AIM: To investigate the impact of dysphagia on the QoL in stroke patients.
METHODS: Relevant types of literature were searched from PubMed, Scopus, ProQuest, and Google Scholar databases from inception to July 2022. Peerreviewed studies that aimed to determine the impact of dysphagia on the QoL in stroke patients were included regardless of the year of publication. The National Institutes of Health tool for observational cohort and cross-sectional studies was used to assess the methodological quality of the selected studies. In addition, data analysis was conducted using qualitative methodology with narrative synthesis.
RESULTS: A total of 6 studies met the inclusion criteria with a total number of 381 participants. Only one study has good methodological quality while other studies have fair methodological quality. Dysphagia negatively impacts the QoL in stroke patients, especially those with severe dysphagia. However, after treatment, changes were evident through improved QoL and decreased severity of dysphagia. Moreover, the research found that patients with a higher educational level have a better QoL.
CONCLUSION: Dysphagia has a negative impact on the QoL in stroke patients, so dysphagia in stroke patients should be diagnosed and treated as soon as possible to avoid poor QoL.
METHODS: Data from 75 adolescents aged 11 or 12 years and 2,061 teeth without dental caries were analyzed in this study. Annual dental examinations to assess dental caries were conducted between 2018 and 2021. Salivary cotinine and Dentocult SM-Strip level were measured at baseline. Information on the smoking habits of parents, snack frequency, regular dental visits, and use of fluoride toothpaste was collected at baseline from parent-reported questionnaires.
RESULTS: During the 3-year follow-up, dental caries was noted in 21 adolescents and 43 teeth. Participants exposed to parental smoking had higher salivary cotinine levels than those whose parents did not smoke. The multilevel Cox regression model showed that a high salivary cotinine level was associated with the incidence of dental caries, after adjusting for potential confounding factors (hazard ratio, 3.39; 95% confidence interval 1.08-10.69).
CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the risk of dental caries is higher for adolescents who have high salivary cotinine levels attributable to second-hand smoke exposure.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: This longitudinal study included 2198 participants with mean age 43.4 ± 7.7 years, who underwent dental examinations in Yokohama, Japan, at two time points, 2003-2004 and 2008-2009, at an interval of 5 years. Periodontal condition was assessed by the mean value of probing pocket depth (PPD) and clinical attachment level (CAL). Glycaemic status was assessed by fasting glucose and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c).
RESULTS: The cross-lagged panel models showed the effect of HbA1c at baseline on mean PPD at follow-up (β = 0.044, p = .039). There was a marginal effect of fasting glucose on the mean PPD (β = 0.037, p = .059). It was similar to the effect of fasting glucose or HbAlc on mean CAL. However, in the opposite direction, no effect of mean PPD or CAL at baseline on fasting glucose or HbAlc at follow-up was identified.
CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated a unidirectional relationship between glycaemic status and periodontal condition. The study population, however, had mostly mild periodontitis. Future studies are needed to investigate the effect of periodontal condition on glycaemic status in patients with severe periodontitis.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this repeated-measures study, 40 Malaysian adults (aged 19-26 years) with normal hearing bilaterally (based on PTA results) were enrolled. They then underwent the SAL test based on the recommended protocol by Jerger and Tillman (1960). The SAL normative data for each ear were obtained by calculating the differences between air conduction (AC) thresholds in quiet and AC thresholds in noise by means of insert earphone, B71 and B81 bone vibrators.
RESULTS: The SAL normative values were comparable between the ears (p > 0.05), and the data were pooled for subsequent analyses (n = 80 ears). Relative to B81 bone transducer, B71 bone vibrator produced statistically higher SAL normative data at all frequencies (p < 0.05). The SAL normative values established by the present study were statistically lower than those of the previous study (that utilised headphones) at most of frequencies tested (p < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: The SAL normative data produced by the two bone vibrators were significantly different. The SAL normative values were also affected by the type of earphone used. While conducting the SAL test on Malaysian patients, the information provided by this study can be useful to guide the respective clinicians in choosing the appropriate normative data.
METHODS: LB was extracted from Bacillus clausii isolate and the dry extract was diluted in deionized water. The antimicrobial effect of LB against planktonic E. faecalis was evaluated by determining the Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC50). The anti-biofilm effect was evaluated by Minimal Biofilm Inhibitory Concentration (MBIC50) and Minimal Biofilm Eradication Concentration (MBEC50) assays on biofilm grown on dentin specimen surface. To evaluate the effectiveness of LB as a single irrigation solution and as a pre-irrigation prior to NaOCl, live and dead bacterial cells were quantified using Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy (CLSM), and cell biomass was assessed.
RESULTS: LB exhibited an MIC50 and MBIC50 of 100 ppm, with an MBEC50 of 1000 ppm, resulting in 52.94 % biofilm inhibition and 60.95 % biofilm eradication on dentin specimens. The effectiveness was concentration-dependent, at 500 ppm, LB demonstrated comparable antimicrobial efficacy to 2.5 % NaOCl. Pre-irrigation with LB resulted in lower biofilm biomass compared to NaOCl alone.
CONCLUSION: Pre-irrigation with LB enhanced the antimicrobial effect when followed by NaOCl irrigation. Consequently, LB shows promise as both a standalone root canal irrigation solution and as an adjunct to NaOCl in root canal treatment.
CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The study highlights the potential of Lipopeptide Biosurfactant (LB) as an environmentally friendly irrigation solution for root canal treatment, demonstrating potent antimicrobial and anti-biofilm properties against Enterococcus faecalis. LB exhibits concentration-dependent efficacy comparable to 2.5 % NaOCl and can be used as a standalone irrigation solution or in conjunction with NaOCl.
METHODS: This is a prospective, international, multicenter, observational study registered on ClinicalTrials.gov. A total 1215 patients with left-sided colonic emergencies who required surgery were included from 204 centers during the period of March 1, 2020, to May 31, 2020. with a 1-year follow-up.
RESULTS: 564 patients (43.1%) were females. The mean age was 65.9 ± 15.6 years. HP was performed in 697 (57.3%) patients and RPA in 384 (31.6%) cases. Complicated acute diverticulitis was the most common cause of left-sided colonic emergencies (40.2%), followed by colorectal malignancy (36.6%). Severe complications (Clavien-Dindo ≥ 3b) were higher in the HP group (P