsko istraživanje provedeno je u istočnoj Hrvatskoj od siječnja do lipnja 2016. godine. Istraživanje je obuhvatilo 312 bolesnika srednje dobi 49,9±15,0 godina; 53,2% muškaraca i 46,8% žena; 63,4% oboljelih od ulcerativnog kolitisa (UC) i 36,6% oboljelih od Crohnove bolesti (CB). Sociodemografska obilježja bolesnika, podaci o njihovoj dnevnoj tjelesnoj aktivnosti i vrsti terapije koju uzimaju prikupljeni su pomoću posebno dizajniranog i validiranog upitnika, dok je aktivnost UC i CB ocijenjena primjenom indeksa Mayo i indeksa Harvey-Bradshaw. Istraživanje je pokazalo kako 24,0% bolesnika ne uzima terapiju. Dnevna tjelesna aktivnost bila je povezana s neaktivnom UBC kod bolesnika kada su zajednički promatrane obje bolesti (Fisherov egzaktni test; p<0,001) te je bila povezana s neaktivnošću CB (Fisherov egzaktni test; p=0,001) i UC (Fisherov egzaktni test, p=0,006) kad je svaka bolest promatrana zasebno. Dnevna tjelesna aktivnost povezana je s neaktivnošću UBC kod bolesnika koji ne uzimaju terapiju. Potrebno je sve bolesnike s UBC podučiti o važnosti tjelesne aktivnosti za kontrolu njihove bolesti

Birth Weight of Healthy Newborns in Zagreb Area, Croatia

The aim of this study was to assess birth weight of healthy newborns from the City of Zagreb and Zagreb County, Croatia. Birth weights of healthy newborns, born at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Center »Zagreb« in the year 2001, were included into analysis. Since there were only few newborns in the 22nd–27th week of gestation, they were excluded from the study. Small number of data points was also noticed in 28th–36th week of gestation, and was supplemented with the data from the years 2000, 2002 and 2003. The method of analysis used in this study was described by Altman and Chitty (Br. J. Obstet. Gynaecol., 101 (1994) 29). After the application of well defined exclusion criteria, the final sample consisted of 4,252 newborns. Percentile values for the four groups of newborns (male gender–primipara, male gender–multipara, female gender–primipara, female gender–multipara) were defined, yielding highest birth weight values in the male gender–multipara group (50th percentile of 40th gestational week was 3551.3 g), while female gender–primipara newborns were the lightest among the four sub-samples studied (50th percentile of 40th gestational week was 3399.9 g). New percentile values for percentile curves plotting are presented here and recommended for use in the clinical practice

The incidence of caries and molar incisor hypomineralization in children in SOS Children's Villages in Croatia

Cilj istraživanja: Cilj ovoga istraživanja bio je ispitati imaju li djeca SOS Dječjeg sela veći/manji DMFT indeks od djece koja žive u biološkim obiteljima te imaju li SOS majke bolju/lošiju procjenu oralnog zdravlja djece od procjene bioloških majki ruralnog i urbanog područja. Kod sve tri ispitivane skupine djece istražena je i učestalost molarnoincizivne hipomineralizacij e. Ispitanici i metode: Istraživanje je obuhvatilo djecu SOS Dječjeg sela u Hrvatskoj, te djecu iz bioloških obitelji ruralnog i urbanog područja. Djeca su pregledana vizualno-taktilnom metodom prema standardiziranim uvjetima Svjetske zdravstvene organizacije. DIAGNOdent pen uređajem očitane su vrijednosti demineralizacije na pretkutnjacima i kutnjacima trajnih zubi. Prije stomatološkog pregleda djeci je izmjerena tjelesna masa i visina radi izračuna indeksa tjelesne mase. Izračunati su dmft/DMFT, dmfs/DMFS i SiC indeksi. Napravljena je analiza ispunjenih upitnika. Rezultati: Djeca SOS Dječjeg sela pokazala su najniže srednje vrijednosti dft/dfs (2.42/3.31) i DMFT (1.61) indeksa u odnosu na djecu iz ruralnog i urbanog područja. Kruskal-Wallis test pokazao je značajnu razliku (p=0.02) u vrijednostima SiC indeksa između ispitivane djece. Od ukupno pregledanih zubi DIAGNOdent uređajem vrijednosti koje određuju 1 i 2 stadij demineralizacije očitane su na značajno većem broju kutnjaka. Učestalost MIH-a kod djece iz SOS Dječjeg sela je značajno viša (7.34%) u odnosu na ostalu djecu. ITM svih ispitivanih skupina ukazuje na normalnu tjelesnu težinu. U skupinama djece iz SOS Dječjeg sela i iz ruralnog područja u odnosu na djecu iz urbanog područja kao najbitniji čimbenik analizom glavnih komponenata izdvojila se oralna higijena. Kao podjednako važan čimbenik za sve ispitanike je procjena oralnog zdravlja i prehrambene navike. Za skupinu djece iz SOS Dječjeg sela najmanje značajan čimbenik je socioekonomski status koji je najznačajniji za djecu iz urbanog područja. Zaključak: Djece iz SOS Dječjeg sela imaju najniže dft/DMFT, dfs/DMFS i SiC indekse. Učestalost MIH-a kod djece iz SOS Dječjeg sela je najviša. Najbitniji čimbenik koji utječe na oralno zdravlje u skupini djece iz SOS Dječjeg sela izdvaja se oralna higijena, a kao najmanje značajan je socioekonomski status. Procjena oralnog zdravlja od strane SOS majki ne razlikuje se u odnosu na procjenu bioloških majki djece iz ruralnog i urbanog područja.Objective: The aim of this study was to examine whether the children of SOS Children's Village have a higher DMFT index than children living in biological families and whether SOS mothers have a better/poorer assessment of oral health from the assessment of biological mothers in rural and urban areas. All three investigated groups of children also studied the molar-invasive hypomineralization rate. Subjects and Methods: The research covered the children of the SOS Children's Village in Croatia and children from the biological families of the rural and urban areas. The children were examined by a visual-tactical method under standardized conditions of the World Health Organization. The DIAGNOdent pen unit reads the values of demineralization on the premolares and molars of permanent teeth. Before the dental examination, the children were measured body mass and height to calculate the body mass index. Calculated are dmft/DMFT, dmfs/DMFS and SiC indices. An analysis of completed questionnaires was made. Results: The children of the SOS Children's Village showed the lowest mean values of dft/dfs (2.42/3.31) and DMFT (1.61) of the index compared to children from rural and urban areas. The Kruskal-Wallis test showed a significant difference (p=0.02) in the SiC index values among the examined children. Of the total examined teeth, the DIAGNOdent device values that determine the 1 and 2 stages of demineralization are read on a significantly larger number of molars. The frequency of MIH in children in SOS Children's Village is significantly higher (7.34%) than in other children. The ITM of all the examined groups indicates normal body weight. In the groups of children from the SOS Children's Village and rural areas compared to the children from the urban area as the most important factor by analyzing the main components was the oral hygiene. An equally important factor for all respondents is the assessment of oral health and nutrition habits. For a group of children from the SOS Children's Village, the least important factor is the socioeconomic status that is most significant for children from the urban area. Conclusion: Children from SOS Children's Village have the lowest dft/DMFT, dfs/DMFS and SiC indices. The MIH frequency in children in SOS Children's Village is highest. The most important factor influencing oral health in the SOS Children's Village group is oral hygiene, 60 and as a least significant socioeconomic status. The assessment of oral health by SOS mothers is not different from the assessment of biological mothers of rural and urban children

Does Audiovestibular Post-COVID Syndrome Exist?

The purpose of this study was to present and analyze patients with audiovestibular post COVID-19 syndrome, and highlight the most characteristic and most common findings. We analyzed 87 patients aged between 20 and 86 years who presented to the Audiology Division between February 1, 2021 and July 1, 2021 after having been isolated due to the SARS-CoV-2 infection. Study patients presented with complaints of persistent hearing loss, tinnitus, and vertigo, lasting for more than 3 months. Study results showed that there was acute sensorineural hearing loss in 4 patients during the SARS-CoV-2 infection. None of the patients experienced complete hearing recovery after 3 months. High frequency hearing loss (at 4 kHz and 6 kHz) occurred bilaterally, and was found in 52 patients. This finding of gradual hearing loss was both the most characteristic and most common in COVID patients. Extensive damage can directly occur to inner ear structures, including hair cells, the Corti organ, and the cochlear nerve because of this viral infection. A total of 73 patients had tinnitus. 68 patients had unilateral tinnitus, and only 5 patients had bilateral tinnitus. Exacerbation of tinnitus was recorded in 12 patients and new-onset tinnitus in 61 patients. Vertigo occurred in 9 patients, all of which were new-onset. A conclusion of our research is that audiovestibular post-COVID syndrome does exist. Further research with more patients and over a longer period is needed to obtain a better and longer effect on the audiovestibular system and audiovestibular complications, as well as an insight into possible recovery

Prevalence of Molar–Incisor Hypomineralization and Caries in Eight-Year-Old Children in Croatia

The aim of this study was to detect molar–incisor hypomineralization (MIH) and caries prevalence in eight-year-old children with early mixed dentition in Eastern Croatia. There is a lack of data on MIH in Croatia. There were 729 children examined in total: 356 (48.83%) were female and 373 (51.16%) were male. The presence of MIH was found in 95 children, the prevalence of MIH was 13%, and the remaining 634 (87%) did not have any changes associated with MIH. The prevalence of caries overall in the population of examined children was 11.48%. In the group of children with MIH, the prevalence of caries was 24.14%, while in the group of children with no MIH, the prevalence of caries was 11.18%. Teeth had a Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth (DMFT) index of 1.2, the value of the SiC index was 1.4, and the decayed, missing, and filled teeth (dmft) index for deciduous teeth was 5.8. Children with MIH had a caries index of DMFT 2.1, and the value of the SiC index was 2.6. The index of caries for non-MIH children was DMFT 1.1 and the SiC index was 1.2. MIH prevalence in Croatia is more common in girls than in boys. MIH has a significant impact on children’s development and is a major factor in the occurrence of caries

Knowledge and Attitudes of Patients about Dental Implants as a Treatment Option after Tooth Extraction

The aim of the study is to determine patients’ knowledge and attitudes toward dental implants as a therapeutic option after tooth extraction and to examine the sources of information about dental implants and determine the most common barriers in deciding for this type of therapy. The cross-sectional study included 130 patients. An anonymous survey questionnaire was used to conduct the research. The survey questionnaire consists of a total of 17 multiple-choice questions. Respondents showed good knowledge of dental implants except for knowledge of dental implant duration where subjects mostly stated that a dental implant lasts a lifetime. For most respondents, the dentist is the main source of information related to dental implants. The cost of the procedure for most respondents is a major barrier in decision to install a dental implant, but most of them want to know more about dental implants. Statistically significant differences were observed in patients ‘knowledge in relation to age and level of education and patients’ attitudes in relation to gender, age, and level of education

Unusual Mechanism of Facial Nerve Palsy Caused by Penetrating Neck Trauma

We present a case of a low energy penetrating neck injury with only facial nerve (FN) palsy in the clinical finding. A 32-year-old male patient was admitted to the emergency department with a penetrating injury on the right side of the neck just behind the right ear, accompanied by evident right (FN) palsy, evaluated as House Brackmann grade IV. Computed tomography demonstrated an isolated soft tissue injury in the right retroauricular region without bone fracture, parotid gland lesion, or vascular structure involvement. The FN palsy was treated with corticosteroids (CS), and the patient had an uneventful and complete recovery. This case report presents an unusual mechanism of isolated, extratemporal, blunt injury of the FN after a penetrating neck injury followed by complete recovery