COVID-19 impact on post-traumatic stress symptoms in burning mouth syndrome: A multicentric study.

OBJECTIVES: This study investigates the psychological impact of COVID-19 on burning mouth syndrome (BMS) patients. It focuses on comparing post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), post-traumatic growth (PTG), and resilience between BMS patients and Controls. METHODS: A total of 100 BMS patients and 100 Controls from five Italian centers participated in this observational cross-sectional study. They completed several assessments, including the General Health Questionnaire, Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale, Insomnia Severity Index, National Stressful Events Survey Short Scale, Impact of Event Scale-Revised, Post Traumatic Growth Inventory Short Form, and Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale. RESULTS: BMS patients had significantly higher stress, anxiety, and depression (DASS-21 score) and post-traumatic stress symptoms (IES-R-6 score), particularly in terms of intrusive thoughts. They showed lower post-traumatic growth (PTGI-SF score) compared to Controls. The resilience scale (CDRS-10) was a key predictor of PTG in both groups, explaining a significant variance in PTGI-SF scores. CONCLUSIONS: BMS patients experienced heightened post-traumatic stress, stress, anxiety, and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic, with reduced post-traumatic growth. This highlights the need to prioritize their psychological well-being, focusing on stress management and fostering post-traumatic growth in challenging times.

Evaluating global research trends in special needs dentistry: A systematic bibliometrix analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Special needs dentistry (SND) is a vast and fragmented field of study. This comprehensive bibliometric analysis aimed to evaluate the scope of SND, including the existing knowledge base, distribution structure, quantitative relationships, and research trends. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A systematic search was conducted on March 10, 2022, using the Web of Science Core Collection database, covering the period from 1985 to 2021, focusing on studies reporting on special needs populations in a dentally relevant context. Records were title-screened and analyzed for key bibliometric indicators. RESULTS: Among 48,374 articles, 13,869 underwent bibliometric analysis. Peak SND research occurred during 1985-1997. United States led in productivity, trailed by Brazil and Japan. University of Sao Paulo excelled in Brazil, University of Washington and University of North Carolina in the United States. The Journal of Dental Research was the most productive source of research and also had the highest number of citations, followed by Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology. Keyword analysis revealed that "elderly", "caries", and "epidemiology" were the most commonly used author keywords. CONCLUSIONS: This study represents the first bibliometric analysis of SND literature. It emphasizes the need for increased collaboration between institutions and authors. Furthermore, it suggests focusing on research input from non-dental disciplines and populations with rarer intellectual or developmental conditions.

Evaluation of aversive behavior in Rattus norvegicus experimentally infected by two distinct strains of Toxoplasma gondii (ME49 and VEG): study of epigenetic markers

ABSTRACT Background: Behavioral changes in Rattus norvegicus infected with two strains of Toxoplasma gondii (ME49 and VEG) were investigated. Methods: Rats were evaluated for motor activity and aversion or attraction to cat urine 60 days after infection. After euthanasia, arginine-vasopressin gene methylation in the central nervous system was evaluated. Results: A significant difference was observed in the methylation of the arginine-vasopressin promoter gene between rats infected with the ME49 and VEG strains. Conclusions: Although differences were not observed in many parameters, significant differences were observed in the methylation of the arginine-vasopressin promoter gene in rats infected with the two studied strains.

Cardiomyopathy as the first manifestation of Friedreichs ataxia

We present the case of a female patient diagnosed in childhood with Friedreich Ataxia (FA). At the age of 6, she developed left congestive heart failure with cardiomyopathy, as evident on echocardiogram. Neurologic signs only appeared at age 7, including marked loss of muscle mass, gait instability, muscle clonus, and Babinski's signal. At age 27, she had a stroke and was hospitalized; a few days later, she had a cardiorespiratory arrest with asystole, leading to death. The autopsy disclosed severe cardiomyopathy and significant myocardial replacement with fibrosis; therefore, the cause of death was assumed to be heart failure. Compared to the literature, our case has some unique features, such as cardiac disease as the presenting manifestation instead of gait instability, which is the major initial sign in most FA cases. Since our patient was submitted to an autopsy, it was an opportunity to retrieve important data to confirm the diagnosis and to evaluate the pathophysiology of this entity, such as myocardium fibrosis and cerebellar degeneration. In summary, our case demonstrates that cardiac disease can be the first manifestation of FA, with eventual diagnostic and prognostic implications. In addition, the autopsy provided findings of severe cardiomyopathy associated with FA.