The impact of oral rehabilitation coupled with healthy dietary advice on the nutritional status of adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

As natural teeth are lost, many older adults choose softer foods lacking in essential micronutrients and fiber, yet replacing missing teeth alone does not positively influence diet. Dietary intervention in combination with treatment to replace missing teeth is increasing, though understanding of effective intervention components is limited. This systematic review synthesized literature relating to oral rehabilitation coupled with dietary intervention in adults. The primary outcome was dietary intake; secondary outcomes pertained to oral health and dietary intervention characteristics including: theoretical basis and behavior change techniques (BCTs). MEDLINE, Web of Science, PubMed and CENTRAL were searched. Nine studies were included. Study designs were heterogeneous involving 526 participants. Narrative synthesis identified improvements in at least one aspect of participants' oral health (i.e. biting/chewing) alongside at least one positive diet/nutrition outcome post-intervention for all studies. F/V results were pooled for three studies using meta-analysis techniques resulting in a standardized mean difference (SMD) of 0.29 [CI -0.54, 1.12], p = 0.49, but with marked heterogeneity (p = 0.0007). Few interventions were theory-based and intervention components were poorly described. Overall, narrative synthesis indicated support for dietary intervention coupled with oral rehabilitation on diet. Meta-analysis was only possible with three studies highlighting limitations. Large-scale, appropriately described trial methodologies are needed.Trial registry: This review was prospectively registered with PROSPERO on the 11 July 2017 [CRD42017071075].

Long-term impact of living with an obturator following a maxillectomy: A qualitative study.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the long-term impact for patients living with an obturator prosthesis, following a maxillectomy for a head and neck neoplasm. METHODS: A qualitative approach was employed, using semi-structured interviews. A purposive sample of eight men and four women, living with an obturator prosthesis for at least five years, were recruited. Interviews were digitally recorded and transcribed. Using thematic analysis, two researchers analysed the data. RESULTS: The data were categorised into four themes: 1. Preparedness for living with an obturator, 2. Impact of living with an obturator - what changes to expect, 3. Stability and retention of the obturator, and 4. Coping strategies to aid adjustment. Long-term effects of living with an obturator spanned many aspects of life to include: chewing and eating, speaking, dealing with nasal leakage and altered body image, employment and intimacy issues, along with embarrassment during social encounters. Optimal retention and stability of the obturator, as perceived by the patient, lead to improved social confidence and engagement. The emotional impact varied greatly on peoples' lives. CONCLUSIONS: Patients experiencing the greatest long-term challenges had larger defects, were of employment age and had not returned to work. Gaining an improved understanding of the psychology of coping overtime is clearly important, as this can inform interventions to facilitate adjustment for those who are emotionally struggling. Furthermore, the findings of this study could inform the design of a communication tool to facilitate shared-decision making and aid preparedness for living with an obturator following a maxillectomy. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The multidisciplinary head and neck team should provide patients with detailed pre-operative information, including potential effects on social, work and personal relationships. The restorative dentistry team has a pivotal role in the long-term management of these patients, as obturators have a finite lifespan with ongoing maintenance necessary to promote optimal retention and stability.

Serum creatine kinase elevation associated with olanzapine treatment.

On 2 May 2008, a 25-year-old male patient on olanzapine 15 mg developed mild central chest pain, and blood tests revealed a high creatine kinase (CK) value at 1016 iu/l. Troponin, CK-MB, CK:MB ratio, full blood count (FBC), urea and electrolytes (U&E), C reactive protein (CRP) and glucose were all normal. Liver enzymes were marginally raised: alanine aminotransferase (ALT) 91 iu/l, γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT) 46 iu/l, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) 137 iu/l. The ECG was normal and the chest pain later resolved and was thought likely to be due to costochondritis. A repeat blood test on 7 May revealed further elevation of CK at 1391 iu/l and olanzapine was stopped. CK continued to rise: 19 May 2857 iu/l, 20 May 3285 iu/l, and 22 May 3646 iu/l. On 30 May CK dropped to 708 iu/l, on 20 June it was 593 iu/l, and on 30 June CK was 343 iu/l. The patient was started on amisulpiride on 15 July and CK began to rise again: on 18 July it was 445 iu/l and on 31 July CK was 480 iu/l, at which time the medication was stopped. The patient did not have any signs or symptoms of physical disorder on this occasion.We have never seen a patient develop such high CK values in the absence of any clinical or other significant laboratory abnormalities. We can rule out exercise as the cause as he attends an inpatient unit and we are aware that his exercise has been light to moderate at most; also, he stopped exercising at our request on 7 May 2008, yet CK continued to rise. There is no clinical indication of other causes of elevated CK such as myositis, and CK-MB and CK-MB:CK ratio were normal throughout, so it was not cardiac in origin. We believe olanzapine caused the elevated CK value. When the patient was rechallenged with amisulpiride on 15 May his CK again rose and the medication therefore had to be stopped. There are three similar cases that have been reported in the past when patients on second generation antipsychotics developed CK elevation in the absence of other clinical or laboratory abnormalities. We therefore believe this is an important finding to report.