Grading the intensity of nondental orofacial pain: Identification of cutoff points for mild, moderate, and severe pain

Background: When assessing pain in clinical practice, clinicians often label pain as mild, moderate, and severe. However, these categories are not distinctly defined, and are often used arbitrarily. Instruments for pain assessment use more sophisticated scales, such as a 0–10 numerical rating scale, and apart from pain intensity assess pain-related interference and disability. The aim of the study was to identify cutoff points for mild, moderate, and severe nondental orofacial pain using a numerical rating scale, a pain-related interference scale, and a disability measurement. Materials and methods: A total of 245 patients referred to the Facial Pain Unit in London were included in the study. Intensity and pain-related interference were assessed by the Brief Pain Inventory. Pain-related disability was assessed by the Chronic Graded Pain Scale. Average pain intensity (0–10) was classified into nine schemes with varying cutoff points of mild, moderate, and severe pain. The scheme with the most significant intergroup difference, expressed by multivariate analysis of variance, provided the cutoffs between mild, moderate, and severe pain. Results: The combination that showed the greatest intergroup differences for all patients was scheme 47 (mild 1–4, moderate 5–7, severe 8–10). The same combination provided the greatest intergroup differences in subgroups of patients with temporomandibular disorder and chronic idiopathic facial pain, respectively. Among the trigeminal neuralgia patients alone, the combination with the highest intergroup differences was scheme 48 (mild 1–4, moderate 5–8, severe 9–10). Conclusion: The cutoff points established in this study can discriminate in pain intensity categories reasonably well, and showed a significant difference in most of the outcome measures used

Optimization of epoxy matrix content and nature according to its properties

Доведено поліпшення характеристик матриці на основі епоксидного оліґомеру CHS-Epoxy 525 і твердника ПЕПА при підвищенні температури полімеризації. Проаналізовано тенденцію динаміки властивостей матриці при взаємодії твердників у комплексі. Встановлено, що показники характеристик отриманого матеріалу змінюються пропорційно вмісту того чи іншого твердника. Відповідно до отриманих результатів досліджень запропоновано застосовувати матеріали з різною концентрацією твердників ПЕПА і Telalit 410 для формування адгезійного та когезійного шарів у двошарових покриттях. Це сприятиме поліпшенню як адгезійних властивостей покриттів, так і їх когезійних характеристик, особливо при експлуатації матеріалів при знакозмінних навантаженнях і підвищених температурах. Результати, отримані методом оптичної мікроскопії, добре узгоджуються з випробуваннями фізико-механічних та теплофізичних властивостей матеріалів. При цьому аналіз світлин зламу дозволив не лише підтвердити динаміку залишкових напружень від умісту твердників, але й констатувати достовірність попередньо отриманих результатів і правильність вибору матриці за оптимальної концентрації твердників для практичного застосування матеріалів, які експлуатуються в умовах впливу підвищених знакозмінних навантажень та температур.The improvement of matrix characteristics on the basis of epoxy oligomer CHS-Epoxy 525 and PEPA hardener under rising of polymerization temperature was proved. The analysis of matrix properties when hardeners interact, demonstrated that the change in the operating characteristics of the obtained material is proportional to the content of the hardener. According to the researched results materials with different concentrations of PEPA and Telalit 410 hardeners are proposed to be used to form a cohesive and adhesive layers in two-layer coatings. It was experimentally proved that using coatings with improved adhesion properties it is necessary to form the material on the basis of epoxy matrix CHS-Epoxy 525 (100 parts) and hardeners containing PEPA + Telalit 410 = (4 +6) parts. It was also proved that to make coatings with improved cohesive properties to form matrix based on epoxy resin CHS-Epoxy 525 (100 parts) and hardeners (PEPA + Telalit 410) = (5 +5) parts is of greater importance. It will improve coatings properties and their reliability, especially when operating under alternating loads and high temperatures. The results obtained by the optical microscopy testify all physical, mechanical and thermal properties. The analysis of fracture surface images testifies the dynamics of residual stresses with different content of hardeners. The proper choice of matrix forming technology with the optimal hardeners concentration for practical application of materials under the dynamic loads and temperature was proved

Evaluation of pretreatment serum interleukin-6 and tumour necrosis factor alpha as a potential biomarker for recurrence in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma

Background: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) constitutes 3 percent of all cancers with predominant occurrence in middle aged and elderly males. Tumour recurrence worsens disease prognosis and decreases quality of life in patients with OSCC. Proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) have been suggested to play a certain role in variety of tumours. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship of pretreatment serum IL-6 and TNF-α levels on tumour recurrence in patients with OSCC in order to identify potential biomarkers for the early detection of disease recurrence. Material and Methods: The patients with newly diagnosed OSCC were treated and followed from the first visit from November 2006 until January 2008. Serum IL-6 and TNF-α concentrations were measured. The records of the patients were re-examined in July 2012 and data were recorded about cancer characteristics and tumour recurrence. Disease free survival was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier survival curves, log rank test and Cox proportional hazards regression. Results: Serum IL-6 was shown as an independent risk factor for tumour recurrence. Conclusions: Pretreatment serum IL-6 concentration may be a useful biomarker for identification of OSCC patients with increased risk of the disease recurrence

Optimization of epoxy matrix content and nature according to its properties

Доведено поліпшення характеристик матриці на основі епоксидного оліґомеру CHS-Epoxy 525 і твердника ПЕПА при підвищенні температури полімеризації. Проаналізовано тенденцію динаміки властивостей матриці при взаємодії твердників у комплексі. Встановлено, що показники характеристик отриманого матеріалу змінюються пропорційно вмісту того чи іншого твердника. Відповідно до отриманих результатів досліджень запропоновано застосовувати матеріали з різною концентрацією твердників ПЕПА і Telalit 410 для формування адгезійного та когезійного шарів у двошарових покриттях. Це сприятиме поліпшенню як адгезійних властивостей покриттів, так і їх когезійних характеристик, особливо при експлуатації матеріалів при знакозмінних навантаженнях і підвищених температурах. Результати, отримані методом оптичної мікроскопії, добре узгоджуються з випробуваннями фізико-механічних та теплофізичних властивостей матеріалів. При цьому аналіз світлин зламу дозволив не лише підтвердити динаміку залишкових напружень від умісту твердників, але й констатувати достовірність попередньо отриманих результатів і правильність вибору матриці за оптимальної концентрації твердників для практичного застосування матеріалів, які експлуатуються в умовах впливу підвищених знакозмінних навантажень та температур.The improvement of matrix characteristics on the basis of epoxy oligomer CHS-Epoxy 525 and PEPA hardener under rising of polymerization temperature was proved. The analysis of matrix properties when hardeners interact, demonstrated that the change in the operating characteristics of the obtained material is proportional to the content of the hardener. According to the researched results materials with different concentrations of PEPA and Telalit 410 hardeners are proposed to be used to form a cohesive and adhesive layers in two-layer coatings. It was experimentally proved that using coatings with improved adhesion properties it is necessary to form the material on the basis of epoxy matrix CHS-Epoxy 525 (100 parts) and hardeners containing PEPA + Telalit 410 = (4 +6) parts. It was also proved that to make coatings with improved cohesive properties to form matrix based on epoxy resin CHS-Epoxy 525 (100 parts) and hardeners (PEPA + Telalit 410) = (5 +5) parts is of greater importance. It will improve coatings properties and their reliability, especially when operating under alternating loads and high temperatures. The results obtained by the optical microscopy testify all physical, mechanical and thermal properties. The analysis of fracture surface images testifies the dynamics of residual stresses with different content of hardeners. The proper choice of matrix forming technology with the optimal hardeners concentration for practical application of materials under the dynamic loads and temperature was proved

Oral lichen planus - retrospective study of 563 Croatian patients

Objectives: To investigate the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of oral lichen planus (OLP) in a group of Croatian patients seen between 2006 and 2012. Study D esign: A group of 563 patients with a diagnosis of OLP was retrospectively reviewed in our clinic. Data regarding age, gender, medical history, drugs, smoking, alcohol, chief complaint, clinical type, localization, his - tology, treatment and malignant transformation were registered. Results: Of the 563 patients, 414 were females and 149 were males. The average age at the diagnosis was 58 (range 11-94). The most common site was buccal mucosa (82.4%). Most of our patients did not smoke (72.5%) or consume alcohol (69.6%). Patients reported oral soreness (43.3%), mucosal roughness (7%), xerostomia (3%), gingival bleeding (2%) and altered taste (0.5%) as the chief complaint, while almost half of them were asympto - matic (44.2%). The most common types of OLP were reticular (64.8%) and erosive (22.9%). Plaque-like (5.7%) atrophic/erythemtous (4.3%) and bullous (2.3%) type were also observed. Malignant transformation rate of 0.7% was recorded. Conclusions: OLP mostly affects non-smoking middle-aged women. Buccal mucosa is the most commonly af - fected site. In almost half of the cases patients are asymptomatic. In spite of the small risk for malignant transfor - mation all patients should be regularly monitored

Sialochemistry in Patients with Oral Lichen Planus

Svrha: Zna se da određeni sastojci sline mogu biti poremećeni kod bolesnika koji pate od oralnoga lichen planusa (OLP-a), no rezultati objavljenih istraživanja nisu konzistentni. Svrha ovog istraživanja bila je odrediti koncentraciju salivarnih analita u sklopu salivarnih enzima koji održavaju integritet oralnih sluznica, a on je oštećen kod oboljelih od oralnoga lichen planusa. Ispitanici i postupci: Skupini od 25 bolesnika s OLP-om (73±1,4 godine) i 24 kontrolna ispitanika (24±3,7 godina) određeni su u slini ukupni proteini, amilaza, magnezij, kalcij, bakar, klorid, fosfat i kalij. Ukupni proteini određeni su kolorimetrijskom metodom uz pirogalol. Natrij, kalij i klorid izmjereni su indirektnom potenciometrijom, bakar i magnezij atomskom apsorpcijskom spektrofotometrijom, a fosfat kolorimetrijskom uz pomoć molibdata. Statistička analiza obavljena je uz pomoć χ2 testa, Mann–Whitneyeva U-testa, analizom kovarijance i Spearmanovom korelacijom. Rezultati: Znatno povišene vrijednosti salivarnog klorida pronađene su kod oboljelih od OLP-a u odnosu prema sudionicima u kontrolnoj skupini (p=0,025). Nakon toga, kada su dobiveni rezultati prilagođeni s obzirom na količinu izlučene sline, ustanovljene su povišene vrijednosti salivarnog kalija, natrija, klorida i ukupnih proteina kod oboljelih od oralnoga lichen planusa u odnosu prema kontrolnoj skupini (p=0,622; p=0,504; p=0,00; p=0,586). Koncentracija salivarnih analita nije bila povezana s pušenjem. Zaključak: Povišene vrijednosti salivarnog natrija, kalija i klorida vjerojatno su posljedica velikih razlika u količini izlučene sline između oboljelih od OLP-a i sudionika u kontrolnoj skupini i ne upućuju na pojačanu antimikrobnu aktivnost kod bolesnika s OLP-om.Objective: It is well known that certain salivary constituents might be disturbed in patients suffering from oral lichen planus (OLP), however, the results of the published studies are inconsistent. The aim of this study was to assess the concentrations of salivary analytes because most of them are part of salivary enzymes which maintain integrity of the oral mucosa which is compromised in OLP patients. Materials and Methods: In 25 patients with OLP (73±1.4 yrs) and in the 24 controls (24±3.7yrs) levels of total proteins, amylase, salivary magnesium, calcium, copper, chloride, phosphate, potassium and sodium were determined. Total proteins were determined by pyrogalol colorimetric method. Amylase levels were determined by continued colorimetric method. Salivary sodium, potassium and chloride were determined by indirect potentiometry whereas salivary copper and magnesium were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry whereas phosphates were determined by colorimetric method with use of molybdate. Statistical analysis was performed by use of χ2 test, Mann Whitney U test analysis of covariance and Spearman´s correlation. Results: Significantly higher concentration of salivary chloride was detected in OLP patients in comparison to the controls (p=0.025). Furthermore, when the obtained results for salivary analytes were adjusted with respect to the salivary flow rate, increased levels of salivary potassium, sodium, chloride and total proteins were found in patients with OLP when compared to the controls (p=0.622; p=0.504; p=0.600; p=0.586). Concentrations of salivary analytes were not affected by smoking habit. Conclusions: Increased levels of salivary sodium, potassium and chloride are probably a result of significant differences in salivary flow rate between patients with OLP and controls and do not indicate increased salivary antimicrobial activity

Predijagnosticiran geografski jezik - prikaz slučaja

Aim: This case report presents unnecessary diagnostic procedures performed on a patient with a morphological variation of the tongue called geographic tongue. Case report: In this case, patient presented with discomfort on the left side of the tongue, dry mouth and lesions on the dorsal side of the tongue that lasted 3-4 months. After clinical examination by specialists in otorhinolaryngology and dermatology department, the patient was referred to the Department of Oral Medicine, where he was given a final diagnosis of geographic tongue. Conclusion: Geographic tongue is a benign condition that does not require any special treatment, only follow-ups.Cilj: Ovaj prikaz slučaja prikazuje nepotrebne dijagnostičke postupke provedene kod pacijenta s morfološkom varijacijom jezika koja se naziva geografski jezik. Prikaz slučaja: Pacijent se javio s nelagodom na lijevoj strani jezika, suhim ustima i lezijama na dorzalnoj strani jezika koje su trajale 3-4 mjeseca. Nakon kliničkog pregleda specijalista otorinolaringologije i dermatologije pacijent je upućen na Odjel oralne medicine gdje mu je postavljena konačna dijagnoza geografskog jezika. Zaključak: Geografski jezik je benigno stanje koje ne zahtijeva nikakav poseban tretman, već samo praćenje